Method for operating a combustor in a fuel cell system

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002

OSTI ID:874735

Chalfant, Robert W ^[1]; Clingerman, Bruce J ^[2]

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1. West Henrietta, NY
2. Palmyra, NY

A method of operating a combustor to heat a fuel processor in a fuel cell system, in which the fuel processor generates a hydrogen-rich stream a portion of which is consumed in a fuel cell stack and a portion of which is discharged from the fuel cell stack and supplied to the combustor, and wherein first and second streams are supplied to the combustor, the first stream being a hydrocarbon fuel stream and the second stream consisting of said hydrogen-rich stream, the method comprising the steps of monitoring the temperature of the fuel processor; regulating the quantity of the first stream to the combustor according to the temperature of the fuel processor; and comparing said quantity of said first stream to a predetermined value or range of predetermined values.

• Research Organization: General Motors LLC, Detroit, MI (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-90CH10435
• Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Detroit, MI)
• Patent Number(s): US 6451465
• OSTI ID: 874735
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
operating
combustor
fuel
cell
heat
processor
generates
hydrogen-rich
stream
portion
consumed
stack
discharged
supplied
streams
hydrocarbon
consisting
comprising
steps
monitoring
temperature
regulating
quantity
comparing
predetermined
value
range
values
fuel cell
cell stack
predetermined value
processor generates
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