Electrochemical fuel cell generator having an internal and leak tight hydrocarbon fuel reformer
Abstract
An electrochemical fuel cell generator configuration is made having a generator section which contains a plurality of axially elongated fuel cells, each cell containing a fuel electrode, air electrode, and solid oxide electrolyte between the electrodes, in which axially elongated dividers separate portions of the fuel cells from each other, and where at least one divider also reforms a reformable fuel gas mixture prior to electricity generation reactions, the at least one reformer-divider is hollow having a closed end and an open end entrance for a reformable fuel mixture to pass to the closed end of the divider and then reverse flow and pass back along the hollowed walls to be reformed, and then finally to pass as reformed fuel out of the open end of the divider to contact the fuel cells, and further where the reformer-divider is a composite structure having a gas diffusion barrier of metallic foil surrounding the external walls of the reformer-divider except at the entrance to prevent diffusion of the reformable gas mixture through the divider, and further housed in an outer insulating jacket except at the entrance to prevent short-circuiting of the fuel cells by the gas diffusion barrier. 10 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 597073
- Patent Number(s):
- 5733675
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-518,272
- Assignee:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC21-91MC28055
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 31 Mar 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; SOLID ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELLS; HYDROCARBON FUEL CELLS; BATTERY SEPARATORS; DESIGN; OPERATION; FUEL GAS; REFORMER PROCESSES
Citation Formats
Dederer, J T, and Hager, C A. Electrochemical fuel cell generator having an internal and leak tight hydrocarbon fuel reformer. United States: N. p., 1998.
Web.
Dederer, J T, & Hager, C A. Electrochemical fuel cell generator having an internal and leak tight hydrocarbon fuel reformer. United States.
Dederer, J T, and Hager, C A. Tue .
"Electrochemical fuel cell generator having an internal and leak tight hydrocarbon fuel reformer". United States.
@article{osti_597073,
title = {Electrochemical fuel cell generator having an internal and leak tight hydrocarbon fuel reformer},
author = {Dederer, J T and Hager, C A},
abstractNote = {An electrochemical fuel cell generator configuration is made having a generator section which contains a plurality of axially elongated fuel cells, each cell containing a fuel electrode, air electrode, and solid oxide electrolyte between the electrodes, in which axially elongated dividers separate portions of the fuel cells from each other, and where at least one divider also reforms a reformable fuel gas mixture prior to electricity generation reactions, the at least one reformer-divider is hollow having a closed end and an open end entrance for a reformable fuel mixture to pass to the closed end of the divider and then reverse flow and pass back along the hollowed walls to be reformed, and then finally to pass as reformed fuel out of the open end of the divider to contact the fuel cells, and further where the reformer-divider is a composite structure having a gas diffusion barrier of metallic foil surrounding the external walls of the reformer-divider except at the entrance to prevent diffusion of the reformable gas mixture through the divider, and further housed in an outer insulating jacket except at the entrance to prevent short-circuiting of the fuel cells by the gas diffusion barrier. 10 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1998},
month = {3}
}