Dynamically Responsive High Efficiency CCHP System

• US 20140272656A1
• Filed: 12/29/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Combined Energies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Combined Energies, LLC
• Inventors: Vogel, John Anthony, Staudt, Rhonda Lee, Rohr, Donald Frank
• Granted Patent: US 10,320,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/440
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/108 Zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/302 Sulfur oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/304 Hydrogen sulfide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/306 Organic sulfur compounds, e.g. mercaptans
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/308 Carbonoxysulfide COS
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40056 Gases other than recycled product or process gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40098 with other heating means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/02 by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography solid sorbent compositions B01J20/00, preparation of inorganic compounds or elements C01
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0454 Controlling adsorption controlling temperature swing adsorption B01D53/0462, controlling pressure swing adsorption B01D53/047
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0462 Temperature swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04097 with recycling of the reactants H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0675 Removal of sulfur
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A highly efficient combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system is capable of providing 100% utilization of an energy generator used by the system by distributing thermal and electrical outputs of the energy generator to loads and/or other storage apparatuses. The CCHP system includes an energy generator, which can be a fuel cell and a waste heat recovery unit that assists in recovering thermal energy from the energy generator and returning it to the energy generator, and/or providing it to a thermal load, or a storage as needed or desired.

Claims

1. A combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system comprising:

an energy generator that simultaneously produces electrical and thermal energy for a plurality of loads including at least a structure;

a waste heat recovery system thermally coupled to said energy generator and including;

a distribution system for delivering thermal energy to the structure; and

a cooling system for providing conditioned air to the structure;

wherein said waste heat recovery system is configured to recover thermal energy from said energy generator and to return a first portion of the recovered thermal energy to said energy generator and a second portion of the recovered energy to said distribution system or said cooling system depending on the present or future needs of the structure.

2. A CCHP system according to claim 1, further including a control system configured to control said energy generator and said waste heart recovery system so as to dynamically respond to a thermal and/or an electric load of the structure.

3. A CCHP system according to claim 1, wherein said energy generator is a fuel cell.

4. A CCHP system according to claim 3, wherein said energy generator is a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell.

5. A CCHP system according to claim 3, further including a control system configured to control said energy generator and said waste heat recovery system so as to utilize about 100% of the electrical and thermal energy produced by said energy generator.

6. A CCHP system according to claim 1, wherein said energy generator uses natural gas or propane as a fuel.

7. A CCHP system according to claim 1, wherein said system uses an auxiliary burner to meet peak heating and/or cooling needs in the structure.

8. A CCHP system according to claim 1, wherein the CCHP system is sized and configured as a drop-in replacement for an existing residential or light commercial heating, cooling, and hot water system.

9. A combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system for use in a residential or light commercial structure having electric and thermal loads, the CCHP system comprising:

a fuel cell system having thermal and electrical outputs;

a waste heat recovery system including;

a thermal management module;

a storage system;

a distribution system; and

a cooling system; and

a control system in communication with said fuel system and said waste heat recovery system, said control system configured to;

receive a signal representative of a required electrical or thermal load;

determine whether any additional loads are required by the structure after receiving said signal; and

communicate with said fuel cell system and said waste heat recovery system so as maximize the utilization of the electrical and thermal outputs of said fuel cell system.

10. A CCHP according to claim 9, wherein said waste heat recovery system is configured to recover thermal energy from said fuel cell system and to return a first portion of the recovered thermal energy to said fuel cell system and a second portion of the recovered energy to said distribution system, said storage system, or said cooling system.

11. A CCHP system according to claim 9, wherein said fuel cell system includes a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell.

12. A CCHP system according to claim 9, further including a control system configured to control the outputs of said fuel cell system and said waste heat recovery system so as to utilize about 100% of the electrical and thermal energy produced by said fuel cell system after receiving said signal.

13. A CCHP system according to claim 9, wherein said fuel cell system uses natural gas as a fuel.

14. A CCHP system according to claim 9, wherein said fuel cell system is electronically coupled to an external power grid and wherein said control system determines whether said fuel cell produces electric power for the external power grid.

15. A CCHP according to claim 9, wherein a first portion of the CCHP system resides within one of a plurality of enclosures, said first portion including said fuel cell system and said thermal management module.

16. A CCHP according to claim 15, wherein said distribution system is an existing distribution system within the structure.

17. A CCHP according to claim 15, wherein said storage and said cooling system are contained within another of said plurality of enclosures.

18. A method of efficiently using an energy generator capable of simultaneously producing electrical and thermal energy outputs, the method comprising:

determining an electrical or thermal load need;

determining which output of the energy generator satisfies the electrical or thermal load need;

producing one of the simultaneously produced energy outputs to meet at least a portion of the electrical or thermal load need;

directing the other of the simultaneously produced energy outputs to another load or to an energy storage system.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the outputs of the energy generator are utilized at about 100%.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the energy generator is a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said determining an electrical or thermal load need includes the evaluation of financial incentives for outputting electrical energy to an external power grid.