IP Library Granted Patent US 9,478,813
Granted Patent B2
US 9,478,813 · App. 13/993,626 · Granted Oct 25, 2016

Power generation system and method of operating the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,478,813
App. No.
13/993,626
Granted
Oct 25, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power generation system has a power generation unit ( 1 ), a casing ( 2 ) accommodating the power generation unit ( 1 ), a ventilator ( 3 ) configured to ventilate the interior of the casing ( 2 ), and a first exhaust gas passage ( 4 ) configured to pass therethrough an exhaust gas from the ventilator ( 3 ) which is discharged out of the casing ( 2 ). The first exhaust gas passage ( 4 ) merges with a second exhaust gas passage ( 6 ) connected to a duct ( 11 ) open to outside air before the second exhaust gas passage ( 6 ) is connected to the duct ( 11 ), the second exhaust gas passage ( 6 ) being configured to pass a combustion exhaust gas from a combustion device ( 5 ) configured to generate heat to be supplied to a heat load.

Claims (19)

1. A power generation system comprising: a power generation unit comprising a fuel cell; a casing accommodating said power generation unit; a ventilator configured to ventilate the interior of said casing; and a first exhaust gas passage configured to pass an exhaust gas from said ventilator which is discharged out of said casing without flowing through said power generation unit, wherein said first exhaust gas passage merges with a second exhaust gas passage connected to a duct open to outside air before the second exhaust gas passage is connected to the duct, the second exhaust gas passage being configured to pass a combustion exhaust gas from a combustion device provided external to said casing and configured to generate heat to be supplied to a heat load.

2. The power generation system according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to allow said ventilator to operate when the combustion device is performing a combustion operation.

3. The power generation system according to claim 2 , wherein said controller controls an operation of said ventilator so that the discharge pressure of said ventilator becomes higher than the pressure of the gas at the merging point.

4. The power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein said ventilator operates so that the discharge pressure thereof becomes higher than the pressure of a gas at the merging point.

5. The power generation system according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to stop a combustion operation of said combustion device if the discharge pressure of said ventilator becomes lower than the pressure of a gas at the merging point.

6. The power generation system according to claim 1 , further comprising said combustion device and said second exhaust gas passage.

7. The power generation system according to claim 6 , further comprising a controller configured to operate said ventilator when said combustion device is performing a combustion operation.

8. The power generation system according to claim 7 , wherein said controller controls an operation of said ventilator so that the discharge pressure of said ventilator becomes higher than the pressure of an exhaust gas at the merging point.

9. The power generation system according to claim 6 , wherein said ventilator operates so that the discharge pressure thereof becomes higher than the pressure of a gas at the merging point.

10. The power generation system according to claim 6 , further comprising a controller configured to stop a combustion operation of said combustion device if the discharge pressure of said ventilator becomes lower than the pressure of a gas at the merging point.

11. A method of operating a power generation system comprising: a power generation unit comprising a fuel cell; a casing accommodating said power generation unit; a ventilator configured to ventilate the interior of said casing; and a first exhaust gas passage configured to pass an exhaust gas from said ventilator which is discharged out of said casing without flowing through said power generation unit, wherein said first exhaust gas passage merges with a second exhaust gas passage connected to a duct open to outside air before said second exhaust gas passage is connected to said duct, said second exhaust gas passage being configured to pass a combustion exhaust gas from a combustion device provided external to said casing and configured to generate heat to be supplied to a heat load, the method comprising:

operating said ventilator when said combustion device is performing a combustion operation.

12. The method of operating a power generation system according to claim 11 , wherein said ventilator operates so that the discharge pressure thereof becomes higher than the pressure of a gas at the merging point.

13. The method of operating a power generation system according to claim 11 , wherein the combustion operation of said combustion device is stopped if the discharge pressure of said ventilator becomes lower than the pressure of a gas at the merging point.

14. The method of operating a power generation system according to claim 11 , wherein the power generation system further comprises said combustion device and said second exhaust gas passage.

15. The method of operating a power generation system according to claim 14 , wherein said ventilator operates so that the discharge pressure thereof becomes higher than the pressure of a gas at the merging point.

16. The method of operating a power generation system according to claim 14 , wherein the combustion operation of said combustion device is stopped if the discharge pressure of said ventilator becomes lower than the pressure of a gas at the merging point.

17. The power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the exhaust gas from said ventilator, which is passed through said first exhaust gas passage, is air from the interior of said casing, the air having been ventilated by said ventilator.

18. The method of operating a power generation system according to claim 11 , wherein the exhaust gas from said ventilator, which is passed through said first exhaust gas passage, is air from the interior of said casing, the air having been ventilated by said ventilator.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2013
From: YUKIMASA, AKINORI; MORITA, JUNJI; YASUDA, SHIGEKI; INOUE, ATSUTAKA; TATSUI, HIROSHI
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031133/0502 →