Enhanced efficiency turbine

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 7818969
  • Patent Number
    7,818,969
  • Date Filed
    Friday, December 18, 2009
    15 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 26, 2010
    14 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Original Assignees
  • Examiners
    • Rodríguez; William H
    • Wongwian; Phutthiwat
    Agents
    • Rogitz; John L.
Abstract
Hydrocarbon fuel is sent to a reformer, which produces carbon and hydrogen. The hydrogen is sent to a fuel cell which uses it to generate electricity, and the electricity is used to actuate an electric motor that is coupled to an output shaft of a turbine to impart torque to the shaft. Additionally, hydrocarbon fuel can be provided to the turbine intake directly and/or carbon from the reformer can be mixed with steam from the fuel cell and sent to the turbine intake, in either case to impinge on the turbine blades and impart further torque to the output shaft.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to using fuel cells to actuate turbines.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The importance of energy conservation goes without saying. Not only must fossil fuels be conserved for future use, but limiting the amount of fossil fuels that must be burned appears to be highly beneficial for the environment. Hence, the present invention.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a system includes a reformer receiving hydrocarbon fuel and outputting a stream of hydrogen and a stream of carbon separate from the stream of hydrogen. A fuel cell receives hydrogen output by the reformer but the fuel cell does not receive the stream of carbon. The fuel cell provides a first energy output and an output of water vapor which is mixed with carbon output by the reformer to provide a mixture. The mixture is directed against blades of a turbine to impart torque to an output shaft of the turbine while the first energy output of the fuel cell is also used to impart torque to the output shaft of the turbine.


In example embodiments the mixture further includes a surfactant. If desired, the output shaft of the turbine can be coupled to a generator to cause the generator to output electricity when the output shaft is rotated, or the turbine can be used to propel a vehicle to move.


The first energy output of the fuel cell may be connected to an electric motor and the electric motor coupled to a rotor coupling in the turbine, with the first energy output actuating the electric motor. In some embodiments the hydrocarbon fuel is provided to an intake of the turbine in addition to being provided to the reformer. Also, if desired the fuel cell can be electrically connected to a turbine ignition component to provide ignition energy thereto.


In another aspect, a system includes a turbine including an output shaft and a fuel cell providing output that is coupled to the turbine so as to impart torque to the output shaft.


In another aspect, a method includes reforming hydrocarbon fuel into hydrogen and carbon, using the hydrogen to produce electricity, and using the electricity to impart torque to an output shaft of a turbine.


The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a turbine-powered generator in accordance with present principles;



FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a turbine-powered aircraft propulsion system in accordance with present principles;



FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a turbine-powered propulsion system for, e.g., land vehicles, helicopters, and watercraft in accordance with present principles; and



FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of the present actuation system.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT


FIGS. 1-3 show various illustrative non-limiting applications of present principles. An actuation system 10, described further below, imparts torque to a rotor of a turbine 12 to rotate an output shaft 14 of the turbine. The turbine 12 may include a compressor section and a turbine section in accordance with turbine principles and may also have one or more rotors or shafts which typically are coupled to each other and which may be concentric to each other.


In FIG. 1, an output shaft 14 of the turbine is coupled to the rotor of an electrical generator 16 to rotate the generator rotor within an electric field and thus cause the generator 16 to output electricity. In FIG. 2, the output shaft 14 is coupled to the rotor of an aircraft fan 18, to rotate the fan and thus cause it to generate thrust for propelling a turbofan jet plane. In FIG. 3, the output shaft 14 is coupled to the rotor of a propulsion component 20 such as the rotor of a helicopter, the shaft of a watercraft on which a propeller is mounted, or a drive shaft of a land vehicle such as a military tank to rotate the rotor/shaft/drive shaft as the case may be to propel the platform through the air or water or over land, depending on the nature of the conveyance. The propulsion component 20 may include a drive train that can include a combination of components known in the art, e.g., crankshafts, transmissions, axles, and so on.



FIG. 4 shows the details of an example embodiment of the actuation system 10. A fuel tank 22 which contains hydrocarbon-based fuel such as but not limited to jet fuel can provide fuel to the intake 24 of the turbine 12. The fuel typically is injected through injectors in the turbine, where it mixes with air compressed by the compressor section of the turbine and ignited in a so-called “flame holder” or “can”. “Intake” refers generally to these portions of the turbine that are preliminary to the turbine blades. The high pressure mixture is then directed to impinge on turbine blades 25 which are coupled to the output shaft 14. In this way torque is imparted to the output shaft 14 to cause it to rotate about its axis.


In addition to or in lieu of actuating the turbine 12 with fuel directly from the fuel tank 22, the actuation system 10 may include a reformer 26 which receives fuel from the fuel tank 22. The reformer 26 produces hydrogen from the fuel, and the hydrogen is sent to a fuel cell 28, in some cases through a hydrogen tank 29 first as shown. If desired, multiple reformers and/or fuel cells may be used in parallel with each other.


The fuel cell 28 uses the hydrogen to generate electricity, typically with a relatively high efficiency, by mixing the hydrogen with oxygen from, e.g., the ambient atmosphere. Without limitation, the fuel cell 28 may be a polymer exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), an alkaline fuel cell (AFC), a molten-carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), a phosphoric-acid fuel cell (PAFC), or a direct-methanol fuel cell (DMFC).


In turn, electricity from the fuel cell 28 is sent to an electric motor 30 to cause an output shaft of the motor 30 to turn. The motor shaft is mechanically coupled through a rotor coupling 32 to a rotor of the turbine 12. Typically, the turbine rotor to which the motor 30 is coupled is not the same segment of rotor bearing the blades 25, although in some implementations this can be the case. Instead, the turbine rotor to which the motor 30 may be coupled may be a segment of the blade rotor that does not bear blades or a rotor separate from the blade rotor and concentric therewith or otherwise coupled thereto. In any case, the motor 30, when energized by the fuel cell 28, imparts torque (through appropriate couplings if desired) through a turbine rotor to the output shaft 14 of the turbine 12, which in some cases may be the same shaft as that establishing the turbine rotor.


In addition, to realize further efficiencies, water in the form of steam produced by the fuel cell 28 may be mixed with carbon from the reformer 26 in a mixer 34, which may be a tank or simple pipe or other void in which the water and carbon can mix, with the mixture then being directed (through, e.g., appropriate piping or ducting) to the turbine intake 24. If desired, surfactant from a surfactant tank 36 may also be added to the steam/carbon mixture. In any case, it may now be appreciated that the steam/carbon mixture may supplement fuel injection directly from the fuel tank 22 to the turbine intake 24, or replace altogether fuel injection directly from the fuel tank 22 to the turbine intake 24.


Still further, as indicated by the electrical line 38 in FIG. 4, electricity produced by the fuel cell 28 may be used not only to actuate the electric motor 30 but also to provide ignition current for the appropriate components in the turbine intake 24. In cases where the reformer 26 generates carbon dioxide and steam, these fluids may also be directed to the intake 24 directly from the reformer 26 or through the mixer 34.


In some embodiments, water can be returned from the fuel cell 28 if desired to the reformer 26 through a water line 40. Also if desired, heat from the turbine 12 may be collected and routed back to the reformer 26 through ducting/piping, to heat the reformer.


