Power generation system using a combustion system and a fuel cell

• US 6,978,617 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Cueman, Michael Kent, Durling, Michael, Goldmeer, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Richter, Sheldon J
• Application Number:
  US10/771,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20050252214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 606/98, 607/16, 429/17, 440/3, 440/4
• US Class Current: 60/698
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2021/003 the power plant using fuel cells for energy supply or accumulation, e.g. for buffering photovoltaic energy
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/17 by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/005 the working fluid being steam, created by combustion of hydrogen with oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/50 Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to the propulsion system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A regenerative fuel cell is combined with a combustion engine such as a Pulse Detonation Engine (PDE) to create a closed-loop power generation system. Stored hydrogen and oxygen are used by the regenerative fuel cell, and by the combustion engine, in which the reaction of the hydrogen and oxygen produces water in the gas phase (steam). The steam is used to generate work from a turbine shaft, which is used to drive a propulsion system for the marine vessel. After the steam passes through the turbine, the steam is cooled back to liquid water by a condenser, and stored with the water produced by the regenerative fuel cell. The stored water can be converted back into hydrogen and oxygen by using electrical power external to the closed-loop system. After regeneration of the water into hydrogen and oxygen, the closed-loop power system would be ready for operation again.

Claims

1. An apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel comprising:

a regenerative fuel cell capable of powering said marine vessel independently; and

a combustion system combined with said regenerative fuel cell to simultaneously provide power for said marine vessel.

2. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 1, wherein said marine vessel is an underwater vessel, which can be either manned or unmanned.

3. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 1, wherein said regenerative fuel cell and said combustion system are combined in a closed-loop.

4. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 3, wherein said combustion system comprises a constant pressure system.

5. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 3, wherein said combustion system comprises a constant volume system.

6. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 5, wherein said constant volume system comprises a Pulse Detonation Engine.

7. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 6, wherein said regenerative fuel cell is independently used for driving a propulsion system of said marine vessel when a low power is required, and wherein said regenerative fuel cell and said Pulse Detonation Engine are simultaneously used for driving a propulsion system of said marine vessel when a high power is required.

8. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 6, wherein the Pulse Detonation Engine uses a Deflagration to Detonation transition based system.

9. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 6, further comprising a hydrogen supply and an oxygen supply, wherein said hydrogen supply and oxygen supply are both in fluid communication with said regenerative fuel cell and said Pulse Detonation Engine.

10. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 9, wherein said regenerative fuel cell uses said hydrogen and oxygen to generate direct current electricity to drive a propulsion system for said marine vessel.

11. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 9, wherein hydrogen from said hydrogen supply and oxygen from said oxygen supply are injected into said Pulse Detonation Engine to initiate a combustion reaction between said hydrogen and oxygen to provide power for said marine vessel, wherein said combustion reaction forms steam.

12. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 11, wherein said steam is ducted from said Pulse Detonation Engine to a turbine and expanded to rotate a shaft of said turbine.

13. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 12, further comprising a generator that uses said rotating turbine shaft to generate electricity to drive a propulsion system for said marine vessel.

14. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 12, further comprising a gear and clutch system that uses said rotating turbine shaft to turn gear sets of said gear and clutch system to drive a propulsion system for said marine vessel.

15. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 12, further comprising a condenser that condenses said steam from said turbine into water, wherein said water is stored in a water supply.

16. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 15, wherein said regenerative fuel cell uses electricity to reduce the water in said water supply into hydrogen and oxygen.

17. The apparatus for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 16, wherein said hydrogen is stored in said hydrogen supply and said oxygen is stored in said oxygen supply.

18. A closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel comprising:

a fuel cell for powering said marine vessel; and

a combustion system combined with said fuel cell for powering said marine vessel;

wherein said combustion system forms steam as a product of a combustion reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, wherein said steam is converted back into hydrogen and oxygen for re-use by said fuel cell and said combustion system.

19. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 18, wherein said marine vessel is an underwater vessel, which can be either manned or unmanned.

20. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 18, wherein said fuel cell is a regenerative fuel cell.

21. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 20, wherein said combustion system comprises a constant pressure system.

22. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 20, wherein said combustion system comprises a constant volume system.

23. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 22, wherein said constant volume system comprises a Pulse Detonation Engine.

24. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 23, wherein said regenerative fuel cell is used for driving a propulsion system of said marine vessel when a low power is required, and wherein said regenerative fuel cell and said Pulse Detonation Engine are simultaneously used for driving a propulsion system of said marine vessel when a high power is required.

25. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 23, wherein the Pulse Detonation Engine uses a Deflagration to Detonation transition based system.

26. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 23, wherein said hydrogen and oxygen are supplied from a hydrogen supply and an oxygen supply, respectively, and wherein said hydrogen supply and oxygen supply are both in fluid communication with said regenerative fuel cell and said Pulse Detonation Engine.

27. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 26, wherein said regenerative fuel cell uses said hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity to drive a propulsion system for said marine vessel.

28. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 26, wherein said steam is ducted from said Pulse Detonation Engine to a turbine and expanded to rotate a shaft of said turbine.

29. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 28, further comprising a generator that uses said rotating turbine shaft to generate electricity to drive a propulsion system for said marine vessel.

30. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 28, further comprising a gear and clutch system that uses said rotating turbine shaft to turn gear sets of said gear and clutch system to drive a propulsion system for said marine vessel.

31. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 28, further comprising a condenser that condenses said steam from said turbine into water, wherein said water is stored in a water supply.

32. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 31, wherein said regenerative fuel cell uses electricity to reduce the water in said water supply into hydrogen and oxygen.

33. The closed-loop system for power generation for a marine vessel of claim 32, wherein said hydrogen is stored in said hydrogen supply and said oxygen is stored in said oxygen supply.

34. A power generation method for a marine vessel, the method comprising:

combining a fuel cell with a combustion system for powering a marine vessel;

initiating a combustion reaction in said combustion system to form steam as a product of said combustion reaction; and

converting said steam back into hydrogen and oxygen for re-use by said fuel cell and said combustion system.

35. The power generation method for a marine vessel of claim 34, wherein said fuel cell and said combustion system are combined in a closed loop with said hydrogen and oxygen.

36. The power generation method for a marine vessel of claim 35, wherein said steam is first condensed into water and then reduced into hydrogen and oxygen.

37. The power generation method for a marine vessel of claim 36, wherein said fuel cell is a regenerative fuel cell.

38. The power generation method for a marine vessel of claim 37, wherein said combustion system comprises a constant pressure system.

39. The power generation method for a marine vessel of claim 37, wherein said combustion system comprises a constant volume system.

40. The power generation method for a marine vessel of claim 39, wherein said constant volume system comprises a Pulse Detonation Engine.

41. The power generation method for a marine vessel of claim 40, wherein said Pulse Detonation Engine uses a Deflagration to Detonation transition based system.

42. The power generation method for a marine vessel of claim 40, wherein said regenerative fuel cell is used to provide power independently to said marine vessel when a low power is required by said marine vessel, while said Pulse Detonation Engine remains idle.

43. The power generation method for a marine vessel of claim 40, wherein said combustion reaction is initiated in said Pulse Detonation Engine to provide power to said marine vessel when a high power is required by said marine vessel.