Of Means Controlling Boiler Or Its Feed Patents (Class 60/667)
  • Patent number: 11085334
    Abstract: The present application relates to an exhaust steam waste heat recovering and supplying system used for air-cooling units in large thermal power plants. Each of the two steam turbines has independent exhaust steam extraction system, and the exhaust steam extraction system of each steam turbine is connected with corresponding pre-condenser to heat the return water of the heating network. The exhaust steam extraction system of each steam turbine is further connected with the corresponding steam ejector; the exhaust port of each steam is connected with the corresponding steam ejector condenser to heat the return water of the heating network. The exhaust steam waste heat of the air-cooling units in a thermal power plant can be recycled in high efficiency to improve the utility rate of the exhaust steam, increase heating capacity, reduce cold end loss to the largest extent, and maximize the energy saving benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Uni-Rising(Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qiqige Wulan
  • Patent number: 10718236
    Abstract: A turbine shaft bearing apparatus in a turbine module includes two axially spaced turbine shaft bearings, including an outlet side bearing protected from overheating by a solid bearing housing which surrounds the outlet side bearing. The bearing housing being provided with a support including conduit for a lubricating medium. The turbine module has plurality of axially spaced turbine wheels connected to a common turbine shaft and coaxial therewith; an inlet through which motive fluid vapor is introduced to a first stage of the turbine wheels; a structured bleeding exit opening formed in an outer turbine casing of the turbine module; and a passage defined between two of the turbine wheels and in fluid communication with the bleeding exit opening, wherein expanded motive fluid vapor may be extracted through the structured bleeding exit opening and supplied to a heat exchange component for heating the motive fluid condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Dany Batscha, Oren Ram, Anton Fiterman, Ran Reshef, Herzel Sharoni, Uri Kaplan
  • Patent number: 10619522
    Abstract: A heat recovery apparatus having a circuit that during operation circulates a working medium. The circuit may include an evaporator to evaporate the working medium, an expander arranged downstream of the evaporator to expand the working medium, and a condenser arranged downstream of the expander configured to condense the working medium. The expander may include a shaft to draw a torque at the expander. An injector pump may drive the working medium. The injector pump may include a driving fluid inlet, a suction inlet, and an injector outlet. The driving fluid inlet may be fluidically connected to the circuit between the evaporator and the expander. The suction inlet may be fluidically connected to the circuit between the condenser and the evaporator. The injector outlet may be fluidically connected to the circuit between the suction inlet and the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Bucher
  • Patent number: 10612423
    Abstract: An Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) device and method for transforming heat from a heat source into mechanical energy. The ORC includes a closed circuit containing a two phase working fluid. The circuit comprises a liquid pump for circulating the working fluid consecutively through an evaporator which is configured to be placed in thermal contact with the heat source; through an expander for transforming the thermal energy of the working fluid into mechanical energy; and through a condenser which is in thermal contact with a cooling element. The expander is situated above the evaporator. The fluid outlet of the evaporator is connected to the fluid inlet of the expander by a raiser column which is filled with a mixture of liquid working fluid and of gaseous bubbles of the working fluid, which mixture is supplied to the expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP
    Inventor: Henrik Ohman
  • Patent number: 10598093
    Abstract: A power generation system includes a turbine having an outlet. A high temperature recuperator has an inlet and is connected to the turbine outlet. A low temperature recuperator is connected to the high temperature recuperator. Each of the high and low temperature recuperators include a plurality of matrix panels interconnected together that define hot fluid channels and cold fluid channels arranged adjacent to each other in a counterflow and stair-step configuration. A compressor is connected to the low temperature recuperator and turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Jayanta S. Kapat, Jihua Gou, Narasimha Nagaiah, Joshua Schmitt
  • Patent number: 10227899
    Abstract: A system includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger configured to heat a heating fluid stream by exchange with a heat source in a crude oil associated gas processing plant; and an Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system. The Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system includes a heat exchanger configured to heat a first portion of a working fluid by exchange with the heated heating fluid stream; and a cooling subsystem including one or more cooling elements each configured to cool one or more of a process stream from the crude oil associated gas processing plant and a cooling water stream for ambient air cooling by exchange with a second portion of the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mahmoud Bahy Mahmoud Noureldin, Akram Hamed Mohamed Kamel
  • Patent number: 9982380
    Abstract: A laundry machine includes a body for defining an exterior; a water supply valve provided in the body and connected with an outer water supply; a drum rotatably mounted within the tub; at least one steam generator to supply steam ino the drum; and a water-adjust-valve to adjust the water amount supplied to the steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: In Geun Ahn
