Including Superheating, Desuperheating, Or Reheating Patents (Class 60/653)
  • Publication number: 20100281864
    Abstract: An ORC system configured to limit temperature of a working fluid below a threshold temperature is provided. The ORC system includes a heat source configured to provide waste heat fluid. The ORC system also includes a heat exchanger coupled to the heat source, wherein the heat exchanger includes multiple external or internal enhancement features. The external enhancement features are configured to reduce a first heat transfer coefficient between the working fluid and the waste heat fluid from the heat source, external to the heat exchanger. The internal enhancement features are configured to increase a second heat transfer coefficient between the working fluid and the waste heat fluid from a heat source, internal to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Alexander Lehar, Sebastian W. Freund, Giacomo Seghi
  • Patent number: 7827793
    Abstract: To provide a power generation system that prevents a reduction in the efficiency of a steam turbine due to an aperture adjustment of a turbine governing valve. There is provided a power generation system comprising: a furnace in which a solid fuel or a liquid fuel is combusted; a steam turbine that generates electric power by rotating a turbine rotor using steam generated by the furnace; a superheater that is provided between the furnace and the steam turbine and that superheats the steam; a first steam piping that connects the furnace to the superheater; a second steam piping that connects the superheater to the steam turbine; a first valve provided in the first steam piping; a turbine governing valve provided in the second steam piping; and a control section that adjusts an aperture of the first valve according to a load of the steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignees: The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuo Onaka, Yoshiaki Kouno, Toshiki Matsuoka, Taishi Muraki
  • Patent number: 7827792
    Abstract: This invention reduces the fuel consumption of the modern day power plant by lowering the main steam condenser operating pressure. The main steam condenser is a heat exchanger located in the power plant steam system for condensing steam. The main steam enters the main steam condenser, flowing around the tubes with the coolant flowing thru the tubes, condensing the steam. This invention replaces the present condenser once thru cooling water system with a refrigerant cooling system. The much lower normal temperature and greater high heat absorption rate of the refrigerant, lowers the main steam condenser operating pressure much below that of the present cooling water system. The lower condenser pressure increases steam flow, extracting more energy from the steam, increasing the plant-operating efficiency. This invention combines the conventional steam cycle with the conventional refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant compressor is driven by the main steam turbine which creates the binary cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventor: Joseph Francis Brown, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7827791
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for producing mechanical power from a heat source. The system may include a heat recovery heat exchanger, a turbine, a condenser heat exchanger, and a liquid circulating pump, etc. In other embodiments, a desuperheater or an economizer, or both, may be employed. In one illustrative embodiment, the system comprises a first heat exchanger adapted to receive a fluid from a heat source and a working fluid, wherein, when the working fluid is passed through the first heat exchanger, the working fluid is converted to a vapor via heat transfer with the fluid from the heat source, at least one turbine adapted to receive the vapor, and an optional economizer heat exchanger adapted to receive exhaust vapor from the turbine and the working fluid, wherein a temperature of the working fluid is adapted to be increased via heat transfer with the exhaust vapor from the turbine prior to the introduction of the working fluid into the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: TAS, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tom L. Pierson, John David Penton
  • Publication number: 20100242430
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant includes a gas turbomachine, a steam turbomachine operatively coupled to the gas turbomachine, and a heat recovery steam generator operatively coupled to the gas turbomachine and the steam turbomachine. The heat recovery steam generator includes a high pressure reheat section provided with at least one high pressure superheater and at least one reheater. The combined cycle power plant further includes a controller operatively connected to the gas turbomachine, the steam turbomachine and the heat recovery steam generator. The controller is selectively activated to initiate a flow of steam through the heat recovery steam generator following shutdown of the gas turbomachine to lower a temperature of at least one of the high pressure superheater and the at least one reheater and reduce development of condensate quench effects during HRSG purge of a combined cycle power plant shutdown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Tailai Hu, Richard Henry Langdon, II, Joel Donnell Holt, Leslie Yung-Min Tong, Diego Fernando Rancruel, Kelvin Rafael Estrada
  • Publication number: 20100236241
    Abstract: A heat recovery steam generation system is provided. The heat recovery steam generation system includes at least one superheater in a steam path for receiving a steam flow and configured to produce a superheated steam flow. The system also includes an inter-stage attemperator for injecting an attemperation fluid into the steam path. The system further includes a control valve coupled to the inter-stage attemperator. The control valve is configured to control flow of attemperation fluid to the inter stage attemperator. The system also includes a controller coupled to the control valve and the inter-stage attemperator. The controller further includes a feedforward controller and a trimming feedback controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Rajeeva Kumar, Karl Dean Minto, William Forrester Seely, William George Carberg, Peter Paul Polukort
  • Publication number: 20100236240
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for pre-warming a heat recovery steam generator and associated steam lines. According to one embodiment, a method for pre-warming a heat recovery steam generator can be provided. The method can include providing heating steam from a steam source. The heating steam is directed from the steam source to a superheater so that at least a portion of the superheater can be warmed. Once exiting the superheater, the heating steam can be further directed from the superheater to at least one bypass line and maintained in the bypass line until the bypass line attains a predefined temperature or pressure. Furthermore, the method can include directing, after the bypass line attains a predefined temperature or pressure, at least a portion of the heating steam from the bypass line to a reheater so that the reheater can be warmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Tailai Hu, Kelvin R. Estrada, Michael Joseph Alexander
  • Publication number: 20100236239
    Abstract: A method for generating steam for a turbine electric power plant uses solar radiation. Solar radiation is directed onto a solar receiver. The solar receiver includes a first section, which receives feedwater input and is arranged to heat the feedwater input to generate steam using the directed solar radiation. Feedwater flows through a feedwater vessel to serve as feedwater input to an inlet of the first section of the receiver. Water is separated from the steam in steam separation vessel, which is in fluid communication with an outlet of the first section of the receiver. The feedwater input may be selectively preheated by a source of preheat other than solar energy in response to system operating conditions, predicted insolation schedule, or an electrical energy tariff schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: BrightSource Industries (ISRAEL) Ltd.
    Inventors: Israel I. Kroizer, Gabriel Kaufmann, Leon Afremov, Yoel Gilon
  • Patent number: 7797940
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power plant system for producing power using a source of steam, comprising: a vaporizer into which steam from a source of steam is supplied, for vaporizing organic working fluid flowing through the vaporizer; at least one turbine wherein one of the turbines is an organic vapor turbine to which the vaporized working fluid is supplied and which is suitable for generating electricity and producing expanded organic vapor; a recuperator for heating organic vapor condensate flowing towards the vaporizer the expanded organic vapor exhausted from the organic vapor turbine; and two or more stages of preheating means for additionally heating organic working fluid exiting the recuperator and flowing towards the vaporizer, wherein fluid extracted from one of the turbines is delivered to one of the stages of preheating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Uri Kaplan
  • Patent number: 7793501
    Abstract: Attemperation systems and methods for cooling steam bypassed from a steam turbine during tripping of the steam turbine are provided in the disclosed embodiments. The systems may be configured to deliver water discharged from a fuel gas heater to a bypass attemperator, where the water discharged from the fuel gas heater may be used to cool the bypass steam. Before being used by the fuel gas heater, the water used to heat the fuel gas may be heated by an economizer. The water may be delivered to the economizer by an intermediate pressure stage of a boiler feedwater pump. In the disclosed embodiments, the intermediate pressure stage of the boiler feedwater pump may also be used to supply water to a re-heater attemperator, which may be used to further cool the steam after it has been delivered from the bypass attemperator to a re-heater. In addition, the intermediate pressure stage of the boiler feedwater pump may deliver water directly to the bypass attemperator as a supplemental water source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kowshik Narayanaswamy, Prakash Narayan
  • Publication number: 20100212226
    Abstract: A gasification facility includes an air separator and a high temperature gas cooler for cooling the gaseous products that are produced at the facility's gasifier. The high temperature gas cooler is configured and a method is provided to produce superheated steam that is used to generate electric power in a steam turbine to satisfy the power demands of at least the air separator. Alternatively, or in addition, the superheated steam can be employed to drive compressors at the air separator. The high temperature gas cooler can be further configured so that it produces only that quantity of superheated steam required for the steam turbine to power the gasification facility, including the air separator, or a quantity of superheated steam adequate for the steam turbine to both power the gasification facility, including the air separator, and provide electric power or superheated steam to other users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Delome Fair
