Portable systems for engine block
View Patent ↗Described herein are portable fuel cell systems for producing electrical energy. The portable fuel cell systems include a fuel processor including a reformer and a burner. The reformer receives fuel and outputs hydrogen using the fuel. The burner processes fuel to generate heat. The system also includes a fuel cell configured to produce electrical energy using hydrogen output by the reformer. The system also includes a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat generated in the fuel cell or generated in the fuel processor to a reactant fluid.
1. A portable fuel cell system for producing electrical energy comprising:
a fuel cell system disposed within a portable package having:
(i) a fuel processor that includes
a reformer configured to receive fuel and to output hydrogen using the fuel, and
a burner configured to process fuel to generate heat;
(ii) a fuel cell configured to produce electrical energy using hydrogen output by the reformer;
(iii) at least one line, internal to the portable package, configured to transport reformer fuel to the reformer;
(iv) at least one line, internal to the portable package, configured to transport burner fuel to the burner; and
(v) a heat exchanger disposed between the fuel processor and the fuel cell and wherein the heat exchanger is at least partially coupled to the fuel cell to conductively transfer heat from the fuel cell to the reformer fuel or to the burner fuel.
2. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger includes at least one line that transports a fluid that includes the heat generated in the fuel cell or generated in the fuel processor.
3. The fuel cell system of claim 2 wherein the fluid includes burner exhaust from the fuel processor.
4. The fuel cell system of claim 3 wherein the fuel cell is configured to receive the burner exhaust from the fuel processor.
5. The fuel cell system of claim 4 further comprising a valve configured to controllably prevent the reformer fuel or the burner fuel from reaching the heat exchanger.
6. The fuel cell system of claim 1 further comprising a valve configured to control the flow of the reformer fuel or the burner fuel so that the fuel avoids contact with the heat exchanger.