FUEL CELL HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A method of altering the temperature of off-gases exiting at least one fuel cell stack, the at least one fuel cell stack having separate anode and cathode off-gas flow paths, the method comprising:
- passing separate anode off-gas from the at least one fuel cell stack and at least one heat transfer fluid through a first heat exchange element to exchange heat between the anode off-gas and the at least one heat transfer fluid;
passing the separate anode off-gas from the first heat exchange element to a burner; and
passing the separate cathode off-gas exiting the at least one fuel cell stack into said burner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided for exchanging heat in fuel cell systems (100) in which the anode and cathode off-gases are provided with separated flow paths. In one embodiment, where a fuel cell stack (110) has separate anode and cathode off-gas flow paths, separate anode off-gas from the at least one fuel cell stack (110) and at least one heat transfer fluid are passed through a first heat exchange element (126) to exchange heat between the anode off-gas and the heat transfer fluid. The cathode off-gas exiting the at least one fuel cell stack is then combined with the anode off-gas from the heat exchange element (126) in a burner and burned.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of altering the temperature of off-gases exiting at least one fuel cell stack, the at least one fuel cell stack having separate anode and cathode off-gas flow paths, the method comprising:
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passing separate anode off-gas from the at least one fuel cell stack and at least one heat transfer fluid through a first heat exchange element to exchange heat between the anode off-gas and the at least one heat transfer fluid; passing the separate anode off-gas from the first heat exchange element to a burner; and passing the separate cathode off-gas exiting the at least one fuel cell stack into said burner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A fuel cell system, comprising:
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at least one fuel cell stack having separate outlets and flow paths for flow of anode and cathode off-gases respectively; a first heat exchange element coupled to receive anode off-gas which has been output from the at least one fuel cell stack anode off-gas outlet, the first heat exchange element for exchanging heat between the anode off-gas from the at least one fuel cell stack and the at least one heat transfer fluid; and a burner configured to receive and combine anode off-gas exiting the first heat exchange element and cathode off-gas exiting the at least one fuel cell stack and combust same to produce burner off-gas. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. In a fuel cell system having separate anode and cathode off-gas outlets and flow paths from at least one fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger system comprising:
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a first condensing heat exchange element coupled to receive anode off-gas from the anode off-gas outlet of the at least one fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system and heat transfer fluid, and output cooled anode off-gas, condensate from the anode off-gas and warmed heat transfer fluid from the first heat exchange element; and a burner coupled to the first heat exchange element to receive cooled anode off-gas from the first heat exchange element and cathode off-gas exiting the at least one fuel cell stack and combust same to produce burner off-gas.
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38. In a fuel cell system having separate anode and cathode off-gas outlets and flow paths from at least one fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger system comprising:
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a first condensing heat exchange element coupled to receive anode off-gas from the anode off-gas outlet of the at least one fuel cell stack and heat transfer fluid, and output cooled anode off-gas, condensate from the anode off-gas and warmed heat transfer fluid from the first heat exchange element; a burner coupled to the first heat exchange element to receive cooled anode off-gas from the first heat exchange element and cathode off-gas exiting the at least one fuel cell stack and combust same to produce burner off-gas; and a second condensing heat exchange element coupled to receive burner off-gas, and the heat transfer fluid, and output cooled burner off-gas, condensate from the burner off-gas and warmed heat transfer fluid from the second heat exchange element.
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39. In a fuel cell system having separate anode and cathode off-gas outlets and flow paths from at least one fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger system comprising:
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a first condensing heat exchange element coupled to receive anode off-gas from the anode off-gas outlet of the at least one fuel cell stack and heat transfer fluid, and output cooled anode off-gas, condensate from the anode off-gas and warmed heat transfer fluid from the first heat exchange element; a burner coupled to the first heat exchange element to receive cooled anode off-gas from the first heat exchange element and cathode off-gas exiting the at least one fuel cell stack and combust same to produce burner off-gas; a second condensing heat exchange element coupled to receive burner off-gas, and the heat transfer fluid, and output cooled burner off-gas, condensate from the burner off-gas and warmed heat transfer fluid from the second heat exchange element; and a further heat exchange element coupled in the anode off-gas fluid flow path between at least one fuel cell stack and the first heat exchange element, configured to reduce the temperature of the anode off-gas passing therethrough before it enters the first heat exchange element.
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40. In a fuel cell system having separate anode and cathode off-gas outlets and flow paths from at least one fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger system comprising:
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a first condensing heat exchange element coupled to receive anode off-gas from the anode off-gas outlet of the at least one fuel cell stack and at least one heat transfer fluid, and output cooled anode off-gas, condensate from the anode off-gas and warmed heat transfer fluid from the first heat exchange element; and a further heat exchange element coupled in the anode off-gas fluid flow path between at least one fuel cell stack and the first heat exchange element, configured to reduce the temperature of the anode off-gas passing therethrough before it enters the first heat exchange element.
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41. A method of altering the temperature of off-gases exiting at least one fuel cell stack, the at least one fuel cell stack having separate anode and cathode off-gas flow paths, the method comprising:
passing separate anode off-gas from the at least one fuel cell stack and heat transfer fluid through a first heat exchange element to exchange heat between the anode off-gas and the heat transfer fluid.
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42. In a fuel cell system having separate anode and cathode off-gas outlets and flow paths from at least one fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger system comprising a first condensing heat exchange element coupled to receive anode off-gas from the anode off-gas outlet of the at least one fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system and heat transfer fluid, and output cooled anode off-gas, condensate from the anode off-gas and warmed heat transfer fluid from the first heat exchange element.
Specification