Fuel mixing control for fuel cell power plants operating on multiple fuels
First Claim
1. In a fuel cell power plant (10) having a fuel cell stack assembly (CSA) (12) and a fuel delivery system (16) for providing hydrogen-rich fuel (20) to the CSA (12), the fuel delivery system (16) including fuel blending means (28, 30, 37, 39) adapted to be connected to at least a primary fuel (22) having a respective equivalent hydrogen content and a secondary fuel (24) having a respective equivalent hydrogen content for mixing at least the secondary fuel (24) with the primary fuel (22) and control means (18) for regulating the relative amounts of the primary fuel and the secondary fuel mixed to provide the hydrogen-rich fuel, the improvement in the method of controlling the mixing of the primary fuel (22) and the secondary fuel (24), comprising the step(s) of:
- regulating (18, 34, 36) the relative amounts of the primary fuel (22) and the secondary fuel (24) mixed so as to provide at least a minimum level (LL) of hydrogen-rich fuel having an equivalent hydrogen content sufficient for normal operation of the CSA (12).
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Accused Products
Abstract
Fuel mixing control arrangements are provided for fuel cell power plants (10) operating on multiple fuels (22, 24, 26). A fuel delivery system (16) supplies hydrogen-rich fuel (20) to the cell stack assembly (CSA) (12) after controlled mixing of a primary fuel (22) and at least a secondary fuel (24), each having a respective “equivalent hydrogen (H2) content”. The relative amounts of the primary fuel (22) and secondary fuel (24) mixed are regulated (18, 34, 36) to provide at least a minimum level (LL) of hydrogen-rich fuel having an equivalent hydrogen content sufficient for normal operation of the CSA (12). In one embodiment, the primary fuel (22) is a bio-gas or the like having a limited, possibly variable, equivalent H2 content, and the secondary fuel (22) has a greater and relatively constant equivalent H2 content and is mixed with the primary fuel in an economic, constant relationship that assures adequate performance of the CSA (12). In alternate embodiments, one or more parameters (IDC, P, V, E. C.) of the operating power plant (10) related to the equivalent H2 content of at least the primary fuel are sensed (72, 26, 78, 84, 176) and used to control (18, 36) the relative amounts of secondary and primary fuels (22, 24) mixed in response thereto.
24 Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a fuel cell power plant (10) having a fuel cell stack assembly (CSA) (12) and a fuel delivery system (16) for providing hydrogen-rich fuel (20) to the CSA (12), the fuel delivery system (16) including fuel blending means (28, 30, 37, 39) adapted to be connected to at least a primary fuel (22) having a respective equivalent hydrogen content and a secondary fuel (24) having a respective equivalent hydrogen content for mixing at least the secondary fuel (24) with the primary fuel (22) and control means (18) for regulating the relative amounts of the primary fuel and the secondary fuel mixed to provide the hydrogen-rich fuel, the improvement in the method of controlling the mixing of the primary fuel (22) and the secondary fuel (24), comprising the step(s) of:
regulating (18, 34, 36) the relative amounts of the primary fuel (22) and the secondary fuel (24) mixed so as to provide at least a minimum level (LL) of hydrogen-rich fuel having an equivalent hydrogen content sufficient for normal operation of the CSA (12). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification