Hybrid microturbine/fuel cell system providing air contamination control
OwnerWilliam A. Treeceinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid power generation system for neutralizing contaminated air while generating power is disclosed. The system includes a generator, compressor, combustor, turbine, and recuperator defining an air/gas flow path. The system includes a fuel cell module located along the air/gas fuel path, and a power controller. The power controller converts AC power generated by the generator to DC power on a DC bus for providing power to a load. The fuel cell module neutralizes air contaminates in the incoming air while generating power. The power controller regulates the air flow in the air/gas flow path to control the efficiency of the fuel cell module, independent of the DC power on the DC bus.
Claims33
A hybrid power generation system for neutralizing contaminated air while generating power, comprising:
- a shaft;
- a generator, coupled to the shaft, to generate AC power;
- a compressor, coupled to the shaft, to receive a supply of air having one or more contaminates, said compressor to provide a supply of compressed air;
- a combustor coupled to receive the supply of compressed air and a supply of fuel, said combustor to combust the supply of fuel and to provide a unit of exhaust gas;
- a turbine coupled to the shaft and coupled to receive the exhaust gas, said unit of exhaust gas to flow through the turbine to rotate the shaft;
- a fuel cell module coupled to receive the unit of exhaust gas at an inlet port, and coupled to receive an additional supply of fuel, said fuel cell module to heat the unit of exhaust gas to a temperature that is greater than a temperature at the inlet port and provide the exhaust gas at a fuel cell outlet port, said fuel cell module to generate an output voltage on a voltage line;
- and
- a power controller electrically coupled to the generator, said power controller including a power converter to convert said AC power to DC power on a DC bus for providing power to a load, said power controller to regulate the flow of the unit of exhaust gas to the fuel cell module, independent of the DC power on the DC bus.
A hybrid turbogenerator system for neutralizing contaminated air while generating power, comprising:
- a shaft;
- a generator, coupled to the shaft, to generate AC power;
- a compressor, coupled to the shaft, to receive a supply of air having one or more contaminates, said compressor to provide a supply of compressed air;
- a fuel cell module coupled to receive the supply of compressed air at an inlet port, and coupled to receive an additional supply of fuel, said fuel cell module to heat the supply of compressed air to a temperature that is greater than a temperature at the inlet port and provide the supply of compressed air at an outlet port, said fuel cell module to generate an output voltage on a voltage line;
- and
- a combustor coupled to receive the supply of compressed air and a supply of fuel, said combustor to combust the supply of fuel and to provide a unit of exhaust gas;
- a turbine coupled to the shaft and coupled to receive the unit of exhaust gas, said unit of exhaust gas to flow through the turbine to rotate the shaft;
- and
- a power controller electrically coupled to the generator, said power controller including a power converter to convert said AC power to DC power on a DC bus for providing power to a load, said power controller to regulate the flow of the unit of exhaust gas to the fuel cell module, independent of the DC power on the DC bus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.