Patent ID: 7235322
Filing Date: 2007-06-26
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,B63H,F02B,H01M,Y02E,Y02P,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A hybrid power system comprising: a combustion engine for generating mechanical power by combustion of a fuel gas mixture obtained by vaporizing hydrocarbon and air; a fuel cell module including: an exhaust gas supply pipe extending between said combustion engine and said cell case for introducing exhaust gas from said combustion engine into said second chamber of said cell case of said fuel cell module; a fuel preheating pipe extending through said second chamber of said cell case of said fuel cell module, said fuel preheating pipe being arranged to be heated by the exhaust gas exhausted from said combustion engine and introduced into said second chamber via said exhaust gas supply pipe so as to preheat fuel gas passing through said fuel preheating pipe so that hydrocarbon containing water vapor and passing through said fuel preheating pipe is reformed; an oxidant preheating pipe extending through said second chamber of said cell case of said fuel cell module, said oxidant preheating pipe being arranged to be heated by the exhaust gas exhausted from said combustion engine and introduced into said second chamber via said exhaust gas supply pipe so as to preheat oxidant gas passing through said oxidant preheating pipe; wherein said fuel preheating pipe is arranged to supply the preheated fuel gas obtained by reforming the hydrocarbon to said fuel electrode layer of each of said electric power generating cells, and said oxidant preheating pipe is arranged to supply the preheated oxidant gas to said air electrode layer of each of said electric power generating cells, so as to thereby heat said electric power generating cells to a predetermined temperature.