Patent ID: 8011598

Claim:
A power system for generating electricity and for heating and cooling a thermal carrier medium, comprising: a) a solid oxide fuel cell system provided with a stream of intake air, said fuel cell system configured for generating electricity and an exhaust stream; and b) a heat pump system configured for operating in either a heating mode or a cooling mode, wherein said heat pump system includes a working medium, a compressor for pressurizing said working medium, a first heat exchanger configured for exchanging heat with said thermal transfer medium, a second heat exchanger configured for exchanging heat with g portion of said stream of intake air in said cooling mode such that said portion of said stream of intake air is combined with said exhaust stream after passing through said second heat exchanger, an evaporator disposed in said fuel cell exhaust stream configured for vaporizing and heating said working medium in said heating mode, and at least one valve configured for bypassing said second heat exchanger when operating in said heating mode and for bypassing said evaporator when operating in said cooling mode, wherein said heat pump system selectively operates in said heating and cooling modes.