초록 ▼

A hybrid power plant includes a turbine, a compressor driven by the turbine and a recuperator in flow communication with the compressor. The recuperator is configured to transfer heat from turbine exhaust to compressed air, and at least one fuel cell is in flow communication with said recuperator to

A hybrid power plant includes a turbine, a compressor driven by the turbine and a recuperator in flow communication with the compressor. The recuperator is configured to transfer heat from turbine exhaust to compressed air, and at least one fuel cell is in flow communication with said recuperator to provide fresh air for said fuel cell.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A hybrid power plant comprising: a turbine; a compressor driven by said turbine; a recuperator in flow communication with said compressor, said recuperator configured to transfer heat from turbine exhaust to compressed air; a return flow path between said recuperator an

The invention claimed is: 1. A hybrid power plant comprising: a turbine; a compressor driven by said turbine; a recuperator in flow communication with said compressor, said recuperator configured to transfer heat from turbine exhaust to compressed air; a return flow path between said recuperator and a coolant flow path of said turbine, said recuperator supplying cooling air to said turbine through said return flow path; and at least one fuel cell in flow communication with said recuperator, said recuperator providing fresh air for said fuel cell. 2. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 1, said fuel cell comprising a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet, said cathode inlet in flow communication with said recuperator for receiving compressed air. 3. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 2, said cathode outlet in flow communication with said cathode inlet along a re-circulation flow path. 4. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 3 further comprising a reformer, said reformer in fluid communication with said cathode outlet and in fluid communication with said re-circulation flow path, said reformer located between said cathode outlet and said re-circulation path. 5. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a recuperator bypass path extending between said compressor and said turbine and feeding compressed air directly to a coolant path of said turbine. 6. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 1, said at least one fuel cell comprising an anode inlet and an anode outlet, said anode outlet in flow communication with said anode inlet along a re-circulation flow path. 7. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a tail gas burner in flow communication with said anode outlet, said tail gas burner receiving a mixture of anode fuel exhaust and air. 8. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one fuel cell comprises a solid oxide fuel cell. 9. A hybrid power plant comprising: a compressor; a turbine driving said compressor; a recuperator in flow communication with said compressor and transferring heat from turbine exhaust to compressed air; at least one fuel cell stack in flow communication with said recuperator to provide air for said fuel cell stack, said fuel cell stack comprising a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet, said cathode inlet in flow communication with said recuperator for receiving compressed air; a blower configured to mix cathode exhaust with air from said recuperator prior to entering said cathode inlet; and a recuperator bypass path extending between said compressor and said turbine and feeding compressed air directly to a coolant path of said turbine. 10. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a reformer, said reformer in flow communication with said cathode outlet and in flow communication with said blower, said reformer located in a flow path between said cathode outlet and said blower. 11. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 9, said fuel cell further comprising an anode inlet and an anode outlet, said anode outlet in flow communication with said anode inlet along a re-circulation flow path. 12. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 11 further comprising a tail gas burner in flow communication with said anode outlet, said tail gas burner receiving a mixture of anode fuel exhaust and air. 13. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a re-circulation flow path diverting a portion of air flowing from said recuperator toward said cathode inlet. 14. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 9, said recuperator in flow communication with a coolant path of said turbine, said coolant path of said turbine in flow communication with said cathode inlet. 15. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 9 wherein said at least one fuel cell stack comprises a solid oxide fuel cell stack. 16. A hybrid power plant comprising: a compressor; a turbine driving said compressor; a recuperator in flow communication with said compressor; a solid oxide fuel cell stack in flow communication with said recuperator to provide air for said fuel cell stack, said fuel cell stack comprising a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet, said cathode inlet in flow communication with said recuperator for receiving compressed air, said cathode outlet and said cathode inlet in flow communication with one another through a cathode re-circulation flow path; a blower located along said cathode re-circulation flow path; and a recuperator bypass path extending between said compressor and said turbine and feeding compressed air directly to a coolant path of said turbine; wherein said recuperator is configured to transfer heat from exhaust of said turbine to compressed air prior to entering said cathode inlet. 17. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 16, said solid oxide fuel cell stack further comprising an anode inlet and an anode outlet, said anode outlet in flow communication with said anode inlet along an anode re-circulation flow path. 18. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 17 further comprising a tail gas burner in flow communication with said anode outlet, said tail gas burner receiving a mixture of anode fuel exhaust and spent air. 19. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 18, said tail gas burner exhausting combustion gas to a working fluid path of said turbine. 20. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 17 further comprising a reformer in flow communication with said anode inlet. 21. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 17, said reformer further in flow communication with said cathode re-circulation flow path. 22. A hybrid power plant comprising: a solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet; a recuperator supplying air to said cathode inlet, said cathode outlet in flow communication with said cathode inlet along a cathode re-circulation flow path; a gas turbine portion comprising a turbine, a compressor driven by said turbine, and a recuperator receiving air from said compressor; said recuperator heated by exhaust from said turbine and providing a recuperator bypass path extending between said compressor and said turbine and feeding compressed air directly to a coolant path of said turbine, said coolant flow path of said turbine in flow communication with said cathode inlet to provide a fresh air supply thereto; a blower configured to re-circulate air from said cathode outlet to said cathode inlet; said solid oxide fuel cell stack further comprising an anode inlet in flow communication with a reformer, said anode outlet in flow communication with said reformer along a re-circulation flow path, said cathode outlet in flow communication with said reformer prior to said cathode re-circulation flow path; and a tail gas burner in flow communication with said anode outlet and with said reformer, said tail gas burner receiving a mixture of fuel exhaust from said anode outlet and spent air, said tail gas burner exhausting combustion gas to said turbine. 23. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 22, said tail gas burner in flow communication with a working fluid path of said turbine, said tail gas burner thereby exhausting combustion products to said working fluid path. 24. A power plant comprising: a fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte interposed therebetween, said cathode having a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet; and a recuperator in flow communication with said cathode inlet; and a compressor in flow communication with said recuperator; and said recuperator in flow communication with at least one of a turbine working fluid flow path for transferring heat therefrom to said recuperator, a return air path extending from said recuperator to a turbine cooling fluid path, a re-circulation flow path diverting a portion of airflow from said recuperator back to said recuperator, and an air supply flow path from said recuperator to said cathode inlet. 25. A power plant in accordance with claim 24 wherein said recuperator is in flow communication with at least two of a turbine working fluid flow path for transferring heat therefrom to said recuperator, a return air path extending from said recuperator to a turbine cooling fluid path, a re-circulation flow path diverting a portion of airflow from said recuperator back to said recuperator, and an air supply flow path from said recuperator to said cathode inlet. 26. A power plant in accordance with claim 24 wherein said recuperator is in flow communication with at least three of a turbine working fluid flow path for transferring heat therefrom to said recuperator, a return air path extending from said recuperator to a turbine cooling fluid path, a re-circulation flow path diverting a portion of airflow from said recuperator back to said recuperator, and an air supply flow path from said recuperator to said cathode inlet. 27. A power plant in accordance with claim 24 further comprising a recuperator bypass flow path extending from said compressor to a turbine cooling fluid path. 28. A power plant in accordance with claim 24 further comprising an air re-circulation flow path connecting said cathode outlet to said cathode inlet for re-circulating a portion of a cathode outlet flow to heat a cathode inlet flow. 29. A power plant in accordance with claim 24 further comprising a pressure-increasing device for raising the pressure of said re-circulating portion of said cathode outlet flow. 30. A power plant in accordance with claim 24 wherein said fuel cell further comprises an anode inlet and an anode outlet. 31. A power plant in accordance with claim 30 further comprising a fuel re-circulation flow path connecting said anode outlet to said anode inlet for re-circulating a portion of an anode outlet flow to heat an anode inlet flow. 32. A power plant in accordance with claim 31, further comprising a reformer interposed between said fuel re-circulation flow path and said anode inlet. 33. A power plant in accordance with claim 30 further comprising a tail gas burner having a tail gas inlet and a tail gas outlet, said tail gas inlet coupled to said anode outlet and said cathode outlet for oxidizing at least a portion of an anode outlet flow with at least a portion of a cathode outlet flow to produce a tail gas burner exhaust flow. 34. A power plant in accordance with claim 33 further comprising a tail gas burner bypass flow path coupled to said cathode outlet and said tail gas outlet for bypassing a portion of said cathode outlet flow around said tail gas burner. 