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Combined heat and power system

  • US 20060199051A1
  • Filed: 03/07/2005
  • Published: 09/07/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A method of initiating operation of a fuel cell system having a fuel processor for generating hydrogen from a hydrocarbon fuel, and a high temperature hydrogen fuel cell, the method comprising:

  • preheating the fuel processor to perform without risk of catalyst damage and deactivation due to reasons including water condensation and CO poisoning using electric heaters and a gas burner;

    preheating a fuel cell stack of said fuel cell to a first preferred temperature by electric heaters, above which water in reformate will not be condensed over high temperature membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) of said fuel cell stack to cause acid washout;

    operating said fuel processor to begin hydrogen generation while feeding hydrogen back into said gas burner as required;

    feeding hydrogen gas from said fuel processor at a second preferred temperature to preheat said fuel cell stack while drawing no substantial current from said fuel cell stack by operating said fuel processor under self-sustainable conditions, said second temperature being a temperature above which current can be safely drawn without damaging said high temperature MEA;

    preheating said fuel cell stack to its operation temperature by stack self-preheating; and

    subjecting said fuel cell to normal operation after reaching said operation temperature.

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