Including Superheating, Desuperheating, Or Reheating Patents (Class 60/653)
-
Patent number: 6253552Abstract: An apparatus for heating a multicomponent working fluid includes a circulating fluidized bed configured to combust a collection of solid particles producing flue gases carrying particulate matter. Heat from the flue gases is transferred to a multicomponent working fluid contained within a plurality of first fluid tubes forming an enclosure for containing and directing a flow of the flue gases. The enclosure may also contain additional tubes forming a superheater. A separator receives the flue gases from the enclosure and separates the particulate matter therefrom expelling a first portion of the flue gases substantially without the separated particulate matter and a second portion of the flue gases containing the particulate matter. A heat exchanger receives the second portion of the flue gases provided as an output from the separator. An adjustable flow controller regulates the flow from the separator of the second portion of the flue gases to the heat exchanger and to the enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1999Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: ABB Combustion EngineeringInventor: Lawrence J. Peletz, Jr.
-
Patent number: 6233939Abstract: In a steam power station, the condensate used as feedwater is preheated up close to the boiling temperature by means of partial steam mass flows from the turbine steam quantity. Due to the steam extraction, the following steam-turbine stages can draw less power from the steam fluid. To avoid the reduction in the power output at the following steam-turbine stages, provision is made for the waste heat from fuel cells to be used for preheating the condensate. Due to the preheating of the feedwater from the waste heat of the fuel cells and the associated increase in the steam quantity participating in the expansion, an increase in the efficiency of the steam process is achieved.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2000Date of Patent: May 22, 2001Assignee: ABB Patent GmbHInventors: Ung-Lap Ngo-Beelmann, Klaus Behnke, Michael Witt
-
Patent number: 6233940Abstract: In the partial-regeneration cycle gas turbine system wherein part of the air compressed by a compressor 2 is extracted before a combustor 3, mixed with steam, and after the mixed gas is superheated by exhaust heat of a turbine, and the mixed gas is injected into the combustor, high-pressure steam is used as a fluid for driving a first mixer 22 that compresses extracted air, to increase the ratio of extracted air to steam, and then this mixed gas of extracted air and steam is further mixed with low-pressure steam from a low-pressure exhaust heat boiler, in a second mixer, and the mixture of gas is superheated in a superheater 6 by exhaust heat of the turbine, and injected into the combustor. Thus, the pressure of the driving steam can be raised, an exergy loss in an exhaust heat recovery portion can be reduced, and the efficiency of power generation can be increased without reducing the flow of generated steam.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2000Date of Patent: May 22, 2001Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. Ltd.Inventor: Shigekazu Uji
-
Patent number: 6152085Abstract: The invention concerns a boiler comprising at least a first heat exchanger (10) with its inlet connected to a water supplying duct (18) and its outlet connected, through a first regulating valve (30) to a steam turbine, either directly, or through a second heat exchanger (12). During the starting phase the regulating valve (30) is closed and as long as the fluid at the first heat exchanger (10) outlet is a mixture of water and steam, all the water is transformed into steam by condensation and the regulating valve (30) is opened only when the fluid at the first evaporator outlet is pure steam.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1999Date of Patent: November 28, 2000Assignee: Cockerill Mechanical Industries S.A.Inventors: Alfred Dethier, Pierre Grandjean
-
Patent number: 6134891Abstract: A quick power regulation for a power station system is achieved by activating energy storage mechanisms of the power station system process. The energy storage mechanisms are used to increase the generator power. At least the generator power and a thermal power extracted from the power station system process are determined as process variables. The process variables characterize the current operating state and determine position setpoint values of actuators. A device for a quick power regulation receives at least values of the generator power and a thermal power extracted from the power system process. The control device determines position setpoint values for a number of actuators connected to a steam turbine of the power station.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 1998Date of Patent: October 24, 2000Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Oldrich Zaviska, Reinhold Ackenheil
-
Patent number: 6089023Abstract: The flue gas temperature coming from an air preheater to a particulate collection device such as an electrostatic precipitation or fabric filter is reduced to improve the operation of the particulate collection device. This may be done by reducing the exit flue gas temperature from the air preheater or reducing the temperature after exiting. In one embodiment, air in excess of that needed for combustion is passed through the air preheater with the heated excess air either being dumped or used for a variety of purposes in the plant. A particular embodiment involves segmenting the air outlet side of a rotary regenerative air preheater and withdrawing the excess air from the segment where the dust loading is the lowest. Further, additional cooling of the flue gas can be provided by reducing the quantity of primary air that typically bypasses the air preheater and then providing other ways to control the primary air temperature to the pulverizers.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1998Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.Inventors: David K. Anderson, Wayne S. Counterman, Mark Palkes, Friedrich W. Pinnekamp, Kjell E. G. Porle, Michael J. Rini, James David Seebald, Srivats Srinivasachar, Majed A. Toqan
-
Patent number: 6085829Abstract: Heat is exchanged between high and low temperature gases in a regenerator type of heat exchanger, wherein the high temperature gas is conducted through a high temperature passage formed in a housing, and the low temperature gas is conducted through a low temperature passage formed in the housing. A porous heat transfer core is rotated such that portions of the core pass sequentially through the high and low temperature passages. The high temperature gas traveling in the high temperature passage is caused to flow through, and heat, a portion of the core disposed in the high temperature passage. The low temperature gas traveling in the low temperature passage is caused to flow through, and be heated by, a heated portion of the core disposed in the low temperature passage. A low pressure zone is established in a chamber situated at each location where the core travels from one of the passages to the other.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1998Date of Patent: July 11, 2000Assignee: Solo Enery CorporationInventors: Peter D. Neuhaus, Rajiv K. Mongia, Robert W. Dibble, Steven G. Buckley
-
Patent number: 6052997Abstract: An improved combined cycle low temperature engine system is provided in which a circulating expanding turbine medium is used to recover heat as it transverses it turbine path. The recovery of heat is accomplished by providing a series of heat exchangers and presenting the expanding turbine medium so that it is in heat exchange communication with the circulating refrigerant in the absorption refrigeration cycle. Previously recovery of heat from an absorption refrigeration subsystem was limited to cold condensate returning from the condenser of an ORC turbine on route to its boiler. By utilizing the turbine medium a more efficient system is provided. Specifically, a minimum of a double digit efficiency improvement when compared to the net power output of a conventional low-pressure steam turbine, is obtainable.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1998Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Inventor: Joel H. Rosenblatt
-
Patent number: 6035637Abstract: This invention is an efficient free-piston internal-combustion engine having an expansion ratio greater than the compression ratio and preferably with gas bearings supporting the piston. The use of gas bearings in combination with high-temperature ceramic materials allows the engine to be nearly adiabatic and with exhaust temperatures in excess of 600.degree. C. These high exhaust temperatures in turn allow the engine to operate as a topping cycle for gas turbines, Stirling engines, steam engines, etc. An improved valving system for flexible control of the engine may include the use of a valve actuator in a piston. In one embodiment, a pair of oppositely disposed combustion chamber passageways extending between the combustion chamber and the earth's atmosphere, each have a combustion-chamber valve for controlling the passage of gas through the passageways.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1998Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Sunpower, Inc.Inventors: William T. Beale, William L. Kopko
-
Patent number: 6035642Abstract: A method is provided which refurbishes a Rankine cycle vapor generator initially having a plurality of Rankine heaters for supporting a Rankine cycle subsystem. The method removes at least one of the Rankine heaters, and replaces the at least one removed Rankine heater with a non-Rankine heater for a Kalina cycle subsystem. The vapor generator comprises a first plurality of tubes for receiving a first working fluid, and a second plurality of tubes for receiving a second working fluid. The first plurality of tubes are directed along a first path exposed to heat from a heat source to increase the temperature of the first working fluid within the first plurality of tubes. The second plurality of tubes are directed along a second path exposed to heat from the heat source to increase the temperature of the second working fluid within the second plurality of tubes.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1999Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Lawrence J. Peletz, Jr., Michael C. Tanca
-
Patent number: 6032468Abstract: A conventional steam power plant or a combined power plant is provided with intermediate superheating. At least part of the superheated steam in the superheater (3) and the intermediately superheated steam in the intermediate superheater (9) are subject to an indirect heat exchange. The device is characterized in that the superheater (3) and the intermediate superheater (9) are provided with at least one mutual superheater/intermediate superheater heat exchanger unit (19). The unit (19) includes, for example, a double-walled pipe (21) whose inner pipe is provided for the superheater steam flow, and whose outer pipe is provided for the intermediate superheater steam.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1998Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AGInventors: Mircea Fetescu, Werner Kessel
-
Patent number: 6029454Abstract: In order to obtain a particularly compact steam power plant (1) with a plurality of pressure stages (4a, 4b) mounted on a common turbine shaft (6), a condenser (10) is mounted at the outflow side in the axial direction of the turbine shaft (6) and a feed-water preheater (14) has a modular design. The feed-water preheater (14) has a plurality of heat exchanger modules (20, 22) which are arranged in a common housing (24) and may be heated by steam (A.sub.N, A.sub.H) tapped from one or all pressure stages (4a, 4b). The heat exchanger modules (20, 22) are mounted in series at the feed-water side and in parallel at the tapped steam side.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 1998Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Volker Kefer, Armin Drosdziok
-
Patent number: 6014863Abstract: A waste-to-energy incineration system, in which the amount and heat value of exhaust gas largely changes in long and short periods, comprises an incinerator for burning waste, a boiler in the incinerator for generating steam with exhaust heat generated by the incinerator, a superheater for superheating steam generated in the boiler, a steam turbine driven by steam superheated by the superheater, a generator driven by the steam turbine, a fuel reformer for reforming source fuel, and a combustor burning fuel gas reformed by the fuel reformer and at least a part of exhaust gas led from the incinerator which is able to stably decompose generated dioxin in waste incineration exhaust gas.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1997Date of Patent: January 18, 2000Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Tsutomu Okusawa, Kazuhito Koyama, Masahiko Yamagishi, Shigeo Hatamiya, Taiko Ajiro, Megumi Sunou, Yukio Ishigaki
-
Patent number: 6009711Abstract: An apparatus for producing power from a geothermal fluid that is a mixture of high pressure steam and brine comprising a separator, a steam turbine coupled to a generator, a steam condenser, the vaporized organic fluid is supplied to a superheater, an organic vapor turbine coupled to a generator, an organic vapor condenser. The apparatus further comprises a preheater which preheats the organic condensate and produces a stream of pre-heated organic fluid that is supplied to the steam condenser as well as a stream of cooled steam condensate. A recuperator is provided for transferring heat from the heat depleted organic fluid produced by the organic vapor turbine to organic condensate produced by the organic vapor condenser. The heated organic condensate produced by the recuperator is supplied to the preheater while cooled, heat depleted organic vapor produced by the recuperator is supplied to the organic vapor condenser.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1997Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.Inventors: Zvi Kreiger, Uri Kaplan
-
Patent number: 6003317Abstract: A method of generating steam for a steam turbine includes extracting a first partial flow of saturated steam from a steam drum. The first partial flow of saturated steam is throttled and then superheated by heat exchange with a second partial flow of the saturated steam. A steam power plant includes a steam turbine having a water/steam cycle in which a steam drum is connected. A separate sealing-steam line leads from said steam drum to said steam turbine. A heat exchanger in said sealing-steam line has a primary side and a secondary side. The primary side is connected to said steam drum and a throttle member is connected between said secondary side and said steam drum. A method of starting a steam turbine of a steam power plant usees the sealing steam. The steam surbine is put at an especially low risk of corrosion even during restarting after shutdown.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1998Date of Patent: December 21, 1999Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Wolfgang Neubert
-
Patent number: 5996350Abstract: An apparatus and a method for the superheating of steam is used, in particular, for converting saturated steam into hot steam in the field of nuclear energy generation. As a result of at least partial conversion of pressure energy of the steam into kinetic energy, in particular into kinetic energy of a rotational flow, the steam cools and condensate and residual steam are generated. After the condensate has been separated from the residual steam, the latter is superheated as a result of a reduction of its kinetic energy and is converted into hot steam.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 1998Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Johann Meseth
-
Patent number: 5953918Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle. A heated gaseous working stream including a low boiling point component and a higher boiling point component is separated, and the low boiling point component is expanded to transform the energy of the stream into useable form and to provide an expanded relatively rich stream. This expanded rich stream is then split into two streams, one of which is expanded further to obtain further energy, resulting in a spent stream, the other of which is extracted. The lean unexpanded stream and the spent rich stream are then combined in a regenerating subsystem with the extracted stream to reproduce the working stream, which is then efficiently heated in a heater to provide the heated gaseous working stream that is separated.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1998Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: Exergy, Inc.Inventors: Alexander I. Kalina, Richard I. Pelletier, Lawrence B. Rhodes
-
Patent number: 5950433Abstract: A method of implementing a thermodynamic cycle by expanding a gaseous working stream to transform its energy into a useful form and produce an expanded gaseous stream, removing from the expanded gaseous stream an extracted stream, absorbing the extracted stream into a lean stream having a higher content of higher-boiling component than is contained in the extracted stream to form a combined extracted/lean stream, at least partially condensing the combined extracted/lean stream, combining at least part of the combined extracted/lean stream in condensed form with an oncoming working stream including a rich stream having a lower content of higher-boiling component than is contained in the extracted stream to provide a combined working stream, and heating the combined working stream with external heat to provide the gaseous working stream.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1996Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Exergy, Inc.Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
-
Patent number: 5943865Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a flue gas stream entering a Selective Catalytic Reduction chamber in a steam generating power plant that utilizes Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) to lower NO.sub.x emissions is disclosed. The method involves the utilization of superheated steam to control the temperature of the flue gas prior to the flue gas entering the Selective Catalytic Reduction chamber such that there is a reduction in lost energy to the thermodynamic steam cycle caused by spray desuperheating.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1998Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Inventor: Mitchell B. Cohen
-
Patent number: 5937652Abstract: Carbon dioxide; from a boiler flue gas stream is separated, recycled and utilized for gasification of coal or biomass to increase fuel utilization and to decrease the carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1997Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Inventor: Fawzy T. Abdelmalek
-
Patent number: 5925223Abstract: A process and apparatus for improving the thermal efficiency of a steam turbine power generating plant while simultaneously desalinating seawater or brine and purifying water which contains minerals, salts, and other dissolved solids. Exhaust gases from a power plant is heat exchanged against water in a secondary ecomomizer which circulates water at a temperature near, or slightly above the dewpoint of the combustion exhaust of the high-pressure boiler. The heated water is flashed to produce low-pressure steam. The low-pressure steam is condensed against the last effect of a multi-effect desalinization unit. Steam from the first effect of the desalination unit is condensed against steam condensate from the power plant turbine to preheat the condensate and thereby recover heat from the power plant's exhaust gas. Salinous water is fed to the multi-effect desalinization unit to produce fresh water and a concentrated brine.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 1997Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Inventors: Gary D. Simpson, Karl Lin
-
Patent number: 5850739Abstract: A method of operating a steam turbine facility which includes a turbine with at least a high pressure or a medium pressure cylinder and a steam reheater connected to the turbine and a valve-control bypass line connected across the reheater. During nominal and steady state operating modes of the facility, cold, steam leaving the turbine's high or medium pressure cylinder is split into two streams controlled by the valves. One stream amounting to 90%-50% of the steam leaving the turbine is fed to the bypass line while the other stream amounting to 10%-50% thereof is fed to the reheater for heating to a temperature of 650.degree.-850.degree. C. at a pressure not exceeding 0.1-1 Mpa. The streams of reheated and bypass steam are then merged and then mixed to form a single combined stream which is fed back to the turbine. The method enhances the cost effectiveness and reliability of the facility by reducing to zero the steam moisture once the expansion process in the turbine is complete.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 1996Date of Patent: December 22, 1998Inventor: Sergey Alexandrovich Masnoi
-
Patent number: 5832728Abstract: A process for transmitting or storing energy in which a gasseous working fluid is compressed and cooled, relative to isentropic compression, by a coolant. The energy used to perform the compression is recovered by expansion, while heat from the coolant is used to reheat the working fluid, thus maximizing efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1997Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Inventor: Erik S. Buck
-
Patent number: 5822991Abstract: A method for exercising control over the final predefined superheat outlet steam temperature and for exercising control over the final predefined reheat outlet steam temperature from a circulating fluidized bed steam generator having a furnace volume embodying at least superheat surface, a multichambered backpass volume embodying at least superheat surface within one chamber of the multichambered backpass volume and at least reheat surface within another one of the multichambered backpass volume, a first circulatory fluid flow path operative as an evaporative steam loop, and a second circulatory fluid flow path operative as a superheat steam-reheat steam loop and including a saturated steam segment, a superheat steam segment, a reheat steam segment and an economizer segment.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1997Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Stephen A. Pierzchala, Bruce W. Wilhelm
-
Patent number: 5793831Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the efficiency and performance of a steam driven power plant wherein addition of steam handling equipment to an existing plant results in a surprising increase in plant performance. For Example, a gas turbine electrical generation system with heat recovery boiler may be installed along with a micro-jet high pressure and a low pressure mixer superheater. Depending upon plant characteristics, the existing moisture separator reheater (MSR) can be either augmented or done away with. The instant invention enables a reduction in T.sub.hot without a derating of the reactor unit, and improves efficiency of the plant's electrical conversion cycle. Coupled with this advantage is a possible extension of the plant's fuel cycle length due to an increased electrical conversion efficiency. The reduction in T.sub.hot further allows for a surprising extension of steam generator life.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1996Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Georgi V. Tsiklauri, Bruce M. Durst, Andrew W. Prichard, Bruce D. Reid, James Burritt
-
Patent number: 5735140Abstract: A pneumatic apparatus produces high density dry ice pellets without external electric or hydraulic energy. The apparatus operates solely on compressed air for reduced capital and maintenance costs and for portability to harsh or remote locations. An air-over-oil booster is connected to a pelletizing cylinder which is in turn connected to a source of liquid CO.sub.2 through an electronic controller. The controller sequences a set of fluid valves for operation of both the booster and pelletizing cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1996Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Assignee: Waste Minimization and Containment, Inc.Inventors: James R. Becker, Russell Furmanek
-
Patent number: 5671601Abstract: Power is produced from high presser geothermal fluid by separating the fluid into high pressure steam and high pressure brine, expanding the high pressure steam in a high pressure turbogenerator for producing power and heat depleted steam, and separating liquid from the heat depleted steam thereby producing dried heat depleted steam at a pressure and temperature lower than the pressure and temperature of the high pressure steam. The liquid so separated, and the high pressure brine are combined in a flash chamber which produces steam which is combined with the dried heat depleted steam and expanded in a lower pressure turbogenerator for producing additional power. Optionally, some of the high pressure steam is used to reheat the dried heat depleted steam and the steam produced by the flash chamber before such steam is expanded in the lower pressure turbogenerator.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1994Date of Patent: September 30, 1997Assignee: Ormat Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Gilbert Riollet, Nadav Amir, Moshe Grassianni, Asher Elovic, Yoel Gilon, Alex Moritz
-
Patent number: 5588298Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying heat to an externally fired power system by using a multistage system having two or more combustion zones. Each combustion zone has an associated heat exchanger that conveys a respective working fluid stream from the externally fired power system. Each combustion zone receives a portion of the total amount of combustion fuel, and the amount of fuel and air supplied to each combustion zone is adjusted to control the temperature to a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1995Date of Patent: December 31, 1996Assignee: Exergy, Inc.Inventors: Alexander I. Kalina, Mark D. Mirolli
-
Patent number: 5570579Abstract: A method is provided for improving the efficiency of a small-size power plant based on an ORC process. The plant comprises at least one energy converter unit, with a power range below 500 kW, and at least one burner for combustion of fuel for producing energy for the energy converter unit. The energy converter unit includes a high-speed machine which comprises first and second turbines and a generator mounted on a common rotor having rotational speed exceeding 8000 rpm. An ORC medium is vaporized in a vaporizer by utilizing energy derived from the combustion of the fuel in the burner, and then expanded in the first turbine of the high-speed machine to produce electric energy. The ORC medium leaving the first turbine is then reheated by a superheater of the vaporizer utilizing energy derived from the combustion of the fuel in the burner.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1994Date of Patent: November 5, 1996Assignee: High Speed Tech Oy Ltd.Inventor: Jaakko Larjola
-
Patent number: 5531073Abstract: A Rankine cycle power plant includes a pair of multistage turbine modules each of which has an input for receiving vaporized working fluid and an output shaft, and each of which is responsive to vaporized working fluid applied to its input for expanding the working fluid and producing work at the output shaft and heat depleted working fluid that is superheated. An electrical generator is located between the modules and directly coupled to their output shafts. Superheated, heat depleted working fluid from one of the modules is supplied to the input of the other of the modules.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1995Date of Patent: July 2, 1996Assignee: Ormat Turbines (1965) LtdInventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Asher Elovic
-
Patent number: 5526386Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the efficiency and performance of a nuclear electrical generation system that comprises the addition of steam handling equipment to an existing plant that results in a surprising increase in plant performance. More particularly, a gas turbine electrical generation system with heat recovery boiler is installed along with a micro-jet high pressure and a low pressure mixer superheater. Depending upon plant characteristics, the existing moisture separator reheater (MSR) can be either augmented or done away with. The instant invention enables a reduction in T.sub.hot without a derating of the reactor unit, and improves efficiency of the plant's electrical conversion cycle. Coupled with this advantage is a possible extension of the plant's fuel cycle length due to an increased electrical conversion efficiency. The reduction in T.sub.hot further allows for a surprising extension of steam generator life.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1995Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Georgi V. Tsiklauri, Bruce M. Durst
-
Patent number: 5477683Abstract: A method for use during starting and/or low-load operation of a once-through boiler. The method includes the steps of generating steam in a steam generator; separating water from the steam in a moisture separator; heating the steam in a superheater and feeding the steam to a high-pressure turbine; returning expanded steam from the high-pressure turbine to a reheater for heating before supplying the steam to an intermediate-pressure turbine; supplying the separated water from the moisture separator to a reheater flashbox; and feeding stream separated in the reheater flashbox to the reheater.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1992Date of Patent: December 26, 1995Assignee: ABB Carbon ABInventor: Rune Persson
-
Patent number: 5457721Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the efficiency and performance a of nuclear electrical generation system that comprises the addition of steam handling equipment to an existing plant that results in a surprising increase in plant performance. More particularly, a gas turbine electrical generation system with heat recovery boiler is installed along with a high pressure and a low pressure mixer superheater. Depending upon plant characteristics, the existing moisture separator reheater (MSR) can be either augmented or done away with. The instant invention enables a reduction in T.sub.hot without a derating of the reactor unit, and improves efficiency of the plant's electrical conversion cycle. Coupled with this advantage is a possible extension of the plant's fuel cycle length due to an increased electrical conversion efficiency. The reduction in T.sub.hot further allows for a surprising extension of steam generator life.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1994Date of Patent: October 10, 1995Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Georgi V. Tsiklauri, Bruce M. Durst
-
Patent number: 5442919Abstract: The final reheater in a circulating fluidized bed combustion system which is located in a separate fluidized bed heat exchanger and which would be subjected to hot solids without any cooling after a blackout or turbine is cooled by bleeding a portion of the steam from the superheater outlet through a normally closed high pressure drop valve and into the final reheater. A valve downstream from the final reheater is also opened to permit flow.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1993Date of Patent: August 22, 1995Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.Inventor: Bruce W. Wilhelm
-
Patent number: 5392606Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to provide a fuel efficient source of readily converted energy to an isolated or remote energy consumption facility. External heat from any of a large variety of sources is converted to an electrical, mechanical, heat or cooling form of energy. A polyatomic working fluid energized by external heat sources is dissociated to a higher gaseous energy state for expansion through a turbine prime mover. The working fluid discharge from the turbine prime mover is routed to a recouperative heat exchanger for exothermic recombination reaction heat transfer to working fluid discharged from the compressor segment of the thermodynaic cycle discharge. The heated compressor discharge fluid is thereafter further heated by the external heat source to the initial higher energy state.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 1994Date of Patent: February 28, 1995Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Solomon D. Labinov, James R. Sand
-
Patent number: 5379588Abstract: A combined cycle power system is disclosed in which condensate from a steam turbine is reheated in at least one heat recovery steam generator by exhaust gas from at least one gas turbine, and wherein at east one heat recovery steam generator includes at least one superheater and at least one reheater. In a preferred arrangement, the high temperature section of the superheater is located within the heat recovery steam generator so as to present first heat exchange surfaces to exhaust gas entering the heat recovery steam generator from at least one gas turbine, to thereby lower the exhaust gas temperature at the inlet to the reheater.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1992Date of Patent: January 10, 1995Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Leroy O. Tomlinson, Raub W. Smith
-
Patent number: 5161377Abstract: A method and installation for generating energy using the BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion) reaction wherein condensate is pumped from an expansion chamber and is fed to a first heat exchanger. There, the liquid gas is heated in a first step to a certain temperature. The liquid gas is heated in a second heat exchanger with a safety valve to a higher temperature and, while expanding, is introduced via a pre-expansion valve, at the end of a feed line, to a BLEVE-reaction chamber. The BLEVE-reaction takes place in the reaction chamber, during which gas is released and supplied via the outlet pipe to a gas turbine. The gas turbine drives a generator. The turbine and the generator may be housed in the closed expansion chamber. The cycle of the method is controlled by means of a regulating control. The method described is particularly suited for a thermal power plant, the waste heat of which is transformed into electricity.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1991Date of Patent: November 10, 1992Inventors: Rudolf Muller, Eike J. W. Muller
-
Patent number: 5149247Abstract: The HP-MP steam turbine body has a single internal stator surrounding both the HP and the MP portions of the rotor. The internal stator co-operates with the external stator to define axial positioning means for the internal stator and to define a thermal screen for an inter-stator space which is swept with steam taken from one of the last stages of the HP stream. The portions of the internal stator which surround all of the expansion of the HP stream and the hot stages of the MP stream are steam-conditioned in optimum manner, thereby making it possible to reduce the temperature gradient which the internal stator has to withstand, and also the temperature of the fastenings for both of the stators. The internal stator is simple in structure, the dimensioning of the HP-MP body is optimized, as are the fastenings, and the temperature control of the stators.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1990Date of Patent: September 22, 1992Assignee: GEC Alsthom SAInventors: Jean-Pierre Gros, Patrick Laffont
-
Patent number: 5044163Abstract: In plants for generating steam using waste heat, the heat in the hot waste gases flowing through the steam generator must be utilized with maximum efficiency. To this end, the feed water is branched into two streams, one of which flows into the high-pressure heating surfaces and the other into the heating surfaces of the medium-pressure evaporator. The division of the two streams is controlled as a function of the quality of the steam, so that the steam in the heating surfaces of the intermediate superheater is heated to the same temperature as the steam in the heating surfaces of the high-pressure superheater. The invention is particularly useful in combined gas and steam turbine power plants.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1990Date of Patent: September 3, 1991Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Hermann Bruckner, Lothar Stadie, Josef Pulec
-
Patent number: 4982568Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle, which includes heating and preferably partially evaporating a multicomponent liquid working stream with heat released from the partial condensation of a returning spent stream. The preferably partially evaporated working stream is then completely evaporated with heat transferred from an external heat source, which is preferably a geothermal heat source. The evaporated stream is expanded to produce the spent stream, which, in turn, is condensed to produce the multicomponent liquid working stream.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1989Date of Patent: January 8, 1991Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
-
Patent number: 4887431Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling superheater outlet temperature of a steam generator utilizes a feed-forward control signal to control a spray attemperator. The feed-forward control signal is developed as a difference between a selected flow rate for steam required by a turbine operated by the steam generator, and a measured flow rate of steam from a steam drum above the steam generator.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1989Date of Patent: December 19, 1989Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox CompanyInventor: William J. Peet
-
Patent number: 4873827Abstract: A steam turbine plant comprising: (a) first, second and third turbines which are coaxially combined with each other; (b) a boiler for supplying high pressure steam to the first turbine; (c) first, second and third bypass means for selectively bypassing steam around the first, second and third turbines, respectively, wherein each of the bypass means comprises means for cooling the steam; (d) a condenser for condensing steam discharged from the third turbine; (e) means for forming a vacuum in the condenser; (f) a first reheater for reheating steam discharged from the first turbine and out of the first bypass means and supplying the steam to the second turbine; (g) a second reheater for reheating steam discharged from the second turbine and from the second bypass means and for supplying the steam to the third turbine; (h) first, second and third control valves for controlling steam flow rates flowing into the first, second and third turbines, respectively; (i) first, second and third bypass valves for controllinType: GrantFiled: September 30, 1988Date of Patent: October 17, 1989Assignee: Electric Power Research InstituteInventors: Yoshikazu Hadano, Eiji Tsunoda, Ichiro Kajigaya
-
Patent number: 4870823Abstract: In the operation of a turbine system composed of apparatus (6,12,14,16) for generating steam and a turbine first stage (4) having inlet nozzles connected to be supplied with steam from the steam generating apparatus (6,12,14,16), the steam generating apparatus (6,12,14,16) being composed of a cascade arrangement of a boiler (6) producing steam at a selected pressure which has an assigned lower limit value, a primary superheater section (12), one or more division valves (14) presenting a steam flow passage having a controllable cross-sectional area, and a secondary superheater section (16) connected between the division valves (14) and the inlet nozzles, a method for reducing the output of the system at low load levels comprising: reducing the cross-sectional area of the steam flow passage presented by the division valves (14); and increasing the rate at which heat is supplied to the steam in the secondary superheater section (16) by an amount coordinated with the reduction imparted to the cross-sectional areaType: GrantFiled: November 30, 1988Date of Patent: October 3, 1989Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventor: George J. Silvestri, Jr.
-
Patent number: 4862692Abstract: In order to obviate a short life and an expensive maintenance cost of boiler throttle valves as well as plant loss caused by pressure reduction at the boiler throttle valves in a supercritical pressure once-through boiler a supercritical pressure once-through boiler, in which boiler water transformed into steam in boiler furnace wall tubes is further heated in a superheater and is then fed to a main turbine, is improved in that boiler throttle valves and a heat recovery apparatus are provided on the downstream side of the boiler furnace wall tubes.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1988Date of Patent: September 5, 1989Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Seiji Fukuda, Kaneko Shozou, Takuji Fujikawa, Hiroshi Oda, Tadashi Gengo, Kazushi Fukui
-
Patent number: 4819434Abstract: The invention is concerned with an improvement in a steam turbine having a boiler having a first superheater, a first conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end being connected to said first superheater, a pressurized liquid working fluid source connected to said inlet end of said first conduit, said first superheater being adapted to convert said liquid working fluid to superheated vapor, a second conduit having an input end and an output end, said input end being connected to receive said vapor from said superheater, and a turbine connected to receive said vapor from said output end of said second conduit. The improvement comprises a structure for restricting flow through the second conduit. A third conduit is adapted to conduct a first portion of the superheated vapor from the second conduit from downstream of the restricting structure to a second superheater wherein the first portion of the superheated vapor is further superheated.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1987Date of Patent: April 11, 1989Inventor: Chris R. Gudmundson
-
Patent number: 4799356Abstract: A synthesis gas-power generation complex is disclosed, the complex being characterized by ability to generate sufficient electrical power for internal use and for export, and by structure for improved heat recovery and utilization. A process for synthesis gas production and power generation utilizing these concepts is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1986Date of Patent: January 24, 1989Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventor: Egon L. Doering
-
Patent number: 4763480Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle with preheating, involves expanding a gaseous working fluid to a medium pressure to transform its energy into usable form. The expanded gaseous working fluid is split into two different streams. One stream is further expanded to a spent low pressure level to produce further usable energy. This stream is then condensed. The other of the two streams is used to preheat the condensed stream and is mixed with the condensed stream at a point upstream of the point of preheating. This decreases the irreversibilities in the preheating process and enables greater efficiencies to be achieved.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 1986Date of Patent: August 16, 1988Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
-
Patent number: 4757687Abstract: An electric power generating system includes a substantially conically tapering tower adapted to provide for the condensation of a vaporized fluid which has risen to the top of the tower. The condensate falls back to ground level, in a stream which actuates an electrical current generating turbine. The system can provide for the vaporization of the fluid to occur as a result of proximal association with a flowing water source, and a subsequent super heating of the vaporized fluid by proximal association with a source of waste heat such as a neighboring power plant.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1987Date of Patent: July 19, 1988Inventor: Gamal E. D. Nasser
-
Patent number: 4666662Abstract: A steam generator recirculating system for use with the secondary coolant of the steam generators of a pressurized water nuclear reactor is comprised of two separate recirculation loops. Each loop contains a common discharge line into which a secondary coolant discharge line and blowdown discharge line from at least one steam generator feeds. The common discharge line contains a recirculating pump and a heat exchanger, with bypasses provided about each. The common discharge lines discharge into branch feedlines back to the steam generators. The system may also be used as a blowdown system leading to a steam generator blowdown processing system and may include a water purification means and used to purify the secondary coolant water. Cross-connecting lines are provided to permit optional use of a particular loop with various steam generators.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1984Date of Patent: May 19, 1987Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventors: Robert A. Loose, James S. Schlonski, Claude C. Steinkuhler
-
Patent number: 4604867Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle with intercooling, includes a condensing subsystem, a boiler, and a turbine. The boiler may include a preheater, an evaporator, and a superheater. After initial expansion in the turbine, the fluid may be diverted to a reheater to increase the temperature available for superheating. After return to the turbine and additional expansion, the fluid may be withdrawn from the turbine and cooled in an intercooler. Thereafter the fluid is returned to the turbine for additional expansion. The cooling of the turbine gas may provide additional heat for evaporation. Intercooling may provide compensation for the heat used in reheating and may provide recuperation of available heat which would otherwise remain unused following final turbine expansion.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1985Date of Patent: August 12, 1986Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina