Pressurized near-isothermal fuel cell - gas turbine hybrid system
A hybrid fuel cell-gas turbine system and method efficiently generates power using a combination of separate power generating components. The system includes a turbine system having an air compressor and a turbine, and a fuel cell. By-product waste heat from the fuel cell is used within the fuel cell to heat the cathode air.
1 . A system for generating power comprising:
a turbine system including an air compressor and a turbine having an inlet and an outlet; and
a fuel cell including a plurality of power-producing electrode-electrolyte assemblies and heat-conducting elements,
wherein the air compressor supplies cathode air to the fuel cell, and wherein the cathode air is heated inside the fuel cell by fuel cell by-product heat via the heat-conducting elements.
2 . A system according to claim 1 , further comprising a fuel processor receiving fuel from a fuel source and processing the fuel for input to the fuel cell.
3 . A system according to claim 2 , wherein the fuel processor comprises means for converting the fuel into a gas containing hydrogen.
4 . A system according to claim 2 , wherein the fuel cell further comprises a fuel input section receiving the processed fuel from the fuel processor, and a fuel cell combustor that oxidizes any unused fuel for heat exchange in the fuel processor.
5 . A system according to claim 2 , the system further comprising a steam generator supplying fuel processor steam to the fuel processor via turbine exhaust from the turbine outlet.
6 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein an air temperature rise from the fuel cell inlet to exhaust is greater than 25° C.
7 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein an air temperature rise from the fuel cell inlet to exhaust is between about 25 and 500 2 C.
8 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein an air temperature rise from the fuel cell inlet to exhaust is between about 100 and 400° C.
9 . A method of generating power utilizing a hybrid fuel cell-gas turbine system, the turbine system including an air compressor and a turbine having an inlet and an outlet, and the fuel cell including a plurality of power-producing electrode-electrolyte assemblies and heat-conducting elements, the method comprising:
supplying cathode air to the fuel cell via the air compressor; and
heating the cathode air inside the fuel cell by fuel cell by-product heat via the heat-conducting elements.
10 . A method according to claim 9 , further comprising receiving fuel from a fuel source and processing the fuel for input to the fuel cell.
11 . A method according to claim 10 , wherein the processing step comprises converting the fuel into a gas containing hydrogen.
12 . A method according to claim 10 , further comprising receiving in a fuel input section the processed fuel from the fuel processor, and oxidizing any unused fuel in a fuel cell combustor for heat exchange in the fuel processor.
13 . A method according to claim 10 , further comprising supplying fuel processor air to the fuel processor via the air compressor and supplying fuel processor steam to the fuel processor via a steam generator exchanging heat with the turbine exhaust from the turbine outlet.
14 . A method according to claim 9 , wherein an air temperature rise from the fuel cell inlet to exhaust is greater than 25° C.
15 . A method according to claim 9 , wherein an air temperature rise from the fuel cell inlet to exhaust is between about 25 and 450° C.
16 . A method according to claim 9 , wherein an air temperature rise from the fuel cell inlet to exhaust is between about 100 and 400° C.