Patent US5693201A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5693201A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultra-high efficiency turbine and fuel cell combination
Assignee: ZTEK Corp
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Filing: 1994-10-19
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Granted: 1997-12-02
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Expires: 2014-10-19
Abstract
Abstract A turbine power system that includes a compressor for compressing a first medium, and an electrochemical converter in communication with the compressor and adapted to receive the first medium and a second medium. The converter is configured to allow an electrochemical reaction between the first and second mediums, thereby generating electricity and producing exhaust having a selected elevated temperature. The power system further includes a turbine in fluid communication with the electrochemical converter and adapted to receive the converter exhaust, such that the turbine converts the electrochemical converter exhaust into rotary energy and electricity. The system can further include a steam generator and a steam turbine that produces electricity. The electrochemical converter is utilized herein as an electrochemical combustor-replacement (ECCR) or as a fuel cell for combustor-replacement (FCCR).
Inventors
- 👤 Michael S. Hsu
- 👤 Ethan D. Hoag
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:23
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02C; F02C3/00; F02C3/36; F02C6/00; F02C6/04; H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/02; H01M8/0202; H01M8/0247; H01M8/025; H01M8/0267; H01M8/04; H01M8/04007; H01M8/04067; H01M8/06; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0612; H01M8/0625; H01M8/24; H01M8/241; H01M8/2425; H01M8/2432; H01M8/2465; H01M8/247; H01M8/2483; H01M8/14; H01M2008/147; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0002; H01M2300/0005; H01M2300/0008; H01M2300/0014; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0048; H01M2300/0051; H01M2300/0065; H01M2300/0082; H01M8/0204; H01M8/0223; H01M8/0228; H01M8/0254; H01M8/0271; H01M8/0273; H01M8/04014; H01M8/04022; H01M8/249; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E20/00; Y02E20/14; Y02E20/16; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50; Y02P; Y02P80/00; Y02P80/10; Y02P80/15
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A gas turbine power system for producing electricity, comprising a compressor for compressing a first medium, an electrochemical converter in fluid communication with the compressor and being adapted to receive the first medium and a second medium, the converter being configured to allow electrochemical reaction between the first and second mediums and to produce exhaust which is a combination of the first and second mediums having a selected elevated temperature, and a turbine in fluid communication with the electrochemical converter and adapted to receive directly the converter exhaust, wherein the turbine converts the electrochemical converter exhaust into rotary energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A gas turbine power system for producing electricity, comprising a compressor for compressing a first medium, an electrochemical converter in fluid communication with the compressor and being adapted to receive the first medium and a second medium, the converter being configured to allow electrochemical reaction between the first and second mediums and to produce exhaust which is a combination of the first and second mediums having a selected elevated temperature, and a turbine in fluid communication with the electrochemical converter and adapted to receive directly the converter exhaust, wherein the turbine converts the electrochemical converter exhaust into rotary energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 1 further comprising a generator associated with the turbine and adapted to receive the rotary energy thereof, wherein the generator produces electricity in response to the turbine rotary energy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 1 wherein the electrochemical converter is adapted to produce electricity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 1 wherein the electrochemical converter is adapted to operate at an elevated temperature and at atmospheric pressure, and wherein said power system further comprises heat exchanger means in thermal association with the electrochemical converter for extracting waste heat from the converter exhaust and for transferring the waste heat to the turbine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 1 wherein the electrochemical converter has a selected operating temperature and is adapted to operate at an elevated temperature and at an elevated pressure, wherein the electrochemical converter includes internal medium heating means for internally heating the first and second mediums to the converter operating temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 5 wherein the electrochemical converter comprises a plurality of tubular converter elements which include a circular electrolyte layer having an oxidizer electrode material on one side and a fuel electrode material on the opposing side.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 1 wherein the electrochemical converter comprises an electrochemical converter assembly having a plurality of stacked converter elements which include a plurality of electrolyte plates having an oxidizer electrode material on one side and a fuel electrode material on the opposing side, and a plurality of interconnector plates for providing electrical contact with the electrolyte plates, wherein the stack of converter elements is assembled by alternately stacking interconnector plates with the electrolyte plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 7 wherein the stacked converter elements further include a plurality of manifolds axially associated with the stack and adapted to receive the first and second mediums, and medium heating means associated with the manifold for heating at least a portion of the first and second mediums to the operating temperature of the converter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 8 wherein the interconnector plate comprises a thermally conductive connector plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 8 wherein the medium heating means comprises a thermally conductive and integrally formed extended surface of the interconnector plate that protrudes into the axial manifolds.