  • Patent number: 9739473
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a system to create vapor for generating electric power. The system includes a vessel comprising a fluid and a complex and a turbine. The vessel of the system is configured to concentrate EM radiation received from an EM radiation source. The vessel of the system is further configured to apply the EM radiation to the complex, where the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat. The vessel of the system is also configured to transform, using the heat generated by the complex, the fluid to vapor. The vessel of the system is further configured to sending the vapor to a turbine. The turbine of the system is configured to receive, from the vessel, the vapor used to generate the electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Nancy J. Halas, Peter Nordlander, Oara Neumann
  • Patent number: 9537319
    Abstract: Reconfigurable power systems and converters and operating methods therefor are disclosed. Reconfigurable power systems may include a DC power source, an electrical energy storage device, an AC power grid connection, and a power converter configured to selectively couple two or more of the DC power source, the electrical energy storage device, and the AC power grid connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignees: North Carolina State University, ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Babak Parkhideh, Hongrae Kim
  • Patent number: 9447702
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems that are configured as a closed loop system with a pump, an evaporator, a power generator, and a condenser, the combination of which circulates a working fluid to generate electrical power. The embodiments are configured with a cooling system that can depress the local pressure at or near components that are the target of cooling, which in turn permits the cooling fluid to function at temperatures that can remove heat, even when the ambient temperature rises above desirable levels. In one embodiment, the system is configured with an ejector device that can use energy of the working fluid F in vapor phase to lower the pressure in a housing, or like environment, that encloses critical elements of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventor: Sankar K. Mohan
  • Patent number: 9441576
    Abstract: Control means (32) that controls the actuation of Rankine cycle (8) is provided. An evaporator (10) is capable of absorbing heat from the waste heat of the internal combustion engine (4) with an upper limit of preset maximum heat absorption amount and transferring the heat to working fluid. The control means (32) controls the flow rate of the working fluid so that the working fluid evaporated by the evaporator (10) comes into a superheated state in a heater (18), when the working fluid enters the evaporator (10) at a flow rate equal to or lower than preset flow rate at which the working fluid can absorb the preset maximum heat absorption amount of heat, and controls the flow rate of the working fluid so that the working fluid that overflows the evaporator (10) is evaporated by the heater (18) and then comes into the superheat state, when the working fluid enters the evaporator (10) at a flow rate higher than the preset flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichiro Kasuya, Yasuaki Kanou
  • Patent number: 9297280
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for improving the efficiency of an internal combustion engine by using coolant vapor fed to a component converting the vapor energy to mechanical energy for supplementing the power of the engine when the engine is operating in a first state and bypassing the component when the engine is operating in a state other than its first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Reinhard Kreis
  • Patent number: 9016063
    Abstract: The invention concerns an ORC plant (Organic Rankine Cycle) for a conversion of thermal energy into electric energy, that comprises a heat exchange group for the exchange of heat between the thermal carrier fluid and a working fluid destined to feed at least one expander connected to an electric generator. The heat exchanger group comprises in succession at least one primary heater and a primary evaporator respectively for preheating and evaporation of the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Turboden S.R.L.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini
  • Publication number: 20150107248
    Abstract: An electricity production system configured to operate in accordance with a method of operating an electricity production system that at least includes the steps of: determining an oxygen distribution between oxygen gas to be separated by an air separation unit (“ASU”) and oxygen gas stored in a storage tank of the ASU to be fed to the boiler unit, determining a carbon capture value for a gas processing unit, determining a power consumption value for the gas processing unit and the ASU, determining a total power demand value based on the power consumption value of the gas processing unit and the ASU, and on a determined electricity demand, and controlling the boiler unit, the turbine, the ASU, and the gas processing unit based on the determined total power demand along with correcting signals generated from a coordinated Model Predictive Control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Xinsheng LOU, Shizhong Yang
  • Publication number: 20150107251
