SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL POWER PLANT WITH AN ANODE RECYCLE LOOP TURBOCHARGER

摘要

An anode exhaust recycle turbocharger (100) has a turbocharger turbine (102) secured in fluid communication with a compressed oxidant stream within an oxidant inlet line (218) downstream from a compressed oxidant supply (104), and the anode exhaust recycle turbocharger (100) also includes a turbocharger compressor (106) mechanically linked to the turbocharger turbine (102) and secured in fluid communication with a flow of anode exhaust passing through an anode exhaust recycle loop (238) of the solid oxide fuel cell power plant (200). All or a portion of compressed oxidant within an oxidant inlet line (218) drives the turbocharger turbine (102) to thereby compress the anode exhaust stream in the recycle loop (238). A high-temperature, automotive-type turbocharger (100) replaces a recycle loop blower-compressor (52).

主权项

1. A solid oxide fuel cell power plant for generating an electrical current, the power plant comprising:
a. a solid oxide fuel cell having a cathode flow field configured for receiving a flow of an oxidant reactant through a cathode inlet line from a compressed oxidant supply, and configured for directing the flow of the oxidant reactant through the cathode flow field in fluid communication with a cathode electrode and an electrolyte; an anode flow field configured for receiving a flow of a reducing fuel through an anode inlet from a fuel supply, for directing the flow of reducing fuel adjacent an anode electrode and the electrolyte, and configured for directing the flow of the reducing fuel out of the fuel cell as an anode exhaust through an anode exhaust line; b. an anode exhaust recycle loop for directing flow a portion or all of the anode exhaust passing out of the anode flow field within the anode exhaust line from the anode exhaust line and back into the anode inlet; c. a turbocharger including a turbocharger turbine and a turbocharger compressor mechanically linked together, and including a housing between the turbocharger turbine and the turbocharger compressor, the housing configured so that mechanical linkage between the turbocharger turbine and the turbocharger compressor passes within the housing, the mechanical linkage including a lubricated bearing supported shaft within the housing, the shaft passing from the housing into the turbocharger turbine through a turbocharger turbine seal in the housing, the shaft passing from the housing into the turbocharger compressor through a turbocharger compressor seal in the housing, the turbocharger turbine being secured in fluid communication with the flow of oxidant passing downstream from the compressed oxidant supply, and the turbocharger compressor being secured in fluid communication with the flow of anode exhaust passing through the anode exhaust recycle loop; d. a purge gas line secured in fluid communication between the oxidant inlet downstream from the compressed oxidant supply and the housing of the turbocharger for directing a purge gas stream from the oxidant inlet into, through and out of the housing.