17984699. GAS TURBINE COMBUSTION SECTION HAVING AN INTEGRATED FUEL CELL ASSEMBLY simplified abstract (General Electric Company)

GAS TURBINE COMBUSTION SECTION HAVING AN INTEGRATED FUEL CELL ASSEMBLY

Organization Name

General Electric Company

Inventor(s)

Seung-Hyuck Hong of Clifton Park NY (US)

Richard L. Hart of Broadalbin NY (US)

Honggang Wang of Clifton Park NY (US)

Anil Raj Duggal of Niskayuna NY (US)

Michael Anthony Benjamin of Cincinnati OH (US)

GAS TURBINE COMBUSTION SECTION HAVING AN INTEGRATED FUEL CELL ASSEMBLY - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17984699 titled 'GAS TURBINE COMBUSTION SECTION HAVING AN INTEGRATED FUEL CELL ASSEMBLY

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes a combustion section with a casing, a combustion liner, and a fuel cell assembly that generates electrical power from the combustion process.

• The combustion section includes a casing that defines a diffusion chamber.
• A combustion liner is positioned within the diffusion chamber, creating a passageway between the liner and the casing.
• A fuel cell assembly is located in the passageway, consisting of a stack of fuel cells that convert air and fuel into electrical energy.
• The electrical circuit of the fuel cell assembly is connected to the fuel cells and extends through the casing.

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied in power generation systems for various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and stationary power plants.

Problems Solved

This innovation addresses the need for efficient and clean power generation by combining combustion processes with fuel cell technology.

Benefits

The integration of fuel cells into combustion systems improves overall efficiency, reduces emissions, and provides a more sustainable power generation solution.

Potential Commercial Applications

The technology could be commercialized for use in aircraft engines, automotive powertrains, and distributed energy systems for residential and commercial buildings.

Possible Prior Art

One potential prior art could be the use of fuel cells in power generation systems, but the specific integration with a combustion section as described in this patent application may be novel.

How does this technology compare to traditional combustion systems in terms of efficiency and emissions?

This article does not provide a direct comparison between this technology and traditional combustion systems. Further research and testing would be needed to evaluate the performance differences.

What are the potential challenges in scaling up this technology for industrial applications?

The article does not address the scalability of this technology for large-scale industrial use. Factors such as cost, durability, and system integration could pose challenges that need to be explored in future studies.

Original Abstract Submitted

A combustion section defines an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The combustion section includes a casing that defines a diffusion chamber. A combustion liner is disposed within the diffusion chamber and defines a combustion chamber the combustion liner is spaced apart from the casing such that a passageway is defined between the combustion liner and the casing. A fuel cell assembly is disposed in the passageway. The fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell stack that has a plurality of fuel cells each extending between an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end receives a flow of air and fuel and the outlet end provides output products to the combustion chamber. The fuel cell assembly further includes an electrical circuit that is electrically coupled to the plurality of fuel cells and that extends through the casing.