  • Publication number: 20100212320
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method for operating a steam turbine power plant, and also a device for generating steam for the purpose of power generation. The method for operating a steam turbine power plant comprises at least one steam generator which is fired with a solid, granular fuel, for example with brown coal, wherein the fuel is first subject to an indirect drying in a fluidized bed drier and the fluidized bed drier is at least partially heated with steam from the water-steam cycle of the steam generator. The method is characterized in that temperature controlling in the drier is carried out in two stages in dependence upon the moisture content of the fuel, wherein first of all the temperature of the fluidized bed drier is controlled via the steam pressure of the heating steam and downstream of this controlling, a controlling of the superheating temperature of the heating steam is carried out in dependence upon the steam pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: RWE POWER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ditmar Block, Hans-Joachim Klutz
  • Publication number: 20100205962
    Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for converting heat from external heat source streams or from solar energy derived from a solar collector subsystem. The systems and methods comprise a thermodynamic cycle including three internal subcycles. Two of the subcycles combine to power a higher pressures turbine and third or main cycle powers a lower pressure turbine. One of the cycles increases the flow rate of a richer working solution stream powering the lower pressure turbine. Another one of the cycles is a leaner working solution cycle, which provides increased flow rate for leaner working solution stream going into the higher pressure turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: KALEX, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • Patent number: 7775045
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power plant system for producing power using a source of steam, comprising a vaporizer into which steam from a source of steam is supplied, for vaporizing organic working fluid flowing through the vaporizer; at least one turbine wherein one of the turbines is an organic vapor turbine to which the vaporized working fluid is supplied and which is suitable for generating electricity and producing; expanded organic vapor; a recuperator for heating organic vapor condensate flowing towards the vaporizer the expanded organic vapor exhausted from the organic vapor turbine and two or more stages of preheating means for additionally heating organic working fluid exiting the recuperator and flowing towards the vaporizer, wherein fluid extracted from one of the turbine is delivered to one of the stages of preheating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Uri Kaplan, Zvi Krieger
  • Patent number: 7765807
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heating a steam turbine comprising a high-pressure turbine section and a medium-pressure turbine section and/or a low-pressure turbine section. Said method is characterized by the essential aspect that the high-pressure turbine section is impinged upon by steam having relatively great conductivity while the medium-pressure turbine section or the low-pressure turbine section remains closed during said impingement following a cold start. As soon as the conductivity drops below a certain value, the medium-pressure turbine section or the low-pressure turbine section is also impinged upon by steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Henri Diesterbeck, Edwin Gobrecht, Karsten Peters, Rainer Quinkertz
  • Publication number: 20100186409
    Abstract: A method and system for improving the efficiency of a Rankine cycle. The system comprises an accumulator that stores a working fluid, a feed pump that pumps the working fluid from the accumulator into a boiler for heating the working fluid to form a dry saturated vapor. The system includes a turbine that expands the dry saturated vapor for generating power and condensing the dry saturated vapor into a volume of wet vapor, at least one vortex tube separating the wet vapor into a higher temperature component (TH) at hot side and a lower temperature component (TC) at cold side. The system further includes at least one heat exchanger for exchanging heat from the higher to lower temperature components. The vortex tube is adaptable to function in multiple configurations to increase the change in higher and lower temperature components by reducing the quantitative value of the lower temperature component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventor: THOMAS HERTEL
  • Publication number: 20100180567
    Abstract: An electrical generation system including a first gas turbine and a a heat recovery steam generator coupled to the gas turbine and including a low pressure super-heater having a low pressure super-heater output. The electrical generation system also includes a second gas turbine, an output duct coupled to the second gas turbine and a supplemental low pressure super-heater within the output duct and thermally coupled to the low pressure super-heater output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Saravanan Venkataraman Nattanmai, Shaji Abraham, Shivaprasad Lokanath, Ajit Singh Sengar
  • Publication number: 20100175378
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for alleviating the problem of windage heating when flow, in a turbine running at full speed, no load, decreases greatly at the exhaust of the high pressure sections of the turbine. Valves connecting the different pressure levels of a heat recovery steam generator to the input of the turbine are adjusted to mix steam coming from the different pressure levels to create desired steam conditions at the inlet and the exhaust output of the turbine that allow the use of existing steam path hardware and thereby reduce the cost of such piping. In an alternative embodiment for a single pressure HRSG, high pressure saturated steam is extracted from the HSRG evaporator and then flashed into superheated steam when passing thru a control valve, that is then used to create the desired steam conditions at the inlet and the exhaust output of the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Karen J. Tyler, Nestor Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20100170247
    Abstract: A combined Gasification, methanation and power island steam turbine system. The system includes a gasification portion, the methanation portion and a steam turbine portion. The Gasification portion includes the new heat recovery design and associated controls for obtaining a desired steam to dry gas ration of 1.1-2.2. The methanation portion includes first, second and third methanation reactors and associated heat recovery integrated with a high-pressure, low-pressure superheater, and HP economizers. The power Island steam turbine includes a High pressure, Intermediate pressure, low-pressure steam turbine having an input coupled to an output of the superheaters in Methanation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sampath Kumar Bommareddy, Karthik Subramanyan, James Michael Storey, Jerrold Samuel Kassman, Kurt Richard Imai
  • Publication number: 20100146973
    Abstract: Power generation systems and methods are disclosed for use with medium to high temperature heat source stream, gaseous or liquid, where the systems and methods permit efficient energy extraction for medium and small scale power plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: KALEX, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • Publication number: 20100146972
    Abstract: In a cement burning plant waste heat power generation system, an AQC boiler comprises an economizer, an evaporator and a superheater, and a PH boiler comprises a first evaporator and a superheater. A part of hot water heated by the economizer of the AQC boiler is fed through a flasher to the low pressure stage of a stream turbine, another part is superheated by the evaporator and the superheater of the AQC boiler, and further one part is superheated by the evaporator and the superheater of the PH boiler and these high pressure steams are fed to the high pressure stage of the stream turbine. The PH boiler is provided with a second evaporator on the outlet side of PH waste gas in addition to the evaporator and the superheater, and return hot water of the flasher is introduced into the second evaporator through a steam drum. Hot water heated by the second evaporator is introduced into the steam drum and its steam is fed to the low pressure stage of the stream turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: KAWASAKI PLANT SYSTEMS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsushi Sorita, Tatsuo Ino, Yukihiro Takenaka, Masao Shirai
  • Publication number: 20100132360
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steam generation plant, comprising a steam generator (1) with a combustion chamber (8), an evaporator, a superheater (9), an intermediate superheater (12), a condenser (14), a feed water preheater (16, 19, 19?) regeneratively heated by steam, a steam turbine set (2) with a high-pressure section (4), a medium pressure section (5) and a low-pressure section (6), a flue gas line (22), connected to the combustion chamber (8), an air supply line (21), for the supply of combustion air to the burner in the combustion chamber (8) and an air preheater (3) with flue gas and combustion air passing therethrough. An air line (23) branches off from the air supply line (21) downstream of the air preheater (3) in said steam generation plant and supplies an air-fractionation unit (25). Air coolers (34, 35) are arranged in the air line (23) through which the condensate or feed water from the condensate/feed water circuit from the steam generator (1) flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2006
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: MAN TURBO AG
    Inventor: Bernd Gericke
  • Publication number: 20100122533
    Abstract: Methods and systems for converting waste heat from cement plant into a usable form of energy are disclosed. The methods and systems make use of two heat source streams from the cement plant, a hot air stream and a flue gas stream, to fully vaporize and superheat a working fluid stream, which is then used to convert a portion of its heat to a usable form of energy. The methods and systems utilize sequential heat exchanges stages to heat the working fluid stream, first with the hot air stream or from a first heat transfer fluid stream heated by the hot air stream and second with the flue gas stream from a second heat transfer fluid stream heated by the hot air stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • Publication number: 20100107636
