×

Solid oxide fuel cell system

  • US 9,666,885 B2
  • Filed: 08/30/2012
  • Issued: 05/30/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A solid oxide fuel cell system comprising a solid oxide fuel cell stack and a gas turbine engine, the solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising at least one solid oxide fuel cell, each solid oxide fuel cell comprising an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode, the gas turbine engine comprising a compressor and a turbine arranged to drive the compressor, the compressor being arranged to supply oxidant to the cathode of the at least one solid oxide fuel cell via an oxidant mixer, wherein the cathode is arranged to supply a first portion of any unused oxidant to a combustor, the anode of the at least one solid oxide fuel cell is arranged to supply a first portion of any unused fuel to the combustor and the combustor is arranged to supply at least a portion of the combustor exhaust gases to the turbine, and wherein the cathode is arranged to supply a second portion of any unused oxidant to the oxidant mixer without passing through the combustor, the oxidant mixer being arranged to supply the second portion of the unused oxidant from the cathode of the at least one solid oxide fuel cell back to the cathode of the at least one solid oxide fuel cell with the oxidant from the compressor, wherein the solid oxide fuel cell system further comprises an additional compressor and an additional turbine arranged to drive the additional compressor, the compressor being arranged to supply oxidant to the additional compressor, the additional compressor being arranged to supply oxidant to the oxidant mixer and the solid oxide fuel cell stack being arranged to supply exhaust gases to the turbine, and wherein the oxidant mixer is an oxidant ejector, and wherein the solid oxide fuel cell system further comprises a cooler and a recuperator, the compressor being arranged to supply oxidant via the cooler to the additional compressor, the additional compressor being arranged to supply oxidant to the oxidant mixer via the recuperator, the solid oxide fuel cell stack being arranged to supply exhaust gases to the turbine and the turbine being arranged to supply the exhaust gases through the recuperator to heat the oxidant flowing through the recuperator.

View all claims
  • 4 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×