Fuel cell evaporative cooling using fuel as a carrier gas

• US 4,994,331 A
• Filed: 08/28/1989
• Issued: 02/19/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Fuel Cells Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Fuel Cells Corporation
• Inventors: Cohen, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US07/399,680
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 429/17, 429/20, 429/26, 423/652
• US Class Current: 429/420
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04119 with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Removal of waste heat from a fuel cell is necessary for continuous operation. Evaporation, can be used to remove the heat produced by the exothermic reaction within the fuel cell. Water sprayed into a gaseous fuel stream is evaporated in an evaporative cooler adjacent to the fuel cell. The fuel/steam stream can then be utilized in the various other fuel cell system operations.

Claims

1. A method of cooling a fuel cell, said method using a fuel stream, water, a fuel cell, and an evaporative cooler, which comprises:

a. spraying water into the fuel stream to form mist, wherein the fuel acts as a carrier gas;

b. introducing the fuel/mist stream to the evaporative cooler;

c. evaporating the water into the fuel stream using the evaporative cooler;

d. locating said evaporative cooler adjacent to the fuel cell;

whereby the exothermic reaction occurring within the fuel cell produces the heat which causes the water to evaporate;

a phase change which absorbs the heat, cooling the fuel cell.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the fuel is selected from the group consisting of propane, methane, naphtha, natural gas, and mixtures thereof.

3. A method of producing hydrogen, said method using a fuel stream into which water has been evaporated in an evaporative cooler, and a reformer, which comprises:

a. introducing the fuel stream to the reformer;

b. reacting the water and the fuel to form hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide.

4. A method as in claim 3 wherein the fuel is selected from the group consisting of propane, methane, naphtha, natural gas, and mixtures thereof.

5. A method of producing hydrogen, said method using a low temperature shift converter, and a fuel steam, said stream containing fuel, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and water which has been evaporated into the stream, in an evaporative cooler which comprises:

a. introducing the fuel/steam stream to the low temperature shift converter;

b. reacting the steam and the carbon monoxide to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

6. A method as in claim 5 wherein the fuel is selected from the group consisting of propane, methane, naphtha, natural gas, and mixtures thereof.

7. In a method of operating a fuel cell system, said system having a fuel stream, water, fuel, air, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, a hydro desulfurizer, a reformer, a low temperature shift converter, an evaporative cooler, means for heating, a contact cooler, a condenser, an exhaust, a fuel cell, said fuel cell having an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, which comprises:

a. preheating stream;

b. desulfurizing the fuel stream;

c. spraying water into the fuel stream to form mist;

d. evaporating the water into the fuel stream using an evaporative cooler, wherein the stream becomes a fuel/steam stream;

e. using a condenser to condense excess steam out of the fuel/steam stream;

f. pre-heating the fuel/steam stream;

g. using a reformer to produce hydrogen, wherein the fuel/steam stream is introduced to the reformer where the fuel and steam react such that hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide are among the products;

h. using a low temperature shift converter to react the steam and the carbon monoxide, wherein hydrogen and carbon dioxide are among the products;

i. introducing the fuel stream to the anode chamber of the fuel cell as air is simultaneously introduced to the cathode chamber, wherein the reaction which occurs depletes the fuel/steam of hydrogen;

j. burning the remaining hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and fuel out of the fuel/steam stream, wherein the fuel/steam stream becomes essentially steam and carbon dioxide.

k. using a contact cooler to condense the steam out of the fuel/steam stream, wherein the water is recycled and the carbon dioxide is released through an exhaust.

8. A method as in claim 7 wherein the fuel is selected from the group consisting of methane, propane, naphtha, natural gas, and mixtures thereof.

9. A fuel cell system for generating electricity, which comprises:

a. means for preheating a fuel stream containing a gaseous fuel prior to entering an evaporative cooler;

b. means for removing sulfur from the fuel stream prior to the fuel stream entering said evaporative cooler;

c. means for spraying water into the fuel stream prior to the fuel stream entering said evaporative cooler;

d. means for delivering the fuel/water stream to the evaporative cooler located adjacent to a fuel cell, wherein the evaporative cooler uses heat from the fuel cell to cause the water to evaporate into the fuel/water stream, forming steam;

e. means for removing excess steam from the fuel/steam stream after the fuel/steam stream exits the evaporative cooler;

f. means for heating the fuel/steam stream after the fuel/steam stream exits the evaporative cooler;

g. means for reforming the fuel/steam stream before the fuel/steam stream enters the fuel cell, wherein hydrogen and carbon monoxide are among the reaction products;

h. a shift converter for reacting steam and carbon monoxide to form hydrogen and other products before the fuel/steam stream enters the fuel cell;

i. a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells connected in series through a load, each cell comprising a cathode electrode, an anode electrode and electrolyte therebetween, a cathode chamber on the nonelectrolyte side of said cathode electrode and an anode chamber on the nonelectrolyte side of said anode electrode;

j. a burner where remaining fuel, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide from the fuel cell are burned with preheated air, wherein waste heat produced in the burner is used to preheat the air;

k. means for condensing any steam in the system to water; and

l. an exhaust for venting by-product gases.

10. A fuel cell system as in claim 9 wherein the fuel is selected from the group consisting of methane, propane, naphtha, natural gas, and mixtures thereof.

11. A fuel cell system, which comprises:

a. a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells connected in series through a load, each cell comprising a cathode electrode, an anode electrode and electrolyte therebetween, a cathode chamber on the nonelectrolyte side of said cathode electrode and an anode chamber on the nonelectrolyte side of said anode electrode;

b. at least one evaporative cooler located adjacent to at least one fuel cell;

c. a means for spraying water into a fuel stream before said fuel stream enters said evaporative cooler;

d. a means for introducing the fuel/water stream to the evaporative cooler;

whereby an exothermic reaction occurring within the fuel cell produces heat which causes the water in the evaporative cooler to evaporate, cooling the fuel cell.