Fuel cell system with partial recycling of anode exhaust
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a fuel cell system, comprising:
- providing a fuel inlet stream into a fuel cell stack;
operating the fuel cell stack to generate electricity and a fuel exhaust stream having a temperature above 200 C;
lowering a temperature of the fuel exhaust stream to 200 C or less;
separating the fuel exhaust stream into a first separated fuel exhaust stream and a second separated fuel exhaust stream; and
recycling the first separated fuel exhaust stream into the fuel inlet stream.
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Abstract
A method of operating a fuel cell system includes providing a fuel inlet stream into a fuel cell stack, operating the fuel cell stack to generate electricity and a hydrogen containing fuel exhaust stream having a temperature above 200 C, lowering a temperature of the fuel exhaust stream to 200 C or less, separating the fuel exhaust stream into a first separated fuel exhaust stream and a second separated fuel exhaust stream, and recycling the first separated fuel exhaust stream into the fuel inlet stream.
165 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating a fuel cell system, comprising:
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providing a fuel inlet stream into a fuel cell stack; operating the fuel cell stack to generate electricity and a fuel exhaust stream having a temperature above 200 C; lowering a temperature of the fuel exhaust stream to 200 C or less; separating the fuel exhaust stream into a first separated fuel exhaust stream and a second separated fuel exhaust stream; and recycling the first separated fuel exhaust stream into the fuel inlet stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating a fuel cell system, comprising:
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providing a fuel inlet stream into a fuel cell stack; operating the fuel cell stack to generate electricity and a hydrogen and steam containing fuel exhaust stream; controllably separating the fuel exhaust stream into a first separated fuel exhaust stream and a second separated fuel exhaust stream; and controllably recycling the first separated fuel exhaust stream into the fuel inlet stream. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A fuel cell system, comprising:
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a high temperature fuel cell stack; at least one device which is adapted to lower a temperature of a stack fuel exhaust stream from a temperature above 200 C to a temperature below 200 C; a fuel exhaust splitter device which is adapted to separate the fuel exhaust stream into a first separated fuel exhaust stream and a second separated fuel exhaust stream; and a low temperature blower adapted controllably recycle the first separated fuel exhaust stream having a temperature below 200 C into a fuel cell stack fuel inlet stream. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A fuel cell system, comprising:
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a high temperature fuel cell stack; a computer controlled multi-way valve which is adapted to controllably separate a fuel exhaust stream from the stack into a first separated fuel exhaust stream and a second separated fuel exhaust stream; and a computer controlled blower adapted controllably recycle the first separated fuel exhaust stream into a fuel cell stack fuel inlet stream. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification