High temperature fuel cell system and method of operating same
First Claim
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1. A solid oxide fuel cell system, comprising:
- a plurality of solid oxide fuel cell stacks;
a first means for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel to a hydrogen containing reaction product and for providing the reaction product to the stacks; and
a second means for heating the first means, wherein the first means surrounds the second means and is thermally integrated with the second means, and wherein the first means is further heated by a cathode exhaust of the stacks and at least one of radiative and convective heating from the stacks, wherein the plurality of solid oxide fuel cell stacks surround the first means and wherein at least one wall of the first means in combination with the stacks form a cathode exhaust conduit of the stacks.
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Abstract
A high temperature fuel cell stack system, such as a solid oxide fuel cell system, with an improved balance of plant efficiency includes a thermally integrated reformer, combustor and the fuel cell stack.
89 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A solid oxide fuel cell system, comprising:
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a plurality of solid oxide fuel cell stacks; a first means for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel to a hydrogen containing reaction product and for providing the reaction product to the stacks; and a second means for heating the first means, wherein the first means surrounds the second means and is thermally integrated with the second means, and wherein the first means is further heated by a cathode exhaust of the stacks and at least one of radiative and convective heating from the stacks, wherein the plurality of solid oxide fuel cell stacks surround the first means and wherein at least one wall of the first means in combination with the stacks form a cathode exhaust conduit of the stacks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification