Including Start Up, Shut Down, Cleaning, Protective Or Maintenance Procedure Patents (Class 60/646)
  • Patent number: 6981378
    Abstract: Uninterruptible power is supplied to a load connected to a power line by connecting the power line to a rotatable member that includes a Rankine cycle turbine coupled to a device that operates as a motor when line power is operative thereby rotating the member at a standby rotational speed so that a predetermined amount of kinetic energy is stored in the rotating member, and that operates as a generator when the line power is inoperative and the member is rotated by the application of vaporized working fluid to the turbine. Working fluid is vaporized and maintained at an operational temperature level only when the line power is inoperative. The working fluid is held at a standby temperature level, preferably greater than the operational temperature level, while the power line is operative whereby the working fluid contains a predetermined amount of stored thermal energy while the power line is operative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 6951105
    Abstract: An electro-water reactor steam powered electric generator system includes a steam boiler having water and steam chambers, a water intake pipe and a plurality of steam delivery pipes. An electric resistance heater is mounted under and around the boiler having power leads connected to an auxiliary power source. A plurality of independent steam turbines and connected electric generators are joined respectively to the steam delivery pipes. Most of the electric power delivery leads of the generators are adapted to deliver electric power for industrial and residential usage. At least one of the generator power leads is connected to the electric resistance heater elements. A steam return pipe connects each turbine with a condenser which includes a heat exchanger connected to the water intake pipe. Electric pumps and piping circulate water between the condenser and a body of water. An auxiliary electrical power source is connected to the heater elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Inventor: Edward J. Smith
  • Patent number: 6938421
    Abstract: A system for the control of an indirectly heated gas turbine comprising a primary system of controlling the temperature of heated compressed gas entering the expander, and an independent secondary system which includes a safety valve for instantaneous release of heated compressed gas to the atmosphere. The primary system controls system gas temperature and power output by modulating a flow of unheated compressed gas which bypasses the heat exchanger and mixes with the heated gas leaving the heat exchanger to produce a lower temperature gas entering the expander. The secondary system provides a backup means of overspeed prevention, and includes a safety valve to instantly discharge to the atmosphere hot compressed gas upstream of the expander by being responsive to the speed of the turbine. The safety valve includes a frangible membrane clamped between parallel flanges within the ducting, and further includes a dagger assembly for rupturing the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Inventor: Richard W. Foster-Pegg
  • Patent number: 6918252
    Abstract: A method is provided for cooling a seal located in a wall of a chamber and through which a movable shaft passes, the seal being heated by hot pressurized vapor that leaks through the seal into the chamber and internal friction. The method comprises the steps of: providing a chamber in which the seal is located and into which the hot pressurized vapor leaks; injecting cool liquid into the chamber in which the seal is located; and cooling and condensing the hot pressurized vapor in the chamber thus cooling the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ohad Zimron, Nadav Amir, Meir Rigal
  • Patent number: 6915635
    Abstract: It is proposed that, during the operation of a steam turbine of a steam power plant, the internal pressure and also the internal temperature and, in the region outside it, the external temperature be determined in at least one steam-carrying component. As a result of a change in the operating state, in particular in the event of a load change, then, the abovementioned values vary, so that, under some circumstances, the mechanical stresses which in this case act on the steam-carrying component become unacceptably high. Consequently, a spatial temperature distribution and a reference stress of the steam-carrying component are determined from the abovementioned values and compared with a material limit stress. If the reference stress is greater than the material limit stress, a limit steam pressure desired value is determined, and at least one steam valve is set in such a way that the steam pressure on the steam-carrying component corresponds approximately to this limit steam pressure desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thorsten Wolf
  • Patent number: 6910335
    Abstract: A combined cycle power system is provided which can convert an open combined cycle gas turbine into a reduced or zero emissions power system. The system includes a compressor which compresses air and combusts the air with a hydrocarbon fuel. The products of combustion and the remaining portions of the air form the exhaust which is expanded through a turbine. The turbine drives the compressor and outputs power. The exhaust exits the turbine and then is routed through a heat recovery steam generator. A bottoming cycle portion of the system includes a gas generator which combusts a hydrocarbon fuel with oxygen. Water is also entered into the gas generator where it is heated and combined with the products of combustion, before entering a bottoming turbine. The water is then separated and routed back to the gas generator after preheating within the heat recovery steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Clean Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Fermin Viteri, Roger E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6898935
    Abstract: A system and method of cooling a steam turbine having internal moving components to a predetermined temperature by controlling a flow of nitrogen through the turbine, thus decreasing the downtime associated with maintaining the turbine. This provides a more efficient and cost effective method of operating a power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: BJ Services Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Barber, Paul K. Trygstad
  • Patent number: 6898936
    Abstract: A method of remediating and recovering energy from combustion products from a fossil fuel power plant having at least one fossil fuel combustion chamber, at least one compressor, at least one turbine, at least one heat exchanger and a source of oxygen. Combustion products including non-condensable gases such as oxygen and nitrogen and condensable vapors such as water vapor and acid gases such as SOX and NOX and CO2 and pollutants are produced and energy is recovered during the remediation which recycles combustion products and adds oxygen to support combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Thomas L. Ochs, William K. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 6883328
    Abstract: The present inventive subject matter is thus drawn to a hybrid ultra reliable power generating system for supplying continuous reliable power at remote locations comprising: a primary power unit producing electric power that is supplied to a load. And a secondary power unit in the form of a closed cycle vapor turbine (CCVT) system that is capable of producing 100% of the electric power that is produced by the primary power unit and which is heated in hot standby by rejected heat of the primary power unit, wherein the vaporizer of the CCVT is maintained during hot standby at a temperature above its nominal operating temperature and the vapor turbine of the CCVT is preferable maintained at idle during hot standby at a rotating speed. Preferably, the CCVT includes a burner that combusts the same fuel as the primary power unit and supplies sufficient heat so that the CCVT produces 100% of power produced by the primary unit to the load once the primary power units stops operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 6854273
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating power, the apparatus, comprising: a steam engine for providing a first source of power, the steam engine also producing heat waste; a thermionic device for providing a second source of power, the thermionic device providing the second source of power from the heat waste which is provided to the thermionic device, the heat waste of the steam engine being in fluid communication with a heat exchanger of the thermionic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Lasley, Gerald Thomas Fattic, Kaushik Rajashekara
  • Patent number: 6832480
    Abstract: An improved system and method for using a portion of an oxidized process gas stream resulting from the destruction or abatement of industrially generated pollutants such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) in a thermal oxidizer. This system and method produces steam and/or electric power using the heat of a portion of the oxidized gas stream without requiring any increase in the amount of auxiliary fuel that is normally used in the oxidizer. Further, although carbon dioxide (CO2) is generated in the oxidation of the pollutants using the oxidizer, the generation of steam and/or electric power from the oxidized gas stream is accomplished without the generation of any additional CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Inventor: Gene Anguil
  • Patent number: 6829894
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device to generate mechanical work with a steam engine that works with a closed circuit and that has a feed water tank, a feed pump, an evaporator to generate steam, the steam engine, and a condenser. The invention is based on the problem of keeping a device of the initially cited kind free of damage from freezing water when the device is not operating and the environmental temperatures are low. To this end, an inert gas in the feed water tank (10) is used to expel the feed water from the other part (36) of the circuit to the feed water tank (10). This is done by switching a valve arrangement. The feed water tank (10) is designed so that it will not be damaged, for example by exploding from freezing water inside. The advantages of the closed circuit are retained. To restart the device, the system is reheated, and the valve arrangement only has to be switched back to the position suitable for normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Enginion AG
    Inventors: Carsten Bloch, Detlef Wüsthoff
  • Patent number: 6792756
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas storage power plant (1) with a gas store (8), a turbogroup (2) and a gas supply line (9) which leads from the gas store (8) to the turbogroup (2). A gas supply control device (12) is arranged in the gas supply line (9). So that a gas flow cam be provided, even in an emergency, the gas supply control device (12) has a main line (14) and a bypass line (19). The main line (14) forms a section of the gas supply line (9). In the main line (14) is arranged a main valve arrangement (15) which shuts off the main line (14) in an emergency. The bypass line (19) bypasses the main valve arrangement (15). In the bypass line (19) is arranged a bypass valve arrangement (20) which opens the bypass line (19) in an emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Velimir Bakran, Ralf Gerdes, Peter Keller-Sornig, Bozidar Seketa
  • Patent number: 6779345
    Abstract: The present invention permits determination of steady-state off-design performance characteristics of a vehicle, such as a torpedo, powered by a closed cycle thermal propulsion system. The method may be utilized to determine propellant consumption for a torpedo resulting from various off-design kinematic maneuvers. Total run time may be calculated in response to a plurality of torpedo speed changes and/or torpedo configurations of variable torpedo length or torpedo diameter. The present invention may be utilized to define weapon design options for existing or future underwater weapons with mission requirements different from those for which the weapons were originally designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William A. Girouard
  • Publication number: 20040148934
    Abstract: Backup energy systems utilizing compressed air storage (CAS) systems and bridging energy systems to supply backup power to a load are provided. During a power failure, the bridging energy system provides backup power to the load at least until the CAS system begins supplying adequate power. In various embodiments, backup power capability is enhanced through the use of one or more exhaustless heaters, which are used to heat compressed air. The compressed air, in turn, drives a turbine which is used to power an electrical generator. In various embodiments, ambient air heat exchangers or other types of heat exchangers are used to heat compressed air prior to the compressed air being routed to the turbine, thereby increasing system efficiency. Backup power and backup HVAC are also provided by utilizing turbine exhaust, heat exchangers and various resistive heating elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph F. Pinkerton, David Beatty, David E. Perkins
  • Patent number: 6766646
    Abstract: A method to rapidly change a power output level of a steam turbine including the steps of: operating the steam turbine at a continuous power output level including regulating a steam temperature to a constant steam temperature set point; receiving a demand for a rapid change in the power output level of the steam turbine; adjusting the steam temperature set point to a temporary temperature excursion limit selected to achieve the demand for the rapid power change; regulating the steam temperature in the turbine to the temporary temperature excursion limit; operating the turbine at a temporary power output level achieved using the temporary excursion limit; generating power by the turbine using steam regulated to the temporary temperature limit, and changing the temperature used to regulate the turbine after a predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Edward Ford, Seyfettin Can Gulen
  • Publication number: 20040128999
    Abstract: Uninterruptible power is supplied to a load connected to a power line by connecting the power line to a rotatable member that includes a Rankine cycle turbine coupled to a device that operates as a motor when line power is operative thereby rotating the member at a standby rotational speed so that a predetermined amount of kinetic energy is stored in the rotating member, and that operates as a generator when the line power is inoperative and the member is rotated by the application of vaporized working fluid to the turbine. Working fluid is vaporized and maintained at an operational temperature level only when the line power is inoperative. The working fluid is held at a standby temperature level, preferably greater than the operational temperature level, while the power line is operative whereby the working fluid contains a predetermined amount of stored thermal energy while the power line is operative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: Lucien Y Bronicki
  • Patent number: 6755023
    Abstract: In order to evacuate a turbine condenser, air contained in the turbine condenser is suctioned using propellant steam from a starting jet pump. The propellant steam and the air are guided into an auxiliary condenser which is arranged downstream from turbine condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Koenig, Wolfgang Lehmann
  • Patent number: 6751956
    Abstract: Internal combustion engines, which have an exhaust-gas turbocharger that possesses an adjustable turbine geometry, include a waste-gate bypass. When a valve controlling the waste-gate bypass malfunctions, the pressure in the intake-system branch and the exhaust-system branch may increase to an undesirably high level, which may result in component parts being damaged. To prevent this in an internal combustion engine having an exhaust-gas turbocharger, a pressure sensor is provided, which determines the pressure in or upstream from the turbine and transmits it to an electronic control unit. When the control unit determines that a preselected limiting value of the pressure has been exceeded, the turbine geometry is modified so that the turbine may be prevented from being damaged. This arrangement is provided for internal combustion engines, which have an exhaust-gas turbocharger and are equipped with, in particular, an engine-braking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Christian Michael Mayer, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg
  • Patent number: 6748743
    Abstract: A system for the control of an indirectly heated gas turbine comprising a primary system of controlling the temperature of heated compressed gas entering the expander, and an independent secondary system which includes a safety valve for instantaneous release of heated compressed gas to the atmosphere. The primary system controls system gas temperature and power output by modulating a flow of unheated compressed gas which bypasses the heat exchanger and mixes with the heated gas leaving the heat exchanger to produce a lower temperature gas entering the expander. The secondary system provides a backup means of overspeed prevention, and includes a safety valve to instantly discharge to the atmosphere hot compressed gas upstream of the expander by being responsive to the speed of the turbine. The safety valve includes a frangible membrane clamped between parallel flanges within the ducting, and further includes a dagger assembly for rupturing the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Inventor: Richard W. Foster-Pegg
  • Patent number: 6742336
    Abstract: A steam turbine power plant comprises a high-pressure turbine to be driven by steam generated by a steam generator, a first reheater for separating moisture from steam discharged from the high-pressure turbine and heating the steam, an intermediate-pressure turbine to be driven by the steam heated by the first reheater, a second reheater for heating exhaust steam discharged from the intermediate-pressure turbine, and a low-pressure turbine to be driven by the steam heated by the second reheater. The intermediate-pressure turbine discharges dry steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuuichi Itou, Masahiko Sugano, Norikazu Hamaura
  • Patent number: 6729135
    Abstract: A recirculation system for circulating distillate during gas fuel operation so as to reduce or eliminate distillate carbon formation. The recirculation system keeps the distillate's temperature below the carbon formation limit by circulating the distillate back to a heat sink and/or heat exchanger. The recirculating flow also exercises the flow dividers' gears without having to perform fuel transfers. Further, the system evacuates air from the liquid fuel lines to further decrease the likelihood of carbonaceous residue forming on any interior surfaces that are actually exposed to distillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric Steven Norris, Steven William Backman, Robert Joseph Iasillo, Kevin Jon O'Dell, David J. Van Buren, Michael J. Alexander, Mark Andrew Cournoyer, Mark Andrew Johnson, Colin Wilkes
  • Patent number: 6672063
    Abstract: The invention is a reciprocating bottom cycle engine whose principal is heat addition by recovering heat from a top cycle engine through a counterflow heat exchange recuperator. The engine operation approximates the ideal bottom cycle for recovering heat from a top cycle: isothermal compression, recuperative heating, and constant entropy expansion. Such a cycle is capable of utilizing all the work potential between the hot top cycle exhaust and cool ambient temperature. Practical engines operating on this cycle do not achieve the ideal performance but are superior to Stirling or Ericsson Cycle engines in the amount of exhaust heat that can be converted to mechanical work and have been shown to be capable of enabling a typical natural gas fired engine to produce 17% more power from the same amount of fuel. All moving parts are lightly loaded and are only exposed to clean air, thus assuring long engine life with minimal maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Richard Alan Proeschel
  • Patent number: 6663752
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel self-sustaining method for the clean production of a clean burning liquid fuel called MagneFuel, which method is based, first, in the production of a combustible gas via submerged electric arcs between carbon-base electrodes from crude oil, oil-base, or water-base liquid waste and then passing the combustible gas via a high pressure pipe into a tower for the catalytic liquefaction, whereby the sum of the heat output in the production of the combustible gas and that for its catalytic liquefaction is sufficient for the process to be self-sustaining, that is, capable to produce its own electricity. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Hadronic Press, Inc.
    Inventor: Ruggero Maria Santilli
  • Patent number: 6658850
    Abstract: A system and method for establishing communications in a power plant comprises a power generation system having an interface for establishing wireless communication, at least one power plant auxiliary system having an interface for enabling wireless communication, and a wireless communications link, having at least two redundant wireless communications channels, established between the power generation system and the power plant auxiliary system. The two redundant wireless communications channels may be two redundant wireless radio frequency channels. The communications link may be established utilizing a network communications controller which wirelessly communicates with the power generation system and the power plant auxiliary system. One or more of the power plant auxiliary systems may communicate with the network communications controller through a repeater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael B. House, Andrew J. Travaly, Anthony S. Arrao, Harold W. Tomlinson, Jr., Daniel W. Sexton
  • Patent number: 6644030
    Abstract: Cooling systems and methods for cooling heat-generating equipment, such as steam driven turbines, can operate in multiple modes including a closed loop mode, an open loop mode and a helper mode. During normal operation in the closed loop mode, cooling water may be circulated in a closed cooling system through an integrated cooling tower, without drawing from or discharging into a water source, thereby minimizing the effect of the cooling system on the water source. In open loop operation, water can be drawn from a water source to cool the equipment without the use of the cooling tower and can then be discharged. The open loop mode can be advantageous when the cooling tower may be out of service. In the helper mode, cooling water drawn from a source cools the equipment and may then be partially or fully circulated through the cooling tower prior to discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: USGEN New England, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Moss, Christopher J. Haynes
  • Patent number: 6557348
    Abstract: This invention relates to an on-line process for removing copper deposits from the blades of the rotor of a steam turbine in systems, particularly condensing steam turbines. The process comprises adding an oxime to an appropriate injection point of an electric generating power plant powered by a steam turbine, where the power plant comprises a pre-boiler system, a steam generator, a steam turbine, a condenser and an electric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Ashland Inc.
    Inventors: Emery N. Lange, Jr., Thomas H. Pike
  • Patent number: 6529849
    Abstract: A thermal efficiency diagnostic of a combined power generation plant is performed by using measurement data relative to energy input/output of the respective equipment of the combined power generation plant, recording the design values of heat balance, using measurement data having high measuring accuracy as standard parameters, conducting an optimum state estimation by adjusting the key parameters, which largely affect the diagnostic results so as to be consistent with the standard parameters, so that each deviation of the reference parameters becomes minimum and the probability of the heat balance becomes maximum in a whole plant, comparing the heat balance thus determined with the heat balance based on a design value, analyzing the degree of contribution of performance of each equipment to the thermal efficiency and specifying the equipment which causes the thermal efficiency deterioration in accordance with the degree of contribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: The Tokyo Electric Power Co. Inc.
    Inventors: Shuichi Umezawa, Hajime Obikawa
  • Patent number: 6523346
    Abstract: The invention gives a process for the control of the amount of cooling air of a gas turbine set (1, 2, 3). Suitable means (32, 33) are provided in the cooling system (26, 27) to enable the amount of cooling air to be varied. The control of this means takes place in dependence on an operating parameter (X). This is determined in a computer unit (22) by suitable combination of measured machine data (p1, p2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, René Waelchli
  • Patent number: 6494042
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing uninterruptible power upon loss of power from an electric grid, comprising at least one hot standby organic Rankine cycle turbine system including a vapor turbine and a generator for producing power upon loss of power from the electric grid; a control unit for sensing loss of power from the electric grid and activating the hot standby organic Rankine cycle turbine system; and means for rotating the turbine when power is available from the electric grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 6463738
