# US 10,320,018 B2 · Dynamically responsive high efficiency CCHP system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,320,018 B2 - Document ID: US10320018B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/142,873 - Filed: 2013-12-29 - Published: 2014-09-18 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Assignees: Combined Energies LLC - Applicants: Combined Energies LLC - Inventors: Rhonda Lee Staudt; Donald Frank Rohr; John Anthony Vogel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320018B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/0675: {Removal of sulfur} - B01D 53/02: by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography {(solid sorbent compositions B01J20/00, preparation of inorganic compounds or elements C01)} - B01D 53/0454: {Controlling adsorption (controlling temperature swing adsorption B01D53/0462, controlling pressure swing adsorption B01D53/047)} - G05D 23/1917: {using digital means} - G06Q 10/06315: {Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis} - H01M 8/04007: related to heat exchange - H01M 8/04097: {with recycling of the reactants (H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence)} - B01D 53/0462: {Temperature swing adsorption} - B01D 2253/108: Zeolites - B01D 2257/302: Sulfur oxides - B01D 2257/304: Hydrogen sulfide - B01D 2257/306: Organic sulfur compounds, e.g. mercaptans - B01D 2257/308: Carbonoxysulfide COS - B01D 2259/40056: Gases other than recycled product or process gas - B01D 2259/40098: with other heating means - H01M 8/0618: {Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming} - H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes} - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A highly efficient combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system is capable of providing 100% utilization of an energy generator used by the system by distributing thermal and electrical outputs of the energy generator to loads and/or other storage apparatuses. The CCHP system includes an energy generator, which can be a fuel cell and a waste heat recovery unit that assists in recovering thermal energy from the energy generator and returning it to the energy generator, and/or providing it to a thermal load, or a storage as needed or desired. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system for delivering thermal energy and electrical energy to a structure in need thereof, the CCHP system comprising: an energy generator that simultaneously produces electrical energy and thermal energy as an output; a waste heat recovery system thermally coupled to the energy generator and including: a distribution system for delivering thermal energy to the structure; and a cooling system for providing conditioned air to the structure; wherein the waste heat recovery system is configured to: recover thermal energy from the energy generator; return a first portion of the recovered thermal energy to the energy generator; and deliver a second portion of the recovered energy to the distribution system or the cooling system depending on the present or future needs of the structure; a control system configured to control the energy generator and the waste heat recovery system; and a DC to DC boost converter (DDBC) electronically coupled to the energy generator and configured to condition the electrical energy for use by the structure, the DDBC including: a plurality of interleaved, isolated, full-bridge DC-DC converters arranged in a Delta-Wye configuration and a multi-leg bridge; an input current filter and a plurality of DC-AC converters, wherein the plurality of DC-AC converters are electronically coupled to the input current filter and configured to receive a discontinuous input current; and a plurality of transformers, wherein each of the plurality of transformers is electronically coupled to a corresponding respective one of the plurality of DC-AC converters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The CCHP system according to claim 1, wherein the energy generator is a fuel cell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The CCHP system according to claim 2, wherein the energy generator is a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The CCHP system according to claim 2, wherein the control system is configured to control the fuel cell and the waste heat recovery system such that the structure utilizes about 100% of the electrical and thermal energy produced by the fuel cell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The CCHP system according to claim 1, wherein the energy generator uses natural gas or propane as a fuel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The CCHP system according to claim 1, wherein the system further includes an auxiliary burner, wherein the auxiliary burner is used to meet the thermal load of the structure when there is no electrical load needed by the structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The CCHP system according to claim 1, wherein the CCHP system is sized and configured as a drop-in replacement for an existing residential or light commercial heating, cooling, and hot water system. ### Claim 8 A combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system for use in a residential or light commercial structure having electric and thermal loads, the CCHP system comprising: a fuel cell system having thermal and electrical outputs; a waste heat recovery system including: a thermal management module; a storage system; a distribution system; an a cooling system; a control system in communication with the fuel system and the waste heat recovery system, the control system configured to: receive a signal representative of a required electrical load or a required thermal load; determine whether any additional loads are required by the structure after receiving the signal; and communicate with the fuel cell system and the waste heat recovery system so as maximize the utilization of the electrical and thermal outputs of the fuel cell system, wherein the communication with the fuel cell system and the waste recovery system only occurs when the thermal load and the electrical load are both needed by the structure, and wherein the control system limits the thermal and electrical outputs of the fuel cell system based upon the thermal load; and a DC to DC boost converter (DDBC) electronically coupled to the electrical output and configured to condition the electrical output for use by the structure, the DDBC including: a plurality of interleaved, isolated, full-bridge DC-DC converters arranged in a Delta-Wye configuration and a multi-leg bridge; an input current filter and a plurality of DC-AC converters, wherein the plurality of DC-AC converters are electronically coupled to the input current filter and configured to receive a discontinuous input current; and a plurality of transformers, wherein each of the plurality of transformers is electronically coupled to a corresponding respective one of the plurality of DC-AC converters. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A CCHP according to claim 8, wherein the waste heat recovery system is configured to recover thermal energy from the fuel cell system and to return a first portion of the recovered thermal energy to the fuel cell system and a second portion of the recovered energy to the distribution system, the storage system, or the cooling system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A CCHP system according to claim 8, wherein the fuel cell system includes a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A CCHP system according to claim 8, further including a control system configured to control the outputs of the fuel cell system and the waste heat recovery system so as to utilize about 100% of the electrical and thermal energy produced by the fuel cell system after receiving the signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A CCHP system according to claim 8, wherein the fuel cell system uses natural gas as a fuel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) A CCHP system according to claim 8, wherein the fuel cell system is electronically coupled to an external power grid and wherein the control system determines whether the fuel cell produces electric power for the external power grid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) A CCHP according to claim 8, wherein a first portion of the CCHP system resides within one of a plurality of enclosures, the first portion including the fuel cell system and the thermal management module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A CCHP according to claim 14, wherein the distribution system is an existing distribution system within the structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A CCHP according to claim 14, wherein the storage and the cooling system are contained within another of the plurality of enclosures.