Abstract: A multi-stage shift reactor includes a vessel having an inner chamber configured to contain a first shift catalyst, the first shift catalyst configured to receive anode exhaust gas form a fuel cell and to output a first shifted gas, and an outer chamber annularly disposed about the inner chamber and configured to contain a second shift catalyst, the second shift catalyst configured to receive the first shifted gas and output a second shifted gas. The shift reactor further includes a water injection port downstream from the inner chamber and packing between the water injection port and the outer chamber, the packing configured to prevent liquid water from passing therethrough.

Abstract: A fuel cell matrix for use in a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising a support material and an additive material formed into a porous body, and an electrolyte material disposed in pores of the porous body, wherein the additive material is in a shape of a flake and has an average thickness of less than 1 ?m.

Abstract: A method of forming a bipolar separator assembly for use in a fuel cell assembly includes a step of forming an anode-side sub-assembly, which comprises sub-steps of: providing an anode current collector, providing a plate member, first and second opposing end segments and third and fourth opposing end segments, positioning said plate member so that said anode current collector abuts the first surface of the plate member, providing first and second anode wet seal members, and releasably securing the first and second anode wet seal members to the plate member; a step of forming a cathode-side sub-assembly, which comprises sub-steps of: providing a cathode current collector; providing first and second cathode wet seal members; and releasably securing the first and second cathode wet seal members to the cathode current collector; and a step of assembling the cathode-side sub-assembly with the anode-side sub-assembly.

Abstract: An assembly includes (a) an anode-side sub-assembly including: a plate member having first and second opposing surfaces compatible with fuel and oxidant gases, respectively, the plate member having first and second opposing end segments, and third and fourth opposing end segments; an anode current collector abutting the first surface of the plate member; and first and second anode wet seal members releasably secured to the plate member so as to form first and second pockets on the first surface of the plate member and (b) a cathode-side subassembly comprising: first and second cathode wet seal members configured to form third and fourth pockets on the second surface of the plate member and to be releasably positioned adjacent said third and fourth opposing end segments; and a cathode current collector cooperating with the first and second cathode wet seal members.

Abstract: A desulfurizer material for desulfurizing fuel supplied to a fuel cell system, the desulfurizer material comprising one or more manganese oxide materials having an octahedral molecular sieve (OMS) structure, and the desulfurizer material being resistant to moisture and being capable of removing organic sulfur containing compounds and H2S. The desulfurizer material is used in a desulfurizer assembly which is used as part of a fuel cell system.

Abstract: A power producing system adapted to be integrated with a flue gas generating assembly, the flue gas generating assembly including one or more of a fossil fueled installation, a fossil fueled facility, a fossil fueled device, a fossil fueled power plant, a boiler, a combustor, a furnace and a kiln in a cement factory, and the power producing system utilizing flue gas containing carbon dioxide and oxygen output by the flue gas generating assembly and comprising: a fuel cell comprising an anode section and a cathode section, wherein inlet oxidant gas to the cathode section of the fuel cell contains the flue gas output from the flue gas generating assembly; and a gas separation assembly receiving anode exhaust output from the anode section of the fuel cell and including a chiller assembly for cooling the anode exhaust to a predetermined temperature so as to liquefy carbon dioxide in the anode exhaust, wherein waste heat produced by the fuel cell is utilized to drive the chiller assembly.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode for a fuel cell, the method comprising forming a powder bed from a predetermined powder, sintering the powder bed at a first predetermined temperature to form a substrate, and in some embodiments subsequently distributing an electrolyte powder on a surface of the substrate, and impregnating the substrate with electrolyte by heating the substrate with the electrolyte powder thereon to a second predetermined temperature so as to melt and wick the electrolyte into the substrate, thereby forming the electrode for the fuel cell, wherein at least one of the sintering and impregnating is performed by applying induction heating to at least one of said powder bed and said substrate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fuel cell component for use with or as part of a fuel cell in a fuel cell stack, the method comprising: providing a fuel cell component, providing a deposition assembly for depositing loading material particles onto the fuel cell component, and actuating the deposition assembly to cause the deposition assembly to deposit said loading material particles onto said fuel cell component.

Abstract: A high efficiency fuel cell system adapted to receive flue gas from a flue gas generating device and to capture carbon dioxide from the flue gas, the high efficiency fuel cell system comprising a topping fuel cell assembly comprising a topping cathode portion and a topping anode portion, a bottoming fuel cell assembly comprising a bottoming cathode portion and a bottoming anode portion, wherein the bottoming anode portion receives anode exhaust output from the topping anode portion, and a separation assembly configured to receive carbon dioxide-containing exhaust and to separate carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide-containing exhaust, wherein the carbon dioxide-containing exhaust is one of anode exhaust output from the bottoming anode portion and a gas derived from the anode exhaust output from the bottoming anode portion, and wherein at least one of the topping cathode portion and the bottoming cathode portion receives at least a portion of the flue gas output from the flue gas generating device.

Abstract: A high efficiency fuel cell system comprising a topping fuel cell assembly comprising a topping cathode portion and a topping anode portion; and a bottoming fuel cell assembly comprising a bottoming cathode portion and a bottoming anode portion, wherein the bottoming anode portion receives anode exhaust output from the topping anode portion and the topping cathode portion receives cathode exhaust from the bottoming cathode portion, and wherein the topping fuel cell assembly has a greater number of fuel cells than the bottoming fuel cell assembly so that the topping fuel cell assembly utilizes more fuel than the bottoming fuel cell assembly.

