Patent · US Expired

Hybrid geothermal and fuel-cell system

US7334406B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
2References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 31, 2005
Grant dateFeb 26, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 14, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF24D2101/30
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A hybrid energy system heats or cools a plant with a geothermal unit powered at least partly by a fuel cell, which may also power other devices. The thermal fluid for the geothermal unit also cools the fuel cell via a heat exchanger. A digital controller bypasses a variable portion of the thermal fluid around the heat exchanger to regulate the fuel-cell temperature.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.