Cascaded fuel cell stacks for fast start-up and anode coking control
US7470477B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 2003 |
| Grant date | Dec 30, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 27, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T90/40
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A solid-oxide fuel cell system having a relatively large primary fuel cell sub-assembly for steady-state operation and a relatively small secondary fuel cell sub-assembly which is rapidly heatable to a threshold operating temperature to a) produce usable power in a short time period, b) cascade a hot exhaust into the primary fuel cell sub-assembly to assist in preheating thereof, and c) provide steam into the primary fuel cell sub-assembly to prevent coking of the anodes thereof. As the primary sub-assembly reaches its threshold temperature, it too begins to generate electricity and continues to self-heat and to be heated by the secondary sub-assembly. Preferably, the secondary sub-assembly continues to provide electricity in complement with the primary sub-assembly until the primary sub-assembly reaches full power, at which time the secondary sub-assembly may be shut down or switched to standby status for fuel efficiency, as desired.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.