초록 ▼

A Solid Oxide Regenerative Fuel Cell (SORFC) or a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) is incorporated into an electrically powered airplane to provide either regenerative or primary electrical energy. The SORFC, the SOFC, or any other suitable fuel cell within an airplane may also be used to heat payload o

A Solid Oxide Regenerative Fuel Cell (SORFC) or a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) is incorporated into an electrically powered airplane to provide either regenerative or primary electrical energy. The SORFC, the SOFC, or any other suitable fuel cell within an airplane may also be used to heat payload or equipment within the airplane. The SORFC is not only capable of generating electrical energy from fuel and a suitable oxidizer, but can also generate fuel through electrolysis of oxidized fuel. Thus, the SORFC system powering an airplane can obtain oxygen oxidant reactant from the air and avoid the complexity, weight, volume, and cost associated with oxygen storage.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A solid oxide fuel cell adapted to power an airborne vehicle, wherein the solid oxide fuel cell comprises a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell (SORFC).2. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein:the SORFC is adapted to power an unmanned, solar powered airplane in absence of sunlight; and the SORFC is ad

1. A solid oxide fuel cell adapted to power an airborne vehicle, wherein the solid oxide fuel cell comprises a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell (SORFC).2. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein:the SORFC is adapted to power an unmanned, solar powered airplane in absence of sunlight; and the SORFC is adapted to regenerate fuel using electricity generated from sunlight. 3. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the SORFC is located in and is adapted to power an unmanned, electrically powered airplane.4. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is also adapted to provide heat to payload or equipment of the airborne vehicle.5. An electrically powered airplane, comprising:an airplane body; a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell (SORFC) adapted to power the airplane; and a fuel storage vessel adapted to provide fuel to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell; wherein the airplane does not lose water with oxidizer discharge from the fuel cell. 6. The airplane of claim 5, wherein the airplane comprises an unmanned, propeller driven high altitude airplane.7. The airplane of claim 6, wherein:the airplane comprises a solar powered airplane containing a solar cell array; the SORFC is adapted to power the airplane in absence of sunlight; and the SORFC is adapted to regenerate fuel using electricity generated from sunlight by the solar cell array. 8. The airplane of claim 6, further comprising an oxidized fuel storage vessel adapted to store oxidized fuel output by the fuel cell.9. The airplane of claim 8, wherein:the fuel storage vessel is adapted to store hydrogen; and the oxidized fuel storage vessel is adapted to store water. 10. The airplane of claim 5, wherein the fuel storage vessel is adapted to store both hydrogen fuel and water oxidized fuel.11. The airplane of claim 9, further comprising:an air inlet adapted to provide air to the fuel cell; and an air outlet adapted to vent air from the fuel cell. 12. The airplane of claim 5, further comprising a heat transfer loop adapted to transfer heat from the fuel cell to payload or equipment located remotely in the airplane body.13. The airplane of claim 5, further comprising a motor propeller system is powered by the fuel cell.14. The airplane of claim 5, further comprising an oxidized fuel separation and fuel pump system adapted to separate partially oxidized fuel output by the fuel cell into fuel and oxidized fuel, to pump fuel into the fuel cell or the fuel storage vessel, and to pump oxidized fuel into an oxidized fuel storage vessel or into the fuel cell.15. An electrically powered airplane, comprising:an airplane body; a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell (SORFC) adapted to power the airplane and to heat remotely located payload or equipment in the airplane body; and a fuel storage vessel adapted to provide fuel to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell; wherein the airplane does not lose water with oxidizer discharge from the fuel cell. 16. The airplane of claim 15, wherein:the airplane comprises an unmanned, propeller driven high altitude airplane. 17. The airplane of claim 16, wherein:the airplane comprises a solar powered airplane containing a solar cell array; the SORFC is adapted to power the airplane in absence of sunlight; and the SORFC is adapted to regenerate fuel using electricity generated from sunlight by the solar cell array. 18. The airplane of claim 16, further comprising an oxidized fuel storage vessel adapted to store oxidized fuel output by the fuel cell.19. The airplane of claim 18, wherein:the fuel storage vessel is adapted to store hydrogen; and the oxidized fuel storage vessel is adapted to store water. 20. The airplane of claim 18, further comprising:an air inlet adapted to provide air to the fuel cell; and an air outlet adapted to vent air from the fuel cell. 21. The airplane of claim 15, further comprising a heat transfer loop adapted to transfer heat from the fuel cell to payload or equipment located remotely in the airplane body.22. A solid oxide fuel cell system, comprising:a first means for providing oxygen ion conduction to generate a potential difference between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode; and a second means for providing electric power to an airborne vehicle from the potential difference; wherein the first means is a means for generating electrical energy from a fuel and an oxidizer in a discharge mode and regenerating the fuel from oxidized fuel in a charge mode; and wherein the airborne vehicle does not lose water with oxidizer discharge from the first means. 23. The fuel cell of claim 22, further comprising a third means for providing the fuel to the first means and a fourth means for providing the oxidizer to the first means.24. The fuel cell of claim 23, wherein the fuel comprises hydrogen, the oxidizer comprises oxygen or air and the oxidized fuel comprises water.25. A method of generating power in an airborne vehicle, comprising:providing a fuel and a oxidizer to a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell; and providing electrical power from the fuel cell to a motor propeller system of the airborne vehicle; wherein the airborne vehicle does not lose water with oxidizer discharge from the fuel cell. 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:converting sunlight into electrical energy; providing the electrical energy to the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell; providing oxidized fuel into the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell; electrolyzing the oxidized fuel in the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell into partially regenerated fuel; separating fuel from oxidized fuel in the partially regenerated fuel; and storing the fuel and the oxidized fuel. 27. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing heat to remotely located payload or equipment from the fuel cell.28. An SORFC power generation system, comprising:at least one SORFC; a fuel storage vessel; an oxidizer inlet; an oxidized fuel storage vessel; and a first means for: (a) separating partially regenerated fuel provided from the at least one SORFC into regenerated fuel and oxidized fuel, for directing the regenerated fuel into the fuel storage vessel and for directing oxidized fuel back into the at least one SORFC; and (b) separating partially oxidized fuel provided from the at least one SORFC into fuel and oxidized fuel, for directing the fuel back into the at least one SORFC, and for directing oxidized fuel into the oxidized fuel storage vessel. 29. The system of claim 28, further comprising a compressor adapted to compress and provide the regenerated fuel into the fuel storage vessel.30. The system of claim 28, further comprising at least one heat exchanger adapted to preheat fuel incoming into the at least one SORFC using output of the at least one SORFC.31. The system of claim 28, wherein the system is located in an airborne vehicle.32. A method of operating a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell (SORFC), comprising:a) while the SORFC operates in a charge mode, separating partially regenerated fuel provided from the SORFC into regenerated fuel and oxidized fuel, directing the regenerated fuel into a fuel storage vessel, and directing oxidized fuel back into the SORFC; and b) while the SORFC operates in a discharge mode, separating partially oxidized fuel provided from the SORFC cell into fuel and oxidized fuel, directing the fuel back into the SORFC, and directing the oxidized fuel into the oxidized fuel storage vessel. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the fuel comprises hydrogen and the oxidized fuel comprises water.34. The method of claim 32, wherein the SORFC operating in the discharge mode powers an airborne vehicle.35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:converting sunlight into electrical energy; providing the electrical energy to the SORFC; providing oxidized fuel into the SORFC; and electrolyzing the oxidized fuel in the SORFC into the partially regenerated fuel. 36. A method of operating an unmanned, propeller driven high altitude airplane, comprising:powering a motor propeller system of the airplane with a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), wherein the airplane does not lose water with oxidizer discharge from the fuel cell; and flying the airplane unmanned at an altitude of between 45,000 and 90,000 feet for a plurality of months without landing. 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the solid oxide fuel cell comprises a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell (SORFC).38. The method claim 37, wherein:the airplane comprises a solar powered airplane containing a solar cell array; the SORFC powers the airplane in absence of sunlight; and the SORFC regenerates fuel using electricity generated from sunlight by the solar cell array. 39. The method of claim 38, further comprising storing oxidized fuel output by the fuel cell in an oxidized fuel storage vessel.40. The method of claim 39, wherein:the fuel cell fuel comprises hydrogen; and the oxidized fuel comprises water. 41. The method of claim 37, further comprising:providing air oxidizer from outside the airplane to the fuel cell; and venting air from the fuel cell outside the airplane without venting water. 42. The method of claim 37, wherein the airplane further comprises an oxidized fuel separation and fuel pump system adapted to separate partially oxidized fuel output by the fuel cell into fuel and oxidized fuel, to pump fuel into the fuel cell or the fuel storage vessel, and to pump oxidized fuel into an oxidized fuel storage vessel or into the fuel cell.43. The method of claim 36, wherein the airplane lacks an independent source water to make up for water that is lost from the fuel cell.44. The method of claim 36, wherein the airplane flies at a speed of 10 to 50 mph.45. The airplane of claim 5, wherein the airplane lacks an independent source water to make up for water that is lost from the fuel cell.