IP Library Granted Patent US 12,412,915
Granted Patent B2
US 12,412,915 · App. 17/920,469 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Operating method for a solid oxide cell system

Inventors: Oliver Borm (Dresden, DE); Oliver Posdziech (Dresden, DE)
Assignee: Sunfire GmbH
H01M8/0637C01B3/34C25B15/08H01M8/04074H01M8/04589H01M8/04753H01M8/0625C01B2203/0233C01B2203/0238C01B2203/067C01B2203/0838C01B2203/1235C25B1/04H01M2008/1293
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,412,915
App. No.
17/920,469
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of operating a solid oxide cell system comprises generating an electrochemical conversion from one of: (i) water steam H 2 O(g); and (ii) a mixture comprising water steam H 2 O(g) and carbon dioxide CO 2 . A quantity of at least one other substance is added into the one of the water steam H 2 O(g) and the mixture comprising water steam H 2 O(g) and carbon dioxide CO 2 . The at least one other substance comprises a hydrocarbon C m H n . The quantity of the at least one other substance is converted into a syngas CO+H 2 . An endothermic reforming of the mixed-in hydrocarbons occurs by coupling-in waste heat from the electrochemical conversion. The additional quantity of the at least one substance is added compensate for effects of a degradation of the solid oxide cells of the solid oxide cell system. A total quantity of the hydrogen H 2 generated by the solid oxide cell system is kept constant.

Claims (13)

1. A method of operating a solid oxide cell system that is configured to produce at least one of: (i) carbon dioxide CO 2 ; (ii) hydrogen H 2 ; and (iii) synthesis gas CO+H 2 from an electrochemical conversion of one of: (i) water steam H 2 O (g); and (ii) a mixture comprising water steam H 2 O (g) and carbon dioxide CO 2 , the method comprising:

admixing a quantity of at least one other substance into the one of: (i) the water steam H 2 O (g); and (ii) the mixture comprising water steam H 2 O (g) and carbon dioxide CO 2 for conversion into synthesis gas CO+H 2 , wherein the at least one other substance is selected from the group consisting of natural gas, methane CH 4 or another hydrocarbon, wherein an endothermic reforming of the admixed hydrocarbons takes place by coupling in waste heat from the electrochemical conversion and the quantity of the at least one other substance in order to compensate for effects of a degradation of the solid oxide cells of the solid oxide cell system;

producing a quantity of hydrogen H 2 ;

determining at least one of: (i) a total quantity of hydrogen produced by the system; and (ii) a quantity of the synthesis gas produced by the system; and

structuring a control device to,

receive measurement signals from a mass flow controller,

transmit signals from the control device to the mass flow controller to control an electrolysis process based on at least one of: (i) the determined total quantity of hydrogen produced by the system; and (ii) the determined quantity of synthesis gas CO+H 2 produced by the system; and

regulating addition of the quantity of hydrogen H 2 to the system such that the total quantity of hydrogen H 2 generated by the solid oxide cell system is kept constant over a time with respect to an operation under a nominal load.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing a ramp configured for a standard volumetric flow of the at least one other substance.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the solid oxide cells of the solid oxide cell system are configured to be cooled by the endothermic reforming, such that they are configured to be operated thermoneutral over their entire service life.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an internal reforming of the at least one other substance occurs within the solid oxide cells of the solid oxide cell system.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an external reforming of the at least one substance occurs by means of a reformer arranged upstream of the solid oxide cell system, and wherein heat is led away from the solid oxide cell system to the reformer to cool the solid oxide cells of the solid oxide cell system.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of: (i) the total quantity of hydrogen produced by the system; and (ii) the amount of synthesis gas, is determined via Faraday's law and a measured current strength.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 20, 2025
From: SUNFIRE GMBH
To: SUNFIRE AG
Reel/Frame 073165/0427 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 20, 2025
From: SUNFIRE AG
To: SUNFIRE SE
Reel/Frame 073165/0439 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2023
From: BORM, OLIVER; POSDZIECH, OLIVER
To: SUNFIRE GMBH
Reel/Frame 062367/0867 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 20020194 · Apr 23, 2020 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230155150A1 · May 18, 2023
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