A topping cycle fuel cell unit includes a support plate having internal flow passages that extend to combustion outlets, a first electrode layer, an electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer. The second electrode layer is configured to be coupled to another support plate of another fuel cell unit. The internal flow passages are configured to receive and direct air across the first electrolyte layer or the second electrolyte layer and to receive and direct fuel across another of the first electrolyte layer or the second electrolyte layer such that the first electrode layer, the electrolyte layer, and the second electrode layer create electric current. The internal flow passages are configured to direct at least some of the air and at least some of the fuel to the combustion outlets where the at least some air and the at least some fuel is combusted.

A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell including a fuel electrode and an air electrode; a fuel electrode fuel line configured to supply fuel gas to the fuel electrode; a polluted exhaust line configured to supply polluted exhaust containing contaminants discharged from a facility to the air electrode; and an air electrode fuel line configured to supply fuel gas to the air electrode.

A control method of a combustion system for controlling combustion of fuel within a combustor, the combustion system including the combustor having a catalyst for promoting the combustion and a first heater arranged so as to be able to supply heat to the catalyst, including: supplying the fuel and oxidizing gas to the combustor along with providing the heat to the catalyst by the first heater; and deactivating the first heater at a prescribed timing and increasing a flow rate of the fuel greater than that have been set before deactivating the first heater, wherein the prescribed timing is determined as a timing at which a generated heat of the fuel prior to deactivation of the first heater becomes equal to or greater than a heat required for raising a temperature of the fuel having the flow rate after increased up to a light-off temperature of the catalyst.

The present invention concerns a starting burner (100a; 100b) for a fuel cell system (1000a; 1000b), having a catalyst (10) with a catalyst inlet (11) and a catalyst outlet (12), a catalyst area (13) being formed between the catalyst inlet (11) and the catalyst outlet (12), and the catalyst area (13) being surrounded by a catalyst wall (14) in a passage direction (D) from the catalyst inlet (11) to the catalyst outlet (12), and an operating fluid guide section (20) for supplying an operating fluid (F1) to the catalyst inlet (11), wherein the operating fluid guide section (20) is arranged outside the catalyst (10) at least in sections along the catalyst wall (14). The invention also concerns a fuel cell system (1000) with the starting burner (100a; 100b) and a method for heating a service fluid (F1) in the fuel cell system (1000a; 1000b).

A supply channel through which an oxygen-containing exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack is supplied to an exhaust gas combustor is branched so as to provide an oxygen-containing exhaust gas bypass channel through which the oxygen-containing exhaust gas is discharged to the outside in a manner to bypass the exhaust gas combustor. In the structure, the exhaust gas flow rate of an exhaust gas discharged through a condenser (saturated water vapor quantity) is suppressed.

In a fuel cell system, for example HTPEM fuel cells. a valve system is employed by selectively guiding exhaust gas from the burner either to the reformer for heating the reformer, especially during normal operation, or to by-pass the reformer in startup situations in order to heat the fuel cell stack before starting heating the reformer. Optionally, a compact burner/reformer unit is provided.

A control method of a combustion system for controlling combustion of fuel within a combustor, the combustion system including the combustor having a catalyst for promoting the combustion and a first heater arranged so as to be able to supply heat to the catalyst, including: supplying the fuel and oxidizing gas to the combustor along with providing the heat to the catalyst by the first heater; and deactivating the first heater at a prescribed timing and increasing a flow rate of the fuel greater than that have been set before deactivating the first heater, wherein the prescribed timing is determined as a timing at which a generated heat of the fuel prior to deactivation of the first heater becomes equal to or greater than a heat required for raising a temperature of the fuel having the flow rate after increased up to a light-off temperature of the catalyst.

A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, an evaporator for evaporating a mixture of methanol and water to be forwarded through a catalytic reformer for producing portions of free hydrogen. The fuel cell stack being composed of a number of proton exchange membrane fuel cells each featuring electrodes in form of an anode and a cathode for delivering an electric current. The system provides an enhanced system for evaporating the liquid fuel using a pre-evaporator, which partly evaporates the fuel, followed by a nozzle, which atomizes the fuel into a fine mist, before being passed to the final evaporation zone. This configuration ensures minimal fuel accumulation in the system and fast load transition's.

A high efficiency hydrogen fuel system for an aircraft at high altitude which utilizes compressors to compress air to a sufficiently high pressure for the fuel cell. Liquid hydrogen is compressed and then utilized in heat exchangers to cool the compressed air, maintaining the air at a temperature low enough for the fuel cell. The hydrogen is also used to cool the fuel cell as it is also depressurized prior to its entry in the fuel cell cycle. A water condensation system allows for water removal from the airstream to reduce impacts to the atmosphere. The hydrogen fuel system may be used with VTOL aircraft, which may allow them to fly at higher elevations. The hydrogen fuel system may be used with other subsonic and supersonic aircraft, such as with asymmetric wing aircraft.

Method and power plant comprising a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) for production of electrical energy and H.sub.2 gas. The power plant is charged with a feed gas selected from the group consisting of natural gas, bio-gas and syngas. The feed gas, prior to being fed to the SOFC, is reformed in a reformer with a CaO containing CO.sub.2 absorber, thereby producing a carbon free H.sub.2 gas as feed for the SOFC while converting CaO to CaCO.sub.3. The latter is regenerated to CaO in an endothermic reaction in a CaO regenerator at a temperature of at least 850° C. utilizing heat from the SOFC to heat the regenerator. A heat exchange medium collects heat in the SOFC and is subjected to further temperature increase in a heating device before being subjected to heat exchange in the CaO regenerator.