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Multi-stream heat exchanger for a fuel cell system

  • US 9,401,517 B2
  • Filed: 03/26/2013
  • Issued: 07/26/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A fuel cell system, comprising:

  • a fuel cell stack;

    a fuel inlet conduit configured to provide a fuel inlet stream into the fuel cell system;

    an air inlet conduit configured to provide an air inlet stream into the fuel cell system;

    an anode tail gas oxidizer;

    a cathode exhaust conduit configured to provide a cathode exhaust stream from the fuel cell stack into the anode tail gas oxidizer;

    an anode recuperator heat exchanger;

    an anode exhaust conduit configured to provide an anode exhaust stream from the fuel cell stack into the anode recuperator to heat the fuel inlet stream;

    a splitter configured to split the anode exhaust stream after it exits the anode recuperator into a first anode exhaust stream and a second anode exhaust stream;

    a tail gas conduit configured to provide the first anode exhaust stream from the splitter into the anode tail gas oxidizer;

    an air preheater heat exchanger;

    an anode recycle conduit configured to provide the second anode exhaust stream from the splitter into the air preheater to preheat the air inlet stream;

    an anode outlet conduit configured to recycle the second anode exhaust stream from the air preheater into the fuel inlet stream;

    a cathode recuperator heat exchanger;

    an anode tail gas oxidizer exhaust conduit configured to provide an anode tail gas oxidizer exhaust stream into the cathode recuperator to heat the air inlet stream;

    a steam generator;

    a steam generator inlet conduit configured to provide the anode tail gas oxidizer exhaust stream from the cathode recuperator to the steam generator to generate steam; and

    a steam generator outlet conduit configured to provide the steam from the steam generator into the fuel inlet stream;

    wherein the splitter is located upstream of the air preheater such that the first anode exhaust stream does not pass through the air preheater; and

    wherein the splitter is located in a hot box containing the fuel cell stack, such that the first anode exhaust stream is provided directly from the splitter into the anode tail gas oxidizer without passing through the air preheater or outside the hot box.

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