Method and control sub-system for operating a power generation system having a fuel-cell
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsHonggang Wang, Andrew Philip Shapiro
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for operating a power generation system including a fuel-cell is presented. The method includes detecting a water deficient condition of the fuel-cell. The method further includes operating, in response to detecting the water deficient condition of the fuel-cell, at least one auxiliary load of the power generation system via use of an electrical current generated by the fuel-cell to maintain a steam-carbon ratio in the fuel-cell above a threshold steam-carbon ratio value. A control sub-system for operating the power generation system is also presented. Moreover, a power generation system including the fuel-cell, the least one auxiliary load, and the control sub-system is presented.
Claims20
A method for operating a power generation system comprising a fuel-cell, the method comprising:
- detecting a water deficient condition of the fuel-cell;
- and
- operating, in response to detecting the water deficient condition of the fuel-cell, at least one auxiliary load of the power generation system via use of an electrical current generated by the fuel-cell to maintain a steam-carbon ratio in the fuel-cell above a threshold steam-carbon ratio value.
A control sub-system for operating a power generation system, wherein the power generation system comprises a fuel-cell and at least one auxiliary load, the control sub-system comprising:
- a sensor coupled to the fuel-cell and configured to generate an electrical signal indicative of an electrical current generated by the fuel-cell;
- one or more switches coupled between the fuel-cell and the at least one auxiliary load;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and the one or more switches, wherein the controller is configured to:
- detect a water deficient condition of the fuel-cell based on the electrical signal generated by the sensor;
- and
- operate, if the water deficient condition is detected, the at least one auxiliary load of the power generation system via use of the electrical current generated by the fuel-cell to maintain a steam-carbon ratio in the fuel-cell above a threshold steam-carbon ratio value.
A power generation system, comprising:
- a fuel-cell;
- at least one auxiliary load;
- a control sub-system operatively coupled to the fuel-cell and the at least one auxiliary load, the control sub-system comprising:
- a sensor coupled to the fuel-cell and configured to generate an electrical signal indicative of an electrical current generated by the fuel-cell;
- one or more switches coupled between the fuel-cell and the at least one auxiliary load;
- a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and the one or more switches, wherein the controller is configured to:
- detect a water deficient condition of the fuel-cell based on the electrical signal generated by the sensor;
- and
- operate, if the water deficient condition is detected, the at least one auxiliary load of the power generation system via use of the electrical current generated by the fuel-cell to maintain a steam-carbon ratio in the fuel-cell above a threshold steam-carbon ratio value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.