Process to increase efficiency and decrease the exhaust gases from fuel cell system

摘要

Process for increasing the efficiency of and reducing exhaust gases in fuel cell systems comprises increasing the oxygen amount of the air introduced for fuel cells operating with atmospheric oxygen on the cathode side and/or the hydrogen amount of the fuel gas for fuel cells operating with hydrocarbons on the anode side, using a gas enriching process coupled to a reforming process using a high temperature fuel cell. The reforming process uses a high temperature fuel cell (3), in which reaction gases (hydrogen, hydrocarbons, water, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide) are removed and re-used. The hydrogen is fed to one or more low temperature fuel cells (4) and water and hydrocarbons are condensed out and re-introduced to the reforming process. The carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are fed to an exhaust gas catalyst (14). Preferred Features: Hydrogen obtained by the internal reformer process of a high temperature fuel cell is cooled to less than 80 degrees C and is removed using a molecular sieve and fed to one or more low temperature fuel cells.