Patent ID: 7595124

Claim:
A hybrid power generation system for generating electrical power comprising: a compressor for producing a compressed oxidant; a recuperator in flow communication with said compressor; a fuel cell assembly comprising a plurality of fuel cells in flow communication with said recuperator to provide the compressed oxidant for said fuel cell assembly, said fuel cell assembly further comprising a cathode inlet for receiving the compressed oxidant, an anode inlet for receiving a fuel stream, an anode outlet in flow communication with an anode exhaust stream and a cathode outlet in flow communication with a cathode exhaust stream; wherein at least a portion of the fuel stream reacts with the oxidant to produce electrical power; a tail gas burner in fluid communication with the anode outlet and the cathode outlet; said tail gas burner configured for combusting a mixture of at least a portion of the anode exhaust stream and at least a portion of the cathode exhaust stream and producing a hot compressed gas, wherein the tail gas burner comprises a primary zone and a secondary zone; a control system for controlling the amount of the cathode exhaust stream introduced in the tail gas burner for stable combustion and reduction of fuel and carbon monoxide emission, wherein less than 20 percent of the cathode exhaust stream by mass is diverted to the primary zone of the tail gas burner and about 5 percent to about 100 percent of the cathode exhaust stream by mass is diverted to the secondary zone of the tail gas burner; and a turbine expanding said hot compressed gas and producing electrical power and an expanded gas.