GB1185376A - Improvements in System and Process Employing a Reformable Fuel to Generate Electrical Energy. - Google Patents

Abstract

1,185,376. Fuel cell using reformed fuel. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. 25 April, 1967 [29 April, 1966], No. 19043/67. Addition to 1,174,973. Heading H1B. In a process for generating electrical energy a mixture of a reformable fuel and water is reacted together in a reformer receiving heat from a combustion zone and the reformate is fed to a fuel cell operated above 212‹ F. for electrochemical oxidation at the anode, while an oxidant is supplied to the cathode of the fuel cell, any fuel and oxidant in excess of the fuel cell requirements being fed to the combustion zone, and water produced in the fuel cell and in the combustion zone being condensed and replenishing the water consumed in generating the reformate. Fig. 1 shows a suitable embodiment of the invention wherein fuel in conduit 15 and water in conduit 21 are led through heat exchangers 25 and 35 to the reformer 19 where they react, and the product reformate is led via the heat exchanger 35, where it is cooled by the water and fuel supply, to the fuel cell anode chamber 3; oxidant (e.g. air) is fed via the annular outer chamber of the condenser 61 via conduit 37 to the fuel cell cathode chamber 7; fuel and oxidant not used by the fuel cell are led via conduits 39 and 43 respectively through heat exchangers 67 and 69 to the combustion chamber 41, which heats the reformer; the exhaust gases are returned to the condenser 61, where they are cooled by the heat exchangers 67 and 69 in the insulated upper inner chamber and where water is condensed out of the gases when they pass through the lower part of the inner chamber which is cooled by the passage of the oxidant air over the fins 65; the residual gases exhaust through conduit 73. Optional features include valve 82 allowing water to enter the fuel cell electrolyte from conduit 21, conduit 45 allowing fuel to pass directly to the burner, by-passing the reformer, conduit 49 allowing fuel not required for the burner to re-enter conduit 15, tap 78 for removing pure water from the system, and valve 83 for exhausting air coolant for the condenser 61 not wanted for the fuel cell. A suitable fuel cell electrolyte for use in the system described in Fig. 1 is phosphoric acid. In Fig. 2 (not shown), modifications suitable for use with a fuel cell having an aqueous alkaline electrolyte are shown: a hydrogen permeable membrane is provided through which H 2 passes from the hydrogen chamber to the anode chamber, means are provided to remove CO from the reformate and CO 2 from the oxidant fed to the fuel cell, and the air used to cool the condenser 61 is not cycled to the fuel cell, nor is excess oxidant from the cell supplied to the burner.