A fuel cell system performance recovery method includes applying a DC current load pulse waveform to one or more of the fuel cells for a recovery period sufficient to desorb a contaminant from the one or more fuel cells.

The present invention discloses a desulfurization unit, a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system and a vehicle, the desulfurization unit comprises a container for holding a desulfurizing agent, wherein the container comprises: an inner wall and an outer wall, a water cavity is formed between the inner wall and the outer wall, a water inlet and a water outlet in communication with the water cavity are arranged on the outer wall, the top of the container is provided with a gas outlet and the bottom of the container is provided with a gas inlet; and a double threaded bush arranged at the gas outlet, wherein the double threaded bush comprises an inner bush and an outer bush that adopt threaded connection, the outer wall of the outer bush is connected to the hole wall of the gas outlet in a threaded manner, and the inner wall of the inner bush is connected to an adapter in a threaded manner. The structural design of the desulfurization unit of the SOFC system can effectively solve the problem of slow temperature rise of the desulfurizing agent in the desulfurization unit of the SOFC system.

A method for operating a fuel cell system is provided. The method includes controlling a provision of fuel to the fuel cell system operating in a steady-state mode. The catalyst sensor is operated by providing a portion of the fuel and anode exhaust generated by the system to the catalyst sensor. Further, a change in an outlet temperature of the catalyst sensor is detected. Thereafter, it is determined whether a reformation catalyst of the catalyst sensor is poisoned by contaminants in the fuel based on the detected change in the outlet temperature.

A modular fuel cell subsystem includes multiple rows of modules, where each row comprises a plurality of fuel cell power modules and a power conditioning module containing a DC to AC inverter electrically connected the power modules. In some embodiments, a single gas and water distribution module is fluidly connected to multiple rows of power modules, and a single mini power distribution module is electrically connected to each of the power conditioning module in each row of modules. In some embodiments, each row of modules further includes a fuel processing module located on an opposite side of the plurality of fuel cell power modules from the power conditioning module. Fuel and water connections may enter each row from the side of the row containing the fuel processing module, and electrical connections may enter each row from the side of the row containing the power conditioning module.

The invention generally relates to a process for purifying a hydrogen gas for use in a fuel cell. The process involves taking a hydrogen feed stream from a high-pressure tank and passing it through a purifier comprising an adsorbent to provide a purified hydrogen stream which is sent to a fuel cell. A particular adsorbent which can be used is a metal-organic framework composition. The adsorbent can be housed in a device such as a canister or cartridge having an inlet and outlet port.

A method and a system for the coproduction of hydrogen, electrical power, and heat energy. An exemplary method includes desulfurizing a feed stream to form a desulfurized feed stream, reforming the desulfurized feed stream to form a methane rich gas, and providing the methane rich gas to a membrane separator. A hydrogen stream is produced in a permeate from the membrane separator. A retentate stream from the membrane separator is provided to a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Electrical power is produced in the SOFC from the retentate 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.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a diesel reformer system comprising: a diesel autothermal reforming unit; a post-reforming unit disposed downstream of the autothermal reforming unit; a heat exchanger disposed downstream of the post-reforming unit; and a desulfurization unit disposed downstream of the heat exchanger.

An energy management system having a fuel cell apparatus (150) as a power generator that generates power using fuel, and an EMS (200) that communicates with the fuel cell apparatus (150). The EMS (200) receives messages that indicate a type of the fuel cell apparatus (150), from the fuel cell apparatus (150).

A desulfurizer material for desulfurizing fuel supplied to a fuel cell system, the desulfurizer material comprising one or more manganese oxide materials having an octahedral molecular sieve (OMS) structure, and the desulfurizer material being resistant to moisture and being capable of removing organic sulfur containing compounds and H.sub.2S. The desulfurizer material is used in a desulfurizer assembly which is used as part of a fuel cell system.