INTERNALLY REFORMING FUEL CELL ASSEMBLY WITH STAGED FUEL FLOW AND SELECTIVE CATALYST LOADING FOR IMPROVED TEMPERATURE UNIFORMITY AND EFFICIENCY

Title:

INTERNALLY REFORMING FUEL CELL ASSEMBLY WITH STAGED FUEL FLOW AND SELECTIVE CATALYST LOADING FOR IMPROVED TEMPERATURE UNIFORMITY AND EFFICIENCY

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO/2010/104845

Kind Code:

A3

Abstract:

A fuel cell assembly including a fuel reforming unit for reforming a fuel supply for a series of fuel cells constituting a fuel cell stack. The reformed fuel supply is routed first to the anode of the fuel cell most adjacent the reforming unit, and thereafter to a manifold external to the stack. The manifold intakes that portion of the reformed fuel supply not fully exhausted after passing through the first anode and feeds such reformed fuel to successive fuel cells in series, thus providing staged fuel supply throughout the stack and optimal fuel utilization in producing electricity. The reforming unit includes a series of baffles for directing the reformed fuel supply to the first anode and to the manifold to maximize utilization of fuel consumed by cells in the stack. Also, cooling occurring as a result of the endothermic reaction occurring in the reforming unit is captured and spread optimally throughout the stack to achieve optimal temperature gradients throughout the stack, thus enabling optimal operation of and increased life of the stack.

Inventors:

MA ZHIWEN (US)
FAROOQUE MOHAMMAD (US)
VENKATARAMAN RAMAKRISHNAN (US)

Application Number:

PCT/US2010/026647

Publication Date:

January 06, 2011

Filing Date:

March 09, 2010

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

FUELCELL ENERGY INC (US)

International Classes:

H01M8/06; C01B3/02; H01M8/04

Foreign References:

US20060123705A1	2006-06-15
JP2004244230A	2004-09-02
US5209906A	1993-05-11

Other References: