US4001041A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressurized fuel cell power plant
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1975-02-12
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Granted: 1977-01-04
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Expires: 1995-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A fuel cell power plant for producing electricity uses pressurized reactants in the cells. In one embodiment air for the fuel cells is compressed in a compressor driven by a turbine which is powered by waste energy produced in the power plant in the form of a hot pressurized gaseous medium. The power plant includes fuel conditioning apparatus comprising a steam reforming reactor and a reactor burner to provide heat for the steam reforming reactor. Effluent gases from the anode side of the cells are delivered into the reactor burner and from the reactor burner are combined with effluent gases from the cathode side of the cells. The combined gases are used to drive the turbine. Water to produce steam for the steam reforming reactor is recovered from the effluent gases from the anode side of the cells before they are delivered into the reactor burner and from the effluent gases from the cathode side of the cells.
Inventors
- 👤 Maurice C. Menard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/04; H01M8/04082; H01M8/04089; F; F02; F02C; F02C6/00; F02C6/04; F02C6/10; H01M8/06; H01M8/04007; H01M8/04014; H01M8/04029; H01M8/04119; H01M8/04156; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
316 words
A power plant for generating electricity comprising: a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells connected electrically in series through a load, each cell comprising a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, an electrolyte disposed therebetween, a cathode gas space on the nonelectrolyte side of said cathode electrode and an anode gas space on the nonelectrolyte side of said anode electrode; compressor means for compressing air to greater than two atmospheres pressure including a compressor and turbine means operably connected to said compressor; means for delivering air at a pressure of at least two atmospheres from said compressor into said cathode gas space; fuel conditioning apparatus including a reactor for producing hydrogen from a hydrogen containing fuel and steam; burner means for providing heat to said reactor; means for producing steam and for delivering said steam into said reactor; means for delivering pressurized hydrogen containing fuel into said reactor; means for delivering pressurized hydrogen from said fuel conditioning apparatus into said anode gas space; condenser means disposed upstream of said turbine means for condensing out water from said anode gas space and cathode gas space effluent gases at least a first portion of said condenser means being disposed downstream of said anode gas space and upstream of said burner means; means for delivering said anode gas space effluent gases into said first portion of said condenser means for recovering water therefrom; means for delivering said cathode gas space effluent gases into said condenser means for recovering water therefrom; means for delivering said anode gas space effluent gases from said condenser means into said burner means; means for delivering the condensed out water from said condenser means to said means for producing steam; and means disposed downstream of said condenser means for delivering effluent gases from said cathode gas space and burner means into said turbine means for powering said turbine means and driving said compressor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
316 words
A power plant for generating electricity comprising: a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells connected electrically in series through a load, each cell comprising a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, an electrolyte disposed therebetween, a cathode gas space on the nonelectrolyte side of said cathode electrode and an anode gas space on the nonelectrolyte side of said anode electrode; compressor means for compressing air to greater than two atmospheres pressure including a compressor and turbine means operably connected to said compressor; means for delivering air at a pressure of at least two atmospheres from said compressor into said cathode gas space; fuel conditioning apparatus including a reactor for producing hydrogen from a hydrogen containing fuel and steam; burner means for providing heat to said reactor; means for producing steam and for delivering said steam into said reactor; means for delivering pressurized hydrogen containing fuel into said reactor; means for delivering pressurized hydrogen from said fuel conditioning apparatus into said anode gas space; condenser means disposed upstream of said turbine means for condensing out water from said anode gas space and cathode gas space effluent gases at least a first portion of said condenser means being disposed downstream of said anode gas space and upstream of said burner means; means for delivering said anode gas space effluent gases into said first portion of said condenser means for recovering water therefrom; means for delivering said cathode gas space effluent gases into said condenser means for recovering water therefrom; means for delivering said anode gas space effluent gases from said condenser means into said burner means; means for delivering the condensed out water from said condenser means to said means for producing steam; and means disposed downstream of said condenser means for delivering effluent gases from said cathode gas space and burner means into said turbine means for powering said turbine means and driving said compressor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The power plant according to claim 1 including means for delivering compressed air from said compressor into said burner means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The power plant according to claim 1 wherein said electrolyte is an acid electrolyte.