US 12,303,830 B2 · Combustion system having a fuel cell and a carbon capture system

Abstract

A combustion system includes a topping cycle that generates a flow of exhaust gas, a bottoming cycle, and a fuel cell. The fuel cell includes an anode side, a cathode side, and an electrolyte. The cathode side receives the flow of exhaust gas from the topping cycle via a cathode inlet line. The cathode side removes a first portion of pollutants from the exhaust gas. A heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) receives the exhaust gases from the cathode side via a cathode outlet line, and the HRSG generates a flow of steam for use in the bottoming cycle. A bypass line extends from the cathode inlet line to the cathode outlet line. The combustion system further includes a carbon capture system that is fluidly coupled to the HRSG via an HRSG outlet line. The carbon capture system removes a second portion of pollutants from the exhaust gas.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A combustion system comprising:

a topping cycle generating a flow of exhaust gas;
a bottoming cycle;
a fuel cell including an anode side, a cathode side, and an electrolyte, the cathode side receiving the flow of exhaust gas from the topping cycle via a cathode inlet line, the cathode side removing a first portion of pollutants from the exhaust gas;
a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) that receives the exhaust gas from the cathode side via a cathode outlet line, the HRSG generating a flow of steam for use in the bottoming cycle;
a bypass line extending from the cathode inlet line to the cathode outlet line;
a first carbon capture system fluidly coupled to the HRSG via a HRSG outlet line, the first carbon capture system removing a second portion of pollutants from the exhaust gas;
and
a second carbon capture system disposed in fluid communication on the bypass line.

5 more elements

A method of operating a combustion system, the combustion system comprising a topping cycle, a fuel cell fluidly coupled to the topping cycle, a first carbon capture system, and a second carbon capture system, the method comprising:

operating the toping cycle, whereby exhaust gases are generated;
providing a first amount of the exhaust gases to a cathode side of the fuel cell via a cathode inlet line;
providing a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) that receives the first amount of the exhaust gases from the cathode side via a cathode outlet line, the HRSG generating a flow of steam for use in a bottoming cycle;
providing a second amount of the exhaust gases to the first carbon capture system at least partially via a bypass line that fluidly couples to the combustion system downstream of the fuel cell, the bypass line extending from the cathode inlet line to the cathode outlet line, wherein the second carbon capture system is disposed in fluid communication on the bypass line upstream of the HRSG;
and
varying the first amount and the second amount while maintaining a total plant capture rate.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Combustion system having a fuel cell and a carbon capture system

Life of this patent

Combustion system having a fuel cell and a carbon capture system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18