UC Irvine

Examples of hybrid fuel cell power generation cycles are the combine high-temperature fuel cells and gas turbines, reciprocating engines, or another fuel cell. These represent the hybrid power plants of the future. The conceptual systems have the potential to achieve efficiencies greater than 70 percent and be commercially ready by year 2010 or sooner. The hybrid fuel cell/turbine (FC/T) power plant will combine a high-temperature, conventional molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) or a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with a low-pressure-ratio gas turbine, air compressor, combustor, and in some cases, a metallic heat exchanger (1). The synergistic effects of the hybrid fuel cell/turbine technology will also provide the benefits of reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Nitrous (NOx) emissions will be an order of magnitude below those of non-fuel cell power plants and carbon monoxide emissions will be less than 2 parts per million (ppm) (2). There will also be a substantial reduction in the amount of carbon dioxide produced as compared to conventional gas power plants. DOE/NETL-2001/1145