Power plants – Motive fluid energized by externally applied heat – Process of power production or system operation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-01
2001-05-15
Nguyen, Hoang (Department: 3748)
Power plants
Motive fluid energized by externally applied heat
Process of power production or system operation
C060S734000, C060S737000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230494
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a power generation system and method, and especially relates to a hybrid power generation system which employs various methods to generate electricity and/or mechanical power employing a solid oxide fuel cell.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Alternative transportation fuels have been represented as enablers to reduce toxic emissions in comparison to those generated by conventional fuels. At the same time, tighter emission standards and significant innovation in catalyst formulations and engine controls has led to dramatic improvements in the low emission performance and robustness of gasoline and diesel engine systems. This has certainly reduced the environmental differential between optimized conventional and alternative fuel vehicle systems. However, many technical challenges remain to make the conventionally-fueled internal combustion engine a nearly zero emission system having the efficiency necessary to make the vehicle commercially viable.
Alternative fuels cover a wide spectrum of potential environmental benefits, ranging from incremental toxic and carbon dioxide emission improvements (reformulated gasoline, alcohols, LPG etc.) and to significant toxic and carbon dioxide emission improvements (natural gas, DME etc.). Hydrogen is clearly the ultimate environmental fuel, with potential as a nearly emission free internal combustion engine fuel (including CO
2
if it comes from a non-fossil source). Unfortunately, the market-based economics of alternative fuels or new power train systems are uncertain in the short to mid-term.
The automotive industry has made very significant progress in reducing automotive emissions for both the mandated test procedures and the “real world”. This has resulted in some added cost and complexity of engine management systems, yet those costs are offset by other advantages of computer controls: increased power density, fuel efficiency, drivability, reliability and real-ime diagnostics.
Future initiatives to require zero emission vehicles appear to be taking us into a new regulatory paradigm where asymptotically smaller environmental benefits come at a very large incremental cost. Yet an “ultra low emission” certified vehicle can emit high emissions in limited extreme ambient and operating conditions or with failed or degraded components.
What is needed in the art is a power generation system which is compatible with conventional fuels and has essentially zero emissions and high efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to unique power generation systems and methods. In one embodiment, the system comprises: at least one SOFC capable of reforming fuel, said SOFC having a fuel side and an air side; a preheating device in fluid communication with said fuel side and said air side of said SOFC; an air supply in fluid communication with said preheating device such that air can be heated in said preheating device and then introduced to said air side of said SOFC; a fuel supply in fluid communication with said preheating device such that fuel can be burned, vaporized, atomized, or a combination thereof and then introduced to said fuel side of said SOFC; and at least one energy conversion device in fluid communication with an SOFC effluent from said fuel side of said SOFC.
In another embodiment, the system comprises: at least one SOFC capable of reforming fuel, said SOFC having an intake fuel side, an intake air side, an effluent fuel side and an effluent air side; a preheating device in fluid communication with said intake fuel side and said intake air side of said SOFC; an air supply in fluid communication with said preheating device such that air can be heated in said preheating device and then introduced to said air side of said SOFC; a fuel supply in fluid communication with said preheating device such that fuel can be burned, vaporized, atomized, or a combination thereof and then introduced to said fuel side of said SOFC; and at least one combustor in fluid communication with said effluent fuel side and said effluent air side.
One embodiment of a method of the present invention comprises: compressing an air stream to a first pressure; introducing fuel and said first compressed air to a preheating device; burning at least a first portion of said fuel in said preheating device to from a preheater effluent and a heated air stream; introducing said preheater effluent to a fuel side of a SOFC, said SOFC having an SOFC fuel effluent; and introducing said heated air stream to an air side of said SOFC, said SOFC having an SOFC air effluent.
Another embodiment of a method of the present invention comprises: compressing a heated air stream to a first pressure; vaporizing or atomizing a first portion of fuel in a preheating device to produce a preheater effluent; introducing preheater effluent to a fuel side of a an SOFC, said SOFC having an SOFC fuel effluent; introducing said first compressed air to an air side of said SOFC, said SOFC having an SOFC air effluent; heating said heated air with said SOFC fuel effluent; introducing said SOFC fuel effluent, said SOFC air effluent, and a second portion of fuel to an engine to produce an engine effluent; and introducing said engine effluent to a turbine.
Yet another embodiment of a method of the present invention comprises: compressing a heated air stream; vaporizing or atomizing fuel; introducing said fuel to a fuel side of an SOFC; applying a reverse potential to said SOFC such that the potential on the fuel side of said SOFC is negative; forming oxygen ions on said fuel side of said SOFC; migrating said oxygen ions from said fuel side to said air side of said SOFC to form an oxygen stream; and regenerating said catalytic converter by introducing said oxygen stream to said catalytic converter.
A further embodiment of a method of the present invention comprises: compressing a heated air stream to a first pressure; vaporizing or atomizing a first portion of fuel in a preheating device to produce a preheater effluent; introducing preheater effluent to a fuel side of a SOFC, said SOFC having an SOFC fuel effluent; introducing said first compressed air to an air side of said SOFC, said SOFC having an SOFC air effluent; introducing said SOFC fuel effluent and said SOFC air effluent to a combustor to form a combustor effluent; and introducing said combustor effluent to a turbine.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following brief description of the drawings, detailed description, and appended claims and drawings.
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Botti Jean Joseph
Grieve Malcolm James
Miller Carl Elmer
Cichosz Vincent A.
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Nguyen Hoang
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