IP Library Granted Patent US 10,516,176
Granted Patent B2
US 10,516,176 · App. 14/399,478 · Granted Dec 24, 2019

Power generation system

Inventors: Akinori Yukimasa (Osaka, JP); Hiroshi Tatsui (Shiga, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
H01M8/04179F23L17/005H01M8/04156H01M8/04514H01M8/04955F23J2900/13004H01M8/04425
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,516,176
App. No.
14/399,478
Granted
Dec 24, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power generation system includes: a power generation unit configured to discharge a flue gas; a housing configured to accommodate the power generation unit; a ventilator configured to ventilate the housing; a first gas channel through which a gas discharged from the ventilator flows; a second gas channel through which the flue gas from the power generation unit flows; a merging portion where the first gas channel and the second gas channel merge; a third gas channel through which the gases merged at the merging portion flow; a water trap unit connected to the first gas channel and including a water sealing structure; and a water discharge channel through which water in the water trap unit is discharged to an outside of the housing.

Claims (24)

1. A power generation system comprising:

a power generation unit configured to discharge a flue gas;

a housing configured to accommodate the power generation unit;

a ventilator configured to ventilate the housing;

a first gas channel through which a gas discharged from the ventilator flows;

a second gas channel through which the flue gas from the power generation unit flows;

a merging portion where the first gas channel and the second gas channel merge;

a third gas channel through which the gases merged at the merging portion flow;

a water trap unit connected to a portion of the first gas channel, the portion being located upstream of the merging portion, and including a water sealing structure; and

a water discharge channel through which water in the water trap unit is discharged to an outside of the housing.

2. The power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the water trap unit is arranged at a position lower than the merging portion.

3. The power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the ventilator is configured to operate during at least a part of a period in which the flue gas discharged from the power generation unit flows through the second gas channel and the third gas channel.

4. The power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the ventilator is configured to operate at least during a part of power generation.

5. The power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the ventilator is configured to operate at least during power generation.

6. The power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the ventilator is configured to operate such that discharge pressure thereof becomes lower than water seal pressure of the water trap unit.

7. The power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the ventilator is configured to operate such that discharge pressure thereof becomes higher than gas pressure on a water surface in the water trap unit.

8. The power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the water trap unit is configured such that water seal pressure thereof becomes higher than pressure loss at a route connecting the merging portion and the atmosphere through the third gas channel.

9. The power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein pressure loss at a route extending from the ventilator through the water trap unit to an exit of the water discharge channel when water seal of the water trap unit is broken is set such that entire gas discharged from the ventilator does not flow to the route extending through the water trap unit to the exit of the water discharge channel when the water seal of the water trap unit is broken.

10. The power generation system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a pressure detector configured to detect gas pressure on a water surface in the water trap unit; and

a controller configured to stop a power generating operation of the power generation system when the gas pressure on the water surface in the water trap unit becomes equal to or higher than a threshold lower than water seal pressure of the water trap unit.

11. The power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein:

a flue gas channel of an external combustion device is connected to the third gas channel; and

the ventilator is configured to operate at least during power generation of the power generation unit and a combustion operation of the external combustion device.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2015
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 035045/0413 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 25, 2014
From: YUKIMASA, AKINORI; TATSUI, HIROSHI
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034585/0958 →