Apparatus comprising a fuel cell unit and a component, a stack component for use in such an apparatus

Abstract

A fuel cell unit with a plurality of fuel cells defining a longitudinal axis and a main flow direction coaxial to the longitudinal axis. Fuel cell inlets and fuel cell outlets are arranged at opposite ends of the fuel cell unit and in line with the main flow direction. Also, a component comprising first fluid conduits arranged parallel to the main flow direction, the first fluid conduits comprising first fluid inlets and first fluid outlets arranged at opposite ends of the component and in line with the main flow direction. The component is arranged adjacent the fuel cell unit such that at least one of the first fluid inlets and the first fluid outlets of the component are arranged adjacent at least one of the fuel cell outlets and the fuel cell inlets such that a fluid flow may flow substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus in the first fluid conduits of the component and in the fuel cell unit and when passing from the component to the fuel cell unit or vice versa.

1 . Apparatus comprising
 a fuel cell unit with a plurality of fuel cells arranged in parallel defining a longitudinal axis of the apparatus and defining a main flow direction coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus, wherein fuel cell inlets and fuel cell outlets are arranged at opposite ends of the fuel cell unit and in line with the main flow direction;   and further comprising:   a component comprising first fluid conduits arranged parallel to the main flow direction, and the first fluid conduits comprising first fluid inlets and first fluid outlets arranged at opposite ends of the component and in line with the main flow direction,   and wherein the component is arranged adjacent the fuel cell unit such that at least one of the first fluid inlets and the first fluid outlets of the component are arranged adjacent at least one of the fuel cell outlets and the fuel cell inlets such that a fluid flow entering the apparatus may flow substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus in the first fluid conduits of the component and in the fuel cell unit and when passing from the component to the fuel cell unit or vice versa.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a height and a width of the fuel cell unit corresponds to a height and a width of the component. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a gap is arranged between the fuel cell unit and the component. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the component is a heat exchanger or a reformer. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the component is arranged on one side of the fuel cell unit and at least one further component is arranged on an opposite side of the fuel cell unit. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a main inlet with an inlet distribution portion, wherein a depth of the inlet distribution portion varies. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , the component further comprising second conduits with a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet, the second conduits for a second fluid to pass through the component. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the second fluid inlet is arranged in an upstream region of a side of the component and the second fluid outlet is arranged at a downstream region of an opposite side of the component such that the second fluid may flow essentially parallel to the main flow direction in a central zone of the second conduits. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , the component further comprising obstructions means in the second conduits. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein different obstruction means are arranged in inlet distribution zone, in central zone and in outlet collection zone of the second conduits, such that a pressure drop of the second fluid caused by obstruction means in the central zone is higher than the pressure drop caused by obstruction means in the inlet distribution zone and in the outlet collection zone. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a main inlet opening and a main outlet opening is arranged at opposite ends of the apparatus and such to enable a main fluid supply and a main fluid discharge from a same side of the apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . A component unit for use in an apparatus according to  claim 1 , the component unit comprising a first stack component and comprising a second stack component, wherein each of the first stack component and the second stack component comprise a plurality of plates arranged parallel to a main flow direction and at a distance to each other forming a stack, wherein the stacks are open at a front side and at a back side for a first fluid to enter the stack at the front side, to pass through the stack along the main flow direction and to leave the stack at the back side; each of the first and the second stack further comprising:
 second fluid conduits with a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet, the second fluid inlet is arranged at a lateral side of the stacks and the second fluid outlet is arranged at an opposite lateral side of the stacks, wherein   the first stack component and the second stack component are arranged at a predefined distance to each other, and wherein the open back side of the first stack component is arranged parallel to the open front side of the second stack component.   
     
     
         13 . The component unit according to  claim 12 , further comprising a stabilizing frame for maintaining the first stack component and the second stack component at the predefined distance and position relative to each other. 
     
     
         14 . A stack component for use in an apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a plurality of plates arranged parallel to a main flow direction and at a distance to each other forming a stack, wherein   the stack is open at a front side and at a back side for a first fluid to enter the stack at the front side, to pass through the stack along the main flow direction and to leave the stack at the back side; further comprising:   second fluid conduits with a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet, the second fluid inlet is arranged at a lateral side of the stack and the second fluid outlet is arranged at an opposite lateral side of the stack;
 wherein at least one of the plates of the plurality of plates forming the second fluid conduits comprises a central zone arranged next to an inlet distribution zone and next to an outlet collection zone, wherein the central zone comprises obstruction means. 
   
     
     
         15 . The stack component according to  claim 14 , wherein at least two of the inlet distribution zone, outlet collection zone and central zone comprise different obstruction means. 
     
     
         16 . The stack component according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the inlet distribution zone and the outlet collection zone comprises a variable extension along the main flow direction. 
     
     
         17 . The stack component according to  claim 14 , the plurality of plates further comprising sections with chemically active surfaces adapted for use in a fuel cell, wherein a first part of the stack component comprises the second fluid conduits and is adapted to form a heat exchanger stack or a reformer stack, and wherein a second part of the stack component comprises the sections such that the second part of the stack component is adapted for use as a fuel cell unit. 
     
     
         18 . A stack component for use in an apparatus according to  claim 12 , comprising:
 a plurality of plates arranged parallel to a main flow direction and at a distance to each other forming a stack, wherein   the stack is open at a front side and at a back side for a first fluid to enter the stack at the front side, to pass through the stack along the main flow direction and to leave the stack at the back side; further comprising:   second fluid conduits with a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet, the second fluid inlet is arranged at a lateral side of the stack and the second fluid outlet is arranged at an opposite lateral side of the stack;
 wherein at least one of the plates of the plurality of plates forming the second fluid conduits comprises a central zone arranged next to an inlet distribution zone and next to an outlet collection zone, wherein the central zone comprises obstruction means. 
   
     
     
         19 . The stack component according to  claim 18 , wherein at least two of the inlet distribution zone, outlet collection zone and central zone comprise different obstruction means. 
     
     
         20 . The stack component according to  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the inlet distribution zone and the outlet collection zone comprises a variable extension along the main flow direction.