Abstract: A humidity transfer assembly includes a pressure vessel and a humidity transfer device disposed in the pressure vessel. The humidity transfer device includes an enclosure, a first inlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to supply anode exhaust thereto, a first outlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to output anode exhaust therefrom, and a second inlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to supply feed gas thereto. The humidity transfer device is configured to transfer steam from anode exhaust to feed gas and to output feed gas into the pressure vessel.

Abstract: An inorganic felt material includes zirconia stabilized by at least one Group IIA material, such that the Group IIA material includes at least one of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), or a combination thereof. The felt material may also include at least one Group III material.

Abstract: A cooling plate assembly includes an anode half-plate having an anode upper surface and an opposing anode lower surface, and a cathode half-plate having a cathode upper surface and an opposing cathode lower surface, the cathode lower surface configured to engage the anode upper surface. The assembly further includes a cooling tube disposed between and engaging the anode upper surface and the cathode lower surface.

Abstract: An energy storage system includes: a combustion turbine configured to output heated sweep gas; a reformer configured to receive natural gas and steam and to output reformed natural gas; a molten carbonate electrolyzer cell (“MCEC”) comprising an MCEC anode and an MCEC cathode, wherein the MCEC is configured to operate in a hydrogen-generation mode in which: the MCEC anode receives the reformed natural gas from the reformer, and outputs MCEC anode exhaust that contains hydrogen, and the MCEC cathode is configured to receive heated sweep gas from the combustion turbine, and to output MCEC cathode exhaust; and a storage tank configured to receive the MCEC anode exhaust that contains hydrogen.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating molten carbonate fuel cells to allow for periodic regeneration of the fuel cells while performing elevated CO2 capture. In some aspects, periodic regeneration can be achieved by shifting the location within the fuel cells where the highest density of alternative ion transport is occurring. Such a shift can result in a new location having a highest density of alternative ion transport, while the previous location can primarily transport carbonate ions. Additionally or alternately, periodic regeneration can be performed by modifying the input flows to the fuel cell and/or relaxing the operating conditions of the fuel cell to reduce or minimize the amount of alternative ion transport.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first fuel cell having a first anode and a first cathode, wherein the first anode is configured to output a first anode exhaust gas. The system further includes a first oxidizer configured to receive the first anode exhaust gas and air from a first air supply, to react the first anode exhaust gas and the air in a preferential oxidation reaction, and to output an oxidized gas. The system further includes a second fuel cell configured to act as an electrochemical hydrogen separator. The second fuel cell includes a second anode configured to receive the oxidized gas from the first oxidizer and to output a second anode exhaust gas, and a second cathode configured to output a hydrogen stream. The system further includes a condenser configured to receive the second anode exhaust gas and to separate water and CO2.

Abstract: A reinforced electrolyte matrix for a molten carbonate fuel cell includes a porous ceramic matrix, a molten carbonate salt provided in the porous ceramic matrix, and at least one reinforcing structure comprised of at least one of yttrium, zirconium, cerium or oxides thereof. The reinforcing structure does not react with the molten carbonate salt. The reinforced electrolyte matrix separates a porous anode and a porous cathode in the molten carbonate fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an anode configured to output an anode exhaust stream comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and water; and a membrane dryer configured to receive the anode exhaust stream, remove water from the anode exhaust stream, and output a membrane dryer outlet stream. The membrane dryer includes a first chamber configured to receive the anode exhaust stream; a second chamber configured to receive a purge gas; and a semi-permeable membrane separating the first chamber and the second chamber. The semi-permeable membrane is configured to allow water to diffuse therethrough, thereby removing water from the anode exhaust stream. The membrane dryer may further be configured to remove hydrogen from the anode exhaust stream.

Abstract: A system for removing carbon dioxide from anode exhaust gas that has been compressed to form pressurized anode exhaust vapor includes a feed/effluent heat exchanger configured to cool the anode exhaust vapor to a first predetermined temperature and partially condense carbon dioxide in the anode exhaust vapor; a first vapor-liquid separator configured to receive an output of the feed/effluent heat exchanger and separate liquid carbon dioxide from uncondensed anode exhaust vapor; a feed/refrigerant heat exchanger configured to receive the uncondensed anode exhaust vapor from the first vapor-liquid separator, cool the uncondensed anode exhaust vapor to a second predetermined temperature, and condense carbon dioxide in the uncondensed anode exhaust vapor; a second vapor-liquid separator configured to receive an output of the feed/refrigerant heat exchanger and separate liquid carbon dioxide to form hydrogen rich, uncondensed anode exhaust vapor.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide capture system for removing carbon dioxide from a flue gas produced by a combustion power plant. The system includes an electrolyzer cell configured to receive a flue gas comprising carbon dioxide and output a first exhaust stream comprising an enriched flue gas comprising carbon dioxide. The system further includes a fuel cell configured to receive the first exhaust stream and output a second exhaust stream comprising carbon dioxide. The second exhaust stream contains a higher concentration of carbon dioxide than the first exhaust stream.

