Fuel cell battery gas supply - with methanol cracking reactor fired by methanol for starting and recycled carbon monoxide later

摘要

A source of gas to feed a fuel cell battery uses methanol which is cracked in a reactor to H2 and CO; the latter is burned after the passage through the battery to recover some of the heat input for the cracking reactor. During the starting period additional methanol is supplied to the burner; on reaching normal condition this is automatically cut off but is reconnected during peak output requirements. The gas required for a fuel cell is thus supplied at a constant feed pressure. The supply is automatically adjusted to suit all fluctuations in the cell load. Environmental pollution is kept to a minimum.