Functional integration of multiple components for a fuel cell power plant

摘要

A fuel cell power plant having a plurality of functionally integrated components including a fuel cell assembly provided with a fuel stream, an oxidant stream and a coolant stream. The fuel cell power plant functionally integrates a mass and heat recovery device for promoting a transfer of thermal energy and moisture between a first gaseous stream and a second gaseous stream, and a burner for processing the fuel exhausted from the fuel cell assembly during operation thereof. A housing chamber is utilized which accepts the oxidant stream exhausted from the fuel cell assembly after the exhausted oxidant stream has merged with a burner gaseous stream exhausted from the burner. The resultant merged airflow is subsequently directed to the housing chamber and to the mass and heat recovery device as the first gaseous stream.