Abstract: A system for draining an airfan heat exchanger includes an airfan heat exchanger including a housing, a pressurized gas source fluidly coupled to the airfan heat exchanger and configured to hold a purging gas at a predetermined pressure, and a controller configured to control delivery of the purging gas to the airfan heat exchanger. The pressurized gas source is configured to provide a flow of the purging gas to the airfan heat exchanger and thereby drain water held in the airfan heat exchanger. The purging gas to the airfan will cause the airfan to drain quickly avoiding potential damage to the airfan from freezing of the water during cold weather.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells positioned between opposing end plates, an anode manifold configured to direct anode gas into or out of the fuel cell stack, a cathode manifold configured to direct cathode gas into or out of the fuel cell stack, and at least one truss attached to an external surface of at least one of the cathode manifold or the anode manifold. The at least one truss is configured to reinforce the fuel cell system.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a supported catalyst comprising a thermally stable core, wherein the thermally stable core comprises a metal oxide support and nickel disposed in the metal oxide support, wherein the metal oxide support comprises at least one base metal oxide and at least one transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide mixed with or dispersed in the base metal oxide. Optionally the supported catalyst can further comprise an electrolyte removing layer coating the thermally stable core and/or an electrolyte repelling layer coating the electrolyte removing layer, wherein the electrolyte removing layer comprises at least one metal oxide, and wherein the electrolyte repelling layer comprises at least one of graphite, metal carbide and metal nitride. Also disclosed is a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the supported catalyst as a direct internal reforming catalyst.

Abstract: A cathode current collector is made from a composite material including a first metallic layer made of a first metal and a second metallic layer made of a second metal different from the first metal. The first metallic layer is cladded with the second metallic layer. The first metallic layer is configured to form a conductive oxide corrosion layer in the presence of oxygen, molten carbonate electrolyte, or a combination thereof. The second metallic layer is corrosion resistant.

Abstract: A method of making an electrolyte matrix includes: preparing a slurry comprising a support material, a coarsening inhibitor, an electrolyte material, and a solvent; and drying the slurry to form an electrolyte matrix. The support material comprises lithium aluminate, the coarsening inhibitor comprises a material selected from the group consisting of MnO2, Mn2O3, TiO2, ZrO2, Fe2O3, LiFe2O3, and mixtures thereof, and the coarsening inhibitor has a particle size of about 0.005 ?m to about 0.5 ?m.

Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks; a manifold configured to provide process gases to and receive process gases from the plurality of fuel cell stacks; and a module housing enclosing the plurality of fuel cell stacks and the manifold. Each of the plurality of fuel cell stacks is individually installable onto the manifold by lowering the fuel cell stack onto the manifold, and is individually removable from the manifold by raising the fuel cell stack from the manifold.

Abstract: A hydrogen generation system for generating hydrogen and electrical power includes a power supply, a reformer-electrolyzer-purifier (REP) assembly including at least one fuel cell including an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte matrix, at least one low temperature fuel cell, and a hydrogen storage. The at least one fuel cell is configured to receive a reverse voltage supplied by the power supply and generate hydrogen-containing gas in the anode of the at least one fuel cell. The at least one low temperature fuel cell is configured to receive the hydrogen-containing gas output from the REP assembly. The at least one low temperature fuel cell is configured to selectably operate in a power generation mode in which the hydrogen-containing gas is used to generate electrical power and a power storage mode in which the hydrogen-containing gas is pressurized and stored in the hydrogen storage.

Abstract: A high temperature electrolyzer assembly comprising at least one electrolyzer fuel cell including an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte matrix, and a power supply for applying a reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, wherein a gas feed comprising steam and one or more of CO2 and hydrocarbon fuel is fed to the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, and wherein, when the power supply applies the reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, hydrogen-containing gas is generated by an electrolysis reaction in the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell and carbon dioxide is separated from the hydrogen-containing gas so that the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell outputs the hydrogen-containing gas and separately outputs an oxidant gas comprising carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one modular enclosure having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls that connect the top wall and the bottom wall and close off the modular enclosure on all sides; at least one fuel cell stack disposed within the at least one modular enclosure; at least one piping manifold configured to supply at least one process gas to the at least one fuel cell stack and to receive at least one exhaust process gas from the at least one fuel cell stack; and at least one process gas seal configured to seal the at least one piping manifold. The at least one process gas seal is effected via a static force from a weight of the at least one fuel cell stack or a weight of the at least one piping manifold.

Abstract: A load leveling system includes a fuel cell inverter, a direct current (DC) load bank, and a controller. The fuel cell inverter is configured to receive DC power generated by a fuel cell assembly. The DC load bank is connected to the fuel cell assembly in parallel with the fuel cell inverter. The controller is in communication with the fuel cell inverter and the DC load bank. The controller is configured to identify a reduction in a load being drawn by the fuel cell inverter. Responsive to the identification of the reduction of the load, the controller is also configured to divert the DC power generated by the fuel cell assembly from the fuel cell inverter to the DC load bank to prevent load cycling of the fuel cell assembly.