US5068159A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electric power producing system using molten carbonate type fuel cell
Assignee: IHI Corp
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Filing: 1989-10-19
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Granted: 1991-11-26
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Expires: 2009-10-19
Abstract
Abstract A fuel gas reformed in a reformer is fed to the anode electrode of a molten carbonate type fuel cell and is used for electrochemical reaction therein, the gas discharged from the anode electrode is introduced into a carbon dioxide separator containing an carbon dioxide absorptive liquid to remove carbon dioxide gas from the exhaust gas, the separated carbon dioxide gas is fed to the cathode electrode of the fuel cell together with air, and the exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide gas has been removed is recirculated to the anode electrode of the fuel cell via the reformer.
Inventors
- 👤 Noboru Kinoshita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:01
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/06; H01M8/0662; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0612; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of producing electric power using a molten carbonate type fuel cell wherein an anode gas is fed into an anode chamber of the fuel cell and a cathode gas is fed into a cathode chamber thereof, which comprises the steps of: (A) separating carbon dioxide gas from an anode exhaust gas expelled from the anode chamber; (B) recirculating the anode exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide gas has been separated in step (A), into the anode chamber as the anode gas; and (C) feeding the carbon dioxide gas separated from the anode exhaust gas in step (A), into the cathode chamber as the cathode gas; wherein a fuel gas such as methane is reformed with steam in a reformer so as to obtain the anode gas and the anode gas is supplied into the anode of the fuel cell, and the anode exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide has been separated in step (A) is fed into the reformer together with the fuel gas and steam and then recirculated to the anode chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of producing electric power using a molten carbonate type fuel cell wherein an anode gas is fed into an anode chamber of the fuel cell and a cathode gas is fed into a cathode chamber thereof, which comprises the steps of: (A) separating carbon dioxide gas from an anode exhaust gas expelled from the anode chamber; (B) recirculating the anode exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide gas has been separated in step (A), into the anode chamber as the anode gas; and (C) feeding the carbon dioxide gas separated from the anode exhaust gas in step (A), into the cathode chamber as the cathode gas; wherein a fuel gas such as methane is reformed with steam in a reformer so as to obtain the anode gas and the anode gas is supplied into the anode of the fuel cell, and the anode exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide has been separated in step (A) is fed into the reformer together with the fuel gas and steam and then recirculated to the anode chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step (A) is effected by a vapour-liquid contact of the anode exhaust gas with a carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the carbon dioxide gas-absorbing liquid which has absorbed carbon dioxide gas is isolated from a flow line of the anode exhaust gas while air is blown into the carbon dioxide gas-absorbing liquid which has absorbed carbon dioxide gas to release carbon dioxide gas from the liquid and thus released gas is fed to the cathode chamber as the cathode gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the anode exhaust gas is cooled prior to the vapour-liquid contact with the carbon dioxide gas-absorbing liquid, the steam in the anode exhaust gas is condensed and separated and thereafter the vapour-liquid contact of the anode exhaust gas with the carbon dioxide gas-absorbing liquid is effected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid is an aqueous solution of an amine such as diethanolamine, aqueous alkali salt solution such as potassium carbonate or a mixture of the aqueous alkali salt solution and the aqueous amine solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the anode exhaust gas or cathode exhaust gas is utilized as the heat source for maintaining the reforming temperature in the reformer.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
208 words
The method of producing electric power using a molten carbonate type fuel cell wherein an anode gas is fed into an anode chamber of the fuel cell and a cathode gas is fed into a cathode chamber thereof, which comprises the steps of: (A) introducing a fuel gas and steam into a reformer of the fuel cell so as to reform the fuel gas with the steam to give an anode gas containging H 2 and CO and then feeding the resulting anode gas into the anode chamber of the fuel cell; (B) allowing the non-reacted CO in the anode exhaust gas exhausted from the anode chamber to react with steam to give carbon dioxide gas and hydrogen so as to shift up the concentration of carbon dioxide gas and hydrogen in the anode exhaust gas; (C) separating the carbon dioxide from the thus shifted anode exhaust gas; (D) recirctulating the anode exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide gas has been removed in the step (C), to the anode chamber via the reformer as the anode gas; and (E) introducing into air the carbon dioxide gas as separated from the anode exhaust gas and the feeding the resulting mixed gases into the cathode chamber as the cathode gas.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
