Fuel cell system comprising modular design features

Abstract

There is described a fuel cell power system including a fuel processor subsystem, a fuel cell subsystem, and a power conditioning subsystem. The fuel processor subsystem comprises a main module for producing hydrogen rich streams from a hydrocarbon fuel, a balance of plant module for auxiliary components, and a control and electronic module for monitoring and controlling the fuel processor subsystem. The fuel cell subsystem comprises a main module for generation of electric power and thermal energy from hydrogen rich streams produced by the fuel processor module and air, a balance of plant module for auxiliary components, and a control and electronic module for monitoring and controlling the fuel cell subsystem. Each module has individual components attached thereto, the modules being designed and manufactured separately and assembled together to form the respective subsystems.

1 . A fuel cell power system including a fuel processor subsystem, a fuel cell subsystem, and a power conditioning subsystem, characterized in that: 
 said fuel processor subsystem comprises a main module for producing hydrogen rich streams from a hydrocarbon fuel, a balance of plant module for auxiliary components, and a control and electronic module for monitoring and controlling said fuel processor subsystem; and    said fuel cell subsystem comprises a main module for generation of electric power and thermal energy from hydrogen rich streams produced by said fuel processor module and air, a balance of plant module for auxiliary components, and a control and electronic module for monitoring and controlling said fuel cell subsystem;    each said module having individual components attached thereto, said modules being designed and manufactured separately and assembled together to form the respective subsystems.    
   
   
       2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said power conditioning subsystem comprises a control and electronic subsystem module for monitoring and controlling said power conditioning subsystem, and a main module for converting DC power generated by said fuel cell subsystem into regulated DC and/or AC power.  
   
   
       3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said control and electronic module is composed of an electrical module for hardware components and a control module for software components.  
   
   
       4 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a heat recovery subsystem.  
   
   
       5 . The system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said heat recovery subsystem is comprised of a main module for recovering thermal energy from said fuel processor subsystem and said fuel cell subsystem and supplying the recovered thermal energy to meet thermal energy demand, a balance of plant module for auxiliary components, and a control and electronic module for monitoring and controlling said heat recovery subsystem.  
   
   
       6 . The system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said heat recovery subsystem also comprises a heat storage module for storing heat recovered by said heat recovery subsystem, and a supplementary heat production module to supply heat demands that are beyond the thermal production capacity of said system.  
   
   
       7 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said components on said balance of plant modules are arranged in a two-dimensional fashion.  
   
   
       8 . The system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said components are connected by flexible tubing.  
   
   
       9 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said fuel cell subsystem is a stack assembly of plates mechanically clamped together.  
   
   
       10 . The system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein all said plates in said stack assembly have a same cross-section.  
   
   
       11 . The system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said stack assembly comprises of assemblies of plates for heat exchangers and humidifiers mechanically clamped together.  
   
   
       12 . A fuel cell power system including a fuel processor module, a fuel cell module, and a power conditioning module, characterized in that: 
 a balance of plant module regroups all system balance of plant components and is separate from said fuel processor module, fuel cell module, and power conditioning module; and    an electrical and control module regroups all electrical and control devices to control and operate said system and is separate from said fuel processor module, fuel cell module, and power conditioning module.    
   
   
       13 . The system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said fuel cell module and said fuel processor module are combined and integrated into one subsystem.  
   
   
       14 . The system as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a heat recovery module.  
   
   
       15 . The system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said fuel cell module is a stack assembly of plates mechanically clamped together.  
   
   
       16 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein all said plates in said stack assembly have a same cross-section.  
   
   
       17 . The system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said stack assembly comprises of assemblies of plates for heat exchangers and humidifiers mechanically clamped together.