Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
A power generation system using fuel cells, comprising: a plurality of molten carbonate fuel cells (C, S), the fuel cells (C) being stacked one after another via separators (31), each fuel cell (C) having a cathode electrode (2), an anode electrode (3) and a carbonate-soaked electrolye tile (1) sandwiched by the cathode and the anode electrodes (2, 3), oxidant gas being fed to the cathode (2) and fuel gas being fed to the anode (3); characterized in that the system further comprises: cooling plates (33) provided between predetermined pairs of two adjacent fuel cells (C); passages (34) formed in each cooling plate (33) for allowing raw-material-gas-for-reformation-and-for-stack-cooling to flow through the passages (34); reforming catalyst (61) placed in the passages (34); an external reformer (37) provided outside of the fuel cell stack (S), the external reformer (37) having a reforming section (38) and a combustion section (39); a stack-cooling-gas line (45) connected to the passages (34) of the cooling plates (33) for introducing the raw-material-gas-for-the-reformation-and-stack-cooling into the passages (34) of the cooling plates (33); a line (50) for gas-for-processing connected to the reforming section (38) of the external reformer (37) for feeding raw-material-gas-for-processing to the reforming section (38); an anode gas feed line (52) for feeding to the anode reformed gas which has been reformed through the passages (34) of the cooling plates (33) and reformed gas which has been reformed by the reforming section (38) of the external reformer (37); an anode exit gas line (53) for feeding anode exit gas to the combustion section (39) of the external reformer (37); a cathode gas feed line (55) for feeding combustion exhaust gas discharged from the combustion section (39) to the cathode (2) with air (A); and a cathode exit gas line (56) for discharging the cathode exit gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
A power generation system using fuel cells, comprising: a plurality of molten carbonate fuel cells (C, S), the fuel cells (C) being stacked one after another via separators (31), each fuel cell (C) having a cathode electrode (2), an anode electrode (3) and a carbonate-soaked electrolye tile (1) sandwiched by the cathode and the anode electrodes (2, 3), oxidant gas being fed to the cathode (2) and fuel gas being fed to the anode (3); characterized in that the system further comprises: cooling plates (33) provided between predetermined pairs of two adjacent fuel cells (C); passages (34) formed in each cooling plate (33) for allowing raw-material-gas-for-reformation-and-for-stack-cooling to flow through the passages (34); reforming catalyst (61) placed in the passages (34); an external reformer (37) provided outside of the fuel cell stack (S), the external reformer (37) having a reforming section (38) and a combustion section (39); a stack-cooling-gas line (45) connected to the passages (34) of the cooling plates (33) for introducing the raw-material-gas-for-the-reformation-and-stack-cooling into the passages (34) of the cooling plates (33); a line (50) for gas-for-processing connected to the reforming section (38) of the external reformer (37) for feeding raw-material-gas-for-processing to the reforming section (38); an anode gas feed line (52) for feeding to the anode reformed gas which has been reformed through the passages (34) of the cooling plates (33) and reformed gas which has been reformed by the reforming section (38) of the external reformer (37); an anode exit gas line (53) for feeding anode exit gas to the combustion section (39) of the external reformer (37); a cathode gas feed line (55) for feeding combustion exhaust gas discharged from the combustion section (39) to the cathode (2) with air (A); and a cathode exit gas line (56) for discharging the cathode exit gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that the stack-cooling-gas line (45) includes a natural gas feed line (Ct, 40) and a steam feed line (42).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the line (50) for the gas-for-processing includes a natural gas feed line (PG, 46) and a steam feed line (47).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the system further includes an ejector (62) and the cathode gas feed line (55) includes an air feed line (A, 54) and a line (65) for combustion exhaust gas discharged from the combustion section (39), the combustion exhaust gas line (65) being connected to the air feed line (A, 54) via the ejector (62).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
50 words
The system of any one of foregoing claims, characterized in that the anode gas feed line (52) includes a line (64, 63) for directly introducing to the anode (3) via the reforming section (38) of the external reformer (37) gas reformed through the passages (34) of the cooling plates (33).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
50 words
The system of any of foregoing claims, characterized in that the anode gas feed line (52) includes a line (64, 63) for introducing to the anode (3) via the reforming section (38) of the external reformer (37) part of gas reformed through the passages (34) of the cooling plates (33).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
51 words
The system of any one of foregoing claims, characterized in that the anode gas feed line (52) includes a line (64, 63) for introducing to the anode (3) via the reforming section (38) of the external reformer (37) all of gas reformed through the passages (34) of the cooling plates (33).