Heat recovery apparatus based on fuel cell and operating method thereof
AssigneePosco Energy Co., Ltd.
InventorsHyun Lae Lee, Jung Tae Hwang, Ja Hoon Jeong, Sung Lay Ryu
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Abstract
Provided are a heat recovery apparatus based on a fuel cell and an operating method thereof. In the fuel cell-based heat recovery apparatus and the operating method thereof, hot water and steam may be generated by using heat generated while a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) operates to supply the generated hot water or steam to buildings, thereby reducing a rate of operation in cooling/heating equipment using electricity so as to reduce air-conditioning costs.
Claims16
A fuel cell-based heat recovery apparatus comprising:
- a first switching unit introducing heat generated by a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) into a heat exchanger or blocking the introduction of the heat into the heat exchanger;
- a second switching unit discharging the heat through a discharge hole or blocking the discharge of heat through the discharge hole;
- a third switching unit introducing a fluid stored in a condensed tank into a fluid circulating unit or blocking the introduction of the fluid into the fluid circulating unit;
- the fluid circulating unit circulating the fluid introduced by the third switching unit;
- a state sensing unit measuring a temperature of the heat generated by the MCFC, a flow rate within a tube through which the fluid passes, and a temperature and water level within the condensed tank;
- and
- a control unit controlling each of the units according to an operating or stopping algorithm.
A method of operating a fuel cell-based heat recovery apparatus comprising a first switching unit, a second switching unit, a third switching unit, a fluid circulating unit, a state sensing unit, and a control unit, the method comprising:
- maintaining a standby state;
- opening the third switching unit because a temperature within a condensed tank is below a first critical value, and a water level within the condensed tank is above a second critical value;
- operating the fluid circulating unit when a second critical time elapses after the third switching unit is opened;
- opening the first switching unit when a third critical time elapses after the fluid circulating unit operates;
- and
- closing the second switching unit when a flow rate sensed by the state sensing unit satisfies a third critical value after the first switching unit is opened.
A method of stopping an operation of a fuel cell-based heat recovery apparatus comprising a first switching unit, a second switching unit, a third switching unit, a fluid circulating unit, a state sensing unit, and a control unit, the method comprising:
- closing the first switching unit after the second switching unit is opened because a predetermined condition is satisfied;
- stopping an operation of the fluid circulating unit when a fifth critical time elapses after the first switching unit is closed;
- and
- closing the third switching unit when a sixth critical time elapses after the operation of the fluid circulating unit is stopped.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.