Solid oxide fuel cell device and fuel cell vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023343974-A1
Application number	US-202118005039-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 18, 2021
Priority date	Aug 24, 2020
Publication date	Oct 26, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A solid oxide fuel cell device comprises at least one solid oxide fuel cell comprising a cathode, an anode, and a solid electrolyte layer separating the cathode from the anode, in which the anode is fluidically connected to an anode supply line for the supply of fuel and an anode exhaust gas line for taking away the anode exhaust gas, and in which the cathode is connected to a cathode gas supply, wherein the anode exhaust gas line is fluidically connected to a storage line for the storing of carbon dioxide from the anode exhaust gas in a tank, in which there is connected at least one stage of a compressor for the compressing of the anode exhaust gas and one heat exchanger, downstream from the compressor, for the cooling of the anode exhaust gas compressed by the compressor. Downstream from the heat exchanger of the stage, a recirculation line branches off, emptying once again in the storage line upstream from the compressor, while an expansion valve is associated with the recirculation line for the expanding of the exhaust gas. A fuel cell vehicle having such a fuel cell device is also provided.

First claim

1 . A solid oxide fuel cell device, comprising:
at least one solid oxide fuel cell comprising a cathode, an anode, and a solid electrolyte layer separating the cathode from the anode, in which the anode is fluidically connected to an anode supply line for the supply of fuel and an anode exhaust gas line for taking away the anode exhaust gas, and in which the cathode is connected to a cathode gas supply, wherein the anode exhaust gas line is fluidically connected to a storage line for the storing of carbon dioxide from the anode exhaust gas in a tank, in which there is connected at least one stage of a compressor for compressing of the anode exhaust gas and one heat exchanger, downstream from the compressor, for cooling of the anode exhaust gas compressed by the compressor, and wherein, downstream from the heat exchanger of the stage a recirculation line branches off, emptying once again in the storage line upstream from the compressor, and an expansion valve is associated with the recirculation line for the expanding of the exhaust gas.

2 . The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 1 , wherein a water separator is incorporated in the storage line, being situated prior to the at least one stage.

3 . The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 1 , wherein there is present in the storage line a cascade of multiple stages of a compressor and a heat exchanger downstream from the compressor, and the recirculation line branches off downstream from the heat exchanger of a first stage and upstream from the compressor of a second stage coming after the first stage.

4 . The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 3 , wherein there are at least two branches to the recirculation line.

5 . The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 4 , wherein each of the branches to the recirculation line is associated with an expansion valve.

6 . The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one heat exchanger is incorporated in the recirculation line downstream from the expansion valve.

7 . The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 2 , wherein a heat exchanger is interconnected between the water separator and the at least one stage, in which a line segment of the storage line situated downstream from the water separator stands in a heat-exchanging connection to a line segment of the storage line situated upstream from the water separator.

8 . The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 1 , wherein a purge valve is present for separating the storage line from the anode exhaust gas line, and the storage line is led through a heat exchanger downstream from the purge valve and upstream from the at least one stage such that the anode exhaust gas is brought into a heat-exchanging connection with a cathode supply line.

9 . The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 1 , wherein the anode exhaust gas line empties into the anode supply line upstream from the solid oxide fuel cell for the recirculation of unused fuel.

10 . A fuel cell vehicle having a solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Audi Ag
• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Lucas Christian

Classifications

• H01M8/04014 Primary

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

• H01M8/04097

  with recycling of the reactants (H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/12

  operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte · CPC title

• H01M8/04164

  by condensers, gas-liquid separators or filters · CPC title

• H01M2008/1293

  Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes · CPC title