Chapter 15 - Balance of Plant

Abstract

Components that constitute the balance of plant for a fuel cell power generator include sensors, controls, burners, heat exchangers, start-up power sources, power conditioners, sulfur cleanup, water recovery systems, steam generators, and fuel and air filters. This chapter provides an overview of fuel, air, water, and thermal management components. Fuel pumps can be of various types, including diaphragm, gear, piston, vane, and centrifugal. They must be controllable and compatible with the target fuel. Water pumps must also be controllable and compatible with water, which has minimal lubricity. As far as air pumps are concerned, positive displacement of air can be done via pumps or blowers. This includes air pressure required for fuel/air/steam mixing. Furthermore, a fuel cell power generator is a combination of multiple unit operations. Managing the interplay between these operations, both during steady state and transient operations, is a vital aspect of viable fuel cell generator designs. Proper thermal management, consequently, is a key design characteristic. Finally, a key element for successful commercial implementation of all these systems requires a well-conceived balance of plant integration of the various unit operations. These require use of dedicated pumps, blowers, sensors, and controls especially suited for fuel cell use. Investment in fuel cell technology has been primarily limited to government funding since commercial revenues are not imminent. This makes the development challenges particularly daunting.