US 11,753,179 B2
Aircraft engines with a fuel cell
Andrew Wickersham, Liberty Township, OH (US); and Richard Hart, Broadalbin, NY (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Oct. 14, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/70,460.
Prior Publication US 2022/0111974 A1, Apr. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. B64D 41/00 (2006.01); B64D 27/16 (2006.01); B64D 33/02 (2006.01); F02K 7/10 (2006.01); H01M 8/0606 (2016.01); B64D 33/04 (2006.01); B64D 37/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 41/00 (2013.01) [B64D 27/16 (2013.01); B64D 33/02 (2013.01); B64D 33/04 (2013.01); B64D 37/00 (2013.01); F02K 7/10 (2013.01); H01M 8/0606 (2013.01); B64D 2033/026 (2013.01); B64D 2033/0273 (2013.01); B64D 2041/005 (2013.01); F05D 2220/10 (2013.01); H01M 2250/20 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ramjet comprising:
a combustion area having an air inlet and an exhaust outlet, wherein the air inlet comprises a main air channel in fluid communication with the combustion area, and a bypass air channel in fluid communication with a fuel cell; and
wherein the fuel cell is in fluid communication with the air inlet and a fuel supply of the ramjet, wherein the fuel cell is in thermal communication with the combustion area;
wherein the main air channel is configured to receive air travelling at a supersonic speed during an operating condition of the ramjet and wherein the bypass air channel is configured to receive air traveling at a subsonic speed during the operating condition of the ramjet.