Solid oxide fuel cell generator with removable modular fuel cell stack configurations
Abstract
A high temperature solid oxide fuel cell generator produces electrical power from oxidation of hydrocarbon fuel gases such as natural gas, or conditioned fuel gases, such as carbon monoxide or hydrogen, with oxidant gases, such as air or oxygen. This electrochemical reaction occurs in a plurality of electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells bundled and arrayed in a unitary modular fuel cell stack disposed in a compartment in the generator container. The use of a unitary modular fuel cell stack in a generator is similar in concept to that of a removable battery. The fuel cell stack is provided in a pre-assembled self-supporting configuration where the fuel cells are mounted to a common structural base having surrounding side walls defining a chamber. Associated generator equipment may also be mounted to the fuel cell stack configuration to be integral therewith, such as a fuel and oxidant supply and distribution systems, fuel reformation systems, fuel cell support systems, combustion, exhaust and spent fuel recirculation systems, and the like. The pre-assembled self-supporting fuel cell stack arrangement allows for easier assembly, installation, maintenance, better structural support and longer life of the fuel cells contained in the fuel cell stack.
- Inventors:
-
- Greensburg, PA
- Valencia, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 871482
- Patent Number(s):
- 5741605
- Assignee:
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation (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
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC21-91MC28055
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- solid; oxide; fuel; cell; generator; removable; modular; stack; configurations; temperature; produces; electrical; power; oxidation; hydrocarbon; gases; natural; gas; conditioned; carbon; monoxide; hydrogen; oxidant; air; oxygen; electrochemical; reaction; occurs; plurality; electrically; connected; cells; bundled; arrayed; unitary; disposed; compartment; container; similar; concept; battery; provided; pre-assembled; self-supporting; configuration; mounted; common; structural; base; surrounding; walls; defining; chamber; associated; equipment; integral; therewith; supply; distribution; systems; reformation; support; combustion; exhaust; spent; recirculation; arrangement; allows; easier; assembly; installation; maintenance; life; contained; walls defining; fuel cell; fuel gases; structural support; oxidant gas; temperature solid; natural gas; hydrocarbon fuel; cell generator; electrical power; fuel gas; cell stack; fuel cells; carbon monoxide; oxide fuel; solid oxide; chemical reaction; spent fuel; electrically connected; reaction occurs; oxidant gases; electrochemical reaction; stack configuration; fuel recirculation; integral therewith; distribution systems; connected solid; cells contained; stack configurations; cell support; generator produces; supporting fuel; cells contain; stack arrangement; reaction occur; /429/
Citation Formats
Gillett, James E, Dederer, Jeffrey T, Zafred, Paolo R, and Collie, Jeffrey C. Solid oxide fuel cell generator with removable modular fuel cell stack configurations. United States: N. p., 1998.
Web.
Gillett, James E, Dederer, Jeffrey T, Zafred, Paolo R, & Collie, Jeffrey C. Solid oxide fuel cell generator with removable modular fuel cell stack configurations. United States.
Gillett, James E, Dederer, Jeffrey T, Zafred, Paolo R, and Collie, Jeffrey C. Thu .
"Solid oxide fuel cell generator with removable modular fuel cell stack configurations". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871482.
@article{osti_871482,
title = {Solid oxide fuel cell generator with removable modular fuel cell stack configurations},
author = {Gillett, James E and Dederer, Jeffrey T and Zafred, Paolo R and Collie, Jeffrey C},
abstractNote = {A high temperature solid oxide fuel cell generator produces electrical power from oxidation of hydrocarbon fuel gases such as natural gas, or conditioned fuel gases, such as carbon monoxide or hydrogen, with oxidant gases, such as air or oxygen. This electrochemical reaction occurs in a plurality of electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells bundled and arrayed in a unitary modular fuel cell stack disposed in a compartment in the generator container. The use of a unitary modular fuel cell stack in a generator is similar in concept to that of a removable battery. The fuel cell stack is provided in a pre-assembled self-supporting configuration where the fuel cells are mounted to a common structural base having surrounding side walls defining a chamber. Associated generator equipment may also be mounted to the fuel cell stack configuration to be integral therewith, such as a fuel and oxidant supply and distribution systems, fuel reformation systems, fuel cell support systems, combustion, exhaust and spent fuel recirculation systems, and the like. The pre-assembled self-supporting fuel cell stack arrangement allows for easier assembly, installation, maintenance, better structural support and longer life of the fuel cells contained in the fuel cell stack.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998}
}