Modular pad for a fuel cell system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016260996-A1
Application number	US-201615061673-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 4, 2016
Priority date	Mar 6, 2015
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A pad for a fuel cell system includes a base having an upper surface, a separator disposed on the upper surface of the base, frames disposed on the separator and configured to support modules of the fuel cell system, and plumbing disposed between the upper surface of the base and the frames, and connected to the fuel cell modules. The separator is configured to space apart the frames and the upper surface of the base. The base may include modular sections that may be arranged in a linear configuration, a rectangular configuration, an orthogonal configuration, or a stepped configuration.

First claim

1 . A modular fuel cell system, comprising:
a base comprising a first through hole, a second through hole, and a generally U-shaped wire recess extending from the first through hole to the second through hole; modules disposed on the base in first and second parallel rows, the modules comprising:
fuel cell power modules disposed in the first and second rows;
a fuel processing module at a first end of the first row; and
a power conditioning module disposed a first end of the second row; and
wiring disposed in the wiring recess and configured to connect the power modules to the power condition module, wherein each of the plurality of power modules comprises a separate cabinet comprising at least one fuel cell stack disposed in a hot box.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising plumbing connected to the fuel processing module and the power modules,
wherein the base comprises a plumbing recess extending around edges of the base, the plumbing being disposed in the plumbing recess.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the base further comprises plumbing brackets disposed between the plumbing recess and the wire recess; and the plumbing extends between the plumbing brackets to the power modules.

4 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising an edge cover configured to cover the plumbing.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a drainage recess extending between the first and second rows.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a bus bar disposed in the second through hole and connected to the wiring and the power conditioning module.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises tie-down pockets configured to secure the modules to the base.

8 - 9 . (canceled)

10 . A modular pad of a fuel cell system, comprising at least one pad section that comprises:
bosses disposed in a first row; plumbing brackets disposed in a second row that is substantially parallel to the first row; a wiring recess extending between the plumbing brackets and the bosses; connection recesses extending from the wiring recess and between the bosses; and a plumbing recess extending along at least one edge of the pad section.

11 . The modular pad of claim 10 , wherein the pad section comprises:
a first boss; a second boss disposed on a first side of the first boss; and a third boss disposed on an opposing second side of the first boss, wherein the connection recesses extend between the first boss and the second boss, and between the first boss and the third boss.

12 . The modular pad of claim 11 , wherein the second boss has a larger surface area than the third boss.

13 . The modular pad of claim 11 , wherein the second and third bosses have the same surface area.

14 . The modular pad of claim 11 , wherein:
a portion of the wiring recess comprises an enlarged portion disposed between the third boss and the plumbing brackets, the enlarged portion being wider than the rest of the wiring recess, and the pad comprises a through hole formed in the enlarged portion of the wiring recess.

15 . The modular pad of claim 10 , wherein the bosses comprise tie-down pockets configured to secure modules of the fuel cell system.

16 . The modular pad of claim 10 , wherein pluming recess extends along only two edges of the pad section.

17 . The modular pad of claim 10 , wherein pluming recess extends along only three edges of the pad section.

18 . The modular pad of claim 10 , wherein:
the pad comprises first and second pad sections that each have two short sides that extend between two long sides; and the first and second pad sections aligned with one another, such a short side of the first pad section contacts a short side of the second pad section.

19 . The modular pad of claim 10 , wherein:
the pad comprises first and second pad sections, each having two short sides that extend between two long sides; and the first and second pad sections are aligned in a linear configuration, such a long side of the first pad section contacts a long side of the second pad section.

20 . The modular pad of claim 10 , wherein:
the pad comprises first and second pad sections, each having two short sides that extend between two long sides; and the first and second pad sections are aligned in a substantially orthogonal configuration, such a short side of the first pad section contacts a long side of the second pad section.

21 . The modular pad of claim 10 , wherein:
the pad comprises first, second, and third pad sections, each having two short sides that extend between two long sides; and the first, second, and third pad sections are aligned in a stepped configuration, such that the short sides of the second pad section contact long sides of the first and third pad sections.

22 - 27 . (canceled)

28 . A method of assembling a fuel cell system comprising:
connecting frames to respective fuel cell modules; connecting at least one of wiring and plumbing in the frames to the respective fuel cell modules; transporting the connected frames and fuel cell modules to an installation location; and installing the frames over a concrete base at the installation location, such that the frames are located between the fuel cell modules and the concrete base.

Assignees

• Bloom Energy Corp

Inventors

• Trevisan David
• Ballantine Arne
• Mahler Jessica
• Parker Ross
• Daco Christian
• Richards Gilbert

Classifications

• H01M8/249 Primary

  comprising two or more groupings of fuel cells, e.g. modular assemblies · CPC title

• Y02P90/40

  Fuel cell technologies in production processes · CPC title

• H01M8/2484

  characterised by external manifolds · CPC title

• H01M2250/10

  Fuel cells in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant · CPC title

• H01M8/2404

  Processes or apparatus for grouping fuel cells · CPC title