Hydrogen Fuel Cell Integration for Cryogenic Turbine Fuel Heating

The patent combines the gas turbine engine and fuel cell into a hybrid system where the fuel cell operates on liquid hydrogen while the gas turbine combusts vaporized hydrogen. The exhaust heat from the fuel cell is transferred via heat exchangers to vaporize and heat the liquid hydrogen fuel, eliminating the need for separate heating systems and improving overall energy efficiency.

The patent converts the waste heat from the fuel cell, which would otherwise be lost, into a useful resource for vaporizing and heating the liquid hydrogen fuel. The heat exchangers capture thermal energy from the fuel cell exhaust and transfer it to the liquid hydrogen, transforming a harmful waste product into a beneficial heating source.

The heating and vaporization functions are merged into the fuel cell system itself. The fuel cell stack, exhaust system, and heat exchangers work together as an integrated thermal management system that simultaneously generates electricity and provides the necessary heating for fuel vaporization, eliminating the need for separate heating equipment.

The fuel cell system performs multiple functions: it generates electrical power, produces exhaust heat, and through the heat exchangers, provides thermal energy for fuel vaporization and heating. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

The patent merges the electrical power generation function into the fuel cell system, which operates independently of the gas turbine's mechanical power cycle. The fuel cell generates electricity directly through electrochemical conversion of hydrogen, providing power without the need for gas turbine-driven generators and without the associated minimum operating speed restrictions.

The patent replaces the mechanical system of gas turbine-driven electrical generators with an electrochemical system (fuel cell). This substitution eliminates the mechanical coupling between the gas turbine and electrical power generation, allowing independent operation and eliminating operational restrictions such as minimum rotational speeds required for generator operation.