Patent · US Expired

Functional integration of multiple components for a fuel cell power plant

US6451466B1 · kind B1 · utility

97Cited by
7References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 6, 2000
Grant dateSep 17, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 6, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T90/40
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A fuel cell power plant having a plurality of functionally integrated components including a fuel cell assembly provided with a fuel stream, an oxidant stream and a coolant stream. The fuel cell power plant functionally integrates a mass and heat recovery device for promoting a transfer of thermal energy and moisture between a first gaseous stream and a second gaseous stream, and a burner for processing the fuel exhausted from the fuel cell assembly during operation thereof. A housing chamber is utilized which accepts the oxidant stream exhausted from the fuel cell assembly after the exhausted oxidant stream has merged with a burner gaseous stream exhausted from the burner. The resultant merged airflow is subsequently directed to the housing chamber and to the mass and heat recovery device as the first gaseous stream.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.