SORFC system and method with an exothermic net electrolysis reaction
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a terrestrial solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system comprising:
- operating the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system in a fuel cell mode to generate power; and
operating the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system in an electrolysis mode to generate oxygen and a hydrocarbon fuel;
wherein;
the step of operating the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system in the electrolysis mode comprises providing power, carbon dioxide and water vapor to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell and generating the oxygen and the hydrocarbon fuel;
the step of operating the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system in the fuel cell mode comprises providing oxidizer and the hydrocarbon fuel to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell and releasing carbon dioxide and water vapor from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell;
the hydrocarbon fuel comprises methane; and
the step of generating the oxygen and the hydrocarbon fuel comprises;
providing hydrogen and carbon monoxide emitted from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell into a Sabatier reactor; and
converting the hydrogen and carbon monoxide to methane and water vapor in the Sabatier reactor.
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Abstract
A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system is used to supply power in a fuel cell mode and to generate a hydrocarbon fuel in an electrolysis mode. The system includes a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell and a reactor adapted to convert an exhaust emitted from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell to a hydrocarbon gas when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operates in an electrolysis mode.
70 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of operating a terrestrial solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system comprising:
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operating the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system in a fuel cell mode to generate power; and operating the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system in an electrolysis mode to generate oxygen and a hydrocarbon fuel; wherein; the step of operating the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system in the electrolysis mode comprises providing power, carbon dioxide and water vapor to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell and generating the oxygen and the hydrocarbon fuel; the step of operating the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system in the fuel cell mode comprises providing oxidizer and the hydrocarbon fuel to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell and releasing carbon dioxide and water vapor from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell; the hydrocarbon fuel comprises methane; and the step of generating the oxygen and the hydrocarbon fuel comprises; providing hydrogen and carbon monoxide emitted from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell into a Sabatier reactor; and converting the hydrogen and carbon monoxide to methane and water vapor in the Sabatier reactor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of operating a terrestrial solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system, comprising:
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providing an inlet gas stream into a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operating in an electrolysis mode; providing an exhaust gas stream from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell into a reactor; converting the exhaust gas stream emitted from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell to a hydrocarbon gas in an exothermic reaction; transferring heat from an exothermic reaction to the inlet gas stream; and further comprising operating the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell in a fuel cell mode to generate power; wherein; the step of operating the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell in the electrolysis mode comprises providing power, carbon dioxide and water vapor to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell and generating the oxygen and the hydrocarbon gas in the reactor; the step of operating the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell in the fuel cell mode comprises providing oxidizer and a hydrocarbon fuel to the fuel cell and releasing carbon dioxide and water vapor from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell; the hydrocarbon fuel comprises methane; the step of providing the exhaust gas stream from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell into a reactor comprises providing hydrogen and carbon monoxide emitted from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell into a Sabatier reactor; the step of converting the exhaust gas emitted from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell to a hydrocarbon gas in an exothermic reaction comprises converting the hydrogen and carbon monoxide to methane and water vapor in the Sabatier reactor; and the step of transferring heat from an exothermic reaction to the inlet gas stream comprises passing the inlet gas stream through a heat exchanger located in a Sabatier reactor subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification