Serially Connected Motor With Intermotor Supply Or Withdrawal Of Motive Fluid Patents (Class 60/677)
  • Patent number: 11926535
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for decontamination of effluent, includes connecting a first ejector to source of a first motive fluid, directing from the first ejector first motive fluid into piping connected to a source of effluent thus causing the effluent to stream in the piping and simultaneously causing the effluent to be heated, and controlling the directing of the first motive fluid in such a way that a predetermined thermal effect is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Pharmtec SA
    Inventor: Mats Mickos
  • Patent number: 11359517
    Abstract: A system including a pump, a boiler coupled to the pump, a turbine coupled to the boiler, a two-phase expander coupled to the turbine, and a condenser coupled to the two-phase expander and the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Regi U.S., Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Porter, Allen MacKnight, Paul W. Chute, Lynn Petersen
  • Patent number: 10794277
    Abstract: An energy storage system is disclosed. The energy storage system includes a turbo train drive, a hot heat sink, and a reservoir. The turbo train drive is in mechanical communication with a compressor and an expander. The hot heat sink is in thermal communication between an output of the compressor and an input of the expander. The reservoir is in thermal communication between an output of the expander and an input of the compressor. The compressor and the expander, via the turbo train drive, are operable between a charging function for charging the hot heat sink and a discharging function for discharging the hot heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Aestus Energy Storage, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Wagner, Ercan Dumlupinar
  • Patent number: 10767557
    Abstract: A system for generating electricity comprising a turbine and a generator coupled to the turbine by a generator shaft so that an armature of the generator rotates when the turbine blades of the turbine are rotating, wherein rotation of the armature produces electricity. The system comprising a reservoir and a pressure sensor capable of providing a stream of signals corresponding to the pressure in the reservoir. The system selectively operating in one of a first operating mode, a second operating mode, a third operating mode, and a fourth operating mode. The mode of operation being selected based on a determination of the pressure in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventors: Ladan Behnia, Alireza Yazdanshenas
  • Patent number: 10233789
    Abstract: A method of operating a combined heat and power plant (10) (CHP plant) includes generating hot flue gas and cooling the hot flue gas in a sequence of cooling steps to recover heat and to generate steam in a heat recovery steam generator (16) (HRSG). The HRSG (16) includes an LP steam evaporator (36) designed to generate steam at least over a pressure range of from 2 bar(g) to 18 bar(g) so that either LP steam or MP steam can selectively be generated by the LP steam generator (36), thereby to cool the hot flue gas, and an MP steam superheater (24) upstream of the LP steam evaporator (36) to superheat MP steam in heat exchange with the hot flue gas thereby to cool the hot flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Sasol Technology Proprietary Limited
    Inventors: Franco Gasparini, Rian Wessels, Corné Welgemoed
  • Patent number: 9945238
    Abstract: A steam turbine 10 according to an embodiment includes: a casing 20 having a turbine rotor 22; a diaphragm outer ring 23 arranged at an inner side of the casing 20, and having a hollow part 30 inside thereof; a diaphragm inner ring 24 arranged at an inner side of the diaphragm outer ring 23; and a stationary blade 25 joined to the diaphragm outer ring 23 by welding and supported between the diaphragm outer ring 23 and the diaphragm inner ring 24. A non-joint part 61 existing at a part of a joint part 60 between the diaphragm outer ring 23 and the stationary blade 25, and in which an end part at an outer diameter side of the stationary blade 25 is not welded to the diaphragm outer ring 23; and a suction part 40 collecting waterdroplet or a water film from the non-joint part 61 are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tadayuki Hashidate, Junichi Tominaga, Shinichiro Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9316122
    Abstract: A steam cycle system comprises a boiler comprising a superheat section, a reheat section, and an economizer section, wherein the boiler is configured to receive a feedwater stream; a steam turbine system comprising a high pressure turbine and a lower pressure turbine, wherein the steam turbine system is configured to receive steam generated by the boiler; a condenser configured to receive at least a portion of the outlet steam from the steam turbine system and output the feedwater stream; a high pressure feedwater heat exchanger configured to receive at least a portion of the feedwater stream, allow for an energy exchange between the portion of the feedwater stream and a steam stream, and output the portion of the feedwater stream to the boiler; a steam extraction line configured to provide a steam flow from an outlet of the high pressure turbine to the high pressure feedwater heater; a feedwater temperature control device configured to control the temperature of the feedwater stream by modulating the energy
