FuelCell Energy, Inc.
Carbon dioxide removal from anode exhaust of a fuel cell by cooling/condensation

Abstract:

A system for removing carbon dioxide from anode exhaust gas that has been compressed to form pressurized anode exhaust vapor includes a feed/effluent heat exchanger configured to cool the anode exhaust vapor to a first predetermined temperature and partially condense carbon dioxide in the anode exhaust vapor; a first vapor-liquid separator configured to receive an output of the feed/effluent heat exchanger and separate liquid carbon dioxide from uncondensed anode exhaust vapor; a feed/refrigerant heat exchanger configured to receive the uncondensed anode exhaust vapor from the first vapor-liquid separator, cool the uncondensed anode exhaust vapor to a second predetermined temperature, and condense carbon dioxide in the uncondensed anode exhaust vapor; a second vapor-liquid separator configured to receive an output of the feed/refrigerant heat exchanger and separate liquid carbon dioxide to form hydrogen rich, uncondensed anode exhaust vapor.