Energy generation system with catalytic combustor

Abstract

An energy generation system (1) comprises: a catalytic burner (40) for generating thermal energy; a thermally insulating container (32), wherein the thermally insulating container (32) surrounds the catalytic burner (40); and a fuel cell, wherein waste heat from the fuel cell may be provided to the catalytic burner (40) and / or the thermally insulated container (32); wherein the catalytic burner (40) comprises a catalytic coil comprising a coil-shaped fluid flow path for the flow of a fuel mixture and a catalytic surface extending along at least a portion of the coil-shaped fluid flow path.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an energy generation system comprising a catalytic burner for generating heat. In some embodiments, the system further comprises a fuel cell for generating electricity. The present invention also relates to a method for generating energy (i.e., thermal energy and / or electrical energy) using the energy generation system. Background Art

[0002] The use of catalytic combustion of fuel to generate heat is an alternative to conventional fuel combustion. In conventional fuel combustion, a fuel mixture is ignited in air to generate heat through an exothermic reaction. The high temperatures of conventional combustion and the varying composition of the fuel mixture can lead to undesirable combustion products. For example, the high temperatures of conventional combustion (e.g., greater than 1300°C) combined with a fuel mixture containing nitrogen (N), such as air, can lead to the formation of nitrogen oxides (e.g., NO x ), which is undesirable. Other combustion conditions, such as when fossil fuels or hydrocarbons (such as C x H y ) when burned in an oxygen-depleted atmosphere, results in the formation of carbon monoxide (CO). This formation of carbon monoxide is undesirable, in part due to its health risks. Furthermore, conventional combustion requires certain conditions to maintain. For example, providing a fuel mixture with the wrong ratio of components can cause combustion to terminate. Alternatively, providing the fuel mixture too quickly (e.g., at too high a rate) can cause the flame to extinguish, also terminating combustion.

[0003] The catalytic combustion of a fuel mixture relies on the principle of using a catalyst material to allow a chemical reaction (i.e., an oxidation reaction) to proceed under reduced thermochemical conditions. Generally speaking, catalysts can be used to promote chemical reactions under conditions such as lower temperature, lower pressure, and / or lower electrochemical potential. That is, the use of a catalyst material in the reaction reduces the activation energy required for the chemical reaction to occur. From one perspective, catalytic combustion causes the fuel components to chemically react at a lower temperature. From another perspective, catalytic combustion causes a faster chemical reaction between the fuel components at a specific temperature. An example of catalytic combustion is the combination of a catalyst, natural gas, and oxygen in a catalytic heater to generate heat. Catalytic reactions are sometimes called flameless reactions because they occur at a sufficiently low temperature that no flame is produced. Hydrogen in air spontaneously ignites at around 500°C. Providing a suitable catalyst can lower its combustion temperature.

[0004] A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy of a fuel into electrical energy. A typical fuel cell uses an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte between the anode and cathode. A fuel mixture is introduced into the anode, causing charged particles to diffuse through the electrolyte to the cathode. At the cathode, the charged particles combine with another substance to form reaction products. At the same time, the charge in the form of electrons travels from the anode through the circuit to the cathode, participating in the above-mentioned combination. The movement of electrons in the circuit results in the generation of electrical energy (i.e., electricity). An exemplary fuel cell uses hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) as fuel sources, providing hydrogen to the anode and oxygen to the cathode (usually using air as a carrier). The fuel cell reaction results in the formation of water (H2O) in the form of steam or liquid, and generates heat. In traditional fuel cell devices, the heat generated by the fuel cell is dissipated to the environment to avoid unwanted heat accumulation in the fuel cell.

[0005] Fuel cells are now increasingly being used in the field of industrial power generation. For example, on construction sites that are not connected to the power grid, the power needs of construction equipment can be met by providing fuel cells. In addition, there is increasing pressure on individuals, companies and countries to reduce their carbon footprint, which makes the use of fuel cells even more popular. This is because the fuels used by fuel cells (such as hydrogen and oxygen) can be produced using zero-carbon methods. Therefore, the use of fuel cells and hydrogen fuels is advantageous in terms of reducing the carbon footprint of an activity. In addition, fuel cells do not cause undesirable and / or harmful emissions, which makes them more attractive from an environmental point of view. However, as mentioned above, some of the energy generated by the fuel cell in the form of heat is usually lost. Therefore, there is a need to develop more efficient power generation systems.

[0006] As mentioned above, fuel cells can be used in building environments where electricity generation is required. In some cases, building environments may also require large amounts of heat for building activities, such as drying, heating, hardening or thawing. Typically, where electricity is readily available, electric heaters are used to generate heat, however, the use of such electric heaters is sometimes disadvantageous. Where electricity is not readily available (e.g., in remote areas), burner heaters are used, which typically burn fossil fuels to generate heat. However, as mentioned above, the combustion of fossil fuels results in the release of undesirable pollutants into the atmosphere. In addition, the combustion of fossil fuels results in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which makes the process not zero-carbon / carbon neutral. Therefore, there is a need to provide better heat sources, particularly heat sources that are more environmentally friendly.

[0007] Advantageously, other environments in which fuel cells are used include where grid connection is available. However, the capacity of the grid can not be sufficient or flexible or reliable enough to allow unrestricted use. For example, when charging a battery at a high rate (i.e. super-charging the battery in a short time), the load on the grid can be too high. In this case, a fuel cell can be provided to passively charge a bank of batteries which can then be used to supplement the grid capacity. Alternatively, the bank of batteries can be used as the primary power source with the grid providing no power or a supplemental amount of power. Such a system providing a fuel cell and bank of batteries has the advantage of producing green power (e.g. when using hydrogen with no carbon emissions). Many of the above settings can have further demand for thermal energy which the current setup cannot simply or effectively meet.

[0008] Heat or thermal energy flow is required in a wide variety of processes, including heating, washing, drying, coking, sterilization, process heating, hardening, boiler feed water preheating, fresh water production evaporation, and so on, whether by conduction, convection, or radiation. In industrialized economies, for some processing industries, it is estimated that the energy consumption for generating the necessary process heat can account for about 55% to 75% of the total energy consumption. Moreover, over 95% of this heat is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil.

[0009] The vast scale and range of industrial heat demand presents a significant challenge for the transition from carbon-based fuels. It is impractical to utilize electricity to meet this heat demand for many reasons, one of which is grid balancing and capacity. However, this demand also presents a unique opportunity for the production of renewable hydrogen that emits no greenhouse gases or polluting waste, and hydrogen fuel technologies that can efficiently produce zero-emission heat. Zero-emission heat refers to heat production that produces no emissions. In the context of hydrogen energy electricity generation, renewable hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced by renewable means and results in minimal or zero emissions. Traditionally, hydrogen can be produced by electrolysis, with the electricity coming from non-renewable sources, such as coal-fired power plants. When hydrogen is produced by electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, the hydrogen can be considered a renewable energy source. Renewable hydrogen can also be produced from biomass feedstocks. It is therefore necessary to further integrate the use of renewable hydrogen in energy production. SUMMARY

[0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an energy generation system comprising: a catalytic combustor for generating thermal energy; and an insulated vessel, wherein the insulated vessel encloses the catalytic combustor, and the insulated vessel is a vacuum insulated vessel.

[0011] In this system, the catalytic burner generates heat, which is then transferred to the interior of the vacuum-insulated container. The advantage of using a vacuum-insulated container is that it reduces heat loss to the exterior of the container while allowing for a more compact size. This contrasts with containers using traditional insulation materials, which require larger volumes. It has been found that vacuum insulation is surprisingly effective when heat is generated by the catalytic burner.

[0012] The insulated container may include a heat transfer medium (eg, a fluid, or in some cases, a solid) within the vacuum insulated container. The heat transfer medium may be used to provide heat to a load external to the insulated container and / or may also be used for heat storage.

[0013] In addition to receiving heat from the catalytic burner by heat exchange, the heat transfer medium can also be used to receive heat from a secondary heat source. Heat can be received from one or more secondary heat sources by other heat exchanges within the insulated container and / or by the movement of the heat transfer medium in a loop passing outside the insulated container. The secondary heat source may, for example, include a heat pump. Alternatively or additionally, the secondary heat source may include renewable heat from solar energy, waste heat from an external process (e.g., an industrial process), or any other heat source. In the case of further heat exchange with heat from one or more secondary heat sources within the insulated container, a secondary heat source coil within the insulated container may be used.

[0014] In addition, or alternatively, the catalytic burner can be used to supply heat to replace and / or supplement the heat from one or more secondary heat sources, thereby acting as a backup heat source, for example, in the event of a power outage. The one or more secondary heat sources can, as described above, include, for example, a heat pump. Therefore, the catalytic burner can be used to supplement the heat from the secondary heat source (e.g., a heat pump), and / or to replace the heat from the secondary heat source when the secondary heat source's ability to provide heat is reduced (e.g., due to power supply issues with the heat pump). By integrating the catalytic burner with a secondary heat source similar to a heat pump, it is possible to use the two heat sources together or interchangeably. Adding heat from the catalytic burner to heat from the heat pump can increase the heat energy potential of the heat pump. Allowing heat from the catalytic burner to replace heat from the heat pump allows heat energy demand to be met independently of the flow of electricity from the grid or other power sources for the heat pump (or other electric secondary heat sources). If this is also combined with a fuel cell, as described below, this further enhances the capacity of the entire energy generation system because the fuel cell can provide electricity to the secondary heat source if necessary.

[0015] The vacuum insulated container may include an inner shell. The inner shell may be made of metal. The advantage of using a metal inner shell is that it can withstand higher temperatures. Compared to inner shells made of other materials, a metal inner shell may provide better mechanical properties.

[0016] The vacuum insulated container may include a support member. The support member may be placed at a specific location on the inner shell, or may partially surround the inner shell, or alternatively, may completely surround the inner shell.

[0017] The vacuum insulated container may include an outer shell. The outer shell may be disposed around an inner shell and a support member. The support member may connect the inner shell and the outer shell.

[0018] A vacuum insulated container may comprise a volume between an inner shell and an outer shell, the volume being evacuated, thereby providing vacuum insulation for the insulated container. Applying a vacuum between the inner shell and the outer shell reduces the amount of heat transferred between the inner shell and the outer shell. For example, if present, any air (or gas molecules) between the inner shell and the outer shell will promote heat transfer by convection. Reducing or ideally avoiding this presence by applying a vacuum will reduce or prevent this heat transfer. The inner shell and the outer shell may be separated from each other by the use of spacers to provide structural support for the outer shell around the inner shell and ensure that the space between the outer shell and the inner shell is maintained. The spacer may be part of the support member.

[0019] The catalytic burner may be completely within the insulated container, such that the insulated container is configured to provide insulation against heat generated by the catalytic burner. That is, the portion of the catalytic burner that generates heat may be located within the insulated container. The catalytic burner may be completely within the insulated container. This allows more heat to be retained within the insulated container compared to a catalytic burner that is partially or completely external to the insulated container.

[0020] The catalytic burner may include a catalyst. The catalyst may be in the form of a catalytic material disposed on a surface that will come into contact with the fuel inside the catalytic burner. The catalyst may extend along the length of the catalytic burner. Advantageously, as described in more detail below, the catalytic burner may include a tube for the fuel mixture to flow through the catalytic burner, such as a coil, wherein the catalyst is disposed on a surface extending along the coil. The coil may include a coil-shaped fluid flow path for the flow of the fuel mixture. Another advantage of using catalytic combustion to generate heat is that heat can be generated quickly and on demand as long as there is fuel.

[0021] The energy generation system may include a fuel cell. Therefore, the energy generation system may be a combined thermoelectric system, wherein heat is generated by a catalytic burner and / or as waste heat, and electricity is generated by a fuel cell. The fuel cell may use hydrogen as a fuel to generate electricity. The fuel cell may also use oxygen to generate electricity, optionally, oxygen may be provided by air in the atmosphere. The fuel cell may generate thermal energy during the power generation process. The heat generated by the fuel cell may be used to initiate the catalytic reaction of the catalytic burner. For example, the temperature of the fuel mixture supplied to the catalytic burner and the catalytic burner itself may be lower than the initiation temperature of the catalytic combustion, so that the catalytic combustion reaction will not start. The heat generated by the fuel cell may be used to bring the fuel mixture, the catalytic burner, or both to an initiation temperature or a higher temperature. In this way, catalytic combustion can be initiated in the catalytic burner without providing or using other heat sources (e.g., burning fossil fuels). Advantageously, the heat generated by the fuel cell is waste heat, and using this heat can improve the efficiency of the energy generation system.

[0022] Energy generation systems comprising a catalytic burner and a fuel cell are considered novel and inventive in themselves, including in some embodiments without vacuum insulation. Specifically, from a second aspect, the present invention can provide an energy generation system comprising: a catalytic burner for generating thermal energy; an insulated container, wherein the insulated container surrounds the catalytic burner; and a fuel cell, wherein waste heat from the fuel cell can be provided to the catalytic burner and / or the insulated container; wherein the catalytic burner comprises a catalytic coil, wherein the catalytic coil includes a coiled fluid flow path for flowing a fuel mixture and a catalytic surface extending along at least a portion of the coiled fluid flow path.

[0023] It should be understood that the features of the first aspect discussed above can be combined with the system of the second aspect, including or omitting the vacuum insulation feature, and that the following features can be applied to systems with or without a fuel cell and with or without the catalytic coil features of the second aspect.

[0024] For example, a system with or without a fuel cell may include a secondary heat source that provides heat to the insulated container, for example by heating a heat transfer medium within the insulated container to provide additional heat by heat exchange from the catalytic burner. Heat can be received from one or more secondary heat sources by other heat exchanges within the insulated container and / or by the movement of a heat transfer medium in a loop passing outside the insulated container. Alternatively or additionally, interconnection with a secondary heat source may allow the catalytic burner to provide heat to replace the heat provided by the secondary heat source, for example by transferring heat from the heat transfer medium rather than transferring heat to the heat transfer medium. The secondary heat source may, for example, include a heat pump. Alternatively or additionally, the secondary heat source may include renewable heat from solar energy, waste heat from an external process (e.g., a production process), or any other heat source. In the case of further heat exchange with heat from one or more secondary heat sources within the insulated container, a secondary heat source coil within the insulated container may be used, so that in the system, there may be at least two coils within the insulated container, one being the coil of the catalytic burner and the other being the secondary heat source coil. The secondary heat source coil may also be used for waste heat from the fuel cell, or alternatively, heat from the fuel cell may be transferred to the insulated vessel by other means, such as through a dedicated fuel cell waste heat coil or through some other heat exchange system connected to a heat transfer medium.

[0025] With respect to any aspect of the present invention, the catalytic burner may include a catalytic mesh. The catalytic mesh may include strips. The strips may be at least partially coated with a catalyst. Optionally, the strips are completely covered with a catalyst. The strips may have perforations or other surface features. The perforations or other surface features increase the surface area of ​​the strips, thereby increasing the surface area of ​​the catalyst applied to the strips. Other surface features may include one or more baffles. For example, in order to provide the coil shape of the second aspect, the strips may be formed into a spiral shape or a spring shape. The advantage of forming the catalytic mesh into a spiral shape or a spring shape is that a larger catalytic mesh surface area can be provided over the same length.

[0026] The catalytic mesh can be at least partially placed inside the catalytic burner. The catalytic mesh placed at least partially inside the catalytic burner allows the fuel mixture to catalytically combust inside the catalytic burner, heating the catalyst and the catalytic burner. The heat generated by the catalytic combustion can then be transferred to the inside of the insulated container. Another advantage of the catalytic mesh placed at least partially inside the catalytic burner is that the catalyst mesh can be placed there before, during or after manufacturing the catalytic burner. In addition, the catalyst mesh can be flexible and allow it to bend with the catalytic burner during forming. That is, the catalyst mesh can be placed inside the catalytic burner before the catalytic burner forms its final shape. In the case where the catalytic burner is a coil made of tubes or pipes, the catalytic mesh can be inserted into the straight tube or pipe before the tubes or pipes form the coil shape of the catalytic burner. Advantageously, the catalytic mesh can be removed from the catalytic burner and replaced with a different catalyst mesh without the need to disassemble the catalytic burner.

[0027] The catalytic burner may include a catalyst as a surface catalyst. The surface catalyst may be the above-mentioned catalyst applied to the inner surface of the catalytic burner. In addition to the catalyst mesh, the surface catalyst may be applied to the surface of the catalytic burner. In the case where the catalytic burner is a pipe, the surface catalyst is applied to the inner surface of the pipe. Advantageously, the surface catalyst is in direct contact with the catalytic burner, allowing faster and more reliable heat transfer between the catalytic surface and the catalytic burner. In addition, the surface catalyst can be applied to the catalytic burner before or after manufacture and assembly. The surface catalyst may include an adhesive configured to bond the surface catalyst to the inner surface of the catalytic burner. The surface catalyst may be applied using at least one of microcontact printing, physical deposition, vapor deposition, atomic layer deposition, and plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition. The surface catalyst may be applied using other suitable coating processes. It should be understood that the above-mentioned application method is applicable to catalytic meshes as well as surface catalysts.

[0028] The catalytic burner may include multiple catalysts. For example, the catalytic burner may include a first portion that provides a first catalyst and a second portion that provides a second catalyst. The first catalyst and the second catalyst may be the same or different. The first portion and the second portion may be the same, or different, or may partially overlap. The first portion and the second portion may have the same length, or they may have different lengths. The first portion and the second portion may extend through a small portion of the catalytic burner, or they may extend through a large portion of the catalytic burner, and optionally, they may extend through the entire catalytic burner.

[0029] The catalyst can include platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and / or rhodium (Rh) or other platinum group metals. The catalyst can include any other suitable catalyst material capable of producing a hydro-oxidation reaction (i.e., catalytic combustion of hydrogen). The catalyst can include a combination of the above catalysts. The catalyst can include a support material. The support material can be any of carbon, ceramic, metal, metal alloy, and cermet alloy, and optionally a combination of any of these. Catalysts including carbon-supported platinum group metals provide a lower ignition temperature for the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen. The ignition temperature can be about 40°C to 60°C, optionally about 50°C. Catalytic combustion of hydrogen and oxygen (or other fuel mixture) can heat the catalyst to above 50°C, and optionally to above 200°C. Catalytic combustion of hydrogen and oxygen (or other fuel mixture) can heat the catalyst to a temperature range of 100°C to 1000°C, optionally to a temperature range of 200°C to 500°C. In certain applications, the temperature range can still exceed the above values.

[0030] The catalytic combustor can include catalyst along part or all of the length of the coil. If the catalyst is a catalytic mesh, the catalytic mesh can be provided along a portion of the length of the coil, and optionally along a majority of the length of the coil. The catalytic mesh can be provided along the entire length of the coil. The advantage of providing the catalytic mesh along a greater length of the coil is that more catalytic mesh surface is provided in the catalytic combustor.

[0031] In the case where the coil is used in a catalytic combustor, there can be a heater in the inlet region of the coil. The heater can be used to pre-heat the fluid entering the catalytic combustor, for example to pre-heat the fuel, to help initiate the catalytic combustion process in the downstream portion of the catalytic combustor. The heater can include an electric heating element and / or a heat exchanger for receiving heat from a heat exchange fluid that is heated elsewhere. In the case where a fuel cell is part of the system, the heat exchange fluid for the heater can be heated by waste heat from the fuel cell. The heater can take the form of a mesh extending across the cross-section of the coil in the inlet region. The mesh can have a filtering function. Alternatively or additionally, the coil can include a filter in the inlet region.

[0032] The catalytic combustor of any of the above aspects can be a plate heat exchanger unit including a catalytic chamber. The catalytic chamber includes a catalyst and is configured to allow catalytic combustion to occur and generate heat. The catalyst of the catalytic chamber can be any of the above catalyst types (e.g., a mesh catalyst or a surface catalyst). The generated heat is then transferred to the body of the plate heat exchanger unit and / or to the plates adjacent to the catalytic chamber, and then to the insulated container. The plate heat exchanger can include a single catalytic chamber, or can include multiple catalytic chambers. The plate heat exchanger unit can be configured to include at least one surface at which heat exchange between the plate heat exchanger unit and a medium occurs, where the exchanged heat is generated by catalytic combustion.

[0033] The energy generation system including the fuel cell can include a battery. The battery can be configured to store electrical energy generated by the fuel cell. The advantage of providing a fuel cell for a battery is that a large amount of energy can be stored. In addition, the electrical energy can be provided at a higher rate than the electrical energy generated by the fuel cell alone.

[0034] The battery can be integrated with the fuel cell into a fuel cell component, and / or the battery can be a separate component connected to the fuel cell by an electrical transfer device. The advantage of providing an integrated system is that the system can be easier to install and commission without the need to connect multiple components. The advantage of providing a separate fuel cell and a separate battery is that the system can be modular and more flexible. For example, different applications can require different specifications of battery (capacity, discharge rate, temperature requirements, etc.) and different specifications of battery can be more easily accommodated.

[0035] The battery can be a battery system including multiple individual batteries connected together to form a single battery system.

[0036] In any of the aspects discussed above, the energy generation system can be an integrated system of all of the components discussed, or it can be a system including multiple separate units. For example, the energy generation system can be a single integrated unit in which each claimed component is integrated into the system. The single integrated unit can include a catalytic combustor, a fuel cell, and a battery. The system can include an integrated unit including a fuel cell and a battery, and further including a separate catalytic combustor (i.e., the catalytic combustor is not included in the single integrated unit).

[0037] The energy generation system can include multiple components connected in parallel or in series, for example multiple components in a modular arrangement, which allows for easy installation of systems with different capacities and / or allows for expansion in the future if needed. For example, there can be multiple catalytic combustors connected in parallel or in series. This can also involve multiple components connected in parallel or in series in the presence of a fuel cell and / or a secondary heat source. There can be parallel and / or series connections for inputs and outputs, for example for a heat transfer system outputting heat from a group of interconnected catalytic combustors, or for a fuel system input providing fuel to a group of interconnected combustors and / or fuel cells. The use of parallel and / or series connections can apply to flow paths of heat, for example flow paths of fluids, and / or electrical connections, etc.

[0038] The catalytic burner can be configured to be fluidly connected to a fuel inlet of the fuel mixture and / or fluidly connected to an exhaust. The fuel inlet can be placed outside the insulated container and allow the fuel mixture to enter the catalytic burner. The fuel inlet can be configured to have an inlet for each component of the fuel mixture, or the fuel inlet can be configured to include a single inlet for the fuel mixture. The exhaust can be placed partially or completely outside the insulated container. When the catalytic burner is at a specific temperature, optionally at an initiation temperature, the fuel mixture can be provided to the catalytic burner. When the catalytic burner is below the initiation temperature, the fuel mixture can be provided to the catalytic burner.

[0039] The catalytic burner may comprise a tube. Optionally, the catalytic burner may be formed from a tube. The tube may be formed into a coil, for example, as described above with a coil-shaped flow path. As described above, catalytic material may be present on one or more surfaces extending along the coil (optionally within the coil). The coil shape of the tube of the catalytic burner provides a large surface area for the catalytic burner, which allows for more efficient heat transfer. Another advantage of the coil shape of the tube is that it provides a larger surface area for catalytic combustion, which allows for combustion of a larger amount of the fuel mixture. The coil may extend along the inner surface of the insulated container in both a circumferential and axial direction. That is, the coil may be in a spiral shape, wherein the tube may extend along the inner circumference of the insulated container, and each successive rotation around the circumference of the insulated container advances the coil in the axial direction of the container. The coil may be rotated multiple times along the inner circumference of the insulated container, such that the catalytic burner extends partially along the axial dimension of the insulated container, and optionally along a majority of the axial dimension of the insulated container. The coil may be rotated about a center point in such a manner that each successive coil rotation is the same distance from the center point.

[0040] Where coils are included in a catalytic combustor, the coils may have volume between successive coils such that there is no contact between the coils (e.g., an elongated spring configuration). Providing volume between successive coils has the advantage of providing more heat transfer medium in contact with the catalytic combustor coils. Alternatively, the coils may be formed such that successive coils contact one another (e.g., a compression spring configuration).

[0041] When extended, the length of the coiled tubing may be in the range of 8 to 16 metres, for example in the range of 10 to 14 metres. When extended, the coiled tubing may for example have a length of approximately 12 metres.

[0042] The catalytic burner can be adjacent to the inner wall of the insulated container so that the catalytic burner is closer to the inner wall of the insulated container than the center. Alternatively, the catalytic burner can be away from the inner wall of the insulated container so that the catalytic burner is closer to the center of the insulated container than the inner wall.

[0043] The catalytic burner, the fuel inlet, and the exhaust device can be made of a single component, wherein the catalytic burner, the fuel inlet, and the exhaust device define different areas of the single component. The single component can be a tube, and optionally a pipe. Alternatively, one or more of the catalytic burner, the fuel inlet, and the exhaust device can be made of different materials. For example, the fuel inlet can be made of a polymer and configured to allow easy connection to other components. The catalytic burner, the fuel inlet, and the exhaust device can be connected together by conventional means, for example, by using a clamp, welding, brazing, or other connecting devices.

[0044] The fuel mixture can include a hydrogen-based fluid. A fuel mixture of a hydrogen-based fluid is a cleaner energy source when burned with oxygen because it causes water to become a reaction product. Therefore, this fuel mixture is better for the environment and less harmful to people. Advantageously, the hydrogen of this fuel mixture can be produced using an environmentally friendly or even carbon-free method. For example, hydrogen can be produced by electrolyzing water using zero-carbon electricity. The hydrogen-based fuel mixture can be a fluid that contains some hydrogen, and optionally, it can be a fluid that mainly contains hydrogen. Alternatively, the hydrogen-based fuel mixture can be mainly composed of hydrogen, and optionally it can be completely composed of hydrogen (e.g., pure hydrogen). Another advantage of using a hydrogen-based fuel mixture is that if a fuel cell driven by hydrogen is integrated in an energy generation system, a common fuel mixture for driving a catalytic burner and a fuel cell can be provided. This can simplify the energy generation system.

[0045] The fuel mixture provided to the catalytic burner can include a fuel mixture that is substantially similar or identical to the fuel mixture provided to the fuel cell. For example, the fuel mixture provided to the catalytic burner can include a fuel mixture from the same fuel source (for example, the same container, such as a fuel tank) as the fuel mixture provided to the fuel cell. In some cases, this can be mixed with other ingredients (for example, one or both of the energy efficiency for preheating or optimizing the energy utilization of the entire system and / or the catalytic burner). In some exemplary embodiments, the fuel mixture supplied to the catalytic burner can include a fuel cell fuel mixture and some or all of the fuel cell exhaust gases. Using the same fuel mixture can allow a simplified system, wherein only a fuel source is needed to drive two components (i.e., the catalytic burner and the fuel cell). Substantially similar fuel mixtures can include hydrogen and oxygen, for example, can include a mixture of hydrogen and air.

[0046] The energy generation system can include a single fuel connector for a catalytic burner and a fuel cell. The single fuel connector can provide a single connection point for providing fuel to a fuel cell and a catalytic burner. In the case where the energy generation system includes a plurality of catalytic burners and / or a plurality of fuel cells or a plurality of other components, the single fuel connector can allow the parallel connection or series connection of one or more fuel cells and one or more catalytic burners. Therefore, the single fuel connector can include a manifold system or other fuel distribution systems, for providing fuel to one or more fuel cells and one or more catalytic burners. The fuel can be a composition of a fuel mixture as described below, for example, is intended to the hydrogen-based fluid mixed with an oxygen-containing fluid (for example, air).

[0047] Therefore, in the presence of a fuel cell, advantageously, the fuel cell and the catalytic burner can have a common fuel supply, such as by having a common supply of one component (or all components) of the fuel mixture. One advantage of doing so is that the system can be simplified, requiring only one fuel (optionally hydrogen fuel) connection point. In addition, compared to a system with two or more fuel connectors, providing only a single fuel connector inlet can make the system more reliable and safer, because there are fewer places where errors or failures can cause fuel leaks. Another advantage of using a single fuel connector for multiple components is that a simpler system is obtained, wherein only one connection point is required for the common fuel source. This makes the system more reliable and safer than a system that provides a fuel connector for each component. Another advantage of using a single fuel connector is that the system may only require a single fuel storage component (e.g., a single fuel tank) to operate. There can also be a single fuel supply system, such as using one or more fuel cell and one or more catalytic burners shared by one or more fuel supply pumps and / or one or more manifolds. Advantageously, there can be only one fuel storage component. This means that it may only be necessary to provide, inspect, test, and refill one such component, rather than performing all these operations on two or more fuel storage components. Another advantage of using a single fuel connector is that the number of fluid connections (e.g., pipes) can be minimized. Exemplary systems provide single fluid connections between the fuel storage component and the single fuel connector, the single fuel connector and one or more catalytic burners, and the single fuel connector and one or more fuel cells. This can simplify the system and make the energy generation system more reliable.

[0048] The fuel mixture may include an oxygen-containing fluid, for example it may be a mixture of fuel and an oxygen-containing fluid. The oxygen-containing fluid may be ambient air. Ambient air consists of approximately 21% oxygen. An advantage of using ambient air as the oxygen-containing fluid is that it is readily available. Therefore, there is no need to provide a separate fuel tank containing ambient air. Instead, the ambient air may be provided by the surrounding atmosphere. This may be achieved by using a fan or blower or other means of providing air. Alternatively, the oxygen-containing fluid may be primarily oxygen, such as commercial grade oxygen provided in pressurized cylinders. An advantage of using compressed oxygen is that a smaller amount of nitrogen is provided in the fuel mixture. This may allow the catalytic burner to achieve a higher degree of efficiency and burn at a higher temperature without producing undesirable nitrogen species / pollutants.

[0049] The fuel mixture may include a hydrogen-based fluid and an oxygen-containing fluid. Advantageously, providing a fuel mixture of the hydrogen-based fluid and the oxygen-containing fluid does not require providing specific amounts of the fuel components. This can reduce system complexity.

[0050] The heat transfer medium can be a liquid. The advantage of a liquid heat transfer medium is that heat transfer in a liquid is greater than heat transfer in a solid material. This prevents the formation of hot spots within the medium volume. In addition, the fluid can be provided with a stirring device, which can improve heat distribution within the medium.

[0051] The heat transfer medium can include water. The advantages of using water as the heat transfer medium are that it is readily available and harmless. For example, in the event of a leak or water loss, it is easy to provide additional water to the system. Furthermore, any water that may leak from the system will not harm users or the natural environment surrounding the system. This can result in a more environmentally friendly system. In one example, the heat transfer medium is primarily water, and optionally, the heat transfer medium is entirely water.

[0052] The heat transfer medium may be glycol (i.e., ethylene glycol). Advantageously, ethylene glycol has a lower freezing point than water, so it can be used in applications where the temperature of the heat transfer medium may be lower than the freezing point of water (0°C). In addition, ethylene glycol has a higher boiling point than water, so before it begins to turn into steam, ethylene glycol can be heated to a higher temperature than water. In one example, the heat transfer medium is primarily ethylene glycol, and optionally the heat transfer medium is entirely ethylene glycol. Another advantage of ethylene glycol is that it is relatively environmentally friendly and decomposes in a short time.

[0053] The heat transfer medium can be any mixture of ethylene glycol, ethanol, propylene glycol and water.

[0054] The heat transfer medium can be a mixture of water and ethylene glycol. The advantage of using a water-ethylene glycol mixture is that it offers several benefits compared to using pure water or pure ethylene glycol. For example, using a mixture of the two components can prevent corrosion of certain materials. Another advantage is that the mixture can inhibit the growth of microorganisms or fungi. Furthermore, the mixture can be tailored to provide a balance of freezing temperature, boiling temperature, and specific heat capacity.

[0055] The heat transfer medium can be configured to at least partially surround the catalytic burner, for example, by surrounding the coiled tubing comprising the catalytic burner. Optionally, the heat transfer medium completely surrounds the catalytic burner. Advantageously, the large contact area between the heat transfer medium and the catalytic burner allows more heat to be transferred from the catalytic burner to the heat transfer medium.

[0056] The energy generation system can be configured to control the amount of heat provided to the heat transfer medium by controlling the amount of fuel provided to the catalytic burner. For example, the system can be configured to heat the heat transfer medium to below 100°C and then limit the amount of fuel provided to the catalytic burner to limit the amount of heat generated and transferred to the heat transfer medium. In this way, the temperature of the heat transfer medium does not exceed a threshold temperature. The threshold temperature can be 100°C. The temperature of the heat transfer medium can be monitored to control the operation of the energy generation system. Controlling the operation of the energy generation system can control the temperature of the catalytic burner and / or the catalyst. In different configurations, the threshold temperature can be above 100°C or below 100°C.

[0057] The insulated container may include a heater. The heater may be electrical and configured to generate heat when power is supplied to it. Alternatively, the heater may be powered by another device. The heater may be positioned around or at least proximate to the catalytic burner. As described elsewhere herein, the heater may be within the catalytic burner, for example, within the inlet region of the catalytic burner coil. The heater may be configured to provide preheating to the catalytic burner. An advantage of providing the heater within the insulated container is that the catalytic burner can be brought to a suitably high temperature, with any heat losses being transferred to a heat transfer medium within the insulated container. Another advantage of providing a heater configured to preheat the catalytic burner is that the catalytic burner can be raised to a higher temperature that allows catalytic combustion to proceed. The heater may be a hybrid heater comprising an electric heater and a heat transfer device, such that heat can be provided to preheat the catalytic burner using an electrical device and / or by heat transfer from another source. The other source may be a fuel cell, such as the fuel cell described above, such as the fuel cell of the second aspect. The electric heater may be positioned within the inner shell of the insulated container, or between the inner and outer shells of the insulated container. The electric heater may be a resistance heater or an induction heater. That is, the electric heater may be configured to generate heat through the electrical resistance of a conductor, or the electric heater may be configured to generate heat by applying an electromagnetic field. Optionally, the electromagnetic field is applied to the catalytic burner and / or the insulated container.

[0058] At least some of the heat generated by the fuel cell (which may be waste heat from the perspective of the fuel cell) can be provided to the catalytic burner so that the catalytic burner reaches at least the initiation temperature of catalytic combustion. A heat transfer device can be used to provide the heat generated by the fuel cell to the catalytic burner. The heat transfer device can provide a cooling medium for the fuel cell to the catalytic burner, for example, by transferring heat via a heat transfer medium in an insulated container, in some cases, the heat transfer medium flows through the insulated container and / or the heat transfer device. Alternatively or additionally, the heat transfer device can provide heat exchange between the fuel cell exhaust and the catalytic burner, for example, by transferring heat via a heat transfer medium in an insulated container, in some cases, the heat transfer medium flows through the insulated container and / or the heat transfer device. The heat transfer device may include a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the fuel cell and / or fuel cell assembly, and a fan or blower configured to pass the cooling medium through the heat exchanger. The heat transfer device may include additional valves and / or outlets configured to direct the cooling medium to the catalytic burner and / or other environment. The cooling medium may be ambient air. An advantage of providing an additional valve and / or outlet to the heat transfer arrangement is that the cooling medium can be switched between being supplied to the catalytic burner or to the environment when, for example, it is not desired to supply heat to the catalytic burner.

[0059] Advantageously, the heat generated by the fuel cell is provided to the catalytic combustion system to allow catalytic combustion to be initiated. In the absence of heat generated by the fuel cell, alternative heat needs to be provided to the catalytic combustor to initiate the catalytic combustion reaction. However, this heat may come from non-renewable sources and / or non-zero carbon sources. In addition, some of these other alternative heat sources may be unsafe and / or dangerous. For example, a flame can be applied to the fuel mixture to bring it to the correct temperature, which risks the fuel mixture spontaneously igniting and possibly exploding. Advantageously, the heat generated by the waste heat from the fuel cell may not be enough to cause, for example, spontaneous combustion of hydrogen and oxygen (i.e., combustion in the absence of catalytic material), but is sufficient to initiate (controlled) catalytic combustion of the fuel mixture. For example, the energy generation system can be configured to use at least some of the waste heat in a way that avoids combustion temperatures, or in some cases, the fuel cell may not be able to generate unsafe levels of heat due to its nature, at least in normal use. In addition, in traditional fuel cells, the heat generated by the fuel cell is discharged into the atmosphere, resulting in a lower overall efficiency of the system. When the heat generated by the fuel cell is used to heat the fuel mixture and / or catalyst, more energy is extracted from the fuel cell fuel mixture, increasing the overall efficiency of the fuel cell.

[0060] In some embodiments, the fuel cell exhaust flows into the catalytic burner, for example via a coil flowing through the catalytic burner. This is another option for providing waste heat from the fuel cell to the catalytic burner. The fuel cell exhaust may, for example, be at a temperature of 40°C to 60°C. This can be used to increase the temperature of the gas mixture in the catalytic burner. In addition, flowing the fuel cell exhaust through the catalytic burner can allow any unburned fuel and / or air to be burned within the catalytic burner. In the case of a fuel cell using hydrogen, a small amount of hydrogen may remain in the exhaust, and this hydrogen-rich exhaust can be mixed with the air / oxygen-containing gas supplied to the catalytic burner.

[0061] The heat transfer device may include a catalyst heating heat transfer device. The catalyst heating heat transfer device may be configured to connect the fuel cell and the catalytic burner so that heat is transferred from the fuel cell to the catalytic burner. The catalyst heating heat transfer device may include a pipe or hose connector. The catalyst heating heat transfer device may include a coupling device for connecting and disconnecting the fuel cell and the catalytic burner, which is configured to transfer a cooling medium from the fuel cell to the catalytic burner. The cooling medium may pass through the catalytic burner to increase the temperature of the catalytic burner and / or the temperature of the catalyst. The cooling medium may be air. A mechanical device may be used, optionally using a fan or blower, to push the cooling medium from the fuel cell to the catalytic burner. The cooling medium may be guided from the fuel cell to the inlet of the catalytic burner through a fluid conduit.

[0062] The heat transfer device may include a fuel heating heat transfer device configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell to the fuel mixture of the catalytic burner. By using the fuel heating heat transfer device, at least some of the heat generated by the fuel cell (possibly waste heat) can be provided to the fuel mixture. The heat generated by the fuel cell can be provided to the fuel mixture before the fuel mixture enters the catalytic burner. As described above, in some cases, this can be achieved by mixing the fuel cell exhaust with the gas provided to the catalytic burner. The heat generated by the fuel cell can be used to preheat the fuel mixture directly (e.g., by mixing) or via heat exchange (e.g., in a heat exchanger of the heat transfer device), thereby allowing catalytic combustion to be initiated and proceed. The fuel heating heat transfer device may include a fuel mixture heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from a cooling medium to the fuel mixture. The advantage of this system is that heat is efficiently transferred to the fuel mixture, preheating the fuel mixture and allowing catalytic combustion to proceed. The heat transfer device may be a closed-loop cooling system in which a cooling medium circulates. The cooling medium may be water. Alternatively, the cooling medium may be another suitable fluid.

[0063] The heat transfer device may include a heat recovery heat transfer device. The heat recovery heat transfer device may include a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell to the catalytic burner. The heat recovery heat transfer device may include a catalytic burner heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from a cooling medium to the catalytic burner. The cooling medium may be water. Advantageously, the heat recovery heat transfer device can be disconnected from one or both of the fuel cell and the catalytic burner, thereby allowing the components to be interchangeable (i.e., disconnecting an old fuel cell and connecting a new fuel cell to the catalytic burner).

[0064] The heat transfer device may include only one or any combination of a catalyst heating heat transfer device, a fuel heating heat transfer device and a heat recovery heat transfer device. The above types of heat transfer devices may share common components, such as common pipes, conduits, heat exchangers, blowers, etc. The above types of heat transfer devices may all be independent, with each device having separate components. The heat transfer device may be connected to a secondary heat source, such as a heat pump or another type of heat source as described above. This may allow heat to be transferred from the secondary heat source to an insulated container, and / or may allow heat to be transferred from an insulated container (e.g., provided by a catalytic burner) to a flow path associated with the secondary heat source, such that heat from the insulated container can replace or supplement heat from the secondary heat source by heating a fluid circuit connected to the secondary heat source. This may enable the catalytic burner to serve as a backup (or booster) for the secondary heat source.

[0065] Energy generation systems, with or without fuel cells, can include a heat pump, for example, as a secondary heat source as discussed above. If the energy generation system includes a fuel cell and a heat pump, the insulated container can receive heat from both the fuel cell waste heat and the heat output of the heat pump (e.g., its exhaust heat exchanger). The fuel cell can be used to provide power to the heat pump.

[0066] The fuel cell can be provided with a heat exchanger and / or cooling system that allows the heat generated by the fuel cell to be directed to the atmosphere, the catalytic burner, or a combination of the two. For example, in the event that the catalytic burner is inoperative, the operating fuel cell continues to generate heat, which is then vented to the atmosphere to maintain the fuel cell at an acceptable temperature. If the catalytic burner subsequently requires some heat, the heat exchanger and / or cooling system is configured to output heat to provide some or all of the heat generated by the fuel cell to the catalytic burner via any of the aforementioned heat transfer devices.

[0067] Greater efficiency of the catalytic combustor can be achieved where the heat generated by the fuel cell is provided to the fuel mixture before the fuel mixture enters the catalytic combustor. In a conventional catalytic combustor, a cold fuel mixture is provided to the catalyst and then absorbs some heat from the catalyst before it can combust. The heat absorbed by the cold fuel cannot be used to do work (i.e. used as heating). When the fuel mixture is provided to the catalytic combustor at a higher temperature (i.e. higher than the cold fuel mixture), the fuel mixture does not need to absorb any heat from the catalytic combustor, or at least not as much heat, to combust. This will increase the efficiency of the catalytic combustor.

[0068] The energy generation system can include a plurality of sensors to monitor and measure the condition of the system. A temperature sensor can be provided in the system to monitor and control the operation of the system. A temperature sensor can be provided in the catalytic combustor to measure and / or control the temperature of the catalytic combustor. The temperature sensor can be used to detect when the catalytic combustor reaches the catalytic combustion initiation temperature. Advantageously, the sensor data can be used to control the operation of the system, for example, the system can detect when the initiation temperature is reached and when the preheating of the system is complete. This can allow the system to stop providing heat to the catalytic combustor and / or start providing the fuel mixture to the catalytic combustor.

[0069] The insulated vessel can be a pressure vessel. A pressure vessel is a vessel configured to contain a fluid at a pressure greater than the ambient pressure. Advantageously, a pressure vessel can generate and / or store more energy. The insulated vessel can be a sealed vessel. The insulated vessel can be a sealed vessel containing a heat transfer medium. The insulated vessel can be configured to retain most, optionally all, of the heat transfer medium within the insulated vessel with minimal loss to the environment. The insulated vessel can comprise at least one inlet. The at least one inlet can also function as an outlet. The insulated vessel can comprise a single inlet to allow the flow of heat transfer medium into the insulated vessel and a single outlet to allow the flow of heat transfer medium out of the insulated vessel. The at least one inlet can be a thermostatic mixing valve. An advantage of using a thermostatic mixing valve is that the temperature of the heat transfer medium can be better controlled. The at least one inlet can be fluidly connected to a component configured to extend through the insulated vessel and configured to direct the inlet heat transfer medium to the vicinity of the bottom of the insulated vessel. Advantageously, providing the heat transfer medium in the vicinity of the bottom of the insulated vessel improves the efficiency of the system and / or improves the heat exchange with the heat transfer medium.

[0070] The insulated vessel can comprise a safety valve, optionally a pressure valve. The safety valve can be configured to prevent the pressure inside the vessel from exceeding a certain threshold. An advantage of this is that the system operates safely.

[0071] An insulated container may include an expansion device configured to accommodate thermal expansion of a medium within the insulated container. The expansion device may be integrated into the insulated container or may be provided separately. The expansion device may include an expansion chamber. The expansion device may include a diaphragm configured to deflect from a relaxed position to a pressurized position in response to an increase in pressure within the insulated container.

[0072] The inner shell can be configured to provide enhanced resistance to corrosion or degradation of the particular material within the insulated container. This resistance can be increased by conventional methods, such as alloying the metal with added elements, providing a layer of corrosion-resistant material (e.g., galvanizing or case hardening). Advantageously, this can extend the life of the inner shell. The inner shell can be made of a high-grade alloy, optionally stainless steel.

[0073] The inner shell can include two dished ends. The dished end is an end cap that can be welded to the main body to form a pressure vessel. The dished end can include a straight flange height, a knuckle and a crown. The dished end can be a deep dished end so that the straight flange height is significantly greater than commercial dished ends. The advantage of using two deep dished ends to construct a container (compared to using two dished ends and a cylindrical body) is that only one joint is required to form the container (compared to the traditional two joints). The joint is formed between the straight flanges of the two deep dished ends. The advantage of this is that the fewer the number of joints, the more reliable the container (i.e., the fewer failure points). In addition, deep dished end containers are easier to manufacture in terms of the number of joints required. The joint between the two deep dished ends can be formed by welding or bonding.

[0074] The dished end of the inner shell can be made of metal, and optionally made of steel or aluminum. The dished end can be made of stainless steel. The dished end can be manufactured by hot forming, cold forming, deep drawing, spinning, forming the crown and petals, dishing or flanging. Each dished end can be manufactured by a different method, or optionally, all dished ends can be manufactured by the same method. In certain applications, each manufacturing method can provide benefits to the final container. For example, one manufacturing method can provide a container that is resistant to mechanical damage, while another method can provide a container that is resistant to chemical damage.

[0075] The deep dished end can be formed by deep drawing to provide a straight flange length extending to half the length of the container to be formed. The deep dished end can have a fixed diameter along the straight flange. The deep dished end can be formed from a standard container dished end (i.e., an off-the-shelf end cap for a container). The deep dished end can be formed by applying force and / or heat to a standard end cap.

[0076] The dished end can have any of the following shapes: flat, conical, standard, quasi-spherical, semi-elliptical, and elliptical. The thickness of the dished end can range from 0.2 mm to 8 mm. The thickness of the dished end may depend on the pressure of the system. For example, a system designed to withstand higher pressures can include a dished end with a greater thickness. A system designed to withstand lower pressures can include a dished end with a smaller thickness. In some applications, the thickness can be less than 0.2 mm or greater than 8 mm.

[0077] The diameter of the dished end and / or container can range from 0.2m to 8m. The diameter of the dished end and / or container can be determined by the application of the system. For example, the diameter can range from 350mm to 500mm. The advantage of using a diameter within this range is that the system can be integrated into a domestic environment. The diameter can range from 500mm to 2500mm, and optionally, the diameter can be 1600mm or approximately 1600mm. The advantage of using a diameter within this range and optionally this value is that the system can be well integrated into an industrial environment. For example, a diameter of approximately 1600mm can provide an effective combination of system cost, system size, and energy production. In some specialized industrial applications, the diameter may be larger than 1600mm. For example, where container diameters of 2000mm to 8000mm are common, energy generation systems in this size range can be well integrated. A smaller diameter makes the tank compact and can be placed in areas with limited space. In situations where large amounts of heat need to be transferred, a larger diameter container is preferred. Therefore, a larger diameter can achieve a better volume-to-surface area ratio.

[0078] The support (or spacer) may comprise cellulose fibers and optionally comprise at least one of cardboard, fiberboard, bamboo, and polymers. The support may comprise other insulating materials (i.e., materials with low thermal conductivity), such as polymers, foams, gels. The support may have insulating properties, i.e., have relatively low thermal conductivity. The support may have lower thermal conductivity than the inner shell and / or outer shell. For example, the support may have a 1Wm -1 K -1 Or less thermal conductivity. Optionally, the support may have 0.1Wm -1 K -1 or less, and even more optionally, 0.05 Wm -1 K -1 or less. The support member may be perforated, allowing a vacuum to be applied to the perforated space. That is, the support member may be discontinuous so that it does not contact the inner shell over its entire surface area. Advantageously, this provides a smaller thermal contact area in which heat can be transferred from the inner shell to the support member (spacer), and optionally further to the atmosphere.

[0079] The support member may comprise more than one support member. The support member may comprise a plurality of discontinuous support members. That is, the support member may comprise two, three or four separate portions of support material, all of which are surrounded by the support member.

