Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of managing the power requirements of a facility powered by fuel cells, the facility including: a primary system having a non-discretional load requirement; and one or more ancillary load consuming systems having a nominal load; at least one fuel cell to provide power to the primary system to meet the non-discretional load requirement and provide power to the one or more ancillary systems; and a control system configured to monitor the non-discretional load requirement and to control the supply of power to the primary system and to the one or more ancillary load consuming systems. The method includes: detecting a change in the non-discretional load requirement; adjusting the power supplied to the one or more ancillary load consuming systems from the nominal load to meet the change in the non-discretional load requirement; and providing power to the primary system to meet the changed non-discretional load requirement.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of managing the power requirements of a facility powered by fuel cells, the facility including: a primary system having a non-discretional load requirement; and one or more ancillary load consuming systems having a nominal load; at least one fuel cell to provide power to the primary system to meet the non-discretional load requirement and provide power to the one or more ancillary systems; and a control system configured to monitor the non-discretional load requirement and to control the supply of power to the primary system and to the one or more ancillary load consuming systems. The method includes: detecting a change in the non-discretional load requirement; adjusting the power supplied to the one or more ancillary load consuming systems from the nominal load to meet the change in the non-discretional load requirement; and providing power to the primary system to meet the changed non-discretional load requirement.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprising multiple arrays of one or more fuel cells, each comprising an electrolyte layer, an anode layer and a cathode layer; gas separator plates between adjacent fuel cells; and oxidant gas distribution passages and fuel gas distribution passages between adjacent fuel cells; and gas separators opening to the cathode layers and the anode layers, respectively, of the fuel cells. The fuel cell arrays comprise at least first stage fuel cell arrays having associated first fuel gas distribution passages to receive fuel gas from one or more fuel gas supply manifolds and second stage fuel cell arrays having associated second fuel gas distribution passages which receive fuel exhaust from the fuel cells of the first stage fuel cell arrays. The second stage fuel cell arrays are interleaved in the stack between first stage fuel cell arrays to improve thermal gradients. Other interleaving arrangements are possible.

Abstract: A method of generating steam by heating water in a steam generator comprising a plurality of steam generating channels, wherein water is supplied at a constant rate to each steam generating channel through respective water supply lines, and wherein a sufficient pressure drop is provided across each water supply line in order to prevent flow reversal in the plurality of steam generating channels.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprising multiple arrays of one or more fuel cells, each comprising an electrolyte layer, an anode layer and a cathode layer; gas separator plates between adjacent fuel cells; and oxidant gas distribution passages and fuel gas distribution passages between adjacent fuel cells; and gas separators opening to the cathode layers and the anode layers, respectively, of the fuel cells. The fuel cell arrays comprise at least first stage fuel cell arrays having associated first fuel gas distribution passages to receive fuel gas from one or more fuel gas supply manifolds and second stage fuel cell arrays having associated second fuel gas distribution passages which receive fuel exhaust from the fuel cells of the first stage fuel cell arrays. The second stage fuel cell arrays are interleaved in the stack between first stage fuel cell arrays to improve thermal gradients. Other interleaving arrangements are possible.

Abstract: A method of generating steam by heating water in a steam generator comprising a plurality of steam generating channels, wherein water is supplied at a constant rate to each steam generating channel through respective water supply lines, and wherein a sufficient pressure drop is provided across each water supply line in order to prevent flow reversal in the plurality of steam generating channels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell system and to a method of operating such a system. More specifically, the present invention relates to the manner in which a fuel delivery system of a fuel cell system is operated in order to achieve practical advantages in terms of system operation.