Rolls-royce Fuel Cell Systems (us) Inc.

Mcdermott Technology, Inc.

Lg Fuel Cell Systems Inc.

Rolls-royce Fuel Cell Systems Limited

Crispin L DeBellis

Mark Vincent Scotto

Mark Anthony Perna

Daniel P Birmingham

Gregory C Rush

Milind V Kantak

John Dexter Malloy, Iii

Edward D Daum

Stephen W Scoles

Donald L Hindman

Jeffrey A Rogers

Mark A Perna

The present invention provides a gas generator that may be used for startup and shutdown of a fuel cell. In one non-limiting embodiment, the gas generator may include a nitrogen generator structured to receive air, extract oxygen (O) from the air and discharge the balance in the form of a nitrogen-rich gas; a merging chamber structured to receive a hydrocarbon fuel and the nitrogen-rich gas and to discharge a feed mixture containing both the hydrocarbon fuel and the nitrogen-rich gas; and a catalytic reactor structured to receive the feed mixture and to catalytically convert the feed mixture into a reducing gas.

Apparatus for generating a gas which may be used for startup and shutdown of a fuel cell

The present invention provides a method for generating a gas that may be used for startup and shutdown of a fuel cell. In a non-limiting embodiment, the method may include generating a nitrogen-rich stream; merging the nitrogen-rich stream with a hydrocarbon fuel stream into a feed mixture stream; and catalytically converting the feed mixture into a reducing gas.

Method for generating a gas which may be used for startup and shutdown of a fuel cell

A method of modifying reformate gas composition downstream of the reformer so that it remains in a carbon-free region, i.e. above the critical oxygen/carbon ratio even at the desired minimum operating temperature. This is accomplished by using staged partial oxidation in a partial oxidation chamber downstream of the reformer. A small amount of air (or oxygen) is added. The net result is an increase in the oxygen/carbon ratio and, thus, a lowering of the required temperature for soot-free operation. Immediately downstream of this partial oxidation chamber, heat can be removed to cool the gas prior to a second stage of partial oxidation. A second stage partial oxidation chamber produces additional water and further increases the oxygen/carbon ratio and further lowers the required gas temperature for soot-free operation. Further stages of partial oxidation followed by cooling of the gas can be repeated until the oxygen/carbon ratio is sufficiently high to allow soot-free operation at the lowest required operating temperature.

Post-reformer treatment of reformate gas

Compact, high-temperature, low-flow rate, liquid fuel-fired burner

A thermally integrated burner/emitter/recuperator (BER) for a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) electric generator achieves improved energy efficiency using either liquid or gaseous fuels. A mixed ceramic and metallic alloy heat exchanger, together with a high temperature emitter, achieves increased energy density in a compact and lightweight assembly.

Thermophotovoltaic electric generator

Growing community of inventors

North Canton, OH, United States of America

Crispin L DeBellis