Energy generation system with catalytic burner

Abstract

The energy generation system (1) includes a catalytic burner (40) for generating thermal energy, an insulated container (32) surrounding the catalytic burner (40), and a fuel cell, wherein waste heat from the fuel cell can be supplied to the catalytic burner (40) and / or the insulated container (32), and the catalytic burner (40) includes a catalytic coil including 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.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an energy generation system that includes a catalytic burner for generating heat. In some implementations, the system also includes a fuel cell for generating electricity. Additionally, the present invention relates to a method for generating energy (i.e., thermal and / or electrical energy) using the energy generation system. [Background technology]

[0002] Generating heat using catalytic combustion of fuel is an alternative to conventional fuel combustion, in which a fuel mixture is ignited in air to generate heat through an exothermic reaction. In addition to the elevated temperature, conventional combustion also involves a different fuel mixture composition, which can result in the production of undesirable combustion products. For example, the high temperatures of conventional combustion (e.g., above 1300°C) when combined with a nitrogen (N)-containing fuel mixture, such as air, can produce undesirable nitrogen oxide species (e.g., NO x ) can be formed under other combustion conditions, e.g., from fossil fuels or hydrocarbons (e.g., C x H y When fuel oils (e.g., ethanol) are burned in an oxygen-poor atmosphere, carbon monoxide (CO) can form. This carbon monoxide formation is undesirable due to the health hazards posed by carbon monoxide. Furthermore, conventional combustion requires certain conditions to be maintained. For example, feeding a fuel mixture with the wrong ratio of components can cause combustion to stop. Alternatively, feeding the fuel mixture too quickly (e.g., too fast) can blow out the flame, which can also cause combustion to stop.

[0003] Catalytic combustion of a fuel mixture relies on the principle of using a catalytic material to promote a chemical reaction (i.e., an oxidation reaction) under low thermochemical conditions. Generally, catalysts can be used to promote chemical reactions at lower temperatures, lower pressures, and / or lower electrochemical potentials. That is, the use of a catalytic material in a reaction reduces the activation energy required for a chemical reaction. From one perspective, catalytic combustion allows a chemical reaction between fuel components to occur at a lower temperature. From another perspective, catalytic combustion allows a chemical reaction between fuel components to occur more quickly at a specific temperature. One 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 temperatures low enough that no flames are produced. Spontaneous combustion of hydrogen in air occurs at approximately 500°C. The addition of an appropriate catalyst can lower this 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 the cathode. When a fuel mixture is introduced to the anode, charged particles diffuse through the electrolyte to the cathode. At the cathode, the charged particles combine with other species to form reaction products. Simultaneously, charge in the form of electrons travels from the anode through a circuit to the cathode and participates in the combination. The movement of electrons through the circuit generates electrical energy (i.e., electricity). An exemplary fuel cell uses hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) as fuel sources, supplying hydrogen gas to the anode and oxygen gas (often using air as a carrier) to the cathode. The fuel cell reaction forms water (H2O) as a vapor or liquid and also generates heat. In a conventional fuel cell setup, the heat generated by the fuel cell is dissipated into the environment to avoid unwanted heat buildup within the fuel cell.

[0005] Currently, fuel cells are increasingly being adopted in the field of industrial power generation. For example, at construction sites that are not connected to the power grid, fuel cells can be installed to meet the power needs of construction machinery. Furthermore, the use of fuel cells is becoming increasingly desirable due to increasing pressure from individuals, companies, and nations to reduce their carbon footprints. This is because the fuels used by fuel cells (e.g., hydrogen and oxygen) can be produced in a carbon-free manner. Therefore, the use of fuel cells and hydrogen fuel is advantageous in terms of reducing the carbon footprint of activities. In addition, fuel cells do not produce undesirable and / or harmful emissions, making them even more attractive from an environmental perspective. However, as discussed above, a portion of the energy generated by fuel cells in the form of heat is typically lost. Therefore, there is a need to develop more efficient energy generation systems.

[0006] As discussed above, fuel cells can be used in construction environments where power generation is required. In some cases, construction environments require large amounts of heat for construction activities such as drying, heating, curing, or thawing. Typically, electric heaters are used to generate heat in locations where electricity is readily available, but the use of such electric heaters may not be desirable. In locations where electricity is not readily available (e.g., remote locations), burner heaters, which generate heat by burning fossil fuels, are commonly used. However, as discussed above, burning fossil fuels releases undesirable pollutants into the atmosphere. Additionally, because burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO), this method is not carbon-neutral. Therefore, there is a need to provide better heat sources, specifically, more environmentally friendly heat sources.

[0007] Further environments in which fuel cells can be advantageously used include locations where connection to the power grid is possible. However, the capacity of the power grid may not be sufficient or flexible or reliable enough to allow unlimited use. For example, fast charging of electric batteries (rapid charging of batteries in a short period of time) may place too much strain on the power grid. In such environments, fuel cells can be provided to passively charge a battery bank, which can then be used to supplement the capacity of the power grid. Alternatively, the battery bank can be used as the primary power source, with the power grid not providing electricity or providing supplemental electricity. This system demonstrating fuel cells and battery banks has the advantage of being able to produce green electricity (e.g., when using hydrogen produced without carbon emissions). Many of the above environments may also require thermal energy that cannot be met simply or efficiently with current setups.

[0008] Heat, or the flow of thermal energy by conduction, convection, or radiation, is required for a wide variety of processes, including heating, cleaning, drying, cooking, sterilization, process heating, curing, preheating boiler feedwater, and evaporation for producing fresh water. In industrialized economies, it is estimated that the energy consumption required to generate the necessary process heat in some process industry sectors accounts for approximately 55% to 75% of total energy consumption. Furthermore, over 95% of this heat is generated by burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil.

[0009] The enormous size and scale of industrial heat requirements clearly presents challenges in transitioning away from carbon-based fuels. Using electricity to meet this heat demand is impractical for a variety of reasons, including grid balance and capacity. However, this demand also represents a unique opportunity for renewable hydrogen, which can be produced without emitting greenhouse gases or polluting waste, and for hydrogen fuel technologies that can efficiently generate zero-emission heat. Zero-emission heat refers to the generation of heat without producing emissions. In the context of hydrogen energy generation, renewable hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced by renewable means with minimal or no emissions. Traditionally, hydrogen has been produced by electrolysis, and the electricity used has been supplied from nonrenewable energy sources (e.g., coal-fired power plants). Hydrogen can be considered renewable when produced by electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind, and hydroelectric power). Renewable hydrogen can also be produced from biomass feedstocks. Therefore, there is a need to further integrate the use of renewable hydrogen in energy generation. Summary of the Invention

[0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an energy generation system including a catalytic burner for generating thermal energy and an insulated vessel surrounding the catalytic burner, the insulated vessel being a vacuum insulated vessel.

[0011] In this system, the catalytic burner generates heat, which can then be transferred to the interior of the vacuum insulated vessel. The advantage of using a vacuum insulated vessel is that heat loss to the exterior of the vessel is reduced while the vessel can be compact in size. This is in contrast to vessels using conventional insulating materials, which require a larger volume. Vacuum insulation has been found to work surprisingly well for the heat generated by the catalytic burner.

[0012] The insulated container can include a heat transfer medium (e.g., a fluid, or possibly a solid) within the vacuum insulated container, which can be used to provide heat to a load external to the insulated container and / or can allow for the storage of heat.

[0013] In addition to receiving heat via heat exchange from the catalytic burner, 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 via further heat exchange within the insulated container and / or by movement of the heat transfer medium in a circuit outside the insulated container. The secondary heat source can include, for example, a heat pump. Alternatively or additionally, the secondary heat source can include renewable heat from solar energy, waste heat from an external process such as an industrial process, or any other heat source. A secondary heat source coil within the insulated container can be used when further heat exchange with heat from the secondary heat source occurs within the insulated container.

[0014] Additionally or alternatively, a catalytic burner can be used to provide heat to replace and / or supplement heat from one or more secondary heat sources, thereby serving as a backup heat source, for example, in the event of a power outage. Secondary heat sources include, for example, heat pumps, as discussed above. Thus, a catalytic burner can be used to supplement and / or replace heat from a secondary heat source, such as a heat pump, when the secondary heat source's ability to provide heat is reduced, for example, due to problems with the heat pump's electrical supply. Integrating a catalytic burner with a secondary heat source, such as a heat pump, allows the two heat sources to be used together or interchangeably. Adding heat from the catalytic burner to the heat from the heat pump can increase the thermal energy potential of the heat pump. Replacing heat from the heat pump with heat from the catalytic burner can meet thermal energy demands independently of the flow of electrical energy from the power grid or other power sources for the heat pump (or other electrically powered secondary heat source). For example, as discussed below, when combined with a fuel cell, the fuel cell can provide electricity to a secondary heat source as needed, further increasing the capacity of the overall energy generation system.

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

[0016] The vacuum insulated container may include a support, which may be located at a specific location on the inner shell, 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 the inner shell and a support. The support may connect the inner shell and the outer shell. A vacuum insulated container can include a volume between the inner and outer shells that is evacuated, thus providing vacuum insulation for the insulated container. Applying a vacuum between the inner and outer shells reduces the amount of heat transferred between the inner and outer shells. For example, the presence of air (or gas molecules) between the inner and outer shells promotes heat transfer by convection. By reducing or ideally avoiding such presence by creating a vacuum, such heat transfer can be reduced or prevented. The inner and outer shells can 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 and inner shells is maintained. The spacers can be part of the support.

[0018] The catalytic burner can be entirely located within the insulated enclosure such that the insulated enclosure is configured to insulate the heat generated by the catalytic burner. That is, the heat-generating section of the catalytic burner can be located within the insulated enclosure. The catalytic burner can be entirely located within the insulated enclosure. This allows more heat to be retained within the insulated enclosure than if the catalytic burner were partially or entirely outside the insulated enclosure.

[0019] The catalytic burner may include a catalyst. The catalyst may be in the form of a catalytic material provided on an internal surface of the catalytic burner that contacts the fuel. 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, such as a coil, for flowing the fuel mixture through the catalytic burner, with the catalyst provided on a surface extending along the coil. The coil may include a coil-shaped fluid passage for flowing the fuel mixture. Another advantage of using catalytic combustion to generate heat is that heat can be generated quickly and on demand, provided fuel is available.

[0020] The energy generation system may include a fuel cell. Thus, the energy generation system may be a combined heat and power system that generates heat via a catalytic burner and / or as waste heat and generates electricity via a fuel cell. The fuel cell may generate electricity using hydrogen as fuel. The fuel cell may also generate electricity using oxygen. Optionally, the oxygen may be supplied from atmospheric air. The fuel cell may generate thermal energy during power generation. The heat generated by the fuel cell can be used to initiate a catalytic reaction in the catalytic burner. For example, the temperature of the fuel mixture supplied to the catalytic burner or the catalytic burner itself may be below the catalytic combustion initiation temperature at which no catalytic combustion reaction occurs. The heat generated by the fuel cell can be used to bring the fuel mixture, the catalytic burner, or both to a temperature at or above the initiation temperature. In this manner, catalytic combustion can be initiated in the catalytic burner without the need to provide or use another heat source (e.g., combustion of a fossil fuel). Advantageously, the heat generated by the fuel cell is waste heat, which can be utilized to increase the efficiency of the energy generation system.

[0021] Energy generation systems including a catalytic burner and a fuel cell are believed to be novel and inventive in their own right, including some examples lacking vacuum insulation features. In particular, viewed from a second aspect, the present invention can provide an energy generation system including a catalytic burner for generating thermal energy, an insulated vessel surrounding the catalytic burner, and a fuel cell, wherein waste heat from the fuel cell can be supplied to the catalytic burner and / or the insulated vessel, wherein the catalytic burner includes a catalytic coil including 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.

[0022] It will be understood that the features discussed above for the first embodiment can be combined with the system of the second embodiment, with or without the vacuum insulation feature, and that the following features are applicable to systems with or without a fuel cell and with or without the catalytic coil feature of the second embodiment.

[0023] For example, with or without a fuel cell, the system may include a secondary heat source that supplies heat to the insulated enclosure, such as by heating a heat transfer medium within the insulated enclosure and providing additional heat via heat exchange from the catalytic burner. Heat can be received from one or more secondary heat sources via further heat exchange within the insulated enclosure and / or by movement of the heat transfer medium in a circuit outside the insulated enclosure. Alternatively or additionally, by interconnection with a secondary heat source, the catalytic burner can provide heat to replace that provided by the secondary heat source, for example, by transferring heat from the heat transfer medium rather than to the heat transfer medium. The secondary heat source may include, for example, a heat pump. Alternatively or additionally, the secondary heat source may include renewable heat from solar energy, waste heat from an external process such as an industrial process, or any other heat source. A secondary heat source coil within the insulated container may be used if further heat exchange with heat from a secondary heat source occurs within the insulated container, so that in this system there are at least two coils within the insulated container, one for the catalytic burner and the other for 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 container by other means, such as via a dedicated fuel cell waste heat coil or through some other heat exchange system coupled to a heat transfer medium.

[0024] As with any aspect of the present invention, the catalytic burner may include a catalytic mesh. The catalytic mesh may include a strip. The strip may be at least partially coated with catalyst. Optionally, the strip is completely covered with catalyst. The strip may have perforations or other surface features. The perforations or other surface features increase the surface area of ​​the strip and increase the surface area of ​​catalyst applied to the strip. Other surface features may include one or multiple baffles. The strip may be formed into a spiral or spring shape, for example, to provide the coil shape of the second aspect. An advantage of forming the catalytic mesh into a spiral or spring shape is that a larger surface area of ​​the catalytic mesh can be provided for the same length.

[0025] The catalytic mesh can be at least partially disposed inside the catalytic burner. By disposing the catalytic mesh at least partially inside the catalytic burner, the fuel mixture undergoes catalytic combustion inside the catalytic burner, heating the catalyst and the catalytic burner. The heat generated by the catalytic combustion can then be transferred to the interior of the insulated container. Another advantage of disposing the catalytic mesh at least partially inside the catalytic burner is that the catalytic mesh can be disposed before, during, or after manufacturing the catalytic burner. Furthermore, the catalytic mesh can be flexible and bend along with the catalytic burner when forming the catalytic burner. That is, the catalytic mesh can be disposed inside the catalytic burner before forming the catalytic burner into its final shape. If the catalytic burner is a coil made from a tube or pipe, the catalytic mesh can be inserted into a straight tube or pipe before forming the tube or pipe into the coil shape of the catalytic burner. Advantageously, the catalytic mesh can be removed from the catalytic burner and replaced with a different catalytic mesh without disassembling the catalytic burner.

[0026] The catalytic burner may include a catalyst that is a surface catalyst. The surface catalyst may be the catalyst described above applied to the inner surface of the catalytic burner. The surface catalyst may be applied to the surface of the catalytic burner in addition to the catalytic mesh. If 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 for faster and more reliable heat transfer between the catalytic surface and the catalytic burner. Furthermore, the surface catalyst may be applied to the catalytic burner before or after manufacturing and assembly. The surface catalyst may include a binder 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 vapor deposition, vapor deposition, atomic layer deposition, and plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition. The surface catalyst may also be applied using other suitable coating processes. It will be understood that the application methods described above are suitable for catalyst meshes as well as surface catalysts.

[0027] A catalytic burner may include multiple catalysts. For example, the catalytic burner may include a first section provided with a first catalyst and a second section provided with a second catalyst. The first and second catalysts may be the same or different. The first and second sections may also be the same, different, or overlapping. The first and second sections may be the same length or different lengths. The first and second sections may extend through a portion of the catalytic burner, a majority of the catalytic burner, or optionally the entire catalytic burner.

[0028] The catalyst may include platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and / or rhodium (Rh), or other platinum group metals. The catalyst may include any other suitable catalytic material capable of generating a hydrogen oxidation reaction (i.e., catalytic combustion of hydrogen). The catalyst may include a combination of the above catalysts. The catalyst may include a support material. The support material may be any one of carbon, ceramic, metal, metal alloy, and metal-ceramic alloy, and optionally any combination thereof. Catalysts including carbon-supported platinum group metals lower the onset temperature of combustion of hydrogen and oxygen. The onset temperature may be about 40°C to 60°C, and optionally the onset temperature is about 50°C. Catalytic combustion of hydrogen and oxygen (or other fuel mixtures) can heat the catalyst to temperatures above 50°C, optionally above 200°C. Catalytic combustion of hydrogen and oxygen (or other fuel mixtures) can heat the catalyst to temperatures in the range of 100° C. to 1000° C., optionally in the range of 200° C. to 500° C. In certain applications, the temperature range may exceed these values.

[0029] The catalytic burner may include a catalyst along part or all of the length of the coil. If the catalyst is a catalytic mesh, the catalytic mesh may be disposed along part of the length of the coil, or optionally, most of the length of the coil. The catalytic mesh may be disposed along the entire length of the coil. The advantage of distributing the catalytic mesh along a longer coil length is that a larger surface area of ​​the catalytic mesh is provided in the catalytic burner.

[0030] If the coil is used in a catalytic burner, then a heater can be provided in the inlet region of the coil. The heater can be for preheating the fluid entering the catalytic burner, for example, for preheating fuel to assist in the initiation of the catalytic combustion process downstream of the catalytic burner. The heater can include an electric heating element and / or a heat exchanger for receiving heat via a heat exchange fluid heated elsewhere. If a fuel cell is then part of the system, the heat exchange fluid of 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.

[0031] The catalytic burner of any of the above aspects may be a plate heat exchange unit including a catalytic chamber. The catalytic chamber contains a catalyst and is configured to promote catalytic combustion and generate heat. The catalyst in the catalytic chamber may be any of the catalyst types discussed above (e.g., mesh catalyst or surface catalyst). The generated heat is then transferred to the main body of the plate heat exchange unit and / or a plate adjacent to the catalytic chamber, and then to the insulated container. The plate heat exchanger may include a single catalytic chamber or multiple catalytic chambers. The plate heat exchange unit may be configured to include at least a surface where heat exchange occurs between the plate heat exchange unit and a medium, and the exchanged heat is generated by catalytic combustion.

[0032] An energy generation system including a fuel cell may include a battery. The battery may be configured to store the electrical energy generated by the fuel cell. The advantage of providing a battery with a fuel cell is that it can store large amounts of energy and can provide electrical energy at a faster rate than can be generated by the fuel cell alone.

[0033] The battery can be integrated with the fuel cell into a fuel cell assembly, and / or the battery can be a stand-alone component connected to the fuel cell via electrical transmission means. An advantage of providing an integrated system is that it makes the system easier to install and deploy, without the need to connect multiple components. An advantage of providing a separate fuel cell and separate battery is that it makes the system more modular and flexible. For example, different applications may require batteries with different specifications (capacity, discharge rate, temperature requirements, etc.), which can be more easily accommodated.

[0034] The battery may be a battery system that includes a number of individual batteries interconnected to form a single battery system. In any of the aspects discussed above, the energy generation system can be an integrated system that includes all of the components discussed, or a system that includes many stand-alone units. For example, the energy generation system can be a single integrated unit in which each of the claimed components is incorporated into the system. The single integrated unit can include a catalytic burner, a fuel cell, and a battery. The system can include an integrated unit that includes a fuel cell and a battery, and can further include a stand-alone catalytic burner (i.e., the catalytic burner is not included in a single integrated unit).

[0035] An energy generation system may include multiple components connected in parallel or series, e.g., multiple components in a modular arrangement to facilitate installation of systems with different capacities and / or allow for future expansion as needed. For example, there may be multiple catalytic burners connected in parallel or series. If a fuel cell and / or secondary heat source is present, it may also include multiple components connected in parallel or series. For example, there may be parallel and / or series connections for inputs and outputs, such as for a heat transfer system that outputs heat from a set of interconnected catalytic burners, or for a fuel system input that supplies fuel to a set of interconnected burners and / or fuel cells. The use of parallel and / or series connections may apply to flow paths for heat, e.g., fluid flow paths, and / or electrical connections.

[0036] The catalytic burner can be configured to be fluidly connected to a fuel inlet for the fuel mixture and / or to be fluidly connected to an exhaust port. The fuel inlet is located outside the insulated vessel and allows the fuel mixture to enter the catalytic burner. The fuel inlet can be configured to include an inlet port for each component of the fuel mixture or a single inlet port for the fuel mixture. The exhaust port can be located partially or entirely outside the insulated vessel. The fuel mixture can be supplied to the catalytic burner when the catalytic burner reaches a specific temperature, optionally a start temperature. The fuel mixture can be supplied to the catalytic burner when the catalytic burner is below the start temperature.

[0037] The catalytic burner may include a tube. Optionally, the catalytic burner may be formed from a tube. The tube may be shaped to form a coil (e.g., a coil-shaped flow passage as mentioned above). As described above, catalytic material may be present on one or more surfaces extending along the coil, optionally within the coil. The coil-shaped tube of the catalytic burner increases the surface area of ​​the catalytic burner, thereby enabling more efficient heat transfer. Another advantage of the coil-shaped tube is that it provides a larger surface area for catalytic combustion, thereby allowing for more combustion of the fuel mixture. The coil may extend circumferentially and axially along the inner surface of the insulated vessel. That is, the coiled tube may be helical, with the tube extending along the inner circumference of the insulated vessel and the coil progressing along the axial direction of the vessel with each successive circumferential revolution of the insulated vessel. The coil may be rotated multiple times around the inner circumference of the insulated vessel so that the catalytic burner extends partially along the axial dimension of the insulated vessel, and optionally extends along the majority of the axial dimension of the insulated vessel. The coil can be rotated about a center point such that each successive coil turn is the same distance from the center point.

[0038] If coils are included in the catalytic burner, then the coils may have a fixed volume between successive coils so that there is no contact between the coils (e.g., an elongated spring configuration). The advantage of having a fixed volume between successive coils is that it allows more heat transfer medium to come into contact with the catalytic burner coils. Alternatively, the coils may be configured so that successive coils contact each other (e.g., a compression spring configuration).

[0039] The coil may have a length in the unrolled state in the range of 8 to 16 meters, such as in the range of 10 to 14 meters. The coil may, for example, have a length in the unrolled state of about 12 meters.

[0040] The catalytic burner may be located in close proximity to the inner wall of the insulated vessel, with the catalytic burner being closer to the inner wall than to the center of the insulated vessel, or the catalytic burner may be located away from the inner wall of the insulated vessel, with the catalytic burner being closer to the center of the insulated vessel than to the inner wall.

[0041] The catalytic burner, fuel inlet, and exhaust port may be made from a single component, with the catalytic burner, fuel inlet, and exhaust port defining different zones of the single component. The single component may be a tube, and optionally, a pipe. Alternatively, one or more of the catalytic burner, fuel inlet, and exhaust port may be made from different materials. For example, the fuel inlet may be made from a polymer and configured to be easily coupled to other components. The catalytic burner, fuel inlet, and exhaust port may be joined by conventional means, for example, by using clamps, welding, brazing, or other connecting means.

[0042] The fuel mixture can include a hydrogen-based fluid. A hydrogen-based fluid fuel mixture, when combusted with oxygen, is a cleaner energy source because the reaction product is water. Therefore, the fuel mixture is environmentally friendly and less harmful to humans. Advantageously, the hydrogen in the fuel mixture can be produced in an environmentally friendly or zero-carbon manner. For example, hydrogen can be produced by electrolysis of water using zero-carbon electricity. The hydrogen-based fuel mixture can be a fluid that contains a portion of hydrogen, or optionally a fluid that contains a majority of hydrogen. Alternatively, the hydrogen-based fuel mixture can be composed mostly of hydrogen, or optionally, entirely of hydrogen (e.g., pure hydrogen). Another advantage of using a hydrogen-based fuel mixture is that, when a hydrogen-fueled fuel cell is incorporated into the energy generation system, a common fuel mixture can be provided to drive the catalytic burner and the fuel cell. This can simplify the energy generation system.

[0043] The fuel mixture supplied to the catalytic burner may include a substantially similar or identical fuel mixture to the fuel mixture supplied to the fuel cell. For example, the fuel mixture supplied to the catalytic burner may include a fuel mixture from the same fuel source (e.g., the same reservoir, such as a fuel tank) as the fuel mixture supplied to the fuel cell. Optionally, this fuel mixture may be mixed with other components for preheating or to optimize the overall system energy efficiency and / or catalytic burner energy utilization. In some exemplary implementations, the fuel mixture supplied to the catalytic burner may include the fuel cell fuel mixture along with some or all of the fuel cell exhaust gas. Using the same fuel mixture may result in a simplified system, requiring only one fuel source to drive both components (i.e., the catalytic burner and the fuel cell). A substantially similar fuel mixture may include hydrogen and oxygen, such as a mixture including hydrogen and air.

[0044] The energy generation system may include a single fuel connection for both the catalytic burner and the fuel cell. The single fuel connection may provide a single connection point for supplying fuel to the fuel cell and the catalytic burner. If the energy generation system includes multiple catalytic burners and / or multiple fuel cells, or multiple other components, the single fuel connection may allow for parallel or series connection of the fuel cells and catalytic burners. Thus, the single fuel connection may include a manifold system or other fuel distribution system for supplying fuel to the fuel cell and the catalytic burner. This fuel may be a component of a fuel mixture, as described below, and may be, for example, a hydrogen-based fluid intended to be mixed with an oxygen-containing fluid, such as air.

[0045] Thus, if a fuel cell is present, the fuel cell and catalytic burner may advantageously have a common supply of fuel, such as a common supply of a component (or all components) of the fuel mixture. This has the advantage of simplifying the system by requiring only one connection point for fuel, optionally hydrogen fuel. Furthermore, having only a single fuel connection may improve the reliability and safety of the system, as there are fewer locations where an error or failure can cause a fuel leak, compared to a system with two or more fuel connections. Another advantage of using a single fuel connection for multiple components is that it results in a simpler system, requiring only one connection point for a common fuel source. This improves the reliability and safety of the system, compared to a system with a fuel connection for each component. Another advantage of using a single fuel connection is that the system can operate with only a single fuel storage component (e.g., a single fuel tank). There may also be a single fuel supply system, for example, using a common fuel supply pump and / or manifold for both the fuel cell and catalytic burner. Advantageously, only a single fuel storage component is required. This means that only one such component needs to be provided, checked, serviced, and re-fueled, as opposed to performing all of these operations on two or more fuel storage components. Another advantage of using a single fuel connection is that the number of fluid connections (e.g., pipes) is minimized, with the exemplary system demonstrating a single fluid connection between the fuel storage component and the single fuel connection, between the single fuel connection and the catalytic burner, and between the single fuel connection and the fuel cell. Again, this can simplify the system and improve the reliability of the energy generation system.

[0046] The fuel mixture can include an oxygen-containing fluid, for example, a mixture of fuel and oxygen-containing fluid. The oxygen-containing fluid can be ambient air. Ambient air is composed of approximately 21% oxygen. An advantage of using ambient air as the oxygen-containing fluid is that it is readily available. Therefore, a separate fuel tank containing ambient air is not required. Instead, ambient air can be supplied from the surrounding atmosphere. This can be achieved by using a fan or blower or another means of supplying air. Alternatively, the oxygen-containing fluid can be mostly oxygen, for example, commercial-grade oxygen gas supplied in a pressurized cylinder. An advantage of using compressed oxygen is that less nitrogen gas needs to be supplied in the fuel mixture. This allows the catalytic burner to achieve higher efficiency and burn at a higher temperature without generating undesirable nitrogen species / pollutants.

[0047] The fuel mixture may include a hydrogen-based fluid and an oxygen-containing fluid. Advantageously, providing a fuel mixture of both a hydrogen-based fluid and an oxygen-containing fluid eliminates the need to provide specific amounts of fuel components, thereby reducing system complexity.

[0048] 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 in a solid material. This prevents the formation of hot spots within the volume of the medium. In addition, the liquid can be provided with agitation means, which improves the distribution of heat within the medium.

[0049] The heat transfer medium may include water. An advantage of using water as the heat transfer medium is that water is readily available and is not harmful. For example, in the event of a leak or water loss, it is easy to provide additional water to the system. Furthermore, water leaking from the system poses little harm to the user or the natural environment surrounding the system. As a result, a more environmentally friendly system can be achieved. In one example, the heat transfer medium is mostly water, and optionally, the heat transfer medium is entirely water.

[0050] The heat transfer medium can be a glycol (i.e., ethylene glycol). Advantageously, glycol has a lower freezing point than water, allowing it to be used in applications where the temperature of the heat transfer medium may fall below the freezing point of water (0°C). Furthermore, glycol has a higher boiling point than water, allowing it to be heated to a higher temperature than water before it begins to vaporize. In one example, the heat transfer medium is predominantly glycol, and optionally, the heat transfer medium is entirely glycol. Another advantage of glycol is that it is relatively environmentally friendly and decomposes quickly.

[0051] The heat transfer medium can be any mixture of ethylene glycol, ethanol, propylene glycol and water. The heat transfer medium can be a mixture containing water and glycol. The advantage of using a mixture of water and glycol is that it provides increased benefits compared to using pure water or pure glycol. For example, corrosion of some materials is prevented by using a mixture of the two components. Another advantage is that the mixture can inhibit microbial or fungal growth. Furthermore, the mixture can be adjusted to provide a balance of freezing temperature, boiling temperature, and specific heat capacity.

[0052] The heat transfer medium can be configured to at least partially surround the catalytic burner, for example, by surrounding a coil containing the catalytic burner. Optionally, the heat transfer medium completely surrounds the catalytic burner. Advantageously, the increased 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.

[0053] The energy generation system can be configured to control the amount of heat supplied to the heat transfer medium by controlling the amount of fuel supplied to the catalytic burner. For example, the system can be configured to heat the heat transfer medium to less than 100°C and then limit the amount of fuel supplied to the catalytic burner to limit the amount of heat generated and transferred to the heat transfer medium. In this manner, 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 catalyst. In different circumstances, the threshold temperature can be higher or lower than 100°C.

[0054] The insulated container may include a heater. The heater may be electric and configured to generate heat when powered. Alternatively, the heater may be powered by other means. The heater may be positioned to surround or at least be proximate to the catalytic burner. As discussed elsewhere herein, the heater may be located within the catalytic burner, such as within the inlet region of the catalytic burner coil. The heater may be configured to provide preheat to the catalytic burner. An advantage of having a heater within the insulated container is that heat losses can be transferred to a heat transfer medium within the insulated container, thereby bringing the catalytic burner to a suitable high temperature. Another advantage of having a heater configured to preheat the catalytic burner is that the catalytic burner can be raised to a higher temperature, allowing catalytic combustion to proceed. The heater may be a hybrid heater including an electric heater and a heat transfer means, such that heat can be provided to preheat the catalytic burner by electrical means and / or by heat transfer from another heat source. Another heat source may be a fuel cell, such as the fuel cell of the second aspect, as described above. The electric heater may be disposed 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 by the resistance of a conductor or by application of an electromagnetic field. Optionally, the electromagnetic field is applied to the catalytic burner and / or the insulated container.

[0055] At least a portion of the heat generated by the fuel cell, which is considered waste heat from the fuel cell's perspective, can be supplied to the catalytic burner so that the catalytic burner reaches at least the initiation temperature of catalytic combustion. The heat generated by the fuel cell can be supplied to the catalytic burner using a heat transfer means. The heat transfer means can supply a fuel cell cooling medium to the catalytic burner, such as via heat transfer with a heat transfer medium in an insulated container, and optionally via heat transfer with a heat transfer medium flowing through the insulated container and / or the heat transfer means. Alternatively or additionally, the heat transfer means can provide heat exchange between the fuel cell exhaust gas and the catalytic burner, such as via heat transfer with a heat transfer medium in an insulated container, and optionally via heat transfer with a heat transfer medium flowing through the insulated container and / or the heat transfer means. The heat transfer means can include a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the fuel cell and / or fuel cell assembly, and a fan or blower configured to pass a cooling medium through the heat exchanger. The heat transfer means can include additional valves and / or outlets configured to direct the cooling medium to the catalytic burner and / or other environment. The cooling medium can be ambient air. An advantage of providing additional valves and / or outlets in the heat transfer means is that, for example, when supplying heat to the catalytic burner is not desired, it is possible to switch between supplying cooling medium to the catalytic burner or to another environment.

[0056] Advantageously, heat generated by the fuel cell is supplied to a catalytic combustion system to initiate catalytic combustion. Without the heat generated by the fuel cell, alternative heat must be supplied to the catalytic burner to drive the catalytic combustion reaction. However, this heat may be supplied from non-renewable and / or non-zero-carbon sources. Furthermore, some of these alternative heat sources may be unsafe and / or dangerous. For example, a flame may be applied to the fuel mixture to achieve the appropriate temperature, which risks spontaneous combustion of the fuel mixture and the possibility of an explosion. Advantageously, the heat generated by the waste heat from the fuel cell is not high enough to cause spontaneous combustion of, for example, 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 may be configured to use at least a portion of the waste heat in a manner that avoids combustion temperatures, or in some cases, the fuel cell may be inherently incapable of generating unsafe levels of heat, at least in normal use. Furthermore, in conventional fuel cells, the heat generated by the fuel cell is released into the atmosphere, thereby reducing the 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's fuel mixture, increasing the overall efficiency of the fuel cell.

[0057] In some examples, the fuel cell exhaust gas flows into the catalytic burner, for example, by flowing through the catalytic burner coil. This is another option for providing waste heat from the fuel cell to the catalytic burner. The fuel cell exhaust gas may be at a temperature of, for example, 40°C to 60°C. This can be used to increase the temperature of the gas mixture in the catalytic burner. Additionally, by flowing the fuel cell exhaust gas through the catalytic burner, unburned fuel and / or air can be combusted in the catalytic burner. If the fuel cell uses hydrogen, small amounts of hydrogen may remain in the exhaust gas, and this hydrogen-rich exhaust gas can be mixed with the air / oxygen-containing gas supplied to the catalytic burner.

[0058] The heat transfer means may include catalytic heating heat transfer means. The catalytic heating heat transfer means 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 catalytic heating heat transfer means may include a pipe or hose connection. The catalytic heating heat transfer means may include coupling means for connecting and disconnecting the fuel cell and the catalytic burner, configured to pass a cooling medium from the fuel cell to the catalytic burner. The cooling medium may be passed 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. The cooling medium may be forced from the fuel cell to the catalytic burner using a mechanical device, optionally using a fan or blower. The cooling medium may be conducted through a fluid conduit from the fuel cell to the inlet of the catalytic burner.

[0059] The heat transfer means may include a fuel-heating heat transfer means configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell to the fuel mixture in the catalytic burner. At least a portion of the heat generated by the fuel cell, which may be waste heat, may be supplied to the fuel mixture using the fuel-heating heat transfer means. The heat generated by the fuel cell may be supplied to the fuel mixture before it enters the catalytic burner. As described above, this may be done by mixing the fuel cell exhaust gas with the gas supplied to the catalytic burner. The heat generated by the fuel cell may be used to preheat the fuel mixture, either directly (e.g., by mixing) or via heat exchange (e.g., in a heat exchanger in the heat transfer means), thereby initiating and progressing catalytic combustion. The fuel-heating heat transfer means may include a fuel mixture heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from a cooling medium to the fuel mixture. An advantage of this system is that heat is effectively transferred to the fuel mixture, preheating the fuel mixture and progressing catalytic combustion. The heat transfer means 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.

[0060] The heat transfer means may include a heat recovery heat transfer means. The heat recovery heat transfer means may include a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell to the catalytic burner. The heat recovery heat transfer means 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 means may be detachable from one or both of the fuel cell and catalytic burner, allowing the components to be replaced (i.e., an old fuel cell is disconnected and a new fuel cell is connected to the catalytic burner).

[0061] The heat transfer means may include only one or a combination of catalytic heating heat transfer means, fuel heating heat transfer means, and heat recovery heat transfer means. The above types of heat transfer means may share common components, such as common pipes, conduits, heat exchangers, blowers, etc. The above types of heat transfer means may all be separate, with one component per means. The heat transfer means may be connected to a secondary heat source, such as the above-mentioned heat pump or connection to another type of heat source. This may allow heat to be transferred from the secondary heat source into the insulated vessel and / or heat from the insulated vessel (e.g., provided by the catalytic burner) to a flow path associated with the secondary heat source, so that, for example, heat from the insulated vessel may replace or supplement heat from the secondary heat source by heating a fluid loop connected to the secondary heat source. This may allow the catalytic burner to serve as a backup (or booster) for the secondary heat source.

[0062] The energy generation system may include, for example, a heat pump as a secondary heat source, as discussed above, with or without a fuel cell. If the energy generation system includes both a fuel cell and a heat pump, the insulated enclosure may receive heat from both the waste heat of the fuel cell and the heat output of the heat pump (e.g., the heat rejection of its heat exchanger). The fuel cell may be used to provide electricity to the heat pump.

[0063] The fuel cell may be equipped with a heat exchanger and / or cooling system to direct the heat generated by the fuel cell to the atmosphere, to the catalytic burner, or a combination thereof. For example, in a situation where the catalytic burner is not functioning, the operating fuel cell continues to generate heat, which is then dumped into the atmosphere in order to keep the fuel cell at an acceptable temperature. If some heat is subsequently required by the catalytic burner, the heat exchanger and / or cooling system may configure the heat output to provide some or all of the heat generated by the fuel cell to the catalytic burner via any one of the heat transfer means described above.

[0064] Greater catalytic burner efficiency can be achieved if heat generated by the fuel cell is supplied to the fuel mixture before it enters the catalytic burner. In conventional catalytic burners, a low-temperature fuel mixture is supplied to the catalyst, and then some heat is absorbed from the catalyst before combustion. The heat absorbed by the low-temperature fuel is then unavailable to perform work (i.e., to be used for heating). If the fuel mixture is supplied to the catalytic burner at a higher temperature (i.e., at a higher temperature than the low-temperature fuel mixture), the fuel mixture does not need to absorb any, or at least not as much, heat from the catalytic burner for combustion. This improves the efficiency of the catalytic burner.

[0065] An energy generation system may include many sensors for monitoring and measuring the system's conditions. Temperature sensors may be provided within the system to monitor and control the operation of the system. Temperature sensors may be provided in the catalytic burner to measure and / or control the temperature of the catalytic burner. The temperature sensors may be used to detect when the catalytic burner reaches a catalytic combustion start temperature. Advantageously, the sensor data may be used to control the operation of the system; for example, the system may detect when the start temperature has been reached and when preheating of the system is complete. This may enable the system to stop supplying heat to the catalytic burner and / or start supplying a fuel mixture to the catalytic burner.

[0066] The insulated container may be a pressure vessel. A pressure vessel is a container configured to hold a fluid at a pressure above ambient pressure. Advantageously, a pressure vessel may generate and / or store greater amounts of energy. The insulated container may be a sealed container. The insulated container may be a sealed container containing a heat transfer medium. The insulated container may be configured to hold a majority, and optionally all, of the heat transfer medium within the insulated container while minimizing loss to the environment. The insulated container may include at least one inlet. The at least one inlet may also function as an outlet. The insulated container may include a single inlet for allowing the heat transfer medium to flow into the insulated container and a single outlet for allowing the heat transfer medium to flow out of the insulated container. The at least one inlet may be a thermostatic mixing valve. An advantage of using a thermostatic mixing valve is that better control of the temperature of the heat transfer medium may be achieved. The at least one inlet may be configured to extend through the insulated container and fluidly connect to a component configured to direct the inlet heat transfer medium near a bottom of the insulated container. Advantageously, providing the heat transfer medium near the bottom of the insulated vessel improves the efficiency of the system and / or heat exchange to the heat transfer medium.

[0067] The insulated vessel may include a safety valve, and optionally a pressure valve, which may be configured to prevent the pressure inside the vessel from exceeding a certain threshold, the advantage of which is that the system is safe to operate.

[0068] The insulated container may include an expansion means configured to accommodate thermal expansion of the medium within the insulated container. The expansion means may be integrated into the insulated container or provided separately. The expansion means may include an expansion chamber. The expansion means may include a membrane configured to deflect from a relaxed position to a pressurized position in response to an increase in pressure within the insulated container.

[0069] The inner shell can be configured to be more resistant to corrosion or degradation of the particular material inside the insulated vessel. Increased resistance can be achieved by conventional means, such as alloying the metal with additional elements or applying 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, which optionally can be stainless steel.

[0070] The inner shell may include two dished ends. The dished ends are end caps that can be welded to the body to form the pressure vessel. The dished ends may include a straight flange height, a knuckle, and a crown. The dished ends may be deep dish ends, with the straight flange height being substantially greater than commercially available dished ends. An advantage of using two deep dished ends to construct the vessel (compared to using two dished ends and a cylindrical body) is that only one joint is required to form the vessel (compared to two conventional joints). This joint is formed between the straight flanges of the two deep dished ends. The advantage is that fewer joints result in a more reliable vessel (i.e., fewer points of failure). Furthermore, in terms of the number of joints required, deep dished vessels are easier to manufacture. The joint between the two deep dished ends can be formed by welding or adhesive.

[0071] The dished ends of the inner shell may be made of metal, optionally steel or aluminum. The dished ends may be made of stainless steel. The dished ends may be manufactured by hot forming, cold forming, deep drawing, spinning, crown and petal forming, dishing, or flanging methods. Each dished end may be manufactured by a different method, or optionally, all dished ends may be manufactured by the same method. Each manufacturing method may provide advantages to the final container in certain applications. For example, one manufacturing method may result in a container that is resistant to mechanical damage, while another method may result in a container that is resistant to chemical damage.

[0072] The deep dish end can be formed by deep drawing to provide a straight flange length that extends up to half the length of the container being formed. The deep dish end can have a constant diameter along the straight flange. The deep dish end can be formed from a standard container dish end (i.e., a pre-fabricated end cap for the container). The deep dish end can be formed by applying force and / or heat to the standard end cap.

[0073] The dished end may have any one of the following shapes: flat, conical, regular, trispherical, semi-elliptical, and elliptical. The dished end may have a thickness ranging 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 high pressure may include a thick dished end. A system designed to withstand low pressure may include a thin dished end. In certain applications, the thickness may be less than 0.2 mm or greater than 8 mm.

[0074] The diameter of the dish end and / or vessel may range from 0.2 m to 8 m. The diameter of the dish end and / or vessel may be dictated by the application of the system. For example, the diameter may range from 350 mm to 500 mm. An advantage of using a diameter in this range is that the system can be integrated into a domestic environment. The diameter may range from 500 mm to 2500 mm, and optionally, the diameter may be at or around 1600 mm. An advantage of using a diameter in this range, and optionally, this value, is that the system can be successfully integrated into an industrial environment. For example, a diameter of around 1600 mm can efficiently combine system cost, system size, and energy generation. For specialized industrial applications, the diameter may be larger than 1600 mm. For example, in environments where vessel diameters of 2000 mm to 8000 mm are common, an energy generation system in this size range can be successfully integrated. The smaller the diameter, the more compact the tank and the easier it can be placed in areas with limited space. In environments where large amounts of heat must be transferred, larger diameter containers are preferred, as they provide a better surface area to volume ratio.