    Abstract: A method for setpoint value adjustment of a setpoint value, particularly for automatic power and/or frequency or primary and/or secondary frequency regulation, in a solar thermal steam power plant having a primary heat source that is not freely adjustable and an additional heat source and also to a solar thermal steam power plant is provided. A present power range for this solar thermal steam power plant is ascertained for at least one prescribed time during operation of the solar thermal steam power plant. This present power range is limited by an upper and a lower control range limit. For the setpoint value adjustment, a currently prescribed setpoint value for the solar thermal steam power plant is set in the present power range if the currently prescribed setpoint value is outside the present power range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Matthias Buggert, Wolfgang Wiesenmüller
  • Publication number: 20150107247
    Abstract: A method of operating an electricity production system having at least one oxy-combustion boiler unit and a turbine for electricity generation at least includes the steps of: determining a power demand for an air separation unit that supplies oxygen gas to the boiler unit and a gas processing unit that treats flows of fluid for CO2 capture; determining a total power demand for electricity production that includes the determined power demand for the air separation unit and the gas processing unit; and coordinating operation of the air separation unit, gas processing unit, the boiler unit, and the turbine such that power generated by the plant provides power that meets the determined total power demand and also controls steam pressure of the turbine to a pre-specified level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Xinsheng LOU, Shizhong YANG
  • Publication number: 20150052895
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger comprises an evaporator, a vapor-liquid separator, a liquid level sensor and a controller. The evaporator is used for heating a working fluid up to a vapor-liquid state, and has a working fluid inlet pipe and a working fluid outlet pipe. The vapor-liquid separator is connected to the working fluid outlet pipe for separating the working fluid into a vapor working fluid and a liquid working fluid. The liquid level sensor detects a level of the liquid working fluid inside the vapor-liquid separator and outputs a liquid level signal. The controller receives the liquid level signal and controls the vapor quality of the working fluid inside the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sung-Wei Hsu, Chi-Ron Kuo
  • Patent number: 8959917
    Abstract: A method for operating a forced-flow steam generator operating at variable pressure and at a steam temperature above 650° C. and reducing the minimum forced-flow load of the forced-flow steam generator, wherein the economizer of the forced-flow steam generator includes at least one high pressure pre-heater and/or a heat transfer system for preheating the working medium, the at least one high-pressure pre-heater and/or the heat transfer system arranged upstream as viewed in the working medium circuit direction, wherein if a predetermined partial load point is exceeded, the heat absorption of the working medium within at least one high-pressure pre-heater and/or the heat transfer system is reduced so that the temperature of the water/steam working medium at the outlet of the economizer is below the boiling point relative to the corresponding economizer outlet by a predetermined temperature difference, and a forced-flow steam generator for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Thoralf Berndt, Qiurong Chen
  • Publication number: 20150007567
    Abstract: A plant (10, 110) for the production of electric energy comprises a fuel boiler (11) in which a fluid is heated in order to produce steam, a turbine (15) which is connected to an electric generator (16) and to which said steam is conveyed, and a condenser unit (19) which re-condenses the fluid output from the turbine so that it may be conveyed back to the steam generator. The return fluid along the path from the condenser unit (19) to the boiler passes through a preheating unit (22) which receives heat from the turbine steam bleed-offs (23) and from a thermodynamic solar field (25). By making suitable use of the heat produced by the solar field (25) and contained in the heat-carrier fluid which passes through it, it is possible to increase the overall efficiency of the plant (10, 110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Falck Renewables Spa
    Inventors: Piero Manzoni, Di Persico Lorenzo, Michele Scapolo
  • Patent number: 8925320
    Abstract: An optimized Rankine thermodynamic cycle system and method include utilizing a working fluid including a base component and an effective amount of a lower boiling point component, where the effective amount is sufficient to raise a power utilization efficiency of the systems by up to 10%, without changing a weight of the fluid reducing turbine efficiency for the particular base component and for optimizing output control valves for adjusting the working fluid composition and temperature sensors measuring an initial temperature of a coolant medium and a final temperature of a heat source stream to computer control valves to continuously adjust a pressure and a flow rate of a working fluid stream to be vaporized so that a heat utilization of the system is about 99% increasing output by approximately 3% to 6% on a sustained and permanent yearly basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • Patent number: 8910478
    Abstract: A novel 3-Input-3-Output (3×3) Fuel-Air Ratio Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) controller is introduced, which can effectively control key process variables including Bed Temperature, Excess O2, and Furnace Negative Pressure of combustion processes of advanced boilers. A novel 7-input-7-output (7×7) MFA control system is also described for controlling a combined 3-Input-3-Output (3×3) process of Boiler-Turbine-Generator (BTG) units and a 5×5 CFB combustion process of advanced boilers. Those boilers include Circulating Fluidized-Bed (CFB) Boilers and Once-Through Supercritical Circulating Fluidized-Bed (OTSC CFB) Boilers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: General Cybernation Group, Inc.
