Hybrid high temperature fuel cell volume expansion heat engine

A power plant comprising:

• (a) a reformer for converting hydrocarbon fuel into a fuel mixture including hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
• (b) a high temperature fuel cell comprising an air duct with an inlet and an outlet and a fuel channel with corresponding inlet and outlet;
• (c) a distributor having one inlet and two outlets;
• (d) a combustion chamber with a fuel inlet, air inlet, and outlet;
• (e) a volume expansion engine having an inlet for supplying a working fluid;
• (f) first regulating valve, the inlet of which is connected to air supply inlet;
• (g) second regulating valve the inlet of which is connected to the inlet of hydrocarbon fuel,
• wherein the outlet of said reformer is connected to the inlet of fuel channel of said high temperature fuel cell;
• the outlet of said fuel channel of high temperature fuel cell is connected to the inlet of said distributor, the first outlet of which is connected to the fuel inlet of said combustion chamber and the second outlet of which is connected to the inlet of the reformer;
• the outlet of the air duct of said high temperature fuel cell is connected to the air supply inlet of said combustion chamber;
• the outlet of said combustion chamber is connected to said volume expansion engine;
• the outlet of said first regulating valve is connected to the air supply inlet of the combustion chamber;
• the outlet of said second regulating valve is connected to an additional fuel inlet of said combustion chamber.

A hybrid power apparatus comprising:

• a high temperature fuel cell for producing electrical energy,
• a volume expansion heat engine for producing mechanical energy,
• a combustion chamber coupled for receiving at least a portion of the unconsumed fuel from said fuel cell and applying high pressure combusted gases to said engine,
• a reformer for feeding fuel to said fuel cell,
• a source of hydrocarbon fuel for selectively feeding variable amounts of fuel to said reformer and said combustion chamber, and
• a distributor for distributing fuel cell exhaust fuel selectively to said reformer and said combustion chamber.