33results about How to "Reduce parasitic power" patented technology

A hydrogen-rich reformate gas generator, such as a mini-CPO (catalytic partial oxidizer) (36), provides warm, dry, hydrogen-containing reformate gas to a hydrogen desulfurizer (17) which provides desulfurized reformate gas to a major reformer (14) (such as a CPO) which, after processing in a water-gas shift reactor (26) and preferential CO oxidizer (27) produces hydrogen-containing reformate in a line (31) for use, for instance, as fuel for a fuel cell power plant. The expensive prior art hydrogen blower (30) is thereby eliminated, thus reducing parasitic power losses in the power plant. The drier reformate provided by the mini-CPO to the hydrogen desulfurizer favors hydrogen sulfide adsorption on zinc oxide and helps to reduce sulfur to the parts per billion level.

Water flow field inlet manifolds (33, 37) are disposed at the fuel cell stack (11) base. Water flow field outlet manifolds (34, 38) are located at the fuel cell stack top. Outlet and inlet manifolds are interconnected (41-43, 47, 49, 50) so gas bubbles leaking through the porous water transport plate cause flow by natural convection, with no mechanical water pump. Variation in water level within a standpipe (58) controls (56, 60, 62, 63) the temperature or flow of coolant. In another embodiment, the water is not circulated, but gas and excess water are vented from the water outlet manifolds. Water channels (70) may be vertical. A hydrophobic region (80) provides gas leakage to ensure bubble pumping of water. An external heat exchanger (77) maximizes water density differential for convective flow.

Refrigeration duty in a carbon dioxide purification unit (CPU) operating at elevated pressure and sub-ambient temperature can be provided in at least a first part by indirect heat exchange against at least latent heat of at least one liquid first refrigerant, preferably carbon dioxide liquid(s) produced in the CPU, thereby typically evaporating the liquid(s), and a second part by indirect heat exchange with sensible heat energy alone of a second refrigerant. The second refrigerant may be nitrogen gas imported from an integrated cryogenic air separation unit (ASU) or carbon dioxide liquid exported from the CPU, cooled and returned to the CPU. One advantage is that total power consumption of the CPU and an integrated ASU is reduced.

The invention discloses a fuel cell cooling system utilizing phase change cooling. The fuel cell cooling system comprises an electric pile and a cathode air supply module connected to the electric pile and used for supplying the air to the electric pile, and further comprises a cooling liquid circulating module used for cooling the electric pile and preheating the air in the cathode air supply module. The fuel cell cooling system can keep temperature balance in the electric pile, and has the advantages of small cooling flow, small parasitic power of an auxiliary system, waste heat utilization of the cooling liquid and air preheating.

The invention discloses a steam supply passive type direct methanol fuel cell with catalytic combustion type heat supplying. The steam supply passive type direct methanol fuel cell comprises a cell reaction unit and a porous sintering plate in the cell reaction unit, wherein the cell reaction unit is sequentially connected with a steam supplying unit, a pervaporation membrane, a catalytic combustion heat supplying unit, an oxygen buffering unit, a raw material catalytic combustion unit and a sealing bottom cover. A catalytic combustion method is adopted for supplying heat to the steam supply passive type direct methanol fuel cell, the catalytic combustion has the characteristics of high energy, high efficiency, high reaction rate, and the like, and the reaction is easily controlled, reaction heat energy provides energy for the methanol phase change, high-temperature methanol fuel is provided for cell discharge, and further the output power of the cell is increased; meanwhile, the recycling of a catalytic combustion product ensures that pure methanol can be possibly supplied to cell reaction, and thus the energy density of the cell is greatly increased, and the stable long-term operation of the cell is favorably realized.

A fuel cell system includes at least one electricity generator which generates electric energy through electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, a fuel supply unit which supplies fuel containing hydrogen to the electricity generator, and an oxygen source which supplies oxygen to the at least one electricity generator. The fuel supply unit comprises an outer tank defining an inner space, and an inner fuel storage tank with deformable walls which is provided in the inner space of the outer tank to store fuel. Fuel is discharged from the inner fuel storage tank by the deformation of the inner fuel storage tank by applying a compressive force to the inner space of the outer tank through the use of a biasing mechanism.

The invention discloses a bipolar plate, a fuel cell stack comprising the same, and a power generation system. The bipolar plate includes a first polar plate and a second polar plate, wherein the first polar plate has a first face and a second face, and the second polar plate has a third face and a fourth face. The first face of the first polar plate has a first flow channel and a first referenceface, and the third surface of the second polar plate is provided with a third runner and a third reference surface. In the bipolar plate, the second surface of the first polar plate is attached to the fourth surface of the second polar plate, and the first surface of the first polar plate and the third surface of the second polar plate have different flow fields. The bipolar plate also comprisesat least two synchronous fluctuating areas which are channels for leading a cooling agent in and out of a bipolar plate interlayer. A cooling agent guide dike is arranged on the second polar plate andcan guide the cooling agent to flow according to a set route. Due to the characteristics, the bipolar plate has the advantages of good drainage performance, good cooling effect and the like.

A hydrogen-rich reformate gas generator (36), such as a mini-CPO, POX, ATR or other hydrogen generator provides warm, dry, hydrogen-rich reformate gas to a hydrogen desulfurizer (17) which provides desulfurized feedstock gas to a major reformer (14) (such as a CPO) which, after processing in a water-gas shift reactor (26) and preferential CO oxidizer (27) produces hydrogen-containing reformate in a line (31) for use, for instance, as fuel for a fuel cell power plant. The expensive prior art hydrogen blower (30) is thereby eliminated, thus reducing parasitic power losses in the power plant. The drier reformate provided by the small hydrogen generator to the hydrogen desulfurizer favors hydrogen sulfide adsorption on zinc oxide and helps to reduce sulfur to the parts per billion level.

A fuel cell system having a fuel cell stack (9) employs a group of fuel cells between corresponding cooler plates (55). The system utilizes single phase coolant, the outflow of the coolant plates (55) being divided into a flow (78) just sufficient to provide adequate steam (68, 79) to a fuel reformer (58), the remainder of the coolant outlet flowing (76) directly to heat recovery and utilization apparatus (77), which may include fuel cell power plant accessories (85), such as chillers or boilers.

The invention discloses a power generation system. The power generation system comprises a fuel cell power generation device, a cathode gas supply module, an anode gas supply module and a tail gas circulation device, wherein the fuel cell power generation device is provided with a gas inlet side, a tail gas side, an anode unit and a cathode unit, the cathode gas supply module is coupled with the cathode unit on the gas inlet side and is used for supplying the first gas required by reaction of the cathode unit, the anode gas supply module is coupled with the anode unit on the gas inlet side andis used for supplying the second gas required by reaction of the anode unit, the tail gas circulation device is coupled with the anode and cathode units on the tail gas side and is coupled with the anode unit on the gas inlet side, the tail gas circulation device is used for receiving the first tail gas exhausted by the anode unit on the tail gas side and the second tail gas exhausted by the cathode unit, and the tail gas circulation device generates power for circulating the first tail gas through the second tail gas, so the first tail gas can flow back to the anode unit.