High Efficiency Fuel Cell Systems for Shipboard Applications

General Vortex Energy, Inc.(GVE)has demonstrated the feasibility of a highly efficient, compact microturbine for Navy shipboard to couple with PEM, MCFC and SOFC hybrid fuel cell systems. The JVT/fuel cell hybrid system's flexibility allows the system to operate under all shipboard conditions while enhancing the benefits given by fuel cells. GVE Inc. has designed a hybrid fuel cell power generation system consisting of a high temperature SOFC fuel cell and a highly efficient Jirnov Vortex Turbine (JVT). GVE is in the final stages of producing a prototype JVT with an efficiency of 60% at an operating temperature of 1300K. The GVE hybrid fuel cell system could work either in the combined fuel cell/JVT mode or JVT mode alone. Either method would provide the high efficiency, reliability and low detection features desired. When working in the JVT mode alone, the efficiency approximates 60%. In the fuel cell mode alone, the efficiency is approximately 40%. This efficiency increase for the fuel cell is due to the isothermal, compression of air (by the JVT) for the fuel cell stack. Working in the mixed mode (50% power from the fuel cell, 50% power from the JVT), the overall efficiency will approximate 58%. The JVT produces half the CO2 of conventional turbines and virtually no NOX or CO. Because of its low rotational speed, the JVT has a very low acoustic signature.