VEHICLE POWERED BY A FUEL CELL/GAS TURBINE COMBINATION

摘要

A hybrid electric vehicle (10) powered by a combination fuel cell (22) and a gas turbine (26) driven generator (24). The fuel cell (22) is sized relative to the gas turbine (26) and the vehicle (10) such that up to about 50 percent of the vehicle's maximum sustainable power is supplied by the fuel cell (22) electrical power output. This relative power source size achieves improved fuel consumption compared to vehicles powered by combustion engines without the cost penalty associated with a fuel cell large enough to power the vehicle. At low power requirements, the fuel cell (22) efficiently provides all or most of the vehicle's (10) power requirements. As the power requirements increase, additional fuel is burned in the gas turbine (26).