System and method for reducing fuel cell power plant emissions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9444110-B2
Application number	US-200913144713-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2009
Priority date	Jan 15, 2009
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

A system and method for operating fuel cell power plant 10 includes enclosing fuel bearing components, such as fuel cell stack 28 and reformer 24 , into a fuel compartment 12 separate from motorized components in a motor compartment 14 , and consuming leaked fuel in the fuel compartment 12 using a fuel bearing component such as cell stack 28 and/or burner 26 , thereby reducing fuel emissions from the plant.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fuel cell power plant system comprising:
a first compartment housing a cell stack assembly, a burner, and air into which fuel can leak;
a first blower for producing a first flow path in the first compartment that provides the air and leaked fuel into the burner for consumption;
a second blower for producing a second flow path in the first compartment that provides at least the air into the cell stack assembly; and
wherein the first blower and the second blower each have an inlet positioned inside the first compartment in a vicinity of the cell stack assembly for creating a cooling air flow path directed past the cell stack assembly.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cell stack assembly comprises a cathode, and wherein the air from the second flow path is consumed in the cathode.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane.

4. The system of claim 1 , comprising a second compartment, and wherein the first and second blowers each comprise a blower portion in the first compartment and a motor portion in the second compartment.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein each blower comprises a spark-resistant material.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second blowers produce a negative pressure in the first compartment relative to ambient air outside of the first compartment to hinder leaked fuel from traveling outside of the first compartment.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first compartment comprises a wall having an air inlet, and wherein the air inlet comprises a filter to hinder particulates from entering the first compartment.

8. The system of claim 1 , comprising a fan for urging air from the first compartment and exhaust from the burner out of the first compartment.

Assignees

• Preston John L
• Foley Peter F
• Hanrahan Paul R
• Isom Joshua D
• Doosan Fuel Cell America Inc

Inventors

• Preston John L
• Foley Peter F
• Hanrahan Paul R
• Isom Joshua D

Classifications

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/04104 Primary

  Regulation of differential pressures · CPC title

• H01M8/04208

  Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs · CPC title

• H01M2/0242

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01M8/04201

  Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes · CPC title