A system is described that is capable of operating as an energy conversion system that functions as a fuel cell and generates electrical current from a fuel or fuels, or as a reactor for conversion of starter materials into more complex molecules through ion-ion and ion-molecules and which may preferably be adapted to operate as a gas to liquid (GTL) process. The system ionises at least one fuel or starter material and manipulates, selects and transports ions for reaction by means of suitable electrostatic or electrodynamic ion guides, filters or drift tubes. The system of the present application replaces the electrolyte, catalyst and/or membrane found in classic fuel cells or GTL processes with an electrostatic or electrodynamic ion manipulation region such as an ion guide, analyser, drift tube or filter.

A system is described that is capable of operating as an energy conversion system that functions as a fuel cell and generates electrical current from a fuel or fuels, or as a reactor for conversion of starter materials into more complex molecules through ion-ion and ion-molecules and which may preferably be adapted to operate as a gas to liquid (GTL) process. The system ionises at least one fuel or starter material and manipulates, selects and transports ions for reaction by means of suitable electrostatic or electrodynamic ion guides, filters or drift tubes. The system of the present application replaces the electrolyte, catalyst and/or membrane found in classic fuel cells or GTL processes with an electrostatic or electrodynamic ion manipulation region such as an ion guide, analyser, drift tube or filter.

A method of maintaining a thermal balance in a solid oxide reversible fuel cell system comprising a solid oxide reversible fuel cell, an air intake for providing air to the solid oxide reversible fuel cell, and a steam reformer fluidly coupled to the solid oxide fuel cell for providing fuel to the solid oxide reversible fuel cell. The method comprising operating the solid oxide reversible fuel cell system in a forward mode in which the steam former receives natural gas and produces hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide to be provided to the solid oxide reversible fuel cell, and operating the solid oxide reversible fuel cell system in a reverse mode in which the steam reformer receives hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide from the solid oxide reversible fuel cell and produces natural gas and water.

A method of maintaining a thermal balance in a solid oxide reversible fuel cell system comprising a solid oxide reversible fuel cell, an air intake for providing air to the solid oxide reversible fuel cell, and a steam reformer fluidly coupled to the solid oxide fuel cell for providing fuel to the solid oxide reversible fuel cell. The method comprising operating the solid oxide reversible fuel cell system in a forward mode in which the steam former receives natural gas and produces hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide to be provided to the solid oxide reversible fuel cell, and operating the solid oxide reversible fuel cell system in a reverse mode in which the steam reformer receives hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide from the solid oxide reversible fuel cell and produces natural gas and water.

A solid oxide fuel cell assembly (SOFC) and a method for making the SOFC are provided. An exemplary method includes forming a functionalized zeolite templated carbon (ZTC). The functionalized ZTC is formed by forming a CaX zeolite, depositing carbon in the CaX zeolite using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to form a carbon/zeolite composite, treating the carbon/zeolite composite with a solution comprising hydrofluoric acid to form a ZTC, and treating the ZTC to add catalyst sites. The functionalized ZTC is incorporated into electrodes by forming a mixture of the functionalized ZTC with a calcined solid oxide electrolyte and calcining the mixture. The method includes forming an electrode assembly, forming the SOFC assembly, and coupling the SOFC assembly to a cooling system.

A solid oxide fuel cell assembly (SOFC) and a method for making the SOFC are provided. An exemplary method includes forming a functionalized zeolite templated carbon (ZTC). The functionalized ZTC is formed by forming a CaX zeolite, depositing carbon in the CaX zeolite using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to form a carbon/zeolite composite, treating the carbon/zeolite composite with a solution comprising hydrofluoric acid to form a ZTC, and treating the ZTC to add catalyst sites. The functionalized ZTC is incorporated into electrodes by forming a mixture of the functionalized ZTC with a calcined solid oxide electrolyte and calcining the mixture. The method includes forming an electrode assembly, forming the SOFC assembly, and coupling the SOFC assembly to a cooling system.

A fuel cell system comprises a controller configured to determine whether a condition relating to a stop pattern of the fuel cell system satisfies a predetermined condition, and an output unit configured to output a warning when it is determined that the condition relating to the stop pattern satisfies the predetermined condition.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel battery cell of a high power generation output by increasing an area of an effective power generation region contributing to power generation while ensuring mechanical strength of the fuel battery cell. The fuel battery cell according to the present invention is provided with a first and a second insulating films between a support substrate and a first electrode. The support substrate has a first opening, the first insulating film has a second opening, and the second insulating film has a third opening. An opening area of the first opening is larger than that of the second opening, and an opening area of the third opening is larger than that of the second opening (see FIG. 2).

The invention provides a hybrid power system, which integrates an internal combustion engine with a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack and provides power for the vehicle through the internal combustion engine at first in the preheating stage of the SOFC stack, thereby solving the problem that an SOFC stack is unable to provide power for the vehicle in the preheating stage. At the same time, the internal combustion engine burns fuel gas, outputs high temperature exhaust gas, heats the heat exchanger with the high temperature exhaust gas, then discharges the exhaust gas from an exhaust turbine and inhales air from the outside of the system. The air first passes through an air preheater, then passes through a heat exchanger and then enters the inside of the SOFC stack, preheats the air preheater through an air pipeline and then is discharged. After multiple cycles, the preheating of the SOFC stack is completed. As the air preheater is connected to the heat exchanger in series to heat the air, the heating speed of the air entering the SOFC stack is raised, the preheating time is shortened and a quick start of the SOFC stack is achieved so that the SOFC stack can be used to achieve the purpose of providing power for the vehicle efficiently.

The invention provides a hybrid power system, which integrates an internal combustion engine with a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack and provides power for the vehicle through the internal combustion engine at first in the preheating stage of the SOFC stack, thereby solving the problem that an SOFC stack is unable to provide power for the vehicle in the preheating stage. At the same time, the internal combustion engine burns fuel gas, outputs high temperature exhaust gas, heats the heat exchanger with the high temperature exhaust gas, then discharges the exhaust gas from an exhaust turbine and inhales air from the outside of the system. The air first passes through an air preheater, then passes through a heat exchanger and then enters the inside of the SOFC stack, preheats the air preheater through an air pipeline and then is discharged. After multiple cycles, the preheating of the SOFC stack is completed. As the air preheater is connected to the heat exchanger in series to heat the air, the heating speed of the air entering the SOFC stack is raised, the preheating time is shortened and a quick start of the SOFC stack is achieved so that the SOFC stack can be used to achieve the purpose of providing power for the vehicle efficiently.