Abstract: A reactor is provided which comprises: a plurality of reaction units located within a reaction zone, each of the reaction units being adapted to enable carrying out a chemical reaction of one or more raw gases (e.g. at least one of CO2 and H20); ingress means to allow introduction of the one or more raw gases into the reaction zone and to allow distributing the incoming gas to the plurality of reaction units; egress means to allow exit of reaction products from the reaction zone; and a heating system. The reaction units extend essentially along a longitudinal axis of the reaction zone and are arranged in a spaced-apart relationship along a lateral axis of the reaction zone. The heating system comprises a plurality of heating sources extending along the reaction zone, thereby providing at least a part of the energy to carry out the reaction process within the reaction units.

Abstract: A reactor is provided which comprises: a plurality of reaction units located within a reaction zone, each of the reaction units being adapted to enable carrying out a chemical reaction of one or more raw gases (e.g. at least one of CO2 and H20); ingress means to allow introduction of the one or more raw gases into the reaction zone and to allow distributing the incoming gas to the plurality of reaction units; egress means to allow exit of reaction products from the reaction zone; and a heating system. The reaction units extend essentially along a longitudinal axis of the reaction zone and are arranged in a spaced-apart relationship along a lateral axis of the reaction zone. The heating system comprises a plurality of heating sources extending along the reaction zone, thereby providing at least a part of the energy to carry out the reaction process within the reaction units.

Abstract: A fuel cell generator including a housing defining a plurality of chambers including a generator chamber having first and second generator sections. A plurality of elongated fuel cells extend through the first and second generator sections. An oxidant supply supplies oxidant to at least one of the chambers within the housing in order to provide oxidant to one end of each of the fuel cells. A fuel distribution plenum extends transversely to the elongated fuel cells and is located between the first and second generator sections. The fuel distribution plenum distributes fuel to the first and second generator sections in opposing directions within the generator chamber.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention provides for an anode side gas flow heater for a fuel cell generator that comprises a recirculating anode gas flow 28, at least one burner 24, and an energy source 22. The energy source heats the burner, the anode gas flow passes over the at least one burner and is heated, and the heated anode gas flow is then passed through the anode side of the fuel cell generator 4, where the fuel cell generator is heated.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present comprises an air inlet 2, a series of fuel cells 6, a new fuel inlet 14, a fuel distributor 16, a recirculation plenum 19, and an exhaust 12. Fresh fuel from the fuel distributor 16 enters the fuel cell stack in a middle-third section of the fuel cell stack, and the fresh fuel is divided into an exhaust fuel 12 flow and a recirculation fuel flow 18. The exhaust fuel flow passes along a first portion of the series of fuel cells to the exhaust, and the recirculation fuel flow passes along a second portion of the series of fuel cells to the recirculation plenum and mixes with new fuel from the new fuel inlet in the fuel distributor. The recirculation plenum is located at an opposite end of the fuel cell stack from the exhaust, and the fuel-cell stack is of a seal-less design.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including an anode, a cathode, a first passage, and a second passage, wherein the anode is disposed in the first passage and the cathode is disposed in the second passage, an evaporator, fluidly communicating with the first passage, for evaporating an aqueous mixture including at least one oxidizable component to form a gaseous feed, and a controller, communicating with the fuel cell for receiving an anode corrosion indication, and configured to effect deliver the gaseous feed to the first passage to form a first gaseous stream flowing through the first passage in response to the anode corrosion indication within the fuel cell.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention provides for an anode side gas flow heater for a fuel cell generator that comprises a recirculating anode gas flow 28, at least one burner 24, and an energy source 22. The energy source heats the burner, the anode gas flow passes over the at least one burner and is heated, and the heated anode gas flow is then passed through the anode side of the fuel cell generator 4, where the fuel cell generator is heated.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell including an anode, a cathode, a first passage, and a second passage, wherein the anode is disposed in the first passage and the cathode in the second passage including producing a non-explosive gaseous feed consisting of (i) at least one oxidizable component having a greater tendency to undergo oxidation relative to the anode, and (ii) a remainder which is the predominant component in the gaseous feed consisting essentially of water vapor; and introducing the non-explosive gaseous feed to the first passage to form a first gaseous feed stream flowing through the first passage when the anode realizes a temperature effective to facilitate deteriorative oxidation of the anode in the presence of an oxidizing agent. The non-explosive gaseous feed is provided to mitigate or prevent anode oxidation and the formation of potentially explosive gaseous mixtures.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel assembly is made, wherein rows (14, 25) of fuel cells (17, 19, 21, 27, 29, 31), each having an outer interconnection (20) and an outer electrode (32), are disposed next to each other with corrugated, electrically conducting expanded metal mesh member (22) between each row of cells, the corrugated mesh (22) having top crown portions and bottom portions, where the top crown portion (40) have a top bonded open cell nickel foam (51) which contacts outer interconnections (20) of the fuel cells, said mesh and nickel foam electrically connecting each row of fuel cells, and where there are no more metal felt connections between any fuel cells.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel assembly is made, wherein rows (14, 25) of fuel cells (17, 19, 21, 27, 29, 31), each having an outer interconnection (20) and an outer electrode (32), are disposed next to each other with corrugated, electrically conducting expanded metal mesh member (22) between each row of cells, the corrugated mesh (22) having top crown portions and bottom portions, where the top crown portion (40) have a top bonded open cell nickel foam (51) which contacts outer interconnections (20) of the fuel cells, said mesh and nickel foam electrically connecting each row of fuel cells, and where there are no more metal felt connections between any fuel cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of operating a fuel cell including an anode, a cathode, a first passage, and a second passage, wherein the anode is disposed in the first passage and the cathode is disposed in the second passage, comprising: producing a non-explosive gaseous feed consisting of (i) at least one oxidizable component having a greater tendency to undergo oxidation relative to the anode, and (ii) a remainder, wherein the remainder is the predominant component in the gaseous feed and consists essentially of water vapor, and introducing the non-explosive gaseous feed to the first passage to form a first gaseous feed stream flowing through the first passage when the anode realizes a temperature effective to facilitate deteriorative oxidation of the anode in the presence of an oxidizing agent. The non-explosive gaseous feed is provided to mitigate or prevent anode oxidation and to mitigate or prevent the formation of potentially explosive gaseous mixtures.

