Fuel cell stack and steam reformer systems and methods

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with improved fuel cell systems and methods. The present invention provides an intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC) system comprising: (i) at least one fuel cell stack comprising at least one intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell, and having an anode inlet, a cathode inlet, an anode off-gas outlet, a cathode off-gas outlet, and defining separate flow paths for flow of anode inlet gas, cathode inlet gas, anode off-gas and cathode off-gas; and (ii) a steam reformer for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel to a reformate, and having a reformer inlet for anode inlet gas, a reformer outlet for exhausting anode inlet gas, and a reformer heat exchanger; and defining: (a) an anode inlet gas fluid flow path from a fuel source to said steam reformer to said at least one fuel cell stack anode inlet; (b) an anode off-gas fluid flow path from said at least one fuel cell stack anode off-gas outlet to a fuel cell system exhaust; (c) a cathode inlet gas fluid flow path from an at least one oxidant inlet to said reformer heat exchanger to said at least one fuel cell stack cathode inlet; and (d) a cathode off-gas fluid flow path from said at least one fuel cell stack cathode off-gas outlet to said fuel cell system exhaust; wherein said reformer heat exchanger is a parallel-flow heat exchanger in fluid flow communication with (i) said at least one oxidant inlet and said at least one fuel cell stack cathode inlet, and (ii) said fuel source and said at least one fuel cell stack anode inlet, and is arranged for exchanging heat between said cathode inlet gas and said anode inlet gas.