# US 9,038,579 B2 · Fuel cell-engine hybrid system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,579 B2 - Document ID: US9038579B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/469,142 - Filed: 2012-05-11 - Published: 2012-11-15 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-11 - Assignees: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials - Applicants: Kook Young Ahn; Young Duk Lee; Sang Gyu Kang; Sang Min Lee; Han Seok Kim; Ju Hyeong Cho; Min Kuk Kim; Sung Ho Park; Seung Jin Song; Han Ho Song - Inventors: Kook Young Ahn; Young Duk Lee; Sang Gyu Kang; Sang Min Lee; Han Seok Kim; Ju Hyeong Cho; Min Kuk Kim; Sung Ho Park; Seung Jin Song; Han Ho Song - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038579B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/04007: related to heat exchange - F02D 19/0671: {Means to generate or modify a fuel, e.g. reformers, electrolytic cells or membranes} - H01M 8/04164: {by condensers, gas-liquid separators or filters} - F02B 1/04: with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder - F02B 43/08: Plants characterised by the engines using gaseous fuel generated in the plant from solid fuel, e.g. wood - F02B 43/10: Engines or plants characterised by use of other specific gases, e.g. acetylene, oxyhydrogen - F02M 25/12: the apparatus having means for generating such gases (using rays and simultaneously generating ozone F02M27/06) - F02M 27/02: by catalysts - H01M 8/0618: {Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming} - H01M 2250/407: Combination of fuel cells with mechanical energy generators - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - Y02T 10/30: Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract The present invention relates to a fuel cell-engine hybrid system formed to effectively utilize an exhaust gas discharged from a process for generating electricity. A fuel cell-engine hybrid system according to the present invention includes: an electricity generating unit including a cathode and an anode interposing an electrolyte membrane therebetween; and an engine unit connected to a rear end of the electricity generating unit and generating power by receiving the exhaust gas discharged from the anode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel cell-engine hybrid system comprising: an electricity generating unit including a cathode and an anode interposing an electrolyte membrane therebetween; an engine unit connected to a rear end of the electricity generating unit and generating power by receiving the exhaust gas discharged from the anode; a cooling unit being disposed subsequent to the electricity generating unit to eliminate vapor of the exhaust gas to improve an ignition of the engine unit, the cooled exhaust gas being discharged from the anode and supplied to the engine unit, the cooled exhaust gas being the sole and main supply gas of the engine unit such that no additional gas is supplied; and a mixing unit mixing the exhaust gas transmitted from the cooling unit and external air or high pressure fluid and supplying the mixture to the engine unit, wherein the mixing unit is a static mixer forming a internal channel through which a mixture of the exhaust gas and air flows, and wherein the internal channel is formed of a plurality of twisted elements and non-twisted elements, each of the twisted elements is alternately disposed corresponding to each of the non-twisted elements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fuel cell-engine hybrid system of claim 1, further comprising an air separating unit connected to the engine unit and separating external air into oxygen and nitrogen, wherein gas including the oxygen separated from the air separating unit may be supplied to the engine unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fuel cell-engine hybrid system of claim 2, wherein the engine unit comprises a premixing member that mixes the exhaust gas and the oxygen before being ignited. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fuel cell-engine hybrid system of claim 1, wherein the engine unit is a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fuel cell-engine hybrid system of claim 1, wherein the cooling unit cools the exhaust gas down to a dew point of water vapor such that the water vapor included in the exhaust gas can be condensed therefrom. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fuel cell-engine hybrid system of claim 5, wherein the cooling unit comprises a channel through which the exhaust gas flows, a storage member provided in a lower portion of the cooling unit to storage condensed water, and an outlet formed in a lower end of the storage member to discharge stored water, and low temperature cooling water flows to the surface of the channel for heat exchange with the exhaust gas. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fuel cell-engine hybrid system of claim 1, further comprising a carbon dioxide capturing unit capturing carbon dioxide discharged from the engine unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fuel cell-engine hybrid system of claim 1, further comprising a recycling unit supplying carbon dioxide discharged from the engine unit to the cathode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fuel cell-engine hybrid system of claim 8, wherein the recycling unit comprises a control valve to control the supply amount of carbon dioxide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fuel cell-engine hybrid system of claim 1, further comprising, a turbo charger provided between the mixing unit and the engine unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fuel cell-engine hybrid system of claim 10, wherein the turbo charger comprises a compressor and a turbine, the compressor is provided between a rear end of the mixing unit and an intake end of the engine, and the turbine is connected to an outlet of the engine unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fuel cell-engine hybrid system of claim 11, further comprising an intercooler interposed between the compressor of the turbo charger and the engine unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The fuel cell-engine hybrid system of claim 11, further comprising an electric generator connected to the turbo charger to generate electric power according to driving of the turbine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The fuel cell-engine hybrid system of claim 10, further comprising an anode recycling blower connected between an outlet and an inlet of the anode and supplying a part of the exhaust gas discharged from the anode to the inlet of the anode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The fuel cell-engine hybrid system of claim 1, further comprising an anode recycling blower connected between an outlet and an inlet of the anode and supplying a part of the exhaust gas discharged from the anode to the inlet of the anode.