Brennstoffzellenanordnung für verunreinigte Gase und Verfahren zum Gebrauch derselben.

摘要

The fuel cell system is adapted to be able to operate with oxygen-contaminated hydrogen-rich fuel gases without experiencing undesirably high temperature hot spots on the fuel cell electrodes. Oxygen in the fuel gas is catalytically burned in areas of the electrodes where no electrochemical reaction occurs. The oxygen content of the fuel gases is thus reduced to an acceptable level before the fuel gases flow over the portions of the electrodes which are electrochemically active. Anode exhaust can also be partially recirculated into the anode inlet to mix with incoming fuel gas thereby preliminarily diluting the amount of oxygen in the incoming fuel gases.