INTEGRATED FUEL CELL HYBRID POWER PLANT WITH RE-CIRCULATED AIR AND FUEL FLOW

A hybrid power plant includes at least one fuel cell having a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet in flow communication with the cathode inlet along a re-circulation flow path. A reformer is configured to reform air and fuel, and the fuel cell includes an anode inlet in flow communication with the reformer and an anode outlet in flow communication with the reformer along a re-circulation flow path. Compressed air is supplied to a recuperator heated by turbine exhaust, and heated compressed air is mixed with re-circulated exhaust from the fuel cell prior to entering the fuel cell. A tail gas burner combusts a mixture of cathode exhaust and reformed residual fuel, and combustion gases are directed to the turbine.