208 words
The method of producing electric power using a molten carbonate type fuel cell wherein an anode gas is fed into an anode chamber of the fuel cell and a cathode gas is fed into a cathode chamber thereof, which comprises the steps of: (A) introducing a fuel gas and steam into a reformer of the fuel cell so as to reform the fuel gas with the steam to give an anode gas containging H 2 and CO and then feeding the resulting anode gas into the anode chamber of the fuel cell; (B) allowing the non-reacted CO in the anode exhaust gas exhausted from the anode chamber to react with steam to give carbon dioxide gas and hydrogen so as to shift up the concentration of carbon dioxide gas and hydrogen in the anode exhaust gas; (C) separating the carbon dioxide from the thus shifted anode exhaust gas; (D) recirctulating the anode exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide gas has been removed in the step (C), to the anode chamber via the reformer as the anode gas; and (E) introducing into air the carbon dioxide gas as separated from the anode exhaust gas and the feeding the resulting mixed gases into the cathode chamber as the cathode gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the step (C) is effected in a manner such that the anode exhaust gas and a carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid undergo a vapour-liquid contact and the carbon dioxide gas is removed from the anode exhaust gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid which has absorbed carbon dioxide gas is isolated from a flow line of the anode exhaust gas, air is blown into the thus isolated carbon dioxide gas-absorbed liquid so as to release carbon dioxide gas from the liquid, and the resulting mixture containing carbon dioxide gas and air is fed into the cathode chamber as the cathode gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the shifted anode exhaust gas is cooled prior to the vapour-liquid contact with the carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid, the steam in the exhaust gas is condensed and separated and thereafter the vapour-liquid contact of the exhaust gas and the carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid is effected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 10, wherein a part of the condensed water as separated is heated to a steam and is mixed with the fuel gas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid contains an aqueous solution of an amine such as diethanolamine, an aqueous alkali salt solution such as potassium carbonate or a mixture of the aqueous alkali salt solution and the aqueous amine solution.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the anode exhaust gas or cathode exhasut gas is used as the heat source for maintaining the reforming temperature in the reformer.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of producing electric power with a molten carbonate type fuel cell wherein an anode gas is fed into an anode chamber of the fuel cell and a cahode gas is into an cathode chamber thereof, which comprises the steps of: (A) introducing a fuel gas and steam into a reformer so as to reform the fuel gas with the steam to give an anode gas containing H 2 and CO and then feeding the resulting anode gas into the anode chamber of the fuel cell; (B) separating carbon dioxide gas from the anode exhaust gas as exhausted from the anode chamber; (C) recirculating the anode exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide gas has been removed in the step (B), to the anode chamber via the reformer as the anode gas; and (D) introducing into air the carbon dioxide gas as separated from the anode exhaust gas and feeding the resulting mixed gas into a combustion device while a part of the anode exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide gas has been removed is fed into the said combustion device and is combusted therein and the outlet gas from the combustion device is fed into the cathode chamber as the cathode gas.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of producing electric power with a molten carbonate type fuel cell wherein an anode gas is fed into an anode chamber of the fuel cell and a cahode gas is into an cathode chamber thereof, which comprises the steps of: (A) introducing a fuel gas and steam into a reformer so as to reform the fuel gas with the steam to give an anode gas containing H 2 and CO and then feeding the resulting anode gas into the anode chamber of the fuel cell; (B) separating carbon dioxide gas from the anode exhaust gas as exhausted from the anode chamber; (C) recirculating the anode exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide gas has been removed in the step (B), to the anode chamber via the reformer as the anode gas; and (D) introducing into air the carbon dioxide gas as separated from the anode exhaust gas and feeding the resulting mixed gas into a combustion device while a part of the anode exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide gas has been removed is fed into the said combustion device and is combusted therein and the outlet gas from the combustion device is fed into the cathode chamber as the cathode gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 14, wherein a separation of carbon dioxide gas from the anode exhaust gas is effected by vapour-absorbing liquid of the anode exhaust gas with a carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid which has absorbed carbon dioxide gas is isolated from a flow line of the anode exhaust gas and air is blown into the thus isolated carbon dioxide gas-absorbed liquid so as to release carbon dioxide gas from the liquid while the resulting mixture containing carbon dioxide gas and air are fed into the cathode chamber as the cathode gas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid contains an aqueous solution of an amine such as diethanolamine, an aqueous alkali salt solution such as potassium carbonate or a mixture of the aqueous alkali salt solution and the aqueous amine solution.