Systems and methods are provided for capturing CO.sub.2 from a combustion source using molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs). At least a portion of the anode exhaust can be recycled for use as part of anode input stream. This can allow for a reduction in the amount of fuel cell area required for separating CO.sub.2 from the combustion source exhaust and/or modifications in how the fuel cells can be operated.

A fuel cell system is disclosed, which includes an anode recirculation loop having a fuel cell stack for generating power, a flowmeter, a current sensor and a processor. The flowmeter is configured for measuring a fuel flow rate provided into the anode recirculation loop. The current sensor is configured for measuring a current drawn from the fuel cell stack. The processor is configured for determining a steam to carbon ratio in the anode recirculation loop based on the measured fuel flow rate and the measured current. The fuel cell system further includes a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature in the anode recirculation loop. The process is configured for determining the steam to carbon ration further based on the measured temperature. A method for operating the fuel cell system and a fuel cell power plant are also disclosed.

A power generation system includes a fuel cell including an anode that generates a tail gas. The system also includes a hydrocarbon fuel reforming system that mixes a hydrocarbon fuel with the fuel cell tail gas and to convert the hydrocarbon fuel and fuel tail gas into a reformed fuel stream including CO.sub.2. The reforming system further splits the reformed fuel stream into a first portion and a second portion. The system further includes a CO.sub.2 removal system coupled in flow communication with the reforming system. The system also includes a first reformed fuel path coupled to the reforming system. The first path channels the first portion of the reformed fuel stream to an anode inlet. The system further includes a second reformed fuel path coupled to the reforming system. The second path channels the second portion of the reformed fuel stream to the CO.sub.2 removal system.

A raw fuel inlet pipe, an air inlet pipe, and a combustion gas exhaust pipe are provided for a casing of a start-up combustor. A raw fuel supply chamber connected to the raw fuel inlet pipe and an air supply chamber connected to the air inlet pipe form double layer structure. A chamber having a partition wall is provided for the raw fuel supply chamber, and a slit connected to the air supply chamber is formed in the partition wall. A plurality of raw fuel through holes are formed on a side surface of the partition wall with which the slit is formed.

A method of cleaning power cells in an array of power cells, comprising coupling at least one first power cell to second power cells in an array of power cells and causing the second power cells to drive the at least one first power cell with a voltage to clean catalyst on the at least one first power cell.

The present invention provides an anion exchange resin capable of producing an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, a binder for forming an electrode catalyst layer and a battery electrode catalyst layer. The anion exchange resin of the present invention has a hydrophobic unit, a hydrophilic unit and divalent fluorine-containing groups. The hydrophobic unit has divalent hydrophobic groups composed of one aromatic ring or a plurality of aromatic rings that are repeated via carbon-carbon bond. The hydrophilic unit has divalent hydrophilic groups composed of one aromatic ring or a plurality of aromatic rings, at least one of which has an anion exchange group, that are repeated via carbon-carbon bond. The divalent fluorine-containing groups have a specific structure and are bonded via carbon-carbon bond to the hydrophobic unit and/or the hydrophilic unit and/or a moiety other than these units.

Problem to be Solved

A catalyst for obtaining hydrogen gas by steam reforming of a hydrocarbon-containing gas in the presence of steam active metals supported on an α-alumina carrier.

The active metals include 0.1 to 0.3 parts by weight of rhodium (Rh) based on the content of the metal, relative to 100 parts by weight of the α-alumina carrier, and 0.01 to 0.3 parts by weight of platinum (Pt) based on the content of the metal, relative to 100 parts by weight of the α-alumina carrier.

The α-alumina carrier is a carrier modified with a promoter including 1 to 10 parts by weight of cerium (Ce) based on the content of the metal, relative to 100 parts by weight of the α-alumina carrier.

A ferritic stainless steel for a fuel cell includes, in mass %, Cr: 11 to 25%, C: 0.03% or less, Si: 2% or less, Mn: 2% or less, Al: 0.5 to 4.0%, P: 0.05% or less, S: 0.01% or less, N: 0.03% or less, Ti: 1% or less, and a balance composed of Fe and unavoidable impurities. Furthermore, in the ferritic stainless steel, the maximal concentration of Al in a surface of the ferritic stainless steel is 30 mass % or more in cation ion fraction excepting 0 in an depth direction region having twice a thickness of an oxide film having less than 0.1 μm.

A ferritic stainless steel for a fuel cell includes, in mass %, Cr: 11 to 25%, C: 0.03% or less, Si: 2% or less, Mn: 2% or less, Al: 0.5 to 4.0%, P: 0.05% or less, S: 0.01% or less, N: 0.03% or less, Ti: 1% or less, and a balance composed of Fe and unavoidable impurities. Furthermore, in the ferritic stainless steel, the maximal concentration of Al in a surface of the ferritic stainless steel is 30 mass % or more in cation ion fraction excepting 0 in an depth direction region having twice a thickness of an oxide film having less than 0.1 μm.

Processing units and electrical power generation are integrated with a botanical environment to form a closed loop system whereby the outputs of one component serve as the inputs of another. Additionally, humans can be added to the system while maintaining the closed loop nature. Heat generated by the electrical power generation and processing units aids in the growth of botanicals and in the conversion of waste organic materials into both fertilizer and fuel for the electrical power generation. Additionally, carbon dioxide output by the electrical power generation is consumed by the botanicals, which, in turn, output oxygen consumed by the electrical power generation. Water is obtained by passing the exhaust of the electrical power generation across condenser coils, and is utilized for adiabatic cooling, as well as a heat transfer medium. Water is also consumed by the botanicals, aiding their growth.