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:
Jan. 12, 2010
Filed:
Aug. 02, 2004
Amanda M. Weiss, Livonia, NY (US);
Subhasish Mukerjee, Rochester, NY (US);
Karl J. Haltiner, Jr., Fairport, NY (US);
Gregory W. Alexander, Pittsford, NY (US);
Amanda M. Weiss, Livonia, NY (US);
Subhasish Mukerjee, Rochester, NY (US);
Karl J. Haltiner, Jr., Fairport, NY (US);
Gregory W. Alexander, Pittsford, NY (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A solid-oxide fuel cell system wherein a reformate combustor is disposed in the reformate flow path between a hydrocarbon reformer and a fuel cell stack. At system start-up, reformate is partially burned within the combustor by admitting combustion air, and the partially-burned reformate is passed through the anode chambers of the stack to warm the anodes. In addition, reformate is passed through a cathode-air heat exchanger to warm combustion air entering the cathode chambers of the stack. The combustor may continue to be supplied with a low level of air during steady-state operation of the SOFC, thereby providing a moist environment within the anode chambers to prevent coking of the anodes and providing additional heat to the reformate. The combustor decouples the reformer from the stack thermodynamically, permitting the reformer and the stack each to run in its own optimal temperature range.