    Abstract: A steam power plant, in which steam from a steam generator is received by a steam turbine, is provided and includes a conduit, a main steam control valve (MSCV) disposed along the conduit to admit the steam to the steam turbine when a characteristic thereof satisfies a threshold, a bypass line, coupled to the conduit between a super-heater and a valve, including a bypass line valve which is opened until the threshold is satisfied such that the bypass line removes a portion of the steam, an evacuator line, coupled to the conduit between the MSCV and the steam turbine, including an evacuator valve which is opened to regulate a thermal environment within the steam turbine during a start up thereof, and a warming line originating between the valve and the MSCV on the conduit and terminating downstream of the evacuator valve disposed along the evacuator line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thileepan Panchatsaram, Aslam Basha
  • Publication number: 20100101227
    Abstract: Power generation systems and methods are disclosed for use with medium to high temperature heat source stream, gaseous or liquid, where the systems and methods permit efficient energy extraction for medium and small scale power plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: KALEX LLC
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • Publication number: 20100089059
    Abstract: A hybrid power plant is disclosed wherein a first power plant produces secondary steam of a first, relatively low temperature using a renewable source of energy such as geothermal or solar. The steam from the renewable source plant is passed through a fossil fuel power plant that has an operating temperature higher than that of the first temperature which results in superheating the first temperature steam to the higher temperature in the fossil fuel power plant. Higher efficiencies and reductions in emissions are obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Roger Ferguson, Luke Shors, Kenneth Bryden, Steven Michael Corns
  • Publication number: 20100089060
    Abstract: A hybrid power plant that combines a variety of renewable heat sources with a fossil fuel furnace system. Saturated steam generated by the renewable sources is routed through the fossil fuel fired furnace where superheat is added. The renewable sources would include geothermal, thermal solar, and biomass energy sources. Reductions in emissions per unit of power and cost per unit of power are obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Roger Ferguson, Steve Corns, Kenneth Bryden
  • Publication number: 20100083666
    Abstract: A process for the production of carbon dioxide in concentrated form and electricity from a hydrocarbon feedstock said process comprising the steps of: a) introducing an air feed stream comprising air and optionally steam and a fuel feed stream comprising methane and optionally hydrogen and/or steam to an autothermal reactor unit (ATR) for the production of synthesis gas wherein (i) the temperature of the fuel feed stream is in the range 350 to 7000 C; and (ii) the molar ratio of oxygen contained in the air feed stream to carbon (in hydrocarbons) in the fuel feed stream is from 0.45:1 to 0.85:1, preferably 0.6:1 to 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Peter Holroyd Brook, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
  • Patent number: 7690201
    Abstract: A method for improvement of a fossil fuel energy conversion into electrical energy for the simple sub- and supercritical steam cycle is proposed through introduction of additional regenerative cycle duties to improve the evaporation rate per unit of fuel burned, thus minimizing condenser heat loss of the working media. The additional duties provide a supplemental energy credit in the form of heat input to a steam generator where a modified combustion process is realized to convert fossil fuel into carbon monoxide and hydrogen at atmospheric pressure and thus achieving an essential reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) formation. The additional duties also involve a direct contact heat transfer to recover latent and thermal energy, contained in the discharged combustion products to provide yet another energy credit that satisfies both conventional and/or added regenerative cycle duties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Veritask Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Aleksandr Kravets
  • Publication number: 20100077750
    Abstract: This invention consists of a process for utilizing the atmospheric temperature variation with height to produce useful energy. It is accomplished by the use of a lighter than air condensable fluid or mixture of fluids circulating between heat exchangers at different altitudes, with a two phase flow return.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventor: Anthony Russo
  • Publication number: 20100077722
    Abstract: Systems and methods for augmenting the power generation capabilities of combined cycle power generation systems by more effectively recovering heat from exhaust gases of peaking cycle gas turbines are provided in the disclosed embodiments. In certain embodiments, the present techniques may include receiving superheated steam from a heat recovery steam generation (HRSG) unit. Heated exhaust gas from a peaking cycle gas turbine may be used to transfer heat to the superheated steam received from the HRSG. The systems used to transfer heat to the superheated steam may include a supplementary superheater located in an exhaust path of the peaking cycle gas turbine. The superheated steam exiting the supplementary superheater may be delivered to a steam turbine of a combined cycle power generation system, where the superheated steam may be used as a power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ajit Singh Sengar, Saravanan Venkataraman Nattanmai, Shivaprasad Lokanath
  • Patent number: 7681396
    Abstract: A steam turbine (10) with heating steam extraction includes a plurality of turbine sections (11, 12, 15, 17, 19, 20) for the high pressure, medium pressure and low pressure ranges, which turbine sections (11, 12, 15, 17, 19, 20) are arranged in each case in a separate casing and connected by a common shaft (28), and which includes one high pressure turbine (11), at least one subsequent medium pressure turbine (15, 17), which is connected on the outlet side to two series-connected heaters (21, 24) of a district heating circuit (27), and one subsequent low pressure turbine (19, 20). Safe control of high volumetric flows of steam is achieved by providing, for heating steam extraction, two medium pressure turbines (15, 17), which operate in parallel, in separate casings, and which are connected on the outlet side in each case to one of the heaters (21, 24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Dirk Hartmann, Franz-Josef Hoely
  • Publication number: 20100050637
    Abstract: A carbon-dioxide-capture-type steam power generation system 1 according to the present invention comprises a boiler 6 producing an exhaust gas 5 by combusting a fuel 2 and having a flue 8; an absorbing unit 40 being configured to absorb the carbon-dioxide contained in the exhaust gas 5 into an absorbing solution; and a regenerating unit 44 being configured to release the carbon dioxide gas from the absorbing solution absorbing the carbon dioxide and discharge the released carbon dioxide gas. Further, in this system, a reboiler 49 is provided for receiving a heating-medium as heat source, producing a steam 43 and supplying the produced steam 43 to the regenerating unit 44. Additionally, in the flue 8 of the boiler 6, a boiler-side heat exchanger 61 is provided for heating the heating-medium by the exhaust gas 5 passing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Katsuya Yamashita, Asako Inomata, Yukio Oohashi, Takashi Ogawa, Kazutaka Ikeda, Takeo Suga
  • Patent number: 7658073
    Abstract: A cooling system for a turbine with a first section and a second section. The first section may include a first line for diverting a first flow with a first temperature from the first section, a second line for diverting a second flow with a second temperature less than the first temperature from the first section, and a merged line for directing a merged flow of the first flow and the second flow to the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nestor Hernandez, Clement Gazzillo, Michael J. Boss, William Parry, Karen J. Tyler
  • Patent number: 7640746
    Abstract: A method to integrate collected solar thermal energy into the feedwater system of a Rankine cycle power plant is disclosed. This novelty uses a closed loop, single phase fluid system to collect both the solar heat and to provide the heat input into the feedwater stream of a regenerative Rankine cycle. One embodiment of this method of integrating solar energy into a regenerative Rankine power plant cycle, such as a coal power plant, allows for automatic balancing of the steam extraction flows and does not change the temperature of the feedwater to the boiler. The concept, depending on the application, allows for the spare turbine capacity normally available in a coal plant to be used to produce incremental capacity and energy that is powered by solar thermal energy. By “piggybacking” on the available components and infrastructure of the host Rankine cycle power plant, considerable cost savings are achieved resulting in lower solar produced electricity costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Markon Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Skowronski, Ronald Farris Kincaid
  • Patent number: 7640749
    Abstract: Contrasted to the prior art, the present invention presents a path for the cycle steam having the fewest possible changes in direction to minimize parasite pressure losses. This invention accommodates proportioning the flow areas of the moisture separator—reheater(s) assembly to optimize performance of extracting the maximum energy from the cycle steam and in view of the economics of first cost and operating cost. The reheater tubes are straight, not U-tubed, and sloped towards the reheat steam condensate discharge. It utilizes an internal baffle in the reheating steam manifold, features which would mitigate tube binding, steam distribution to the tube bundles, flow oscillations, etc. which are expensive and difficult to alleviate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Inventor: Hrant H. Yousoufian
  • Patent number: 7640750
    Abstract: A spent liquor recovery boiler in the pulp and paper industry including a water/steam circulation system having superheaters, the circulation system connected to a steam turbine comprising a high-pressure part, and a furnace for burning spent liquor to produce flue gases, and including an upper portion through which the flue gases flow, wherein the steam/water circulation system of the recovery boiler is provided with a reheater for reheating steam from the high-pressure part of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Andritz Oy
    Inventors: Kari Saviharju, Jorma Simonen, Olli Arpalahti, Lasse Koivisto
  • Patent number: 7614233
