Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation

Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated

Siemens Energy, Inc.

Siemens Power Generation, Inc.

Stephen E Veyo

Robert Draper

Jeffrey T Dederer

Raymond A George

Francis J Sisk

Arnold O Isenberg

Richard E Kothmann

Larry A Shockling

Thomas J Fagan, Jr

Robert S Lackey

Joseph M Makiel

Srikanth Gopalan

Joseph R Humphrey

John T Gordon

Thomas R Fabis

In one embodiment the present invention provides for an anode side gas flow heater for a fuel cell generator that comprises a recirculating anode gas flow, at least one burner, and an energy source. The energy source heats the burner, the anode gas flow passes over the at least one burner and is heated, and the heated anode gas flow is then passed through the anode side of the fuel cell generator, where the fuel cell generator is heated.

Anode gas stack start-up heater and purge gas generator

A method and system are provided for improved control of the operating temperature of a fuel cell () utilizing an improved temperature control system () that varies the flow rate of inlet air entering the fuel cell () in response to changes in the operating temperature of the fuel cell (). Consistent with the invention an improved temperature control system () is provided that includes a controller () that receives an indication of the temperature of the inlet air from a temperature sensor () and varies the heat output by at least one heat source () to maintain the temperature of the inlet air at a set-point T. The controller () also receives an indication of the operating temperature of the fuel cell () and varies the flow output by an adjustable air mover (), within a predetermined range around a set-point F, in order to maintain the operating temperature of the fuel cell () at a set-point T.

System for controlling the operating temperature of a fuel cell

A fuel cell generator contains a plurality of fuel cells ( ) in a generator chamber ( ) and also contains a depleted fuel reactor or a fuel depletion chamber ( ) where oxidant ( ) and fuel ( ) is fed to the generator chamber ( ) and the depleted fuel reactor chamber ( ), where both fuel and oxidant react, and where all oxidant and fuel passages are separate and do not communicate with each other, so that fuel and oxidant in whatever form do not mix and where a depleted fuel exit ( ) is provided for exiting a product gas ( ) which consists essentially of carbon dioxide and water for further treatment so that carbon dioxide can be separated and is not vented to the atmosphere.

Segregated exhaust SOFC generator with high fuel utilization capability

A fuel cell generator contains a plurality of fuel cells ( ) in a generator chamber ( ) and also contains a fuel reactor chamber ( ) containing either fuel cells or electrolysis cells as the depleted fuel reactor means, which means preferably has copper fuel electrodes, where oxidant ( ) and fuel ( ) are fed to the generator chamber ( ), where both fuel and oxidant react, and where all oxidant and fuel passages are separate and do not communicate with each other, so that fuel and oxidant in whatever form do not mix and where a depleted fuel exit ( ) is provided for exiting a product gas which consists essentially of carbon dioxide and water for further treatment so that carbon dioxide can be separated and is not vented to the atmosphere.

Electrochemical fuel depletion means for fuel cell generators

A fuel cell generator contains a plurality of fuel cells ( ) in a generator chamber ( ), where oxidant ( ) and fuel ( ) are fed to the generator chamber ( ), where both fuel and oxidant react to form depleted fuel and depleted oxidant, which are separated by steam ( ) at a pressure higher than that of both the depleted oxidant stream and the depleted fuel stream, and where all oxidant and fuel passages do not communicate with each other, so that fuel and oxidant (in whatever form) do not mix, and where depleted fuel ( ), consisting essentially of carbon dioxide and water, exits for further treatment, so that the remaining carbon dioxide can be separated from the remaining water and is not vented to the atmosphere.

Segregated exhaust fuel cell generator

A pressurized fuel cell system (,), operates within a common pressure vessel (,) where the system contains fuel cells (,), a turbine (,) and a generator (,) where preferably, associated oxidant inlet valve (,), fuel inlet valve (,) and fuel cell exhaust valve (,) are outside the pressure vessel.

Single module pressurized fuel cell turbine generator system

An apparatus and method are disclosed for eliminating the chemical energy of fuel remaining in a fuel cell generator when the electrical power output of the fuel cell generator is terminated. During a generator shut down condition, electrically resistive elements are automatically connected across the fuel cell generator terminals in order to draw current, thereby depleting the fuel inventory in the generator. The invention provides a safety function in eliminating the fuel energy, and also provides protection to the fuel cell stack by eliminating overheating.

Fuel cell generator energy dissipator

Disclosed is an apparatus which comprises a first enclosure for containing a first fluid, a second enclosure for containing a second fluid, a pathway between the first and second enclosures through which the first fluid can leak from the first enclosure into the second enclosure, and means for admitting into said pathway a third fluid under greater pressure than either the first fluid or the second fluid, whereby the third fluid leaks into the first and second enclosures and prevents the first and second fluids from intermixing. In particular, the apparatus is a solid oxide water electrolyzer having a multiplicity of electrically interconnected vertical tubes sealed at one end where each tube comprises a solid oxide oxygen ion conducting electrolyte sandwiched between an oxygen permeable anode on the inside of the tube and an oxygen permeable cathode on the outside of the tube, a first plenum leakably sealed to the outside of the tubes into which steam can be admitted, a second plenum leakably sealed to the outside of the tubes in gaseous communication with the inside of the tubes from which oxygen can be taken, and a third plenum inbetween the first plenum and the second plenum into which pressurized steam can be admitted.

Preventing fluids in leakable enclosures from intermixing

An indoor unit for an electric heat pump is provided in modular form including a refrigeration module 10, an air mover module 12, and a resistance heat package module 14, the refrigeration module including all of the indoor refrigerant circuit components including the compressor 36 in a space adjacent the heat exchanger 28, the modules being adapted to be connected to air flow communication in several different ways as shown in FIGS. 4-7 to accommodate placement of the unit in various orientations.

Indoor unit for electric heat pump

A heat pump is disclosed which has a compressor, an indoor condenser (for winter heating), outdoor evaporator (for winter heating) and piping for flowing a refrigerant between the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator. A second refrigerant loop is formed which bypasses the compressor and communicates with the condenser outlet and intake. A liquid metering pump flows liquid refrigerant from the outlet of the condenser via a fuel, e.g. liquid petroleum gas fired refrigerant vaporizer back to the condenser intake so that auxiliary heat from the burner for heating an indoor space by feeding to the condenser heated refrigerant vapor in addition to the refrigerant vapor supplied to the condenser by the compressor.

Fuel fired supplementary heater for heat pump

A heat pump is disclosed which has a compressor, an indoor condenser (for winter heating), outdoor evaporator (for winter heating) and piping for flowing a refrigerant between the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator. A second refrigerant loop is formed which bypasses the compressor and communicates with the condenser outlet and intake. A liquid metering pump flows liquid refrigerant from the outlet of the condenser via a fuel, e.g., liquid petroleum gas fired refrigerant vaporizer back to the condenser intake so that auxiliary heat from the burner for heating an indoor space by feeding to the condenser heated refrigerant vapor in addition to the refrigerant vapor supplied to the condenser by the compressor.

Growing community of inventors

Murrysville, PA, United States of America

Stephen E Veyo