High-Efficiency Coal Fuel Cell with Near-Zero Emissions
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Summary
Problems
Current coal energy conversion technologies face inefficiencies due to multiple processing steps and low conversion efficiencies, particularly in subcritical coal-fired power plants, which are limited by the Carnot constraint, and existing direct coal fuel cell technologies suffer from low current densities and stability issues with molten electrolytes.
Innovation solutions
A high-temperature fuel cell using a dense, nonporous solid oxide ceramic electrolyte for selective oxygen transport, allowing direct physical contact between the anode surface and carbon particles, operating in a single temperature zone to achieve efficient electrochemical conversion of coal to electricity.
TRIZ Analysis
Specific contradictions:
General conflict description:
Principle concept:
If multiple processing steps are used for coal energy conversion, then the process can be completed, but the conversion efficiency is limited by Carnot constraint and remains low (33-35% for subcritical plants)
Why choose this principle:
The patent combines the heat generation and electricity generation processes into a single integrated system. The coal combustion chamber provides both thermal energy for steam generation and direct electrical energy through the fuel cell, eliminating the need for separate processing steps and overcoming Carnot efficiency limitations.
Principle concept:
If multiple processing steps are used for coal energy conversion, then the process can be completed, but the conversion efficiency is limited by Carnot constraint and remains low (33-35% for subcritical plants)
Why choose this principle:
The fuel cell system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it generates electricity directly from coal combustion, produces steam for power generation, and can capture CO2 emissions. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve high conversion efficiency while handling multiple energy conversion pathways in one device.
Application Domain
Data Source
AI summary:
A high-temperature fuel cell using a dense, nonporous solid oxide ceramic electrolyte for selective oxygen transport, allowing direct physical contact between the anode surface and carbon particles, operating in a single temperature zone to achieve efficient electrochemical conversion of coal to electricity.
Abstract
The invention relates to direct conversion of coal into electricity in a high temperature electrochemical generator in a single step process. This novel concept promises nearly doubling the conversion efficiency of conventional coal-fired processes and offering near-zero emissions. The improved efficiency would mean that nearly half as much coal is mined and transported to the power plant, and half the greenhouse gases and other pollutants such as sulfur, mercury and dioxins are produced. It also offers several crucial distinctions from conventional coal-burning processes. Since the process does not involve the combustion of coal in air, it does not involve nitrogen and hence generates practically no NOx. Accordingly, there is also no latent heat lost to nitrogen. In this process, the oxygen necessary to oxidize coal is supplied through an ion selective ceramic membrane electrolyte. The resultant product stream primarily consists of CO 2 and, hence, it is easier and cheaper to capture and sequester, compared to waste streams from conventional combustion processes where CO 2 ordinarily constitutes about 15-20% of the flue stream, in which case it may first be separated from other constituents before sequestration.