Hydrocarbon reformer performance sensing system

• US 20050170226A1
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Peschke, Norm, Peschke, Sandra H., Wang, Da Yu, Kralick, James H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,305,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: N/A
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04228 during shut-down
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04303 applied during shut-down
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

In a fuel cell system, a reformer supplies reformate to a fuel cell stack. A portion of the reformate flow is diverted for analysis by a hydrocarbon analysis system. Residual hydrocarbons in the reformate may damage the anodes of the fuel cell stack. Although incompletely-reformed reformate may include a variety of hydrocarbon compounds, the invention simply measures methane as an indicator of the overall performance level of the reformer. A currently preferred embodiment includes a catalytic combustion methane sensor. Combustion air and reformate are delivered in a fixed ratio to the sensor via positive displacement pumps. The system can provide alarm means or optionally a shut-off means to protect a fuel cell stack from elevated levels of hydrocarbons in the reformate stream.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the performance of a hydrocarbon reformer, comprising:

a) a quantitative hydrocarbon sensor; and

b) means for providing a sample of the reformate output of said reformer to said sensor.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sample providing is continuous.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon is is methane.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon sensor is selected from the group consisting of catalytic, optical, and solid oxide electrode.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for providing air to said sensor.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5 further comprising means for combining said air and said reformate sample in a fixed and predetermined ratio.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means for combining includes at least one positive displacement pump.

8. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means for combining includes a double-headed positive displacement pump.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said reformer is a source of gaseous fuel for a fuel cell.

10. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for displaying and alarming the methane content of said reformate sample.

11. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for shutting down said fuel cell.

12. A fuel cell system, comprising:

a) a fuel cell stack;

b) a hydrocarbon reformer for supplying gaseous fuel in the form of reformate to said stack;

c) a quantitative hydrocarbon sensor for measuring hydrocarbon content of said reformate; and

b) means for providing a sample of said reformate to said sensor.