Method for operating a solid oxide fuel cell device, the solid oxide fuel cell device and a motor vehicle outfitted with such

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023317985-A1
Application number	US-202118001793-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 13, 2021
Priority date	Sep 16, 2020
Publication date	Oct 5, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for operating a solid oxide fuel cell device is provided, which includes:
using waste heat arising during the operation of the solid oxide fuel cell to produce cold by means of a refrigeration machine integrated in a refrigeration circuit for cooling of the exhaust gas at the anode side, condensing the water in the exhaust gas arising at the anode side with the aid of the refrigeration machine by a first water condenser, separating the water by a water separator, compressing the CO 2 exhaust gas flow at the anode side, wherein the cooling power produced by the refrigeration machine is used for cooling of the CO 2 exhaust gas flow, and storing the compressed CO 2 in a CO 2 storage.

A solid oxide fuel cell device and a motor vehicle having a solid oxide fuel cell device are also provided.

First claim

1 . A method for operating a solid oxide fuel cell device, comprising:
using waste heat arising during the operation of the solid oxide fuel cell to produce cold using a refrigeration machine integrated in a refrigeration circuit for cooling of the exhaust gas at the anode side; condensing water in the exhaust gas at the anode side using the refrigeration machine and a first water condenser; separating the water using a water separator; compressing the CO 2 exhaust gas flow at the anode side, wherein a cooling power produced by the refrigeration machine is used for cooling the CO 2 exhaust gas flow; and storing the compressed CO 2 in a CO 2 storage.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the water in the exhaust gas at the anode side is fully condensed by a first temperature level of a first stage of the refrigeration circuit, and the CO 2 in the exhaust gas at the anode side is liquefied and thus further compressed after a first and/or a second compressor stage in a second stage of the refrigeration circuit by a second temperature level, which is lower than that of the first stage.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one valve is arranged in the refrigeration circuit to supply at least one gas cooler, and the power is adjusted by the at least one valve.

4 . A solid oxide fuel cell device, comprising:
a fuel cell stack with at least one fuel cell; a methane tank; a CO 2 storage; a water separator; at least one compressor; and a refrigeration machine integrated in a refrigeration circuit for cooling an exhaust gas on an anode side.

5 . The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 4 , wherein the refrigeration machine is formed by an absorption refrigeration system to produce cold from the waste heat on the cathode side in the refrigeration circuit.

6 . The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 4 , wherein the refrigeration machine is formed by a thermocompressor having at least one jet pump to produce cold from the waste heat on the cathode side in the refrigeration circuit.

7 . The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 6 , wherein a first water condenser and second water condenser are arranged in the refrigeration circuit.

8 . The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 7 , wherein the two water condensers are combined in one structural component.

9 . The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 4 , wherein at least one compressor is situated downstream from the water separator and a gas cooler is situated downstream from the at least one compressor, the at least one gas cooler being connected to the refrigeration circuit.

10 . A motor vehicle having a solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 4 .

Assignees

• Audi Ag
• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Lucas Christian

Classifications

• H01M8/04291 Primary

  Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems (H01M8/04119 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/04014

  Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants · CPC title

• H01M8/04216

  characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent · CPC title

• H01M8/04716

  of fuel cell exhausts · CPC title

• H01M8/04843

  of fuel cell exhausts · CPC title