Drive system for a vehicle

A method for operating a drive system having at least one power unit that includes at least one gas turbine, at least one reformer and at least one generator, the drive system further having at least one drive battery electrically connected to the generator of the power unit, the method comprising:

• aspirating combustion air through at least a first compressor of the gas turbine adapted to compress the combustion air;
• feeding the compressed combustion air to a combustion chamber arranged between the first compressor and a turbine of the gas turbine;
• vaporizing a liquid fuel through at least one guiding device operationally adapted to receive heat from a burnt air/fuel mixture from the combustion chamber and transfer the heat to a through-flowing fuel;
• feeding the vaporized fuel to the reformer, the reformer adapted to convert the vaporized fuel into a synthesis gas and feed the synthesis gas to the combustion chamber;
• burning an air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, the burnt air/fuel mixture driving the turbine of the gas turbine;
• transferring a rotary movement from the gas turbine to the generator to generate electrical energy;
• and
• storing the electrical energy in the drive battery to supply one of at least one electric motor or the generator with electrical energy.

A hybrid vehicle with at least one drive system having at least one power unit electrically coupled to at least one drive battery connected to at least one electric motor for driving the vehicle, the power unit comprising:

• at least one gas turbine including at least one combustion chamber adapted to burn an air/fuel mixture, the combustion chamber fluid-connected between at least one first compressor adapted to compress aspirated combustion air and at least one turbine adapted to drive the first compressor;
• at least one reformer adapted to generate a vaporized fuel into a synthesis gas, the reformer connected to the combustion chamber to supply the synthesis gas;
• and
• at least one generator mechanically coupled to the gas turbine to one of accept or introduce a rotary movement,
• wherein the drive battery is electrically connected to the generator of the power unit and adapted to supply electrical energy to one of (i) the at least one electric motor to drive the vehicle or (ii) the generator;
• wherein the gas turbine further includes at least one guiding device adapted to guide a flow of burnt air/fuel mixture, the guiding device arranged in a first flow direction between the combustion chamber and the turbine, and
• wherein the guiding device is upstream of the reformer in a fuel flow direction, the guiding device operationally adapted to receive heat from the burnt air/fuel mixture and to vaporize a liquid fuel through heat transfer.

A passenger vehicle selected from a group consisting of a truck, a bus, an aircraft and a boat, and having a power unit electrically coupled to at least one drive battery connected to at least one electric motor for driving the vehicle, the power unit comprising:

• at least one gas turbine including at least one combustion chamber adapted to burn an air/fuel mixture, the combustion chamber fluid-connected between at least one first compressor adapted to compress aspirated combustion air and at least one turbine adapted to drive the first compressor;
• at least one reformer adapted to generate a vaporized fuel into a synthesis gas, the reformer connected to the combustion chamber to supply the synthesis gas;
• and
• at least one generator mechanically coupled to the gas turbine to one of accept or introduce a rotary movement,
• wherein the drive battery is electrically connected to the generator of the power unit and adapted to supply electrical energy to one of (i) at least one electric motor to drive the vehicle or (ii) the generator;
• wherein the gas turbine further includes at least one guiding device adapted to guide a flow of burnt air/fuel mixture, the guiding device arranged in a first flow direction between the combustion chamber and the turbine, and
• wherein the guiding device is upstream of the reformer in a fuel flow direction, the guiding device operationally adapted to receive heat from the burnt air/fuel mixture and to vaporize a liquid fuel through heat transfer.