A fuel cell power plant system may include two or more electrically connected power units, two or more voltage channels, and a fuel cell power plant controller. Each one of the two or more power units may include two or more fuel cell systems. The two or more voltage channels may be respectively connected to the two or more power units. The fuel cell power plant controller may be electrically connected to the two or more power units.

A fuel cell power plant system may include two or more power units and a fuel cell power plant controller. The two or more power units may be electrically connected. Each one of the two or more power units may include two or more fuel cell systems. The fuel cell power plant controller may be electrically connected to the two or more power units and may include a user control circuitry and a monitoring circuitry. The user control circuitry may control a mode of operation of the fuel cell power plant system to be run in an operation mode, a standby mode, a maintenance mode, or an emergency stopped mode. The monitoring circuitry may monitor the two or more power units of the fuel cell power plant system for one or more fault conditions, one or more alarms, or an amount of energy produced.

A heat exchanger for a fuel cell power plant system may include a first loop and a second loop. For the first loop, a first coolant may be passed through a fuel cell stack, a thermostat, a first portion of a first plate of the heat exchanger, and a fuel cell pump. For the second loop, a second coolant may be passed through a second portion of the first plate of the heat exchanger.

A fuel cell system includes: a first fuel cell; a second fuel cell having a greater maximum power output than the first fuel cell; and a controller configured to cause the first fuel cell to generate greater electric power greater than the second fuel cell when the requested power is smaller than a first threshold, cause the second fuel cell to generate greater electric power than the first fuel cell when the requested power is a second threshold, which is the first threshold or greater and smaller than a third threshold that is greater than the second threshold, is 70% of the maximum power output of the second fuel cell or grater, and is 100% of the maximum power output of the second fuel cell or smaller, and cause both the first and second fuel cells to generate electric power when the requested power is the third threshold or greater.

Methods and apparatus for generating electric power from a fuel cell are disclosed. In embodiments, a fuel cell for generating electric power includes: a first electrochemical cell including a first electrode and second electrode, wherein the first electrochemical cell is configured to generate a first stage electric power (P1) from a fuel source; and a bi-cell including a second electrochemical cell and third electrochemical cell, wherein the second electrochemical cell includes a third electrode in fluid communication with the fuel source, and a fourth electrode, wherein the second electrochemical cell is configured to generate hydrogen gas from the fuel source and transport the hydrogen gas to a third electrochemical cell, and wherein the third electrochemical cell includes the fourth electrode, and a fifth electrode in fluid communication with a second air source, wherein the fourth electrode is configured for use by the second electrochemical cell as a cathode for hydrogen generation, and by the third electrochemical cell as an anode for hydrogen oxidation, and wherein the third electrochemical cell is configured to generate a second stage electric power (P2).

Techniques of deploying fuel cells in a facility are described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a location of the receptacle at the facility that the fuel cell is connected upon detecting the fuel connector of the second side of the carrier being coupled to a fuel port at a receptacle at the facility. The method can then include generating and storing, in a database, a fuel cell record indicating that the fuel cell is physically connected to the receptacle at the identified location in the facility and instructing a control device in the facility corresponding to the identified location to provide fuel to the fuel cell via the fuel port, the fuel connector, the connection between the first side and the second side of the carrier, and the fuel inlet of the fuel cell.

A power source for an aircraft including a solid oxide fuel cell and a proton exchange membrane fuel cell along with a solid oxide fuel cell multi-power source. At least one battery is electrically coupled to the solid oxide fuel cell, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell, and an aircraft distribution network to supply electricity to the aircraft and also for becoming recharged by the solid oxide fuel cell and the proton exchange membrane fuel cell.

Methods and apparatus for generating electric power from a fuel cell are disclosed. In embodiments, a fuel cell for generating electric power includes: a first electrochemical cell including a first electrode and second electrode, wherein the first electrochemical cell is configured to generate a first stage electric power (P1) from a fuel source; and a bi-cell including a second electrochemical cell and third electrochemical cell, wherein the second electrochemical cell includes a third electrode in fluid communication with the fuel source, and a fourth electrode, wherein the second electrochemical cell is configured to generate hydrogen gas from the fuel source and transport the hydrogen gas to a third electrochemical cell, and wherein the third electrochemical cell includes the fourth electrode, and a fifth electrode in fluid communication with a second air source, wherein the fourth electrode is configured for use by the second electrochemical cell as a cathode for hydrogen generation, and by the third electrochemical cell as an anode for hydrogen oxidation, and wherein the third electrochemical cell is configured to generate a second stage electric power (P2).

A fuel cell system includes: a first fuel cell; a second fuel cell having a greater maximum power output than the first fuel cell; and a controller configured to cause the first fuel cell to generate greater electric power greater than the second fuel cell when the requested power is smaller than a first threshold, cause the second fuel cell to generate greater electric power than the first fuel cell when the requested power is a second threshold, which is the first threshold or greater and smaller than a third threshold that is greater than the second threshold, is 70% of the maximum power output of the second fuel cell or grater, and is 100% of the maximum power output of the second fuel cell or smaller, and cause both the first and second fuel cells to generate electric power when the requested power is the third threshold or greater.

A load-following fuel cell system for a grid system operating with a high penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources includes a baseload power generation module and a load-following power generation module. The baseload power generation module provides a baseload power to the grid system and includes a high-efficiency fuel cell system. The high-efficiency fuel cell system includes a topping module and a bottoming module. The topping module and the bottoming module are connected in series and the topping module provides an exhaust stream to the bottoming module. The load-following power generation module provides a load-following power to the grid system and includes an energy storage system that separates and stores hydrogen contained in the exhaust stream and a power generation system having one or more fuel cells. The power generation system receives the hydrogen from the energy storage system to provide the load-following power.