[0080] Support members can be placed between the inner and outer shells to prevent deformation of the inner and / or outer shells due to the vacuum. In other words, applying a vacuum between the inner and outer shells exerts forces that cause the inner and outer shell materials to deform. In conventional vacuum vessels, the inner and outer shells are manufactured to withstand vacuum forces, which requires thicker walls and / or other support structures. The use of support members advantageously reduces the amount of material required to form the inner and / or outer shells. Furthermore, in other conventional vacuum vessels, strong support members made of metal may be used to provide structural strength to the vessel. However, these metal support members provide good thermal conductivity between the outer shell and the inner and outer shells, increasing heat loss. Advantageously, the use of support materials as described above reduces and / or eliminates the need for support members that increase heat loss, thereby reducing heat loss. The outer shell can be manufactured / formed in a similar manner to the inner shell. For example, the outer shell can be formed by connecting two dished ends, particularly two deep dished ends. The two deep dished ends of the outer shell can be located at either end of the inner shell, surrounding the inner shell and support members, and then connected together to form the outer shell. The inner shell and the outer shell may be separated from each other by a distance, and the distance may be defined by the support.

[0081] Supports can be placed around the middle area of ​​the container to provide support for the areas that are most likely to deform under vacuum. The middle of the container, that is, the area where the two deep dished ends are connected together, is the area of ​​the shell that is subjected to stress deformation and / or bending. The supports can be placed along the entire circumference of the middle body. The supports can be placed in specific areas around the middle body, such as two opposite ends of the middle body cross-section (i.e., two opposite ends of the main body). The supports can be placed in more than two positions, such as in three, four, five positions, etc. The supports can be evenly arranged around the circumference (for example, if the supports are placed in five positions, they can be separated by about 72 degrees around the circumference of the inner shell).

[0082] The thermal insulation container may be a spherical container. The spherical thermal insulation container may include a spherical inner shell and a spherical outer shell.

[0083] The housing made of metal may include a surface layer. The surface layer may be a polymer. The surface layer may be configured to protect the housing from damage and degradation and / or provide a further layer of thermal insulation.

[0084] The housing can be provided with a skin, for example to provide protection and / or additional insulation. The skin can include a thermal insulation layer. The skin can be made of a thermally insulating material (e.g. a polymer, and optionally neoprene). Using a polymer skin has the advantage of providing light weight and inexpensive materials. In addition, a housing made of a polymer can have higher thermal insulation properties. Another advantage of using a skin provided on the surface of the housing is that it provides protection for the housing. The housing can be protected from mechanical or chemical damage by the skin.

[0085] The insulated container can include a base. The base can be attached to the inner shell or the outer shell. The base allows the insulated container to stand on a flat surface or be attached to a surface and keep the insulated container stable.

[0086] The insulated container may include a medium inlet / outlet. The medium inlet / outlet allows a heat transfer medium to be introduced into the interior of the insulated container. The introduced heat transfer medium may be cold heat transfer medium. The medium inlet / outlet may allow warm or hot heat transfer medium to be removed from the insulated container as needed.

[0087] The container as described above is itself considered to be novel and inventive. Another aspect of the invention is a container comprising a first shell, wherein the first shell is made by connecting two deep dished ends together. The container may include any of the optional features discussed above with respect to the insulated container of the first or second aspects.

[0088] The sensor can be used to monitor and / or control the amount of the fuel mixture provided to the catalytic burner. The energy generation system can include a suitable control system to perform this monitoring / control function and other control functions of the system, such as those discussed below. Advantageously, the rate of catalytic combustion can be controlled by providing different amounts of fuel mixture to the catalytic burner. The system can increase the amount of the fuel mixture provided to the catalytic burner to increase the rate of catalytic combustion and increase the heat generation rate. The system can reduce the amount of the fuel mixture provided to the catalytic burner to reduce the rate of the catalytic reaction and reduce the heat generation rate. Another advantage of controlling the reaction rate is that optimal heat generation can be obtained. This optimal heat generation can be determined by the life of the system (i.e., limiting the damage to components caused by long-term heat exposure) and / or the heat required in the system.

[0089] In some configurations, the energy generation system can be configured to provide an increased heat generation rate in the catalytic combustor, allowing the heat transfer medium to reach a desired temperature more quickly. In this configuration, the fuel mixture can be provided to the catalytic combustor at an increased rate, which may result in an increase in the temperature of the catalytic combustor. By varying the composition of the catalyst, the catalyst can be configured to withstand higher temperatures.

[0090] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of operating an energy generation system for generating heat is provided. The method includes generating heat using a catalytic burner of the system; and transferring the generated heat to an insulated container, wherein the insulated container surrounds the catalytic burner and is a vacuum insulated container.

[0091] The method may include operating the energy generation system of the first aspect, optionally including any or all of the optional features of the first aspect. The method may include providing the fuel mixture to a catalytic burner. The method may include preheating the catalytic burner. Preheating may include providing heat to the catalytic burner, optionally wherein the heat is waste heat.

[0092] According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating an energy generation system for generating heat and / or electricity. The method includes generating heat with a catalytic burner of the system; transferring the generated heat to an insulated container, wherein the insulated container surrounds the catalytic burner; and operating a fuel cell of the system, wherein waste heat generated by the fuel cell is provided to the catalytic burner and / or the insulated container; wherein the catalytic burner includes a catalytic coil including a coiled fluid flow path for flowing a fuel mixture and a catalytic surface extending along at least a portion of the coiled fluid flow path.

[0093] The method may include providing a fuel mixture to a catalytic combustor and combusting the fuel mixture via catalytic combustion. The method may include generating heat in the catalytic combustor and transferring the heat to a heat transfer medium in an insulated container. The method may include transferring the heat from the heat transfer medium to an exterior of the insulated container.

[0094] The method may include operating the energy generation system of the second aspect, optionally, the energy generation system having any or all of the optional features of the second aspect above. The method may include providing a fuel mixture to a catalytic burner, optionally, providing the fuel mixture to the catalytic burner so that the fuel mixture flows through a coiled fluid flow path. The method may include generating catalytic combustion of the fuel mixture in the coiled fluid flow path. The method may include providing waste heat generated by a fuel cell to the catalytic burner to preheat the catalytic burner, for example via heat exchange or by mixing fuel cell exhaust into a fluid flowing through the catalytic burner.

[0095] The method may include providing a fuel mixture to a catalytic combustor and combusting the fuel mixture via catalytic combustion. The method may include generating heat in the catalytic combustor and transferring the heat to a heat transfer medium in an insulated container. The method may include transferring the heat from the heat transfer medium to an exterior of the insulated container.

[0096] The method may include providing fuel to a fuel cell to generate electricity. The fuel cell may generate heat. The heat generated by the fuel cell may be transferred to a catalytic combustor and / or an insulated container. The heat generated by the fuel cell may be used to preheat the catalytic combustor to a catalytic initiation temperature or above. Preheating may include providing heat to the fuel mixture before it enters the catalytic combustor, and / or providing heat to the catalytic combustor, and / or providing heat to the medium in the container.

[0097] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing the energy generation system of the first aspect. The method comprises providing a catalytic burner and an insulating container, wherein the insulating container surrounds the catalytic burner, and wherein the insulating container is a vacuum insulating container.

[0098] The method may include providing any or all of the above optional features for the energy generation system of the first aspect. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing the energy generation system of the second aspect is provided. The method includes providing a catalytic burner, an insulated container, and a fuel cell, wherein the insulated container surrounds the catalytic burner, wherein waste heat from the fuel cell can be provided to the catalytic burner and / or the insulated container, and wherein the catalytic burner includes a catalytic coil, the catalytic coil including a coiled fluid flow path for flow of the fuel mixture and a catalytic surface extending along at least a portion of the coiled fluid flow path.

[0099] The method may comprise providing the energy generation system of the second aspect with any or all of the above optional features.

[0100] Obviously, the optional features discussed above may be combined together where reasonable, and the optional system features discussed with respect to the first aspect or the second aspect may have corresponding methods for operating these features.

[0101] The energy generation system described above can be integrated with other industrial processes that generate heat, where the heat or waste heat from the industrial process is used to preheat the catalytic burner.

[0102] The method may comprise inserting a mesh catalyst into a tube of a catalytic burner.The method may comprise applying a catalytic surface to the interior of a tube of a catalytic burner.

[0103] The method may include placing a catalytic combustor within the vessel.

[0104] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a container is provided, comprising the steps of forming a first deep dished end portion, forming a second deep dished end portion, and connecting the first deep dished end portion and the second deep dished end portion at a straight flange of each deep dished end portion to form a shell.

[0105] The method may include the steps of providing a support member around the shell; providing a second pair of deep dished ends; placing the second pair of deep dished ends around the shell and the support member; and connecting the second pair of deep dished ends to form a second shell, wherein the first shell is an inner shell and the second shell is an outer shell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0106] Certain embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0107] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an energy generation system;

[0108] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a fuel cell assembly;

[0109] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of an energy generation system;

[0110] Figure 4 Shown Figure 3 Exploded view of the system;

[0111] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of a mesh catalyst;

[0112] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a catalytic combustor having a mesh catalyst;

[0113] Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of a catalytic combustor having a surface catalyst; and

[0114] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a deep dished end is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0115] Figure 1 An energy generation system 1 for providing heat and electricity is shown. The energy generation system 1 includes a catalytic combustor 40, a fuel cell assembly 4, and a hydrogen source 6. The fuel cell assembly 4 is connected to the hydrogen source 6 and an oxygen source 8. The oxygen source 8 is typically ambient air containing oxygen. The catalytic combustor 40 is connected to the hydrogen source 6 and an oxygen source 14. The oxygen source 14 is typically ambient air containing oxygen. The fuel cell assembly 4 is connected to the catalytic combustor 40 via a heat transfer device 12. The catalytic combustor 40 is configured to transfer heat via a heat transfer device 16 to provide heat for use by a heat load (e.g., a heating system for a building or some other heat load).

