Fuel cell power plant reformer burner gas flow control system
US5470360A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 1994 |
| Grant date | Nov 28, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The fuel gas reformer of a fuel cell power plant is provided with burner gas flow baffles which are annular in configuration, and which are concentric with the axis of the burner tube. The annular burner gas flow baffles form annular burner gas flow passages. The reformer has a plurality of annular arrays of catalyst filled tubes disposed in concentric rings about the burner tube. Each of the adjacent catalyst tube rings is separated from the next filled tube ring by one of the annular baffles. Burner gases are deflected downwardly and outwardly by the reformer housing top piece onto the catalyst filled tube rings. The baffles prevent inward flow of the burner gases and direct the burner gases uniformly downwardly along the catalyst filled tubes. Each ring of catalyst filled tubes is thus properly heated so as to enhance reforming of the fuel gas reactant.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.