Integrated power generation using molten carbonate fuel cells
AssigneeExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
InventorsPaul J. Berlowitz, Timothy Andrew Barckholtz, Frank H. Hershkowitz, Anita S. Lee
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Abstract
In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for integrated operation of molten carbonate fuel cells with turbines for power generation. Instead of selecting the operating conditions of a fuel cell to improve or maximize the electrical efficiency of the fuel cell, an excess of reformable fuel can be passed into the anode of the fuel cell to increase the chemical energy output of the fuel cell. The increased chemical energy output can be used for additional power generation, such as by providing fuel for a hydrogen turbine.
Claims22
A method for producing electricity, the method comprising:
- introducing a fuel stream comprising a reformable fuel into an anode of a molten carbonate fuel cell, an internal reforming element associated with the anode, or a combination thereof;
- introducing a cathode inlet stream comprising CO2 and O2 into a cathode of the molten carbonate fuel cell;
- generating electricity within the molten carbonate fuel cell, the molten carbonate fuel cell being operated at a fuel utilization of about 60% or less;
- generating an anode exhaust comprising H2, CO, and CO2;
- separating, from at least a portion of the anode exhaust, a first H2-rich gas stream comprising at least about 80 vol % H2;
- and
- combusting at least a portion of the first H2-rich gas stream to produce electricity,
- wherein a fuel utilization in the anode is about 50% or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.