Lg Fuel Cell Systems Inc.

Rolls-royce Fuel Cell Systems (us) Inc.

Sofco-efs Holdings LLC

Mark Anthony Perna

Crispin L DeBellis

Gregory C Rush

Daniel P Birmingham

Mark Vincent Scotto

Milind V Kantak

Stephen W Scoles

Ray L Sullivan

Andrew F Kisik

Crispin L Debellis

Mark Anthony Scotto

One embodiment of the present invention is a unique reducing gas generator. Another embodiment is a unique method for generating a reducing gas. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for generating reducing gas. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.

Reducing gas generators and methods for generating a reducing gas

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

An auto-thermal reformer assembly is provided having a plurality of self-contained reformer modules positioned within a pressure vessel. The reformer modules each contain catalyst for inducing reforming reactions to produce hydrogen rich gas. At least one heat exhanger is provided for transferring heat from the hydrogen rich gas to the reactants entering or inside of the pressure vessel.

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Alliance, OH, United States of America

Mark Anthony Perna