Abstract: The invention is a reformate fuel treatment system for a fuel cell power plant that includes at least one fuel cell for generating electricity from process oxidant and reducing fluid reactant streams; fuel processing components including a steam supply and a reformer for producing a hydrogen enriched reformate fuel for the fuel cell from a hydrocarbon fuel; and, an ammonia removal apparatus that treats the reformate fuel to make it appropriate for supplying hydrogen to an anode electrode of the fuel cell. The ammonia removal apparatus may be a disposable ammonia scrubber, an ammonia scrubbing cool water bed and an ammonia stripping warm water bed, a pair of first and second regenerable scrubbers, or a single regenerable ammonia scrubber.

Abstract: A fuel gas processing system is operable to remove substantially all of the sulfur present in a hydrocarbon fuel supply used to power a fuel cell power plant in a mobile vehicular environment. The power plant fuel can be gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, natural gas, or another fuel which contains relatively high levels of organic sulfur compounds such as mercaptans, sulfides, disulfides, and the like. The hydrocarbon fuel supply is passed through a nickel reactant desulfurizer bed wherein essentially all of the sulfur in the organic sulfur compounds react with the nickel reactant, and are converted to nickel sulfide while the desulfurized fuel continues through the remainder of the fuel processing system. The fuel cell power plant and the processing system can be used to power a mobile vehicle, such an automobile, truck, bus, or the like. An auxiliary supply of hydrogen is provided in order to power the fuel cell power plant during start up of the fuel processing system.

Abstract: A fuel processing system is operable to remove substantially all of the sulfur present in an undiluted hydrocarbon fuel stock supply used to power a fuel cell power plant in a mobile environment, such as an automobile, bus, truck, boat, or the like, or in a stationary environment. The power plant hydrogen fuel source can be gasoline, diesel fuel, naphtha, light hydrocarbon fuels such as butane, propane, natural gas, or other like fuels which contain relatively high levels of organic sulfur compounds such as mercaptans, sulfides, disulfides, and the like. The undiluted hydrocarbon fuel supply is passed through a nickel desulfurizer bed wherein essentially all of the sulfur in the organic sulfur compounds react with the nickel reactant, and are converted to nickel sulfide while the desulfurized organic remnants continue through the remainder of the fuel processing system. The system does not require the addition of steam or a hydrogen source to the fuel stream prior to the desulfurizing step.

Abstract: A fuel processing system is operable to remove substantially all of the sulfur present in an undiluted hydrocarbon fuel stock supply used to power a fuel cell power plant in a mobile environment, such as an automobile, bus, truck, boat, or the like, or in a stationary environment. The power plant hydrogen fuel source can be gasoline, diesel fuel, naphtha, light hydrocarbon fuels such as butane, propane, natural gas, or other like fuels which contain relatively high levels of organic sulfur compounds such as mercaptans, sulfides, disulfides, and the like. The undiluted hydrocarbon fuel supply is passed through a nickel desulfurizer bed wherein essentially all of the sulfur in the organic sulfur compounds react with the nickel reactant, and are converted to nickel sulfide while the desulfurized organic remnants continue through the remainder of the fuel processing system. The system does not require the addition of steam or a hydrogen source to the fuel stream prior to the desulfurizing step.

Abstract: The fuel cell power plant uses stacks which are supplied with compressed air from turbocompressors. The turbines on the turbocompressors are operated with expanding cathode exhaust gases from the stack. Product water is recovered from the cathode exhaust gases after the latter pass through the turbines. Flow and/or pressure sensors are disposed downstream of the compressors to monitor the air exiting the compressor. Should the sensors detect an abnormal condition, which could result from changes in power level, or ambient temperature, then the sensors will open a normally closed valve to divert coolant steam to the turbines to provide the increased energy needed to bring the turbines up to speed.