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Labbe
  • Patent number: 9091182
    Abstract: A method comprises heating a feedwater stream in a feedwater heater, boiling the feedwater stream in a boiler to produce a steam stream, superheating the steam stream in the boiler to produce a superheated steam stream, producing power using the superheated steam stream to produce an outlet steam stream, using a first portion of the outlet steam stream to provide heat for the heating step, and modulating the flow of the first portion of the outlet steam stream below a full flow to allow the superheated steam stream to meet a superheated steam set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Labbe
  • Patent number: 9003798
    Abstract: The application discloses an organic Rankine Cycle system with a generating unit, a condenser for condensing an organic work fluid, a feeder pump for circulating the organic work fluid and an evaporator (14) for evaporating the organic work fluid. The generating unit comprises a high-pressure screw expander and a low-pressure screw expander, which are connected in series, wherein the high-pressure screw expander and the low-pressure screw expander are mechanically connectable to a generator, which is provided between the high-pressure screw expander and the low-pressure screw expander. The ORC system comprises a by-pass line for bypassing the high-pressure screw expander. The bypass line comprises a control valve for opening and closing the by-pass line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cyclect Electrical Engineering Pte.
    Inventor: Hideharu Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20150082793
    Abstract: A device for power generation according to a Rankine cycle, in particular according to an organic Rankine cycle (ORC), comprises a turbine (16), for expanding a vapour of a working fluid, and at least one heat exchanger (18, 20, 22), through which the expanded vapour has to flow. The turbine (16) and the heat exchanger(s) (18, 20, 22) are contained in a vapour tight container (10). The turbine (16) is a radial-outward-flow type turbine having a shaft that is led in a sealed manner out of said container (10), an axial vapour inlet port arranged opposite the shaft and located inside the container (10), and a stator exhaust ring with stator exhaust blades defining peripheral vapour exhaust openings for discharging the expanded vapour directly into the vapour tight container (10), in which the expanded vapour flows through the heat exchanger(s) (18, 20, 22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Luc Maîtrejean
  • Patent number: 8959916
    Abstract: A thermal power plant is proposed for achieving high reliability, low material cost, and low construction cost by devising the arrangement and structures of a boiler, steam turbines, and a flue gas treatment apparatus to reduce a usage amount of high-temperature resistance material and further to reduce a thermal elongation of piping. In a thermal power plant including a 2 pass-type boiler having a furnace for burning fuel, a rear heat recovery area for recovering heat from combustion gas exhausted from the furnace, steam turbines are arranged near the rear heat recovery area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yamamoto, Masato Handa, Naoyuki Nagafuchi, Naohiro Kusumi, Mitsuko Fukuda, Tsuyoshi Shibata, Shinji Matsuura
  • 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: 20150020527
    Abstract: A steam turbomachine includes a housing having a shell that defines a steam flow path, a first stage bowl cavity formed in the shell, a first stage including a plurality of first stage nozzles and a plurality of first stage buckets arranged downstream of the plurality of first stage nozzles, a second stage including a plurality of second stage nozzles and a plurality of second stage buckets arranged downstream of the plurality of second stage nozzles. The second stage is arranged downstream of the first stage along the steam flow path. A bypass circuit is formed in the shell. The bypass circuit extends from a first end fluidically connected to the first stage bowl cavity to a second end fluidically exposed to the steam flow path upstream of the second stage. A valve element is positioned in, and selectively blocks, the bypass circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: David Michael Ebbing, Patrick Anthony Razzano, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140373542
    Abstract: The application discloses an organic Rankine Cycle system with a generating unit, a condenser for condensing an organic work fluid, a feeder pump for circulating the organic work fluid and an evaporator (14) for evaporating the organic work fluid. The generating unit comprises a high-pressure screw expander and a low-pressure screw expander, which are connected in series, wherein the high-pressure screw expander and the low-pressure screw expander are mechanically connectable to a generator, which is provided between the high-pressure screw expander and the low-pressure screw expander. The ORC system comprises a by-pass line for bypassing the high-pressure screw expander. The bypass line comprises a control valve for opening and closing the by-pass line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Cyclect Electrical Engineering
