US4729931A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reforming of fuel inside fuel cell generator
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1986-11-03
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Granted: 1988-03-08
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Expires: 2006-11-03
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an improved method of reforming a gaseous reformable fuel within a solid oxide fuel cell generator, wherein the solid oxide fuel cell generator has a plurality of individual fuel cells in a refractory container, the fuel cells generating a partially spent fuel stream and a partially spent oxidant stream. The partially spent fuel stream is divided into two streams, spent fuel stream I and spent fuel stream II. Spent fuel stream I is burned with the partially spent oxidant stream inside the refractory container to produce an exhaust stream. The exhaust stream is divided into two streams, exhaust stream I and exhaust stream II, and exhaust stream I is vented. Exhaust stream II is mixed with spent fuel stream II to form a recycle stream. The recycle stream is mixed with the gaseous reformable fuel within the refractory container to form a fuel stream which is supplied to the fuel cells. Also disclosed is an improved apparatus which permits the reforming of a reformable gaseous fuel within such a solid oxide fuel cell generator. The apparatus comprises a mixing chamber within the refractory container, means for diverting a portion of the partially spent fuel stream to the mixing chamber, means for diverting a portion of exhaust gas to the mixing chamber where it is mixed with the portion of the partially spent fuel stream to form a recycle stream, means for injecting the reformable gaseous fuel into the recycle stream, and means for circulating the recycle stream back to the fuel cells.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph E. Grimble
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 04:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/06; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0612; H01M8/0625; H01M8/24; H01M8/241; H01M8/2425; H01M8/243; H01M8/2457; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
In a solid oxide fuel cell generator having a plurality of individual fuel cells in a refractory container, where said fuel cells generate a partially spent fuel stream and a partially spent oxidant stream, an improved method of reforming a gaseous reformable fuel within said container comprising (A) dividing said partially spent fuel stream into two streams, spent fuel steam I and spent fuel stream II; (B) burning spent fuel stream I with said partially spent oxidant stream inside said refractory container to produce an exhaust stream; (C) dividing said exhaust stream into two streams, exhaust stream I and exhaust stream II; (D) venting exhaust stream I; (E) mixing exhaust stream II with spent fuel stream II for form a recycle stream; (F) mixing said recycle stream with said gaseous reformable fuel within said refractory container to form a fuel stream; and (G) supplying said fuel stream to said fuel cells.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
In a solid oxide fuel cell generator having a plurality of individual fuel cells in a refractory container, where said fuel cells generate a partially spent fuel stream and a partially spent oxidant stream, an improved method of reforming a gaseous reformable fuel within said container comprising (A) dividing said partially spent fuel stream into two streams, spent fuel steam I and spent fuel stream II; (B) burning spent fuel stream I with said partially spent oxidant stream inside said refractory container to produce an exhaust stream; (C) dividing said exhaust stream into two streams, exhaust stream I and exhaust stream II; (D) venting exhaust stream I; (E) mixing exhaust stream II with spent fuel stream II for form a recycle stream; (F) mixing said recycle stream with said gaseous reformable fuel within said refractory container to form a fuel stream; and (G) supplying said fuel stream to said fuel cells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said gaseous reformable fuel is mixed with said recycle stream through a jet pump, where said fuel is at a higher pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said gaseous reformable fuel is natural gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said fuel stream passes through a catalytic packing before it is supplied to said fuel cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said catalytic packing is nickel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein exhaust stream I is about 2/3 to 3/4 of the volume of said spent fuel stream.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the fuel utilization in said generator is about 75% and the oxidant utilization is about 25%.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said spent fuel stream I is about 75 to about 85% of said partially spent fuel stream, and said spent fuel stream II is about 15 to about 25% of said partially spent fuel stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein exhaust stream II is about 10 to about 20% by volume oxidant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a solid oxide fuel cell generator having a plurality of individual fuel cells in a refractory container, and having a combustion chamber where a partially spent fuel stream and a partially spent oxidant stream are combined and burned to form an exhaust gas, and said exhaust gas is vented from said refractory container, an improvement which permits the reforming of a reformable gaseous fuel within said refractory container, said improvement comprising (A) a mixing chamber within said refractory container; (B) means for diverting a portion of said partially spent fuel stream to said mixing chamber instead of to said combustion chamber; (C) means for diverting a portion of said exhaust gas to said mixing chamber where it is mixed with said portion of said partially spent fuel stream to form a recycle stream; (D) means for injecting said reformable gaseous fuel into said recycle stream; and (E) means for circulating said recycle stream to said fuel cells.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a solid oxide fuel cell generator having a plurality of individual fuel cells in a refractory container, and having a combustion chamber where a partially spent fuel stream and a partially spent oxidant stream are combined and burned to form an exhaust gas, and said exhaust gas is vented from said refractory container, an improvement which permits the reforming of a reformable gaseous fuel within said refractory container, said improvement comprising (A) a mixing chamber within said refractory container; (B) means for diverting a portion of said partially spent fuel stream to said mixing chamber instead of to said combustion chamber; (C) means for diverting a portion of said exhaust gas to said mixing chamber where it is mixed with said portion of said partially spent fuel stream to form a recycle stream; (D) means for injecting said reformable gaseous fuel into said recycle stream; and (E) means for circulating said recycle stream to said fuel cells.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An improvement according to claim 10 wherein said means for injecting said reformable gaseous fuel into said recycle stream is a jet pump.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An improvement according to claim 10 wherein said mixing chamber adjoins said combustion chamber, and said means for diverting a portion of said exhaust gas to said mixing chamber is an aperture therebetween.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An improvement according to claim 10 wherein said fuel cells are vertically suspended tubes sealed at the bottom, and said combustion chamber is at the top of said tubes.
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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) | 1991-03-08 | 1991-09-07 | 1992-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-08 | 1995-09-07 | 1996-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-08 | 1999-09-07 | 2000-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |