Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell system wherein the cathode effluent gases are utilized in an autothermal autothermal reformer, and the anode gas is not recycled.

Abstract: The power section of a phosphoric acid fuel cell power plant is cooled by injection of water droplets or fog into the anode gas stream exhaust, wherein the water droplets are vaporized. The anode exhaust with the water vapor therein is then split with a portion thereof being directed to the burner in the catalytic reformer to be consumed by the reformer burner. The remainder of the anode exhaust is routed to the reformer inlet where it provides the water necessary for the reforming reaction. The fog is produced by condensation of water out of the exhaust from a turbocompressor which compresses the air supply for the cathode side of the power section.

Abstract: An apparatus for making hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock and steam using heat stored in a vessel followed by the regeneration of the vessel to restore the heat. Regeneration is done by preheating within the vessel a hydrogen purge gas and steam. Downstream of the conventional reform catalyst, the preheated gases are mixed with an oxygen containing gas so that they combust within the vessel in a fuel lean mode and heat material disposed in the vessel. This is the heat which is used in converting the hydrogen feedstock to hydrogen. The addition of steam in the regeneration process to recover the heat remaining in the vessel following the hydrogen make cycle simplifies reactor bed design and improves operational flexibility. Incorporation of a regeneratable sulfur absorber in the vessel facilitates the removal of up to 90% of the feedstock sulfur.

Abstract: The fuel cell stack is a phosphoric acid fuel cell stack which can operate at higher pressures because it does not use steam in the operation of the reformer portion. By being able to operate at higher pressures, the stack displays very low system heat rates and thus higher operating efficiency. The higher operating pressure also results in improved fuel cell power density and reduced cost. The stack is cooled by a coolant mixture of air and entrained water droplets comprising cathode exhaust and injected water fog. During the cooling operation, the water droplets in the coolant mixture are vaporized in the cooling passages of the stack. The exhaust from the cooling system after being heated is then delivered to an autothermal reformer where it reacts with a raw fuel reactant to produce hydrogen for operating the fuel cells in the stack. The reformer does not require a separate burner to operate properly.