Integral reactor system and method for fuel cells
First Claim
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1. A reactor system for a fuel cell having an anode-side cavity, comprising:
- a fuel delivery element comprising one or more walls forming a fuel passage, a fuel inlet at one end of the fuel passage, and a fuel outlet at an opposite end of the fuel passage;
the fuel delivery element configured to deliver fuel through the fuel outlet into the cavity of the fuel cell and to induce recirculation of partially utilized anode gas within the cavity or into the fuel passage, the fuel delivery element including a reforming section configured to reform a hydrocarbon fuel to a smaller species in the presence of an oxidant.
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Abstract
A reactor system is integrated internally within an anode-side cavity of a fuel cell. The reactor system is configured to convert higher hydrocarbons to smaller species while mitigating the lower production of solid carbon. The reactor system may incorporate one or more of a pre-reforming section, an anode exhaust gas recirculation device, and a reforming section.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A reactor system for a fuel cell having an anode-side cavity, comprising:
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a fuel delivery element comprising one or more walls forming a fuel passage, a fuel inlet at one end of the fuel passage, and a fuel outlet at an opposite end of the fuel passage; the fuel delivery element configured to deliver fuel through the fuel outlet into the cavity of the fuel cell and to induce recirculation of partially utilized anode gas within the cavity or into the fuel passage, the fuel delivery element including a reforming section configured to reform a hydrocarbon fuel to a smaller species in the presence of an oxidant. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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2. A reactor system for a fuel cell having an anode-side cavity comprising:
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a fuel delivery element comprising one or more walls forming a fuel passage, a fuel inlet at one end of the fuel passage, and a fuel outlet at an opposite end of the fuel passage; the fuel delivery element configured to deliver fuel through the fuel outlet into the cavity of the fuel cell and to induce recirculation of partially utilized anode gas within the cavity or into the fuel passage, wherein the fuel delivery element is operative to convert a higher hydrocarbon fuel to a smaller species.
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3. A reactor system for a fuel cell having an anode-side cavity comprising:
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a fuel delivery element comprising one or more walls forming a fuel passage, a fuel inlet at one end of the fuel passage, and a fuel outlet at an opposite end of the fuel passage; the fuel delivery element configured to deliver fuel through the fuel outlet into the cavity of the fuel cell and to induce recirculation of partially utilized anode gas within the cavity or into the fuel passage, wherein the fuel delivery element is operative to lower production of solid carbon.
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25. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell including an anode-side cavity; and a reactor system comprising; a fuel delivery element comprising one or more walls forming a fuel passage, a fuel inlet at one end of the fuel passage, and a fuel outlet at an opposite end of the fuel passage, the fuel delivery element configured to deliver fuel through the fuel outlet into the cavity of the fuel cell and to induce recirculation of partially utilized anode gas within the cavity or into the fuel passage, wherein the fuel delivery element is operative to convert a higher hydrocarbon fuel to a smaller species, and wherein the reactor system is disposed to eject fuel into the anode-side cavity of the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method for delivering a fuel stream in a fuel cell system, comprising the steps of:
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providing a solid oxide fuel cell system comprising one or a plurality of tubular fuel cells, each fuel cell comprising an anode-side cavity; introducing a fuel into the cavity of each of the fuel cells through a fuel delivery tube having an inlet in fluid communication with a fuel source and an outlet within the cavity, the fuel delivery tube configured to induce recirculation of anode gas within the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification