Hot box design with a multi-stream heat exchanger and single air control
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a fuel cell stack module, comprising:
- providing a fuel inlet stream and an air inlet stream to a plurality of fuel cell stacks, wherein the plurality of fuel cell stacks is an annular array surrounding a central axis with each of the fuel cell stacks having a stacking direction extending parallel to the central axis;
providing an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) fuel inlet and a cathode exhaust stream from the plurality of fuel cell stacks into an ATO, wherein the ATO is located in the middle of the annular array and in a heat transfer relationship with the plurality of fuel cell stacks; and
providing an ATO exhaust stream from the ATO to heat the fuel inlet stream and the air inlet stream via heat exchange between the ATO exhaust stream and the fuel and air inlet streams, wherein the heat exchange occurs across a surface between the ATO exhaust stream and each of the fuel and air inlet streams.
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Abstract
A fuel cell stack module includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks, an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) which is located in a heat transfer relationship with the plurality of fuel cell stacks, a base supporting the plurality of fuel cell stacks and the ATO, and at least one heat exchanger located in the base. An ATO exhaust stream and an anode exhaust stream from the fuel cell stacks heat the stack fuel and air inlet streams in a multi-stream heat exchanger.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of operating a fuel cell stack module, comprising:
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providing a fuel inlet stream and an air inlet stream to a plurality of fuel cell stacks, wherein the plurality of fuel cell stacks is an annular array surrounding a central axis with each of the fuel cell stacks having a stacking direction extending parallel to the central axis; providing an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) fuel inlet and a cathode exhaust stream from the plurality of fuel cell stacks into an ATO, wherein the ATO is located in the middle of the annular array and in a heat transfer relationship with the plurality of fuel cell stacks; and providing an ATO exhaust stream from the ATO to heat the fuel inlet stream and the air inlet stream via heat exchange between the ATO exhaust stream and the fuel and air inlet streams, wherein the heat exchange occurs across a surface between the ATO exhaust stream and each of the fuel and air inlet streams. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification