WO2013165406A1 - Mélangeur à deux gaz à lobes et système de piles à combustible à oxyde solide utilisant celui-ci - Google Patents

Mélangeur à deux gaz à lobes et système de piles à combustible à oxyde solide utilisant celui-ci Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2013165406A1
WO2013165406A1 PCT/US2012/036054 US2012036054W WO2013165406A1 WO 2013165406 A1 WO2013165406 A1 WO 2013165406A1 US 2012036054 W US2012036054 W US 2012036054W WO 2013165406 A1 WO2013165406 A1 WO 2013165406A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
inlet
section
outlet
pipe
fuel cell
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2012/036054
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Eva WONG
Louis Chiappetta, Jr.
Jeffrey M. Cohen
Justin R. Hawkes
Andrzej E. KUCZEK
Thomas D. Radcliff
David E. TEW
Jean Yamanis
Original Assignee
United Technologies Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by United Technologies Corporation filed Critical United Technologies Corporation
Priority to PCT/US2012/036054 priority Critical patent/WO2013165406A1/fr
Publication of WO2013165406A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013165406A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
    • H01M8/04014—Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
    • H01M8/04022—Heating by combustion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L50/00—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle
    • B60L50/50—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells
    • B60L50/70—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells using power supplied by fuel cells
    • B60L50/72—Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L58/00—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles
    • B60L58/30—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
    • B60L58/31—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling fuel cells for starting of fuel cells
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L58/00—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles
    • B60L58/30—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
    • B60L58/32—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling fuel cells for controlling the temperature of fuel cells, e.g. by controlling the electric load
    • B60L58/33—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling fuel cells for controlling the temperature of fuel cells, e.g. by controlling the electric load by cooling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L58/00—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles
    • B60L58/30—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
    • B60L58/32—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling fuel cells for controlling the temperature of fuel cells, e.g. by controlling the electric load
    • B60L58/34—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling fuel cells for controlling the temperature of fuel cells, e.g. by controlling the electric load by heating
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0662—Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2240/00—Control parameters of input or output; Target parameters
    • B60L2240/10—Vehicle control parameters
    • B60L2240/36—Temperature of vehicle components or parts
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02T90/40—Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Definitions

  • a flow of a slower, inner gas is diffused without wall separation in a transition from a circular flow pipe to four lobes, concentric within a larger, converging circular pipe having a faster flow of an outer gas to be mixed with the first gas.
  • the outflow of the lobes and the outer gas both include radial flow components, causing opposing vortices which enhance the mixing at and downstream of the lobe exit.
  • the lobed mixer may be used to mix hydrogen and oxygen exhaust from a fuel cell, which are catalytically burned after mixing, to provide heat to process air as it enters the fuel ceil, or in other applications.
  • a fuel cell system which can be fueled from many readily available hydrocarbon feeds is the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), having a stabilized zirconia electrolyte.
  • SOFC stacks can use a reformate containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane.
  • Operating temperatures of SOFC stacks are in a range of about 650C (1200F) at the inlet to about 850C (1560F) at the outlet.
  • it is essential that the fuel cells not be cooled extensively by the influx of cooler process air, which supplies the oxygen for the fuel cell reaction.
  • a recuperative heat exchanger can use the product of residual fuel in the anode exhaust, catalytically combusted with residual oxygen in the cathode exhaust, to heat the incoming ambient air stream so as to not cool the SOFC inappropriately.
  • the gases must be thoroughly mixed before contacting the catalytic bed.
  • the heart of the disclosed apparatus is a coaxial gas flow system in which the inner gas flow is converted from flow in a common inlet pipe having an open cross section, such as a cylindrical pipe, to flow in a plurality of lobes.
  • the lobes have, along their length, a constant cross section, equal to that of the inlet pipe. This allows diffusion of the flow without separation from the constraining walls.
  • the flow exiting the lobes has radially outward flow components, which are zero at the axis of the system and increase to maximum radial angularity at the outer walls of the lobe exits.
  • the flow surrounding the outside of the lobes has radially inward components which are zero at the outer walls of the system and increase to maximum angularity along the outside of the lobes at the lobe exits.
  • An example is the mixing of hydrogen and oxygen effluents of a solid oxide fuel cell, although other gases can similarly be mixed.
  • the mixed gases are applied to a catalytic burner, the product of which is utilized to heat inflowing atmospheric air as it enters a solid oxide fuel cell, as a source of process oxygen.
  • the lobed mixer described herein is capable of providing a high degree of mixing, with low pressure drops, in a very small volume, thereby rendering it useful in vehicular applications.
  • a solid oxide fuel cell system employing the subject mixer becomes useful in much smaller
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosed apparatus having four lobes, giving a downstream view of the components, the outer walls of the apparatus being shown as transparent for clarity in understanding.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosed apparatus having four lobes, giving an upstream view of the components, the outer walls of the apparatus being shown as transparent for clarity in understanding.
  • Fig. 3 is a fractional perspective view of the lobed transition of Fig. 1 , at an expanded scale for clarity.
  • FIG. 4 is a simplified, stylized block diagram of an exemplary fuel ceil system in which the present apparatus is employed to facilitate catalytic combustion of fuel and air exhausts.
  • an exemplary embodiment of a fuel cell afterburner 11 comprises a catalytic burner section 12 and a mixing section 14.
  • the mixing section 14 comprises an outside pipe having three sections 15-17 which are shown as transparent for clarity of view, but which are typically made of steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, nickel-based alloys or any other material suitable to the particular application to which the afterburner 11 is applied.
  • a lobed mixer inlet section 20 which transitions from a circular cross section at its inlet 21 to a design of four lobes 24-27 at its outlet 22. Maintaining a constant flow cross sectional area throughout the transition assists in diffusing the flow without separation from the walls within the lobes.
  • the purpose of diffusion is to provide the flow of the inner gas passing out of the mixer inlet section 20 across a greater portion of the area of flow of the outer gas at the outlet 23 of the pipe 16, as the two gases mix.
  • the diffusion introduces a radially outward component to the flow of the inner gas and the structure of the inlet section 20 introduces a radially inward component to the flow of the outer gas at the exit 22 of the mixer inlet section 20. This provides axial vortices for a large mixing area in an axially short distance, as described hereinbefore.
  • the inlet end 21 of the mixer inlet section 20 is coupled to an elbow 29 which passes through the pipe section 15 and is coupled to a pipe 30 which is connected to the anode exhaust of the SOFC.
  • the inlet end 32 of the pipe section 15 is connected to the cathode exhaust of the SOFC. However, these connections may be reversed.
  • the pipe section 17 is sufficiently long to ensure that the inner gas flow and the outer gas flow are thoroughly mixed before reaching the catalytic burner section 12.
  • the pipe section 17 diverges so as to increase the inlet contact area that is possible for the catalyst section 12. But it may be straight or converge.
  • the catalytic burner section 12 may comprise a ceramic sponge material (or other suitable catalyst base) coated with one or more noble metal catalysts, such as platinum, or alloys thereof.
  • the outlet of the catalytic burner section 12 is shown as comprising a converging pipe section 35, but it may consist of anything suitable for the particular utilization to which the apparatus 11 is adapted.
  • each of the lobes 24-27 has affixed to its radially outermost surface, a tab 38-41 , respectively, which is used to affix the mixer inlet section 20 to the pipe section 16, spaced therefrom.
  • a fuel cell system 45 includes a fuel cell stack 47 having anodes 48 with an exhaust 49, cathodes 50 with an exhaust 51 , and electrolytes 52.
  • the present modality is extremely well suited for use with SOFCs because of the high temperatures involved, in which case the electrolytes 52 would be stabilized zirconia, or other suitable oxygen ion conducting material. On the other hand, it could also be used with other electrolytes.
  • the cathode exhaust 51 is fed by a conduit 54 to the inlet 32 of the pipe section 15, and the anode exhaust 49 is fed by a conduit 55 to the pipe 30 which leads to the inlet end 21 of the mixer inlet section 20.
  • the outlet of the afterburner 11 is fed through conduit 57 to a first inlet 57a of a heat exchanger 58.
  • the other inlet 60a to the heat exchanger 58 is fed by a conduit 60 from a pump or blower 61 that forces atmospheric air from the atmosphere 63 through the cathode system and the afterburner.
  • the air outlet of the heat exchanger 58 is provided through a conduit 66 to the inlet 67 of the cathodes 50 of the fuel cell stack 47.
  • the other outlet of the heat exchanger 58 is provided to exhaust 69, which can include further processing or simply return to ambient.
  • the heat exchanger is arbitrarily shown as a co-flow configuration, but it may be counter-flow or cross-flow.
  • the inlet pipe 29, 30 as well as the external piping need not be circular.
  • the term "unspecified cross section” means, for all the pipes 15-17, 21 , 29, round, as disclosed, square or rectangular with or without rounded corners, oval, elliptical or other flow configurations.
  • the number of lobes 24-27 may be other than four. In other embodiments, the flow cross sectional area in the lobes need not be constant along their length.
  • the heat exchanger could be selectively bypassed through conduits 71 and 72 by a valve 74, as operated by a controller 75.
  • the controller 75 responds to various conditions in the fuel cell system and provides control over other components as well.
  • Fuel such as reformate containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and possibly methane, is provided from a source 78 over a conduit 79 to the inlet 82 of the anodes 48.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une section d'entrée de mélangeur (20), qui passe d'une section transversale circulaire à son entrée (21) à une section transversale à lobes (24-27) à sa sortie (28) avec une aire en section transversale constante, dans laquelle un gaz interne, plus lent, est diffusé sans séparation. La section d'entrée du mélangeur est disposée de façon coaxiale à l'intérieur de tuyaux (15, 16) ayant un écoulement plus rapide d'un second gaz à mélanger avec le premier gaz. Les gaz mélangés sont appliqués à un brûleur catalytique (12), dont la sortie est appliquée à un échangeur de chaleur (58), dont l'autre entrée est de l'air atmosphérique en provenance d'une soufflante (61). L'air chauffé est appliqué à des cathodes (47) d'un empilement de piles à combustible à oxyde solide (47), de façon à ne pas le refroidir exagérément avec l'air ambiant.
PCT/US2012/036054 2012-05-02 2012-05-02 Mélangeur à deux gaz à lobes et système de piles à combustible à oxyde solide utilisant celui-ci WO2013165406A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2012/036054 WO2013165406A1 (fr) 2012-05-02 2012-05-02 Mélangeur à deux gaz à lobes et système de piles à combustible à oxyde solide utilisant celui-ci

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2012/036054 WO2013165406A1 (fr) 2012-05-02 2012-05-02 Mélangeur à deux gaz à lobes et système de piles à combustible à oxyde solide utilisant celui-ci

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WO2013165406A1 true WO2013165406A1 (fr) 2013-11-07

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015165708A3 (fr) * 2014-04-29 2015-12-23 Mahle International Gmbh Pile métal/air

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040005491A1 (en) * 2002-07-02 2004-01-08 Scott Blanchet Fuel cell system with mixer/eductor
US20080020247A1 (en) * 2006-07-20 2008-01-24 Modine Manufacturing Company Compact air preheater for solid oxide fuel cell systems
US8061983B1 (en) * 2008-06-20 2011-11-22 Florida Turbine Technoligies, Inc. Exhaust diffuser strut with stepped trailing edge

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040005491A1 (en) * 2002-07-02 2004-01-08 Scott Blanchet Fuel cell system with mixer/eductor
US20080020247A1 (en) * 2006-07-20 2008-01-24 Modine Manufacturing Company Compact air preheater for solid oxide fuel cell systems
US8061983B1 (en) * 2008-06-20 2011-11-22 Florida Turbine Technoligies, Inc. Exhaust diffuser strut with stepped trailing edge

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015165708A3 (fr) * 2014-04-29 2015-12-23 Mahle International Gmbh Pile métal/air
US10340504B2 (en) 2014-04-29 2019-07-02 Mahle International Gmbh Metal air battery

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