The present invention is directed to a system for generating power from fuel cell waste heat, comprising: at least one fuel cell module for generating power and producing waste heat; a bottoming cycle power block through which a motive fluid circulates to generate power; a waste heat heat-transfer unit for transferring heat from exhaust gases of the at least one fuel cell module to the bottoming cycle power block motive fluid thereby producing a desired combined power level from the at least one fuel cell module and the bottoming cycle power block.

In one embodiment, a washer-dryer system includes a fuel cell unit configured to generate electrical power and steam, a motor configured to receive electrical power from the fuel cell unit, a heat exchanger configured to receive steam from the fuel cell unit and configured to generate heated air and heated water, a rotatable drum configured to receive at least one of the heated air and the heated water from the heat exchanger, and a drive shaft coupled to the motor and the rotatable drum. In one embodiment, the washer-dryer system further includes a control unit configured to control operation of the motor such that the motor causes the drive shaft and the rotatable drum to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed. In one embodiment, the fuel cell unit includes at least one solid oxide fuel cell.

In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating molten carbonate fuel cells with processes for iron and/or steel production. The systems and methods can provide process improvements such as increased efficiency, reduction of carbon emissions per ton of product produced, or simplified capture of the carbon emissions as an integrated part of the system. The number of separate processes and the complexity of the overall production system can be reduced while providing flexibility in fuel feed stock and the various chemical, heat, and electrical outputs needed to power the processes.

A liquefied light hydrocarbon (LLH) fuel system for a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. The fuel system comprises an insulated fuel tank having a buffer space, a fuel control valve, wherein an outlet to the fuel tank connects to a first end of the fuel line, wherein an inlet of the fuel control valve connects to a second end of the fuel line and wherein an outlet of the fuel control valve is adapted to connect to a fuel inlet to an internal combustion engine; and a tank heating system comprising: a heating element, wherein the heating element is disposed adjacent to or within the fuel tank; a heating power control system, wherein the heating power control system controls the amount of heat produced by the heating element to vaporize the LLH fuel. Methods of using the fuel system are also disclosed.

An electric vehicle includes a thermal management system, an electric drive, a traction battery electrically coupled to the electric drive and a thermal energy source thermally coupled to the traction battery. Thermally coupling the thermal energy source and traction battery makes it possible to keep the area surrounding the traction battery and the traction battery itself at a temperature level where the traction battery can be efficiently operated. The waste heat of the thermal energy source may be used directly for heating up the vehicle interior and/or for controlling the temperature of the traction battery. Making direct use of provided waste heat that might arise in the motor vehicle anyway proves to be particularly energy efficient.

The present invention provides a decentralized and compact energy production system utilising ammonia for storage-of electric power and ammonia or H.sub.2 for production of electric power and heat suitable for use by a single household or in a small commercial building.

The present invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell configured to generate electricity and heat by a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen; a heat storage tank provided therein with a storage heat exchange unit configured to perform heat exchange between the heat recovered from the fuel cell and a fluid contained in the heat storage tank; a heat media supply line and a heat media recovery line configured to interconnect the fuel cell and the storage heat exchange unit to form a circulation flow channel of heat media; a bypass line branched from the heat media supply line and connected to the heat media recovery line; a flow channel switching device configured to selectively switch the flow channel of the heat media flowing along the heat media supply line to the storage heat exchange unit or the bypass line; and a controller configured to control the flow channel switching device such that the flow channel of the heat media flowing along the heat media supply line is connected to the storage heat exchange unit when the fuel cell generates power, and the flow channel of the heat media flowing along the heat media supply line is connected to the bypass line when the fuel cell stops power generation.

Systems and methods are provided for integrating a chemical looping combustion system with molten carbonate fuel cells to provide improved operation of the molten carbonate fuel cells when using the exhaust from a gas turbine or other electrical power generation device as the CO.sub.2 source for the MCFC cathodes. This integration can be accomplished by using metal oxide in the chemical looping combustion system to oxidize the anode output flow from the MCFCs. This can reduce or minimize the number of separations that need to be performed in order to process the concentrated CO.sub.2 present within the anode exhaust. By reducing, minimizing, or eliminating the CO and H.sub.2 in the anode exhaust, the need to perform more costly separations (such as cryogenic separation or amine washing) to obtain a high purity CO.sub.2 product stream can be reduced or minimized. Optionally, the cathode exhaust from the molten carbonate fuel cells can be used as an oxygen-containing stream for regeneration of the metal oxide.

A power generation system according to the present invention includes: a fuel cell unit including a fuel cell, a hydrogen generator having a first combustor, and a case; a controller; a combustion unit including a second combustor; and a discharge passage formed to cause the case and the combustion unit to communicate with each other. In a case where the controller causes one of the first combustor and the second combustor to perform the ignition operation, the controller maintains an operating state of the other combustor during the period of the ignition operation of the one combustor.

A fuel cell cogeneration system includes a fuel cell module, a heat exchanger, a hot water tank, a circulating water channel, and an oxygen-containing gas supply channel. A circulating water heater for heating water is provided on the circulating water channel. Part of the oxygen-containing gas supply channel is provided in the circulating water heater to thereby allow air flowing through the oxygen-containing gas supply channel to be heated by receiving heat from the circulating water heater.