Pressurized fuel cell power plant
US4004947A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 12, 1975 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 1977 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01M8/04156
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell power plant for producing electricity uses pressurized reactants in the cells. In one embodiment air is the oxidant and is compressed in a compressor driven by a turbine. The turbine is powered by waste energy produced in the power plant in the form of a hot pressurized gaseous medium. For example, effluent gases from both the anode and cathode sides of the cells is delivered into the turbine which in turn drives the compressor. In a preferred embodiment the effluent gases from the anode side of the cells is first delivered into a burner for providing heat to a steam reforming reactor, and the effluent gases from the burner are delivered into the turbine. In another embodiment, in addition to effluent gases delivered from the anode side of the cells into the burner, a portion of the effluent gases from the anode side of the cells is also delivered into the steam reforming reactor to provide steam for the fuel processing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.