SOFC system producing reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide using a molten carbonated carbon dioxide pump
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a fuel cell system, comprising:
- providing a hydrocarbon fuel inlet stream and a carbon dioxide containing air inlet stream into the fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell stack and a carbon dioxide pump;
operating the system to generate electricity and a plurality of output streams consisting essentially of oxygen and carbon dioxide depleted air, water, and carbon dioxide available for sequestration,providing the carbon dioxide containing air inlet stream into the carbon dioxide pump;
removing at least 90 percent of the carbon dioxide contained in the air inlet stream using the carbon dioxide pump;
providing the air inlet stream from which the at least 90 percent carbon dioxide has been removed from the carbon dioxide pump into the fuel cell stack;
operating the fuel cell stack to generate the electricity, a fuel exhaust stream and an oxygen and carbon dioxide depleted air exhaust stream;
providing at least a portion of the fuel exhaust stream into the carbon dioxide pump; and
removing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide contained in the air inlet stream using the fuel exhaust stream in the carbon dioxide pump.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A solid oxide fuel cell power generation system'"'"'s entire output is made up of three streams: water, sequestered carbon dioxide provided into a storage tank, and carbon dioxide depleted air. Thus, the system generates electricity from a hydrocarbon fuel, while outputting substantially no pollutants into the atmosphere and cleaning the air by removing carbon dioxide from the air exhaust stream. Thus, the system outputs cleaner air than it takes in without releasing pollutants into the atmosphere, while generating electricity from a readily available hydrocarbon fuel, such as natural gas.
105 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method of operating a fuel cell system, comprising:
-
providing a hydrocarbon fuel inlet stream and a carbon dioxide containing air inlet stream into the fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell stack and a carbon dioxide pump; operating the system to generate electricity and a plurality of output streams consisting essentially of oxygen and carbon dioxide depleted air, water, and carbon dioxide available for sequestration, providing the carbon dioxide containing air inlet stream into the carbon dioxide pump; removing at least 90 percent of the carbon dioxide contained in the air inlet stream using the carbon dioxide pump; providing the air inlet stream from which the at least 90 percent carbon dioxide has been removed from the carbon dioxide pump into the fuel cell stack; operating the fuel cell stack to generate the electricity, a fuel exhaust stream and an oxygen and carbon dioxide depleted air exhaust stream; providing at least a portion of the fuel exhaust stream into the carbon dioxide pump; and removing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide contained in the air inlet stream using the fuel exhaust stream in the carbon dioxide pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A fuel cell system, comprising:
-
a solid oxide fuel cell stack; a carbon dioxide pump; a first conduit which operatively connects a fuel exhaust outlet of the fuel cell stack to a first inlet of the carbon dioxide pump; and a second conduit which operatively connects an air exhaust outlet of the carbon dioxide pump to an air inlet of the fuel cell stack. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of operating a fuel cell system, comprising:
-
providing a hydrocarbon fuel inlet stream towards a solid oxide fuel cell stack; providing an air inlet stream and at least a portion of a fuel exhaust stream of the solid oxide fuel cell stack to a molten carbonate carbon dioxide pump to remove carbon dioxide from the air inlet stream; and providing a carbon dioxide depleted air stream from the carbon dioxide pump into the solid oxide fuel cell stack.
-
Specification