WO2012161684A1 - Fuel cell powered jet engine - Google Patents

Fuel cell powered jet engine Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012161684A1
WO2012161684A1 PCT/US2011/037483 US2011037483W WO2012161684A1 WO 2012161684 A1 WO2012161684 A1 WO 2012161684A1 US 2011037483 W US2011037483 W US 2011037483W WO 2012161684 A1 WO2012161684 A1 WO 2012161684A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fuel cell
jet engine
engine
cell powered
jet
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2011/037483
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Paul B. HUTER
Original Assignee
Huter Paul B
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Huter Paul B filed Critical Huter Paul B
Priority to PCT/US2011/037483 priority Critical patent/WO2012161684A1/en
Publication of WO2012161684A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012161684A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02C—GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
    • F02C1/00—Gas-turbine plants characterised by the use of hot gases or unheated pressurised gases, as the working fluid
    • F02C1/04—Gas-turbine plants characterised by the use of hot gases or unheated pressurised gases, as the working fluid the working fluid being heated indirectly
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01D—NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
    • F01D15/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of engines with devices driven thereby

Definitions

  • the purpose of this invention is to reduce emissions of aircraft that rely on jet engines for propulsion. It will also increase the capability of any jet that uses it, as a fuel cell requires less fuel than a conventional jet engine uses.
  • the invention was originally envisioned to be used for powering a spacecraft through the atmosphere prior to lighting a rocket engine to reach low-Earth orbit.
  • a fuel cell has the capability to heat MoSi 2 heating elements to a temperature necessary for a jet engine to be functional. For example, an 80 kW fuel cell (such as the ones being utilized in automobiles) would be able to provide the 25.6 kW of power necessary to heat a chamber one meter in diameter by half a meter long containing eight heating elements to approximately 1200-degrees Celsius, well above the typical jet engine exhaust temperature of 600-degrees Celsius. This would leave 54.4 kW of power available for powering the other components of the jet engine.
  • One fuel cell for each jet engine would use less fuel (liquid hydrogen and potentially liquid oxygen) than a conventional jet engine burning JP-8 jet fuel. The only byproduct of the engine would be water.
  • the attached drawing shows a side-view of the concept with the fuel cell attached to the heating elements and the turbine of the engine.
  • the invention differs from a typical jet engine in that rather than a section where the air is heated by burning jet fuel, it is heated by ceramic (likely MoSi 2 ) heating elements.
  • ceramic likely MoSi 2
  • eight heating elements spaced evenly around a one meter diameter by one half meter chamber would heat the chamber to 1200-degrees Celsius.
  • the fuel cell would be outside the engine and the liquid hydrogen (and potentially liquid oxygen) would be fed to the fuel cell from tanks either in the wings or elsewhere on the aircraft or spacecraft.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)

Abstract

This invention is the use of a fuel cell for powering all the components of a jet engine, but especially heating elements used to heat the air moving through the engine, rather than burning jet fuel.

Description

Specification
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Fuel Cell Powered Jet Engine
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The purpose of this invention is to reduce emissions of aircraft that rely on jet engines for propulsion. It will also increase the capability of any jet that uses it, as a fuel cell requires less fuel than a conventional jet engine uses. The invention was originally envisioned to be used for powering a spacecraft through the atmosphere prior to lighting a rocket engine to reach low-Earth orbit.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A fuel cell has the capability to heat MoSi2 heating elements to a temperature necessary for a jet engine to be functional. For example, an 80 kW fuel cell (such as the ones being utilized in automobiles) would be able to provide the 25.6 kW of power necessary to heat a chamber one meter in diameter by half a meter long containing eight heating elements to approximately 1200-degrees Celsius, well above the typical jet engine exhaust temperature of 600-degrees Celsius. This would leave 54.4 kW of power available for powering the other components of the jet engine. One fuel cell for each jet engine would use less fuel (liquid hydrogen and potentially liquid oxygen) than a conventional jet engine burning JP-8 jet fuel. The only byproduct of the engine would be water.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The attached drawing shows a side-view of the concept with the fuel cell attached to the heating elements and the turbine of the engine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention differs from a typical jet engine in that rather than a section where the air is heated by burning jet fuel, it is heated by ceramic (likely MoSi2) heating elements. As referenced in the brief summary, eight heating elements spaced evenly around a one meter diameter by one half meter chamber would heat the chamber to 1200-degrees Celsius. The fuel cell would be outside the engine and the liquid hydrogen (and potentially liquid oxygen) would be fed to the fuel cell from tanks either in the wings or elsewhere on the aircraft or spacecraft.

Claims

CLAIMS The claims of this patent are:
[1] the use of a fuel cell and heating elements to provide the heat necessary for a jet engine to produce the thrust, AND
[2] The use of a fuel cell to power the other components of the jet engine (turbine, etc.).
PCT/US2011/037483 2011-05-22 2011-05-22 Fuel cell powered jet engine WO2012161684A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2011/037483 WO2012161684A1 (en) 2011-05-22 2011-05-22 Fuel cell powered jet engine

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2011/037483 WO2012161684A1 (en) 2011-05-22 2011-05-22 Fuel cell powered jet engine

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2012161684A1 true WO2012161684A1 (en) 2012-11-29

Family

ID=47217534

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2011/037483 WO2012161684A1 (en) 2011-05-22 2011-05-22 Fuel cell powered jet engine

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2012161684A1 (en)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070158500A1 (en) * 2006-01-06 2007-07-12 Ion America Corporation Solid oxide fuel cell system for aircraft power, heat, water, and oxygen generation
US20080070078A1 (en) * 2006-09-19 2008-03-20 Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation Jet fuel based high pressure solid oxide fuel cell system
US20080118800A1 (en) * 2006-11-01 2008-05-22 Devriendt James Fuel cell heat exchange systems and methods
US20090305092A1 (en) * 2005-04-21 2009-12-10 The Boeing Company Combined fuel cell aircraft auxiliary power unit and environmental control system
US20100293959A1 (en) * 2007-09-25 2010-11-25 Airbus Sas Method for Operating a Gas Turbine Engine, Power Supplying Device for Conducting such Method and Aircraft using such Method
US20110045370A1 (en) * 2008-01-30 2011-02-24 Airbus Operations Gmbh Aircraft Fuel Cell System

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090305092A1 (en) * 2005-04-21 2009-12-10 The Boeing Company Combined fuel cell aircraft auxiliary power unit and environmental control system
US20070158500A1 (en) * 2006-01-06 2007-07-12 Ion America Corporation Solid oxide fuel cell system for aircraft power, heat, water, and oxygen generation
US20080070078A1 (en) * 2006-09-19 2008-03-20 Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation Jet fuel based high pressure solid oxide fuel cell system
US20080118800A1 (en) * 2006-11-01 2008-05-22 Devriendt James Fuel cell heat exchange systems and methods
US20100293959A1 (en) * 2007-09-25 2010-11-25 Airbus Sas Method for Operating a Gas Turbine Engine, Power Supplying Device for Conducting such Method and Aircraft using such Method
US20110045370A1 (en) * 2008-01-30 2011-02-24 Airbus Operations Gmbh Aircraft Fuel Cell System

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