    Abstract: In a nuclear power plant, thermal power in a second operation cycle of a nuclear reactor is uprated from thermal power in a first operation cycle preceding the second operation cycle by at least one operation cycle. A proportion of steam extracted from a steam system and introduced to a feedwater heater, which is in particular extracted from an intermediate point and an outlet of a high pressure turbine, with respect to a flow rate of main steam, is reduced in the second operation cycle from that in the first operation cycle such that the temperature of feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater is lowered by 1° C. to 40° C. in the second operation cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Chaki, Kazuaki Kitou, Motoo Aoyama, Masaya Ootsuka, Kouji Shiina
  • Publication number: 20090266074
    Abstract: A first and any further number of pipe steamer devices are provided. Each pipe steamer device may include a ring which has a steam pipe connection opening, a steam pipe, a water pipe, and a heating element. Each steam pipe may have a proximal end which is connected to the appropriate steam pipe connection opening and a distal end which is connected to a proximal end of the appropriate water pipe. Each water pipe may have a distal end which is located closer to the appropriate heating element than its proximal end. Each of the first steam pipe and the first water pipe may have a spiral shape. The apparatus also include a first power reinforcer device which may include a first sack and a second sack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventor: George Uh-Schu Liau
  • Patent number: 7607304
    Abstract: A high pressure steam turbine is connected to a high pressure steam conduit and has a high pressure turbine output shaft connected to a system power output shaft, a bleed output, and a first output conduit for the output of steam at a reduced pressure and temperature. A tuning turbine is connected to the first output conduit and has a tuning turbine output shaft connected to the system power output shaft, and a tuning turbine output conduit for the output of steam from the tuning turbine at a reduced pressure and temperature to a heat exchanger of a regenerative heater system, and further having a bleed output connected to the regenerative system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Elsam Engineering A/S
    Inventor: Sven R. Kjær
  • Publication number: 20090229267
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steam power plant comprising at least one steam heater for preparing compressed steam, a main turbine, which is connected downstream of the steam heater, is arranged on a main drive shaft and is a high-pressure or medium-pressure turbine, and a secondary turbine, which is interposed between the steam heater and the main turbine and is arranged on a secondary drive shaft, characterized in that the secondary turbine has an at least 50% higher operating speed when compared with a nominal speed of the main turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Kai Wieghardt
  • Patent number: 7584614
    Abstract: A system for producing electricity by pumping a mixture of melted sodium/potassium metals through tubing within the walls of equipment which extends downward to the geothermal zone of the earth. The mixture of melted metals passes through a first heat exchange area producing steam, then passes downward through an insulated low pressure vacuum area from where it is pumped from the tubing into a high pressure, super conductive heat transfer zone at the bottom of the equipment located in the geothermal zone. The geothermal heated mixture of melted metals passes through insulated tubing in the insulated vacuum area into a super heat exchange area passing through water forming steam and into a super steamer producing super heated steam. The super heated steam passes through a line into turbines producing electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Inventor: Reinaldo Antonio Faget-Mora
  • Patent number: 7586036
    Abstract: A pedestal bracket assembly includes a support clamp and a support plate attached to the support clamp. The support clamp is capable of engagement with a vertical support member in a fixed manner. The support plate has an opening formed therein and is adapted for engagement with at least one wire basket. The opening is configured to receive the vertical support member. The support plate is also moveably connected to the support clamp such that the support plate is rotatable about the vertical support member. The pedestal bracket assembly also includes a plurality of retainer clips spaced apart from each other and releasably attached to the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: David R. Davis, Dennis J. Waszak, Stanley A. Brzezniak
  • Patent number: 7581395
    Abstract: Heat recovery equipment recovers heat from flue gas. The heat recovery equipment includes a power generation plant that drives a steam turbine by superheated steam produced in a boiler, and an exhaust-gas treatment line that treats flue gas output from the boiler. The exhaust-gas treatment line includes a first air preheater, a heat extractor unit, and a dry electrostatic precipitator. The power generation plant includes a condensed water line. The condensed water line includes a condenser, a condensed water heater, and a low-pressure feedwater heater. The condensed water heater heats water condensed by the condenser with the heat recovered by the heat extractor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Takeuchi, Yoshio Nakayama, Tsuyoshi Oishi, Satoshi Nakamura, Shinji Nakamura, Tsuyoshi Dohi, Chikayuki Nagata
  • Patent number: 7578142
