US 12,255,363 B2
Integrated fuel cell and combustor assembly
Honggang Wang, Clifton Park, NY (US); Michael A. Benjamin, Cincinnati, OH (US); Seung-Hyuck Hong, Clifton Park, NY (US); and Richard L. Hart, Broadalbin, NY (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Evendale, OH (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Aug. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/396,401.
Prior Publication US 2023/0039759 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 8/04111 (2016.01); H01M 8/04746 (2016.01); H01M 8/2457 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/04111 (2013.01) [H01M 8/04753 (2013.01); H01M 8/2457 (2016.02)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An integrated fuel cell and combustor assembly, the assembly comprising:
a combustor fluidly coupled with at least one upstream compressor, the at least one upstream compressor generating compressed air;
a fuel cell stack having a cathode and an anode, the fuel cell stack being fluidly coupled to the combustor and being configured (i) to receive intake fuel and a portion of the compressed air as intake air, (ii) to generate a fuel cell power output using the intake fuel and the intake air, and (iii) to direct a fuel and air exhaust from the fuel cell stack into the combustor, wherein the fuel cell stack is integrated within an inner liner of the combustor, or integrated within an outer liner of the combustor, or any combination thereof;
a relighting component electrically connected to the fuel cell stack, wherein the relighting component receives a portion of the fuel cell power output;
a self-reliant air supply system fluidly coupled with the at least one upstream compressor and the fuel cell stack, and configured to supply the intake air to the fuel cell stack; and
a fault-tolerant controller configured (i) to detect a transient event within the combustor and (ii) to control the self-reliant air supply system during the transient event, wherein the fuel cell stack continues to generate the fuel cell power output after the transient event has occurred and wherein the portion of the fuel cell power output provided to the relighting device is generated after the transient event has occurred.