Power generation system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A power generation system, comprising:
- (a) at least one SOFC capable of reforming fuel, said SOFC having a fuel side and an air side;
(b) a preheating device in fluid communication with said fuel side and said air side of said SOFC;
(c) an air supply in fluid communication with said preheating device such that air can be heated in said preheating device and then introduced to said air side of said SOFC;
(d) a fuel supply in fluid communication with said preheating device such that fuel can be burned, vaporized, atomized, or a combination thereof and then introduced to said fuel side of said SOFC; and
(e) at least one energy conversion device in fluid communication with an SOFC effluent from said fuel side of said SOFC.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The power generation system and method of the present invention employ a solid oxide fuel cell which reforms fuel to a degree which is controlled by the amount of fuel introduced to the solid oxide fuel cell. The effluent is directed preferably through a heat exchanger and then into an engine. This hybrid system more efficiently produces energy, both mechanical and electrical, over conventional systems.
91 Citations
65 Claims
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1. A power generation system, comprising:
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(a) at least one SOFC capable of reforming fuel, said SOFC having a fuel side and an air side;
(b) a preheating device in fluid communication with said fuel side and said air side of said SOFC;
(c) an air supply in fluid communication with said preheating device such that air can be heated in said preheating device and then introduced to said air side of said SOFC;
(d) a fuel supply in fluid communication with said preheating device such that fuel can be burned, vaporized, atomized, or a combination thereof and then introduced to said fuel side of said SOFC; and
(e) at least one energy conversion device in fluid communication with an SOFC effluent from said fuel side of said SOFC. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A power generation system, comprising:
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(a) at least one SOFC capable of reforming fuel, said SOFC having an intake fuel side, an intake air side, an effluent fuel side and an effluent air side;
(b) a preheating device in fluid communication with said intake fuel side and said intake air side of said SOFC;
(c) an air supply in fluid communication with said preheating device such that air can be heated in said preheating device and then introduced to said air side of said SOFC;
(d) a fuel supply in fluid communication with said preheating device such that fuel can be burned, vaporized, atomized, or a combination thereof and then introduced to said fuel side of said SOFC; and
(e) at least one combustor in fluid communication with said effluent fuel side and said effluent air side. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for operating a power generation system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) compressing an air stream to a first pressure;
(b) introducing fuel and said first compressed air to a preheating device;
(c) burning at least a first portion of said fuel in said preheating device to form a preheater effluent and a heated air stream;
(d) introducing said preheater effluent to a fuel side of a SOFC, said SOFC having an SOFC fuel effluent; and
(e) introducing said heated air stream to an air side of said SOFC, said SOFC having an SOFC air effluent. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
vaporizing or atomizing a second portion of said fuel;
burning said SOFC fuel effluent with said SOFC air effluent in an engine; and
directing engine effluent through a turbine.
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30. A method for operating a power generation system as in claim 29, further comprising introducing at least a portion of said fuel to said engine.
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31. A method for operating a power generation system as in claim 30, further comprising compressing a portion of said air stream to a second pressure and introducing said second compressed air to said fuel side of said SOFC.
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32. A method for operating a power generation system as in claim 31, further comprising compressing a portion of said air stream to a second pressure and introducing a portion of said second compressed air to said air side of said SOFC.
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33. A method for operating a power generation system as in claim 30, further comprising compressing a portion of said air stream to a second pressure and introducing said second compressed air to said air side of said SOFC.
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34. A method for operating a power generation system as in claim 21, further comprising introducing said SOFC fuel effluent and said SOFC air effluent to a heat exchanger to heat a coolant.
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35. A method for operating a power generation system as in claim 34, further comprising heating an environment with said heated coolant, wherein said environment is a passenger compartment, building or engine.
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36. A method for operating a power generation system as in claim 21, further comprising introducing said preheater effluent to a heat exchanger to heat a coolant.
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37. A method for operating a power generation system as in claim 36, further comprising heating an environment with said heated coolant, wherein said environment is a passenger compartment, building or engine.
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38. A method for operating a power generation system as in claim 21, further comprising introducing an oxygen stream to said air side of said SOFC.
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39. A method for operating a power generation system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) compressing a heated air stream to a first pressure;
(b) vaporizing or atomizing a first portion of fuel in a preheating device to produce a preheater effluent;
(c) introducing preheater effluent to a fuel side of a an SOFC, said SOFC having an SOFC fuel effluent;
(d) introducing said first compressed air to an air side of said SOFC, said SOFC having an SOFC air effluent;
(e) heating said heated air with said SOFC fuel effluent;
(f) introducing said SOFC fuel effluent, said SOFC air effluent, and a second portion of fuel to an engine to produce an engine effluent; and
(g) introducing said engine effluent to a turbine. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method for regenerating a catalytic converter, comprising the steps of:
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(a) compressing a heated air stream;
(b) vaporizing or atomizing fuel;
(c) introducing said fuel to a fuel side of an SOFC;
(d) applying a reverse potential to said SOFC such that the potential on the fuel side of said SOFC is negative;
(e) forming oxygen ions on said fuel side of said SOFC;
(f) migrating said oxygen ions from said fuel side to said air side of said SOFC to form an oxygen stream; and
(g) regenerating said catalytic converter by introducing said oxygen stream to said catalytic converter. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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56. A method for operating a power generation system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) compressing a heated air stream;
(b) combining said compressed heated air stream with fuel to form a combined stream;
(c) introducing said combined stream to a fuel side of an SOFC;
(d) applying a reverse potential to said SOFC such that the potential on said fuel side of said SOFC is negative;
(e) forming oxygen ions on said fuel side of said SOFC;
(f) migrating said oxygen ions from said fuel side to said air side of said SOFC to form an oxygen stream; and
(g) heating said heated air stream with said oxygen stream and a SOFC fuel effluent stream from said fuel side of said SOFC;
(h) introducing a second portion of fuel, a second compressed air stream, and said oxygen stream to an engine to form an engine effluent; and
(i) introducing the engine effluent and the SOFC fuel effluent to a turbine to form a turbine effluent. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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59. A method for operating a power generation system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) compressing a heated air stream to a first pressure;
(b) vaporizing or atomizing a first portion of fuel in a preheating device to produce a preheater effluent;
(c) introducing preheater effluent to a fuel side of a an SOFC, said SOFC having an SOFC fuel effluent;
(d) introducing said first compressed air to an air side of said SOFC, said SOFC having an SOFC air effluent;
(e) introducing said SOFC fuel effluent and said SOFC air effluent to a combustor to form a combustor effluent; and
(f) introducing said combustor effluent to a turbine. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61)
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62. A power generation system comprising:
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(a) at least one SOFC capable of reforming fuel, said SOFC having a fuel side and an air side;
(b) a preheating device in fluid communication with said fuel side and said air side of said SOFC;
(c) an air supply in fluid communication with said preheating device such that air can be heated in said preheating device and introduced to said air side of said SOFC;
(d) a fuel supply in fluid communication with said preheating device such that fuel can be burned, vaporized, atomized, or a combination thereof and introduced to said fuel side of said SOFC;
whereinelectricity produced by said SOFC is used to operate a powertrain, operate vehicle accessories, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (63)
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64. A method for operating a power generation system comprising:
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(a) introducing fuel and air to a preheating device;
(b) burning at least a first portion of said fuel in said preheating device to form a preheater effluent and a heated air stream;
(c) introducing said preheater effluent to a fuel side of a SOFC;
(d) introducing said heated air stream to an air side of said SOFC; and
(e) using electricity produced by said SOFC to operate a powertrain, operate vehicle accessories, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (65)
using electricity produced by said SOFC to supply all of a vehicle'"'"'s tractive power.
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Specification