IP Library Granted Patent US 10,490,832
Granted Patent B2
US 10,490,832 · App. 15/935,649 · Granted Nov 26, 2019

Power generation system and method for activating fuel cell in power generation system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,490,832
App. No.
15/935,649
Granted
Nov 26, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power generation system includes a gas turbine having a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine, an inlet guide vane in an air intake port in the compressor, a first compressed air supply line for supplying compressed air compressed by the compressor to the combustor, a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) having an air electrode and a fuel electrode, a second compressed air supply line for supplying at least part of the compressed air compressed by the compressor to the air electrode, a control valve in the second compressed air supply line, and a control device for opening the control valve when the SOFC is activated and changing a degree of opening of the inlet guide vane from a preset reference degree of opening.

Claims (10)

1. A power generation system, comprising:

a gas turbine having a compressor and a combustor;

a first compressed air supply line for supplying compressed air compressed by the compressor to the combustor;

a fuel cell having an air electrode and a fuel electrode;

a second compressed air supply line for supplying at least a portion of the compressed air compressed by the compressor to the air electrode;

a first on-off valve provided on the second compressed air supply line;

a compressed air supply unit connected to the second compressed air supply line on the fuel cell side from the first on-off valve; and

a control unit for closing the first on-off valve and driving the compressed air supply unit upon the fuel cell being activated.

2. The power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the compressed air supply unit includes a third compressed air supply line connected at one end thereof to the second compressed air supply line on the fuel cell side from the first on-off valve, an activation compressor connected to the other end of the third compressed air supply line, and a second on-off valve provided on the third compressed air supply line, and upon the fuel cell being activated, the control unit closes the first on-off valve, opens the second on-off valve, and drives the activation compressor.

3. The power generation system according to claim 1 , further comprising a first sensor that measures the pressure of the compressed air compressed by the compressor and a second sensor that measures the pressure of the second compressed air supply line on the fuel cell side from the first on-off valve, wherein upon a second pressure measured by the second sensor reaches a first pressure measured by the first sensor, the control unit stops the driving of the compressed air supply unit and opens the first on-off valve.

Assignments (2)
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 →