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Title: Solid-oxide fuel cell system having a fuel combustor to pre-heat reformer on start-up

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1531827
; ;

In a solid-oxide fuel cell system, a catalytic reformer unit provides reformate fuel for use by the cells in generating electricity. Both the reformer and the fuel cells require elevated temperatures for satisfactory operation. The reformer unit is provided with a combustion chamber and igniter ahead of the catalytic reformer plates such that, during start-up, fuel/air mixture normally destined for reformation may be ignited in the combustion chamber to provide a hot combustion exhaust which is fed through the catalytic reformer and the anode reformate flow spaces to assist in rapidly bringing the fuel cell system to operating temperature.

Research Organization:
Delphi Technologies,Inc., Troy, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FC26-02NT41246
Assignee:
Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Troy, MI)
Patent Number(s):
7,410,016
Application Number:
10/178,125
OSTI ID:
1531827
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2002-06-24
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (4)

EV adaptive thermal management system optimized to minimize power consumption patent December 2018
Solid oxide fuel cell power plant having a bootstrap start-up system patent October 2016
EV adaptive thermal management system optimized to minimize power consumption patent December 2016
Arrangement comprising a fuel cell system patent August 2017

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