Fuel cell assembly comprising an improved catalytic burner

US9543599B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MTU Onsite Energy Corporation · US

Inventors

• Uwe Burmeister · Munich, DE
• Johann Huber · Inzell, DE
• Norbert Ottmann · Regensburg, DE
• Stefan Peterhans · Gaißach, DE
• Wolfgang Wagner · Preetz, DE
• Christoph Weiser · Geretsried, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 16, 2009
• Grant date: Jan 10, 2017
• Expiry date: Aug 29, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/50
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

There is disclosed a fuel cell assembly comprising at least one horizontally arranged fuel cell stack that has numerous fuel cells, each comprising an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte situated between the anode and the cathode; combustible gas supply means for supplying combustible gas to the anodes of the fuel cells; anode gas withdrawal means for withdrawing the anode exhaust gas from the anodes; cathode gas supply means for supplying cathode gas to the cathodes of the fuel cells; cathode gas withdrawal means for withdrawing the cathode exhaust gas from the fuel cells; and recirculation means for recirculating at least one part of the anode exhaust gas and/or the cathode exhaust gas to cathodes of the fuel cells. The fuel cell assembly according to the invention is characterized in that the recirculation means comprise at least one catalytic burner with catalyst material for burning the remaining combustible gas contained in the anode exhaust gas, said burner being situated at the side of the fuel cell stack.