Abstract: Various designs and configurations of and methods of operating fuel cell units, fuel cell systems and combined heat and power systems are provided that permit efficient thermal management of such units and systems to improve their operation.

Abstract: Various designs and configurations of and methods of operating fuel cell units, fuel cell systems and combined heat and power systems are provided that permit efficient thermal management of such units and systems to improve their operation.

Abstract: Various designs and configurations of and methods of operating fuel cell units, fuel cell systems and combined heat and power systems are provided that permit efficient thermal management of such units and systems to improve their operation.

Abstract: A fuel cell system, with an air flow system includes a first thermal zone, a second thermal zone, an air blower provided between the first and second thermal zones. The first thermal zone is connected to an inlet port of the fuel cell system. The second thermal zone is connected to an outlet port of the fuel cell system. The air blower is configured to draw in air from the first thermal zone and provide the air to the second thermal zone.

Abstract: A thermally insulated housing for a heat-producing, heat-radiating device such as an integrated CPOX reformer and SOFC stack includes an assembly of thermal insulation sections that presents an indirect, or tortuous, path that inhibits the flow of IR vectors to the walls of the housing.

Abstract: A multi-tubular chemical reactor includes an igniter for the initiation of gas phase exothermic reaction within the gas phase reaction zones of the tubular reactor units. In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a multi-tubular chemical reactor comprising a plurality of spaced-apart reactor units, each reactor unit comprising an elongate tube having a wall with internal and external surfaces, an inlet at one end and an outlet at the opposing end, the wall enclosing a gaseous flow passageway at least a portion of which defines a gas phase reaction zone, the multi-tubular chemical reactor can include at least one igniter for initiation of at least one gas phase exothermic reaction within a gas phase reaction zone of a reactor unit.

Abstract: Various designs and configurations of and methods of operating fuel cell units, fuel cell systems and combined heat and power systems are provided that permit efficient thermal management of such units and systems to improve their operation.

Abstract: A thermally insulated housing for a heat-producing, heat-radiating device such as an integrated CPOX reformer and SOFC stack includes an assembly of thermal insulation sections that presents an indirect, or tortuous, path that inhibits the flow of IR vectors to the walls of the housing.

Abstract: The present teachings provide multi-reformable fuel delivery systems and methods that can deliver, without the use of a liquid pump, any hydrocarbon fuel, i.e., a liquid or gaseous reformable fuel, for example, to at least one of a reformer, a vaporizer, a fuel cell stack, an afterburner and other assemblies and components of a fuel cell unit or system, More specifically, gas pressure can be used to control and deliver gaseous reformable fuels and/or liquid reformable fuels in the delivery systems and methods of the present teachings. The delivery systems and methods also can apply to the delivery of a liquid reactant such as water and gaseous reactants such as an oxygen-containing gas (e.g., air) and steam.

Abstract: A fuel cell system, with an air flow system includes a first thermal zone, a second thermal zone, an air blower provided between the first and second thermal zones. The first thermal zone is connected to an inlet port of the fuel cell system. The second thermal zone is connected to an outlet port of the fuel cell system. The air blower is configured to draw in air from the first thermal zone and provide the air to the second thermal zone.

Abstract: Various designs and configurations of and methods of operating fuel cell units, fuel cell systems and combined heat and power systems are provided that permit efficient thermal management of such units and systems to improve their operation.

Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack configured to produce an electrical output, power electronics circuitry configured to convert the electrical output of the fuel cell stack into a regulated output of the fuel cell module, module control electronics circuitry configured for communications within the fuel cell module and further configured for communications with master control electronics circuitry external to the fuel cell module, and a structure configured to connect together the fuel cell stack, the power electronics circuitry and the module control electronics circuitry as part of the fuel cell module that is unitary, and further configured for the unitary fuel cell module to be insertable as a unit into a multi-module system chassis.

Abstract: The present teachings provide apparatus and methods for mixing a reformable fuel and/or steam with an oxygen-containing gas and/or steam to provide a gaseous reforming reaction mixture suitable for reforming with a reformer and/or a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell unit and/or fuel cell system.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell assembly that includes a plurality of individual fuel cells, each fuel cell having an electrolyte medium, a cathode and an anode; and at least one centrifugal blower system for providing a flow of gaseous medium to the fuel cell assembly. The centrifugal blower system includes a series of blower units, each blower unit in the series comprising a casing having an axial inlet and a radial outlet, an impeller disposed within the casing for drawing a gaseous medium at a first pressure in the axial inlet and expelling gaseous medium at a second higher pressure through the radial outlet, and a motor for driving the impeller; and a duct connecting the radial outlet of at least one blower unit in the series of blower units with the axial inlet of at least one successive blower unit in the series of blower units.

Abstract: Closed loop filtration systems and methods of the present teachings can provide liquid reformable fuels enriched in light end hydrocarbons and/or having reduced content of sulfur and/or other impurities. Such enriched liquid reformable fuels can be used in fuel cell systems having a vaporizer and hydrocarbon fuel reformer such that the fuel cell system can experience less deleterious impact on its components, for example, coking. Filter elements for use in the systems and methods also are provided.

Abstract: The present teachings provide apparatus and methods for mixing a reformable fuel and/or steam with an oxygen-containing gas and/or steam to provide a gaseous reforming reaction mixture suitable for reforming with a reformer and/or a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell unit and/or fuel cell system.

Abstract: A tubular solid oxide fuel cell assembly includes at least two tubular solid oxide fuel cell units, at least one shared current collector and a retainer for retaining a section of the fuel cell units and shared current collector in close fitting relationship therewith.

Abstract: The present teachings provide apparatus and methods for mixing a reformable fuel and/or steam with an oxygen-containing gas and/or steam to provide a gaseous reforming reaction mixture suitable for reforming with a reformer and/or a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell unit and/or fuel cell system.

Abstract: The present teachings provide multi-reformable fuel delivery systems and methods that can deliver, without the use of a liquid pump, any hydrocarbon fuel, i.e., a liquid or gaseous reformable fuel, for example, to at least one of a reformer, a vaporizer, a fuel cell stack, an afterburner and other assemblies and components of a fuel cell unit or system, More specifically, gas pressure can be used to control and deliver gaseous reformable fuels and/or liquid reformable fuels in the delivery systems and methods of the present teachings. The delivery systems and methods also can apply to the delivery of a liquid reactant such as water and gaseous reactants such as an oxygen-containing gas (e.g., air) and steam.

Abstract: A centrifugal blower system includes a series of blower units, each blower unit in the series comprising a casing having an axial inlet and a radial outlet, an impeller disposed within the casing for drawing a gaseous medium at a first pressure into the inlet and expelling gaseous medium at a second higher pressure through the outlet and a motor for driving the impeller, and, a duct connecting the outlet of at least one blower unit in the series with the inlet of at least one other blower unit in the series.