Rolls-royce Corporation

Lg Electronics Inc.

Lg Fuel Cell Systems Inc.

Lg Fuell Cell Systems Inc.

Rolls-royce Fuel Cell Systems Limited

Robert Hay Cunningham

Gerard D Agnew

Michele Bozzolo

Gary J Saunders

Eric W Dean

Philip D Butler

Robert D Collins

Gerry D Agnew

Gary John Saunders

John Raymond Budge

Robert Darrall Collins

Gerard Daniel Agnew

Philip David Butler

A fuel cell system and corresponding methods are provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack configured for in-block reforming, as well as a pre-reformer. The fuel cell stack may include a plurality of fuel cells. The fuel cell stack may also include a fuel supply manifold, a fuel exhaust manifold, an oxidant supply manifold, and an oxidant exhaust manifold. The fuel supply manifold may be configured to receive fuel, and to supply the fuel to the fuel cell stack for in-block reforming. The fuel exhaust manifold may be configured to expel fuel exhaust from the fuel cell stack. The oxidant supply manifold may be configured to receive an oxidant and to supply the oxidant to the fuel cell stack for in-block reforming. The oxidant exhaust manifold may be configured to expel oxidant exhaust from the fuel cell stack.

Methods of operating fuel cell systems with in-block reforming

Fuel cell systems with in-block reforming

A fuel cell system and method is provided to control the volumetric ratio of a reformate and unreformed hydrocarbon fuel supplied to a fuel cell configured for in-stack reforming. The system includes a reformer having a number of high and low steam reforming activity channels which provide a full equilibrated fuel stream and a fuel stream having hydrocarbon levels slight lower than the hydrocarbon levels of the hydrocarbon fuel supplied to the reformer, respectively. The fuel streams can be mixed and supplied to the fuel cell to provide in-stack reforming while reducing or inhibiting the formation of carbon in the fuel stack.

Steam reformer for in-block fuel cell reforming

A fuel cell system having a cathode, anode and auxiliary loop is provided. The anode loop may be configured to deliver reformed and unreformed fuel to the fuel cells. Unreformed fuel may be provided to the fuel cells by bypassing a portion of the fuel around a reformer. The unreformed fuel may be reformed in the fuel cell block. The cathode loop may direct a portion of oxidant exhausted from said fuel cells back to the fuel cell through a cathode ejector. The ejector may be supplied with pressurized oxidant that may be heated prior to entering the cathode ejector. The auxiliary loop may combust unused fuel and oxidant to provide the heat transferred to the oxidant prior to the oxidant entering the cathode loop.

Integrated fuel cell block with a revised fuel cell cycle for in block reforming fuel cells

A reformer module () comprises a hollow support member () having at least one passage () extending longitudinally therethrough. The hollow support member () has an external surface (), a barrier layer () arranged on at least a portion of the external surface () of the hollow support member (), a catalyst layer () arranged on the barrier layer () and a sealing layer () arranged on the catalyst layer () and the external surface () of the hollow support member () other than the at least a portion of the external surface of the hollow support member (). By providing the barrier layer () and the catalyst layer () on the exterior surface () of the hollow support member (), the distribution of the barrier layer () and/or the catalyst layer () may be more precisely controlled and thus a non-uniform distribution of barrier layer () and/or catalyst layer () may be achieved.

Reformer module

A pre-reformer comprises a non-electrically conducting gas tight duct and an electrically conducting wire arranged in the duct. The electrically conducting wire is electrically isolated from the duct. The duct has an inlet for receiving a hydrocarbon fuel at a first end and an outlet for supplying a pre-reformed hydrocarbon fuel at a second end. At least the inner surface of the duct is chemically inert with respect to the hydrocarbon fuel. An electrical power supply is electrically connected to the electrically conducting wire and a control means controls the supply of electrical current through the electrically conducting wire to provide thermal decomposition of higher hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon fuel. The performer reduces coking in associated fuel cells and other parts of a fuel cell system.

Pre-reformer

A pre-reformer () comprises a non-electrically conducting gas tight duct () and an electrically conducting wire () arranged in the duct (). The electrically conducting wire () is electrically isolated from the duct (). The duct () has an inlet () for receiving a hydrocarbon fuel at a first end () and an outlet () for supplying a pre-reformed hydrocarbon fuel at a second end (). At least the inner surface () of the duct () is chemically inert with respect to the hydrocarbon fuel. An electrical power supply () is electrically connected to the electrically conducting wire () and a control means () controls the supply of electrical current through the electrically conducting wire () to maintain the electrically conducting wire () at a temperature to provide selective thermal decomposition of higher hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon fuel. The performer reduces coking in associated fuel cells and other parts of a fuel cell system.

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Derby, United Kingdom

Robert Hay Cunningham