Versa Power Systems Ltd

Fuelcell Energy, Inc.

Global Thermmelectric Inc.

Michael Pastula

Glenn Price

Casey Brown

Bryce Sharman

Andrea Tylczak

Pawel Fronc

Marc Dionne

Kevin Marchand

Martin Perry

Dennis Prediger

James Smith

Quincy Yueh Feng Chiang

Arpad Horvath

Debabrata Ghosh

Jim Lumsden

Quincy Yueh Chiang

The present invention relates to an apparatus for steam purging a solid oxide fuel cell stack. Purging the SOFC stack with steam has a physical flushing effect, removing carbon monoxide containing reformate and free oxygen gas from the anode area thereby reducing the potential for nickel oxide or nickel carbonyl formation.

Fuel cell shutdown with steam purging

A thermally integrated fuel cell system includes a stack zone, a burner zone and a low temperature zone. The fuel is combined with steam and passed sequentially through a primary reformer and a secondary reformer or a radiative fuel heat exchanger. Air may be passed sequentially through an afterburner heat exchanger and a radiative air heat exchanger such that the radiative heat exchanger may be used to heat the stack zone. The stack exhaust is combusted in an afterburner. Afterburner exhaust heats the primary reformer, the high temperature air heat exchanger, the low temperature air heat exchanger and steam generator. The stack zone includes the stacks, the secondary reformer and the radiative heat exchanger. The burner zone includes the afterburner which includes a start burner, the primary reformer and the high temperature air heat exchanger. The low temperature zone includes the low temperature air heat exchanger and a steam generator.

Thermally integrated fuel cell system

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for steam purging a solid oxide fuel cell stack. Purging the SOFC stack with steam has a physical flushing effect, removing carbon monoxide containing reformate and free oxygen gas from the anode area thereby reducing the potential for nickel oxide or nickel carbonyl formation.

A thermally integrated fuel cell system includes a stack zone, a burner zone and a low temperature zone. The fuel is combined with steam and passed sequentially through a primary reformer and a secondary reformer. Air is split into two parallel streams and preheated in a low temperature heat exchanger. One air stream passes to a high temperature heat exchanger while the other passes to a radiative heat exchanger. The air and fuel streams are equalized in an equalization heat exchanger before entering the fuel cell stacks. The stack exhaust is combusted in an afterburner. Afterburner exhaust heats the primary reformer, the high temperature heat exchanger, the low temperature heat exchanger and steam generator. The stack zone includes the stacks, the secondary reformer, the radiative heat exchanger and the equalization heat exchanger. The burner zone includes the afterburner, the primary reformer and the high temperature heat exchanger. The low temperature zone includes the low temperature heat exchanger and the steam generator.

Thermally integrated SOFC system

Thermally integrated fuel cell stack

A solid oxide fuel cell stack incorporates metallic interconnects each of which includes a fuel intake manifold, a fuel exhaust manifold, an oxidant intake manifold and an oxidant exhaust manifold. The fuel side of the interconnect defines a fuel flow field surrounded by a continuous sealing surface and in fluid communication with the fuel intake and exhaust manifold. The oxidant side of the interconnect defines an oxidant flow field surrounded by a continuous sealing surface and in fluid communication with the oxidant intake and exhaust manifolds. The interconnect may be fabricated by brazing together three stainless steel plates having overlapping openings to permit the exclusionary flow of fuel and oxidant through the interconnect.

Electrochemical cell interconnect

An integrated module includes an afterburner, heat exchanger and fuel processor. The module is thermally integrated solid oxide fuel cell.

Integrated module for solid oxide fuel cell systems

Growing community of inventors

Calgary, Canada

Michael Pastula