Proposal of the Atmospheric Pressure Turbine (APT) and High Temperature Fuel Cell Hybrid System

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) has been extensively developed in many countries as an ultra-high efficient energy converter. Such high temperature fuel cell can be operated as a hybrid system of integrating of turbo machinery. A major decision is whether to place the cell stack in pressurized or unpressurized section. This paper discusses the exhaust energy recovery from fuel cells by use of turbo machines under unpressurized conditions, working with inverted Brayton cycle in which turbine expansion, cooling by heat exchanger and draft by compressor are made in an open cycle mode. It is denoted as “atmospheric pressure turbine (APT)”.