Procyon Power Systems, Inc.

G&a Associates

Ambrose F Manikowski, Jr

Gary M Noland

This is a procedure for producing mechanical power and a hybrid power generation unit for practicing such a process. In particular, the procedure uses a thermal or catalytic cracker to crack or to pyrolyze (partially or completely) a liquid or gaseous petroleum fuel to produce a primary gaseous stream primarily containing hydrogen (and likely methane or other short-chain hydrocarbons). The hydrogen may be used in a fuel cell to produce electricity, which electricity is used in a linear or rotary electric motor. In the preferred procedure, the residuum of the pyrolyzed feedstock is laid down in the reactor. A regeneration step is used to remove that residuum and produce a carbon monoxide-rich gas which then may be introduced to an internal or external combustion engine for further production of mechanical power. Most preferred of the combustion engines is one having high thermal efficiency. This combination of pyrolysis, fuel cell, and high efficiency heat engine results in a procedure and device which is significantly more efficient in terms of utilizing the energy present in the feedstock hydrocarbon fuel. Additionally, under high temperature operation when the fuel to the engine is a carbon monoxide-rich gas, the emissions from the system will be substantially lower than for conventional power systems. Finally, when some portion of the process heat required by the pyrolysis and de-coking operations is obtained from waste heat from the engine, an increase in the total thermal content of the fuel can be realized, further increasing the overall fuel economy of the hybrid system.

Hybrid fuel-cell electric-combustion power system using complete pyrolysis

This is a procedure for producing power and a hybrid power generation unit for practicing such a process. In particular, the procedure uses a thermal or catalytic cracker to partially crack or partially pyrolyze a liquid petroleum fuel to produce a gaseous stream containing hydrogen (and perhaps methane or other short-chain hydrocarbons) and a liquid hydrocarbon intermediate fuel. The hydrogen is then used in a fuel cell to produce electricity which then used in a linear or rotary electric motor. The intermediate liquid fuel is then fed to an internal or external combustion engine for further production of mechanical power. Most preferred of the combustion engines is one running on an Atkinson cycle.

Hybrid electric-combustion power plant

A high efficiency oxygen/air separation system uses waste heat produced by an internal combustion engine to produce pure or enriched oxygen for combustion in the internal combustion engine. Nitrogen is eliminated from the combustion process, thus preventing the formation of nitrogen oxides. The formation of other particulates is also reduced as the exhaust gases are repeatedly burned. The separation system includes a manifold heat exchanger, a vane compressor/expander, a spent nitrogen heat exchanger and an insulated container. Air is first compressed in the integrated vane compressor/expander. Compression energy is provided from the expansion of the spent nitrogen after that nitrogen has been heated to exhaust manifold temperatures. High efficiency is achieved through simultaneous expansion and compression. The compressed air is cooled through a spent nitrogen heat exchanger and enters the insulated container, where the oxygen separation takes place. The insulated container includes a regenerative heat exchanger, an expander and a separator column. The compressed air is delivered to the regenerative heat exchanger and is cooled by the separated gas streams that include a mixture of (1) oxygen/argon and (2) nitrogen. The cooled air stream is expanded in the expander where oxygen/argon condenses in the gas stream. The expanded air stream is delivered to a separation column which separates the liquid oxygen/argon mixture from the nitrogen gas by gravity. Nitrogen gas is released and the liquid oxygen/argon mix is returned to the regenerative heat exchanger to cool the incoming compressed air.

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Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Ambrose F Manikowski, Jr