Sulzer Hexis Ag

Alexander Schuler

Philip Holoch

Ralf Ettwein

Markus Jenne

Thomas Zähringer

John Schild

Please substitute the following version of the Abstract, with changes shown by strikethrough (for deletions) or underlining (for added matter). The heat exchanger (I) is provided for a heating system with integrated fuel cells (Z) for the production of electricity and with an additional burner (B). Electrical and thermal energy (E, Q) can be produced in this heating system from a gaseous fuel or from a fuel brought into the gas form by means of the fuel cells, and/or thermal energy (Q) can be produced by means of the additional burner. One part of the thermal energy present in the form of hot exhaust gases can be transferred in the heat exchanger to a liquid heat transfer medium, in particular water or an oil. The heat transfer medium is provided for heat transport for the purpose of room heating and/or process water heating. The heat exchanger forms a compact unit which is also made of a material of good thermal conductivity. Two separate passages () are arranged in the heat exchanger inside a double-walled jacket (). The jacket has a structured inner space () which forms a communicating vessel. Due to the structuring the heat transfer medium flows through at least a predominant part of the inner space.

Heat exchanger for a heating system with integrated fuel cells for the production of electricity

The fuel cell battery () has an integrated heat exchanger () which is arranged between a heat insulating jacket () and a stack () of high temperature fuel cells (). There is a chamber (), preferably at least two chambers for afterburning, between a periphery () of the cell stack and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is provided for a heat transfer from an exhaust gas () to a gaseous oxygen carrier (). There are arranged on the stack periphery (), outside or inside the chamber or chambers respectively, inlet points () for the oxygen carrier, on the one hand, and outlet points () for non-converted educts, namely a fuel gas () and the oxygen carrier, on the other hand. The heat exchanger () includes a passage system () through which the exhaust gas () and the oxygen carrier () flow largely in transverse planes disposed perpendicular to the axis of the cell stack () in one operating state of the battery. The exhaust gas can be led off through axially directed collecting passages (&#x2033;) which are arranged in a peripheral region of the heat exchange. Parts of the heat exchanger, which are disposed between the peripheral region and the cell stack, form a shield for screening the cell stack from the collecting passages with respect to a thermal influence.

Fuel cell battery with an integrated heat exchanger

The method for the reformation of fuels, in particular of heating oil (') and of another liquid fuel is carried out using an oxygen containing gas (). The method includes the following steps:

Method for the reformation of fuels, in particular heating oil

The plant (,) contains high temperature fuel cells (,) which are arranged with planar design in a centrally symmetrical stack (,). A supply point (,) is provided for a gaseous or liquid fuel (,). In a reformer (,) following the supply point the fuel can be catalytically converted at least partially into CO and H,in the presence of H,O and with process heat being supplied. An afterburner chamber (,) follows the output points of the fuel cells (,). A feedback connection (,) exists between the supply point and the afterburner chamber via which the exhaust gas (,) can be fed back to the supply point. In case no gas is provided as a fuel, the supply point comprises a means for feeding in a liquid fuel, such as using an atomizer.

Plant with high temperature fuel cells II

The (,) contains high temperature fuel cells (,) which are arranged with planar design in a centrally symmetrical stack (,). A supply point (,) is provided for a gaseous or liquid fuel (,). In a reformer (,) following the supply point the fuel can be catalytically converted at least partially into CO and H,in the presence of H,O and with process heat being supplied. Along the stack axis a central cavity (,) is arranged via which the fuel which is treated in the reformer can be fed into the fuel cells. The reformer is arranged in the central cavity and is formed in such a manner that the heat required for the endothermic reforming processes can be transferred at least partially via radiation from the fuel cells to the reformer.

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Weisslingen, Switzerland

Alexander Schuler