35. A power plant in accordance with claim 34 further comprising a catalytic converter disposed between said tail gas burner bypass flow and said tail gas outlet for oxidizing fuel present within said portion of said cathode outlet flow. 36. A power plant in accordance with claim 33 further comprising a gas turbine coupled to said tail gas burner, wherein said tail gas burner exhaust exerts motive forces upon said gas turbine to produce work. 37. A hybrid power plant in accordance with claim 34 further comprising a gas turbine coupled to said tail gas burner, wherein said tail gas burner exhaust and said tail gas burner bypass flow exert motive forces upon said gas turbine to produce work. 38. A power plant comprising: a fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte interposed therebetween, said cathode having a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet; and a recuperator in flow communication with said fuel cell; and a compressor in flow communication with said recuperator; and a gas turbine comprising a cooling fluid path in flow communication with at least one of a recuperator bypass path from said compressor, a return flow path from said recuperator, and a cathode inlet flow path; said gas turbine further comprising a working fluid path in flow communication with said recuperator and transferring heat therefrom, a tail gas burner exhaust path for producing work, and a catalytic chamber exhaust path for producing work. 39. A power plant in accordance with claim 38 wherein said gas turbine comprises a cooling fluid path in flow communication with at least two of a recuperator bypass path from said compressor, a return flow path from said recuperator, and a cathode inlet flow path. 40. A power plant in accordance with claim 39 wherein said gas turbine further comprises a working fluid path in flow communication with said recuperator and transferring heat therefrom, a tail gas burner exhaust path for producing work, and a catalytic chamber exhaust path for producing work. 41. A power plant in accordance with claim 38 further comprising a recuperator bypass flow path extending from said compressor to a turbine cooling fluid path. 42. A power plant in accordance with claim 38 further comprising an air re-circulation flow path connecting said cathode outlet to said cathode inlet for re-circulating a portion of a cathode outlet flow to heat a cathode inlet flow. 43. A power plant in accordance with claim 38 further comprising a pressure-increasing device for raising the pressure of said re-circulating portion of said cathode outlet flow. 44. A power plant in accordance with claim 38 wherein said fuel cell further comprises an anode inlet and an anode outlet. 45. A power plant in accordance with claim 44 further comprising a fuel re-circulation flow path connecting said anode outlet to said anode inlet for re-circulating a portion of an anode outlet flow to heat an anode inlet flow. 46. A power plant in accordance with claim 45 further comprising a reformer interposed between said fuel re-circulation flow path and said anode inlet. 47. A power plant in accordance with claim 46 further comprising a tail gas burner having a tail gas inlet and a tail gas outlet, said tail gas inlet coupled to said anode outlet and said cathode outlet for oxidizing at least a portion of an anode outlet flow with at least a portion of a cathode outlet flow to produce a tail gas burner exhaust flow. 48. A power plant in accordance with claim 46 further comprising a tail gas burner bypass flow path coupled to said cathode outlet and said tail gas outlet for bypassing a portion of said cathode outlet flow around said tail gas burner. 49. A power plant in accordance with claim 48 further comprising a catalytic converter disposed between said tail gas burner bypass flow path and said tail gas outlet for oxidizing fuel present within said portion of said cathode outlet flow. 50. A method of integrating a gas turbine and fuel cell, the fuel cell including a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet and an anode inlet and an anode outlet, the method utilizing a compressor and a recuperator, the turbine including a cooling fluid path and a working fluid path, said method comprising: introducing a compressed air flow into said recuperator; introducing turbine exhaust to the recuperator, thereby heating said compressed air; introducing heated compressed air from said recuperator to said cathode inlet; introducing fuel flow into the anode inlet; and electrochemically reacting said air flow with said fuel flow within the fuel cell to generate an anode outlet flow and a cathode outlet flow and electric power, wherein said anode outlet flow and said cathode outlet flow are at higher temperatures than the anode inlet flow and the cathode inlet flow, respectively; wherein introducing heated compressed air from said recuperator to said cathode inlet comprises passing the heated compressed air stream through the cooling path of the turbine prior to introducing the stream to the cathode inlet. 51. A method in accordance with claim 50 further comprising re-circulating a portion of the cathode outlet flow to the cathode inlet flow to heat the compressed air flow introduced to the cathode inlet. 52. A method in accordance with claim 51 further comprising pressurizing said re-circulating portion of said cathode outlet flow before re-circulation to said compressed air flow. 53. A method in accordance with claim 51 further comprising re-circulating a portion of said anode outlet flow to said anode inlet to heat and reform said compressed fuel flow. 54. A method in accordance with claim 51 further comprising oxidizing at least a portion of the anode outlet flow with at least a portion of the cathode outlet flow so as to produce a high temperature mixed flow. 55. A method in accordance with claim 54 wherein oxidizing at least a portion of the anode outlet flow with at least a portion of the cathode outlet flow and re-introducing the bypassed portion into the high temperature mixed flow comprises bypassing a portion of said cathode outlet flow. 56. A method in accordance with claim 55, further comprising oxidizing fuel within the bypassed portion of said cathode outlet flow. 57. A method in accordance with claim 55 further comprising utilizing the high temperature mixed flow to generate work within said gas turbine. 58. A method in accordance with claim 57 further comprising utilizing the high temperature mixed flow and the bypassed portion of the cathode outlet flow to generate work within said gas turbine. 59. A method in accordance with claim 57 further comprising recovering at least of portion of a high temperature gas turbine exhaust flow to exchange heat with at least one lower temperature fluid flow. 60. A method in accordance with claim 50 wherein introducing heated compressed air from said recuperator to said cathode inlet comprises re-circulating a portion of said heated compressed air stream back to the recuperator.