    Abstract: The proposed method and the installation are intended for application in systems of reduction of natural gas from high—e.g. in a borehole or in a main pipeline down to the pressure value required for the consumer. The essence of the proposed method is that in the known method of utilization of natural gas energy in the process of gas pressure drop from increased, e.g. in a gas main pipeline down to the required value by conversion of natural gas expansion energy to mechanical energy with the aid of the gas cooled down in the process of pressure drop as a cooling agent, the innovation is multi-stage gas pressure drop and multi-stage take-off of generated cold. The essence of the proposed method is that a utilization power installation the inlet of which is connected to high pressure gas borehole or main pipeline (3) and the outlet—to low pressure natural gas pipeline or to low pressure natural gas consumer (7, 9), comprises a gas expansion machine (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Inventors: Vladimir Yarslavovich Vasiljev, Oleg Mikhailovich Kiselev
  • Patent number: 7568342
    Abstract: A supply pump actuating turbine, in particular for a power plant, that includes at least two jet sectors for introducing a working gas into the turbine, a line system for connecting the at least two jet sectors to at least two different sources of working gas, and a valve arrangement for setting the supply of the jet sectors with the working gas from at least one of the sources. The valve arrangement and the line system are designed in such a way that at least three operating states can be set: a first operating state, in which all the jet sectors are supplied with the working gas of the first source, a second operating state, in which all the jet sectors are supplied with the working gas of the second source, and a third operating state, in which at least one of the jet sectors is supplied with the working gas of the first source and at least one other of the jet sectors is supplied with the working gas of the second source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Reinhard Johannes Severin Cloppenburg, Dirk Hartmann, Stefan Klatt, Karsten Mueller
  • Patent number: 7562531
    Abstract: Method and system, in which a pair of pre-existing steam turbo-units, a first one of which is formed by a first steam turbine and a first electric generator connected on a first common shaft and a second one of which is formed by a second steam turbine and by a second electric generator connected on a second common shaft, are coupled to one another in a system configuration of a cross-compound type; in which high-pressure and medium-pressure sections of the first turbine are replaced with a single high-pressure section made in such a way as to maintain the pre-existing foundations, and in which high-pressure and medium-pressure sections of the second turbine are replaced with a single medium-pressure section made in such a way as to maintain the pre-existing foundations. A single supercritical boiler supplies in cascaded fashion one and the same flow of steam to the new high-pressure and medium-pressure sections set on the first shaft and on the second shaft, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Ansaldo Energia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Loris Falavigna, Alberto Torre
  • Publication number: 20090165460
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steam circuit in a power station, comprising at least one evaporator and at least one superheater, characterized in that a condensate collector and return line is provided between the superheater and the steam generator to trap condensate in the superheater and return the condensate to the evaporator
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Uwe Juretzek
  • Publication number: 20090158745
    Abstract: The present invention provides a regenerative superheater system for an ejector ramjet engine. The invention includes a superheater in thermal communication with the combustion chamber of the ramjet engine. The superheater transfers thermal energy from combustion chamber to an ejectant which is then redirected upstream to the ramjet ejector. In one embodiment of the invention the temperature of the ejectant is modulated by a variable geometry cooler that controls the amount of thermal energy removed from the superheater system by ambient air. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the temperature of the ejectant is modulated by a variable geometry superheater that controls the amount of thermal energy added to the superheater system through combustion gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventor: Fabio G. Grossi
  • Publication number: 20090151356
    Abstract: A control system includes a temperature sensor communicatively coupled to an exit of an expander of an expansion system and configured to detect temperature of the working fluid flowing through the exit of the expander. A pressure sensor is communicatively coupled to the exit of the expander and configured to detect pressure of the working fluid flowing through the exit of the expander. A controller is configured to receive output signals from the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor and control operation of one or more components of the expansion system so as to control the thermodynamic conditions at the exit of the expander while driving a quality of vapor of the working fluid at the exit of the expander towards a predetermined degree of superheat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gabor Ast, Michael Adam Bartlett, Thomas Johannes Frey, Herbert Kopecek, Helge Burghard Herwig Klockow, Matthew Alexander Lehar