Hybrid Fuel Cell Heat Engines: Recent Efforts

A hybrid heat engine results from the fusion of a heat engine with a non-heat-engine based cycle (unlike systems). The term combined cycle, which refers to similar arrangements, is reserved for the combination of two or more heat engines (like systems). The resulting product of the integration of a gas turbine and a fuel cell is referred to here as a hybrid heat engine or “Hybrid” for short. The intent of this paper is to provide, to the gas turbine community, a review of the present status of hybrid heat engine technologies. Current and projected activities associated with this emerging concept are also presented. The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is collaborating with other sponsors and the private sector to develop a Hybrid Program. This program will address the issues of technology development, integration, and ultimately the demonstration of what may be the most efficient of power plants in the world—the Hybrid System. In the Hybrid, the synergism between the gas turbine and fuel cell provides higher efficiencies and lower costs than either system can alone. Testing of the first hybrid concept has been initiated at the National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC). FuelCell Energy (FCE) will be testing its first hybrid in 2002. Honeywell’s hybrid program has just begun under the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA). SECA fuel cells will ultimately be hybridized with turbines. A competitive SECA solicitation is planned for conceptual studies in 2003. Industry teams will be selected in 2004 to further develop hybrid fuel cell systems.