RU2304326C1 - Supply system of fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electrical engineering, in particular, power systems, in which fuel is converted to electric power.

SUBSTANCE: the fuel cell supply system consists of reaction chambers, each having a hermetically sealed body (1) loaded with hydrocarbon raw material (2). A gas vent-heaters (3) with a filter-catalyst (4) immersed in a layer of fire-dispersed activated carbon (5) is positioned inside the body (1). The inner space of the reaction chamber is connected to the cavity of the gas vent-heater (3) through a layer of activated carbon (5). To supply water to the inner space of body (1) of the reaction chamber, use is made of water supply device (6) connected to it. One more similar reaction chamber is installed in succession with the first reaction chamber. The gas vent-heater (3) of the first reaction chamber is connected to the area of the loaded hydrocarbon raw material (2) of the second reaction chamber with the aid of the outlet gas conduit (7) through a valve (8). The outlet gas conduit (9) of the second reaction chamber through valve (10) is connected to the area of the loaded hydrocarbon raw material (2) of the first reaction chamber. The second outlets of valves (8) and (10) are combined and through compressor (11) are connected to fuel cell (13), whose outlet is connected to the accumulator (14) of the products of fuel cell operation and non reacting products of pyrolisis. The second outlet of the valves may be connected to the fuel cell through a reformer with the aid of a manifold the gaseous products may be fed from the accumulator inside the reaction chambers. With the aid of a manifold liquid products may also be fed inside the reaction chambers directly or through the water supply device.

EFFECT: provided use any hydrocarbon raw material as fuel, simplified and universal process of preparation of hydro-containing gas fed to the fuel cell.

4 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the field of fuel cells.

A power system is known, in particular for converting fuel to electricity, comprising a mobile transport power system with a fuel cell and an external station, the mobile transport power system with a fuel cell comprising a battery connected to a driving means for driving the transport system, a fuel cell for converting fuel to electrical energy connected to said battery, fuel storage means of said fuel cell, and means for connecting connecting with said external station and supplying electric power to it from said fuel cell, said mobile transport power system with a fuel cell or said external station additionally comprising fuel reforming means or a fuel converter configured to generate hydrogen-containing fuel for said fuel cell (a / c for patent No. 99108430/09 from 09.16.1997, publ. 02.10.2001).

The disadvantages of the system:

- non-universality of the initial fuel;

- the need for processing or disposal of substances-products of the fuel cell.

A known fuel cell system for vehicles containing a container with hydrocarbon fuel (a mixture of water and methanol), a reformer with a pipeline for supplying fuel gases to the anode chambers of the fuel cells, a compressor for supplying compressed air to the cathode chambers of the fuel cells, an afterburning device for fuel cells that have not reacted in the fuel cells gases (US Pat. No. 6603532, application No. 09/323551 of 06/01/1999, publ. 23.10.2001).

The disadvantages of the system:

- non-universality of the initial fuel;

- the need for additional fuel preparation;

- the need for afterburning of unreacted fuel gases in the fuel cells.

Closest to the proposed and adopted as a prototype is a fuel cell system, consisting of a block of the actual fuel cells generating electric energy, and means for supplying working gases to the fuel cells and circulating them in the system, a water storage tank and a fuel storage tank, a reformer for the conversion of fuel with water vapor, a burner for afterburning unreacted fuel gases, a gas turbine circulating gases in the system, and a regenerating device for recovering water from working in the gas system (US Pat. No. 6379829, application No. 09/466795 dated 12/20/1999, publ. 04/30/2002).

The disadvantages of the prototype device are:

- non-universality of the initial fuel;

- the need for additional fuel preparation;

- the need for afterburning of unreacted fuel gases in the fuel cells.

To eliminate these drawbacks, a fuel cell supply system is proposed that contains a reaction chamber loaded with hydrocarbon feedstock, with a gas exhaust heater located inside it, inside which a filter catalyst is located, and an exhaust gas duct, and an active carbon layer is located in the exit zone of the reaction chamber, into which a gas exhaust heater is immersed that connects to the internal volume of the reaction chamber, while the reaction chamber has a device for supplying water to its internal volume, while At least one more reaction chamber can be installed with this reaction chamber, while the outlet gas duct of each previous reaction chamber, except the last one, is connected to the internal volume of the subsequent one through the valve, and the outlet gas duct of the last reaction chamber is also connected through the valve to the internal the volume of the first reaction chamber, while the second outputs of the valves are combined and connected through a compressor to a reformer connected to a fuel cell, the output of which is connected to the product storage The operation of the fuel cell and unreacted pyrolysis products, in this case, substances can be supplied to the reaction chambers for recycling from the storage tank, and water or water vapor can be supplied either from the outside or from the water supply device of any reaction chamber to the reformer, while the function of the reformer can carry out the reaction chamber, the output of which through the valve is connected to the compressor, while at least part of the electricity generated by the fuel cell can be used to supply gas vents-heat reaction chamber chambers.

The proposed fuel cell supply system allows you to use almost any hydrocarbon raw material (solid, liquid, gaseous - from gas, fuel oil to wood, paper, plastics) as fuel, make the circulation of substances in the system closed - isolate it from the environment, simplify and make universal the process of preparing hydrogen-containing gas supplied to the fuel cell.

The operation of the device is illustrated in the drawing, which schematically depicts the power system of the fuel cell.

The fuel cell power system consists of reaction chambers, each of which contains a hermetically sealed casing 1, where hydrocarbon feed is loaded 2. Inside the casing 1, there is a gas exhaust heater 3 with a filter catalyst 4 inside it, immersed in a layer of finely dispersed activated carbon 5. When this, the internal volume of the reaction chamber is connected to the cavity of the gas exhaust heater 3 through a layer of activated carbon 5. To supply water to the internal volume of the housing 1 of the reaction chamber, it is connected to water supply device 6. The gas-heater 3 of the first reaction chamber is connected to the zone of the loaded hydrocarbon feedstock 2 of the second reaction chamber through an outlet gas duct 7 through a valve 8. The outlet gas duct 9 of the second reaction chamber through the valve 10 is connected to the loaded hydrocarbon zone 2 of the first reaction chamber. The second outputs of the valves 8 and 10 are combined and connected through a compressor 11 to a reformer 12 connected to the fuel cell 13, the output of which is connected to the drive 14 of the fuel cell work products and unreacted pyrolysis products. Using line 15, gaseous products from drive 14 can be fed into the reaction chambers. Using line 16, liquid products can also be fed directly into the reaction chambers, or via water supply devices 6. Not one, but several similar reaction chambers can be installed in series with the first reaction chamber.

The fuel cell fuel system operates as follows.

In the housing 1 of the reaction chambers, hydrocarbon feed 2 is loaded, after which the chambers are sealed. Then, the valve 8 is installed in a position in which the outlet gas duct 7 is connected to the internal volume of the second reaction chamber, where hydrocarbon feedstock 2 is loaded. The valve 10 is installed in the position where the outlet gas duct 9 of the second reaction chamber is connected to the compressor 11. On the gas exhaust heater 3 The first reaction chamber is powered. The temperature in the housing 1 of the first reaction chamber increases, and the process of pyrolysis of the hydrocarbon feedstock 2 occurs, from which moisture also evaporates. The resulting mixture of water vapor and pyrolysis gas passes through a heated layer of finely dispersed activated carbon 5 and a filter catalyst 4 of the first reaction chamber, forming fuel gas. The latter through the exhaust heater 3 of the first reaction chamber, its outlet gas duct 7 and valve 8 enters the housing 1 of the second reaction chamber, where it is cooled passing through a layer of loaded hydrocarbon feedstock 2 and is purified passing through a layer of active carbon 5 and filter catalyst 4 then following through the gas-heater 3 of the second reaction chamber, its outlet gas duct 9, valve 10, compressor 11 to reformer 12, and from it to fuel cell 13. In the fuel cell 13, reactions occur, as a result of which it generates an electric energy. Unreacted substances and reaction products from the fuel cell 13 enter the accumulator 14. From the accumulator 14 through the line 15, gaseous substances can be fed into the reaction chambers for recycling. Similarly, along line 16, liquid substances (for example, water) can be supplied from accumulator 14 either directly to the reaction chambers or to water supply devices 6. When all moisture contained in the charged hydrocarbon feedstock 2 in the first reaction chamber is evaporated, a batch water supply using the water supply device 6 of the first reaction chamber. When this water goes into a gaseous state, increasing its volume and mechanically acting on the loaded hydrocarbon feedstock 2.

When the processing of hydrocarbon feedstock 2 in the first reaction chamber is completed, the power from its flue gas heater 3 is turned off, and power is supplied to the gas flue heater 3 of the second reaction chamber. The valve 8 switches to the position where the outlet gas duct 7 of the first reaction chamber is connected to the compressor 11. Then, a new portion of the hydrocarbon feedstock 2 is loaded into the housing 1 of the first reaction chamber, after which it is sealed. Then, the valve 10 switches to the position where the outlet gas duct 9 of the second reaction chamber is connected to the internal volume of the first reaction chamber, where hydrocarbon feedstock 2 is loaded. Now, fuel gas is formed inside the housing 1 of the second reaction chamber, passes through the gas-heater 3 of the second reaction chamber, its outlet gas duct 9 and enters the internal volume of the first reaction chamber, where hydrocarbon feedstock is loaded 2. Fuel gas passes through this layer, active carbon layer 5, filter catalyst 4 and gas water-heater 3 of the first reaction chamber, entering through the outlet gas duct 7 and valve 8 to the compressor 11. Next, the process repeats.

Operation in series connection of several similar cameras does not change.

Water or steam may be supplied to reformer 12 either from an external source or from a water supply device 6 of any of the reaction chambers. In this case, the heat of both the additional heater and the heat of the bodies 1 of the reaction chambers can be used to heat the supplied water.

The reaction chamber, the output of which is connected through a corresponding valve to the compressor 11, can perform the functions of a reformer. At the same time, gas is also supplied to the flue heater 3 of this chamber, hydrocarbon fuel gas is supplied inside the chamber from the previous chamber, and water is supplied through the water input device 6. Since the temperature inside the chamber is high, the water passes into steam, which interacts with the fuel gas, forming a hydrogen-containing gas, which passes through the activated carbon layer 5, the filter catalyst 4 and through the valve is supplied to the compressor 11. There may be no separate reformer 12.

At least part of the electricity generated by the fuel cell can be used to power the gas vents-heaters 3 of the reaction chambers.

The proposed installation in comparison with the prototype allows you to use almost any hydrocarbon feedstock as fuel, make the circulation of substances in the system closed - isolate it from the environment, simplify and make universal the process of preparing hydrogen-containing gas supplied to the fuel cell.

Claims (4)

1. A fuel cell power system comprising water storage tanks, a reformer that has an input for supplying hydrocarbon fuel, an input for supplying water or water vapor, the output of which is connected to a fuel element that is connected to a device for storing reaction products of the fuel element, from where it is condensed water is supplied to a water storage tank, characterized in that the system comprises a reaction chamber loaded with hydrocarbon feedstock, with a flue heater located inside it, inside of which o there is a filter catalyst and an exhaust gas duct, and in the exit zone of the reaction chamber there is a layer of activated carbon in which a gas exhaust heater is connected, which is connected to the internal volume of the reaction chamber, while the reaction chamber has a device for supplying water to its internal volume, while at least one more reaction chamber is installed in series with the reaction chamber, while the outlet gas duct of each previous reaction chamber, except the last, is connected to the internal volume of the subsequent through the veins il, and the outlet gas duct of the last reaction chamber is also connected through a valve to the internal volume of the first reaction chamber, while the second valve outputs are combined and connected through a compressor to a fuel cell, the output of which is connected to the storage of the fuel cell work products and unreacted pyrolysis products, the second outputs valves can be connected to the fuel cell via a reformer, while the function of the reformer is performed by the chamber, the outlet gas duct of which is connected to the fuel cell, In this case, substances can be supplied from the storage ring to the reaction chambers for recycling. 2. The power system according to claim 1, characterized in that the supply of water or water vapor to the reaction chamber can be carried out additionally from the outside, or from a water supply device of any reaction chamber. 3. The power system according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat of the additional heater or the heat of the reaction chamber bodies can be used to heat the supplied water or water vapor. 4. The power system according to claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the electricity generated by the fuel cell can be used to power the gas vents, heaters of the reaction chambers.