Abstract: A pressurized fuel cell system (10), operates within a common pressure vessel (12) where the system contains fuel cells (22), a turbine (26) and a generator (98) where preferably, associated oxidant inlet valve (52), fuel inlet valve (56) and fuel cell exhaust valve (42) are outside the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A cover and startup gas supply system for a solid oxide fuel cell power generator is disclosed. Hydrocarbon fuel, such as natural gas or diesel fuel, and oxygen-containing gas are supplied to a burner. Combustion gas exiting the burner is cooled prior to delivery to the solid oxide fuel cell. The system mixes the combusted hydrocarbon fuel constituents with hydrogen which is preferably stored in solid form to obtain a non-explosive gas mixture. The system may be used to provide both non-explosive cover gas and hydrogen-rich startup gas to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A system is provided for operating a solid oxide fuel cell generator on diesel fuel. The system includes a hydrodesulfurizer which reduces the sulfur content of commercial and military grade diesel fuel to an acceptable level. Hydrogen which has been previously separated from the process stream is mixed with diesel fuel at low pressure. The diesel/hydrogen mixture is then pressurized and introduced into the hydrodesulfurizer. The hydrodesulfurizer comprises a metal oxide such as ZnO which reacts with hydrogen sulfide in the presence of a metal catalyst to form a metal sulfide and water. After desulfurization, the diesel fuel is reformed and delivered to a hydrogen separator which removes most of the hydrogen from the reformed fuel prior to introduction into a solid oxide fuel cell generator. The separated hydrogen is then selectively delivered to the diesel/hydrogen mixer or to a hydrogen storage unit.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon reforming catalyst material comprising a catalyst support impregnated with catalyst is provided for reforming hydrocarbon fuel gases in an electrochemical generator. Elongated electrochemical cells convert the fuel to electrical power in the presence of an oxidant, after which the spent fuel is recirculated and combined with a fresh hydrocarbon feed fuel forming the reformable gas mixture which is fed to a reforming chamber containing a reforming catalyst material, where the reforming catalyst material includes discrete passageways integrally formed along the length of the catalyst support in the direction of reformable gas flow. The spent fuel and/or combusted exhaust gases discharged from the generator chamber transfer heat to the catalyst support, which in turn transfers heat to the reformable gas and to the catalyst, preferably via a number of discrete passageways disposed adjacent one another in the reforming catalyst support.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell generator has a pair of spaced apart tubesheets in a housing. At least two intermediate barrier walls are between the tubesheets and define a generator chamber between two intermediate buffer chambers. An array of fuel cells have tubes with open ends engaging the tubesheets. Tubular, axially elongated electrochemical cells are supported on the tubes in the generator chamber. Fuel gas and oxidant gas are preheated in the intermediate chambers by the gases flowing on the other side of the tubes.Gas leakage around the tubes through the tubesheets is permitted. The buffer chambers reentrain the leaked fuel gas for reintroduction to the generator chamber.

