Systems for hybrid fuel cell power generation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016365590-A1
Application number	US-201514734921-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 9, 2015
Priority date	Jun 9, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus are provided for a hybrid fuel cell system. The hybrid fuel cell system includes a fuel supply system. The fuel supply system includes a fuel source, a reforming subsystem and a depressurization system. The fuel source is in fluid communication with the reforming subsystem. The reforming subsystem reforms the fuel from the fuel source to generate hydrogen enriched gases, and the reforming subsystem is in fluid communication with the depressurization system. The depressurization system reduces a pressure of the hydrogen enriched gases. The hybrid fuel cell system also includes a fuel cell stack in communication with the depressurization system to receive the hydrogen enriched gases at the reduced pressure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A hybrid fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel supply system including a fuel source, a reforming subsystem and a depressurization system, the fuel source in fluid communication with the reforming subsystem, the reforming subsystem reforming the fuel from the fuel source to generate hydrogen enriched gases, the reforming subsystem in fluid communication with the depressurization system, and the depressurization system reduces a pressure of the hydrogen enriched gases; and a fuel cell stack in communication with the depressurization system to receive the hydrogen enriched gases at the reduced pressure.

2 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 1 , wherein the depressurization system includes a turbine downstream from the reforming subsystem that receives the hydrogen enriched gases and reduces the pressure of the hydrogen enriched gases.

3 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 2 , wherein the depressurization system includes a generator coupled to the turbine that generates electrical energy as the turbine reduces the pressure of the hydrogen enriched gases.

4 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 1 , wherein the depressurization system includes a pressure regulator valve downstream from the reforming subsystem that receives the hydrogen enriched gases and reduces the pressure of the hydrogen enriched gases.

5 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 2 , wherein the depressurization system includes a heat exchanger and a water condenser assembly that receives the hydrogen enriched gases, the hydrogen enriched gases at the reduced pressure from the turbine and condenses water in the hydrogen enriched gases with the hydrogen enriched gases at the reduced pressure.

6 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gas supply system in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack to supply the fuel cell stack with a gas.

7 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 6 , further comprising a heat exchanger upstream from the fuel cell stack that heats the gas from the gas supply system.

8 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 1 , wherein the reforming subsystem further comprises:
a reformer in fluid communication with the fuel source and a source of steam; and a water-gas shift reactor in fluid communication with the reformer to receive a hydrogen enriched gases and steam mixture from the reformer.

9 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 8 , further comprising a water condenser downstream from the water-gas shift reactor and upstream from the depressurization system, the water condenser receives the hydrogen enriched gases and steam mixture and outputs the hydrogen enriched gases for the depressurization system.

10 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 8 , wherein the fuel supply system further comprises a start-up subsystem, the start-up subsystem including a steam generator for converting water from a source of water into the source of steam for the reformer.

11 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 10 , wherein the steam generator is downstream from the fuel cell stack to combust one or more exhaust gases from the fuel cell stack.

12 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 10 , wherein the steam generator is downstream from the fuel source, and is in fluid communication with the fuel source to combust the fuel from the fuel source.

13 . A hybrid fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel supply system including a fuel source, a start-up subsystem, a reforming subsystem and a depressurization system, the fuel source in fluid communication with the start-up subsystem and the reforming subsystem, the start-up subsystem including a steam generator that combusts the fuel from the fuel source and a source of water, the steam generator combusts the fuel to heat the water and generate steam, the reforming subsystem reforming the fuel from the fuel source with the steam to generate a hydrogen enriched gases and steam mixture and the depressurization system receives the hydrogen enriched gases and reduces a pressure of the hydrogen enriched gases; and a fuel cell stack downstream from and in communication with the depressurization system to receive the hydrogen enriched gases at the reduced pressure, the fuel cell stack upstream from the steam generator.

14 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 13 , further comprising a water condenser upstream from the depressurization system that substantially removes the steam from the hydrogen enriched gases and steam mixture to output the hydrogen enriched gases.

15 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 13 , wherein the depressurization system includes a turbine downstream from the reforming subsystem that receives the hydrogen enriched gases and reduces the pressure of the hydrogen enriched gases.

16 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 13 , wherein the depressurization system includes a pressure regulator valve downstream from the reforming subsystem that receives the hydrogen enriched gases and reduces the pressure of the hydrogen enriched gases.

17 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 15 , wherein the depressurization system includes a heat exchanger and a water condenser assembly that receives the hydrogen enriched gases, the hydrogen enriched gases at the reduced pressure from the turbine and condenses water in the hydrogen enriched gases with the hydrogen enriched gases at the reduced pressure.

18 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 13 , wherein the reforming subsystem further comprises:
a reformer in fluid communication with the fuel source and the steam; and a water-gas shift reactor in fluid communication with the reformer to receive a hydrogen enriched gases and steam mixture from the reformer.

19 . The hybrid fuel cell system of claim 17 , wherein a water condenser is upstream from the depressurization system and receives the hydrogen enriched gases and steam mixture from the reforming subsystem to condense the steam in the enriched fuel and steam mixture to result in the hydrogen enriched gases, and the hydrogen enriched gases flow from the water condenser to the heat exchanger and the water condenser assembly of the depressurization system.

20 . A hybrid fuel cell system comprising:
a source of a gas; a fuel supply system including a fuel source, a start-up subsystem, a reforming subsystem and a depressurization system, the fuel source in fluid communication with the start-up subsystem and the reforming subsystem, the start-up subsystem including a steam generator that combusts the fuel from the fuel source and a source of water, the steam generator combusts the fuel to heat the water and generate steam, the reforming subsystem reforming the fuel from the fuel source with the steam to generate a hydrogen enriched gases and steam mixture and the depressurization system receives hydrogen enriched gases and reduces a pressure of the hydrogen enriched gases; a fuel cell stack downstream from and in communication with the depressurization system to receive the hydrogen enriched gases at the reduced pressure, the fuel cell stack in communication with the gas supply system to receive the gas, the steam generator downstream from the fuel cell stack to combust one or more exhaust gases from the fuel cell stack; and a heat exchanger downstream from the steam generator and upstream from the fuel cell stack that receives an exhaust gas from the burner and heats the gas from the source of the gas before the gas flows into the fuel cell stack.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Zheng Daguang
• Weng Dacong

Classifications

• H01M8/0618 Primary

  Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming · CPC title

• C01B2203/0495

  the impurity being water · CPC title

• C01B3/48

  followed by reaction of water vapour with carbon monoxide · CPC title

• C01B2203/169

  Controlling the feed · CPC title

• C01B2203/0894

  Generation of steam · CPC title