An electrolyzer system and a fuel cell system that include hydrogen blowers configured to compress hydrogen streams generated by the systems. The electrolyzer system includes a steam generator configured to generate steam, a stack of solid oxide electrolyzer cells configured to generate a hydrogen stream using the steam received from the steam generator, a hydrogen blower configured to pressurize the hydrogen stream generated by the stack, and a hydrogen processor configured to compress the pressurized hydrogen stream.

A fuel cell system and method, the system including a hotbox, a fuel cell stack disposed in the hotbox, an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) disposed in the hotbox, and a fuel exhaust processor fluidly connected to the hotbox. The fuel exhaust processor includes a first hydrogen pump configured to extract hydrogen from the anode exhaust received from the fuel cell stack and to output the hydrogen to a first hydrogen stream provided to the fuel cell stack, a second hydrogen pump configured to extract hydrogen from anode exhaust output from the first hydrogen pump and to output the hydrogen to the first hydrogen stream, and a third hydrogen pump configured to extract hydrogen from anode exhaust output from the second hydrogen pump and to output the hydrogen to a second hydrogen stream provided to the ATO.

A fuel cell system and method, the system including a hotbox, a fuel cell stack disposed in the hotbox, an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) disposed in the hotbox, and a fuel exhaust processor fluidly connected to the hotbox. The fuel exhaust processor includes a first hydrogen pump configured to extract hydrogen from the anode exhaust received from the fuel cell stack and to output the hydrogen to a first hydrogen stream provided to the fuel cell stack, a second hydrogen pump configured to extract hydrogen from anode exhaust output from the first hydrogen pump and to output the hydrogen to the first hydrogen stream, and a third hydrogen pump configured to extract hydrogen from anode exhaust output from the second hydrogen pump and to output the hydrogen to a second hydrogen stream provided to the ATO.

A fuel cell system includes at least one hot box including a fuel cell stack and producing an anode exhaust product, at least one hydrogen pump, at least one product conduit fluidly connecting an anode exhaust product outlet of the hot box to an inlet of the at least one hydrogen pump, a compressed hydrogen product conduit connected to a compressed hydrogen product outlet of the at least one hydrogen pump, and at least one effluent conduit connected to an unpumped effluent outlet of the at least one hydrogen pump. Additional embodiments include a fuel cell system in which the anode exhaust product stream is provided to at least one carbon dioxide pump to generate a compressed carbon dioxide product and an unpumped effluent that may be recycled to the at least one hot box of the fuel cell system. In various embodiments, the fuel cell system may use or recapture essentially all of the hydrogen content and nearly all of the carbon content of the input fuel that is provided to the fuel cell system.

A fuel cell system includes at least one hot box including a fuel cell stack and producing an anode exhaust product, at least one hydrogen pump, at least one product conduit fluidly connecting an anode exhaust product outlet of the hot box to an inlet of the at least one hydrogen pump, a compressed hydrogen product conduit connected to a compressed hydrogen product outlet of the at least one hydrogen pump, and at least one effluent conduit connected to an unpumped effluent outlet of the at least one hydrogen pump. Additional embodiments include a fuel cell system in which the anode exhaust product stream is provided to at least one carbon dioxide pump to generate a compressed carbon dioxide product and an unpumped effluent that may be recycled to the at least one hot box of the fuel cell system. In various embodiments, the fuel cell system may use or recapture essentially all of the hydrogen content and nearly all of the carbon content of the input fuel that is provided to the fuel cell system.

An ambient energy converter includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion. The housing lower portion has a hydrophobic material portion. The upper portion has a vent opening in fluid communication with ambience. The housing contains a mass of hygroscopic within the housing lower portion that is in fluid communication with the hydrophobic material portion. An ion conductive membrane electrode assembly is coupled to the housing to allow the passage of ionized water or water vapor through the ion conductive membrane electrode and into contact with the hygroscopic solution. An air conduit may be coupled to the housing to provide an airflow to the ion conductive membrane electrode and/or hydrophobic material portion.

A system including biogas purification and provides biogas as feedstock to a solid oxide fuel cell. The biogas purification treatment process provides a polished biogas that is substantially free of carbonyl sulfides and hydrogen sulfide. The system uses a biogas treatment apparatus, that includes apparatus such as a packed columns, comprising copper oxide or potassium permanganate packing material, and an activated carbon component configured to treat the biogas by polishing it to remove carbonyl sulfides and deleterious trace residues, such as hydrogen sulfide, that were not removed by any prior bulk H2S removal steps. In addition, an oil removal device is used to remove any entrained fine oil droplets in the biogas. A polished biogas having in the range of 60% methane is charged to the fuel cell. Electricity generated may be fed into a grid or used directly as energy to charge electrical-powered vehicles, for example. Energy credits are tracked in real time and are appropriately assigned.

A system including biogas purification and provides biogas as feedstock to a solid oxide fuel cell. The biogas purification treatment process provides a polished biogas that is substantially free of carbonyl sulfides and hydrogen sulfide. The system uses a biogas treatment apparatus, that includes apparatus such as a packed columns, comprising copper oxide or potassium permanganate packing material, and an activated carbon component configured to treat the biogas by polishing it to remove carbonyl sulfides and deleterious trace residues, such as hydrogen sulfide, that were not removed by any prior bulk H2S removal steps. In addition, an oil removal device is used to remove any entrained fine oil droplets in the biogas. A polished biogas having in the range of 60% methane is charged to the fuel cell. Electricity generated may be fed into a grid or used directly as energy to charge electrical-powered vehicles, for example. Energy credits are tracked in real time and are appropriately assigned.

A fuel cell system including a fuel cell module comprising an anode section configured to output an anode exhaust stream, a first junction configured to split the anode exhaust stream into an anode recycle stream and a system outlet stream, and an ejector. The ejector comprises a low pressure inlet configured to receive a suction stream comprising a first portion of the anode recycle stream, a motive inlet configured to receive a motive stream comprising a second portion of the anode recycle stream, and an outlet configured to output an ejector output stream. The anode section is configured to receive an anode input stream that comprises the ejector output stream.

A fuel cell system including a fuel cell module comprising an anode section configured to output an anode exhaust stream, a first junction configured to split the anode exhaust stream into an anode recycle stream and a system outlet stream, and an ejector. The ejector comprises a low pressure inlet configured to receive a suction stream comprising a first portion of the anode recycle stream, a motive inlet configured to receive a motive stream comprising a second portion of the anode recycle stream, and an outlet configured to output an ejector output stream. The anode section is configured to receive an anode input stream that comprises the ejector output stream.