Electrochemical converter having internal thermal integration

Abstract

An electrochemical converter assembly that significantly reduces the size of the dedicated thermal processing heat exchangers associated with the converter. This reduction is achieved by heating the input reactants of the electrochemical converter assembly inside the axial manifolds. This heating configuration thus relies upon an effective heat transfer mechanism located within the manifolds, and particularly within the manifold surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, the heating of the reactants occurs at the entrance region of the planar gap formed between the interconnector plates and the electrolyte plates. This heating is facilitated by the conduction of heat through the highly thermally conductive interconnector plate to an extended heating surface disposed within the manifold. This extended surface conducts heat from the fuel cell interior to the axial manifolds to heat the reactants to the converter operating temperature prior to passage through the entrance region and eventually through the reactant passageways of the plates.