The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 07, 2024
Filed:
Feb. 11, 2021
Exxonmobil Technology and Engineering Company, Annandale, NJ (US);
Fuelcell Energy, Inc., Danbury, CT (US);
Christopher Howard, Stratford, CT (US);
Brandon J. O'Neill, Spring, TX (US);
Paul J. Rubas, Milford, NJ (US);
Frank Hershkowitz, Basking Ridge, NJ (US);
Lu Han, Ringoes, NJ (US);
Lawrence J. Novacco, Brookfield, CT (US);
Frank J. Dobek, Jr., Colchester, CT (US);
Keith E. Davis, Southbury, CT (US);
Brian Bullecks, Sumner, ME (US);
ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, Annandale, NJ (US);
Abstract
Molten carbonate fuel cell configurations are provided that allow for introduction of an anode input gas flow on a side of the fuel cell that is adjacent to the entry side for the cathode input gas flow while allowing the anode and cathode to operate under co-current flow and/or counter-current flow conditions. It has been discovered that improved flow properties can be achieved within the anode or cathode during co-current flow or counter-current flow operation by diverting the input flow for the anode or cathode into an extended edge seal region (in an extended edge seal chamber) adjacent to the active area of the anode or cathode, and then using a baffle to provide sufficient pressure drop for even flow distribution of the anode input flow across the anode or cathode input flow across the cathode. A second baffle can be used to create a pressure drop as the anode output flow or cathode output flow exits from the active area into a second extended edge seal region (in a second extended edge seal chamber) prior to leaving the fuel cell.