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The power plant according to claim 3 wherein said electrolyte is phosphoric acid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The power plant according to claim 1 wherein said means for producing steam includes boiler means for converting water into steam, wherein said means for delivering condensed out water from said condenser means to said means for producing steam includes means for delivering water from said condenser means into said boiler means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The power plant according to claim 5 wherein said means for producing steam includes means for delivering a coolant fluid into heat exchange relationship with said stack and with said boiler means for transferring heat from said stack to said boiler means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
251 words
In the process for generating electricity in a power plant comprising a compressor operably connected to turbine means, fuel conditioning apparatus comprising a reactor, and a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells connected electrically in series through a load, each cell comprising a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, an electrolyte disposed therebetween, a cathode gas space on the nonelectrolyte side of said cathode electrode and an anode gas space on the nonelectrolyte side of said anode electrode, the steps of: compressing air to greater than two atmospheres pressure in said compressor; delivering said compressed air at greater than two atmospheres from said compressor into said cathode gas space; delivering pressurized hydrogen containing fuel into said reactor; producing hydrogen by reacting steam with a hydrogen containing fuel; burning anode effluent gases in a burner to provide heat for said step of producing hydrogen; condensing water out of said cathode gas space effluent gases upstream of said turbine means; condensing water out of said anode gas space effluent gases before the step of burning said anode effluent gases; converting said condensed out water from said cathode and anode gas space effluent gases into steam and delivering said steam into said reactor for use in said step of producing hydrogen; delivering pressurized hydrogen from said fuel conditioning apparatus into said anode gas space; and delivering effluent gases from said cathode gas space and effluent gases from said burner into said turbine means for powering said turbine means and driving said compressor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
251 words
In the process for generating electricity in a power plant comprising a compressor operably connected to turbine means, fuel conditioning apparatus comprising a reactor, and a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells connected electrically in series through a load, each cell comprising a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, an electrolyte disposed therebetween, a cathode gas space on the nonelectrolyte side of said cathode electrode and an anode gas space on the nonelectrolyte side of said anode electrode, the steps of: compressing air to greater than two atmospheres pressure in said compressor; delivering said compressed air at greater than two atmospheres from said compressor into said cathode gas space; delivering pressurized hydrogen containing fuel into said reactor; producing hydrogen by reacting steam with a hydrogen containing fuel; burning anode effluent gases in a burner to provide heat for said step of producing hydrogen; condensing water out of said cathode gas space effluent gases upstream of said turbine means; condensing water out of said anode gas space effluent gases before the step of burning said anode effluent gases; converting said condensed out water from said cathode and anode gas space effluent gases into steam and delivering said steam into said reactor for use in said step of producing hydrogen; delivering pressurized hydrogen from said fuel conditioning apparatus into said anode gas space; and delivering effluent gases from said cathode gas space and effluent gases from said burner into said turbine means for powering said turbine means and driving said compressor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The power plant according to claim 7 wherein said step of converting said condensed out water to steam includes the step of converting said water to steam using waste heat from said stack.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The power plant according to claim 1 wherein said reactor is a steam reforming reactor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The power plant according to claim 9 wherein said burner means is a reactor burner.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The power plant according to claim 1 wherein said means for delivering effluent gases into said turbine means includes means disposed upstream of said turbine means for combining said cathode gas space effluent gases and said burner means effluent gases.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process according to claim 7 wherein said step of producing hydrogen includes steam reforming said hydrogen containing fuel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process according to claim 7 including delivering compressed air from said compressor into said burner.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process according to claim 8 wherein said step of converting water to steam includes delivering said water into a boiler and delivering a coolant fluid into heat exchange relationship with said stack and with said boiler means for transferring heat from said stack to said boiler means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-04 | 1980-07-05 | 1981-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-04 | 1984-07-05 | 1985-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-04 | 1988-07-05 | 1989-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |