External Burner Exhaust Gas Flow Path for Reformer Fuel Cell Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reformer fuel cell systems with low power face challenges in maintaining adequate heat supply, particularly during part load operation, which can lead to deterioration or shutdown of both the reformer and fuel cell processes.
Innovation Solution
A reformer fuel cell system incorporating a burner device and an exhaust gas supply assembly that directs hot exhaust gas through components in descending temperature order, allowing selective heating and maintaining operating temperatures without the need for additional heat exchangers or transport media, with ducts designed for efficient heat transfer and potential use of secondary air for cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If reformer fuel cell systems with low power are operated in part load mode, then power consumption is reduced, but heat supply becomes insufficient leading to deterioration or shutdown of reformer and fuel cell processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of hot exhaust gas (which would normally be wasted heat) into a beneficial heating source. The exhaust gas from the burner is directed through heat exchangers to provide necessary heat to the reformer and fuel cell, especially during part load operation when internal heat generation is insufficient. This resolves the contradiction by utilizing waste heat to maintain operating temperature while allowing reduced power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heat transport medium as an intermediary to transfer heat from the exhaust gas to the reformer and fuel cell. The heat exchangers use this intermediate medium to efficiently transfer thermal energy, enabling the exhaust gas to indirectly heat the components that require temperature maintenance during part load operation.
2Temperature
If additional heating systems are added to maintain heat supply during part load operation, then heat supply is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the exhaust gas heating system multi-functional by using it for both startup heating and part load operation heating. The same burner and heat exchanger infrastructure serves dual purposes: heating during system startup and maintaining temperature during part load operation, thereby avoiding the need for separate heating systems and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own exhaust gas as the heating source, making the heating system self-sufficient. The burner's exhaust, which would otherwise be waste, is recirculated through heat exchangers to provide necessary heat, eliminating the need for external heating systems and reducing device complexity while maintaining heat supply during part load operation.
3Loss of energy
If exhaust gas is supplied to multiple components, then heat distribution efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the exhaust gas supply to different components based on their specific heating requirements. Separate heat exchangers are provided for the reformer and fuel cell, allowing independent optimization of heat transfer for each component. This segmentation enables efficient heat distribution to multiple components while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables compact, efficient heating of partial reformer systems and fuel cells, maintaining optimal operating temperatures and preventing overheating, while minimizing the need for additional heating components and ensuring reliable operation across varying load conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a burner device for generating a hot exhaust gas is arranged outside of the reformer and the fuel cell
Implementation Method 2
an exhaust gas supply assembly is provided for supplying the exhaust gas to at least two components
Implementation Method 3
the flow path of the exhaust gas through the exhaust supply assembly is defined such that the exhaust gas flows to and/or through the components according to the level of their particular operating temperature in descending temperature order
Data Source
AI summary
A reformer fuel cell system having a plurality of components, that are a plurality of partial reformer systems forming a reformer for the generation of a hydrogen-rich gas and a fuel cell for the generation of electric current with use being made of the hydrogen-rich gas. A burner device is arranged outside of the reformer and the fuel cell is provided for the generation of a hot exhaust gas. An exhaust gas supply assembly supplies the exhaust gas to at least two of the components wherein the exhaust gas supply assembly defines the flow path of the exhaust gas such that the exhaust gas flows to and/or through the components according to the level of their particular operating temperature in descending temperature order. In this manner, it is easily possible to directly heat up the individual components to the level of their particular operating temperature in a selective manner.