[0116] In some embodiments, the energy generation system 1 further includes a secondary heat source 100, such as a heat pump system 100. The heat pump system 100 is configured to supply heat to a heat load 102 (e.g., a building's heating system or some other heat load). This can be the same heat load provided by the catalytic burner 40. The heat pump system 100 receives electricity via an electrical power supply system 104. If desired, the electrical power supply system 104 can include electricity generated by the fuel cell assembly 4, depending on the availability of external electrical energy and the cost and efficiency of the overall system. Electricity can also be provided by locally available renewable energy sources (e.g., wind or solar energy). In the case of variable renewable energy production, the fuel cell plays a role in ensuring a stable supply. The heat pump system 100 can be connected to the catalytic burner 40 via a heat input / output connection 106 so that the heat pump system 100 can receive heat from the catalytic burner 40. In this way, heat from the catalytic burner 40 can supplement or replace heat from the heat pump system 100, for example, to ensure sufficient heat in the event of a reduction in electricity supply without requiring significant changes to the infrastructure of the heat pump system 100. Instead, the heat accumulator of the heat pump system 100 can be incorporated into the catalytic burner 40, for example as an insulated container thereof, such as the insulated container 32 described below. In addition, the heat pump system 100 can provide heat to the catalytic burner 40, for example for preheating or as a supplemental heat source for the heat load 16 of the catalytic burner 40.

[0117] Figure 2 A fuel cell assembly 4 is shown. The fuel cell assembly 4 includes a controller 20, a fuel cell 22, and a cooling system 24. The fuel cell 22 is configured to generate electricity using a fuel mixture. The fuel cell 22 is connected to a battery 26 via an electrical transmission device 10. The battery 26 can be integrated into the fuel cell assembly 4, or as shown in FIG. Figure 2 Shown is an independent battery 26 connected to the fuel cell assembly 4. The cooling system 24 is configured to exchange heat between the fuel cell 22 and / or the fuel cell assembly 4 and the external environment. The cooling system 24 is connected to the external environment via the heat transfer device 12. Figure 2 The cooling system 24 includes a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the fuel cell and a fan for blowing air over the heat exchanger surface. In a conventional fuel cell assembly 4, the external environment is ambient air. Figure 1 As discussed, the external environment of the energy generation system 1 is the catalytic combustor 40 .

[0118] The controller 20 of the fuel cell assembly 4 is configured to control the operation of the fuel cell assembly 4, the fuel cell 22, the cooling system 24, and any other secondary components of the fuel cell assembly 4. The controller 20 may include an interface through which an operator interacts with the fuel cell assembly 4. The controller 20 controls the operation of the fan included in the cooling system 24 and controls the amount of air provided through the heat exchanger. In a system in which the fuel cell assembly 4 and the catalytic combustor 40 are integrated, the controller 20 may control the operation of the catalytic combustor 40 and control the supply of fuel to the catalytic combustor 40.

[0119] During operation of the fuel cell 22, hydrogen from the hydrogen source 6 and oxygen from the oxygen source 8 are converted into electrical energy in the fuel cell 22, which is then transmitted to the battery 26 via the electrical transmission means 10 (e.g., a cable). The fuel cell 22 also generates heat, which is typically discharged to the surrounding air for cooling purposes. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the embodiment, the heat generated by the fuel cell assembly 4 is transferred to the catalytic combustor 40 via the cooling system 24 and the heat transfer device 12.

[0120] The heat transfer device 12 includes a flexible hose that fluidly connects the cooling system 24 and the catalytic burner 40. During the cooling process of the fuel cells 22 in the fuel cell assembly 4, a fan blows ambient air through the heat exchanger of the cooling system 24. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the fuel cells to the air, lowering the temperature of the fuel cells and raising the temperature of the air. At least some of the air is directed to the heat transfer device 12 and then passes through the heat transfer device 12 to the catalytic burner 40.

[0121] Figure 3 A view of a portion of an energy generation system 1 having a catalytic burner 40 is shown. The energy generation system 1 includes a container 32 that is an insulated container, a fuel inlet 34, a media inlet / outlet 36, an exhaust device 38, the catalytic burner 40, and a base 42. The fuel inlet 34 is configured to receive a fuel mixture and is fluidly connected to the catalytic burner 40. The catalytic burner 40 defines a volume in which a catalytic reaction occurs and is fluidly connected to the exhaust device 38. The catalytic burner 40 includes a catalyst that promotes the catalytic reaction of the fuel mixture. The media inlet / outlet 36 is fluidly connected to the interior volume of the container 32 and allows a fluid (e.g., water) that serves as a heat transfer medium to enter the container 32. The base 42 is connected to the exterior of the container 32 and stabilizes the container 32 during on-site installation.

[0122] exist Figure 3In the system, the catalytic burner 40 is a tube that takes the form of a spiral within the vessel 32. The spiral catalytic burner 40 is configured to provide a large surface area between the catalytic burner 40 spiral and the heat transfer medium. Once introduced into the vessel 32, the heat transfer medium surrounds the catalytic burner 40. The catalytic burner 40 and the exhaust 38 are formed from a single tube. The fuel inlet 34 is a separate device that is connected to the piping and fluidly connected to the catalytic burner 40.

[0123] Before catalytic combustion of the fuel mixture can occur in the catalytic burner 40, the catalytic burner 40 is preheated to an initiation temperature or above. Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the energy generation system of FIG. 4 , preheating of the catalytic combustor 40 includes transferring heat generated by the fuel cell 22 to the catalytic combustor 40. Air provided through the heat exchanger is directed through the heat transfer device 12 via the fuel inlet 34 to the catalytic combustor 40. The air at the increased temperature flows through the catalytic combustor 40 and exits the catalytic combustor 40 through the exhaust 38. As the air flows through the catalytic combustor 40, it transfers heat to the catalytic combustor 40 and the catalyst, raising the temperature of the catalytic combustor 40 and the catalyst to at least an ignition temperature for preheating the catalytic combustor 40. Once the catalytic combustor 40 and the catalyst are at least at the ignition temperature, the air flow is reduced and the fuel mixture is provided to the catalytic combustor 40.

[0124] In an alternative arrangement or as an additional feature, a heater may be provided in the inlet region of the coil of the catalytic burner 40. This heater may be used to preheat the fluid entering the catalytic burner, for example, to preheat fuel to help initiate the catalytic combustion process in the downstream portion of the catalytic burner. This may enhance the above-mentioned preheating, or it may be possible to avoid preheating. The heater may include an electric heating element and / or a heat exchanger for receiving heat via a heat exchange fluid heated elsewhere. The heat exchange fluid for the heater may be heated by waste heat from the fuel cell 22. The heater may take the form of a mesh extending across the cross section of the coil in the inlet region of the catalytic burner 40.

[0125] During system operation, a fuel mixture containing hydrogen and oxygen is introduced into the catalytic burner 40 via the fuel inlet 34. Due to the preheating operation, the catalytic burner 40 is at a high temperature. The fuel mixture passes through the pipes of the catalytic burner 40 and contacts the catalyst within the catalytic burner 40. The fuel mixture undergoes catalytic combustion within the catalytic burner 40, releasing heat. The products of the catalytic combustion pass through the catalytic burner 40 to the exhaust 38 and are discharged from the catalytic burner 40 and the system. The products of the catalytic combustion pass through the entire coil of the catalytic burner 40. The heat released by the catalytic combustion is transferred from the catalytic burner 40 to the heat transfer medium, raising the temperature of the heat transfer medium. The coil is configured to capture as much heat as possible from the products of the catalytic combustion so that the products of the catalytic combustion discharged through the exhaust 38 are at a relatively low temperature. A heat transfer medium (e.g., water, ethylene glycol, a mixture of the two, or another suitable fluid) is introduced into the system through the medium inlet / outlet 36. After the temperature of the heat transfer medium is increased, the heat transfer medium is removed from the system via the medium inlet / outlet 36. In some applications, the media inlet / outlet 36 is a thermostatic mixing valve.

[0126] Figure 4 Shown Figure 2 1 is an exploded view of the system, illustrating components of the vessel 32. The vessel 32 includes an inner shell 44, a support material 46, and an outer shell 48. The inner shell 44 defines a volume for storing a heat transfer medium (e.g., water). The inner shell 44 is surrounded by the support material 46, which in turn supports the outer shell 48, which surrounds the inner shell 44 and the support material 46. The space between the inner shell 44 and the outer shell 48 defines a volume, wherein the support material 46 is disposed within the volume and a vacuum is formed within the volume. The support material 46 prevents the outer shell 48 from directly contacting the inner shell 44. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The container 32 is provided with a skin 50 that protects the outer shell 48 from damage. For example, the skin 50 is made of neoprene and protects the outer shell 48 from mechanical and chemical damage. The skin is also made of one or more insulating materials, thereby providing another layer of insulation between the heat transfer medium and the system's surrounding environment.

[0127] During system operation, inner shell 44 and outer shell 48 define a volume therebetween, and a vacuum is applied to the volume. The vacuum reduces the amount of heat transferred between inner shell 44 and outer shell 48, which reduces the amount of heat transferred to the system's surroundings (e.g., ambient air). The reduced heat transfer allows the system and the heat transfer medium disposed within the system to remain at elevated temperatures longer and retain more thermal energy.

[0128] Manufacturing the system includes forming an inner shell 44, placing a support material 46 around the inner shell 44, and placing an outer shell 48 around the inner shell 44 and the support material 46. A vacuum is then applied to the volume between the inner shell 44 and the outer shell 48. Applying a vacuum to this volume removes most of the air molecules in this volume. The support material 46 is provided to maintain the spacing between the inner shell 44 and the outer shell 48 and prevent the outer shell 48 from contacting the inner shell 44 or deforming due to the pressure applied by the vacuum. The support material 46 (e.g., cardboard, fiberboard, bamboo, polymer, etc.) has a low heat transfer coefficient to reduce the amount of heat transferred between the inner shell 44 and the outer shell 48 through the support material 46. The inner shell 44 and the outer shell 48 are made of metal.

