Solid oxide fuel cell system and water vapor generator and method of operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023387437-A1
Application number	US-202018029613-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 2, 2020
Priority date	Oct 2, 2020
Publication date	Nov 30, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A solid oxide fuel cell system and a water vapor generator and method of operation. The water vapor generator includes a tank body, a water inlet pipe that can introduce water flow into the tank body, and a heat exchanger located inside the tank body. A water flow can enter the tank body through the water inlet pipe and to exchange heat with the heat exchanger, the heated water forms water vapor. A top portion of the heat exchanger is provided with a recess, the water flow from the water inlet pipe flows into the recess, and the water flow is accumulated in the recess and overflows to exchange heat with the heat exchanger. With this arrangement, if the water flow in the water inlet pipe boils in advance, the recess provided can buffer the impact of the boiling water on the heat exchanger and reduce the pressure fluctuation inside the water vapor generator. Moreover, the water flow evenly flows along an outer peripheral surface of the heat exchanger, and evenly contacts the surface of the heat exchanger, so as to achieve the object of uniform heat exchange between water and the heat exchanger, and reduce the fluctuation in water vapor production and water vapor pressure.

First claim

1 . A water vapor generator for a solid oxide fuel cell system, comprising:
a tank body, a water inlet pipe for introducing water into the tank body, and a heat exchanger arranged inside the tank body; wherein a water flow can enter the tank body through the water inlet pipe to exchange heat with the heat exchanger so as to form water vapor; wherein the water vapor generator is characterized in that a top portion of the heat exchanger is provided with a recess such that a water flow from the water inlet pipe can flow into the recess, be accumulated in the recess, and then overflow therefrom to exchange heat with the heat exchanger.

2 . The water vapor generator according to claim 1 , wherein the recess extends downwardly from a peripheral edge of the top portion of the heat exchanger toward a middle portion thereof.

3 . The water vapor generator according to claim 1 , wherein the recess is in an arc shape.

4 . The water vapor generator according to claim 1 , wherein an end of the water inlet pipe is provided with a distributed dripper to cause the water to flow evenly into the recess;
wherein the distributed dripper comprises a plurality of drippers connected in parallel, and the plurality of drippers are distributed centrosymmetrically at equal intervals.

5 . The water vapor generator according to claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger, and a surface of the plate heat exchanger is provided with fins.

6 . The water vapor generator according to claim 1 , wherein the water inlet pipe is provided with at least one of a regulating valve and a pressure sensor, the regulating valve being configured to regulate the flow of water from the water inlet pipe into the tank body, and the pressure sensor being configured to detect the pressure at the water inlet pipe.

7 . The water vapor generator according to claim 1 , wherein the tank body is provided with a water vapor outlet for water vapor to exit therefrom, and the water vapor outlet is provided with at least one of a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor,
wherein the pressure sensor is configured to detect the pressure of the water vapor discharged from the water vapor outlet, and the temperature sensor is configured to detect the temperature of the water vapor discharged from the water vapor outlet.

8 . The water vapor generator according to claim 1 , wherein the water vapor generator is provided with an inlet in communication with the heat exchanger, wherein the inlet is configured to introduce a high-temperature gas, and the inlet is provided with a regulating valve for regulating the flow of an incoming high-temperature gas.

9 . The water vapor generator according to claim 3 , wherein the recess is a non-circular arc comprising an arc of an ellipse, a parabola, or a hyperbola.

10 . A solid oxide fuel cell system, comprising a burner which burns to generate high temperature hot and a water vapor generator according to claim 1 ; wherein the water vapor generator is provided with an inlet and an outlet in communication with a heat exchanger, such that the high temperature hot air enters the heat exchanger via the inlet and exits via outlet.

11 . A method of operating a water vapor generator according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
introducing a water flow from the water inlet pipe into the recess, allowing water to accumulated in the recess, and allowing water to overflow therefrom to exchange heat with the heat exchanger.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , comprising:
measuring the temperature of the water vapor at the outlet; and preventing the flow of high temperature gas into the heat exchanger when the measured temperature exceeds a predetermined level.

13 . The method according to claim 11 , comprising:
measuring the pressure of the water vapor at the outlet; and preventing the flow of water and high temperature gas into the heat exchanger when the measured pressure exceeds a predetermined level.

14 . The method according to claim 11 , comprising:
measuring the pressure drop between the water inlet and the water outlet; and controlling the water inlet to maintain the pressure drop within a predetermined range.

Assignees

• Ceres Ip Co Ltd

Inventors

• Song Weilong

Classifications

• H01M8/0606 Primary

  with means for production of gaseous reactants · CPC title

• H01M8/1246

  the electrolyte consisting of oxides · CPC title

• H01M2008/1293

  Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/0618 Primary

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

• B01D1/0082

  Regulation; Control · CPC title