    Abstract: A continuous power system provides a continuous supply of power to a load in the event that primary power fails or is degraded. The continuous power system includes an electrical machine, a turbine and a flywheel coupled to a shaft. When utility power is present, the machine operates as a motor to drive the shaft. During outages, the electrical machine operates as a generator to provide power to the load. Kinetic energy stored in the flywheel drives the shaft during initial power interruptions. During further short-term interruptions, a thermal energy supply (or thermal storage device) is used to provide vaporized liquid to the turbine so that the turbine drives the shaft. If the power loss or failure is extended, the turbine is driven by vapor produced by an evaporator heated from an external fuel supply. Numerous methods and apparatus are also described for reducing system losses and improving overall performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Active Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Pinkerton, David B. Clifton, Kenneth E. Nichols, Michael D. Forsha, James E. Dillard, William D. Batton
  • Publication number: 20020139118
    Abstract: In a method for preventing the deposition of impurities in steam systems, in which steam of a given steam quality flowing in them is subject to temperature and/or pressure changes, a simple prevention of deposits is achieved in that an appropriate structural configuration and design of the steam systems prevents the steam solubility of the impurities present in specific concentrations in the steam from being exceeded as a result of changes in the temperature and/or pressure conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Erhard Liebig, Robert Svoboda
  • Patent number: 6408627
    Abstract: A continuous power system accumulator assembly is provided that stores thermal energy as sensible heat and minimizes the amount of thermal energy wasted by the system. The assembly includes an accumulator at its core. A preheater assembly is wrapped around the accumulator such that it may absorb heat radiated and conducted from the accumulator. An evaporator is wrapped around the preheater so that most of the heat that is radiated and conducted from the preheater is utilized to heat the vaporizer. The outer housing of the assembly may be a double-walled housing having a layer of insulation located between the two walls. This configuration minimizes heat losses by the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Active Power, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Batton, Kevin Hotton, Gary Frey, Gail Roberts
  • Patent number: 6407465
    Abstract: A pressurized fluid system provides electrical power to a load and includes a fluid motor, a generator, an energy storage device and a controller. The system supplies fluid to the fluid motor, which provides a generator with power producing a voltage used to supply power to a load and provide energy to the energy storage device. The controller selects which of various sources within the system provides fluid to the fluid motor based on the operating mode of the system. When fluid supplied to the fluid motor is discontinued, the energy storage device discharges providing power to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: GE Harris Railway Electronics LLC
    Inventors: David M. Peltz, Jerome J. Tiemann, Russell S. DeMuth, Robert Steigerwald, Paul Houpt, Roy Malac, Glen Peltonen
  • Patent number: 6301895
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to ensure a fast, economical and reliable power regulation of a steam generating power plant (1) having a turbo set that comprises a steam turbine (2) and a generator (6) and during the operation of which water (W) is injected into or upstream of an overheater heating surface According to the disclosed fast power regulating process of the steam generating power plant (1), the injection rate of water (W) is increased to adjust an additional generator output. In a steam generating power plant (1) which is particularly suitable for carrying out the process, an overheater heating surface, of a steam generator (28) is provided with a water injector (70, 71) connected to a regulating component (82) for regulating the injection rate of water (W) into the overheater heating surface. The regulating component (82) supplies a regulating signal to the water injector, (70, 72), depending on the required additional generator output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Günter Kallina, Rudolf Kral, Eberhard Wittchow
  • Patent number: 6240730
    Abstract: A steam turbogenerator set includes a common shaft for a steam turbine and a driven machine with a generator, downstream of which a frequency converter is connected. Electrical power can be fed at a predetermined frequency through the frequency converter into a load network. Bearings of the common shaft are cooled and lubricated with water. Since there is no gearing requiring cooling and lubricating, and control valves for the steam are also driven without oil, the risk of contamination or fire caused by oil is avoided. A method for operation of the steam turbogenerator set is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rudolf Thiele
  • Patent number: 6237338
