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Stack-a-cabinet (Design your own cabinet)
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Test Subject
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Posted 23rd Aug 2007 at 08:03 PM
- Updated 13th Nov 2008 at 12:12 AM by Canoodle
- Viewed 14218 times.
34 Comments / replies (
, 35 times favourited
, 516 times thanked
Information (Click for more details):
Picked Upload New Mesh
This is a picked upload! It showcases some of the best talent and creativity available on MTS and in the community.
This is a Maxis Recolour which mea that it is a recolour of an item that already exists in your game.
Please check the Expa ion pack requirements to see which game pack it recolours.
This is a new mesh, and mea that it's a brand new self contained object that usually does not require a ecific Expa ion pack (although this is po ible depending on the type).
It may have Recolours hosted on MTS2 - check the sidebar.
This is a new mesh recolour, and mea that you will need to download the particular mesh itself in order for this to show up in your game.
See the Meshes Needed section or read the text for more information.
** Please re-download **
I have noticed - and you probably too when you used the cabinets in the game - that the two top (rounded) cabinets with doors are slightly smaller than the other elements.
If you already downloaded the elements you can download the whole Stack-a-cabinet.zip again (it now contai the updated elements) or just the two updated elements (Updated-topdoor-left-right.zip).
If you have not yet downloaded this cabinet, then just download Stack-a-cabinet.zip.
*****************
I made this set co isting of 13 stackable building elements to create your own cabinet. Large or small - use your imagination and stack the elements any way you like. I have created a red set with woorden kno (the meshes) and a set in light wood (recolors).
Usage policy
You can use the elements in houses you upload or recolor the elements if you like - but do include a link to my meshes. Please do not upload to paysites.
Here is a picture of
all the different elements
you can use:
How to build
The best way to build is top-down. Place an element on top of another element - after that you can place the stack of 2 elements on top of one other element - after that you can place the stack of 3 elements of top of another element - etcetera. Build as high as you like.
How to put objects in the building elements
First place an object (or another element) on top of the element (also on rounded top elements), then place an object in the element and remove object on top (if you want). On the element with two shelves you can only place an object on the bottom shelf.
Where to find the elements
They are cloned from an end tabel, so look in Surfaces/Endtable
Here are some
examples
of cabinets I have created in my game:
Polygon Counts:
The element with two drawers has the highest polycount: V=258 F=372
The polycount of the other elements is (much) smaller.
Additional Credits:
Thanks to Frillen for the idea of stackable objects.
Thanks to Fisheeyes for the very clear and useful document
Allowing for placement of objects on expanded surface quot; in this thread:
from which a learned how to add an extra slot to my building elements.
Thanks to the creators of SimPE, Wings3D, Milkshape and UV Ma er
people have said thanks to
for this download.
For more information about this creator and their policies or details, click
. Scree hots
Scree hots
Expa ion / Stuff Packs Required
You must have the expa ion or stuff packs listed above i talled to use this custom content.
Please see the post text for any exceptio .
This is a New mesh
All the items needed for you to use this download should be here on this page.
You can check the "Related Pages" tab, if visible, to see if there are alternative colour schemes.
Download files
Filename
Downloads
635.0 KB
Package file
Description
avs-top-left-1sideopen-lightwood.package
Recolour avs-top-left-2sideopen.package
108,872
Element - top left 2 sides open avs-top-left-2sideopen-lightwood.package
Recolour avs-top-right-1sideopen.package
109,115
Element - top right 1 side open avs-top-right-1sideopen-lightwood.package
Recolour avs-top-right-2sideopen.package
108,900
Element - top right 2 sides open avs-top-right-2sideopen-lightwood.package
Recolour avs-two-drawers.package
121,536
Element - 2 drawers avs-two-drawers-lightwood.package
Recolour avs-2shelves-1sideopen.package
108,002
Element - 2 shelves 1 side open avs-2shelves-1sideopen-lightwood.package
Recolour avs-2shelves-2sideopen.package
108,101
Element - two shelves 2 sides open avs-2shelves-2sideopen-lightwood.package
Recolour avs-box-1sideopen.package
105,738
Element - box 1 side open avs-box-1sideopen-lightwood.package
Recolour avs-box-2sideopen.package
105,839
Element - box 2 sides open avs-box-2sideopen-lightwood.package
Recolour avs-box-doorleft.package
112,136
Element - box door left avs-box-doorleft-lightwood.package
Recolour avs-box-door-right.package
111,900
Element - box door right avs-box-door-right-lightwood.package
Recolour avs-top-door-left.package
115,220
Element - top door left avs-top-door-left-lightwood.package
Recolour avs-top-door-right.package
115,275
Element - top door right avs-top-door-right-lightwood.package
Recolour avs-top-left-1sideopen.package
109,060
Element - top left 1 side open 46176
08-22-07 22:50
avs-top-left-1sideopen-lightwood.package
08-21-07 23:45
avs-top-left-2sideopen.package
08-22-07 22:50
avs-top-left-2sideopen-lightwood.package
08-21-07 23:50
avs-top-right-1sideopen.package
08-22-07 22:51
avs-top-right-1sideopen-lightwood.package
08-22-07 00:02
avs-top-right-2sideopen.package
08-22-07 22:52
avs-top-right-2sideopen-lightwood.package
08-23-07 18:05
avs-two-drawers.package
08-22-07 22:57
avs-two-drawers-lightwood.package
08-22-07 00:08
avs-2shelves-1sideopen.package
08-22-07 22:54
avs-2shelves-1sideopen-lightwood.package
08-22-07 00:11
avs-2shelves-2sideopen.package
08-22-07 22:54
avs-2shelves-2sideopen-lightwood.package
08-23-07 18:00
avs-box-1sideopen.package
08-22-07 22:47
avs-box-1sideopen-lightwood.package
08-21-07 23:05
avs-box-2sideopen.package
08-22-07 22:48
avs-box-2sideopen-lightwood.package
08-23-07 18:04
avs-box-doorleft.package
08-22-07 22:55
avs-box-doorleft-lightwood.package
08-23-07 18:04
avs-box-door-right.package
08-22-07 22:55
avs-box-door-right-lightwood.package
08-25-07 13:35
avs-top-door-left.package
08-22-07 22:56
avs-top-door-left-lightwood.package
08-25-07 13:36
avs-top-door-right.package
08-22-07 22:56
avs-top-door-right-lightwood.package
08-21-07 23:39
avs-top-left-1sideopen.package
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2039700
26 files
47.4 KB
Package file
Description
avs-top-door-right.package
115,275
Element - top door right avs-top-door-left.package
115,220
Element - top door left 115275
08-25-07 13:36
avs-top-door-right.package
08-25-07 13:35
avs-top-door-left.package
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Basic Download and I tall I tructio :
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Click the download link to save the .rar or .zip file(s) to your computer.
Extract:
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Place in Downloads Folder:
Cut and paste the .package file(s) into your Downloads folder:
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Mac: Users\(Current User Account)\Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Downloads\
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Anyone can use both .rar and .zip files easily!
On Windows, use
On Mac, use
If you don't have a Downloads folder, just make one. See i tructio at:
Recolours
There are 1 recolours of this mesh on MTS2:
These recolours may or may not be endorsed by this mesh creator.
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Some ico byMODULAR FUEL CELL STACK ASSEMBLY INCLUDING ANODE GAS OXIDIZER AND INTEGRATED EXTERNAL MANIFOLDS FOR USE IN FUEL CELL STACK MODULES
United States Patent A lication 20110081592
Kind Code:
A tract:
A modular fuel cell stack a embly comprising a plurality of fuel cell stacks, each of the stacks having a plurality of stack faces and a plurality of stack corners formed between the stack faces, wherein the plurality of stack faces include a cathode inlet face adapted to receive oxidant gas for use in a cathode side of the fuel cell stack, a cathode outlet face adapted to output cathode exhaust from the cathode side, an anode inlet face adapted to receive fuel for use in an anode side of the fuel cell stack and an anode outlet face adapted to output anode exhaust from the anode side, and wherein at least one of the cathode inlet face, cathode outlet face, anode inlet face and anode outlet face is an open face without a manifold, and a containment structure for housing the plurality of fuel cell stacks and for providing fuel and oxidant gas to said fuel cell stacks, the containment structure including at least one sealed chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating at least one open face. Also provided is a modular fuel cell a embly comprising a plurality of fuel cell stacks, an oxidizer di osed centrally of the fuel cell stacks and adapted to receive anode exhaust from the fuel cell stacks, to generate oxidant gas using the anode exhaust and to distribute the oxidant gas to the fuel cell stacks, and a containment structure for housing the plurality of fuel cell stacks and the oxidizer and adapted to receive fuel and distribute the fuel to the fuel cell stacks.
Inventors:
Ma, Zhiwen (Golden, CO, US)
Farooque, Mohammad (Da ury, CT, US)
Venkataraman, Ramakrishnan (Da ury, CT, US)
Cramer, Michael (New Milford, CT, US)
Barlow, Alan (Ridgefield, CT, US)
A lication Number:
12/996437
Publication Date:
04/07/2011
Filing Date:
06/05/2009
Export Citation:
Primary Cla :
Other Cla es:
429/535
International Cla es:
H01M8/04
H01M8/24
View Patent Images: Related US A licatio :
20090310308
December, 2009
Lowell et al.
20040234833
November, 2004
Hartnack et al.
20080096072
April, 2008
Fukusako et al.
20090142628
June, 2009
Okada et al.
20050064293
March, 2005
Shen et al.
20060204799
September, 2006
Ishikawa et al.
20070042269
February, 2007
Chang et al.
20030224225
December, 2003
Mcmanus
20090197184
August, 2009
Kawashima
20090008167
January, 2009
Aoyagi et al.
20060141354
June, 2006
Claims:
What is claimed is:
1. A modular fuel cell stack a embly comprising: a plurality of fuel cell stacks, each of said fuel cell stacks having a plurality of stack faces and a plurality of stack corners formed between said stack faces, wherein said plurality of stack faces include a cathode inlet face adapted to receive oxidant gas for use in a cathode side of said fuel cell stack, a cathode outlet face adapted to output cathode exhaust from said cathode side, an anode inlet face adapted to receive fuel for use in an anode side of said fuel cell stack and an anode outlet face adapted to output anode exhaust from said anode side, and wherein at least one of said cathode inlet face, cathode outlet face, anode inlet face and anode outlet face is an open face without a manifold; and a containment structure for housing said plurality of fuel cell stacks and for providing fuel and oxidant gas to said fuel cell stacks, wherein said containment structure includes at least one sealed chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating at least one said open face.
2. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a sealing a embly for forming said at least one sealed chamber within said containment structure.
3. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 2, wherein said sealing a embly comprises a plurality of seals, each of said seals including a seal pre a embly adapted to be a lied to a stack corner adjacent said at least one said open face, a ring member for providing a force so as to retain said seal pre a embly at said stack corner and at least one separating member sealingly coupled with said seal pre a embly.
4. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 2, wherein: each of said cathode inlet face, said cathode outlet face, said anode inlet face and said anode outlet face is an open face and does not include a manifold; and said containment structure includes at least one sealed cathode inlet chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating said cathode inlet faces of said stacks, at least one sealed cathode outlet chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating said cathode outlet faces of said stacks, at least one sealed anode inlet chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating said anode inlet faces of said stacks, and at least one sealed anode outlet chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating said anode outlet faces of said stacks.
5. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 4, wherein said sealing a embly comprises a plurality of seals, each of said seals being sealingly provided between a stack corner of one of said plurality of stacks and at least one of a wall of said containment structure and another one of said plurality of stacks.
6. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 5, wherein each sealed chamber is formed by seals provided at stack corners that are adjacent to said one or more stack faces being enclosed by said sealed chamber.
7. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 6, wherein said cathode inlet chamber is centrally di osed within said containment structure and encloses and isolates all of said cathode inlet faces of said plurality of fuel cell stacks, said cathode inlet chamber being formed by the seals provided between stack corners adjacent to said cathode inlet faces and at least one of a wall of said containment structure and another one of said plurality of stacks.
8. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 7, further comprising an oxidizer a embly adapted to receive anode exhaust outputted from said anode side of said stacks and to generate oxidant gas for use in said cathode side from said anode exhaust, wherein said oxidizer a embly is di osed centrally within said containment structure and enclosed within said cathode inlet chamber.
9. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 8, wherein cathode inlet and cathode outlet faces of each fuel cell stack form o osing faces of said fuel cell stack and wherein each said cathode outlet chamber is formed at an o osing side of said fuel cell stack relative to said cathode inlet chamber.
10. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 9, wherein anode inlet and anode outlet faces of each fuel cell stack form o osing faces of said fuel cell stack joining said cathode inlet and cathode outlet faces, and wherein each said anode inlet chamber is formed at an o osing side of said fuel cell stack relative to said anode outlet chamber.
11. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 10, wherein said oxidizer a embly is adapted to receive a primary air portion for mixing with said anode exhaust and for generating oxidant gas and to receive a secondary air portion for cooling said oxidant gas generated by said oxidizer a embly.
12. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 11, wherein said containment structure includes a plurality of inlet ports for i utting fuel, said primary air portion and said secondary air portion and at least one outlet port for outputting cathode exhaust, said modular fuel cell a embly further comprising a conduit a embly for conveying said fuel to said fuel cell stacks, conveying said anode exhaust from said one or more fuel outlet chambers to said oxidizer a embly, conveying said primary air and secondary air portio to said oxidizer a embly and conveying said cathode exhaust from said fuel cell stacks to said at least one outlet port.
13. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 12, wherein said plurality of inlet ports include a fuel inlet port for i utting fuel, a primary air inlet port for i utting the primary air portion and at least one secondary inlet port for i utting the secondary air portion, and said at least one outlet port includes at least one cathode outlet port for outputting cathode exhaust, and wherein said conduit a embly comprises a fuel inlet conduit a embly adapted to receive fuel i utted to the fuel inlet port and to convey said fuel to said plurality of fuel cell stacks, an anode exhaust conduit a embly adapted to receive anode exhaust from said anode outlet chamber and to convey said anode exhaust to said oxidizer a embly, a primary air conduit a embly adapted to receive primary air from said primary air inlet port and to convey said primary air to said oxidizer a embly, a secondary air conduit a embly adapted to receive secondary air from said secondary air inlet port and to convey said secondary air to said oxidizer a embly and a cathode exhaust conduit a embly adapted to receive cathode exhaust outputted by said fuel cell stacks and to convey said cathode exhaust to said cathode outlet port.
14. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 13, wherein each of said fuel cell stacks includes an end plate a embly adapted to receive fuel from said fuel inlet conduit a embly and cathode exhaust from said cathode outlet chamber and to convey said fuel and said cathode exhaust in a heat exchange relatio hip so as to preheat said fuel, said end plate a embly being further adapted to output said cathode exhaust to said cathode exhaust conduit a embly and said preheated fuel to said anode inlet chamber.
15. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 10, wherein each of said seals comprises a seal pre a embly adapted to be sealingly a lied to a stack corner adjacent said at least one said open face, a ring member for providing a force so as to retain said seal pre a embly at said stack corner and at least one separating member sealingly coupled with said seal pre a embly and one of a wall of said containment structure and another seal pre a embly.
16. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 15, wherein said seal pre a embly comprises at least one ceramic gasket and at least one dielectric isolator for isolating said seal pre a embly from said ring member.
17. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 16, wherein said ceramic gasket comprises one of zirconia fibers and zirconia cloth, said dielectric isolator comprises alumina and said separation member comprises sheet metal.
18. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 17, wherein said ring member provides a force between said seal pre a embly and one of a wall of said containment structure and a wall of said oxidizer a embly.
19. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 16, wherein each said seal has one of a first co truction for first sealing and a second co truction for second sealing, wherein in said first co truction of said seal, said seal pre a embly comprises said ceramic gasket abutting said stack corner, said dielectric isolator abutting said gasket and at least one hollow metallic tube for coupling said at least one separation member and said ring member with said dielectric isolator; and wherein in said second co truction of said seal, said seal pre a embly comprises at least one ceramic gasket abutting each sealing surface of said corner, at least one dielectric isolator abutting each said ceramic gasket, a force distribution a embly for a lying a force to each of said dielectric isolators at least one hollow metallic tube for coupling said at least one separation member with said force distribution a embly.
20. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 10, wherein said plurality of fuel cell stacks includes a first fuel cell stack having a first cathode inlet face, a first cathode outlet face, a first anode inlet face and a first anode outlet face and a second fuel cell stack having a second cathode inlet face, a second cathode outlet face, a second anode inlet face and a second anode outlet face, said first and second fuel cell stacks are di osed within said containment structure so that said first cathode inlet face faces said second cathode inlet face and said oxidizer a embly is di osed between said first and second cathode inlet faces.
21. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 20, wherein said containment structure includes: a common cathode inlet chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating said first and second cathode inlet faces, a first cathode outlet chamber formed at an o osing side of said first fuel cell stack relative to said cathode inlet chamber for enclosing said first cathode outlet face, a second cathode outlet chamber formed at an o osing side of said second fuel cell stack relative to said cathode inlet chamber for enclosing said second cathode outlet face, a first anode inlet chamber for enclosing said first anode inlet face, a first anode outlet chamber formed at an o osing side of said first fuel cell stack relative to said first anode inlet chamber for enclosing said first anode outlet face, a second anode inlet chamber for enclosing said second anode inlet face, and a second anode outlet chamber formed at an o osing side of said second fuel cell stack relative to said second anode inlet chamber for enclosing said second anode outlet face.
22. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 21, wherein said common cathode inlet chamber is formed by a first seal provided at a first stack corner of said first stack adjacent to said first cathode inlet face, a second seal provided at a second stack corner of said first stack adjacent to said first cathode inlet face, a third seal provided at a first corner of said second stack adjacent to said second cathode inlet face and a fourth seal provided at a second corner of said second stack adjacent to said second cathode inlet face, each of said first, second, third and fourth seals including a seal pre a embly adapted to be a lied to said re ective stack corner, a ring member for providing a force between said seal pre a embly and a wall of said containment structure so as to retain the seal pre a embly at said re ective stack corner, and a first separating member sealingly coupled between said seal pre a embly and a nearest wall portion of said containment structure, and said first and third seals further including a first common separating member coupled between said seal pre a embly of said first seal and said seal pre a embly of said third seal, and said second and fourth seals further including a second common separating member coupled between said seal pre a embly of said second seal and said seal pre a embly of said fourth seal.
23. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 22, wherein said sealing a embly further comprises: a fifth seal provided at a third stack corner of said first stack between said first anode inlet face and first cathode outlet face and including a seal pre a embly adapted to be a lied to said third stack corner, a ring member for providing a force between said seal pre a embly and a wall of said containment structure so as to retain the seal pre a embly at said third stack corner, a first separating member sealingly coupled between said seal pre a embly and a wall portion of said containment structure facing said first anode inlet face and a second separating member sealingly coupled between said seal pre a embly and a wall portion of said containment structure facing said first cathode outlet face; a sixth seal provided at a fourth stack corner of said first stack between said first cathode outlet face and said first anode outlet face and including a seal pre a embly adapted to be a lied to said fourth stack corner, a ring member for providing a force between said seal pre a embly and a wall of said containment structure so as to retain the seal pre a embly at said fourth stack corner, a first separating member sealingly coupled between said seal pre a embly and a wall portion of said containment structure facing said first cathode outlet face and a second separating member sealingly coupled between said seal pre a embly and a wall portion of said containment structure facing said first anode outlet face; a seventh seal provided at a third stack corner of said second stack between said second anode inlet face and second cathode outlet face and including a seal pre a embly adapted to be a lied to said third stack corner of said second stack, a ring member for providing a force between said seal pre a embly and a wall of said containment structure so as to retain the seal pre a embly at said third stack corner of said second stack, a first separating member sealingly coupled between said seal pre a embly and a wall portion of said containment structure facing said second anode inlet face and a second separating member sealingly coupled between said seal pre a embly and a wall portion of said containment structure facing said second cathode outlet face; an eighth seal provided at a fourth stack corner of said second stack between said second cathode outlet face and said second anode outlet face and including a seal pre a embly adapted to be a lied to said fourth stack corner of said second stack, a ring member for providing a force between said seal pre a embly and a wall of said containment structure so as to retain the seal pre a embly at said fourth stack corner of said second stack, a first separating member sealingly coupled between said seal pre a embly and a wall portion of said containment structure facing said second cathode outlet face and a second separating member sealingly coupled between said seal pre a embly and a wall portion of said containment structure facing said second anode outlet face.
24. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 10, wherein said plurality of fuel cell stacks includes: a first fuel cell stack having a first cathode inlet face, a first cathode outlet face, a first anode inlet face and a first anode outlet face; a second fuel cell stack having a second cathode inlet face, a second cathode outlet face, a second anode inlet face and a second anode outlet face; a third fuel cell stack having a third cathode inlet face, a third cathode outlet face, a third anode inlet face and a third anode outlet face; and a fourth fuel cell stack having a fourth cathode inlet face, a fourth cathode outlet face, a fourth anode inlet face and a fourth anode outlet face; said first, second, third and fourth fuel cell stacks are di osed within said containment structure so that said first cathode inlet face is in a facing relatio hip with said second cathode inlet face, and said third cathode inlet face is in a facing relatio hip with said fourth cathode inlet face, and said oxidizer a embly is centrally di osed between said first and second cathode inlet faces and between said third and fourth cathode inlet faces.
25. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 24, wherein said containment structure includes: a common cathode inlet chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating said first, second, third and fourth cathode inlet faces, a first cathode outlet chamber formed at an o osing side of said first fuel cell stack relative to said cathode inlet chamber for enclosing said first cathode outlet face, a second cathode outlet chamber formed at an o osing side of said second fuel cell stack relative to said cathode inlet chamber for enclosing said second cathode outlet face, a third cathode outlet chamber formed at an o osing side of said third fuel cell stack relative to said cathode inlet chamber for enclosing said third cathode outlet face, a fourth cathode outlet chamber formed at an o osing side of said fourth fuel cell stack relative to said cathode inlet chamber for enclosing said fourth cathode outlet face, a first anode inlet chamber for enclosing said first anode inlet face, a second anode inlet chamber for enclosing said second anode inlet face, a third anode inlet chamber for enclosing said third anode inlet face, and a fourth anode inlet chamber for enclosing said fourth anode inlet face, a first common anode outlet chamber for enclosing said first anode outlet face and said fourth anode outlet face formed between said first and fourth fuel cell stacks, said first and fourth fuel cell stacks being di osed within said containment structure so that said first anode outlet face is in a facing relatio hip with said fourth anode outlet face, and a second common anode outlet chamber for enclosing said second anode outlet face and said third anode outlet face formed between said second and third fuel cell stacks, said second and third fuel cell stacks being di osed within said containment structure so that said second anode outlet face is in a facing relatio hip with said third anode outlet face.
26. A method of forming a modular fuel cell stack a embly of claim 2, wherein said containment structure includes a base portion, a plurality of sidewalls and a top cover, and said sealing a embly comprises a plurality of seals, said method comprising the ste of: providing said base portion of said containment structure and said plurality of fuel cell stack arranging said plurality of fuel cell stacks on said base portion of said containment structure; a lying said plurality of seals to stack corners adjacent said at least one said open face for forming said at least one sealed chamber; and i talling said sidewalls and said top cover of said containment structure to form said at least one sealed chamber.
27. A method of forming said modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 26, wherein: said at least one sealed chamber includes a cathode inlet chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating said cathode inlet faces of said fuel cell stack and said modular fuel cell stack a embly further comprises an oxidizer a embly adapted to receive air and anode exhaust outputted from said anode side of said stacks and to generate oxidant gas for use in said cathode side from said anode exhaust and said air, said oxidizer a embly is di osed centrally within said containment structure and enclosed within said cathode inlet chamber, and a conduit a embly for conveying fuel to said fuel cell stacks, air and anode exhaust to said oxidizer a embly and cathode exhaust from said fuel cell stacks, said method further comprising the step of i talling said oxidizer a embly and said conduit a embly within said containment structure after a lying said seals to said stack corners and before i talling said sidewalls and said top cover of said containment structure.
28. A modular fuel cell stack a embly comprising: a plurality of fuel cell stacks adapted to receive fuel and oxidant gas and to output anode exhaust and cathode exhaust; an oxidizer a embly di osed centrally of said fuel cell stacks, said oxidizer is adapted to receive anode exhaust from said fuel cell stacks, to generate said oxidant gas using said anode exhaust and to output said oxidant gas for use in said fuel cell stack and a containment structure for housing said plurality of fuel cell stacks and said oxidizer a embly and adapted to receive fuel and distribute said fuel to said fuel cell stacks.
29. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 28, wherein each of said fuel cell stacks includes a cathode inlet face, said cathode inlet face being an open face without a manifold, and wherein said oxidizer a embly outputs said oxidant gas into said containment structure for use by said fuel cell stacks.
30. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 29, wherein said fuel cell stacks are di osed within said containment structure so that said cathode inlet face of each fuel cell stack faces said oxidizer a embly.
31. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 30, wherein said oxidizer a embly is further adapted to receive air for generating said oxidant gas and said oxidizer a embly comprises at least one mixer-eductor a embly adapted to receive said anode exhaust and a first air portion and to mix said anode exhaust with said first air portion, at least one oxidizer unit including an oxidizer catalyst for oxidizing said mixture of said anode exhaust with said first air portion to generate hot oxidant gas, and at least one output a embly directly following said at least one oxidizer unit and adapted to receive said hot oxidant gas and a second air portion for cooling said hot oxidant gas and to output said oxidant gas.
32. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 31, wherein said mixer-eductor a embly comprises an eductor tube extending in an upward direction, said eductor tube including a first inlet for receiving said anode exhaust, a second inlet for receiving said first air portion and an outlet for outputting said mixture of said anode exhaust and said first air portion to said oxidizer unit, and wherein said first and second inlets are di osed at a lower end of said eductor tube, said first inlet being di osed at a lower point of said eductor tube than said second inlet, and said outlet being di osed at an u er end of said eductor tube.
33. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 32, wherein said oxidizer unit is di osed at said outlet of said eductor tube at an angle relative to gas flow direction along said eductor tube.
34. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 33, wherein said output a embly encloses an outlet of said oxidizer unit and includes a top cover extending outwardly and downwardly from an u ermost end of said oxidizer unit, a bottom wall extending outwardly from a lowermost end of said oxidizer unit and first and second o osing sidewalls co ecting said top cover and said bottom wall, wherein said top cover, bottom wall and o osing sidewalls form an oxidant gas outlet adjacent a lowermost end of said output a embly for outputting said oxidant gas.
35. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 34, wherein said output a embly further comprises a T-shaped exte ion for directing said oxidant gas around said fuel cell stacks.
36. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 31, wherein said containment structure includes a plurality of inlet ports for i utting said fuel, said first air portion and said second air portion and at least one outlet port for outputting cathode exhaust, said modular fuel cell stack a embly further comprising a conduit a embly for conveying said fuel to said fuel cell stacks, conveying said anode exhaust from said fuel cell stacks to said oxidizer a embly, conveying said first air portion and said second air portion to said oxidizer a embly and conveying said cathode exhaust from said fuel cell stacks to said at least one outlet port.
37. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 36, wherein said plurality of inlet ports include a fuel inlet port for i utting fuel, a first air inlet port for i utting said first air portion, at least one second air inlet port for i utting said second air portion and said at least one outlet port includes at least one cathode outlet port for outputting said cathode exhaust, and wherein said conduit a embly comprises a fuel inlet conduit a embly adapted to receive fuel i utted to the fuel inlet port and to convey said fuel to said plurality of fuel cell stacks, an anode exhaust conduit a embly adapted to receive anode exhaust from said plurality of fuel cell stacks and to convey said anode exhaust to said mixer-eductor a embly of said oxidizer a embly, a first air conduit a embly adapted to receive said first air portion from said first air inlet port and to convey said first air portion to said mixer-eductor a embly of said oxidizer a embly, a second air conduit a embly adapted to receive said second air portion from said second air inlet port and to convey said second air portion to said output a embly of said oxidizer a embly, and a cathode exhaust conduit a embly adapted to receive cathode exhaust outputted by said fuel cell stacks and to convey said cathode exhaust to said cathode outlet port.
38. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 37, wherein said containment structure includes a base portion and an enclosure portion and said second air conduit a embly includes an i ulated conduit portion pa ing through said base portion of said containment structure and a plurality of Sparger tubes coupled with said i ulated conduit portion at a first end and extending upwardly into said output a embly of said oxidizer a embly at a second end, and wherein each of said plurality of Sparger tubes is adapted to receive said second air portion from said i ulated conduit portion through said first end and to convey said second air portion to said output a embly of said oxidizer a embly through said second end.
39. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 38, wherein said second end of each of said Sparger tubes includes a plurality of small apertures for outputting said second air portion into said output a embly.
40. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 37, wherein each of said fuel cell stacks includes an end plate a embly adapted to receive fuel from said fuel inlet conduit a embly and cathode exhaust outputted from said fuel cell stack and to convey said fuel and said cathode exhaust in a heat exchange relatio hip so as to preheat said fuel, said end plate a embly being further adapted to output said cathode exhaust to said cathode exhaust conduit a embly and said preheated fuel to said fuel cell stack.
41. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 32, wherein said plurality of fuel cell stacks includes a first stack, a second stack, a third stack and a fourth stack, wherein said first, second, third and fourth stacks are di osed within said containment structure so that said cathode inlet face of said first fuel cell stack is in a facing relatio hip with said cathode inlet face of said second fuel cell stack, and said cathode inlet face of said third fuel cell stack is in a facing relatio hip with said cathode inlet face of said fourth fuel cell stack.
42. A modular fuel cell stack a embly in accordance with claim 41, wherein said oxidizer a embly comprises a first mixer-eductor a embly adapted to receive anode exhaust from said first and second stacks and a portion of said first air portion, a first oxidizer unit for oxidizing the mixture of said anode exhaust from said first and second stacks and said first air portion, a first output a embly adapted to receive said hot oxidant gas generated by said first oxidizer unit and to output said oxidant gas between said first and second stacks, and said oxidizer a embly further comprising a second mixer-eductor a embly adapted to receive anode exhaust from said third and fourth stacks and another portion of said first air portion, a second oxidizer unit for oxidizing the mixture of said anode exhaust from said third and fourth stacks and said first air portion, and a second output a embly adapted to receive said hot oxidant gas generated by said second oxidizer unit and to output said oxidant gas between said third and fourth stacks.
43. A modular fuel cell stack a embly comprising: a plurality of fuel cell stacks, each of said fuel cell stacks having a plurality of stack faces and a plurality of stack corners formed between said stack faces, wherein said plurality of stack faces include a cathode inlet face adapted to receive oxidant gas for use in a cathode side of said fuel cell stack, a cathode outlet face adapted to output cathode exhaust from said cathode side, an anode inlet face adapted to receive fuel for use in an anode side of said fuel cell stack and an anode outlet face adapted to output anode exhaust from said anode side, and wherein each of said cathode inlet face, cathode outlet face, anode inlet face and anode outlet face is an open face without a manifold; a containment structure for housing said plurality of fuel cell stacks and for providing fuel and oxidant gas to said fuel cell stacks, wherein said containment structure includes a plurality of sealed chambers for sealingly enclosing and isolating said cathode inlet faces, said anode inlet faces, said cathode outlet faces and said anode outlet faces, and a sealing a embly comprising a plurality of seals for forming said sealed chambers within said containment structure, wherein each of said seals has one of a first co truction and a second co truction, said second co truction providing greater sealing than said first co truction.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fuel cell systems and, more particularly, to multi-stack fuel cell systems.
In building fuel-cell systems, the fuel cells are conventionally stacked one on the other to form a fuel-cell stack. The number of cells determines the power rating of the stack and to provide systems with higher power ratings, a number of fuel-cell stacks are utilized and the outputs of the fuel cell stacks combined to provide the desired power output.
In one type of a multi-stack fuel cell system, a modular multi-stack fuel cell a embly includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks housed within a rectangular or box-like enclosure and arranged in line along the length of the enclosure. Each of the stacks within the enclosure has inlet manifolds for receiving the fuel and oxidant gas needed to operate the stack and outlet manifolds for outputting exhaust fuel and oxidant gases from the stack. The enclosure includes fuel and oxidant gas inlet ports for communicating through piping or conduits with the re ective fuel and oxidant gas inlet manifolds of the stacks, and fuel and oxidant gas outlet ports for communicating through piping with the oxidant and fuel gas outlet manifolds.
In such system, in order to i ure an a ropriate uniform flow distribution and a desired pre ure differential through the stacks, flow baffles are provided in the piping or conduits co ecting the fuel and oxidant gas inlet ports to the re ective stack inlet manifolds. Each of the stacks and the piping within the enclosure are also i ulated to thermally isolate the stacks from the enclosure. The cold box-like design of the enclosure requires thermal expa ion joints i ide as well as outside of the enclosure to minimize the pre ure differential acro the fuel and oxidant seals. Nitrogen is also provided to purge any minute leaks from the fuel cell stacks into the enclosure.
While modular multi-stack fuel cell a emblies of the above type performed as desired, the piping and baffle requirements made each a embly complex and expe ive. The thermal i ulation requirements were also stringent, further adding to the cost of each a embly. Additionally, the need for a nitrogen gas purge added another gas stream increasing the proce control requirements. These factors have lead designers to look for le complex and le costly design alternatives.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,323,270, a igned to the same a ignee herein, describes an improved modular multi-stack fuel-cell a embly, in which stack flow distribution and differential pre ure requirements are realized in a simpler and more cost effective ma er, and in which i ut and output port and piping requirements are significantly reduced. The '270 patent discloses a modular multi-stack fuel cell a embly in which the stacks are situated within an enclosure or a containment structure and which includes a gas distributor within the structure for distributing received fuel gas to the stacks and for receiving exhausted fuel and oxidant gases from the stacks. The gas distributor is di osed symmetrically and centrally of the fuel cell stacks within the structure so as to promote desired uniform gas flow and uniform pre ure differential through the stacks. The distributor in the '270 patent includes a first section for distributing received fuel to manifolds of each of the fuel cell stacks through equal length conduits, a second section for receiving exhausted fuel gas from each of the stacks through equal length conduits and a third section for receiving exhausted oxidant gas from each of the stacks through equal length conduits.
It is desired to provide a more advanced modular multi-stack a embly for improved reliability and greater acce ibility and serviceability so as to reduce the manufacturing and maintenance costs of the a embly, extend the life of the a embly and to improve its performance. It is also desired to provide an improved modular multi-stack a embly with a ace-saving design that allows use of anode exhaust gas within the a embly to generate oxidant gas for use in fuel cell cathode compartments.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a further simplified modular multi-stack a embly in which oxidant gas is su lied to an oxidant inlet face of each fuel cell stack through an oxidizer a embly within the modular a embly.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a modular multi-stack a embly which includes at least one oxidizer unit within the enclosure adapted to receive anode exhaust and i ut oxidant gas and to output oxidant gas for use in the cathode side of the stacks.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a modular multi-stack a embly in which a plurality of sealed regio are formed within its enclosure for improved gas separation and distribution within the a embly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objectives are realized in a modular multi-stack fuel cell a embly comprising a plurality of fuel cell stacks, each of the fuel cell stacks having a plurality of stack faces and a plurality of stack corners formed between the stack faces, wherein the plurality of stack faces include a cathode inlet face adapted to receive oxidant gas for use in a cathode side of the fuel cell stack, a cathode outlet face adapted to output cathode exhaust from the cathode side, an anode inlet face adapted to receive fuel for use in an anode side of the fuel cell stack and an anode outlet face adapted to output anode exhaust from the anode side, and wherein at least one of the cathode inlet face, cathode outlet face, anode inlet face and anode outlet face is an open face without a manifold, and a containment structure for housing the plurality of fuel cell stacks and for providing fuel and oxidant gas to the fuel cell stacks, wherein the containment structure includes at least one sealed chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating at least one open face. The modular fuel cell stack a embly further comprises a sealing a embly for forming the at least one sealed chamber within the containment structure, the sealing a embly comprising a plurality of seals, each of which includes a seal pre a embly adapted to be a lied to a stack corner adjacent said at least one said open face, a ring member for providing a force so as to retain the seal pre a embly at the stack corner and at least one separating member sealingly coupled with the seal pre a embly.
In certain embodiments of the modular fuel cell stack a embly each of the cathode inlet face, the cathode outlet face, the anode inlet face and the anode outlet face is an open face and does not include a manifold, and the containment structure includes at least one sealed cathode inlet chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating the cathode inlet faces of said stacks, at least one sealed cathode outlet chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating the cathode outlet faces of the stacks, at least one sealed anode inlet chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating the anode inlet faces of the stacks, and at least one sealed anode outlet chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating the anode outlet faces of the stacks. In some embodiments, the cathode inlet chamber is a common cathode inlet chamber that encloses all of the cathode inlet faces of the stacks and the modular fuel cell stack a embly further includes an oxidizer centrally di osed within the common cathode inlet chamber.
In certain embodiments, the seals used for forming the cathode inlet, cathode outlet, anode inlet and anode outlet chambers include one of at least a first seal co truction used for sealing first corners and a second seal co truction used for sealing second corners. Second corners include stack corners adjacent to the anode inlet and cathode inlet faces and the seals of the second seal co truction are used for forming the cathode inlet chamber and the anode inlet chambers.
In other embodiments, the modular fuel cell stack a embly comprises a plurality of fuel cell stacks adapted to receive fuel and oxidant gas and to output anode exhaust and cathode exhaust, an oxidizer a embly di osed centrally of the fuel cell stacks, the oxidizer being adapted to receive anode exhaust from the fuel cell stacks, to generate the oxidant gas using the anode exhaust and to output the oxidant gas for use in the fuel cell stacks, and a containment structure for housing the plurality of fuel cell stacks and the oxidizer a embly and adapted to receive fuel and distribute said fuel to said fuel cell stacks. In such embodiments, each of the fuel cell stacks includes a cathode inlet face which is an open face without a manifold, and the oxidizer a embly outputs the oxidant gas into the containment structure for use by the fuel cell stacks. The fuel cell stacks are di osed within the containment structure so that the cathode inlet face of each fuel cell stack faces the oxidizer a embly. The oxidizer a embly is further adapted to receive air for generating the oxidant gas and comprises at least one mixer-eductor a embly adapted to receive the anode exhaust and a first air portion and to mix said anode exhaust with the first air portion, at least one oxidizer unit including an oxidizer catalyst for oxidizing the mixture of the anode exhaust with the first air portion to generate hot oxidant gas, and at least one output a embly directly following the at least one oxidizer unit and adapted to receive the hot oxidant gas and a second air portion for cooling the hot oxidant gas and to output the oxidant gas. The mixer-eductor a embly comprises an eductor tube extending in an upward direction, which includes a first inlet for receiving the anode exhaust, a second inlet for receiving the first air portion and an outlet for outputting the mixture of said anode exhaust and said first air portion to said oxidizer unit, and wherein said first and second inlets are di osed at a lower end of said eductor tube, said second inlet being di osed at a lower point of the eductor tube than the first inlet, and the outlet being di osed at an u er end of the eductor tube.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other features and a ects of the present invention will become more a arent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a per ective 3-dime ional view of a modular multi-stack fuel cell a embly including four fuel cell stacks housed by a containment structure;
FIG. 2 shows a per ective view of the modular multi-stack fuel cell a embly of FIG. 1 with u er enclosure of the containment structure removed;
FIG. 3 shows a per ective view of the modular multi-stack fuel cell a embly of FIG. 2 with two fuel cell stacks and the u er enclosure of the containment structure removed;
FIG. 4 shows a top view of the modular multi-stack fuel cell a embly of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 shows a modular multi-stack fuel cell a embly with two fuel cell stacks housed by a containment structure that forms a plurality of sealed areas using a plurality of sealing a emblie FIG. 6A shows a detailed view of one configuration of a sealing a embly used in the modular multi-stack fuel cell a embly of FIG. 5;
FIG. 6B shows a detailed view of another configuration of a sealing a embly used in the modular multi-stack fuel cell a embly of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a modular multi-stack a embly including four fuel cell stacks housed by a containment enclosure that forms a plurality of sealed area and
FIG. 8 illustrates a method of forming the modular multi-stack a embly of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1-4 show various views of an illustrative embodiment of a modular multi-stack fuel cell a embly
including a plurality of fuel cell stacks
, shown as stacks
, and an oxidizer a embly
. The plurality of fuel cell stacks
and the oxidizer a embly
are housed within a common containment structure
which includes a base section
and an u er enclosure
. To permit viewing of the other components of the a embly
, the u er enclosure which surrounds and encloses the stacks and the oxidizer has been removed in FIGS. 2-4. To further clarify the central components of the a embly
, stacks
are not shown in FIG. 3, but can be seen in FIGS. 1,
As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the stacks
each extend height-wise in the vertical direction and are su orted on the base section
of the containment structure
. The fuel cell stacks
are adapted to receive fuel and oxidant gas and to output anode exhaust and cathode exhaust. The oxidizer a embly
is di osed centrally relative to the stacks
and is adapted to receive anode exhaust outputted by the stacks
and to generate oxidant gas for use in the stacks
. As discu ed in more detail herein below, the oxidizer a embly
is also adapted to receive a first portion of air, or primary air, for mixing with the anode exhaust in the a embly
and for generating the oxidant gas, and a second portion of air, or secondary air, for cooling the oxidant gas generated in the a embly
As shown in FIG. 1, the containment structure
includes an u er enclosure
which surrounds and encloses the fuel cell stacks
and the oxidizer a embly
. The containment structure
also includes a plurality of ports for receiving inlet fuel and air for use in the stacks
and the oxidizer a embly
and for outputting cathode exhaust produced by the stacks, which can be viewed in FIGS. 1-4. As shown, the containment structure
includes a fuel inlet port
for receiving and i utting fuel, a primary air inlet port
for receiving and i utting primary air, at least one secondary air inlet port
for receiving and i utting secondary air and at least one cathode exhaust outlet port
for receiving cathode exhaust output by the fuel cell stacks and outputting the cathode exhaust from the a embly
. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the containment structure includes two secondary air inlet ports
and two cathode exhaust outlet ports
. However, the number of inlet and outlet ports
may vary depending on the configuration and requirements of the fuel cell stacks and the oxidizer a embly.
In FIGS. 1-4, the inlet ports
form an inlet port a embly in a first face of the containment structure
comprising an inlet tom tone
, or an inlet port su orting structure, that su orts the inlet ports
. As also shown, the outlet port
is formed as an outlet port a embly in a second face of the containment structure
adjacent to the first face, the outlet port a embly comprising an outlet tom tone
, or an outlet port su orting structure, for su orting the outlet port
. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, another outlet port a embly of like co truction may be formed in a third face of the containment structure
o osing the second face, so that each outlet port a embly is used for outputting a portion of the cathode exhaust produced in the fuel cell stacks.
As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the a embly
also comprises a conduit a embly that includes piping or conduits for coupling the inlet and outlet ports
with the re ective portio of the fuel cell stacks
and piping or conduits for coupling the inlet ports
with re ective portio of the oxidizer a embly
. In particular, the conduit a embly includes fuel inlet piping or conduit a embly
for coupling the inlet port
with each of the fuel cell stacks
so that the fuel i ut into the a embly
through the inlet port
is received by the fuel inlet conduits a embly
and distributed or su lied by the conduit to each of the fuel cell stacks
. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fuel inlet conduit a embly
receives the i ut fuel from the inlet port
through a first conduit
, which is divided or lit into two conduits
each of which receives a portion of the fuel and conveys the re ective fuel portion to a fuel cell stack pair. As shown, the conduit
conveys a first portion of the fuel to one fuel cell stack pair including fuel cell stacks
, while the conduit
conveys a second portion of the fuel to the other fuel cell stack pair including fuel cell stacks
. Each conduit
is thereafter lit or divided into two conduits
, each of which is coupled to a re ective fuel cell stack and conveys the re ective fuel portion to the fuel cell stack. Thus, in the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the conduit
convey fuel to fuel cell stacks
, re ectively, and the conduits
convey fuel to fuel cell stacks
. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the conduits
have equal or su tantially equal lengths and diameters, and the conduits
also have equal or su tantially equal lengths and diameters so that the fuel i ut into the a embly
is divided into su tantially equal portio su lied to the stacks
. Fuel received in each stack
through the re ective conduits
is conveyed to an end plate a embly of the re ective fuel cell stack where it is pre-heated using heat from cathode exhaust before being used in the anode side of the re ective stack.
As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the cathode exhaust outlet ports
are coupled with the re ective fuel cell stacks
using cathode exhaust piping or conduit a embly
. In the embodiment shown, the first outlet port
is coupled with the first fuel cell stack
using a first cathode exhaust conduit
and with the second fuel cell stack
using a second cathode exhaust conduit
. The second outlet port
is coupled with the third fuel cell stack
using a third cathode exhaust conduit
and with the fourth fuel cell stack
using a fourth cathode exhaust conduit
. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the cathode exhaust conduits
have equal or su tantially equal lengths and diameters so that the cathode exhaust from the stacks
is exhausted at su tantially equal flow rates. In each of the fuel cell stacks
, cathode exhaust is first pa ed through the end plate of the stack where the heat from the cathode exhaust is used for preheating fuel su lied from the conduits
, and is thereafter outputted to the re ective cathode exhaust conduit
, each of which conveys the cathode exhaust to the corre onding outlet port
As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the primary air inlet port
is coupled with the oxidizer a embly
using primary air piping or conduit a embly
which conveys the primary air from the inlet port
to the oxidizer a embly
. Each of the secondary air inlet ports
is coupled with the oxidizer a embly
using a secondary air piping or conduit a embly
. The configuration and coupling of the primary air conduit a embly
and the secondary air conduit a embly with the oxidizer a embly
will be described in more detail herein below.
The a embly
further includes anode exhaust piping or conduit a embly
for coupling the fuel cell stacks
with the oxidizer a embly
to convey anode exhaust outputted from each of the stacks
to the oxidizer a embly
. In particular, the anode exhaust conduit a embly
includes a first anode exhaust conduit
for conveying anode exhaust outputted from the first fuel cell stack
to the oxidizer a embly
, a second anode exhaust conduit
for conveying anode exhaust from the second fuel cell stack
to the oxidizer a embly
, a third anode exhaust conduit
for conveying anode exhaust from the third fuel cell stack
to the oxidizer a embly and a fourth anode exhaust conduit
for conveying anode exhaust from the fourth fuel cell stack
to the oxidizer a embly
. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the conduits
have equal, or su tantially equal, lengths.
The oxidizer a embly
and the conduit a emblies
are adapted to promote desired uniform gas flow and desired uniform pre ure differential through the stacks
. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, this is accomplished by di osing the oxidizer a embly
symmetrically and centrally of the stacks. In addition, the use of equal length conduits
and of equal length conduits
for providing fuel to the stacks
, of equal length conduits
for conveying anode exhaust to the oxidizer a embly
and of equal length conduits
for conveying cathode exhaust to the cathode outlet port
further promotes uniform gas flow and uniform pre ure differential through the stacks
of the a embly
. As a result, the need for additional components to provide pre ure differential and gas flow uniformity is significantly reduced and the overall energy lo es a ociated with the flow distribution are also minimized.
As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the oxidizer a embly
has a height-wise configuration which is best viewed in FIG. 3, and includes at least one mixer-eductor a embly
adapted for receiving and mixing anode exhaust and primary air, and at least one oxidizer unit
, including oxidizer catalyst, for oxidizing the mixture of the anode exhaust and primary air to produce oxidant gas. The oxidizer a embly
also includes an oxidant output portion
following the oxidizer unit
, which is configured as a hood shown in FIGS. 1-4. The output hood
immediately follows the oxidizer unit
so as to receive oxidant gas produced by the oxidizer unit
, and is also adapted to receive secondary air and to provide mixing between oxidant gas from the oxidizer unit
and the secondary air. As a result, the secondary air cools the oxidant gas from the oxidizer unit
, and the output hood
outputs cooled oxidant gas suitable for use in the cathode sides of the fuel cell stacks
In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the oxidizer a embly
is formed as two like oxidizer a emblies, and includes a first mixer-eductor a embly
, a first oxidizer unit
, and a first output hood
following the first oxidizer unit
, and a second mixer-eductor a embly
, a second oxidizer unit
and a second output hood
following the second oxidizer unit
. The first mixer eductor a embly
is adapted to receive anode exhaust from the first and second stacks
through first and second conduits
, re ectively, and a portion of the primary air from the primary air conduit a embly
, and to mix the anode exhaust with the primary air. The first oxidizer
is adapted to receive the mixture of anode exhaust and primary air from the first mixer eductor a embly
, and to oxidize the mixture to produce hot oxidant gas. The first output hood
is adapted to receive a portion of the secondary air su lied through the conduit a embly
and the oxidant gas produced by the first oxidizer
and to output a first portion of cooled oxidant gas for use in the cathode side of the stacks
. The second mixer-eductor a embly
of the oxidant a embly
is adapted to receive anode exhaust from the third and fourth stacks
and the other portion of the primary air from the conduit a embly
, the second oxidizer
is adapted to receive the mixture of anode exhaust and primary air from the second mixer eductor a embly
, and the second output hood
is adapted to receive the other portion of the secondary air su lied via the conduit a embly
and the oxidant gas produced by the second oxidizer
and to output a second portion of cooled oxidant gas for use in the stacks
As shown in FIG. 3, the first and second mixer-eductor a emblies
each comprise an eductor tube
, which forms an elongated pa age for mixing the anode exhaust and the primary air received by the eductor tube and conveying the mixture of the anode exhaust and primary air to the first and second oxidizer units
, re ectively. Each eductor tube
includes an air inlet
for receiving the primary air, or a portion of the primary air, from the conduit a embly
, and at least one anode exhaust inlet
for receiving the anode exhaust produced by one or more of the stacks
from one or more conduits
. In the illustrative embodiment shown, each eductor tube
receives a portion of the primary air through a primary air inlet
at a lowermost end of the eductor tube
. The first eductor tube
also receives anode exhaust from two fuel cell stacks
through the anode exhaust inlets
, while the second eductor tube
receives anode exhaust from the other two fuel cell stacks
through the anode exhaust inlets
, wherein each anode exhaust inlet
corre onds to one of the stacks
. The anode exhaust inlets
are positioned near the lowermost end of