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the anode exhaust gas is cooled prior to the vapour-liquid contact with the carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid so that the steam in the exhaust gas is condensed and separated and thereafter the vapour-liquid contact of the exhaust gas and the carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid is effected.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18, wherein a part of the condensed water as separated is heated to a steam and is incorporated into the fuel gas.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the anode exhaust gas or cathode exhaust gas is employed as the heat source for maintaining the reforming temperature in the reformer.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of producing electric power using a molten carbonate type fuel cell wherein an anode gas is fed into an anode chamber of the fuel cell and a cathode gas is fed into a cathode chamber thereof, which comprises the steps of: (A) separating carbon dioxide gas from an anode exhaust gas expelled from the anode chamber; (B) recirculating the anode exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide gas has been separated in step (A), into the anode chamber as the anode gas; and (C) feeding the carbon dioxide gas separated from the anode exhaust gas in step (A), into the cathode chamber as the cathode gas; wherein step (A) is effected by a vapor-liquid contact of the anode exhaust gas with a carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of producing electric power using a molten carbonate type fuel cell wherein an anode gas is fed into an anode chamber of the fuel cell and a cathode gas is fed into a cathode chamber thereof, which comprises the steps of: (A) separating carbon dioxide gas from an anode exhaust gas expelled from the anode chamber; (B) recirculating the anode exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide gas has been separated in step (A), into the anode chamber as the anode gas; and (C) feeding the carbon dioxide gas separated from the anode exhaust gas in step (A), into the cathode chamber as the cathode gas; wherein step (A) is effected by a vapor-liquid contact of the anode exhaust gas with a carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the carbon dioxide gas-absorbing liquid which has absorbed carbon dioxide gas is isolated from a flow line of the anode exhaust gas while air is blown into the carbon dioxide gas-absorbing liquid which has absorbed carbon dioxide gas to release carbon dioxide gas from the liquid and the thus released gas is fed to the cathode chamber as the cathode gas.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the anode exhaust gas is cooled prior to the vapor-liquid contact with the carbon dioxide gas-absorbing liquid, the steam in the anode exhaust gas is condensed and separated and thereafter the vapor-liquid contact of the anode exhaust gas with the carbon dioxide gas-absorbing liquid is effected.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the carbon dioxide-absorbing liquid is an aqueous solution of an amine such as diethanolamine, aqueous alkali salt solution such as potassium carbonate or a mixture of the aqueous alkali salt solution and the aqueous amine solution.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of producing electric power using a molten carbonate type fuel cell wherein an anode gas is fed into an anode chamber of the fuel cell and a cathode gas is fed into a cathode chamber thereof, which comprises the steps of: (A) separating carbon dioxide gas from an anode exhaust gas expelled from the anode chamber; (B) recirculating the anode exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide gas has been separated in step (A), into the anode chamber as the anode gas; and (C) feeding the carbon dioxide gas separated from the anode exhaust gas in step (A), into the cathode chamber as the cathode gas; wherein one of the anode exhaust gas and the cathode exhaust gas is utilized as the heat source for maintaining the reforming temperature in the reformer.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of producing electric power using a molten carbonate type fuel cell wherein an anode gas is fed into an anode chamber of the fuel cell and a cathode gas is fed into a cathode chamber thereof, which comprises the steps of: (A) separating carbon dioxide gas from an anode exhaust gas expelled from the anode chamber; (B) recirculating the anode exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide gas has been separated in step (A), into the anode chamber as the anode gas; and (C) feeding the carbon dioxide gas separated from the anode exhaust gas in step (A), into the cathode chamber as the cathode gas; wherein one of the anode exhaust gas and the cathode exhaust gas is utilized as the heat source for maintaining the reforming temperature in the reformer.
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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) | 1994-11-25 | 1995-05-27 | 1995-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-25 | 1999-05-27 | 1999-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-25 | 2003-05-27 | 2003-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |