Hybrid solid oxide fuel cell aircraft auxiliary power unit
First Claim
1. A power unit comprising:
- a fuel cell configured to convert combustible fuel into electrical energy;
a waste fuel burner configured to receive uncombusted fuel emitted by the fuel cell and combusting the uncombusted fuel to generate heated gas;
a turbine configured to receive the heated gas and be driven by the heated gas, the turbine being further configured to drive a drive shaft;
a compressor coupled to the drive shaft, the compressor being configured to further compress a pressurized source of oxidizing gas for supplying compressed oxidizing gas to the fuel cell; and
a generator coupled to the drive shaft, the generator being configured such that the driving of the drive shaft by the turbine generates electrical energy, wherein the pressurized source of oxidizing gas is enriched with water vapor and includes cabin air from a pressurized aircraft.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for improving the efficiency and energy output of a power unit are disclosed. The power unit employs a fuel cell configured to chemically convert combustible fuel into electrical energy. A waste fuel burner is configured to receive uncombusted fuel emitted by the fuel cell, and the waste burner combusts the uncombusted fuel to generate heated gas. A turbine is configured to receive and be driven by the heated gas. The turbine is further configured to drive a drive shaft which is coupled to a compressor. The compressor is configured to compress a pressurized source of oxidizing gas for supplying compressed oxidizing gas to the fuel cell such that efficiency of the fuel cell is improved. A generator also may be coupled to the drive shaft, and the generator is configured to generate electrical power from the drive shaft being turned by the turbine.
80 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A power unit comprising:
-
a fuel cell configured to convert combustible fuel into electrical energy;
a waste fuel burner configured to receive uncombusted fuel emitted by the fuel cell and combusting the uncombusted fuel to generate heated gas;
a turbine configured to receive the heated gas and be driven by the heated gas, the turbine being further configured to drive a drive shaft;
a compressor coupled to the drive shaft, the compressor being configured to further compress a pressurized source of oxidizing gas for supplying compressed oxidizing gas to the fuel cell; and
a generator coupled to the drive shaft, the generator being configured such that the driving of the drive shaft by the turbine generates electrical energy, wherein the pressurized source of oxidizing gas is enriched with water vapor and includes cabin air from a pressurized aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An aircraft auxiliary power unit comprising:
-
a fuel cell configured to convert jet fuel into electrical energy;
a waste fuel burner configured to receive uncombusted fuel emitted by the fuel cell and combusting the uncombusted fuel to generate heated gas;
a turbine configured to receive the heated gas and be driven by the heated gas, the turbine being further configured to drive a drive shaft;
a compressor coupled to the drive shaft being configured to further compress pressurized aircraft cabin air received at a compressor input for supplying compressed pressurized aircraft cabin air to the fuel cell; and
a generator coupled to the drive shaft, the generator being configured such that the driving of the drive shaft by the turbine generates electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method for supplying electrical power, the method comprising:
-
chemically converting combustible fuel into electrical energy;
combusting uncombusted fuel emitted by the chemical conversion of combustible fuel to generate heated gas;
using the heated gas to mechanically further compress a pressurized source of input oxidizing gas;
using the compressed oxidizing gas to chemically convert the combustible fuel into electrical energy; and
using the heated gas to mechanically drive a generator to produce electrical energy, wherein the source of pressurized input oxidizing gas includes cabin air from a pressurized aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
Specification