Abstract: A bipolar separator assembly for use with a fuel cell comprising: a plate member having opposing first and second surfaces compatible with fuel gas and oxidant gas, respectively, the plate member having first and second opposing end segments and third and fourth opposing end segments which are transverse to the first and second opposing end segments; first and second pocket members situated adjacent the first and second end segments and extending outward of the first surface, the first and second pocket members being adapted to enclose opposing ends of an anode current collector, and third and fourth pocket members situated adjacent the third and fourth end segments and extending outward of the second surface, the third and fourth pocket members being adapted to enclose opposing ends of a cathode current collector, wherein at least a portion of each of the first, second, third and fourth pocket members is formed separately from the plate member and is releasably positioned relative to the plate member.

Abstract: A mixer/eductor assembly for use with a fuel cell stack, the mixer/eductor assembly mixing and at least partially combusting anode exhaust gas output from an anode-side of the stack and an oxidant supply gas, the mixer/eductor assembly comprising: a first area mixing a first portion of the anode exhaust gas and a first portion of the oxidant supply gas to form a first mixture, the first area being configured to initiate a combustion reaction in the first mixture, a second area coupled with the first area for mixing a second portion of the anode exhaust gas and a second portion of the oxidant supply gas to form a second mixture, wherein the first mixture has a first oxidant to fuel ratio smaller than a second oxidant to fuel ratio of the second mixture, and the first area provides an ignition source to promote continuous combustion of the second mixture.

Abstract: A fuel cell matrix for use in a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising a support material and an additive material formed into a porous body, and an electrolyte material disposed in pores of the porous body, wherein the additive material is in a shape of a flake and has an average thickness of less than 1 ?m.

Abstract: An expandable refractory for high temperature sealing, the expandable refractory includes un-expanded vermiculite and one or more mixtures of ceramic fibers in a water based refractory binder.

Abstract: A pre-processing assembly and method for processing fuel feedstock containing oxygen and hydrocarbons having higher and lower hydrocarbon content for a fuel cell, wherein the pre-processing assembly has a deoxidizing bed for reducing oxygen in the fuel feedstock and a pre-reforming bed for reducing higher hydrocarbon content in the fuel feedstock and wherein the deoxidizing bed and the pre-reforming bed are disposed within a common reaction vessel such that the fuel feedstock first passes through the deoxidizing bed and thereafter through the pre-reforming bed. The pre-reforming assembly may further include a propane processor bed for processing propane and propylene in the fuel feedstock, where the propane processor bed is disposed within the common reaction vessel with the deoxidizing bed and the pre-reforming bed.

Abstract: A gasket for a manifold seal for a fuel cell system includes a first layer of fibrous ceramic material having a first compressibility, a second layer of fibrous ceramic material having a second compressibility and a third layer of fibrous ceramic material having third compressibility. The third layer of fibrous ceramic material is positioned between and engaged with the first layer of fibrous ceramic material and the second layer of fibrous ceramic material. The third compressibility is less than the first compressibility and less than the second compressibility.

Abstract: A monitoring assembly for use in a fuel cell system for detecting sulfur-containing compounds in fuel. The monitoring assembly comprises an indicator assembly for passing the fuel therethrough, the indicator assembly including an indicator material and a housing for housing said indicator material, wherein the housing is adapted to be placed on-line in one of a main path receiving substantially all the fuel and a bypass path receiving only a portion of the fuel in the fuel cell system and the indicator material is such that when the housing is placed on-line in the fuel cell system at least one physical property of the indicator material changes when the indicator material is exposed to sulfur-containing compounds in the fuel of the fuel cell system, and the indicator assembly being additionally adapted to allow detection of the change in the physical property of the indicator material.

Abstract: An expandable refractory for high temperature sealing, the expandable refractory includes un-expanded vermiculite and one or more mixtures of ceramic fibers in a water based refractory binder.

Abstract: A modular fuel cell stack assembly comprising a plurality of fuel cell stacks, each of the stacks having a plurality of stack faces and a plurality of stack corners formed between the stack faces, wherein the plurality of stack faces include a cathode inlet face adapted to receive oxidant gas for use in a cathode side of the fuel cell stack, a cathode outlet face adapted to output cathode exhaust from the cathode side, an anode inlet face adapted to receive fuel for use in an anode side of the fuel cell stack and an anode outlet face adapted to output anode exhaust from the anode side, and wherein at least one of the cathode inlet face, cathode outlet face, anode inlet face and anode outlet face is an open face without a manifold, and a containment structure for housing the plurality of fuel cell stacks and for providing fuel and oxidant gas to said fuel cell stacks, the containment structure including at least one sealed chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating at least one open face.

Abstract: A manifold assembly for use with a fuel cell stack for the purpose of ensuring a desired flow distribution to fuel cells within the stack, with the most commonly desired being uniform flow distribution. Said manifold assembly comprising: an external manifold for abutting and sealingly enclosing a face of the fuel cell stack, wherein the manifold comprises an enclosure for one of: providing inlet gas to the fuel cell stack and receiving exhaust gas from said fuel cell stack; and one or more baffles disposed in the enclosure of the external manifold, the one or more baffles one of: (a) controlling gas flow distribution and direction of the inlet gas from the enclosure to fuel cells of the fuel cell stack to achieve a predetermined distribution or a uniform distribution; and (b) controlling gas flow distribution of the exhaust gas flow within the enclosure to achieve the predetermined distribution or the uniform distribution of gas to fuel cells of the fuel cell stack.