    Inventors: George Shu-Xing Cheng, Steven L. Mulkey
  • Patent number: 8881761
    Abstract: A steam supply passage incorporates a pressure reducing valve and the passage further incorporates a steam ejector downstream of the pressure reducing valve. A suction portion of the steam ejector is connected to a re-evaporation tank for re-evaporating steam condensate via a suction passage. Passage steam of the pressure reducing valve is used as a driving steam for the steam ejector. In operation, re-evaporated steam within the re-evaporation tank is suctioned by the steam ejector to be mixed with the passage steam. The suction passage incorporates a check valve for preventing reverse flow of steam to the re-evaporation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: TLV Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Matsukawa
  • Patent number: 8794001
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus that suppress cavitation includes a first on/off valve provided between a steam generator and an expander in a circulating channel; a bypass channel connected between an area between the steam generator and the first on/off valve and an area between the expander and a condenser; a second on/off valve provided in the bypass channel; a third on/off valve provided between a pump and the steam generator; and a controller. When stopping the pump, the controller outputs a control signal that stops the pump, a control signal that closes the first on/off valve, a control signal that opens the second on/off valve, and a control signal that closes the third on/off valve. In the case where a predetermined condition has been met, the controller outputs a control signal that closes the second on/off valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Tsuboi, Masayoshi Matsumura
  • Patent number: 8789371
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus including a boiler feedwater pump turbine control system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a power generation apparatus is disclosed, including: a boiler feedwater pump turbine having a low pressure steam inlet and a high pressure steam inlet; a high pressure control valve for controlling admission of high pressure steam to the high pressure steam inlet; a low pressure control valve for controlling admission of low pressure steam to the low pressure steam inlet; and a control system operably coupled to the high pressure control valve and the low pressure control valve, the control system configured to close the low pressure control valve and prevent flow of the low pressure steam to the boiler feedwater pump turbine in response to a request for increased power output from a power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Charles Henry Kleine
  • Patent number: 8752383
    Abstract: A boiler system for producing steam from water includes a plurality of serially arranged oxy fuel boilers. Each boiler has an inlet in flow communication with a plurality of tubes. The tubes of each boiler form at least one water wall. Each of the boilers is configured to substantially prevent the introduction of air. Each boiler includes an oxy fuel combustion system including an oxygen supply for supplying oxygen having a purity of greater than 21 percent, a carbon based fuel supply for supplying a carbon based fuel and at least one oxy-fuel burner system for feeding the oxygen and the carbon based fuel into its respective boiler in a near stoichiometric proportion. The oxy fuel system is configured to limit an excess of either the oxygen or the carbon based fuel to a predetermined tolerance. The boiler tubes of each boiler are configured for direct, radiant energy exposure for energy transfer. Each of the boilers is independent of each of the other boilers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Jupiter Oxygen Corporation
    Inventors: Brian R. Patrick, Tom L. Ochs, Danylo B. Oryschyn, Cathy A. Summers
  • Publication number: 20140130499
    Abstract: A steam turbine installation that has a steam turbine, a steam generator and a feed water pre-heating unit operated by process steam is provided. The steam turbine has an overload bypass line with which main steam can be fed to the feed water pre-heating unit between the steam turbine input and the extraction point during overload operation of the steam turbine, wherein the feed water pre-heating unit has an auxiliary extraction line that is connected to the overload bypass line in such a way that process steam can be extracted from the steam turbine during partial load operation of the steam turbine and added to the feed water pre-heating unit for the additional pre-heating of feed water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Carsten Graeber, Thomas Loeper, Michael Wechsung
  • Publication number: 20140033715
    Abstract: A main stream temperature control system for a large boiler comprises a PID module, A/D converters (M2, M3, M4, and M5), D/A converters (M6 and M7), electrical water spray adjusting valves (AA101 and AA102) and main stream temperature sensors (T1, T2, T3, and T4) for the boiler. The system uses a function module (f (x)), a differential module, a division module, multiplication modules (F1 and F2), addition and subtraction modules (J1, J2, J3, and J4), set value modules (K1-K6), selection modules (N1 and N2), a time pulse module (S1) and small value comparison modules (Z1 and Z2) in a distributed control system, so as to construct a real-time online optimized circuit and form an independent automatic control system for dynamic tracking and stable control, thereby increasing the thermal economic index of the boiler, and achieving the objective of energy saving and emission reduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicants: SHANXI ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, SHANXI ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
    Inventors: Zijun Ni, Chanbao Zhang, Qiugang Duan, Bing Zhang, Zhiqiang Long, Xiaojun Ma, Lihua Du, Lihua Hao, Yanwen Liu, Zhiyu Ni, Hong Yang, Yansheng Du
  • Patent number: 8590307
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery plant control system includes a programmable controller configured to generate expander speed control signals, expander inlet guide vane pitch control signals, fan speed control signals, pump speed control signals, and valve position control signals in response to an algorithmic optimization software to substantially maximize power output or efficiency of a waste heat recovery plant based on organic Rankine cycles, during mismatching temperature levels of external heat source(s), during changing heat loads coming from the heat sources, and during changing ambient conditions and working fluid properties. The waste heat recovery plant control system substantially maximizes power output or efficiency of the waste heat recovery plant during changing/mismatching heat loads coming from the external heat source(s) such as the changing amount of heat coming along with engine jacket water and its corresponding exhaust in response to changing engine power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Herbert Kopecek, Gabor Ast, Thomas Johannes Frey, Sebastian Freund, Pierre Sebastien Huck
  • Patent number: 8534069
    Abstract: A control system manages and optimizes a geothermal electric generation system from one or more wells that individually produce heat. The control system includes heat sensors that measure temperature and fluid flow and are placed at critical points in the wells, in piping, in a hot fluid reservoir, in a cold fluid reservoir and in a cooling system. The control system also includes pump and valve controls, generator controls, a network for gathering information and delivering instructions, and a processing module that collects information and communicates control information to each component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Michael J. Parrella
  • Patent number: 8499562
    Abstract: A geared fluid drive arrangement in which a constant speed motor is used to start a “full-size” boiler feed pump, and is able to operate the pump at a limited speed and correspondingly limited power adequate to fill, pressurize and feed water to a boiler such as would be used for an electrical generating plant to start-up and to operate stably at part load, but not necessarily full load. After the boiler is operating stably, steam from the boiler or from an extraction point of the main turbine is admitted to a mechanical drive steam turbine in order to drive the same “full-size” pump to the normal operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Melbourne F. Giberson
  • Publication number: 20130186091
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a short-term increase in power in a steam turbine including a fossil-fired steam generator having a flow path through which a flow medium flows. The method involves tapping off the flow medium from the flow path in a pressure stage and injecting it into the flow path on the flow-medium side upstream of a super heater heating surface of the respective pressure stage. A first characteristic value is used as a controlled variable for the amount of injected flow medium. The first characteristic value is characteristic of the deviation between the outlet temperature of a final super heater heating surface of the respective pressure stage on the flow medium side and a predetermined nominal temperature value. The nominal temperature value is reduced and, for the duration of the reduction in the nominal temperature value, the characteristic value is temporarily increased over-proportionately to the deviation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Martin Effert, Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20130180244
    Abstract: A novel 3-Input-3-Output (3×3) Fuel-Air Ratio Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) controller is introduced, which can effectively control key process variables including Bed Temperature, Excess O2, and Furnace Negative Pressure of combustion processes of advanced boilers. A novel 7-input-7-output (7×7) MFA control system is also described for controlling a combined 3-Input-3-Output (3×3) process of Boiler-Turbine-Generator (BTG) units and a 5×5 CFB combustion process of advanced boilers. Those boilers include Circulating Fluidized-Bed (CFB) Boilers and Once-Through Supercritical Circulating Fluidized-Bed (OTSC CFB) Boilers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL CYBERNATION GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: GENERAL CYBERNATION GROUP, INC.
  • Patent number: 8464530
    Abstract: A control system manages and optimizes a geothermal electric generation system from one or more wells that individually produce heat. The control system includes heat sensors that measure temperature and fluid flow and are placed at critical points in the wells, in piping, in a hot fluid reservoir, in a cold fluid reservoir and in a cooling system. The control system also includes pump and valve controls, generator controls, a network for gathering information and delivering instructions, and a processing module that collects information and communicates control information to each component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventor: Michael J. Parrella
  • Publication number: 20120312021
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus that suppress cavitation includes a first on/off valve provided between a steam generator and an expander in a circulating channel; a bypass channel connected between an area between the steam generator and the first on/off valve and an area between the expander and a condenser; a second on/off valve provided in the bypass channel; a third on/off valve provided between a pump and the steam generator; and a controller. When stopping the pump, the controller outputs a control signal that stops the pump, a control signal that closes the first on/off valve, a control signal that opens the second on/off valve, and a control signal that closes the third on/off valve. In the case where a predetermined condition has been met, the controller outputs a control signal that closes the second on/off valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: NOBORU TSUBOI, MASAYOSHI MATSUMURA
  • Patent number: 8291704
    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: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Chaki, Kazuaki Kitou, Motoo Aoyama, Masaya Ootsuka, Kouji Shiina
  • Publication number: 20120227406
    Abstract: A thermal power plant includes a boiler for burning fossil fuel to generate steam, a steam turbine including a high-pressure turbine, an intermediate-pressure turbine, and a low-pressure turbine which are driven by steam generated in the boiler, an absorber for absorbing and capturing CO2 contained in boiler exhaust gas discharged from the boiler in an absorbing liquid, a desorber for circulating the absorbing liquid between the desorber and the absorber and separating CO2 from the absorbing liquid that has absorbed CO2, a reboiler for feeding a heating source for separating CO2 from the absorbing liquid to the desorber, a steam pipe system for feeding steam taken out from the high-pressure turbine and the intermediate-pressure turbine to the reboiler, and a steam feed source switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya KOSAKA, Nobuyoshi Mishima, Takashi Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20120192564
    Abstract: A thermal power plant includes carbon dioxide capture scrubbing equipment that suppresses reductions in the efficiency and output of a steam turbine, and, at the same time, reduces variations in the amount of steam supplied from a solar heat collection apparatus to a reboiler and variations in the temperature and pressure of reboiler generated steam, and stably carries out reactions for separating carbon dioxide from an absorbent by heating. The thermal power plant includes the carbon dioxide capture scrubbing equipment for capturing carbon dioxide from a boiler exhaust gas and the solar heat collection apparatus. Steam generated by the solar heat collection apparatus is supplied to the reboiler provided for a regeneration tower of the carbon dioxide capture scrubbing equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Mishima, Takashi Sugiura, Toshihiko Sakakura
  • Patent number: 8221056
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are presented for mixing a high temperature steam, perhaps leaked from an upstream turbine, with the cooler steam from a lower temperature, downstream turbine and introducing the mixture into the downstream turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Douglas Carl Hofer
  • Patent number: 8186161
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gabor Ast, Michael Adam Bartlett, Thomas Johannes Frey, Herbert Kopecek, Helge Burghard Herwig Klockow, Matthew Alexander Lehar
  • Patent number: 8104283
    Abstract: A technique of controlling a boiler system such as that used in a power generation plant includes using manipulated variables associated with or control inputs to a reheater section of the boiler system to control the operation of the furnace, and in particular to control the fuel/air mixture provided to the furnace or the fuel to feedwater ratio used in the furnace or boiler. In the case of a once-through boiler type of boiler system, using the burner tilt position, damper position or reheater spray amount to control the fuel/air mixture or the fuel to feedwater flow ratio of the system provides better unit operational efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Xu Cheng, Charles H. Menten, Richard W. Kephart
  • Patent number: 8028526
    Abstract: A geared fluid drive arrangement in which a constant speed motor is used to start a “full-size” boiler feed pump, and is able to operate the pump at a limited speed and correspondingly limited power adequate to fill, pressurize and feed water to a boiler such as would be used for an electrical generating plant to start-up and to operate stably at part load, but not necessarily full load. After the boiler is operating stably, steam from the boiler or from an extraction point of the main turbine is admitted to a mechanical drive steam turbine in order to drive the same “full-size” pump to the normal operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventor: Melbourne F. Giberson
  • Patent number: 7997078
    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: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Chaki, Kazuaki Kitou, Motoo Aoyama, Masaya Ootsuka, Kouji Shiina
  • Publication number: 20110120127
