Intergrated solid oxide fuel cell and fuel processor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fuel cell unit comprising:
- a plurality of angularly spaced fuel cell stacks arranged to form a ring-shaped structure about a central axis, each of the fuel cell stacks having a stacking direction extending parallel to the central axis; and
an unperforated fuel reformer which is located in a middle of the ring shaped structure and which is surrounded by the fuel cell stacks.
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Abstract
An integrated fuel cell unit (10) includes an annular array (12) of fuel cell stacks (14), an annular cathode recuperator (20), an annular anode recuperator (22), a reformer (24), and an anode exhaust cooler (26), all integrated within a common housing structure (28).
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A fuel cell unit comprising:
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a plurality of angularly spaced fuel cell stacks arranged to form a ring-shaped structure about a central axis, each of the fuel cell stacks having a stacking direction extending parallel to the central axis; and
an unperforated fuel reformer which is located in a middle of the ring shaped structure and which is surrounded by the fuel cell stacks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A fuel cell unit comprising:
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an annular array of fuel cell stacks surrounding a central axis, with each of the fuel cell stacks having a stacking direction extending parallel to the central axis; and
an unperforated fuel reformer which is located in a middle of the annular array and which is surrounded by the fuel cell stacks. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating fuel cell unit comprising an annular array of fuel cell stacks surrounding a central axis, with each of the fuel cell stacks having a stacking direction extending parallel to the central axis, and a fuel reformer which is located in a middle of the annular array and which is surrounded by the fuel cell stacks, the method comprising:
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providing an unreformed fuel into the reformer, passing the unreformed fuel through the reformer to form a reformed fuel; and
providing the reformed fuel into each of the fuel cell stacks from one end of each fuel cell stack. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification