Fuel cell heater

Abstract

A self-powered space heater comprises a fan, a burner, a heat exchanger and an fuel cell assembly. The fan generates an air flow. The burner is positioned downstream of the fan and communicates therewith. The burner produces a hot gas. The heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the burner and is operatively connected therewith for receiving at least some of the hot gas. The heat exchanger provides heat for an associated enclosure. The fuel cell assembly provides electrical energy to operate the space heater. The fuel cell assembly is operatively connected to the burner for receiving at least some of the hot gas. The fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell component and a heat compartment for generating heat to heat the fuel cell component. A thermal output of the burner provides sufficient hot gas to operate both the heat exchanger and the fuel cell assembly.

1 . A self-powered space heater comprising:
 a fan for generating an air flow;   a burner positioned downstream of the fan and communicating therewith, the burner producing a hot gas;   a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the burner and operatively connected therewith for receiving at least some of the hot gas, the burner and heat exchanger providing primary heat for an associated enclosure; and   a fuel cell assembly for providing electrical energy to operate the space heater, the fuel cell assembly being operatively connected to the burner for receiving at least some of the hot gas, the fuel cell assembly including a fuel cell component and a heat compartment for generating heat to heat the fuel cell component,   wherein a thermal output of the burner provides sufficient hot gas to operate both the heat exchanger and the fuel cell assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The space heater of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell component is separated from the heat compartment by a mantel, the mantel comprising one of a solid plate for allowing the fuel cell component to be heated via radiant heat within the heat compartment and a perforated plate for allowing radiation and convection flow from the heat compartment to the fuel cell component. 
     
     
         3 . The space heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a hot gas conduit connected to the fuel cell assembly, and a variable flow restrictor connected to the hot gas conduit, the variable flow restrictor being configured to regulate gross BTU by throttling a predetermined amount of hot gas flow through the fuel cell assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The space heater of  claim 3 , wherein the fuel cell assembly includes at least one energy conversion unit located within the heat compartment, the at least one energy conversion unit being preheated and generally maintained at a predetermined operating temperature by regulation of the variable flow restrictor. 
     
     
         5 . The space heater of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell assembly includes a reformer for obtaining a hydrogen-rich reformate. 
     
     
         6 . The space heater of  claim 5 , wherein the fuel cell assembly further includes a fuel cell processor located within the heat compartment, the fuel cell processor being connected to a source of fuel and a source of water, the fuel cell processor configured to use steam for the reformation process. 
     
     
         7 . The space heater of  claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure for accommodating the burner and the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The space heater of  claim 7 , wherein the enclosure also accommodates the fuel cell assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The space heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a blower located downstream of the fuel cell assembly, wherein spent by-pass hot gases and effluent from the fuel cell assembly is re-introduced into the burner via the blower. 
     
     
         10 . The space heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a blower located downstream of the fuel cell assembly, wherein spent by-pass hot gases and effluent from the fuel cell assembly is directed into the heat exchanger via the blower. 
     
     
         11 . The space heater of  claim 10 , further comprising a hot gas restrictor positioned between the blower and the heat exchanger for creating a pressure differential for providing a lower pressure within the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . The space heater of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell assembly further includes a housing for accommodating the heat compartment and the fuel cell component. 
     
     
         13 . The space heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a second fuel cell assembly positioned in series with the fuel cell assembly, wherein the second fuel cell assembly is operatively connected to the burner for receiving at least some of the hot gas. 
     
     
         14 . A self-powered space heater comprising:
 a fan for generating an air flow;   a burner positioned downstream of the fan and communicating therewith for producing a hot gas;   a first fuel cell assembly operatively connected to the burner for receiving the hot gas produced by the burner;   a second fuel cell assembly operatively connected to the burner for receiving hot gas produced by the burner, the second fuel cell assembly being positioned in series with the first fuel cell assembly, the first and second fuel cell assemblies providing electrical energy to operate the space heater; and   a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first and second fuel cell assemblies and providing heat for an associated enclosure,   wherein a thermal output of the burner used for space heating exceeds a thermal input required for power generation.   
     
     
         15 . The space heater of  claim 15 , wherein one of the first and second fuel cell assemblies includes a fuel cell component and a heat compartment for generating heat to heat the fuel cell component and the other of said first and second fuel cell assemblies includes a heat compartment and a reformer located within the heat compartment. 
     
     
         16 . The space heater of  claim 15 , further comprising a hot gas conduit operatively connected to one of the first and second fuel cell assemblies and a variable flow restrictor operatively connected to the hot gas conduit, the variable flow restrictor being configured to regulate gross BTU by throttling a predetermined amount of hot gas flow through the respective fuel cell assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The space heater of  claim 15 , further comprising a blower located downstream of the first fuel cell assembly and second fuel cell assembly, wherein spent by-pass hot gases and effluent from the first and second fuel cell assemblies are directed into one of the burner and heat exchanger via the blower. 
     
     
         18 . The space heater of  claim 17 , further comprising a hot gas restrictor positioned between the blower and the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . A self-powered space heater comprising:
 a fan for generating an air flow;   a burner positioned downstream of the fan and communicating therewith for producing a hot gas;   a first fuel cell assembly operatively connected to the burner for receiving the hot gas produced by the burner;   a second fuel cell assembly operatively connected to the burner for receiving the hot gas produced by the burner, the first and second fuel cell assemblies providing electrical energy to operate the space heater;   a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first and second fuel cell assemblies; and   a blower located downstream of the first fuel cell assembly and second fuel cell assembly, wherein spent by-pass hot gases and effluent from the first and second fuel cell assemblies are directed into one of the burner and heat exchanger via the blower.   
     
     
         20 . The space heater of  claim 19 , further comprising an enclosure for housing the burner, the heat exchanger and at least one of the first and second fuel cell assemblies.