Fuel cell module with an integrated additional heater

Details Fuel cell module with an integrated additional heater Fuel cell module with an integrated additional heater

1998-11-24

2001-07-10

Kalafut, Stephen (Department: 1745)

Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and

With pressure equalizing means for liquid immersion operation

Reexamination Certificate

active

06258474

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a fuel cell module with an integrated additional heater and to a plant with a fuel cell module of this kind.
Apparatuses with fuel cells which contain integrated additional heaters by means of which a prereformer is heated up to operating temperature in each case when putting the apparatus into operation are known from the patent specifications EP-A 0 654 838 and EP-A 0 780 917. The later specification describes a further development of the apparatus disclosed in the earlier specification. In this further development the additional heater has two further functions: a) heating up the air by means of which the cells are preheated when being put into operation; b) production of additional heat for heating purposes during the operation of the apparatus, with the fuel cells being used for the generation of electrical energy as well as of heat for heating purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a further apparatus with fuel cells and an integrated additional heater which is particularly suitable as a module for plants, which can be assembled from different units in accordance with the requirements. In this situation these plants should be provided for the simultaneous generation of electrical energy and heat for heating purposes, and a variable requirement of heat for heating purposes is to be covered by separate burners which in each case are built into the plant as an additional unit in addition to the fuel cell module.
The fuel cell module contains an integrated additional heater for a start-up operation and comprises the following components. Planar fuel cells are connected in series and form a cylindrical stack, at the side surface of air infeed points of the cells are located. A jacket which is arranged about this cell stack, which is made radially permeable to air and which is formed as a dynamic heat insulator. Furthermore, a space between the cell stack and the jacket, is provided for an afterburning of gas leaving the cell and for conducting off exhaust gases. Heat sources of the additional heater are arranged at the inner surface of the jacket. During the start-up operation the heat given off by the additional heater is at least partially introduced into the fuel cells by a radial air current.
In this fuel cell module it is further provided only that the heat required for the start-up operation is delivered by the integrated additional heater. It is possible, as in the previously known apparatuses, to supply the heat required for the heating up by means of a gas combustion. If a connection to the electric power mains is available, which is generally the case, it can be practical for the additional heater to be formed as an electric heater.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 4683177 (1987-07-01), Kinoshita
patent: 5942344 (1999-08-01), Lehmeier et al.
patent: 5998053 (1999-12-01), Diethelm
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patent: WO 94/18712 (1994-08-01), None
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 012, No. 239 (E-630),Jul. 7, 1988 & JP63029445 A (Mitsubishi Heavy Ind. Ltd.), Feb. 8, 1988, Abstract.

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