    Abstract: A process for utilizing synthesis gas heat for the generation of supercritical steam in a low energy ammonia or methanol plant is disclosed. The process involves a reforming or partial oxidation stage, at least one supercritical steam generator having a shell side and a tube side, at least one superheater, at least one back pressure turbine, at least one extraction and condensing turbine, and at least one boiler feedwater pump. The synthesized synthesis gas is sent to the shell side of the supercritical steam generator, and the supercritical steam generator is fed with pressurized feedwater. The feedwater flow is adjusted to maintain the steam temperature at the exit of the supercritical steam generator in the range of 375-500° C. The supercritical steam is generated in the supercritical steam generator at a pressure of 225-450 bar, the supercritical steam is further heated in a superheater to a temperature of 500-750° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: UHDE GMBH
    Inventors: Dennis Lippmann, Joachim Johanning
  • Publication number: 20110023487
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a waste heat recovery steam generator of the once-through steam generator type in a combined cycle power plant, the flow volume of the feedwater into the steam generator is controlled based on a measured steam temperature at the outlet of a superheater and on a set-point value for the steam temperature for a steam turbine. A degree of superheating at the outlet of a high-pressure evaporator, a degree of subcooling at the inlet into the high-pressure evaporator, and the measured current flow volume of the feedwater are integrated in the control system in a plurality of control steps. For an optimum operation during rapid load changes, the method especially comprises additional controlling of the degree of subcooling of the flow medium at the inlet into the high-pressure evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventor: Hamid OLIA
  • Patent number: 7826908
    Abstract: A method of controlling a power generating unit or other process equipment with a slow reaction time includes creating a feedforward control signal to selectively include a fast response rate component or a slow response rate component based on the average rate at which a load demand set point signal has changed during a particular previous period of time. The method then uses the developed feedforward control signal to control the power generating equipment or other slowly reacting process equipment. In particular, a control method switches between introducing a fast or a slow response component within a feedforward control signal based on whether the change in the load demand set point over a particular period of time in the past (e.g., an average rate of change of the load demand set point signal) is greater than or less than a predetermined threshold. This method is capable of providing a relatively fast control action even if the expected load demand set point change is in a small range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Xu Cheng, Charles H. Menten, Richard W. Kephart
  • Publication number: 20100205965
    Abstract: An arrangement including at least one steam turbine and one condenser is provided. Further, a method to operate such an arrangement is provided. A regenerative deheater is arranged in the steam flow between the steam turbine and the condenser, by which the steam, superheated exhaust steam, exiting the steam turbine is cooled down before entering the condenser and by which a feed-water stream is heated up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Lawrence Hoffman, Cheryl Lynn Hoffman, Scott Macadam, Udo Tielcke
  • Patent number: 7533530
    Abstract: An engine comprising a detonation chamber in thermal communication with a tank, a fuel system connected to the chamber, and a controller wherein energy from fuel detonations in the chamber is transferred to a fluid in the tank. By rapidly transferring the energy from the chamber, the detonation produces little or no toxic by-products. The fluid in the tank is energized to provide power for a wide range of machines from large equipment to small appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Inventor: Geoffrey B. Courtright
  • Patent number: 7475541
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is equipped with an internal combustion engine, a motor/generator, and a Rankine cycle system for recovering thermal energy of exhaust gas. The output of the Rankine cycle system is input into a transmission or, alternatively, converted into electric power and used for charging a battery. The Rankine cycle system has temperature setter that sets the temperature of steam at the outlet of an evaporator. A pressure setter is provided for setting steam pressure at the inlet of an expander. A pressure controller is provided for controlling the steam pressure at the inlet of the expander. The evaporator generates steam to be supplied at a pressure that is optimum for the expansion ratio of the expander. The Rankine cycle system is operated when the vehicle is accelerating or cruising and efficiently recovers thermal energy of the exhaust gas and reduces the fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Ibaraki, Takeo Kiuchi, Tsuneo Endoh, Akihisa Sato
  • Publication number: 20080184706
    Abstract: A complex fluid machine has an expansion-compressor device, a pump, and a motor generator, wherein the expansion-compressor device, the pump, and the motor generator are operatively connected and arranged in series, and a power transmitting device for disconnecting the pump from the motor generator, when the expansion-compressor device is driven by the motor generator so as to be operated as a compressor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, NIPPON SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Keiichi Uno, Hironori Asa, Yasuhiro Takeuchi, Hideji Yoshida, Akihiro Imura, Atsushi Inaba, Hiroshi Kishita, Hiroshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7398652
    Abstract: A system for determining performance characteristics of a combustion heating process. The system uses input parameters that are controllable by an operator or control system to determine a set of controllable loss components. The controllable loss components may be summed to produce an efficiency index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Pegasus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Kosvic, Philip A. Weintz, Brad Radl, David Wroblewski, Robert O'Connor