Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Siemens Energy, Inc.

Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation

The United States of America As Represented by the United States

Siemens Power Generation, Inc.

James E Gillett

Paolo R Zafred

Robert Draper

Jeffrey T Dederer

Donald G Sherwood

Richard A Basel

Daniel C Garner

Douglas E Ekeroth

Matthew W Riggle

Arthur L Wineman

Robert E Meuschke

Raymond A George

Raymond M Calfo

Terry L Schulz

Larry A Shockling

Kevin P Litzinger

Richard S Orr

Michael P Jaszcar

Louis K Lau

Vinod B Doshi

Arun K S Iyengar

James M Toms

F Thomas Johnson

Annette B Antenucci

Jeffrey C Collie

Ines Becker

Gianfranco DiGiuseppe

John E King

Robert L Cather

Robert M Robey

Randall A Holmes

John E Goossen

Erich Bittner

Wilhelm Kleinlein

A solid oxide fuel cell module contains a plurality of integral bundle assemblies, the module containing a top portion with an inlet fuel plenum and a bottom portion receiving air inlet feed and containing a base support, the base supports dense, ceramic exhaust manifolds which are below and connect to air feed tubes located in a recuperator zone, the air feed tubes passing into the center of inverted, tubular, elongated, hollow electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells having an open end above a combustion zone into which the air feed tubes pass and a closed end near the inlet fuel plenum, where the fuel cells comprise a fuel cell stack bundle all surrounded within an outer module enclosure having top power leads to provide electrical output from the stack bundle, where the fuel cells operate in the fuel cell mode and where the base support and bottom ceramic air exhaust manifolds carry from 85% to all 100% of the weight of the stack, and each bundle assembly has its own control for vertical and horizontal thermal expansion control.

Generator module architecture for a large solid oxide fuel cell power plant

A plurality of integral bundle assemblies contain a top portion with an inlet fuel plenum and a bottom portion containing a base support, the base supports a dense, ceramic air exhaust manifold having four supporting legs, the manifold is below and connects to air feed tubes located in a recuperator zone, the air feed tubes passing into the center of inverted, tubular, elongated, hollow electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells having an open end above a combustion zone into which the air feed tubes pass and a closed end near the inlet fuel plenum, where the open end of the fuel cells rest upon and within a separate combination ceramic seal and bundle support contained in a ceramic support casting, where at least one flexible cushion ceramic band seal located between the recuperator and fuel cells protects and controls horizontal thermal expansion, and where the fuel cells operate in the fuel cell mode and where the base support and bottom ceramic air exhaust manifolds carry from 85% to all of the weight of the generator.

Fuel cell integral bundle assembly including ceramic open end seal and vertical and horizontal thermal expansion control

A fuel cell generator including a housing defining a plurality of chambers including a generator chamber having first and second generator sections. A plurality of elongated fuel cells extend through the first and second generator sections. An oxidant supply supplies oxidant to at least one of the chambers within the housing in order to provide oxidant to one end of each of the fuel cells. A fuel distribution plenum extends transversely to the elongated fuel cells and is located between the first and second generator sections. The fuel distribution plenum distributes fuel to the first and second generator sections in opposing directions within the generator chamber.

Solid oxide fuel cell generator with mid-stack fuel feed

A high temperature fuel cell generator () having a housing () containing a top air feed plenum (), a bottom fuel inlet (), a fuel reaction generator chamber () containing fuel cells () and a reacted fuel-reacted air combustion chamber () above the fuel reaction generator chamber (), where inlet air () can be heated internally within the housing in at least one interior heat transfer zone/block () located between the reacted fuel-reacted air combustion chamber () and the air feed plenum ().

Integral air preheater and start-up heating means for solid oxide fuel cell power generators

A fuel cell generator apparatus contains at least one fuel cell assembly module with at least one subassembly containing fuel cells, where the subassemblies are fueled at their base by a fuel feed injector attached to a fuel feed pre-reformer connected to fuel distribution manifolds; and where a module housing encloses the subassemblies and is in turn surrounded by a vessel having two ends providing a purge gas space between the housing and vessel; and where at least one fuel gas feed inlet, gaseous oxidant-purge gas feed inlet, and vessel exhaust gas outlet pass through the vessel; where the vessel can be used for pressurized or non-pressurized operation and is preferably tubular.

Standard package design for both atmospheric and pressurized SOFC power generation system

A fuel cell generator apparatus contains at least one fuel cell subassembly module in a module housing, where the housing is surrounded by a pressure vessel such that there is an air accumulator space, where the apparatus is associated with an air compressor of a turbine/generator/air compressor system, where pressurized air from the compressor passes into the space and occupies the space and then flows to the fuel cells in the subassembly module, where the air accumulation space provides an accumulator to control any unreacted fuel gas that might flow from the module.

Pressurized solid oxide fuel cell integral air accumular containment

A solid oxide fuel cell generator ( ) contains stacks ( ) of hollow, tubular axially elongated fuel cells ( ) which can operate to generate electricity; a single oxidant inlet plenum ( ) including a bottom enclosing member, having hole therethrough which acts as an oxidant feed tube positioning board ( ); a fuel inlet plenum ( ); an oxidant/fuel exhaust chamber ( ); power leads ( ) electrically connected to the fuel cells transverse to the axis ( &prime;) of the fuel calls; and a plurality of oxidant feed tubes ( ); all surrounded by insulation ( ); where there are at least two fuel cell stacks arranged in a row next to each other, the oxidant feed tube positioning board at the bottom of the oxidant inlet plenum is a laminate of layers of porous alumino-silicate ceramic fibers bonded with a ceramic alumina binder and dense woven ceramic ( ) impregnated with ceramic adhesive ( ), and wherein the insulation constitutes, primarily, bulk ceramic fibers.

Low-cost atmospheric SOFC power generation system

A mono-container fuel cell generator (10) contains a layer of interior insulation (14), a layer of exterior insulation (16) and a single housing (20) between the insulation layers, where fuel cells, containing electrodes and electrolyte, are surrounded by the interior insulation (14) in the interior (12) of the generator, and the generator is capable of operating at temperatures over about 650.degree. C., where the combination of interior and exterior insulation layers have the ability to control the temperature in the housing (20) below the degradation temperature of the housing material. The housing can also contain integral cooling ducts, and a plurality of these generators can be positioned next to each other to provide a power block array with interior cooling.

Self-cooling mono-container fuel cell generators and power plants using

A high temperature solid oxide fuel cell generator produces electrical power from oxidation of hydrocarbon fuel gases such as natural gas, or conditioned fuel gases, such as carbon monoxide or hydrogen, with oxidant gases, such as air or oxygen. This electrochemical reaction occurs in a plurality of electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells bundled and arrayed in a unitary modular fuel cell stack disposed in a compartment in the generator container. The use of a unitary modular fuel cell stack in a generator is similar in concept to that of a removable battery. The fuel cell stack is provided in a pre-assembled self-supporting configuration where the fuel cells are mounted to a common structural base having surrounding side walls defining a chamber. Associated generator equipment may also be mounted to the fuel cell stack configuration to be integral therewith, such as a fuel and oxidant supply and distribution systems, fuel reformation systems, fuel cell support systems, combustion, exhaust and spent fuel recirculation systems, and the like. The pre-assembled self-supporting fuel cell stack arrangement allows for easier assembly, installation, maintenance, better structural support and longer life of the fuel cells contained in the fuel cell stack.

Solid oxide fuel cell generator with removable modular fuel cell stack

A fuel cell generator apparatus and method of its operation involves: passing pressurized oxidant gas, (O) and pressurized fuel gas, (F), into fuel cell modules, (10 and 12), containing fuel cells, where the modules are each enclosed by a module housing (18), surrounded by an axially elongated pressure vessel (64), where there is a purge gas volume, (62), between the module housing and pressure vessel; passing pressurized purge gas, (P), through the purge gas volume, (62), to dilute any unreacted fuel gas from the modules; and passing exhaust gas, (82), and circulated purge gas and any unreacted fuel gas out of the pressure vessel; where the fuel cell generator apparatus is transpatable when the pressure vessel (64) is horizontally disposed, providing a low center of gravity.

Purge gas protected transportable pressurized fuel cell modules and

A method of refueling a nuclear reactor whereby the drive mechanism is disengaged and removed by activating a jacking mechanism that raises the closure head. The area between the barrier plate and closure head is exhausted through the closure head penetrations. The closure head, upper drive mechanism, and bellows seal are lifted away and transported to a safe area. The barrier plate acts as the primary boundary and each drive and control rod penetration has an elastomer seal preventing excessive tritium gases from escaping. The individual instrumentation plugs are disengaged allowing the corresponding fuel assembly to be sealed and replaced.

Reactor refueling containment system

A segmented electromagnetic coil assembly for use in a magnetic jack type of drive mechanism used to move control rods within a nuclear reactor. The coil assembly has a plurality of individual magnetic coils spaced around and against the non-magnetic housing which contains the control rod drive shaft.

Segmented coil assembly for control rod drive

A water storage tank in the coolant water loop of a nuclear reactor contains a tubular heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has tubesheets mounted to the tank connections so that the tubesheets and tubes may be readily inspected and repaired. Preferably, the tubes extend from the tubesheets on a square pitch and then on a rectangular pitch therebetween. Also, the heat exchanger is supported by a frame so that the tank wall is not required to support all of its weight.

Heat exchanger and water tank arrangement for passive cooling system

A calandria assembly is received within the pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor system, at an elevation corresponding to the level of the outlet nozzles of the vessel, and receives pressurized coolant traveling in an axial flow direction within the vessel and turns same to a radial direction for exit through the outlet nozzles. Hollow tubes mounted in parallel relationship at opposite ends to first and second plates of the calandria in conjunction with a cylindrical skirt of cylindrical configuration joining the first and second plates of the calandria, present a redundant structure introducing the potential of thermal stresses, which are limited by selection of the pattern of flow holes in the lower plate and the provision of flexible annular weld joints of J-shaped configuration between the lower ends of the calandria tubes and the lower, second calandria plate.

Pressurized water reactor having improved calandria assembly

An array of plural rod guides each housing therewithin corresponding pluralities of rods, as disposed in parallel axial relationship within the cylindrical sidewall of the inner barrel assembly of a pressurized water reactor, defines a plurality of peripheral regions between the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical sidewall and the peripheral edges of the array. A plurality of modular formers is installed within the respective plurality of peripheral regions, at each of one or more banks of predetermined, respective elevations within the inner barrel assembly. Each modular former comprises a pair of parallel former plates having arcuate outer edges corresponding to the interior circumference of the cylindrical sidewall and chordlike inner edges contoured to correspond to the juxtaposed peripheral edge of the array, and a vertical column extending between and rigidly interconnecting the associated plates of a pair. Attachment means secured to the surfaces of the plates extend beyond the respective outer arcuate edges thereof and through holes provided therefore in the cylindrical sidewall and are welded thereto from the exterior surface of the sidewall. One more banks of modular formers, as required, establish the proper pressure drop of the core output flow from the lower barrel assembly so as to approach an axial flow condition within the inner barrel assembly, reducing turbulance and minimizing vibration in operation.

Growing community of inventors

Greensburg, PA, United States of America

James E Gillett