[0075] The support (or spacer) may comprise cellulose fibers, and optionally may comprise at least one of cardboard, fiberboard, bamboo, and polymer. The support may comprise other insulating materials (i.e., materials with low thermal conductivity), such as polymers, foams, gels, etc. The support may have insulating properties, i.e., a relatively low thermal conductivity. The support may have a lower thermal conductivity than the inner shell and / or outer shell. For example, the support may have a thermal conductivity of 1 Wm -1 K -1 Optionally, the support may have a thermal conductivity of 0.1 Wm -1 K -1 and optionally have a thermal conductivity of 0.05 Wm -1 K -1The support may have a thermal conductivity of 0.05 ...

[0076] The support may comprise a plurality of supports. The support may comprise multiple discontinuous support pieces. That is, the support may comprise two, three, or four separate sections of support material, all of which are encompassed by the support.

[0077] Supports can be disposed between the inner and outer shells to prevent deformation of the inner and / or outer shells due to the vacuum. That is, applying a vacuum between the inner and outer shells can exert a force that causes deformation of the material of the inner and outer shells. In conventional vacuum vessels, the inner and outer shells are manufactured to withstand vacuum forces, which requires the use of thick walls and / or other support means. The use of supports advantageously reduces the amount of material required to form the inner and / or outer shells. Furthermore, other conventional vacuum vessels sometimes use strong supports, including metals, to provide structural strength to the vessel. However, these metal supports provide good thermal conductivity between the shells and the inner and outer shells, increasing the amount of heat lost. Advantageously, the use of such supports reduces and / or eliminates the need for supporting structures, which increases the amount of heat lost, thereby reducing the amount of heat lost. The outer shell can be manufactured / formed by similar means to the inner shell. For example, the outer shell can be formed by joining two dish ends, specifically two deep dish ends. The two deep dish ends of the outer shell can be positioned at opposite ends of the inner shell to surround the inner shell and the support, and then joined together to form the outer shell. The inner and outer shells can be spaced a distance from each other, which distance can be defined by the support.

[0078] The supports can be positioned around the central body region of the container, such that the supports are located in the areas most susceptible to deformation under vacuum. The central body of the container, i.e., the area where the two dish ends are joined together, is the area of ​​the shell where forces can cause the shell to deform and / or buckle. The supports can be positioned along the entire circumference of the central body. The supports can also be positioned in specific areas around the central body, such as at two opposing ends of the central body cross section (i.e., at two opposing ends of the body). The supports can be positioned, for example, in two or more locations, such as three, four, five, etc. The supports can be uniformly positioned around the circumference (e.g., five supports can be spaced apart at intervals of about 72 degrees around the circumference of the inner shell).

[0079] The insulated container may be a spherical container. The spherical insulated container may include a spherical inner shell and a spherical outer shell. The metallic outer shell may include a surface layer, which may be polymeric, configured to protect the outer shell from damage and deterioration and / or provide an additional layer of insulation.

[0080] The outer shell may be provided with a sheath, for example, to provide protection and / or further insulation. The sheath may include an insulating layer. The sheath may be made from an insulating material (e.g., a polymer, optionally neoprene). The use of a polymer sheath has the advantage of providing a lightweight and inexpensive material. Furthermore, a polymer sheath may have better insulating properties. Another advantage of using a sheath disposed on the surface of the outer shell is to protect the outer shell. The sheath may protect the outer shell from mechanical or chemical damage.

[0081] The insulated container may include a base, which may be attached to the inner shell or the outer shell, allowing the container to stand on a flat surface or be attached to a surface to keep the container stable.

[0082] The insulated container may include a media inlet / outlet. The media inlet / outlet allows a heat transfer medium to be introduced into the interior of the insulated container. The introduced heat transfer medium may be a low temperature heat transfer medium. The media inlet / outlet allows a warm or hot heat transfer medium to be removed from the insulated container as needed.

[0083] A container as described above is believed to be novel and inventive in itself. Another aspect of the invention is a container comprising a first shell, the first shell being produced by joining two deep dish ends together. The container may include any of the features discussed above in connection with the insulated container of the first or second aspects.

[0084] The sensor can be used to monitor and / or control the amount of fuel mixture supplied to the catalytic burner. The energy generation system can include an appropriate control system for performing such monitoring / control functions, along with other control functions of the system as discussed below. Advantageously, the catalytic combustion rate can be controlled by supplying different amounts of fuel mixture to the catalytic burner. The system can increase the amount of fuel mixture supplied to the catalytic burner to increase the catalytic combustion rate and increase the heat generation rate. The system can decrease the amount of fuel mixture supplied to the catalytic burner to decrease the catalytic reaction rate and decrease the heat generation rate. Another advantage of controlling the reaction rate is that optimal heat generation can be achieved. This optimal heat generation can be determined by the longevity of the system (i.e., limiting damage to components due to long-term heat exposure) and / or the amount of heat required by the system.

[0085] In some configurations, the energy generation system can be configured to increase the heat generation rate at the catalytic burner to more quickly bring the heat transfer medium to a desired temperature. In this configuration, the fuel mixture can be supplied to the catalytic burner at an increased flow rate, which can increase the temperature of the catalytic burner. The catalyst can also be configured to withstand higher temperatures by changing its composition.

[0086] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating an energy generation system to generate heat, the method including generating thermal energy using a catalytic burner of the system and transferring the generated heat to an insulated vessel, the insulated vessel surrounding the catalytic burner, the insulated vessel being a vacuum insulated vessel.

[0087] The method may include operating the energy generation system of the first aspect, optionally with any or all of the optional features of the first aspect discussed above. The method may include supplying a fuel mixture to the catalytic burner. The method may include preheating the catalytic burner. The preheating may include supplying heat to the catalytic burner, optionally the heat being waste heat.

[0088] According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating an energy generation system to generate heat and / or power, the method including generating heat using a catalytic burner of the system, transferring the generated heat to an insulated enclosure, the insulated enclosure surrounding the catalytic burner, and operating a fuel cell of the system, wherein waste heat generated by the fuel cell is supplied to the catalytic burner and / or the insulated enclosure, the catalytic burner including a catalytic coil including 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.

[0089] The method may include supplying a fuel mixture to a catalytic burner and combusting the fuel mixture by catalytic combustion. The method may include generating heat in the catalytic burner and transferring the heat to a heat transfer medium in the insulated enclosure. The method may include transferring heat from the heat transfer medium to an exterior of the insulated enclosure.

[0090] The method may include operating the energy generation system of the second aspect, optionally with any or all of the features of the second aspect discussed above. The method may include supplying a fuel mixture to a catalytic burner, and may optionally include supplying the fuel mixture to the catalytic burner such that the fuel mixture flows through a coiled fluid flow path. The method may include causing catalytic combustion of the fuel mixture within the coiled fluid flow path. The method may include supplying waste heat generated by the fuel cell to the catalytic burner, for example, via heat exchange or by mixing fuel cell exhaust gas with a fluid flowing through the catalytic burner, to preheat the catalytic burner.

[0091] The method may include supplying a fuel mixture to a catalytic burner and combusting the fuel mixture by catalytic combustion. The method may include generating heat in the catalytic burner and transferring the heat to a heat transfer medium in the insulated enclosure. The method may include transferring heat from the heat transfer medium to an exterior of the insulated enclosure.

[0092] The method may include supplying fuel to a fuel cell to generate electricity. The fuel coal may generate heat. The heat generated by the fuel coal may be transferred to a catalytic burner and / or an insulated vessel. The heat generated by the fuel cell may be used to preheat the catalytic burner above a catalyst start temperature. Preheating may include supplying heat to the fuel mixture before the fuel mixture enters the catalytic burner, and / or supplying heat to the catalytic burner, and / or supplying heat to a medium in the vessel.

[0093] 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 comprising providing a catalytic burner and an insulated vessel, the insulated vessel surrounding the catalytic burner, the insulated vessel being a vacuum insulated vessel.

[0094] The method may include providing the energy generation system of the first aspect with any or all of the optional features discussed above. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing the energy generation system of the second aspect. The method includes providing a catalytic burner, an insulated vessel, and a fuel cell, wherein the insulated vessel surrounds the catalytic burner, and waste heat from the fuel cell can be supplied to the catalytic burner and / or the insulated vessel, and the catalytic burner includes a catalytic coil including 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.

[0095] The method may include providing an energy generation system of the second aspect having any or all of the optional features discussed above. It will be apparent that any of the features discussed above may be combined where reasonable, and that for any system feature discussed in relation to the first or second aspect, a corresponding method of operating that feature may be provided.

[0096] The energy generation system described above can be integrated with other heat-generating industrial processes, using the heat or waste heat of the industrial process to preheat the catalytic burner. The method may include inserting a mesh catalyst into the tube of the catalytic burner.The method may include applying a catalytic surface to the inside of the tube of the catalytic burner.

