Reforming of fuel inside fuel cell generator

Title: Reforming of fuel inside fuel cell generator

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Abstract

Disclosed is an improved method of reforming a gaseous reformable fuel within a solid oxide fuel cell generator, wherein the solid oxide fuel cell generator has a plurality of individual fuel cells in a refractory container, the fuel cells generating a partially spent fuel stream and a partially spent oxidant stream. The partially spent fuel stream is divided into two streams, spent fuel stream I and spent fuel stream II. Spent fuel stream I is burned with the partially spent oxidant stream inside the refractory container to produce an exhaust stream. The exhaust stream is divided into two streams, exhaust stream I and exhaust stream II, and exhaust stream I is vented. Exhaust stream II is mixed with spent fuel stream II to form a recycle stream. The recycle stream is mixed with the gaseous reformable fuel within the refractory container to form a fuel stream which is supplied to the fuel cells. Also disclosed is an improved apparatus which permits the reforming of a reformable gaseous fuel within such a solid oxide fuel cell generator. The apparatus comprises a mixing chamber within the refractory container, means for diverting a portion of the partially spent fuel stream to the mixingmore »« less

Inventors:

Grimble, Ralph E ^[1]

Finleyville, PA

Issue Date:: 1988-01-01

Research Org.:: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)

OSTI Identifier:: 866520

Patent Number(s):: 4729931

Assignee:: Westinghouse Electric Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

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H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
H01M8/243 - Grouping of unit cells of tubular or cylindrical configuration
H01M8/2457 - with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
Y02E60/50 - Fuel cells

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
H01M8/0625 - {in a modular combined reactor/fuel cell structure}

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DOE Contract Number:: AC02-80ET17089

Resource Type:: Patent

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: reforming; fuel; inside; cell; generator; disclosed; improved; method; gaseous; reformable; solid; oxide; plurality; individual; cells; refractory; container; generating; partially; spent; stream; oxidant; divided; streams; ii; burned; produce; exhaust; vented; mixed; form; recycle; supplied; apparatus; permits; comprises; mixing; chamber; means; diverting; portion; gas; injecting; circulating; reformable fuel; recycle stream; individual fuel; gaseous fuel; fuel cell; reformable gas; refractory container; exhaust stream; partially spent; fuel stream; cell generator; improved method; apparatus comprises; fuel cells; oxide fuel; solid oxide; spent fuel; exhaust gas; improved apparatus; mixing chamber; apparatus comprise; oxidant stream; dual fuel; /429/

Citation Formats


                    Grimble, Ralph E. Reforming of fuel inside fuel cell generator.  United States: N. p., 1988. 
        Web.

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                    Grimble, Ralph E. Reforming of fuel inside fuel cell generator.  United States.

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                    Grimble, Ralph E. Fri .  
        "Reforming of fuel inside fuel cell generator".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866520.

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@article{osti_866520,

  title        = {Reforming of fuel inside fuel cell generator},

  author       = {Grimble, Ralph E},

  abstractNote = {Disclosed is an improved method of reforming a gaseous reformable fuel within a solid oxide fuel cell generator, wherein the solid oxide fuel cell generator has a plurality of individual fuel cells in a refractory container, the fuel cells generating a partially spent fuel stream and a partially spent oxidant stream. The partially spent fuel stream is divided into two streams, spent fuel stream I and spent fuel stream II. Spent fuel stream I is burned with the partially spent oxidant stream inside the refractory container to produce an exhaust stream. The exhaust stream is divided into two streams, exhaust stream I and exhaust stream II, and exhaust stream I is vented. Exhaust stream II is mixed with spent fuel stream II to form a recycle stream. The recycle stream is mixed with the gaseous reformable fuel within the refractory container to form a fuel stream which is supplied to the fuel cells. Also disclosed is an improved apparatus which permits the reforming of a reformable gaseous fuel within such a solid oxide fuel cell generator. The apparatus comprises a mixing chamber within the refractory container, means for diverting a portion of the partially spent fuel stream to the mixing chamber, means for diverting a portion of exhaust gas to the mixing chamber where it is mixed with the portion of the partially spent fuel stream to form a recycle stream, means for injecting the reformable gaseous fuel into the recycle stream, and means for circulating the recycle stream back to the fuel cells.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {1988},

  month        = {1}

}

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