While the particular ENHANCED EFFICIENCY TURBINE is herein shown and described in detail, the scope of the present application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims
  • 1. A system comprising: at least one reformer assembly receiving hydrocarbon fuel and outputting hydrogen from a first output and product depleted of hydrogen from a second output separate from the first output outputting hydrogen;at least one fuel cell receiving hydrogen from the first output of the reformer but not being connected to the second output of the reformer, the fuel cell providing a first energy output and an output of water vapor;the water vapor being mixed with product from the second output of the reformer to provide a mixture;the mixture being mixed with fuel and directed to a turbine and combusting to impart torque to the turbine;the first energy output of the fuel cell also being used to impart torque to the output shaft of the turbine.
  • 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mixture further includes a surfactant.
  • 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the output shaft of the turbine is coupled to a generator to cause the generator to output electricity when the output shaft is rotated.
  • 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the turbine propels a vehicle to move.
  • 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first energy output of the fuel cell is connected to an electric motor and the electric motor is coupled to a rotor coupling of the turbine, the first energy output actuating the electric motor.
  • 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is provided to an intake of the turbine in addition to being provided to the reformer.
  • 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is electrically connected to a turbine ignition component to provide ignition energy thereto.
  • 8. A system comprising: at least one turbine including an output shaft;at least one fuel cell providing output that is coupled to the turbine so as to impart torque to the output shaft;at least one reformer receiving hydrocarbon fuel and outputting from a first output a stream of hydrogen and from a second output a stream of product depleted of hydrogen separate from the stream of hydrogen;the fuel cell receiving hydrogen output by the first output of the reformer but not product output by the second output of the reformer, wherein the fuel cell produces water vapor, the water vapor being mixed with product depleted of hydrogen output by the reformer to provide a mixture, the mixture being mixed with fuel and directed to a turbine to impart torque to the turbine.
  • 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the fuel cell is electrically connected to an electric motor to actuate the electric motor.
  • 10. The system of claim 8, wherein fluid or steam produced by the fuel cell is directed to an intake of the turbine.
  • 11. The system of claim 8, wherein the system provides hydrocarbon fuel to an intake of the turbine in addition to providing the hydrocarbon fuel to a reformer supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell.
  • 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the fuel cell is electrically connected to a turbine ignition component to provide ignition energy thereto.
US Referenced Citations (113)
Number Name Date Kind
1611429 Fish Dec 1926 A
1614560 Kirschbraun Jan 1927 A
1701621 Kirschbraun Feb 1929 A
1975631 Bonfield Oct 1934 A
2461580 Kokatnu et al. Feb 1949 A
3527581 Brownawell et al. Sep 1970 A
3565817 Lissant Feb 1971 A
3658302 Duthion et al. Apr 1972 A
3766942 Delatronchette et al. Oct 1973 A
3769963 Goldman Nov 1973 A
3862819 Wentworth, Jr. Jan 1975 A
4009984 Morrison Mar 1977 A
4014637 Schena Mar 1977 A
4116610 Berthiaume Sep 1978 A
4119862 Gocho Oct 1978 A
4172814 Moll et al. Oct 1979 A
4173449 Israel Nov 1979 A
4218221 Cottell Aug 1980 A
4309998 Aron nee Rosa et al. Jan 1982 A
4376037 Dahlberg et al. Mar 1983 A
4391275 Fankhauser et al. Jul 1983 A
4431520 Giuliani et al. Feb 1984 A
4563982 Pischinger et al. Jan 1986 A
4579430 Bille Apr 1986 A
4618348 Hayes et al. Oct 1986 A
4637870 Bearden, Jr. et al. Jan 1987 A
4659454 Varghese et al. Apr 1987 A
4665913 L'Esperance, Jr. May 1987 A
4669466 L'Esperance Jun 1987 A
4687491 Latty Aug 1987 A
4696638 Den Herder Sep 1987 A
4708753 Forsberg Nov 1987 A
4722303 Leonhard Feb 1988 A
4761071 Baron Aug 1988 A
4784135 Blum et al. Nov 1988 A
4832701 Polanco et al. May 1989 A
4848340 Bille et al. Jul 1989 A
4881808 Bille et al. Nov 1989 A
4901718 Bille et al. Feb 1990 A
4907586 Bille et al. Mar 1990 A
4911711 Telfair et al. Mar 1990 A
4923768 Kaneko et al. May 1990 A
4981883 Kunz et al. Jan 1991 A
5000757 Puttock et al. Mar 1991 A
5002020 Kos Mar 1991 A
5039392 Bearden et al. Aug 1991 A
5049147 Danon Sep 1991 A
5054907 Sklar et al. Oct 1991 A
5062702 Bille Nov 1991 A
5098426 Sklar et al. Mar 1992 A
5147352 Azema et al. Sep 1992 A
5162641 Fountain Nov 1992 A
5170193 McMillan et al. Dec 1992 A
5283598 McMillan et al. Feb 1994 A
5284477 Hanna et al. Feb 1994 A
5298230 Argabright et al. Mar 1994 A
5344306 Brown et al. Sep 1994 A
5391165 Fountain et al. Feb 1995 A
5419852 Rivas et al. May 1995 A
5469830 Gonzalez Nov 1995 A
5503772 Rivas et al. Apr 1996 A
5535708 Valentine Jul 1996 A
5584894 Peter-Hoblyn et al. Dec 1996 A
5603864 Silva et al. Feb 1997 A
5678647 Wolfe et al. Oct 1997 A
5741245 Cozean et al. Apr 1998 A
5785136 Falkenmayer Jul 1998 A
5873916 Cemenska et al. Feb 1999 A
5948721 Yuansheng et al. Sep 1999 A
6004454 Yuansheng et al. Dec 1999 A
6098733 Ibaraki et al. Aug 2000 A
6105697 Weaver Aug 2000 A
6209672 Severinsky Apr 2001 B1
6213234 Rosen Apr 2001 B1
6325792 Swinger et al. Dec 2001 B1
6338391 Severinsky Jan 2002 B1
6367570 Long Apr 2002 B1
6392313 Epstein et al. May 2002 B1
6458478 Wang et al. Oct 2002 B1
6536547 Meaney Mar 2003 B1
6541876 Shimizu Apr 2003 B2
6554088 Severinsky Apr 2003 B2
6581705 Phillips Jun 2003 B2
6609582 Botti et al. Aug 2003 B1
6621175 Kuroda Sep 2003 B1
6641625 Clawson Nov 2003 B1
6659213 Kubo Dec 2003 B2
6664651 Breida Dec 2003 B1
6672415 Tabata Jan 2004 B1
6701229 Iwasaki Mar 2004 B2
6715452 Taylor Apr 2004 B1
6736229 Amori May 2004 B1
6808145 Burton Oct 2004 B2
6817182 Calwson Nov 2004 B2
6819985 Minagawa Nov 2004 B2
6827047 Qian et al. Dec 2004 B2
6837702 Shelor et al. Jan 2005 B1
6908700 Iio Jun 2005 B2
6913603 Knopp et al. Jul 2005 B2
7147072 Botti Dec 2006 B2
7520350 Hotto Apr 2009 B2
7563527 Tanaka et al. Jul 2009 B2
7585406 Khadzhiev et al. Sep 2009 B2
20010023034 Verykios Sep 2001 A1
20020174659 Viteri et al. Nov 2002 A1
20040053087 Akikusa et al. Mar 2004 A1
20050019620 Schick et al. Jan 2005 A1
20050196659 Grieve et al. Sep 2005 A1
20060063046 Hu et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060180362 Yamaguchi et al. Aug 2006 A1
20070077459 Walton et al. Apr 2007 A1
20070266695 Lui et al. Nov 2007 A1
20090001727 De Koeijer et al. Jan 2009 A1