[0097] The method may include disposing a catalytic burner within the vessel. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a container, the method including forming a first deep-dish end, forming a second deep-dish end, and joining the first deep-dish end and the second deep-dish end at a straight flange on each deep-dish end to form a shell.

[0098] The method may include providing a support around the shell, providing a second pair of deep dish ends, positioning the second pair of deep dish ends around the shell and around the support, and joining the second pair of deep dish ends to form a second shell, the first shell being an inner shell and the second shell being an outer shell.

[0099] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0100] [Figure 1] 1 shows a diagram of an energy generation system. [Figure 2] 1 shows a diagram of a fuel cell assembly. [Figure 3] 1 shows an illustration of an energy generation system. [Figure 4] 4 shows an exploded view of the system of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] An explanatory diagram of a mesh catalyst is shown. [Figure 6] 1 shows a diagram of a catalytic burner with a mesh catalyst. [Figure 7] 1 shows a perspective view of a catalytic burner with a surface catalyst. [Figure 8] A diagram of a deep dish end is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0101] FIG. 1 shows an energy generation system 1 for supplying heat and power. The energy generation system 1 includes a catalytic burner 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 burner 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 burner 40 by a heat transfer means 12. The catalytic burner 40 is configured to transfer heat via a heat transfer means 16 to provide heat for use by a heat load (e.g., a building heating system or some other heat load).

[0102] In some examples, the energy generation system 1 also 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 thermal load 102 (e.g., a building heating system or some other thermal load), which may be the same thermal load supplied by the catalytic burner 40. The heat pump system 100 receives electricity via an electrical supply system 104, which may include electricity generated by the fuel cell assembly 4 as needed, depending on the availability of external electrical energy and on overall system cost and efficiency considerations. Electricity may also be supplied from a local renewable energy source, such as wind or solar, with the fuel cell serving to ensure a stable supply in the event of fluctuations in the renewable energy source's production. The heat pump system 100 may be connected to the catalytic burner 40 via a thermal input / output connection 106 so that the heat pump system 100 can receive heat from the catalytic burner 40. In this manner, heat from the catalytic burner 40 can supplement or replace heat from the heat pump system 100, ensuring sufficient heat in the event of, for example, a reduced power supply, without requiring significant changes to the infrastructure of the heat pump system 100. Alternatively, the accumulator of the heat pump system 100 can be incorporated into the catalytic burner 40, for example, as an insulating container such as the insulating container 32 described below. Additionally, the heat pump system 100 can supply 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.

[0103] FIG. 2 illustrates a fuel cell assembly 4. 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 transfer means 10. The battery 26 can be integrated into the fuel cell assembly 4 or, as shown in FIG. 2, can be a stand-alone 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 fuel cell assembly 4 and an external environment. The cooling system 24 is connected to the external environment via a heat transfer means 12. The cooling system 24 of FIG. 2 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. As discussed in connection with FIG. 1, the external environment of the energy generation system 1 is a catalytic burner 40.

[0104] The controller 20 of the fuel cell assembly 4 is configured to control the operation of the fuel cell assembly 4, the fuel cells 22, the cooling system 24, and any other auxiliary components of the fuel cell assembly 4. The controller 20 may include an interface through which an operator can interact with the fuel cell assembly 4. The controller 20 controls the operation of a fan included in the cooling system 24 and the amount of air supplied to the heat exchanger. In a system in which the fuel cell assembly 4 and a catalytic burner 40 are integrated, the controller 20 may control the operation of the catalytic burner 40 and the supply of fuel to the catalytic burner 40.

[0105] 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 within the fuel cell 22, which is then transferred to the battery 26 via electrical transfer means 10, such as an electrical cable. The fuel cell 22 also generates heat, which is typically rejected to the ambient air for cooling purposes. In Figures 1 and 2, the heat generated by the fuel cell assembly 4 is transferred to the catalytic burner 40 via the cooling system 24 and heat transfer means 12.

[0106] The heat transfer means 12 includes hoses that fluidly connect the cooling system 24 and the catalytic burner 40. During cooling of the fuel cells 22 in the fuel cell assembly 4, a fan blows ambient air over a heat exchanger in 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 a portion of the air is directed to the heat transfer means 12 and then through the heat transfer means 12 to the catalytic burner 40.

[0107] FIG. 3 shows a diagram of a portion of an energy generation system 1 including a catalytic burner 40. The energy generation system 1 includes a thermally insulated vessel 32, a fuel inlet 34, a media inlet / outlet 36, an outlet 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 outlet 38. The catalytic burner 40 contains 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 vessel 32 and allows a fluid, such as water, to flow into the vessel 32 as a heat transfer medium. The base 42 is attached to the exterior of the vessel 32 and stabilizes the vessel 32 when installed on-site.

[0108] In the system of Figure 3, catalytic burner 40 is a helical tube inside vessel 32. The helical catalytic burner 40 is configured to provide a large surface area between the helix of catalytic burner 40 and the heat transfer medium. When the heat transfer medium is introduced into vessel 32, it surrounds catalytic burner 40. Catalytic burner 40 and exhaust port 38 are formed from a single tube. Fuel inlet 34 is a separate device connected to a pipe and fluidly connected to catalytic burner 40.

[0109] The catalytic burner 40 is preheated to above a start temperature before catalytic combustion of the fuel mixture occurs in the catalytic burner 40. In the energy generation systems of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, preheating the catalytic burner 40 involves transferring heat generated by the fuel cell 22 to the catalytic burner 40. Air supplied to the heat exchanger is directed from the fuel inlet 34 to the catalytic burner 40 through the heat transfer means 12. The hot air flows through the catalytic burner 40 and exits the catalytic burner 40 through the exhaust port 38. As the air flows through the catalytic burner 40, it transfers heat to the catalytic burner 40 and the catalyst, preheating the catalytic burner 40 and raising their temperatures to at least the start temperature. Once the catalytic burner 40 and the catalyst have reached at least the start temperature, the air flow rate is reduced and the fuel mixture is supplied to the catalytic burner 40.

[0110] In an alternative configuration, or as an additional feature, a heater may be present in the inlet region of the coil of the catalytic burner 40. Such a heater may be used to preheat fluids entering the catalytic burner, for example, to preheat fuel to assist in initiating the catalytic combustion process downstream of the catalytic burner. This may augment or avoid the preheating described above. The heater may include an electric heating element and / or a heat exchanger to receive 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 at the inlet region of the catalytic burner 40.

[0111] During system operation, a fuel mixture containing hydrogen and oxygen is introduced into the catalytic burner 40 through the fuel inlet 34. The catalytic burner 40 is at a high temperature due to preheating. The fuel mixture travels through the catalytic burner 40 pipes and contacts the catalyst inside the catalytic burner 40. The fuel mixture undergoes catalytic combustion inside the catalytic burner 40, releasing heat. The products of the catalytic combustion travel through the catalytic burner 40 to the exhaust port 38 and are discharged from the catalytic burner 40 and the system. The products of the catalytic combustion travel throughout the coil of the catalytic burner 40. The heat released from the catalytic combustion is transferred from the catalytic burner 40 to the heat transfer medium, increasing the temperature of the heat transfer medium. The coil is configured to capture as much heat as possible from the products of catalytic combustion so that the products of catalytic combustion discharged through the exhaust port 38 are relatively cool. A heat transfer medium (e.g., water, glycol, a mixture thereof, 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 medium inlet / outlet 36, which in some applications is a thermostatic mixing valve.

[0112] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the system of FIG. 2 , illustrating the components of the vessel 32. The vessel 32 includes an inner shell 44, a support 46, and an outer shell 48. The inner shell 44 defines a volume in which a heat transfer medium, such as water, is stored. The inner shell 44 is surrounded by a support 46, which supports the outer shell 48, which surrounds the inner shell 44 and the support 46. The space between the inner shell 44 and the outer shell 48 defines the volume in which the support 46 is disposed and the volume in which a vacuum is created. The support 46 prevents the outer shell 48 from coming into direct contact with the inner shell 44. The vessel 32 of FIGS. 3 and 4 includes an exterior sheath 50 that protects the outer shell 48 from damage. For example, the exterior sheath 50 is made of neoprene and protects the outer shell 48 from mechanical and chemical damage. The exterior sheath is also made of an insulating material, thus providing another layer of insulation between the heat transfer medium and the environment surrounding the system.

[0113] During operation of the system, the inner shell 44 and the outer shell 48 define a volume to which a vacuum is applied between them. The vacuum reduces the amount of heat transferred between the inner shell 44 and the outer shell 48, reducing the amount of heat transferred to the environment surrounding the system (e.g., ambient air). This reduced heat transfer allows the system, and the heat transfer medium disposed within the system, to remain hotter for longer and retain more thermal energy.

