A diagnostic system for a filter of a fuel cell includes a supply air duct in which a filter is disposed and in which a supply air flow toward the fuel cell can be guided. A diagnostic arrangement is disposed in the supply air duct after the filter in the flow direction of the supply air. The diagnostic arrangement permits the determination of a loading of the filter with at least one predefined substance. A vehicle having the system and a method for diagnosis of at least one filter of a fuel cell, are also provided.

A diagnostic system for a filter of a fuel cell includes a supply air duct in which a filter is disposed and in which a supply air flow toward the fuel cell can be guided. A diagnostic arrangement is disposed in the supply air duct after the filter in the flow direction of the supply air. The diagnostic arrangement permits the determination of a loading of the filter with at least one predefined substance. A vehicle having the system and a method for diagnosis of at least one filter of a fuel cell, are also provided.

A method of integrating a fuel cell with a steam methane reformer is provided. The system includes at least one fuel cell including an anode and a cathode, and a steam methane reformer including a syngas stream, and a flue gas stream. The method includes introducing at least a portion of the flue gas stream to the cathode, thereby producing a CO2 depleted flue gas stream and introducing a hydrocarbon containing stream to the anode, thereby producing an electrical energy output and a carbon dioxide and hydrogen containing stream from the fuel cell.

A method of integrating a fuel cell with a steam methane reformer is provided. The system includes at least one fuel cell including an anode and a cathode, and a steam methane reformer including a syngas stream, and a flue gas stream. The method includes introducing at least a portion of the flue gas stream to the cathode, thereby producing a CO2 depleted flue gas stream and introducing a hydrocarbon containing stream to the anode, thereby producing an electrical energy output and a carbon dioxide and hydrogen containing stream from the fuel cell.

A power production system includes a fuel cell separation system configured to receive a flue gas and to produce electrical power therefrom; a flue gas polishing system positioned upstream of the fuel cell separation system and configured to remove contaminants in the flue gas; a flue gas analyzer configured to measure in real-time an amount of the contaminants in the flue gas; and a plant control system operatively coupled to the flue gas polishing system, the flue gas analyzer, and the fuel cell separation system and configured to adjust operational parameters of the flue gas polishing system.

A power production system includes a fuel cell separation system configured to receive a flue gas and to produce electrical power therefrom; a flue gas polishing system positioned upstream of the fuel cell separation system and configured to remove contaminants in the flue gas; a flue gas analyzer configured to measure in real-time an amount of the contaminants in the flue gas; and a plant control system operatively coupled to the flue gas polishing system, the flue gas analyzer, and the fuel cell separation system and configured to adjust operational parameters of the flue gas polishing system.

A fuel cell engine generates electricity for electric vehicles or for industrial uses. The evaporatively cooled fuel cell engine incorporates de-ionized water-cooling process, in which de-ionized water flowing through the cooling subsystem becomes ionized with carbon dioxide. The water scrubber subsystem of the invention uses differences in partial pressures across a thin ion-exchange membrane to draw the contaminating ions out of the flow or stream of the circulating water. Because the partial pressures of carbon dioxide is different on either side of the membrane, the carbon dioxide ions move from the side of the circulating water to the anode exhaust purge side through the ion-exchange membrane in order to achieve equilibrium. This results in reducing the carbon dioxide ions (and any other gaseous ions) in the flow or stream of circulating water before the water enters the fuel cell stack. This results in greater fuel cell performance and a longer lasting de-ionizing filter.

A fuel cell engine generates electricity for electric vehicles or for industrial uses. The evaporatively cooled fuel cell engine incorporates de-ionized water-cooling process, in which de-ionized water flowing through the cooling subsystem becomes ionized with carbon dioxide. The water scrubber subsystem of the invention uses differences in partial pressures across a thin ion-exchange membrane to draw the contaminating ions out of the flow or stream of the circulating water. Because the partial pressures of carbon dioxide is different on either side of the membrane, the carbon dioxide ions move from the side of the circulating water to the anode exhaust purge side through the ion-exchange membrane in order to achieve equilibrium. This results in reducing the carbon dioxide ions (and any other gaseous ions) in the flow or stream of circulating water before the water enters the fuel cell stack. This results in greater fuel cell performance and a longer lasting de-ionizing filter.

An energy management system is provided with a fuel synthesizing apparatus, a power generation apparatus, a CO.sub.2 recovering unit, a compressor, a CO.sub.2 storage unit, a CO.sub.2 pressure reducing unit and a heat recovery unit. The fuel synthesizing apparatus generates hydrocarbon from H.sub.2O and CO.sub.2 using externally supplied power. The power generation apparatus generates power using the hydrocarbon. The CO.sub.2 recovering unit recovers CO.sub.2 from an exhaust gas exhausted from the power generation apparatus during a power generation. The compressor compresses the recovered CO.sub.2. The CO.sub.2 storage unit stores the CO.sub.2 compressed by the compressor. The CO.sub.2 pressure reducing unit depressurizes the CO.sub.2 stored in the CO.sub.2 storage unit in order to supply the fuel synthesizing apparatus therewith. The heat recovery unit recovers heat from the CO.sub.2, the heat having been stored in the CO.sub.2 when compressed or depressurized.

An energy management system is provided with a fuel synthesizing apparatus, a power generation apparatus, a CO.sub.2 recovering unit, a compressor, a CO.sub.2 storage unit, a CO.sub.2 pressure reducing unit and a heat recovery unit. The fuel synthesizing apparatus generates hydrocarbon from H.sub.2O and CO.sub.2 using externally supplied power. The power generation apparatus generates power using the hydrocarbon. The CO.sub.2 recovering unit recovers CO.sub.2 from an exhaust gas exhausted from the power generation apparatus during a power generation. The compressor compresses the recovered CO.sub.2. The CO.sub.2 storage unit stores the CO.sub.2 compressed by the compressor. The CO.sub.2 pressure reducing unit depressurizes the CO.sub.2 stored in the CO.sub.2 storage unit in order to supply the fuel synthesizing apparatus therewith. The heat recovery unit recovers heat from the CO.sub.2, the heat having been stored in the CO.sub.2 when compressed or depressurized.