초록 ▼

An apparatus for directly powering a unipolar electric motor with direct current (DC) power includes a control mechanism, and a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) having a fuel input and an oxidizer input. The control mechanism may control the fuel input and the oxidizer input. The fuel input may utilize

An apparatus for directly powering a unipolar electric motor with direct current (DC) power includes a control mechanism, and a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) having a fuel input and an oxidizer input. The control mechanism may control the fuel input and the oxidizer input. The fuel input may utilize a hydrocarbon fuel or, alternatively, an arbitrary mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The electric motor may have a field excitation current and the control mechanism may further control the field excitation current. Alternatively, an apparatus may power a vehicle, such as a ship or automobile, and may include an electric motor for powering the vehicle, a fuel cell for providing fuel cell power, a turbine-generator for providing turbine-generator power, and a control mechanism. The electric motor may include a motor power input. The fuel cell may include a fuel input, a fuel cell oxidizer input, a thermal exhaust output, and a fuel cell power output. The turbine-generator may include a compressor for pressurizing oxidizer, a generator for producing a generator power output, and a turbine for driving the compressor and the generator. The generator power output may supplement the fuel cell power output in order to produce power for the motor power input. The turbine may have a thermal exhaust input interconnected with the thermal exhaust output of the fuel cell. The compressor may have a compressor oxidizer input and an oxidizer output interconnected with the fuel cell oxidizer input. The control mechanism may control the fuel input, the compressor oxidizer input or the field excitation current.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for powering a vehicle, said apparatus comprising: electric motor means for powering said vehicle, said electric motor means including a motor power input; fuel cell means for providing fuel cell power, said fuel cell means having a fuel input, an oxidizer input, a thermal exhaust outpu

An apparatus for powering a vehicle, said apparatus comprising: electric motor means for powering said vehicle, said electric motor means including a motor power input; fuel cell means for providing fuel cell power, said fuel cell means having a fuel input, an oxidizer input, a thermal exhaust output, and a fuel cell power output; turbine-generator means for providing turbine-generator power, said turbine-generator means including generator means for producing a generator power output, and also including turbine means for driving said generator means; said turbine means having a thermal exhaust input interconnected with the thermal exhaust output of said fuel cell means; the generator power output supplementing the fuel cell power output in order to produce power for the motor power input of said electric motor means; and control means for controlling at least one of the fuel input and the oxidizer input of said fuel cell means.