Fuel cell power plant with increased reactant pressures
US4828940A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 1988 |
| Grant date | May 9, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 3, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The fuel cell power plant operates at higher reactant pressures, and thus higher power density (lower cost) and efficiency, by providing reactant reformer steam from a separate steam boiler. Instead of supplying coolant steam to the reformer, the coolant is operated in a closed loop apart from the reformer, and the coolant steam is used to drive a steam generator to produce additional electricity. A portion of the raw fuel is burned within the steam boiler and the remainder is passed through the reformer and thence to the fuel cells. Boiler exhaust is used to drive a turocompressor which pressurizes the air used on the cathode side of the fuel cells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.