US 12,224,468 B2
Solid oxide fuel cell systems and methods of operating solid oxide fuel cell systems
Sai P. Katikaneni, Dhahran (SA); Joongmyeon Bae, Daejeon (KR); Jiwoo Oh, Daejeon (KR); Minseok Bae, Daejeon (KR); and Dongyeon Kim, Daejeon (KR)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Companay, Dhahran (SA); and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon (KR)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA); and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon (KR)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/499,282.
Prior Publication US 2023/0116672 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 8/1213 (2016.01); H01M 8/04014 (2016.01); H01M 8/04089 (2016.01); H01M 8/0612 (2016.01); H01M 8/2425 (2016.01); H01M 8/12 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/1213 (2013.01) [H01M 8/04022 (2013.01); H01M 8/04089 (2013.01); H01M 8/0618 (2013.01); H01M 8/2425 (2013.01); H01M 2008/1293 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell system, the method comprising:
diverting at least a portion of an anode gas to bypass an inlet to an anode of a solid oxide fuel cell stack by passing the portion of anode gas through an anode gas regulator operable to regulate the volumetric flow of the anode gas through the anode, where the anode gas regulator comprises
an inlet valve disposed on the anode inlet side of the solid oxide fuel cell stack,
an outlet valve disposed on an anode outlet side of the solid oxide fuel cell stack, and
a temperature sensor;
passing a cathode gas comprising oxygen and an anode discharge through a first heat exchanger to produce a heated cathode gas, wherein the anode discharge comprises the portion of the anode gas diverted by the anode gas regulator and an unreacted portion of the anode gas passed through the anode;
passing the heated cathode gas through a cathode of the solid oxide fuel cell stack to increase the temperature of the solid oxide fuel cell stack to an operation temperature and reduce the oxygen to oxygen anions; and
after the solid oxide fuel cell stack is heated to the operational temperature, passing the anode gas through the anode of the solid oxide fuel cell stack to initiate the electrochemical oxidation of the oxygen anions within the anode.