SOFC hot box components

• US 8,877,399 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2012
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Inventors: Weingaertner, David, Petrucha, Michael, Perry, Martin, Edmonston, David, Bains, Virpaul, Ta, Andy, Krishnan, Navaneetha
• Primary Examiner(s): Huff, Mark F
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEKIA, OMAR M
• Application Number:
  US13/344,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20120202130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 429/429, 429/433, 429/434, 429/435, 429/436, 429/439, 429/440, 429/495, 429/512, 429/515, 429/408, 429/428, 429/443, 429/479, 429/488, 165/66, 165/165
• US Class Current: 429/434
• 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 fuel cell system comprising:

a cathode recuperator uni-shell comprising a monolithic assembly comprising a single plate, a top enclosure, and a bottom enclosure, wherein the cathode recuperator uni-shell is configured so that a first fluid flows on one side of the single plate and a second fluid flows on an opposite side of the single plate;

a column of solid oxide fuel cell stacks; and

column support which provides internal compression to the column of solid oxide fuel cell stacks;

wherein the cathode recuperator uni-shell rests on the column support which provides internal compression to the column of solid oxide fuel cell stacks; and

wherein the column support comprises ceramic baffle plates on sides of the column of solid oxide fuel coil stacks and a ceramic leaf spring located over the column of solid oxide fuel stacks on which the uni-shell rests.

2. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the single plate comprises a cylindrical corrugated fin plate.

3. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the top enclosure comprises a finger plate or end cap and the bottom enclosure comprises a finger plate of end cap.

4. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the first fluid comprises a fuel cell stack cathode exhaust stream and the second fluid comprises a fuel cell stack cathode inlet air stream.

5. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the cathode exhaust stream comprises an anode tail oxidizer exhaust stream.

6. The fuel cell system of claim 1, further comprising an expansion bellows in a cylinder supporting the cathode recuperator uni-shell.