SOFC hot box components

• US 8,563,180 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2012
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Inventors: Perry, Martin, Weingaertner, David, Basu, Nilanjana, Petrucha, Michael, Lyle, William David, Krishnan, Navaneetha, Gottmann, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruddock, Ula C
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARK, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US13/344,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20120196194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 429/466, 429/434, 429/436, 429/410
• US Class Current: 429/410
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0018 without any annular circulation of the heat exchange media
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0025 the conduits being formed by zig-zag bend plates
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/02 Header boxes; End plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1293 Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0074 Ion conductive at high temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0297 Arrangements for joining electrodes, reservoir layers, heat exchange units or bipolar separators to each other H01M8/0271 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04022 Heating by combustion
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04052 Storage of heat in the fuel cell system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04067 Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04074 Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04097 with recycling of the reactants H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04268 Heating of fuel cells during the start-up of the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0662 Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/12 operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/24 Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2425 High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/243 Grouping of unit cells of tubular or cylindrical configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2432 Grouping of unit cells of planar configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells

Abstract

Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components.

Claims

1. A cathode recuperator uni-shell comprising a monolithic assembly comprising a single cylindrical corrugated fin plate;

a top enclosure comprising a finger plate; and

a bottom enclosure comprising a finger plate, wherein the finger plates comprise finger shaped extensions consisting of finger plate extensions which only cover every other corrugation of the cylindrical corrugated fin plate;

wherein the cathode recuperator uni-shell is configured so that a first fluid flows on one side of the single cylindrical corrugated fin plate and a second fluid flows on an opposite side of the single cylindrical corrugated fin plate.

2. The cathode recuperator uni-shell of claim 1, wherein the finger shaped extensions of the top enclosure are offset one corrugation from the finger shaped extensions of the bottom enclosure.

3. The cathode recuperator uni-shell of claim 2,

wherein the top enclosure and the bottom enclosure are configured to force the first fluid and the second fluid to make a non-zero angle turn before flowing along the single cylindrical corrugated fin plate.

4. The cathode recuperator uni-shell of claim 3, wherein the non-zero angle turn comprises a turn of about 90 degrees from radial flow direction to an axial flow direction with respect to the cathode recuperator uni-shell having a cylindrical shape.

5. The cathode recuperator uni-shell of claim 1, further comprising a steam generator located above the cathode recuperator uni-shell.

6. The cathode recuperator uni-shell of claim 5, wherein the steam generator is located between an inner lid and an outer lid of the cathode recuperator uni-shell or in an exit plenum of the cathode recuperator.

7. The cathode recuperator uni-shell of claim 5, wherein the steam generator comprises a steam generator coil, the steam generator coil is in fluid communication with a cathode exhaust outlet of the cathode recuperator to allow conversion of water to steam in the coil using heat of a stack cathode exhaust stream exiting the outlet of the cathode recuperator.

8. The cathode recuperator uni-shell of claim 7, wherein the steam generator coil is supported by a baffle plate.