[0114] Fabrication of the system involves forming an inner shell 44, placing a support 46 around the inner shell 44, and placing an outer shell 48 around the inner shell 44 and the support 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 within the volume. The support 46 maintains the spacing between the inner shell 44 and the outer shell 48 and prevents the outer shell 48 from contacting the inner shell 44 or deforming due to pressure from the vacuum. The support 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 46. The inner shell 44 and the outer shell 48 are made of metal.

[0115] 3 and 4 also show a heater 52 disposed within the volume of the vessel 32 and within the volume of the inner shell 44. The heater 52 is disposed to surround the catalytic burner 40 and is configured to raise the temperature of the catalytic burner 40. The heater 52 is used to preheat the catalytic burner 40 to a catalyst start temperature in the absence of another preheating source, such as fuel cell heat. The heater 52 is electrically driven.

[0116] 3 and 4, the heater 52 may be configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell assembly 4 to the catalytic burner 40. The heater 52 may take the form of a heat exchanger. Optionally, the heater 52 may be a hybrid heater that can transfer heat from the fuel cell to the catalytic burner for preheating, as well as generate heat via electrical means to preheat the catalytic burner 40.

[0117] During system startup operation, heat is transferred from the fuel cell assembly 4 of FIG. 2 to the catalytic burner 40. The heat is transferred using a heat exchanger located in the place of the heater 52 within the vessel 32. The transferred heat raises the temperature of the catalytic burner 40 and associated catalyst, preheating the catalytic burner 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 burner 40.

[0118] 5 shows a catalytic mesh 54 used for catalytic combustion of a fuel mixture. The catalytic mesh 54 is placed inside the pipe of the catalytic burner 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 placed inside the pipe of the catalytic burner 40. The surface of the catalytic mesh 54 is provided with a catalyst. The catalyst is platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and / or rhodium (Rh) supported on carbon.

[0119] Figure 6 shows a cross-section of a section of the catalytic burner 40 with the catalytic mesh 54 of Figure 5. The catalytic burner 40 includes a pipe 58 and a catalytic mesh 54. The spiral-shaped catalytic mesh 54 is disposed within the pipe 58 of the catalytic burner 40. The catalytic mesh 54 of Figure 6 is the catalytic mesh 54 described in connection with Figure 5.

[0120] During operation of the catalytic burner 40, the fuel mixture travels inside the pipe 58 and comes into contact with the catalytic mesh 54. A portion of the fuel mixture that comes into contact with the catalytic mesh 54 undergoes catalytic combustion and releases heat. This heat is transferred to the pipe 58 of the catalytic burner 40 and then to a heat transfer medium in contact with the exterior surface of the pipe 58 of the catalytic burner 40.

[0121] 7 shows an alternative configuration of the catalytic burner 40 of FIGS. 3 and 4, in which the catalytic mesh 54 is removed from the catalytic burner 40 and a surface catalyst 66 is provided inside the catalytic burner 40. The catalytic burner 62 includes a pipe 64 and a surface catalyst 66. The surface catalyst 66 is provided on the inner surface of the pipe 64. The surface catalyst 66 is configured to enable catalytic reaction of the fuel mixture. As mentioned above, it is contemplated that the catalytic burner 40 may simultaneously include the catalytic mesh 54 of FIG. 6 and the surface catalyst 66 of FIG. 7.

[0122] During operation of the catalytic burner 62, the fuel mixture travels inside the pipe 64 and comes into contact with the surface catalyst 66. A portion of the fuel mixture that comes into contact with the surface catalyst 66 undergoes catalytic combustion, releasing heat. This heat is transferred to the pipe 64 of the catalytic burner 62 and then to a heat transfer medium in contact with the exterior surface of the pipe 64 of the catalytic burner 62.

[0123] FIG. 8 shows a diagram of a first deep-dish end 70 and a second deep-dish end 72. The first deep-dish end 70 includes a crown 74, a knuckle 76, and a straight flange 78. The knuckle 76 defines the section of the first deep-dish end 70 between the crown 74 and the straight flange 78. In a deep-dish end, the straight flange 78 is longer than in a typical dish end, and joining the first deep-dish end 70 and the second deep-dish end 72 defines a container. Thus, the length of the straight flange 78 is approximately half the length of the container being constructed. For example, a four-meter-long container can be formed by producing two deep-dish ends with straight flanges approximately two meters long (ignoring the height of the knuckle and crown for simplicity).

[0124] 8, the knuckles 76 have a smaller radius of curvature than the crown 74; however, it is also possible to form a deep dish end in which the knuckles 76 have a larger radius of curvature than the crown 74, or alternatively, to form a deep dish end in which one or both of the knuckles 76 and the crown 74 are essentially non-curved / non-rounded. For example, a deep dish end can be formed that includes a straight flange 78 and a conical end.

Claims

1. a catalytic burner for generating thermal energy; a heat-insulating container surrounding the catalytic burner; A fuel cell; wherein waste heat from the fuel cell can be supplied to the catalytic burner and / or the insulated vessel; An energy generation system wherein the catalytic burner includes a catalytic coil including 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 fuel cell including a battery configured to store electrical energy generated by the fuel cell; The energy generation system of claim 1 , wherein 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. 3. An energy generation system according to claim 1 or 2, comprising heat transfer means arranged to transfer heat from said fuel cell to said catalytic burner.

4. The heat transfer means is a fuel cell heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell to a cooling medium; a catalytic heating heat transfer means configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell to the interior of the catalytic burner; fuel heating heat transfer means configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell to the fuel mixture of the catalytic burner; and / or heat recovery heat transfer means configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell to the catalytic burner; The energy generating system of claim 3 , comprising at least one of:

5. The catalyst heating heat transfer means is the fuel cell heat exchanger, a blower configured to blow the cooling medium onto the fuel cell heat exchanger such that heat is transferred from the heat-exchanged fuel cell to the cooling medium; and a fluid passage configured to transfer the cooling fluid from the fuel cell heat exchanger to the catalytic burner such that heat is transferred from the cooling fluid to the catalytic burner; 5. The energy generating system of claim 4, comprising:

6. the fuel mixture supplied to the catalytic burner is Hydrogen-based fluids, and an oxygen-based fluid, optionally ambient air; 6. The energy generating system of claim 1, comprising:

7. 7. The energy generation system of claim 6, wherein the fuel mixture supplied to the catalytic burner is the same as the fuel mixture supplied to the fuel cell.

8. 8. The energy generation system of claim 6 or 7, comprising a single fuel connection configured to supply the fuel mixture to the fuel cell and the catalytic burner.

9. The energy generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the insulated container is a vacuum insulated container.

10. a catalytic burner for generating thermal energy; an insulating container surrounding the catalytic burner, the insulating container being a vacuum insulating container; an energy generation system,

11. 11. The energy generation system of claim 10, wherein the catalytic burner includes a catalytic coil including 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.

12. the catalytic burner includes a catalyst; 12. The energy generation system of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the catalyst is in the form of a catalytic material provided on a surface configured to cause a catalytic reaction to occur within the catalytic burner.

13. 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. including a catalytic mesh; The catalyst mesh includes strips formed in a spiral or spring shape, and the catalyst is disposed on a surface of the catalyst mesh. An energy generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. including a surface catalyst, The surface catalyst is disposed on the inner surface of the catalytic burner, and the catalyst is disposed on the surface catalyst. An energy generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. a fuel inlet fluidly connected to the catalytic burner; and / or an exhaust outlet fluidly connected to the catalytic burner and configured to exhaust products of catalytic combustion external to the energy generation system; 16. The energy generating system of any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising:

17. The insulated container is An inner shell; an outer shell disposed around the inner shell; a support disposed between the inner shell and the outer shell; 17. The energy generating system of any one of claims 1 to 16, comprising:

18. 18. The energy generating system of claim 17, when reciting any one of claims 9 to 16, wherein the insulated container comprises a volume between the inner shell and the outer shell, and a vacuum is applied to the volume to provide vacuum insulation.

19. the support comprises cellulose fibers; 19. The energy generating system of claim 17 or 18, optionally wherein the support comprises at least one of cardboard, fiberboard, bamboo, and a polymer.

20. 20. The energy generation system of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the insulated vessel contains a liquid heat transfer medium, the heat transfer medium configured to receive the heat generated by the catalytic burner.

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

22. 22. The energy generation system of claim 20 or 21, wherein the insulated container includes a medium inlet and / or a medium outlet configured to allow the heat transfer medium to enter and exit the insulated container.

23. 23. The energy generating system of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the insulated container comprises a shell made from two deep dish ends, the two deep dish ends being joined together; Optionally, when dependent on claim 17, the energy generating system, wherein the inner shell and / or the outer shell are manufactured from two deep dish ends.

24. 24. A method of operating an energy generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 23, comprising operating the catalytic burner to generate heat and transferring the heat to the insulated vessel.

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

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