Anode tail gas recycle cooler and re-heater for a solid oxide fuel cell stack assembly
US7998632B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 20, 2005 |
| Grant date | Aug 16, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 28, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P70/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An SOFC fuel cell stack system in accordance with the invention including a recycle flow leg for recycling a portion of the anode tail gas into the inlet of an associated hydrocarbon reformer supplying reformate to the stack. The recycle leg includes a controllable pump for varying the flow rate of tail gas. Preferably, a heat exchanger is provided in the leg ahead of the pump for cooling the tail gas via heat exchange with incoming cathode air. A low-wattage electrical reheater is also preferably included between the heat exchanger and the pump to maintain the temperature of tail gas entering the pump, during conditions of low tail gas flow, at a drybulb temperature above the dewpoint of the tail gas.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.