US 12,322,842 B2
System and method for producing hydrogen using high temperature fuel cells
Fred C. Jahnke, Rye, NY (US); and Matthew Lambrech, Sherman, CT (US)
Assigned to FUELCELL ENERGY, INC., Danbury, CT (US)
Filed by FuelCell Energy, Inc., Danbury, CT (US)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/648,712.
Application 18/648,712 is a division of application No. 17/824,630, filed on May 25, 2022, granted, now 12,003,008.
Application 17/824,630 is a continuation of application No. 17/017,244, filed on Sep. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,444,303, issued on Aug. 24, 2022.
Application 17/017,244 is a continuation of application No. PCT/IB2019/052136, filed on Mar. 15, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/644,118, filed on Mar. 16, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0282991 A1, Aug. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. H01M 8/0612 (2016.01); C01B 3/48 (2006.01); C01B 3/52 (2006.01); C01B 3/56 (2006.01); H01M 8/04089 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/0618 (2013.01) [C01B 3/48 (2013.01); C01B 3/52 (2013.01); C01B 3/56 (2013.01); H01M 8/04097 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0233 (2013.01); C01B 2203/043 (2013.01); C01B 2203/047 (2013.01); C01B 2203/067 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0827 (2013.01); C01B 2203/1241 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A steam methane reformer-integrated fuel cell system, comprising:
at least one fuel cell comprising:
an anode;
a cathode; and
an electrolyte matrix separating the anode and the cathode;
a steam methane reformer configured to react methane with steam to produce a first product stream including a first concentration of hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon monoxide (CO);
a water-gas shift reactor configured to react CO in the first product stream with steam to produce an outlet stream having a second concentration of hydrogen that is greater than the first concentration of hydrogen;
an absorber column configured to reduce a concentration of CO2 in the outlet stream such that a second product stream of the absorber column has a third concentration of hydrogen that is greater than the second concentration of hydrogen;
a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system configured to purify the second product stream to output (1) a third product stream of the PSA system having a fourth concentration of hydrogen that is greater than the third concentration of hydrogen and (2) a PSA tail gas; and
an anode gas oxidizer (AGO) configured to output a high-temperature exhaust stream,
wherein the at least one fuel cell is configured to receive the PSA tail gas from the PSA system as an anode feed gas, and
wherein the steam methane reformer is configured such that the steam and methane in the steam methane reformer are heated by the high-temperature exhaust stream.