Process and installation for the combined generation of electrical and mechanical energy

Process for the combined generation of electrical and mechanical energy from the oxidation of fuel, said process comprising the steps of:

• generating a hydrogen-containing gas by endothermic reaction of hydrocarbon compounds in at least one stage with indirect heating of the endothermic reaction;
• guiding at least a portion of the hydrogen-containing gas generated in the endothermic reaction as anode gas through a fuel cell system for generating electrical energy;
• introducing the anode gas exhausted from the fuel cell system containing a residual content of hydrogen in at least one combustion stage for generating a hot combustion gas at increased pressure;
• compressing an oxygen-containing gas;
• introducing the compressed oxygen-containing gas into the at least one combustion stage for generating the hot combustion gas;
• generating mechanical energy by means of at least partial expansion of the hot combustion gas in at least one gas turbine;
• indirectly heating the endothermic reaction using at least a partial flow of the at least partial expansion of the hot combustion gas, wherein the combustion gas is partially cooled in the endothermic reaction:
• supplying the mechanical energy generated in said generating step for the compression of the oxygen-containing gas;
• heating the compressed oxygen-containing gas by indirect heat exchange with the partially cooled combustion gas in the endothermic reaction;
• generating the combustion gas having increased pressure with surplus oxygen;
• and
• feeding the partially expanded combustion gas from the at least one gas turbine to the fuel cell system as cathode gas after conveying heat to compressed oxygen-containing gas.