Solid oxide regenerative fuel cell for airplane power generation and storage
AssigneeIon America Corporation
InventorsJames McElroy, Matthias Gottmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A Solid Oxide Regenerative Fuel Cell (SORFC) or a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) is incorporated into an electrically powered airplane to provide either regenerative or primary electrical energy. The SORFC, the SOFC, or any other suitable fuel cell within an airplane may also be used to heat payload or equipment within the airplane. The SORFC is not only capable of generating electrical energy from fuel and a suitable oxidizer, but can also generate fuel through electrolysis of oxidized fuel. Thus, the SORFC system powering an airplane can obtain oxygen oxidant reactant from the air and avoid the complexity, weight, volume, and cost associated with oxygen storage.
Claims45
A solid oxide fuel cell adapted to power an airborne vehicle, wherein the solid oxide fuel cell comprises a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell (SORFC).
An electrically powered airplane, comprising:
- an airplane body;
- a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell (SORFC) adapted to power the airplane;
- and
- a fuel storage vessel adapted to provide fuel to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell;
- wherein the airplane does not lose water with oxidizer discharge from the fuel cell.
An electrically powered airplane, comprising:
- an airplane body;
- a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell (SORFC) adapted to power the airplane and to heat remotely located payload or equipment in the airplane body;
- and
- a fuel storage vessel adapted to provide fuel to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell;
- wherein the airplane does not lose water with oxidizer discharge from the fuel cell.
A solid oxide fuel cell system, comprising:
- a first means for providing oxygen ion conduction to generate a potential difference between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode;
- and
- a second means for providing electric power to an airborne vehicle from the potential difference;
- wherein the first means is a means for generating electrical energy from a fuel and an oxidizer in a discharge mode and regenerating the fuel from oxidized fuel in a charge mode;
- and
- wherein the airborne vehicle does not lose water with oxidizer discharge from the first means.
A method of generating power in an airborne vehicle, comprising:
- providing a fuel and a oxidizer to a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell;
- and
- providing electrical power from the fuel cell to a motor propeller system of the airborne vehicle;
- wherein the airborne vehicle does not lose water with oxidizer discharge from the fuel cell.
An SORFC power generation system, comprising:
- at least one SORFC;
- a fuel storage vessel;
- an oxidizer inlet;
- an oxidized fuel storage vessel;
- and
- a first means for:
- (a) separating partially regenerated fuel provided from the at least one SORFC into regenerated fuel and oxidized fuel, for directing the regenerated fuel into the fuel storage vessel and for directing oxidized fuel back into the at least one SORFC;
- and
- (b) separating partially oxidized fuel provided from the at least one SORFC into fuel and oxidized fuel, for directing the fuel back into the at least one SORFC, and for directing oxidized fuel into the oxidized fuel storage vessel.
A method of operating a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell (SORFC), comprising:
- a) while the SORFC operates in a charge mode, separating partially regenerated fuel provided from the SORFC into regenerated fuel and oxidized fuel, directing the regenerated fuel into a fuel storage vessel, and directing oxidized fuel back into the SORFC;
- and
- b) while the SORFC operates in a discharge mode, separating partially oxidized fuel provided from the SORFC cell into fuel and oxidized fuel, directing the fuel back into the SORFC, and directing the oxidized fuel into the oxidized fuel storage vessel.
A method of operating an unmanned, propeller driven high altitude airplane, comprising:
- powering a motor propeller system of the airplane with a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), wherein the airplane does not lose water with oxidizer discharge from the fuel cell;
- and
- flying the airplane unmanned at an altitude of between 45,000 and 90,000 feet for a plurality of months without landing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.