SORFC power and oxygen generation method and system

• US 7,045,238 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Inventors: Sridhar, K. R., Gottmann, Matthias, Mitlitsky, Fred, McElroy, James Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Alejandro, Raymond
• Application Number:
  US10/394,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20040191598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 429/30, 429/33, 429/19, 429/21, 429/17, 429/26, 205/50, 205/57, 205/58, 205/334, 205/345, 205/628, 553/091, 961/34, 180/54.1, 48/61, 481/981, 481/99.FM, 422/187
• US Class Current: 429/418
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/00 Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/73 of the filter-press type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04014 Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04119 with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04231 Purging of the reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0625 in a modular combined reactor/fuel cell structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0656 by electrochemical means H01M8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1231 with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/186 by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolytic solution or the formed water product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/129 Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight

Abstract

A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system is used to supply power in a fuel cell mode and to generate metabolic oxygen and a hydrocarbon fuel reserve in an electrolysis mode. The system may also be used as a secondary power source or for energy peak shaving applications.

Claims

1. A terrestrial power generation system, comprising:

a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell;

a carbon dioxide storage tank connected to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell, wherein the carbon dioxide storage tank stores carbon dioxide generated by the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operating in a fuel cell mode and provides the stored carbon dioxide to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is operating in an electrolysis mode;

a hydrocarbon fuel source connected to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell fuel inlet, wherein the hydrocarbon fuel source receives a hydrocarbon fuel generated from an output of the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operating in the electrolysis mode; and

an oxygen source connected to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell oxidizer inlet.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is adapted to generate power in a fuel cell mode from stored oxygen supplied from the oxygen source and from fuel supplied from the hydrocarbon fuel source; and

the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is adapted to generate metabolic oxygen for a life support system in the electrolysis mode when power is provided to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the system is located in an underwater vehicle.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the system is located in a high altitude aircraft or terrestrial orbit space craft that is adapted to operate in rarefied air or an airless environment.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the system is located in an underground or underwater location that lacks access to atmospheric air.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the hydrocarbon fuel source comprises a methane storage vessel which is adapted to store methane generated from the output of the solid oxide fuel cell operating in the electrolysis mode and which is adapted to supply methane to the solid oxide fuel cell operating in the fuel cell mode;

the oxygen source comprises an oxygen storage vessel;

the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is adapted to generate power in the fuel cell mode by converting oxygen and methane into carbon dioxide and water vapor;

the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is adapted to generate the metabolic oxygen for the life support system in the electrolysis mode when power, water vapor and carbon dioxide are provided to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell; and

the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is adapted to generate heat in the fuel cell mode and in the electrolysis mode.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a plurality of solid oxide regenerative fuel cell stacks.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a Sabatier reactor adapted to convert hydrogen and carbon monoxide emitted from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell to methane and water vapor and to transfer heat from an outlet stream to the inlet stream when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operates in the electrolysis mode.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a renewable energy source.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the renewable energy source comprises a solar cell or a wind turbine electrically connected to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell;

the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is adapted to generate power in a fuel cell mode when the renewable energy source is not generating power; and

the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is adapted to generate oxygen and fuel in electrolysis mode when power is provided to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell from the renewable energy source.

11. A terrestrial solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system, comprising:

a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell; and

a first means for providing oxygen from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell to a life support system when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is operated in an electrolysis mode; and

a second means for providing hydrocarbon fuel to be stored in a hydrocarbon fuel storage vessel when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is operated in the electrolysis mode.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a third means for providing power to a power distribution system when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is operated in a fuel cell mode.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is located in at least one of the following locations selected from a group consisting of a high altitude aircraft that is adapted to operate in an airless environment, a terrestrial orbit space craft that is adapted to operate in an airless environment, an underground location that lacks access to atmospheric air, an underwater location that lacks access to atmospheric air and a building at least a portion of which can be sealed from outside atmosphere.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the system comprises:

the first means for providing oxygen from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell to a life support system when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is operated in an electrolysis mode; and

the second means for providing hydrocarbon fuel to be stored in a hydrocarbon fuel storage vessel when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is operated in the electrolysis mode.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the system comprises the first means for providing oxygen from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell to a life support system when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is operated in an electrolysis mode.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the system comprises the second means for providing hydrocarbon fuel to be stored in a hydrocarbon fuel storage vessel when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is operated in the electrolysis mode.

17. A terrestrial power generation system, comprising:

a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell;

a Sabatier reactor which converts hydrogen and carbon monoxide emitted from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operating in an electrolysis mode to methane and water vapor;

a methane fuel source connected to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell fuel inlet, wherein the methane fuel source provides a methane fuel to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operating in a fuel cell mode and wherein the methane fuel source receives methane from the Sabatier reactor; and

an oxygen source connected to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell oxidizer inlet.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is adapted to generate power in a fuel cell mode from stored oxygen supplied from the oxygen source and from fuel supplied from the methane fuel source; and

the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is adapted to generate metabolic oxygen for a life support system in the electrolysis mode when power is provided to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the system is located in an underwater vehicle.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the system is located in a high altitude aircraft or terrestrial orbit space craft that is adapted to operate in rarefied air or an airless environment.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the system is located in an underground or underwater location that lacks access to atmospheric air.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the methane fuel source comprises a methane storage vessel which is adapted to store methane generated from an output of the solid oxide fuel cell operating in the electrolysis mode and which is adapted to supply methane to the solid oxide fuel cell operating in the fuel cell mode;

the oxygen source comprises an oxygen storage vessel;

the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is adapted to generate power in the fuel cell mode by converting oxygen and methane into carbon dioxide and water vapor;

the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is adapted to generate the metabolic oxygen for the life support system in the electrolysis mode when power, water vapor and carbon dioxide are provided to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell; and

the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is adapted to generate heat in the fuel cell mode and in the electrolysis mode.

23. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of solid oxide regenerative fuel cell stacks; and

a carbon dioxide storage vessel connected to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a hydrogen recovery unit adapted to recover hydrogen from the fuel exhaust and to provide the recovered hydrogen into the fuel inlet stream when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operates in the fuel cell and electrolysis modes.

25. The system of claim 17, further comprising a renewable energy source.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein:

the renewable energy source comprises a solar cell or a wind turbine electrically connected to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell;

the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is adapted to generate power in a fuel cell mode when the renewable energy source is not generating power; and

the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is adapted to generate oxygen and fuel in electrolysis mode when power is provided to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell from the renewable energy source.

27. A terrestrial power generation system, comprising:

a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell;

a first means for converting hydrogen and carbon monoxide emitted from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operating in an electrolysis mode to methane fuel and water vapor;

a second means for storing the methane fuel provided from the first means when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operates in the electrolysis mode and for providing the stored methane fuel to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operates in a fuel cell mode; and

an oxygen source connected to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell oxidizer inlet.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

a third means for providing oxygen from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell to a life support system when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is operated in the electrolysis mode; and

a fourth means for providing power to a power distribution system when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is operated in a fuel cell mode.

29. The system of claim 27, further comprising a fifth means for providing carbon dioxide to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is operating in the electrolysis mode.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the fifth means comprises a carbon dioxide storage vessel adapted to store carbon dioxide generated by the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operating in a fuel cell mode.