IP Library Granted Patent US 9,926,844
Granted Patent B2
US 9,926,844 · App. 14/430,738 · Granted Mar 27, 2018

Power generation system and operation method of power generation system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,926,844
App. No.
14/430,738
Granted
Mar 27, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power generation system includes a gas turbine, a fuel cell, an exhausted fuel gas supply line, an on-off control valve arranged in the exhausted fuel gas supply line, a heating unit that heats the exhausted fuel gas supply line in a range on an upstream side of the on-off control valve, a detection unit that detects a state of exhausted fuel gas in the exhausted fuel gas supply line in the range on the upstream side of the on-off control valve, and a control unit which controls the heating of the exhausted fuel gas supply line by the heating unit and which sets the on-off control valve to open when determining that the heating of the exhausted fuel gas supply line is completed.

Claims (39)

1. A power generation system comprising:

a gas turbine including a compressor and a combustor;

a fuel cell including a cathode and an anode;

an exhausted fuel gas supply line that supplies exhausted fuel gas exhausted from the fuel cell to the gas turbine;

an on-off control valve which is arranged in the exhausted fuel gas supply line and which at least switches between open and close;

a heating unit that heats the exhausted fuel gas supply line in a range on an upstream side of the on-off control valve;

a calorimeter that detects calories of the exhausted fuel gas in the exhausted fuel gas supply line in the range on the upstream side of the on-off control valve; and

a control unit which controls the heating of the exhausted fuel gas supply line by the heating unit based on a result detected by the calorimeter, and which operates the on-off control valve to open when determining that the heating of the exhausted fuel gas supply line is completed based on a result detected by the calorimeter,

wherein, when the control unit detects that the calories detected by the calorimeter are within a predetermined range, the control unit determines that the heating of the exhausted fuel gas supply line is completed.

2. A power generation system comprising:

a gas turbine including a compressor and a combustor;

a fuel cell including a cathode and an anode;

an exhausted fuel gas supply line that supplies exhausted fuel gas exhausted from the fuel cell to the gas turbine;

an on-off control valve which is arranged in the exhausted fuel gas supply line and which at least switches between open and close;

a heating unit that heats the exhausted fuel gas supply line in a range on an upstream side of the on-off control valve;

a detection unit that detects a state of the exhausted fuel gas in the exhausted fuel gas supply line in the range on the upstream side of the on-off control valve;

a control unit which controls the heating of the exhausted fuel gas supply line by the heating unit based on a result detected by the detection unit, and which operates the on-off control valve to open when determining that the heating of the exhausted fuel gas supply line is completed based on a result detected by the detection unit;

a fuel gas supply line that supplies fuel gas to the fuel cell; and

a fuel gas recirculation line that supplies a part of the exhausted fuel gas in the exhausted fuel gas supply line to the fuel gas supply line, a first end of the fuel gas recirculation line being connected to the exhausted fuel gas supply line on the upstream side of the on-off control valve, and a second end of the fuel gas recirculation line being connected to the fuel gas supply line,

wherein the heating unit includes an exhausted fuel gas recirculation line with a first end connected to the exhausted fuel gas supply line on a downstream side of a connection position between the exhausted fuel gas supply line and the fuel gas recirculation line and on the upstream side of the on-off control valve and a second end connected to the fuel gas recirculation line, supplies the exhausted fuel gas in the exhausted fuel gas supply line to the fuel gas recirculation line by the exhausted fuel gas recirculation line, circulates the exhausted fuel gas in the exhausted fuel gas supply line, and heats the exhausted fuel gas supply line by heat of the exhausted fuel gas.

3. An operation method of a power generation system including a gas turbine including a compressor and a combustor, a fuel cell including a cathode and an anode, an exhausted fuel gas supply line that supplies exhausted fuel gas exhausted from the fuel cell to the gas turbine, and an on-off control valve which is arranged in the exhausted fuel gas supply line and which at least switches between open and close, the operation method comprising:

detecting calories of the exhausted fuel gas in the exhausted fuel gas supply line, by a calorimeter, in a range on an upstream side of the on-off control valve;

heating the exhausted fuel gas supply line based on a result detected by the calorimeter; and

setting the on-off control valve to open when determining that a state of the exhausted fuel gas in the exhausted fuel gas supply line is stabilized based on a result detected by the calorimeter.

4. The power generation system according to claim 2 , wherein:

the detection unit is a thermometer that detects a temperature of the exhausted fuel gas, and

when the control unit detects that the temperature detected by the detection unit is higher than or equal to a predetermined value, the control unit determines that the heating of the exhausted fuel gas supply line is completed.

5. An operation method of a power generation system including a gas turbine including a compressor and a combustor, a fuel cell including a cathode and an anode, an exhausted fuel gas supply line that supplies exhausted fuel gas exhausted from the fuel cell to the gas turbine, an on-off control valve which is arranged in the exhausted fuel gas supply line and which at least switches between open and close, a fuel gas supply line connected to the fuel cell, a fuel gas recirculation line connected to the fuel gas supply line, a first end of the fuel gas recirculation line being connected to the exhausted fuel gas supply line on an upstream side of the on-off control valve, and a second end of the fuel gas recirculation line being connected to the fuel gas supply line, and a heating unit including an exhausted fuel gas recirculation line with a first end connected to the exhausted fuel gas supply line on a downstream side of a connection position between the exhausted fuel gas supply line and the fuel gas recirculation line and on the upstream side of the on-off control valve and a second end connected to the fuel gas recirculation line, the operation method comprising:

detecting a state of the exhausted fuel gas in the exhausted fuel gas supply line in a range on the upstream side of the on-off control valve;

heating the exhausted fuel gas supply line based on a result detected by a detection unit;

setting the on-off control valve to open when determining that a state of the exhausted fuel gas in the exhausted fuel gas supply line is stabilized based on a result detected by the detection unit;

supplying fuel gas to the fuel cell;

supplying a part of the exhausted fuel gas in the exhausted fuel gas supply line to the fuel gas supply line;

supplying the exhausted fuel gas in the exhausted fuel gas supply line to the fuel gas recirculation line by the exhausted fuel gas recirculation line;

circulating the exhausted fuel gas in the exhausted fuel gas supply line; and

heating the exhausted fuel gas supply line by heat of the exhausted fuel gas.

6. The operation method according to claim 5 , wherein:

the detection unit is a thermometer that detects a temperature of the exhausted fuel gas, and

when the control unit detects that the temperature detected by the detection unit is higher than or equal to a predetermined value, the control unit determines that the heating of the exhausted fuel gas supply line is stabilized.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVING PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11921683 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054975 FRAME: 0438. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 26, 2023
From: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
To: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
Reel/Frame 063787/0867 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 13, 2021
From: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
To: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
Reel/Frame 054975/0438 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2015
From: FUJITA, KAZUNORI
To: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 035244/0546 →