Abstract:
A high-lithium carbonate electrolyte formed from a eutectic carbonate mixture including lithium carbonate and from an additional lithium-containing component adapted to form lithium carbonate during at least one of initial heat up and operation of the fuel cell.
Abstract:
A fuel reformer having an enclosure with first and second opposing surfaces, a sidewall connecting the first and second opposing surfaces and an inlet port and an outlet port in the sidewall. A plate assembly supporting a catalyst and baffles are also disposed in the enclosure. A main baffle extends into the enclosure from a point of the sidewall between the inlet and outlet ports. The main baffle cooperates with the enclosure and the plate assembly to establish a path for the flow of fuel gas through the reformer from the inlet port to the outlet port. At least a first directing baffle extends in the enclosure from one of the sidewall and the main baffle and cooperates with the plate assembly and the enclosure to alter the gas flow path. Desired graded catalyst loading pattern has been defined for optimized thermal management for the internal reforming high temperature fuel cells so as to achieve high cell performance.
Abstract:
An end unit for a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cell stacked in a first direction, the end unit for stacking in the first direction adjacent an end fuel cell in the fuel cell stack. The end unit separates a current collection post from the end cell of the fuel cell stack and comprises a first wall being adjacent the end cell when the end unit is stacked in the first direction in the fuel cell stack, a second wall opposing the first wall and adjacent the current collection post when the end unit is stacked in the first direction in the stack, a first side wall connecting the first and second walls, a second side wall transverse to the first side wall and connecting the first and second walls, a third side wall opposing the first side wall and connecting the first and second walls, a fourth side wall opposing the second side wall and connecting the first and second walls, with the first and second walls and the first, second, third and fourth side walls forming an enclosure, and a plurality of electrically conductive posts disposed within the enclosure and extending between the first and second walls for providing a structure which restricts electrical current flow from the first fuel cell stack to the current collection post when the end unit is stacked in the first direction in the fuel cell stack.
Abstract:
A fuel cell cathode comprising a cathode body having rib regions and base regions which connect the rib regions, the rib regions being of greater thickness and of less porosity than the base regions.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells that each contain a plurality of fuel electrodes and air electrodes. The system includes a fuel receiving unit connected to the fuel cell stack, which receives a hydrocarbon fuel from a fuel supply. The system includes a fuel exhaust processing unit fluidly coupled to the fuel cell stack by a slip stream, where the fuel exhaust processing unit processes fuel exhaust from the fuel cell stack, and the slip stream is fluidly connected to an exhaust stream flowing from the fuel cell stack. The fuel processing unit removes a first portion of carbon dioxide (CO2) from fuel exhaust within the slip stream, outputs the first portion of CO2 in a first stream, and outputs a second portion of CO2 remaining from the fuel exhaust in the slip stream into a second stream, which includes hydrogen.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell. The fuel cell includes an anode having an anode inlet configured to receive anode feed gas, and an anode outlet configured to output anode exhaust. The fuel cell further includes a cathode having a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet. The fuel cell system further includes an anode blower configured to receive the anode exhaust and output a higher-pressure anode exhaust. The fuel cell system further includes an anode blower recycle line configured to receive a portion of the higher-pressure anode exhaust downstream from the anode blower and to output the portion of the higher-pressure anode exhaust upstream from the anode blower. The fuel cell system further includes a first valve disposed in the blower recycle line, the first valve configured to open when the anode of the fuel cell is under-pressurized.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell. The fuel cell includes an anode having an anode inlet configured to receive anode feed gas, and an anode outlet configured to output anode exhaust. The fuel cell further includes a cathode having a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet. The fuel cell system further includes an anode blower configured to receive the anode exhaust and output a higher-pressure anode exhaust. The fuel cell system further includes an anode blower recycle line configured to receive a portion of the higher-pressure anode exhaust downstream from the anode blower and to output the portion of the higher-pressure anode exhaust upstream from the anode blower. The fuel cell system further includes a first valve disposed in the blower recycle line, the first valve configured to open when the anode of the fuel cell is under-pressurized.
Abstract:
A base plate assembly for an electrochemical cell stack includes a bottom end plate defining a fuel inlet port, a fuel outlet port, and an oxidant port. The base plate assembly further includes a high strength sealing plate including openings that align with the fuel inlet port, the fuel outlet port, and the oxidant port, and a plurality of tubes located between the bottom end plate and the high strength sealing plate. The tubes are configured to yield to reduce transfer of mechanical stress from the high strength sealing plate to the bottom end plate.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having an anode and a cathode configured to output cathode exhaust. The fuel cell is configured to generate waste heat. The fuel cell system further includes a reformer configured to partially reform a feed gas using the waste heat and output a hydrogen-containing stream. The fuel cell system further includes a reformer-electrolyzer-purifier (“REP”) having an REP anode configured to receive a first portion of the hydrogen-containing stream and an REP cathode.
Abstract:
A method for controlling a carbon dioxide utilization in a fuel cell assembly includes: measuring a voltage across the fuel cell assembly; determining an estimated carbon dioxide utilization of the fuel cell assembly based on at least the measured voltage across the fuel cell assembly by determining an expected voltage of the fuel cell assembly based on at least a temperature of the fuel cell assembly, a current density across the fuel cell assembly, a fuel utilization of the fuel cell assembly, and a cathode oxygen utilization of the fuel cell assembly; determining the estimated carbon dioxide utilization based on a comparison between the measured voltage and the determined expected voltage; comparing the determined estimated carbon dioxide utilization to a predetermined threshold utilization; and upon determining that the determined estimated carbon dioxide utilization is higher than the predetermined threshold utilization, reducing the carbon utilization of the fuel cell assembly.