Load matched power generation system including a solid oxide fuel cell and a heat pump and an optional turbine

• US 20030157386A1
• Filed: 11/20/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Inventors: Gottmann, Matthias, McElroy, James F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,067,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1293 Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/00 Fuel cells for particular applications; Specific features of fuel cell system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/40 Combination of fuel cells with other energy production systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/405 Cogeneration of heat or hot water
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0074 Ion conductive at high temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0247 characterised by the form characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/028 Sealing means characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04022 Heating by combustion
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04111 using a compressor turbine assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04141 by water containing exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04291 Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems H01M8/04119 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0662 Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 429/901 Fuel cell including means for utilization of heat for unrelated application, e.g. heating a building

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cell power generation systems which are capable of producing high-quality heat are used to drive refrigeration systems. The amount of electrical energy produced and the cooling capacity obtainable are well matched to electronic data center power and cooling needs. The power generation system includes a solid oxide fuel cell stack, a heat pump and an optional turbine.

Claims

1. A power generation system, comprising:

a solid oxide fuel cell stack; and

a heat pump;

wherein;

the solid oxide fuel cell stack is adapted to provide electrical power for a data center and to provide high temperature heat to the heat pump;

the heat pump is adapted to receive the high temperature heat from the solid oxide fuel cell stack to cool the data center; and

an electrical power load provided by the solid oxide fuel cell stack and a cooling load on the heat pump are matched to requirements of the data center.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink for the heat driven heat pump.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein no additional cooling devices nor significant additional electrical power is required to power and cool the data center.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the heat pump comprises an absorption heat driven heat pump or adsorption heat driven heat pump.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the heat pump comprises an absorption heat driven heat pump.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a fuel inlet;

an oxidizer inlet;

a fuel preheater between the fuel inlet and the fuel cell stack;

an oxidizer preheater between the oxidizer inlet and the fuel cell stack;

a fuel outlet cooler;

an oxidizer outlet cooler; and

a burner receiving fuel and oxidizer.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a burner exhaust heat exchanger.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the burner receives fuel and oxidizer from the fuel and oxidizer outlet coolers.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the fuel preheater and the fuel outlet cooler comprise a single heat exchanger;

the oxidizer preheater and the oxidizer outlet cooler comprise a single heat exchanger; and

the burner exhaust heat exchanger comprises a portion of a heat exchanger located in the heat driven heat pump.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the fuel preheater and the fuel outlet cooler comprise a single heat exchanger;

the oxidizer preheater and the burner exhaust heat exchanger comprise a single heat exchanger; and

the oxidizer outlet cooler comprises a portion of a heat exchanger located in the heat driven heat pump.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the fuel preheater and the oxidizer outlet cooler comprise a single heat exchanger;

the oxidizer preheater and the fuel outlet cooler comprise a single heat exchanger; and

the burner exhaust heat exchanger comprises a portion of a heat exchanger located in the heat driven heat pump.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a fuel preconditioner between the fuel inlet and the fuel cell stack; and

an oxidizer preconditioner between the oxidizer inlet and the fuel cell stack.

13. The system of claim 6, further comprising a turbine.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a fuel compressor;

a first oxidizer compressor;

a turbine exhaust heat exchanger; and

a generator.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the fuel preheater and the fuel outlet cooler comprise a single heat exchanger; and

the oxidizer preheater and the oxidizer outlet cooler comprise a single heat exchanger; and

the turbine exhaust heat exchanger comprises a portion of a heat exchanger located in the heat driven heat pump.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a blower or a second compressor which provides the oxidizer into the oxidizer preheater.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the first oxidizer compressor provides oxidizer into the burner; and

the burner output drives the turbine.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the fuel preheater and the fuel outlet cooler comprise a single heat exchanger;

the oxidizer preheater and the turbine exhaust heat exchanger comprise a single heat exchanger; and

the oxidizer outlet cooler comprises a portion of a heat exchanger located in the heat driven heat pump.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the fuel preheater and the turbine exhaust heat exchanger comprise a single heat exchanger;

the oxidizer preheater and the oxidizer outlet cooler comprise a single heat exchanger; and

the fuel outlet cooler comprises a portion of a heat exchanger located in the heat driven heat pump.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein a conduit connects an output of the heat driven heat pump and an input of the burner.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein a conduit connects an output of the burner to an input of the turbine.

22. The system of claim 14, further comprising a mechanical coupling which transmits mechanical energy from the turbine to the fuel compressor, the first oxidizer compressor and the generator.

23. A power generation system comprising:

a solid oxide fuel cell stack;

a heat pump; and

a turbine.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a heat sink;

a fuel inlet;

an oxidizer inlet;

a fuel compressor;

a first oxidizer compressor;

a fuel preheater between the fuel inlet and the fuel cell stack;

an oxidizer preheater between the oxidizer inlet and the fuel cell stack;

a fuel outlet cooler;

an oxidizer outlet cooler;

a burner receiving fuel and oxidizer;

a turbine exhaust heat exchanger;

a generator; and

wherein the heat pump comprises a heat driven heat pump.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein:

the fuel preheater and the fuel outlet cooler comprise a single heat exchanger; and

the oxidizer preheater and the oxidizer outlet cooler comprise a single heat exchanger; and

the turbine exhaust heat exchanger comprises a portion of a heat exchanger located in the heat driven heat pump.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising a blower or a second compressor which provides the oxidizer into the oxidizer preheater.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein:

the first oxidizer compressor provides oxidizer into the burner; and

the burner output drives the turbine.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein:

the fuel preheater and the fuel outlet cooler comprise a single heat exchanger;

the oxidizer preheater and the turbine exhaust heat exchanger comprise a single heat exchanger; and

the oxidizer outlet cooler comprises a portion of a heat exchanger located in the heat driven heat pump.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein:

the fuel preheater and the turbine exhaust heat exchanger comprise a single heat exchanger;

the oxidizer preheater and the oxidizer outlet cooler comprise a single heat exchanger; and

the fuel outlet cooler comprises a portion of a heat exchanger located in the heat driven heat pump.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein a conduit connects an output of the heat driven heat pump and an input of the burner.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein a conduit connects an output of the burner to an input of the turbine.

32. The system of claim 24, further comprising a mechanical coupling which transmits mechanical energy from the turbine to the fuel compressor, the oxidizer compressor and the generator.

33. A power generation method, comprising:

providing electrical power from a solid oxide fuel cell stack to an appliance;

providing high temperature heat from the solid oxide fuel cell to a heat pump; and

cooling the appliance using the heat pump, wherein an electrical power load provided by the solid oxide fuel cell stack and a cooling load on the heat pump are matched to requirements of the appliance.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising providing moderate temperature heat from the heat pump to a heat sink.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein no additional cooling devices nor significant additional electrical power are required to power and cool the appliance.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the appliance comprises a data center; and

the heat pump comprises a heat driven heat pump.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

inputting fuel to the fuel cell stack;

inputting an oxidizer to the fuel cell stack;

preheating the fuel before it reaches the fuel cell stack;

preheating the oxidizer before it reaches the fuel cell stack;

cooling exhaust fuel from the fuel cell stack; and

cooling exhaust oxidizer from the fuel cell stack.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising providing the exhaust fuel and the exhaust oxidizer into a burner.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

using fuel cell high temperature heat to heat or preheat at least one of the heat pump, the input fuel and the input oxidizer;

using exhaust fuel to heat or preheat at least one of the heat pump, the input fuel and the input oxidizer;

using exhaust oxidizer to heat or preheat at least one of the heat pump, the input fuel and the input oxidizer; and

using the burner to heat or preheat at least one of the heat pump, the input fuel and the input oxidizer.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

using the exhaust fuel to preheat the input fuel;

using the exhaust oxidizer to preheat the input oxidizer; and

using the burner to heat the heat pump.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

using the exhaust fuel to preheat the input fuel;

using the exhaust oxidizer to heat the heat pump; and

using the burner to preheat the input oxidizer.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

using the exhaust fuel to preheat the input oxidizer;

using the exhaust oxidizer to preheat the input fuel; and

using the burner to heat the heat pump.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising driving a turbine with an output of the burner.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising transmitting mechanical energy from the turbine to a fuel compressor, an oxidizer compressor and a generator.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

using fuel cell high temperature heat to heat or preheat at least one of the heat pump, the input fuel and the input oxidizer;

using exhaust fuel to heat or preheat at least one of the heat pump, the input fuel and the input oxidizer;

using exhaust oxidizer to heat or preheat at least one of the heat pump, the input fuel and the input oxidizer; and

using the turbine exhaust to heat or preheat at least one of the heat pump, the input fuel and the input oxidizer.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

using the exhaust fuel to preheat the input fuel;

using the exhaust oxidizer to preheat the input oxidizer; and

using the turbine exhaust to heat the heat pump.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

using the exhaust fuel to preheat the input fuel;

using the exhaust oxidizer to heat the heat pump; and

using the turbine exhaust to preheat the input oxidizer.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

using the exhaust fuel to heat the heat pump;

using the exhaust oxidizer to preheat the input oxidizer; and

using the turbine exhaust to preheat the input fuel.

49. The method of claim 43, further comprising inputting a separate oxidizer into the burner from that input into the fuel cell stack.

50. The method of claim 33, further comprising adjusting a relative magnitude of electrical power and cooling load.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein adjusting the relative magnitude of electrical power and cooling load comprises changing an amount of fuel provided to the fuel cell, such that more or less unreacted fuel is available to be reacted in the burner.

52. The method of claim 34, further comprising heating the appliance using the heat pump.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising adjusting a relative magnitude of electrical power and cooling can be adjusted.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein adjusting the relative magnitude of electrical power and cooling load comprises changing an amount of fuel provided to the fuel cell, such that more or less unreacted fuel is available to be reacted in the burner.

58. The method of claim 37, further comprising providing moderate temperature heat from the heat driven heat pump to a heat sink.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the heat pump comprises an absorption chiller using a water working medium.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the absorption chiller comprises a LiBr-water or an ammonia-water chiller.

61. The system of claim 58, wherein:

the appliance comprises a data center; and

an electrical power load provided by the solid oxide fuel cell stack and a cooling load on the heat pump are matched to requirements of the data center.

55. A power generation method, comprising:

providing electrical power from a solid oxide fuel cell stack to an appliance;

providing high temperature heat from the solid oxide fuel cell to a heat pump; and

heating the appliance using the heat pump, wherein an electrical power load provided by the solid oxide fuel cell stack and a heating load on the heat pump are matched to requirements of the appliance.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising providing moderate temperature heat from the heat pump to a heat sink.

57. A power generation system, comprising:

a solid oxide fuel cell stack; and

an absorption heat driven heat pump;

wherein;

the solid oxide fuel cell stack is adapted to provide electrical power for an appliance and to provide high temperature heat to the heat pump; and

the heat pump is adapted to receive the high temperature heat from the solid oxide fuel cell stack to cool the appliance.