Fuel cell for airship power generation and heating

Abstract

A neutrally buoyant airship, such as a blimp, contains a lifting body which allows the airship to remain neutrally buoyant in air and a fuel cell located in the airship. A method of generating power in the neutrally buoyant airship, comprising providing a fuel and a oxidizer to a solid oxide fuel cell to generate power, and providing heat from the fuel cell to a remotely located lifting body, wherein the lifting body allows the airship to remain neutrally buoyant in air.

1 . An airborne vehicle, comprising: 
 a vehicle body which is adapted for flying;    a fuel cell adapted to power the airborne vehicle; and    a heat transport loop adapted to transfer heat from the fuel cell to equipment located remotely on the airborne vehicle.    
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell comprises a solid oxide fuel cell.  
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , further comprising a fuel storage vessel adapted to provide fuel to the solid oxide fuel cell.  
     
     
         4 . The airborne vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the airborne vehicle comprises a solar powered airborne vehicle containing a solar cell array;    the fuel cell comprises a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell (SORFC);    the SORFC is adapted to power the airborne vehicle in absence of sunlight; and    the SORFC is adapted to regenerate fuel using electricity generated from sunlight by the solar cell array.    
     
     
         5 . The airborne vehicle of  claim 3 , further comprising an oxidized fuel storage vessel adapted to store oxidized fuel output by the fuel cell.  
     
     
         6 . The airborne vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the fuel storage vessel is adapted to store hydrogen; and    the oxidized fuel storage vessel is adapted to store water.    
     
     
         7 . The airborne vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the fuel storage vessel is adapted to store both hydrogen fuel and water oxidized fuel.  
     
     
         8 . The airborne vehicle of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 an air inlet adapted to provide air to the fuel cell; and    an air outlet adapted to vent air from the fuel cell.    
     
     
         9 . The airborne vehicle of  claim 8 , further comprising an oxidized fuel separation and fuel pump system adapted to separate partially oxidized fuel output by the fuel cell into fuel and oxidized fuel, to pump fuel into the fuel cell or the fuel storage vessel, and to pump oxidized fuel into an oxidized fuel storage vessel or into the fuel cell.  
     
     
         10 . A method of generating power in an airborne vehicle, comprising: 
 providing a fuel and a oxidizer to a fuel cell to generate power; and    providing heat from the fuel cell to remotely located equipment on the airborne vehicle.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing electrical power from the fuel cell to a propeller of the airborne vehicle.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 converting sunlight into electrical energy;    providing the electrical energy to the fuel cell comprising a solid oxide fuel cell;    providing oxidized fuel into the fuel cell;    electrolyzing the oxidized fuel in the solid oxide fuel cell into partially regenerated fuel;    separating fuel from oxidized fuel in the partially regenerated fuel; and    storing the fuel and the oxidized fuel.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel cell comprises a solid oxide fuel cell.  
     
     
         14 - 41 . (canceled).  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the airborne vehicle comprises a blimp.  
     
     
         43 . The airborne vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the airborne vehicle comprises a blimp.