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 8 wherein the stack of converter elements further comprises a plurality of spacer plates interposed between the electrolyte plates and the interconnector plates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 11 wherein the medium heating means comprises a thermally conductive and integrally formed extended surface of the spacer plate that protrudes into the plurality of axial manifolds.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 8 wherein the electrochemical converter assembly generates waste heat which heats the first and second mediums to the converter operating temperature, the waste heat being conductively transferred to the first and second mediums by the interconnector plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 8 wherein at least the medium heating means is adapted to dissociate the first and second mediums, which includes hydrocarbons and reforming agents, into non-complex reaction species.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 1 wherein means is provided for maintaining the operating temperature of the electrochemical converter assembly is between about 20° C. and about 1500° C.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical converter is a fuel cell selected from the group consisting of a solid oxide fuel cell, molten carbonate fuel cell, phosphoric acid fuel cell, alkaline fuel cell, and proton exchange membrane fuel cell.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 1 further comprising preheating means for preheating the first and second mediums prior to introduction to the electrochemical converter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 17 wherein the preheating means comprises one of an external regenerative heat exchanger and a radiative heat exchanger.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 17 wherein at least the preheating means is adapted to dissociate the first and second mediums, which includes hydrocarbons and reforming agents, into non-complex reaction species.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 1 wherein the electrochemical converter is placed serially in-line between the compressor and the turbine.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 1 further comprising converter exhaust heating means, disposed between the electrochemical converter and the turbine, for heating the exhaust of the converter to a selected elevated temperature prior to introduction to the turbine.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 21 wherein the converter exhaust heating means comprises a natural gas combustor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 1 further comprising regenerative thermal enclosure means forming a pressure vessel about the electrochemical converter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 1 further comprising means for introducing the first medium which includes air and means for introducing the second medium which includes natural gas.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 1 further comprising a steam generator associated with the gas turbine and adapted to receive the gas turbine exhaust, the steam generator convectively coupling the exhaust of the gas turbine to a working medium.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The gas turbine power system of claim 25 further comprising a steam turbine associated with the steam generator and configured for producing electricity.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
A power generating system comprising an electrochemical converter assembly having a plurality of stacked converter elements and being adapted to receive one or more reactants, and a gas turbine having a compressor and being associated with the electrochemical converter, the compressor being adapted to preheat the reactants.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
A power generating system comprising an electrochemical converter assembly having a plurality of stacked converter elements and being adapted to receive one or more reactants, and a gas turbine having a compressor and being associated with the electrochemical converter, the compressor being adapted to preheat the reactants.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
The power generating system of claim 27 further comprising a generator associated with the gas turbine, wherein the turbine produces rotary energy and the generator produces electricity in response to the turbine rotary energy.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
86 words
A power system comprising an electrochemical converter adapted to receive input reactants and to produce electricity, waste heat and exhaust, a gas turbine comprising a compressor and a mechanical turbine, the turbine producing electricity and exhaust having a selected elevated temperature, a steam generator associated with the gas turbine and adapted to receive the gas turbine exhaust, the steam generator convectively coupling the exhaust of the gas turbine to a working medium, and a steam turbine associated with the steam generator and configured for producing electricity.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
86 words
A power system comprising an electrochemical converter adapted to receive input reactants and to produce electricity, waste heat and exhaust, a gas turbine comprising a compressor and a mechanical turbine, the turbine producing electricity and exhaust having a selected elevated temperature, a steam generator associated with the gas turbine and adapted to receive the gas turbine exhaust, the steam generator convectively coupling the exhaust of the gas turbine to a working medium, and a steam turbine associated with the steam generator and configured for producing electricity.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
The power system of claim 29 further comprising heating means associated with the electrochemical converter and the gas turbine for heating the exhaust of the converter to a selected elevated temperature prior to introduction to the gas turbine.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The power system of claim 30 wherein the heating means is a natural gas combustor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-01 | 2001-06-02 | 2001-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-01 | 2005-06-02 | 2005-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-01 | 2009-06-02 | 2009-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |