Apparatus and methods for mixing reformable fuels and an oxygen-containing gas and/or steam

• US 9,774,050 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WATT Fuel Cell Corp.
• Original Assignee: WATT Fuel Cell Corp.
• Inventors: Finnerty, Caine, DeWald, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): SIDDIQUEE, MUHAMMAD S
• Application Number:
  US14/335,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20150024297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/10 Mixing gases with gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/3121 with additional mixing means other than injector mixers, e.g. screens, baffles or rotating elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31232 used simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/312532 Profiled, grooved, ribbed discharge conduit, or being provided with baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/006 Baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0073 Sealings sealings for pressure vessels per se F16J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/26 Nozzle-type reactors, i.e. the distribution of the initial reactants within the reactor is effected by their introduction or injection through nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00065 Pressure measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00162 controlling the pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00772 in a helix
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 4/002 Nozzle-type elements nozzle-type reactors B01J19/26
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1282 using static mixers
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/38 using catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0606 with means for production of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/141 Feedstock

Abstract

The present teachings provide apparatus and methods for mixing a reformable fuel and/or steam with an oxygen-containing gas and/or steam to provide a gaseous reforming reaction mixture suitable for reforming with a reformer and/or a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell unit and/or fuel cell system.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

a fluid mixing device, the fluid mixing device comprising;

a tube having an inlet, an outlet, and a throat located between the inlet and the outlet, wherein

the throat comprises a smaller internal diameter than the internal diameter of the outlet,

the longitudinal axis through the tube from the inlet to the outlet defines a downstream direction,

at least a portion of the internal wall of the tube between the throat and the outlet comprises a helical mixing structure around at least a circumference of the tube, at least a portion of the tube between the throat and the outlet increases in internal diameter which coincides with at least a portion of the helical mixing structure, and

the tube comprises one or more fuel inlets downstream from the throat;

a collar encompassing the one or more fuel inlets on the exterior surface of the tube and creating with the tube a fuel injection chamber in fluid communication with the one or more fuel inlets, wherein the collar comprises a fuel source inlet and isolates the one or more fuel inlets from the ambient environment exterior to the tube; and

at least one of a reformer and a fuel cell stack in fluid communication with the outlet of the tube.

2. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the internal wall of the tube upstream of and downstream of the throat comprises a helical mixing structure.

3. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the one or more fuel inlets comprise a series of holes, the series of holes providing fluid communication between the interior of the tube and the exterior of the tube.

4. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the one or more fuel inlets are defined by a porous barrier.

5. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the tube downstream from the throat comprises a ceramic.

6. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of internal wall of the tube downstream from the throat comprises a reforming catalyst.

7. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the internal diameter of the tube increases linearly or substantially linearly in the downstream direction from the throat at an angle of about 10°

or less as measured along the longitudinal axis.

8. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the internal wall of the tube comprises a step structure, the step structure being a depression or groove beginning upstream of the one or more fuel inlets and ending towards the outlet, and comprising one or more fuel inlets.

9. The fuel cell system of claim 1, comprising a first pressure tap and a second pressure tap, wherein each of the first pressure tap and the second pressure tap is located upstream from the one or more fuel inlets.

10. The fuel cell system of claim 1, comprising a source of oxygen-containing gas and/or steam in fluid communication with the inlet of the tube;

a source of reformable fuel and/or steam in fluid communication with the one or more fuel inlets; and

optionally, a source of positive gaseous pressure to deliver the oxygen-containing gas and/or steam to the inlet of and through the tube, wherein the source in communication with the inlet of the tube and the source in communication with the one or more fuel inlets are not both solely steam.

11. A fuel cell system comprising:

a fluid mixing device, the fluid mixing device comprising;

a tube having an inlet, an outlet, and a throat located between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the throat comprises a smaller internal diameter than the internal diameter of the outlet, the longitudinal axis through the tube from the inlet to the outlet defines a downstream direction, and the tube comprises one or more fuel inlets downstream from the throat;

a collar encompassing the one or more fuel inlets on the exterior surface of the tube, wherein the collar comprises a fuel source inlet in fluid communication with the one or more fuel inlets and isolates the one or more fuel inlets from the ambient environment exterior to the tube; and

at least one of a reformer and a fuel cell stack in fluid communication with the outlet of the tube.

12. The fuel cell system of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the internal wall of the tube between the throat and the outlet comprises a helical mixing structure.

13. The fuel cell system of claim 12, wherein the internal wall of the tube comprises a step structure, the step structure being a depression or groove beginning upstream of the one or more fuel inlets and ending towards the outlet, and comprising one or more fuel inlets.

14. The fuel cell system of claim 12, wherein the helical mixing structure defines independent rifling channels on at least a portion of the internal wall of the tube between the throat and the outlet, and each fuel inlet is associated with or coincides with an independent rifling channel.

15. The fuel cell system of claim 13, wherein the one or more fuel inlets comprise a series of holes, the series of holes providing fluid communication between the interior of the tube and the exterior of the tube and being perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube.

16. The fuel cell system of claim 15, wherein the helical mixing structure defines independent rifling channels on at least a portion of the internal wall of the tube between the throat and the outlet, and each fuel inlet is associated with or coincides with an independent rifling channel.

17. The fuel cell system of claim 16, comprising a first pressure tap and a second pressure tap, wherein each of the first pressure tap and the second pressure tap is located upstream from the one or more fuel inlets.

18. The fuel cell system of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of internal wall of the tube downstream from the throat comprises a reforming catalyst.

19. The fuel cell system of claim 11, wherein the collar creates with the tube a fuel injection chamber in fluid communication with the one or more fuel inlets.

20. The fuel cell system of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the internal wall of the tube upstream of the throat comprises a helical mixing structure and at least a portion of internal wall downstream of the throat comprises a helical mixing structure.