[0129] Figure 3 and Figure 4 Also shown is a heater 52 disposed within the volume of the container 32 and within the volume of the inner shell 44. The heater 52 is positioned around the catalytic burner 40 and is configured to increase the temperature of the catalytic burner 40. The heater 52 is used to preheat the catalytic burner 40 to a catalytic initiation temperature without other preheating sources (e.g., fuel cell heat). The heater 52 is electrically powered.

[0130] In a different Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the configuration shown, the heater 52 can be configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell assembly 4 to the catalytic combustor 40. The heater 52 can take the form of a heat exchanger. Optionally, the heater 52 can be a hybrid heater that can transfer heat from the fuel cell to the catalytic combustor for preheating, as well as generate heat via an electrical device to preheat the catalytic combustor 40.

[0131] During the system's startup operation, heat is generated from Figure 2 The fuel cell assembly 4 is transferred to the catalytic combustor 40. Heat is transferred using a heat exchanger located in the container 32 at the location of the heater 52. The transferred heat increases the temperature of the catalytic combustor 40 and the associated catalyst, preheating the catalytic combustor 40 and allowing the catalytic reaction to initiate and proceed. The heat exchanger can also be used to recover heat from the fuel cell to improve the efficiency of the catalytic combustor 40.

[0132] Figure 5 A catalytic mesh 54 is shown for catalytic combustion of the fuel mixture. The catalytic mesh 54 is disposed within the tube of the catalytic combustor 40. The catalytic mesh 54 takes the form of an elongated, perforated strip wound in a spiral shape. The spiral shape of the catalytic mesh 54 allows it to be disposed within the tube of the catalytic combustor 40. A catalyst is provided on the surface of the catalytic mesh 54. The catalyst is carbon-supported platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and / or rhodium (Rh).

[0133] Figure 6 Shown with Figure 5FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a catalytic burner 40 including a catalytic mesh 54. The catalytic burner 40 includes a pipe 58 and a catalytic mesh 54. The spiral catalytic mesh 54 is disposed within the pipe 58 of the catalytic burner 40. Figure 6 The Catalytic Network 54 is about Figure 5 The catalytic mesh 54 is described.

[0134] During operation of the catalytic combustor 40, the fuel mixture passes through the interior of the conduit 58 and contacts the catalytic mesh 54. Some of the fuel mixture in contact with the catalytic mesh 54 undergoes catalytic combustion, which releases heat. The heat is transferred to the conduit 58 of the catalytic combustor 40 and then to the heat transfer medium in contact with the exterior of the conduit 58 of the catalytic combustor 40.

[0135] Figure 7 Shown Figure 3 and Figure 4 An alternative configuration of the catalytic burner 40 is provided, wherein the catalytic mesh 54 is removed from the catalytic burner 40 and wherein the surface catalyst 66 is disposed inside the catalytic burner 40. The catalytic burner 62 includes a pipe 64 and a surface catalyst 66. The surface catalyst 66 is disposed on the inner surface of the pipe 64. The surface catalyst 66 is configured to allow a catalytic reaction of the fuel mixture. It is contemplated that the catalytic burner 40 as described above also includes Figure 6 Catalytic mesh 54 and Figure 7 Surface catalyst 66.

[0136] During operation of the catalytic combustor 62, the fuel mixture passes through the interior of the tube 64 and contacts the surface catalyst 66. Some of the fuel mixture in contact with the surface catalyst 66 undergoes catalytic combustion, releasing heat. The heat is transferred to the tube 64 of the catalytic combustor 62 and then to the heat transfer medium in contact with the exterior of the tube 64 of the catalytic combustor 62.

[0137] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a first deep dished end 70 and a second deep dished end 72 is shown. The first deep dished end 70 includes a crown 74, a knuckle 76, and a straight flange 78. The knuckle 76 defines the portion of the first deep dished end 70 between the crown 74 and the straight flange 78. In a deep dished end, the straight flange 78 has a longer length than in a typical dished end, so that the combination of the first deep dished end 70 and the second deep dished end 72 defines a container. Therefore, the length of the straight flange 78 is approximately half the length of the container to be constructed. For example, a 4-meter-long container is formed by producing two deep dished ends, and its straight flange length is approximately 2 meters (for simplicity, the height of the knuckle and the crown is ignored).

[0138] exist Figure 8In the deep dished end shown, the knuckle 76 has a smaller radius of curvature than the crown 74. However, deep dished ends can also be formed in which the knuckle 76 has a larger radius of curvature than the crown 74, or in which one or both of the knuckle 76 and the crown 74 are not actually curved / rounded. For example, a deep dished end can be formed that includes a straight flange 78 and a tapered end.

Claims

1. An energy generation system comprising: a catalytic burner for generating heat energy; an insulated container, wherein the insulated container surrounds the catalytic combustor; and a fuel cell, wherein waste heat from the fuel cell may be provided to the catalytic combustor and / or the insulated container; The catalytic burner includes a catalytic coil, wherein the catalytic coil includes a coil-shaped fluid flow path for flowing a fuel mixture and a catalytic surface extending along at least a portion of the coil-shaped fluid flow path.

2. The energy generation system according to claim 1, wherein: The fuel cell includes a battery configured to store electrical energy generated by the fuel cell; and The battery comprises an integrated battery integrated with the fuel cell in a fuel cell assembly and / or the battery comprises a stand-alone battery connected to the fuel cell.

3. An energy generation system according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a heat transfer device configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell to the catalytic burner.

4. The energy generation system of claim 3, wherein the heat transfer device comprises at least one of the following: a fuel cell heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell to a cooling medium; a catalyst heating heat transfer device configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell to an interior of the catalytic combustor; a fuel heating heat transfer device configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell to the fuel mixture of the catalytic combustor; and / or A heat recovery heat transfer device is configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell to the catalytic combustor.

5. The energy generation system according to claim 4, wherein the catalyst heating heat transfer device comprises: Fuel cell heat exchangers; a blower configured to blow a cooling medium through the fuel cell heat exchanger so that heat is transferred from the fuel cell heat exchanger to the cooling medium; and A fluid channel is configured to transfer a cooling fluid from the fuel cell heat exchanger to a catalytic combustor such that heat is transferred from the cooling fluid to the catalytic combustor.

6. An energy generation system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fuel mixture provided to the catalytic burner comprises: Hydrogen-based fluids; and An oxygen-based fluid, wherein optionally, the oxygen-based fluid is ambient air.

7. The energy generation system of claim 6, wherein the fuel mixture provided to the catalytic combustor is similar to the fuel mixture provided to the fuel cell.

8. The energy generation system of any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the energy generation system comprises a single fuel connection configured to provide the fuel mixture to the fuel cell and the catalytic burner.

9. An energy generation system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulated container is a vacuum insulated container.

10. An energy generation system comprising: a catalytic burner for generating heat energy; and An insulated container, wherein the insulated container surrounds the catalytic combustor, and the insulated container is a vacuum insulated container.

11. The energy generation system of claim 10, wherein the catalytic burner comprises a catalytic coil including a coiled fluid flow path for flow of the fuel mixture and a catalytic surface extending along at least a portion of the coiled fluid flow path.

12. An energy generation system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The catalytic burner includes a catalyst; and The catalyst is in the form of a catalytic material disposed on a surface, the surface being configured to produce a catalytic reaction in a catalytic combustor.

13. The energy generation system of claim 12, wherein the catalytic material comprises any one of platinum, palladium and / or rhodium, and a support material.

14. An energy generation system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: A catalytic mesh, wherein the catalytic mesh includes strips formed in a spiral shape or a spring shape, and the catalyst is provided on a surface of the catalytic mesh.

15. An energy generation system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: A surface catalyst, wherein the surface catalyst is disposed on the inner surface of the catalytic combustor, and a catalyst is disposed on the surface catalyst.

16. An energy generation system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: a fuel inlet fluidly connected to the catalytic combustor; and / or An exhaust device is fluidly connected to the catalytic combustor and is configured to exhaust products of the catalytic combustion outside the energy generation system.

17. The energy generation system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermally insulated container comprises: inner shell; an outer shell, wherein the outer shell is disposed around the inner shell; and Support members; The support member is arranged between the inner shell and the outer shell.

18. An energy generation system according to claim 17, when dependent on any one of claims 9 to 16, wherein the insulating container comprises a volume between the inner shell and the outer shell, and wherein a vacuum is applied to the volume to provide vacuum insulation.

19. An energy generation system according to any one of claims 17 or 18, wherein the support comprises cellulose fibers, and optionally, The support member comprises at least one of cardboard, fiberboard, bamboo and polymer.

20. An energy generation system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The thermally insulated container includes a liquid heat transfer medium, wherein the heat transfer medium is configured to receive heat generated by the catalytic combustor.

21. The energy generation system of claim 20, wherein the heat transfer medium is a liquid, and wherein the heat transfer medium comprises at least one of water, ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, ethanol, propylene glycol, or mixtures thereof.

22. An energy generating system according to any one of claims 20 or 21, wherein the insulating container includes a medium inlet and / or a medium outlet, and the medium inlet and / or the medium outlet are configured to allow the heat transfer medium to enter and leave the insulating container.

23. An energy generation system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulated container comprises a shell made of two deep dished ends, wherein the two deep dished ends are connected together, and optionally, When dependent on claim 17, wherein said inner shell and / or said outer shell is made from two deep dished ends.

24. A method of operating an energy generation system according to any preceding claim, comprising operating the catalytic burner to generate heat and transferring the heat to the insulated container.

25. A method of manufacturing an energy generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 23, comprising providing a catalytic burner and providing an insulated container.

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