IP Library Patent Application 17612390
Patent Application
App. No. 17/612,390

PRESSURIZED AIR SUPPLY SYSTEM, FUEL CELL SYSTEM COMPRISING THE PRESSURIZED AIR SUPPLY SYSTEM, AND STARTING METHOD OF THE PRESSURIZED AIR SUPPLY SYSTEM

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
17/612,390
Abstract

A pressurized air supply system includes a turbocharger including a turbine and a compressor, a recuperator for heat exchange between discharged air from the compressor and flue gas exhausted from the turbine, a start-up heater for heating the air, that includes at least either of start-up air or pressurized air from the compressor, which is supplied to discharged air line between the compressor outlet and the recuperator, and a catalytic combustor for supplying, to the turbine, combustion gas which is generated by combustion of fuel with the flowing air heated by the start-up heater.

Claims (33)

1 . A pressurized air supply system, comprising:

a turbocharger including a turbine and a compressor;

a recuperator for heat exchange between discharged air from the compressor and flue gas exhausted from the turbine;

a start-up heater for heating the air, that includes at least either of start-up air or the discharged air from the compressor, which is supplied to discharged air line between the compressor outlet and the recuperator; and

a catalytic combustor for supplying, to the turbine, combustion gas which is generated by combustion of fuel with the flowing air heated by the start-up heater.

2 . The pressurized air supply system according to claim 1 ,

further comprising a motor for driving the compressor,

wherein the start-up air is supplied by the compressor driven by the motor.

3 . The pressurized air supply system according to claim 2 ,

wherein the motor is connected to the compressor via a speed increasing gear.

4 . The pressurized air supply system according to claim 1 , further comprising recuperator bypass line for a part of the discharged air from the compressor to bypass the recuperator.

5 . The pressurized air supply system according to claim 4 ,

wherein the discharged air flowing through the recuperator bypass line joins the air flowing into the catalytic combustor.

6 . The pressurized air supply system according to claim 4 ,

wherein the discharged air flowing through the recuperator bypass line joins the flue gas flowing out of the recuperator.

7 . The pressurized air supply system according to claim 1 , comprising:

pressurized air line through which the air heated by the recuperator flows;

branch line branching from the pressurized air line and joining the exhaust air line after flowing through the start-up heater; and

fuel cell heating bypass air line further branching from downstream of the start-up heater on the branch line and rejoining the pressurized air line.

8 . The pressurized air supply system according to claim 7 , comprising, upstream of the start-up heater, a flow regulating valve for regulating the flow rate of the air flowing into the start-up heater.

9 . The pressurized air supply system according to claim 8 ,

wherein the start-up heater includes:

a first heater for heating the flowing air supplied to the catalytic combustor; and

a second heater for heating the air flowing through the pressurized air line.

10 . A fuel cell system, comprising:

the pressurized air supply system according to claim 1 ; and

a fuel cell having cathode and anode,

wherein the fuel cell system is configured such that pressurized air supplied from the pressurized air supply system flows into the cathode.

11 . A starting method of the pressurized air supply system according to claim 1 , the method comprising:

a step of supplying at least either of the start-up air or the discharged air to a discharged air line between the compressor outlet and the recuperator;

a step of heating the flowing air by starting the start-up heater;

a step of generating a combustion gas by combustion of fuel with the flowing air by starting the catalytic combustor, after a catalyst temperature of the catalytic combustor is increased to preset temperature or higher with the heated flowing air; and

a step of stopping the start-up heater or decreasing the load of the start-up heater, after the compressor is driven by rotation of the turbine with the combustion gas.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2022
From: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
To: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 059519/0494 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2021
From: IWAI, YASUSHI; MATAKE, NORIHISA; KATO, YOSHIKI; OOZAWA, HIROYUKI
To: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058153/0826 →