HEATER WITH A FUEL CELL STACK ASSEMBLY AND A COMBUSTOR AND METHOD OF OPERATING

摘要

A heater includes a heater housing extending along a heater axis. A fuel cell stack assembly is disposed within the heater housing and includes a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel cell fuel into heat and electricity through a chemical reaction with a fuel cell oxidizing agent. A combustor disposed within the heater housing includes a combustor fuel inlet for introducing the combustor fuel into the combustor, a combustor oxidizing agent inlet for introducing a combustor oxidizing agent into the combustor, and combustor exhaust outlet for discharging a heated combustor exhaust from the combustor. An anode exhaust conduit is connected to the anode exhaust outlet and extends out of the heater housing for selectively communicating a first quantity of the anode exhaust out of the heater housing. The heater housing is heated by the fuel cell stack assembly and the heated combustor exhaust.

主权项

1. A heater comprising:
a heater housing extending along a heater axis; a fuel cell stack assembly disposed within said heater housing and having a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel cell fuel into heat and electricity through a chemical reaction with a fuel cell oxidizing agent, said fuel cell stack assembly having 1) a fuel cell stack fuel inlet for introducing said fuel cell fuel to a plurality of anodes of said plurality of fuel cells, 2) a fuel cell stack oxidizing agent inlet for introducing said fuel cell oxidizing agent to a plurality of cathodes of said plurality of fuel cells, 3) an anode exhaust outlet for discharging an anode exhaust comprising unspent fuel from said plurality of fuel cells, and 4) a cathode exhaust outlet for discharging a cathode exhaust comprising unspent fuel cell oxidizing agent from said plurality of fuel cells; a combustor disposed within said heater housing for combusting a mixture of a combustor fuel and a combustor oxidizing agent to form a heated combustor exhaust, said combustor having 1) a combustor fuel inlet for introducing said combustor fuel into said combustor, 2) a combustor oxidizing agent inlet for introducing said combustor oxidizing agent into said combustor, and 3) a combustor exhaust outlet for discharging said heated combustor exhaust from said combustor into said heater housing; and an anode exhaust conduit connected to said anode exhaust outlet and extending out of said heater housing for selectively communicating a first quantity of said anode exhaust out of said heater housing; whereby said heater housing is heated by said fuel cell stack assembly and said heated combustor exhaust.