Fossil fuel combined cycle power system
AssigneeUT-Battelle, LLC
InventorsSolomon Davidovich Labinov, Timothy Robert Armstrong, Roddie Reagan Judkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for converting fuel energy to electricity includes a reformer for converting a higher molecular weight gas into at least one lower molecular weight gas, at least one turbine to produce electricity from expansion of at least one of the lower molecular weight gases, and at least one fuel cell. The system can further include at least one separation device for substantially dividing the lower molecular weight gases into at least two gas streams prior to the electrochemical oxidization step. A nuclear reactor can be used to supply at least a portion of the heat the required for the chemical conversion process.
Claims13
A system for converting fuel energy to electricity, comprising:
- a reformer for converting a higher molecular weight gas into at least one mixed gas stream of lower average molecular weight comprising at least a first lower molecular weight gas and a second gas, said first and second gases being different gases, wherein said first lower molecular weight as comprises H2and said second gas comprises CO;
- at least one turbine coupled to an electrical generator having an input connected to an output of said reformer, said turbine receiving said mixed gas stream and generating electricity from expansion of said mixed gas stream;
- a separator connected to an output of said turbine, said separator having a first and a second output for dividing said mixed gas stream, wherein a first gas stream mainly comprising said H2 is provided at said first output and a second gas stream mainly comprising said CO is provided at said second output;
- a first fuel cell, an anode of said first fuel cell connected to said first output for electrochemically oxidizing said first gas stream to produce electricity;
- and
- a second fuel cell, an anode of said second fuel cell connected to said second output for electrochemically oxidizing said second gas stream to produce electricity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.