Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – Having magnetic field feature
Patent
1992-05-06
1994-05-24
Skapars, Anthony
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
Having magnetic field feature
429 19, 429 39, H01M 804
Patent
active
053147618
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an installation and a process for the generation of electrical energy, whereby fuel cells perform the conversion of energy chemically bonded in a fuel into electrical energy.
2. Background Information
Fuel cells have been part of the prior art for many years. There are a number of different types, which are operated at different pressures, temperatures and with different electrolytes. Examples include alkaline fuel cells (AFC=Aklaline Fuel Cell), phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC=Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell), molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC=Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC=Solid Oxide Fuel Cell), or solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells (SPFC=Solid Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell). A fuel cell always has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, between which an electric current flows through an electrolyte. The anode chamber generally contains hydrogen gas or another gas rich in H.sub.2 as the fuel, and the cathode chamber contains a gas containing O.sub.2 (in particular air) as the oxidizing agent.
An oxidation process then takes place in the fuel cell at a temperature level which is relatively low compared to thermal combustion, for which reason we also speak of the "cold combustion" of the fuel. The efficiency of the fuel cell can generally be increased by increasing the operating pressure. Since its mechanical structure is very sensitive, precautions must be taken so that the pressure of the H.sub.2 -rich anode gas and the pressure of the cathode gas containing O.sub.2 are approximately equal to avoid mechanical damage. There must also be a control system to cool the fuel cell, so that the operating temperature always remains at the required level, independent of current fluctuations. An additional important point which has an effect on the operational safety of a fuel cell system is the maintenance of a sufficient degree of purity of the anode gas. For example, several types of fuel cells are sensitive to CO (e.g. PAFC), while others, such as MCFC or SOFC, are not.
To increase the overall efficiency of the electric current generation by means of fuel cells, and to achieve competitiveness with conventional processes for the generation of electric energy, the generation of the H.sub.2 -rich gas has heretofore been directly connected to the current generation, since in this manner the energy and fluid flows which occur in the fuel cell process can be utilized in the context of the conversion of a hydrocarbon into an H.sub.2 -rich gas. That would result in a close integration of the two subsystems, as will be explained below in greater detail on the basis of the schematic diagram in FIG. 1.
The fuel cell system designated B can consist of a single fuel cell, but also of several fuel cells connected together. (In the remainder of this description, the term "fuel cell" is also understood to include the possibility of several fuel cells.) This fuel cell B has two input gas currents, namely one H.sub.2 -rich anode gas current 2 and a cathode gas current 3 containing 02, which consists, for example, of compressed air. The compressed air, for example, can be supplied by an electrically operated compressor. The fluid currents 2 and 3 are held at the same pressure level by corresponding control devices, to prevent mechanical damage to the fuel cell. Exhaust gases are formed as a result of the chemical/physical processes taking place in the fuel cell. Since the H.sub.2 content of the H.sub.2 -rich gas 2 cannot be completely consumed, the anode exhaust gas current 4 discharged from the anode chamber still contains a residual amount of H.sub.2. Depending on the method of operation and the type of fuel cell, the remaining concentration is in the range of approximately 5-30% of the initial amount. The actual value is a function of the gas composition and the fuel consumption in the cell. The cathode exhaust gas current 6 being discharged from the cathode chamber also still contains a portion of the original O.sub.2 con
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Giacobbe Francesco
Pietrogrande Paolo
Kinetics Technology International Group B.V.
Mannesmann AG
Skapars Anthony
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