Abstract: Described herein are catalytic heating systems comprising self-heated catalytic reactors and methods of operating thereof. A self-heated catalytic reactor comprises a corrugated conductive layer and an insulator layer forming a stack (e.g., a wound stack) such that each pair of adjacent conductive layers in the stack is separated by an insulator layer. The self-heated catalytic reactor also comprises a catalyst layer, positioned on one or both conductive and insulator layers, and two electrodes electrically coupled to the conductive layer at the opposite ends. The catalyst layer is preheated by passing an electric current through the two electrodes and resistively heating the conductive layer, in some examples, supporting at least a portion of the catalyst layer. This internal heating reduces the time and energy required to bring the catalyst layer to its operating temperature, at which point the fuel can be introduced to provide additional heating.

Abstract: An integrated power generation system including: a hotbox containing a steam reformer and at least one solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack; a condenser, a combustor, a heater, and a turbomachine comprising a compressor and an expander. The steam reformer is configured to convert a hydrocarbon fuel and steam into a stack fuel. The SOFC stack is configured to convert the stack fuel into a first anode waste gas. The condenser functions to remove water from the first anode waste gas, thereby producing a second anode waste gas of higher fuel energy density. The combustor burns the second anode waste gas with release of exothermic heat. The heater thermally transmits heat from an expanded combustion product to water collected in the condenser, so as to generate steam. A steam line fluidly connects the heater to the steam reformer.

Abstract: An integrated power generation system including: a hotbox containing a steam reformer and at least one solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack; a condenser, a combustor, a heater, and a turbomachine comprising a compressor and an expander. The steam reformer is configured to convert a hydrocarbon fuel and steam into a stack fuel. The SOFC stack is configured to convert the stack fuel into a first anode waste gas. The condenser functions to remove water from the first anode waste gas, thereby producing a second anode waste gas of higher fuel energy density. The combustor bums the second anode waste gas with release of exothermic heat. The heater thermally transmits heat from an expanded combustion product to water collected in the condenser, so as to generate steam. A steam line fluidly connects the heater to the steam reformer.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including: a fuel cell assembly; a fuel feed conduit; a gas feed conduit; an anode exhaust. The anode exhaust conduit is in fluid communication with the fuel feed conduit and at least a portion of a fluid in the anode exhaust conduit is recycled to the fuel feed conduit. The fuel cell system may include a temperature measurement device for determining a fuel cell temperature and/or a current measurement device for determining a fuel cell current. A first control can be configured to control a flow rate of the fluid in the anode exhaust conduit which is recycled into the fuel feed conduit in response to the fuel cell temperature. A second control can be configured to control a flow rate of a fluid in the gas feed conduit in response to the fuel cell current.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack including at least one fuel cell and a separator. Each fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte between the cathode and the anode. The separator includes a membrane, and a housing defining an anode exhaust inlet, a recycled gas outlet and an exhaust gas outlet. The anode exhaust inlet and the recycled gas outlet are independently in fluid communication with the anode. The housing and the membrane defines at least in part a first chamber that is in fluid communication with the anode exhaust inlet, and a second chamber. In one embodiment, the membrane is an H2-gas permeable membrane, the recycled gas outlet is in fluid communication with the second chamber, and the exhaust gas outlet is in fluid communication with the first chamber. In another embodiment, the membrane is a CO2-gas permeable membrane, the recycled gas outlet is in fluid communication with the first chamber, and the exhaust gas outlet is in fluid communication with the second chamber.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell assembly, a carbon-dioxide-removal unit, an anode exhaust conduit connecting the fuel cell assembly and the carbon-dioxide-removal unit, a fuel source, an oxygen source, a fuel conduit connecting, at least in part, the fuel source with the fuel cell assembly, and a recycle conduit connecting the carbon-dioxide-removal unit with at least one of the fuel cell assembly, the fuel conduit and the fuel source. The fuel cell assembly includes at least one fuel cell, each fuel cell including an anode and a cathode. The carbon-dioxide-removal unit removes carbon dioxide that is in a gas phase. The carbon-dioxide-removal unit includes a carbon-dioxide-removing material. The fuel source and the oxygen source are each independently in fluid communication with the fuel cell assembly. The fuel conduit and the recycle conduit are optionally merged into a single recycle-fuel conduit that extends to the fuel cell assembly.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell assembly, a carbon-dioxide-removal unit, an anode exhaust conduit connecting the fuel cell assembly and the carbon-dioxide-removal unit, a fuel source, an oxygen source, a fuel conduit connecting, at least in part, the fuel source with the fuel cell assembly, and a recycle conduit connecting the carbon-dioxide-removal unit with at least one of the fuel cell assembly, the fuel conduit and the fuel source. The fuel cell assembly includes at least one fuel cell, each fuel cell including an anode and a cathode. The carbon-dioxide-removal unit removes carbon dioxide that is in a gas phase. The carbon-dioxide-removal unit includes a carbon-dioxide-removing material. The fuel source and the oxygen source are each independently in fluid communication with the fuel cell assembly. The fuel conduit and the recycle conduit are optionally merged into a single recycle-fuel conduit that extends to the fuel cell assembly.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack including at least one fuel cell and a separator. Each fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte between the cathode and the anode. The separator includes a membrane, and a housing defining an anode exhaust inlet, a recycled gas outlet and an exhaust gas outlet. The anode exhaust inlet and the recycled gas outlet are independently in fluid communication with the anode. The housing and the membrane defines at least in part a first chamber that is in fluid communication with the anode exhaust inlet, and a second chamber. In one embodiment, the membrane is an H2-gas permeable membrane, the recycled gas outlet is in fluid communication with the second chamber, and the exhaust gas outlet is in fluid communication with the first chamber. In another embodiment, the membrane is a CO2-gas permeable membrane, the recycled gas outlet is in fluid communication with the first chamber, and the exhaust gas outlet is in fluid communication with the second chamber.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a temperature profile within a preferential oxidation reactor is controlled using a two phase water/steam system to provide a temperature range within the reactor (10) which favors the selective oxidation of CO in a hydrogen rich reformate stream. The reformate is flowed in a mixture with oxygen over a preferential oxidation catalyst (17). The temperature profile is controlled by flowing a stream of water proximate to the preferential oxidation catalyst (17) so as the stream of water and the reformate stream passing over the catalyst (17) are in a heat transfer arrangement. The stream of water is maintained as a two phase stream from a point at which the water reaches its boiling temperature to a point proximate an outlet from which the stream of water exits the reactor (10).