Multi-stage fuel cell system method and apparatus
Abstract
A high efficiency, multi-stage fuel cell system method and apparatus is provided. The fuel cell system is comprised of multiple fuel cell stages, whereby the temperatures of the fuel and oxidant gas streams and the percentage of fuel consumed in each stage are controlled to optimize fuel cell system efficiency. The stages are connected in a serial, flow-through arrangement such that the oxidant gas and fuel gas flowing through an upstream stage is conducted directly into the next adjacent downstream stage. The fuel cell stages are further arranged such that unspent fuel and oxidant laden gases too hot to continue within an upstream stage because of material constraints are conducted into a subsequent downstream stage which comprises a similar cell configuration, however, which is constructed from materials having a higher heat tolerance and designed to meet higher thermal demands. In addition, fuel is underutilized in each stage, resulting in a higher overall fuel cell system efficiency.
- Inventors:
-
- Morgantown, WV
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 872894
- Patent Number(s):
- 6033794
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- 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
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- multi-stage; fuel; cell; method; apparatus; efficiency; provided; comprised; multiple; stages; whereby; temperatures; oxidant; gas; streams; percentage; consumed; stage; controlled; optimize; connected; serial; flow-through; arrangement; flowing; upstream; conducted; directly; adjacent; downstream; arranged; unspent; laden; gases; hot; material; constraints; subsequent; comprises; similar; configuration; constructed; materials; heat; tolerance; designed; meet; thermal; demands; addition; underutilized; resulting; overall; multiple fuel; fuel cell; oxidant gas; gas flow; fuel gas; gas stream; gas streams; spent fuel; gas flowing; cell configuration; multi-stage fuel; similar cell; /429/
Citation Formats
George, Thomas J, and Smith, William C. Multi-stage fuel cell system method and apparatus. United States: N. p., 2000.
Web.
George, Thomas J, & Smith, William C. Multi-stage fuel cell system method and apparatus. United States.
George, Thomas J, and Smith, William C. Sat .
"Multi-stage fuel cell system method and apparatus". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872894.
@article{osti_872894,
title = {Multi-stage fuel cell system method and apparatus},
author = {George, Thomas J and Smith, William C},
abstractNote = {A high efficiency, multi-stage fuel cell system method and apparatus is provided. The fuel cell system is comprised of multiple fuel cell stages, whereby the temperatures of the fuel and oxidant gas streams and the percentage of fuel consumed in each stage are controlled to optimize fuel cell system efficiency. The stages are connected in a serial, flow-through arrangement such that the oxidant gas and fuel gas flowing through an upstream stage is conducted directly into the next adjacent downstream stage. The fuel cell stages are further arranged such that unspent fuel and oxidant laden gases too hot to continue within an upstream stage because of material constraints are conducted into a subsequent downstream stage which comprises a similar cell configuration, however, which is constructed from materials having a higher heat tolerance and designed to meet higher thermal demands. In addition, fuel is underutilized in each stage, resulting in a higher overall fuel cell system efficiency.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000}
}