Efficient micro fuel cell systems and methods

Abstract

Described herein are fuel cell systems and methods of using fuel cell systems. The systems include a fuel cell that generates electrical energy using hydrogen and a fuel processor that produces hydrogen from a fuel source. The fuel processor includes a reformer and a burner that heats the reformer.

1 . A fuel cell system for producing electrical energy, the fuel cell system comprising: 
 a fuel processor that includes 
 a reformer configured to receive a fuel source, configured to output hydrogen, and including reformer chamber that contains a catalyst which facilitates the production of hydrogen, wherein the reformer chamber has a volume greater than about 0.1 cubic centimeters and less than about 50 cubic centimeters;  
 a burner configured to provide heat to the reformer; and  
   a fuel cell including a fuel cell stack that is configured to produce electrical energy using hydrogen output by the fuel processor, the fuel cell stack includes a set of bi-polar plates and a set of membrane electrode assembly layers, where each bi-polar plate in the stack comprises i) a substrate, ii) a first channel field including channels formed as troughs into the substrate for a first surface of the bi-polar plate, ii) a second channel field including channels formed as troughs into the substrate for a second surface of the bi-polar plate, iii) a heat transfer appendage in material continuity with the substrate and at least partially arranged external to the fuel cell stack; and    plumbing configured to transport a heating medium from the fuel processor to the heat transfer appendage.