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible inlet tube for a high and intermediate pressure steam turbine. A reheat steam inlet tube is constructed integrally with a casing. The inlet tube has a double tube portion to form an annular groove. The lower end of the double tube portion has an expanded diameter, and a vertical sliding motion can be accomplished between the expanded diameter portion and a flange fixed to a thermal shield, so that thermal elongation is absorbed. Low-temperature steam flows into the annular groove from an in-casing space through a hole, circulates in the annular groove, and flows out to a steam passage in an intermediate pressure turbine section, by which the interior of the annular groove is cooled, so that a temperature rise of the casing can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryotaro Magoshi, Takashi Nakano
  • Patent number: 6233937
    Abstract: A dual-fluid cooling spray device for use with a steam turbine. The steam turbine includes a casing, a plurality of rotating blades and a plurality of stationary vanes. The dual fluid spray device includes a nozzle adjacent to one row of rotating blades and/or stationary vanes, and a dual fluid housing assembly penetrating the casing and coupled to the nozzle. Both a steam pipe and a water pipe are coupled to the dual-fluid housing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventor: Lewis Gray
  • Patent number: 6223536
    Abstract: A drum-type heat-recovery boiler (2) forms, together with the feedwater tank/deaerator (6) and condenser/hot well (4), the steam system of a combined-cycle power station. This steam system has a plurality of containers (10, 16, 22, 6, 4) working at different pressure stages. Some of the containers are formed by steam drums (10, 16, 22). The container of the lowest pressure stage is the condenser/hot well (4). The high-pressure steam drum (10) is connected directly to the intermediate-pressure steam drum (16) via a water line (25) and a steam line (39). The intermediate-pressure steam drum (16) is connected directly to the low-pressure steam drum (22) via a water line (27) and a steam line (41), and the low-pressure steam drum (22) is connected directly to the feedwater tank/deaerator (6) via a water line (29) and a steam line (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventor: Erhard Liebig
  • Patent number: 6199382
    Abstract: The present invention is a dynamic condensate system which can replace the hotwell designs currently available. The dynamic condensate system enhances the performance of a compact closed Rankine-cycle or similar engine using a single small-volume apparatus which actively separates noncondensables from the subcooled condensate; lowers condenser pressure; boosts feed-pump inlet pressure; allows the hotwell volume to remain at ambient pressure; and eliminates lateral acceleration effects on the engine. The dynamic condensate system includes a liquid ring pumping element and a side-branch hotwell. There is an inlet to the liquid ring pumping element from a condenser of the engine for receiving liquid and vapor flow. An outlet from the liquid ring pumping element provides a flow path for liquid from the dynamic condensate system to a feed pump of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Jeremy L. Walter, Robert W. Royer, Michael E. Crouse
  • Patent number: 6192687
    Abstract: Uninterruptible power supplies are provided that utilize a material to provide a source of thermal energy that may be converted to electrical energy to produce backup electrical power for a load. In some embodiments, a hot tank assembly is utilized to hold a liquid heated to a predetermined temperature. A closed-loop pipe containing, water for example, is immersed in the heated liquid. Upon the loss of primary power, the water flows into the heat exchanger where it is raised above its boiling temperature. The steam is then passed to a heat engine (e.g., a turbine-based system) that converts the heated steam to mechanical energy by causing the heat engine rotor to rotate. A generator is physically coupled to the heat engine so that the rotation of the heat engine rotor drives the generator. The generator produces AC power which is converted to DC and again back to AC before being provided to the load. In other embodiments, a solid mass, such as a block of iron, is heated to a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Active Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Pinkerton, David B. Clifton
  • Patent number: 6161385
    Abstract: A turbomachine, in particular a gas turbine, is in the traditional manner provided with air cooling of the components that are subject to a high thermal stress. The cooling system (21, 31, 41) is provided with elements through which another medium (25, 35, 45), for example water or steam, can be added to the cooling system during peak demand. This medium displaces cooling air (26, 36, 46) from the cooling system, the air being then available additionally in a heat generator (2, 4). This means that more fuel (12, 13) can be added without increasing the hot gas temperature (T.sub.1, T.sub.3) at the turbine inlet (301, 501), and the power is increased. The quantity of the medium added to the cooling system is controlled by control elements (24, 34, 44) as a function of a control deviation (P.sub.set -P.sub.act) of the power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Dieter Rebhan, Jost Braun, Thomas Zierer, Stefan Rofka
  • Patent number: 6145315
    Abstract: In a process for preheating and deaerating make-up water in a power generation plant by steam, the required make-up water is initially heated up to the saturation temperature without substantial deaeration and is subsequently deaerated. The steam used for heating and deaerating is expanded steam from a condenser, which steam is almost fully condensed during the heating of the make-up water and is recycled to the steam circulation of the power generation plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Francisco Blangetti, Hans Eberle
  • Patent number: 6112524
    Abstract: Boron, silicon and/or arsenic in geothermal steam is removed by contacting the steam with an alcohol containing at least four carbon atoms or polyols having at least two carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventor: Darrell L. Gallup
  • Patent number: 6109020
    Abstract: In a combined cycle power plant with a gas turbine circuit and a steam turbine circuit, the exhaust gases from a gas turbine (4) transfer their residual heat to a steam turbine (9, 10) via the working medium flowing in a once through steam generator (7). The deaeration of the working medium is carried out in the hot well (12) of the steam turbine condenser (11), the deaerated working medium is introduced directly from the hot well of the condenser via a feed pump (14, 20) into the preheating surfaces (15, 21) of the once through steam generator, and a separating bottle (25) for the blowdown of impurities is arranged between the evaporation surfaces (16, 22) and the superheating surfaces (19, 23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventor: Erhard Liebig
  • Patent number: 6105368
    Abstract: A method for capturing working fluid which includes a hazardous component and is discharged from a power generating system, includes directing the discharge to a container. There, the discharged working fluid is combined with a liquid in which the hazardous component is soluble to form a less hazardous mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Hansen, Paul D. Kuczma, Jens O. Palsson, Jonathan S. Simon
  • Patent number: 5983639
    Abstract: A continuous-flow steam generator includes a combustion chamber having a number of burners for a fossil fuel and a gas-tight containment wall formed from at least approximately vertically disposed evaporator tubes through which a flow passes upwards from below on the feed-water side. A method and a system for starting up the continuous-flow steam generator avoid start-up losses by setting a water level in the evaporator tubes and a ratio of the fuel stream to the feedwater stream in such a way that the water evaporates completely during passage through the evaporator tubes, so that water is no longer present at the evaporator outlet. A start-up system having a setting device for setting the water level in the evaporator and for setting the ratio of the fuel stream to the feed-water stream, is used for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rudolf Kral, Joachim Franke
  • Patent number: 5930998
    Abstract: In a process for preheating and deaerating make-up water in a power generation plant by steam, the required make-up water is initially heated up to the saturation temperature without substantial deaeration and is subsequently deaerated. The steam used for heating and deaerating is expanded steam from a condenser, which steam is almost fully condensed during the heating of the make-up water and is recycled to the steam circulation of the power generation plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Francisco Blangetti, Hans Eberle
  • Patent number: 5921085
    Abstract: A condenser with built-in deaerator comprises a main casing into which steam discharged from a turbine, a tube bank installed inside the main casing to condense the steam from the turbine, a hot well installed in the main casing to store steam condensate produced by the tube bank, a circulator for taking the steam condensate out from the hot well and returning the same again to the hot well, a gas injector having gas injecting heads, for injecting bubbles of an inert gas into the steam condensate stored in the hot well, and a water heater for heating the steam condensate in the vicinity of the gas injecting heads to increase the temperature of the steam condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Shunji Kawano
  • Patent number: 5894729
    Abstract: This invention is a heat engine operating on the afterburning Ericsson cycle whose principle is heat addition to the cycle by an afterburner in which fuel is burned with the low-pressure air working fluid exhausted by the expander. The resulting combustion gases are used in a countercurrent heat exchanger continually heating (1) the air expanding in the expander and (2) further upstream the high-pressure air (compressed by the compressor) in the regenerator. The ideal efficiency of this cycle is the Carnot cycle efficiency between the same top and bottom temperatures. Practical engines are more efficient than those in which heat addition takes place upstream of the expander. All moving parts are only exposed to clean air, and expander valves can be operated at temperatures comparable to current internal combustion engines. Liquid or gaseous fuels can be used and control of speed and power is simple, based on keeping engine temperatures constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Inventor: Richard A. Proeschel