Method for operating a fuel cell assembly
US5851689A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 22, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell assembly (2) includes a vessel (4) containing a gas-permeable, porous housing (16). A fuel cell stack (14), including cells (42) and interconnect plates (44), is contained within the porous housing. Each interconnect plate has oxidant and fuel sides (64, 60) adjacent to the cathode (58) and anode (62) of adjacent cells. Fuel (68) is supplied to the fuel side at positions (78) midway between the center (82) and the periphery (80) of the fuel side. Reaction products (90) are withdrawn from the center of the fuel side. Flue gas (100) is withdrawn from the center (98) of the oxidant side. Air is preheated as it passes through the porous housing to the fuel cell stack. The preheated air combusts residual fuel (110) flowing radially outwardly from the periphery of the stack to further heat the air to the stack operating temperature to eliminate any external preheating of the air. Corrugations (66, 67) on the interconnect plates act as flow deflectors and form the electrical contact surfaces for adjacent cells. The fuel cell stack is preferably oriented horizontally and is allowed to thermally expand and contract in a substantially free manner, to minimize damage to the cells,…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.