The power generation system and method of the present invention employ a solid oxide fuel cell which reforms fuel to a degree which is controlled by the amount of fuel introduced to the solid oxide fuel cell. The effluent is directed preferably through a heat exchanger and then into an engine. This hybrid system more efficiently produces energy, both mechanical and electrical, over conventional systems.

Power generation system and method

A combined cycle power system is provided which can convert an open combined cycle gas turbine into a reduced or zero emissions power system. The system includes a compressor which compresses air and combusts the air with a hydrocarbon fuel. The products of combustion and the remaining portions of the air form the exhaust which is expanded through a turbine. The turbine drives the compressor and outputs power. The exhaust exits the turbine and then is routed through a heat recovery steam generator. A bottoming cycle portion of the system includes a gas generator which combusts a hydrocarbon fuel with oxygen. Water is also entered into the gas generator where it is heated and combined with the products of combustion, before entering a bottoming turbine. The water is then separated and routed back to the gas generator after preheating within the heat recovery steam generator.

Semi-closed brayton cycle gas turbine power systems

A control system interrelatedly controls the electric power output and oxidant supply in a fuel cell electric power generation system. The power generation system comprises at least one fuel cell stack, and a plurality of electrical loads powered by the fuel cell stack, including an electric traction motor for propelling the vehicle, and a compressor for delivering oxidant gas to the fuel cell stack. The electric power output of the at least one fuel cell stack is dependent on the compressor speed. The control system comprises a summing device for determining the total instantaneous power demand of the electrical loads based on a plurality of sensed power demand signals, and a processor for generating a feed-forward output signal for adjusting the compressor speed to a value predicted to give fuel cell power output sufficient to satisfy the instantaneous power demand.

Power control system for a fuel cell powered vehicle

A fuel combustion power generation system is provided operating as a closed loop Rankine cycle and with zero atmospheric emissions. The fuel is combusted with oxygen in a combustor to generate high temperature products of combustion. The products of combustion are routed to a first side of a heat exchanger. A second side of the heat exchanger has a working fluid of the closed loop Rankine cycle passed therethrough to boil the working fluid into a gas. The working fluid is then expanded, condensed back to a liquid and pumped back to high pressure for return to the heat exchanger the products of combustion enter a condenser, where gases are collected and liquids recirculated or released. The products of combustion can be expanded upstream of the heat exchanger. The fuel can be a gaseous fuel or a solid or liquid fuel, such as coal or biomass, with gasification before combustion.

Zero emissions closed rankine cycle power system

A low pollution power system has an air separator (1003) to collect oxygen and a gas generator (1004) to combust the oxygen and a hydrocarbon fuel. The combustion products are then expanded through at least one turbine (1005). Diluents are also delivered to the gas generator to control temperature.

Low pollution power generation system with ion transfer membrane air separation

Apparatus for powering an electric motor (4) comprising a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) (8) having a controlled fuel input (22) and a controlled oxidizer input (24). This apparatus may be combined with a turbine (104) driven by the exhaust gases of the fuel cell (8). The turbine (104) drives a generator whose power output (102) supplements the fuel cell power output (96) to power the electric motor (4). The oxidizer may be compressed by a compressor (98) driven by the turbine (104). The electric motor (4) may be a DC unipolar motor with controlled field excitation current. A controller (40') may control the fuel input (90), the compressor oxidizer input (108) or the field excitation current.

L. Arthur Wolfe

Papers

Fuel cell powered propulsion system