US6077620A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel cell system with combustor-heated reformer
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1997-11-26
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Granted: 2000-06-20
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Expires: 2017-11-26
Abstract
Abstract A fuel cell system including a fuel reformer heated by a catalytic combustor fired by anode effluent and/or fuel from a liquid fuel supply providing fuel for the fuel cell. The combustor includes a vaporizer section heated by the combustor exhaust gases for vaporizing the fuel before feeding it into the combustor. Cathode effluent is used as the principle oxidant for the combustor.
Inventors
- 👤 William Henry Pettit
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:16
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01B; C01B3/00; C01B3/02; C01B3/32; C01B3/34; C01B3/48; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/24; B01J19/2415; B01J19/243; B01J8/00; B01J8/02; B01J8/04; B01J8/0403; B01J8/0423; B01J8/0438; C01B3/323; C01B3/50; C01B3/56; C01B3/58; C01B3/583; H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/04; H01M8/04223; H01M8/04225; H01M8/06; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0612; H01M8/24; H01M8/241; H01M8/2457; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/00049; B01J2219/00051; B01J2219/0015; B01J2219/00155; C01B2203/00; C01B2203/02; C01B2203/0205; C01B2203/0227; C01B2203/0233; C01B2203/0283; C01B2203/04; C01B2203/0435; C01B2203/044; C01B2203/0465; C01B2203/047; C01B2203/06; C01B2203/066; C01B2203/08; C01B2203/0805; C01B2203/0811; C01B2203/0822; C01B2203/0827; C01B2203/085; C01B2203/10; C01B2203/1005; C01B2203/1011; C01B2203/12; C01B2203/1205; C01B2203/1211; C01B2203/1217; C01B2203/1223; C01B2203/1229; C01B2203/1235; C01B2203/1247; C01B2203/1288; C01B2203/16; C01B2203/1604; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0065; H01M2300/0082; H01M8/04007; H01M8/04014; H01M8/04022; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
In a fuel cell system comprising (a) a stack of H 2 --O 2 fuel cells discharging an H 2 -containing anode effluent and an O 2 -containing cathode effluent, (b) a reformer for converting a hydrogen-containing fuel selected from the group consisting of alcohols and hydrocarbons to H 2 for fueling said cells, (c) a first heat exchanger operatively associated with said reformer for heating said reformer, and (d) a combustor providing hot exhaust gas to said first heat exchanger for heating said reformer during the reformation process, the improvement comprising: said combustor being fueled by said fuel and said anode effluent and comprising a housing having an input end adapted to receive said fuel and said anode effluent, an exhaust end emitting hot combustor exhaust gas to said first heat exchanger, and a catalyst bed intermediate said input and exhaust ends for burning said fuel and said anode effluent to generate said combustor exhaust gas; a second heat exchanger in said exhaust end of said combustor and exposed to said hot exhaust gas for vaporizing said fuel when said combustor is operating under post-startup conditions, said second heat exchanger having an inlet for receiving said fuel as a liquid, and an outlet for discharging said fuel as a vapor; a first conduit communicating said outlet with said input end of said combustor; and a second conduit communicating said stack with said input end of said combustor to convey said anode effluent to said combustor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
In a fuel cell system comprising (a) a stack of H 2 --O 2 fuel cells discharging an H 2 -containing anode effluent and an O 2 -containing cathode effluent, (b) a reformer for converting a hydrogen-containing fuel selected from the group consisting of alcohols and hydrocarbons to H 2 for fueling said cells, (c) a first heat exchanger operatively associated with said reformer for heating said reformer, and (d) a combustor providing hot exhaust gas to said first heat exchanger for heating said reformer during the reformation process, the improvement comprising: said combustor being fueled by said fuel and said anode effluent and comprising a housing having an input end adapted to receive said fuel and said anode effluent, an exhaust end emitting hot combustor exhaust gas to said first heat exchanger, and a catalyst bed intermediate said input and exhaust ends for burning said fuel and said anode effluent to generate said combustor exhaust gas; a second heat exchanger in said exhaust end of said combustor and exposed to said hot exhaust gas for vaporizing said fuel when said combustor is operating under post-startup conditions, said second heat exchanger having an inlet for receiving said fuel as a liquid, and an outlet for discharging said fuel as a vapor; a first conduit communicating said outlet with said input end of said combustor; and a second conduit communicating said stack with said input end of said combustor to convey said anode effluent to said combustor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 1 including a third conduit communicating said stack with said input end of said combustor to convey said cathode effluent to said combustor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger comprises a tubular coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
270 words
In a fuel cell system comprising (a) a stack of H 2 --O 2 fuel cells discharging an H 2 -containing anode effluent and an O 2 -containing cathode effluent, (b) a reformer for converting a hydrogen-containing fuel selected from the group consisting of alcohols and hydrocarbons to H 2 for fueling said cells, (c) a first heat exchanger operatively associated with said reformer for heating said reformer, and (d) a combustor providing hot exhaust gas to said first heat exchanger for heating said reformer during the reformation process, the improvement comprising: said combustor being fueled by said fuel and said anode effluent and comprising a housing having an input end adapted to receive said fuel and anode effluent, an exhaust end, and a catalyst bed intermediate said input and exhaust ends for burning said fuel and said anode effluent to generate a hot combustor exhaust gas that exits said exhaust end; a second heat exchanger in said exhaust end of said combustor and exposed to said hot exhaust gas for vaporizing said fuel when said combustor is operating under post-startup conditions, said second heat exchanger having an inlet for receiving said fuel as a liquid, and an outlet for discharging said fuel as a vapor; a first conduit communicating said outlet of said second heat exchanger with said input end of said combustor; a second conduit communicating said stack with said input end of said combustor to convey said anode effluent to said combustor; and an electrical heater in said input end upstream of said catalyst bed for vaporizing fuel supplied to said combustor during startup of said combustor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
270 words
In a fuel cell system comprising (a) a stack of H 2 --O 2 fuel cells discharging an H 2 -containing anode effluent and an O 2 -containing cathode effluent, (b) a reformer for converting a hydrogen-containing fuel selected from the group consisting of alcohols and hydrocarbons to H 2 for fueling said cells, (c) a first heat exchanger operatively associated with said reformer for heating said reformer, and (d) a combustor providing hot exhaust gas to said first heat exchanger for heating said reformer during the reformation process, the improvement comprising: said combustor being fueled by said fuel and said anode effluent and comprising a housing having an input end adapted to receive said fuel and anode effluent, an exhaust end, and a catalyst bed intermediate said input and exhaust ends for burning said fuel and said anode effluent to generate a hot combustor exhaust gas that exits said exhaust end; a second heat exchanger in said exhaust end of said combustor and exposed to said hot exhaust gas for vaporizing said fuel when said combustor is operating under post-startup conditions, said second heat exchanger having an inlet for receiving said fuel as a liquid, and an outlet for discharging said fuel as a vapor; a first conduit communicating said outlet of said second heat exchanger with said input end of said combustor; a second conduit communicating said stack with said input end of said combustor to convey said anode effluent to said combustor; and an electrical heater in said input end upstream of said catalyst bed for vaporizing fuel supplied to said combustor during startup of said combustor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A fuel cell system according to claim 4 wherein said heater is catalyzed.
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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) | 2003-06-20 | 2003-12-20 | 2004-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-20 | 2007-12-20 | 2008-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-20 | 2011-12-20 | 2012-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |