Pressurized fuel cell power plant with steam powered compressor
US3982962A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 12, 1975 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell power plant for producing electricity uses pressurized air and fuel in the cells. A compressor is driven by a turbine operably connected thereto and provides compressed air to the cells. The turbine is driven by a working fluid in a hot, pressurized, vapor state. Energy to convert the working fluid into this state is waste energy produced by the power plant, such as stack waste heat. In one embodiment the power plant includes a steam reforming reactor and a reactor burner. Effluent gases from the anode side of the cell are used in the reactor burner. The working fluid is water and the turbine is driven by steam which is condensed to the liquid state after passing through the turbine. The liquid water is reconverted to steam by passing it into heat exchange relationship with the stack and it is then delivered again into the turbine. Part of the steam may be used in the steam reforming reactor. Preferably the effluent gases from the reactor burner and the effluent gases from the cathode side of the cells is delivered into an air turbine for generating electrical power in addition to the electrical power produced in the fuel cells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.