Patent ID: 7781115

Claim:
A method of operating an atmospheric-pressure solid oxide fuel cell generator in combination with a gas turbine comprising a compressor and expander comprising: (a) passing inlet oxidant into a gas turbine comprising a compressor and expander section; and then (b) exiting the oxidant from the gas turbine compressor as first and second oxidant streams; and then (c) passing the first oxidant stream through a flow control valve and then into a first heat exchanger to heat the first oxidant stream; and then (d) combining the first and second oxidant streams to provide a combined, compressed heated oxidant stream which is passed to a second heat exchanger to be heated to provide a flow controlled, further heated oxidant stream; and then (e) passing the flow controlled further heated oxidant stream through a combustor and the expander section of the gas turbine, and then (f) passing the flow controlled, further heated oxidant stream through said first heat exchanger to cool the stream to provide a flow controlled-heat adjusted, solid oxide fuel cell feed oxidant stream; and then (g) passing the flow controlled-heat adjusted, feed oxidant stream into an atmospheric-pressure solid oxide fuel cell generator which generator is also supplied with fuel.