Fuel cell system containing anode tail gas oxidizer and hybrid heat exchanger/reformer

• US 8,535,839 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Inventors: Perry, Martin, Venkataraman, Swaminathan
• Primary Examiner(s): ZARROLI, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US13/619,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20130011757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 429/13, 429/419, 429/423
• US Class Current: 429/423
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04014 Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0631 Reactor construction specially adapted for combination reactor/fuel cell hydrogen C01B3/00; reactors for physicochemical processes B01J19/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell stack, a fuel inlet conduit, and a fuel heat exchanger containing a fuel reformation catalyst. The fuel heat exchanger is connected to the fuel inlet conduit and to at least one fuel cell system exhaust conduit which in operation provides a high temperature exhaust stream to the fuel heat exchanger. The fuel heat exchanger is thermally integrated with an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) exhaust conduit such that in operation an ATO exhaust stream in the ATO exhaust conduit heats a fuel inlet stream passing through the heat exchanger.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system, comprising:

at least one fuel cell stack;

an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO);

an ATO exhaust conduit; and

at least one device selected from a fuel heat exchanger, an external reformer, or a fuel heat exchanger containing a fuel reformation catalyst;

wherein the at least one device is thermally integrated with the ATO exhaust conduit such that in operation an ATO exhaust stream in the ATO exhaust conduit heats a fuel inlet stream passing through the at least one device;

wherein the at least one device comprises the fuel heat exchanger containing a fuel reformation catalyst; and

wherein the fuel heat exchanger is connected to a fuel exhaust conduit which in operation provides a fuel exhaust stream from the at least one fuel cell stack to the fuel heat exchanger, and the at least one fuel cell stack comprises at least one SOFC stack.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel heat exchanger shares at least one wall with the ATO exhaust conduit.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a hydrocarbon fuel source connected to the fuel inlet conduit.