EP0476610A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Power generation system using fuel cells
Assignee: IHI Corp
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Filing: 1991-09-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-09-18
Abstract
Abstract The power generation system includes a reformer (130) and two fuel cell stacks (I, II). The reformer (130) and the fuel cell stacks (I, II) are provided in series. Fuel gas (FG) produced by the reformer (130) is introduced to a first anode (103) of the first fuel cell stack (I). Gases discharged from the first anode (103) are directly introduced to a second anode (103) of the second fuel cell stack (II). Air is introduced to a first cathode (102) of the first fuel cell stack (I). Gases discharged from the first cathode (102) are cooled by a cooling device (140) and then introduced to a second cathode (102) of the second fuel cell stack (II). Gases discharged from the second anode (103) and gases discharged from the second cathode (102) are introduced to a combustion chamber (130b) of the reformer (130). Gases discharged from the combustion chamber (130b) are introduced to a steam generator (146) to produce steam used for reformation and then recirculated to the first cathode (102).
Inventors
- 👤 Hiromasa 2-38-7 Kita-Magome Morimoto
- 👤 Satoshi 2506-25 Fukawa Hatori
- 👤 Kazunori 1202-103 Shiomidai Kobayashi
- 👤 Hiroyoshi 2-16-41 Kami-Shirane-Cho Uematsu
- 👤 Tomoji C/O Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd. Hikita
- 👤 Kenichi C/O Osaka Gas Co. Ltd. Shinozaki
- 👤 Shigeto C/O Toho Gas Co. Ltd. Nakagawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:11
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/04; H01M8/04082; H01M8/04089; H01M8/06; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0612; H01M8/04007; H01M8/04014; H01M8/04097; H01M8/24; H01M8/249; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A power generation system using fuel cells (I, II), characterized in that the system comprises: a first reformer (130) having a first reforming chamber (130a) and a first combustion chamber (130b), raw material gas (NG) being reformed into fuel gas (FG) by the reforming chamber (130a); a first fuel cell (I) having a first anode (103) and a first cathode (102); a fuel gas feed line for introducing the fuel gas (FG) into the first anode (103) from the first reforming chamber (130a); a second fuel cell (II) having a second anode (103) and a second cathode (102); a first line for introducing into the second anode (103) gases discharged from the first anode (103); a second line for introducing into the second cathode (102) gases discharged from the first cathode (102); and a third line (144, 137) for introducing into the first cathode (102) gases discharged from the first combustion chamber (130b).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that the first anode (103) is directly connected to the second anode (103) by the first line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that gases discharged from the second anode (102) are introduced to the first combustion chamber (130b).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the system further includes a catalyst combustor (161) and that gases discharged from the second anode (103) are introduced to the catalyst combustor (161) and then to the first combustion chamber (130b).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
55 words
The system of any one of foregoing claims, characterized in that the system further includes a filter (136), a blower (138) and a preheater (139) and that oxidizing gas is clarified by the filter (136), pressurized by the blower (138) and preheated by the preheater (139) before it is introduced to the first cathode (102).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
43 words
The system of any one of foregoing claims, characterized in that the system further includes a cooling device (140) and that gases discharged from the first cathode (102) are cooled by the cooling device (140) and then introduced to the second cathode (102).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that part of the gases discharged from the second cathode (102) is introduced to the catalyst combustor (161).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that part of the gases discharged from the second cathode (102) is introduced to the oxidizing gas preheater (139).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
28 words
The system of any one of foregoing claims, characterized in that part of the gases discharged from the second cathode (102) is recirculated to the first cathode (102).
Claim 10
Independent Claim
34 words
The system of any one of foregoing claims, characterized in that gases discharged from the second anode (103) and gases discharged from the second cathode (102) are introduced to the first combustion chamber (130b).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
52 words
The system of any one of foregoing claims, characterized in that the system further includes a steam generator (146) and that gases discharged from the first combustion chamber (130b) are introduced to the steam generator (146) and steam generated in the steam generator (146) is added to the raw material gas (NG).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
59 words
The system of any one of foregoing claims, characterized in that the system further includes a second reformer (254) having a second reforming chamber (254a) and a second combustion chamber (254b) and that the first reforming chamber (130a; 230a), the first anode (103; 203), the second reforming chamber (254a) and the second anode (103; 203) are connected in series.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 12, characterized in that gases discharged from the second anode (103; 203) and gases discharged from the second cathode (102; 202) are introduced to the second combustion chamber (254b) and then to the first combustion chamber (130b; 230b).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 12 or 13, characterized in that a reforming rate of the first reformer (130; 230) is lower than the reforming rate of the second reformer (254).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 11, 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that gases discharged from the first cathode (102; 202) are introduced to the first combustion chamber (130b; 230b).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 12, 13, 14 or 15, characterized in that gases discharged from the first combustion chamber (130b; 230b) are introduced to the second cathode (102; 202) and then to the first cathode (102; 202).
Claim 17
Independent Claim
58 words
The system of any one of foregoing claims, characterized in that the system further includes a second reforming chamber (356) and that the first anode (103; 303), the second reforming chamber (356) and the second anode (103; 303) are connected in series and the first cathode (103; 302) and the second cathode (103; 302) are connected in series.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 17, characterized in that the system further includes a catalyst combustor (414) and that gases discharged from the second anode (403) and gases discharged from the second cathode (402) are introduced to the catalyst combustor (414) and then to the first combustion chamber (404b).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the system further includes an air preheater (412) and that air preheated by the air preheater (412) is introduced to the first cathode (402) and air not preheated by the air preheater (412) is introduced to the second cathode (402).
Claim 20
Independent Claim
78 words
The system of any one of foregoing claims, characterized in that the system further includes a second reformer (533) having a second reforming chamber (533a) and a second combustion chamber (533b) and that gases discharged from the first anode (503) are introduced to the second reforming chamber (533a) and then to the second anode (503) and gases discharged from the first cathode (502) are introduced to the second combustion chamber (533b) and then to the second cathode (502).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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