Architectures for electrochemical systems

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to electrochemical systems for producing hydrogen and/or power. Various aspects of the invention are directed to reactor designs for producing hydrogen and/or power from a fuel and water, conducting ceramics and other materials for such systems, including mixed ionically and electrically conducting ceramics which can be used for hydrogen gas generation, control systems for such systems, and methods of operating such systems.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a source of fuel;   a source of water;   an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel;   a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber;   a water conversion chamber, contained within but fluidically separate from the reaction chamber, the water conversion chamber in fluidic communication with the source of water via a first conduit;   a second conduit in fluidic communication with the water conversion chamber for removing reaction products from the water conversion chamber;   a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber; and   a third conduit in fluidic communication with the cleanup chamber for removing reaction products from the cleanup chamber;   wherein the first conduit and the second conduit heat exchange via countercurrent, crosscurrent, or cocurrent flow, and the first conduit and the third conduit heat exchange via countercurrent, crosscurrent, or cocurrent flow.   
     
     
         2 . A system, comprising:
 a source of fuel;   a source of water;   an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel;   a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber;   a water conversion chamber, contained within but fluidically separate from the reaction chamber, the water conversion chamber in fluidic communication with the source of water; and   a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber and in thermal communication with the oxidation chamber.   
     
     
         3 . A method, comprising:
 partially oxidizing a mixture of a fuel and air in a first chamber, whereby some of the fuel remains unoxidized;   partially reacting the unoxidized fuel with water across a membrane to generate hydrogen, whereby some of the fuel remains unoxidized, wherein the water is isolated from the fuel except for ionic and electronic conduction across the membrane; and   igniting the unoxidized fuel in a second chamber using heat produced in the first chamber.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the fuel is sufficiently oxidized in the first chamber such that elemental carbon within the first chamber is substantially thermodynamically unstable. 
     
     
         5 . A system, comprising:
 a source of fuel;   a source of water;   an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel;   a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber via a first conduit and a second conduit, the first conduit constructed and arranged to pass reaction products from the oxidation chamber to the reaction chamber, the second conduit constructed and arranged to pass products from the reaction chamber to the oxidation chamber;   a water conversion chamber, contained within but fluidically separate from the reaction chamber, the water conversion chamber in fluidic communication with the source of water via a third conduit;   a fourth conduit in fluidic communication with the water conversion chamber for removing reaction products from the water conversion chamber;   a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber; and   a fifth conduit in fluidic communication with the cleanup chamber for removing reaction products from the cleanup chamber.   
     
     
         6 . A system, comprising:
 a source of fuel;   a source of water;   an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel;   a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber via a first conduit and a second conduit, the first conduit constructed and arranged to pass reaction products from the oxidation chamber to the reaction chamber, the second conduit constructed and arranged to pass products from the reaction chamber to the oxidation chamber;   a water conversion chamber, contained within but fluidically separate from the reaction chamber, the water conversion chamber in fluidic communication with the source of water via a third conduit;   a fourth conduit in fluidic communication with the water conversion chamber for removing reaction products from the water conversion chamber;   a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber; and   a fifth conduit in fluidic communication with the cleanup chamber for removing reaction products from the cleanup chamber.   
     
     
         7 . A system, comprising:
 a source of fuel;   a source of water;   a housing;   an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel;   a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber;   a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber; and   a water conversion chamber, contained within but fluidically separate from the reaction chamber, the water conversion chamber in fluidic communication with the source of water,   wherein each of the oxidation chamber, the reaction chamber, and the cleanup chamber are contained within the housing.   
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a source of water;   a source of fuel;   a housing;   a reaction chamber, contained within the housing, in fluidic communication with the source of fuel;   a water conversion chamber, contained within but fluidically separate from the reaction chamber, the water conversion chamber in fluidic communication with the source of water via a first conduit;   a second conduit in fluidic communication with the water conversion chamber for removing reaction products from the water conversion chamber; and   a heat exchanger positioned externally of the housing, the heat exchanger being constructed and arranged to exchange heat between the first conduit and the second conduit.   
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 a source of fuel;   a source of water;   a housing;   an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel;   a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber;   a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber;   a water conversion chamber, contained within but fluidically separate from the reaction chamber, the water conversion chamber in fluidic communication with the source of water; and   a CO-reacting species in fluidic communication with the cleanup chamber.   wherein at least one of the catalyst, the oxidation chamber, the reaction chamber, and the cleanup chamber are contained within the housing.   
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 a source of fuel;   a source of water;   an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel;   a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber;   a water conversion chamber, contained within but fluidically separate from the reaction chamber, the water conversion chamber in fluidic communication with the source of water;   a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber; and   a CO-reacting species in fluidic communication with the cleanup chamber.   
     
     
         11 . A system, comprising:
 a source of fuel;   a source of water;   an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel;   a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber;   a water conversion chamber, contained within but fluidically separate from the reaction chamber, the water conversion chamber in fluidic communication with the source of water;   a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber; and   an airflow device able to direct air to both the oxidation chamber and the cleanup chamber.   
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 providing a source of fuel, and a system comprising:
 an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel; 
 a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber; and 
 a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber; 
   determining an amount of fuel entering the system from the source of fuel; and   directing a flow of air into the oxidation chamber and/or the cleanup chamber such that there is at least a substantially stoichiometric amount of oxygen to react with the fuel.   
     
     
         13 . A system, comprising:
 a source of fuel;   a source of water;   an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel;   a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber;   a water conversion chamber, contained within but fluidically separate from the reaction chamber, the water conversion chamber in fluidic communication with the source of water;   a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber;   a first controller for controlling an amount of fuel entering the oxidation chamber; and   a second controller for controlling an amount of air entering the oxidation chamber and/or the cleanup chamber.   
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 providing a source of fuel, and a system comprising:
 an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel; 
 a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber; and 
 a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber; 
   directing air and fuel from the source of fuel to the oxidation chamber at rates such that the fuel and the amount of oxygen from the air are present in the oxidation chamber in a substantially stoichiometric ratio;   substantially reacting all of the fuel with the oxygen within the oxidation chamber until the oxidation chamber reaches a predetermined temperature; and   thereafter, directing fuel to the oxidation chamber and directing air to the oxidation chamber and the cleanup chamber at rates such that the fuel and the amount of oxygen from the air are present in the system in a substantially stoichiometric ratio.   
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 reacting a fuel and water across a mixed ionically and electrically conducting material to generate hydrogen, the water being isolated from the fuel except for ionic and electronic conduction across the material, wherein the Nernst potential created across the material is at least about 0.005 V; and   reacting at least a portion of the hydrogen to produce electricity.   
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 a source of fuel;   a source of water;   an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel;   a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber;   a water conversion chamber, contained within but fluidically separate from the reaction chamber, the water conversion chamber in fluidic communication with the source of water;   a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber and in thermal communication with the oxidation chamber; and   a condenser in fluidic communication with the water conversion chamber, the condenser able to condense water from the water conversion chamber and/or recirculate water back into the water conversion chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a fuel cell in fluidic communication with the condenser. 
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising:
 providing a source of fuel, and a system comprising:
 an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel; 
 a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber; and 
 a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber; and 
   reacting air and fuel from the source of fuel in the oxidation chamber such that the flow of air and fuel in the oxidation chamber is laminar.   
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 providing a source of fuel, and a system comprising:
 an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel; 
 a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber via a conduit; and 
 a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber; and 
   reacting air and fuel from the source of fuel in the oxidation chamber and in the conduit.   
     
     
         20 . A system, comprising:
 a source of fuel;   an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel;   a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber; and   a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber and in thermal communication with the oxidation chamber, wherein fuel in the cleanup chamber is ignited using heat produced by the oxidation chamber.   
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 a source of fuel;   a source of water;   an oxidation chamber in fluidic communication with the source of fuel;   a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the oxidation chamber;   a water conversion chamber, contained within but fluidically separate from the reaction chamber, the water conversion chamber in fluidic communication with the source of water;   a cleanup chamber in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber;   an airflow device able to direct air to either or both the oxidation chamber and the cleanup chamber; and   a regulator able to alter a ratio of flows from the airflow device to both the oxidation chamber and the cleanup chamber.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the system consists of only one airflow device able to direct air to both the oxidation chamber and the cleanup chamber. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the water conversion chamber is fluidically separated from the reaction chamber, at least in part, by a material comprising a ceramic. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the material is ionically conductive 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the material is electronically conductive. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the material is substantially gas impermeable. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising a porous substrate in physical contact with the material. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the material comprises YSZ. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the material comprises YST. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the material comprises YLST. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the material comprises ScCeST. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the material comprises a first phase comprising a ceramic ionic conductor and a second phase comprising a ceramic electrical conductor. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the first phase comprises YSZ. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the first phase comprises zirconia. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the zirconia is stabilized in a cubic structure using one or more dopants. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the zirconia is stabilized using Y. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein Y is present in a mole ratio of between about 5 mol % and about 10 mol %. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the zirconia is stabilized using Sc. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein Sc is present in a mole ratio of between about 5 mol % and about 15 mol %. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the first phase comprises an oxide including at least cerium oxide and gadolinium oxide. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the first phase comprises a La-ferrite material. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the first phase comprises Gd 2 O 3  doped with Ce. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the first phase comprises a doped LaFeO 3 . 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the doped LaFeO 3  is doped with one or more of Sr, Ca, Ga, or Fe. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the second phase comprises a LST material. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the second phase comprises a YST material. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the second phase comprises a LCC material. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the second phase comprises a YLST material. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the second phase comprises a ScCeST material. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the material comprises a first phase comprising a ceramic ionic conductor and a second phase comprising a ceramic electrical conductor, the first phase being substantially interconnected throughout the material such that the material is ionically conductive, and the second phase being substantially interconnected throughout the material such that the material is electronically conductive. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fuel cell in fluidic communication with the third conduit. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell is a solid oxide fuel cell. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell is a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell is a molten carbonate fuel cell. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell is a phosphoric acid fuel cell. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell is an alkaline fuel cell. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a power-generating device, able to produce power by consuming H 2 , in fluidic communication with the second conduit. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a fuel cell in fluidic communication with the water conversion chamber. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the fuel cell is a solid oxide fuel cell. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a power-generating device, able to produce power by consuming H 2 , in fluidic communication with the water conversion chamber. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a hydrogen collection chamber in fluidic communication with the second conduit. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a hydrogen collection chamber in fluidic communication with the water conversion chamber. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the source of fuel comprises a carbonaceous fuel. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the source of fuel comprises an oxidizable fuel. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the source of fuel comprises a gasified fuel. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 65 , wherein the source of fuel comprises gasified coal. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 65 , wherein the source of fuel comprises a gasified hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising at least one electrode positioned adjacent the material. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the electrode is porous. 
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the electrode has a composition similar to the composition of the material. 
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 68 , comprising at least two electrodes positioned adjacent the material.