Model based real-time optimization of fuel cell clusters
AssigneeBloom Energy Corporation
InventorsDavid Weingaertner, Swaminathan Venkataraman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power generation system is provided. The power generation system includes a fuel cell controller, at least one fuel cell cluster operably connected to the fuel cell controller and a data server operably connected to the fuel cell cluster. The data server is configured to obtain operational data from the fuel cell cluster. In addition, a model server operably connected to the data server. The model server is configured to model the operational characteristics of the fuel cell cluster during the actual operation of the fuel cell cluster and modify the operation of the fuel cell cluster in real-time, based on the operational data obtained by the data server.
Claims26
A power generation system, comprising:
- a fuel cell controller;
- at least one fuel cell cluster operably connected to the fuel cell controller;
- a data server operably connected to the fuel cell cluster, wherein the data server is configured to obtain operational data from the fuel cell cluster;
- and
- a model server operably connected to the data server, configured to model operational characteristics of the fuel cell cluster during the actual operation of the fuel cell cluster and modify the operation of the fuel cell cluster in real-time, based on the operational data obtained by the data server.
A method for optimizing the operation of a power generation system having at least one fuel cell cluster containing a plurality of fuel cell modules, comprising:
- obtaining operational data concerning the fuel cell cluster during operation of the fuel cell cluster;
- modeling the operation of the fuel cell cluster in real-time using the operational data;
- determining whether the operation of the fuel cell cluster can be improved by calculating the optimum operational set points for the fuel cell cluster based on the obtained operational data;
- and
- modifying the operation of the fuel cell cluster by setting the fuel cell cluster to operate at the optimum operational set points.
A power generation system, comprising:
- a plurality of fuel cell clusters, each cluster comprising:
- at least one fuel cell module, each fuel cell module comprising a plurality of fuel cell stacks;
- a fuel processing module adapted in operation to deliver fuel to the fuel cell module;
- and
- an electronics module adapted in operation to receive power from the fuel cell modules and modify the received power into a usable form;
- a fuel cell economic controller;
- and
- a fuel cell supervisory controller;
- and
- at least one server operably connected to the fuel cell economic controller of each cluster, wherein the at least one server is adapted to determine an optimum economic and operational efficiency of the power generation system and to modify operation of the plurality of fuel cell clusters to achieve the optimum economic and operational efficiency of the power generation system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.