A method and a device for detecting internal carbon deposition of a solid oxide fuel cell system. The method comprises the following steps: adjusting a temperature in a reformer of the solid oxide fuel cell system so that a mixed gas discharged from the reformer is at a detection temperature; sampling the mixed gas; detecting a gas sample to obtain a mole fraction of each gas, and calculating an equilibrium constant K1 of a Boudouard reaction according to the obtained mole fraction; calculating an equilibrium constant K2 of the Boudouard reaction according to thermodynamics; comparing K1 and K2, if K1 is less than K2, determining that there will be no carbon deposition in the solid oxide fuel cell system; and if K1 is greater than K2, determining that there will be carbon deposition in the solid oxide fuel cell system. By using the method, a carbon deposition condition in the solid oxide fuel cell system can be detected to effect early warning regarding the solid oxide fuel cell system and take preventive measures

An energy storage system includes: a reformer configured to receive natural gas and steam and to output reformed natural gas; a combustion turbine configured to output heated sweep gas; and a molten carbonate electrolyzer cell (“MCEC”) including: an MCEC anode, and an MCEC cathode configured to receive the heated sweep gas from the combustion turbine. The energy storage system is configured such that: when no excess power is available, the combustion turbine receives the reformed natural gas from the reformer, and when excess power is available, the MCEC operates in a hydrogen-generation mode in which the MCEC anode receives the reformed natural gas from the reformer, and outputs MCEC anode exhaust that contains hydrogen.

A method of carbon dioxide hydrogenation comprises introducing gaseous water to a positive electrode of an electrolysis cell comprising the positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a proton-conducting membrane between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The proton-conducting membrane comprises an electrolyte material having an ionic conductivity greater than or equal to about 10.sup.−2 S/cm at one or more temperatures within a range of from about 150° C. to about 650° C. Carbon dioxide is introduced to the negative electrode of the electrolysis cell. A potential difference is applied between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrolysis cell to generate hydrogen ions from the gaseous water that diffuses through the proton-conducting membrane and hydrogenates the carbon dioxide at the negative electrode. A carbon dioxide hydrogenation system is also described.

An energy storage system includes: a combustion turbine configured to output heated sweep gas; a reformer configured to receive natural gas and steam and to output reformed natural gas; a molten carbonate electrolyzer cell (“MCEC”) comprising an MCEC anode and an MCEC cathode, wherein the MCEC is configured to operate in a hydrogen-generation mode in which: the MCEC anode receives the reformed natural gas from the reformer, and outputs MCEC anode exhaust that contains hydrogen, and the MCEC cathode is configured to receive heated sweep gas from the combustion turbine, and to output MCEC cathode exhaust; and a storage tank configured to receive the MCEC anode exhaust that contains hydrogen.

A direct carbonaceous material to power generation system integrates one or more solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) into a fluidized bed gasifier. The fuel cell anode is in direct contact with bed material so that the H.sub.2 and CO generated in the bed are oxidized to H.sub.2O and CO.sub.2 to create a push-pull or source-sink reaction environment. The SOFC is exothermic and supplies heat within a reaction chamber of the gasifier where the fluidized bed conducts an endothermic reaction. The products from the anode are the reactants for the reformer and vice versa. A lower bed in the reaction chamber may comprise engineered multi-function material which may incorporate one or more catalysts and reactant adsorbent sites to facilitate excellent heat and mass transfer and fluidization dynamics in fluidized beds. The catalyst is capable of cracking tars and reforming hydrocarbons.

To provide a fuel cell device capable of extending the years of service life of a reformer by suppressing thermal runaways. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell device, including a fuel cell module having fuel cell units; a reformer disposed above the fuel cell units, for producing hydrogen by a partial oxidation reforming reaction and a steam reforming reaction; a vaporizing chamber disposed adjacent to the reformer; a combustion chamber for heating the vaporization chamber; a water supply device; an electrical generation oxidant gas supply device; and a controller for raising the fuel cell units to a temperature at which electrical generation is possible; whereby over the entire period of the startup step, the reforming oxidant gas supply device and water supply device are controlled so that partial oxidation reforming reactions do not occur independently in the reformer.

Systems and methods are provided for incorporating molten carbonate fuel cells into a heat recovery steam generation system (HRSG) for production of electrical power while also reducing or minimizing the amount of CO.sub.2 present in the flue gas exiting the HRSG. An optionally multi-layer screen or wall of molten carbonate fuel cells can be inserted into the HRSG so that the screen of molten carbonate fuel cells substantially fills the cross-sectional area. By using the walls of the HRSG and the screen of molten carbonate fuel cells to form a cathode input manifold, the overall amount of duct or flow passages associated with the MCFCs can be reduced.

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel gas supply line, an oxidizing agent gas supply line, a fuel gas discharge line, and a reformer provided in the fuel gas supply line. A first circulating line circulates the fuel gas from the fuel gas discharge line to an upstream side of the reformer in the fuel gas supply line as a first circulating gas. The circulation device is provided in the fuel gas supply line, and suctions the first circulating gas by using the flow of the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply line as a driving flow. A second circulating line circulates the fuel gas from a downstream side of the circulation device in the fuel gas supply line or the fuel gas discharge line to the upstream side of the circulation device in the fuel gas supply line as a second circulating gas.

A fuel cell system including a fuel cell, an off-gas reprocessing unit that is provided downstream of the fuel cell and that at least partially removes at least one of steam or carbon dioxide from an off-gas discharged from the fuel cell, a flow passage that is provided downstream of the off-gas reprocessing unit and that allows a reprocessed off-gas discharged from the off-gas reprocessing unit to flow therethrough, and a controlling unit that modulates the reaction constant K.sub.pa of a reaction A with respect to the reprocessed off-gas discharged from the off-gas reprocessing unit, to 1.22 or more.

A method of fuel desulfurization comprises receiving fuel from a source of fuel in a gaseous phase and condensing the fuel in the gaseous phase in a fuel condenser to convert at least a portion of the fuel into a liquid phase. The method further comprises delivering the fuel in the liquid phase directly to a reformer and returning the uncondensed portion of the fuel in the gaseous phase to the source of fuel to inert the source of fuel.