Abstract: An electrochemical apparatus (10) is made having a generator section (22) containing electrochemical cells (16), a fresh gaseous feed fuel inlet (28), a gaseous feed oxidant inlet (30), gaseous spent fuel recirculation channels (46), and hot combusted exhaust gas exit channels (45), where the spent fuel recirculation channel (46) passes from the generator chamber (22) to combine with the fresh feed fuel inlet (28) at a circulation and mixing apparatus (50), where a reformable fuel mixture channel (51) passes between the mixing apparatus and reforming chamber (54) containing a reformable material, where a portion of the hot combusted exhaust gas exit channel (45) surrounds the reforming chamber (54), and where the fresh feed fuel inlet has a by-pass channel (62) into the gaseous spent fuel recirculation channel (46), said by-pass channel having valving to control fresh fuel feed flow to the gaseous spent fuel recirculation channel.

Abstract: An electrochemical generator apparatus (30) is constructed containing an electrochemical cell assembly which contains a plurality of electrochemical cells or cell bundles (41) and (43) and insulation materials in the form of at least one of porous partition boards (33) between cell bundles, porous generator insulation (44), porous cell support boards (45), porous fuel entry distribution boards (35), and porous fuel conditioner boards (53), where a gaseous fuel (46) containing hydrocarbons will contact the insulation materials, characterized in that at least one of the insulation materials is impregnated with metal atom containing material, where the metal is selected from the group consisting of (A) metals selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca-Al combinations, Sr-Al combinations, Ce, Ba, and mixtures thereof, and, (A) metals plus Ni. The impregnated insulation materials may also be pre-heated in air so that the oxides are formed prior to their insertion into the generator apparatus.

Abstract: An electrochemical generator apparatus (30) is constructed containing one or more electrochemical cells (10), the cells containing a porous fuel electrode (18), a porous air electrode (14), and solid oxide electrolyte (16) disposed therebetween, where the fuel electrode is impregnated with chemicals which form metal oxides upon heating, where the metal of the oxide is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca plus Al, Sr plus Al, Zr, Y, Ce, and their mixtures; and where these electrochemical cells are contacted with a hydrocarbon fuel gas and operated at over 800.degree. C., and where the metal oxides are effective in preventing cell deterioration due to carbon deposition from the hydrocarbon fuel.

Abstract: The mechanical spectral shift reactor provides a method and apparatus for controlling a nuclear reactor comprising inserting a plurality of reactor coolant displacer members into the reactor at the beginning of the core life. The displacer members reduce the volume of reactor coolant-moderator in the core at the start-up. As the reactivity of the core declines with fuel depletion, a selected number of displacer members are withdrawn from the core at selected time intervals. The withdrawal of the displacer member allows reactor coolant water to enter the core which increases core moderation at a time when fuel reactivity is declining. Thus for a given amount of nuclear fuel the life of the core can be extended or for a given life of a core the uranium fuel requirements can be reduced.