    Inventor: Hideharu Yanagi
  • Patent number: 8869531
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering energy from waste heat are provided. The system includes a waste heat exchanger coupled to a source of waste heat to heat a first flow of a working fluid. The system also includes a first expansion device that receives the first flow from the waste heat exchanger and expands it to rotate a shaft. The system further includes a first recuperator coupled to the first expansion device and to receive the first flow therefrom and to transfer heat from the first flow to a second flow of the working fluid. The system also includes a second expansion device that receives the second flow from the first recuperator, and a second recuperator fluidly coupled to the second expansion device to receive the second flow therefrom and transfer heat from the second flow to a combined flow of the first and second flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy James Held
  • Patent number: 8863521
    Abstract: A steam turbine plant of one embodiment includes a boiler configured to change water into steam, a high pressure turbine including a turbine or turbines connected to each other in series, and having a first inlet to supply the steam from the boiler, an extraction port located at a downstream of the first inlet, a second inlet to supply the steam extracted from the extraction port and located at a downstream of the extraction port, and an exhaust port located at a downstream of the second inlet, the high pressure turbine being configured to be driven by the steam supplied from the first and second inlets, an extraction steam heater configured to heat the steam extracted from the extraction port and to supply the heated steam to the second inlet, a reheater configured to heat the steam exhausted from the exhaust port, and a reheat turbine configured to be driven by the steam from the reheater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koichi Goto, Nobuo Okita
  • Patent number: 8857183
    Abstract: The steam turbine includes the high-and-intermediate pressure turbine of the single flow type, the intermediate-pressure turbine of the single flow type, and the steam passage that communicates a location on a part way of the steam flow inside the high-and-intermediate pressure turbine, to the steam inlet of the intermediate-pressure turbine. The high-and-intermediate pressure turbine includes the high-pressure part on the steam inlet side and the intermediate-pressure part on the steam outlet side. The steam passage feeds a part of the steam having passed through the high-pressure part, from the location between the high-pressure part and the intermediate-pressure part, to the intermediate-pressure turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20140283518
    Abstract: Provided is a steam turbine system including: at least one high pressure turbine, and/or at least one intermediate pressure turbine, and at least one first low pressure turbine, mounted on a first rotary shaft that is coupled to drive at least one first electrical generator; and at least one further low pressure turbine, mounted on a further rotary shaft that is coupled to drive at least one further electrical generator; and the turbine system further including a steam supply system to supply low pressure steam to the low pressure turbines provided with a steam outlet to enable extraction of auxiliary process steam from a location in the steam supply system upstream of the further low pressure turbine but not upstream of the first low pressure turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: DOOSAN BABCOCK LIMITED
    Inventor: Pramurtta Shourjya Majumdar
  • Patent number: 8806870
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a carbon-dioxide-recovery-type thermal power generation system includes an absorption column allows carbon dioxide contained in exhaust gas from a boiler to be absorbed in an absorption liquid, a regeneration column that discharges a carbon dioxide gas from the absorption liquid supplied from the absorption column, a reboiler that heats the absorption liquid discharged from the regeneration column and supplies steam generated, to the regeneration column, a condenser that generates condensate by cooling the steam exhausted from a turbine, a heater that heats the condensate, a water supply pump that supplies the condensate to the boiler, a line through the steam extracted from the turbine is supplied to the reboiler and the heater, and a steam flow rate adjusting unit. The steam flow rate adjusting unit maintains an amount of steam, which is extracted from the turbine through the line, to be constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Haruhiko Hirata, Hideo Kitamura, Takashi Ogawa, Yukio Ohashi
  • Patent number: 8776517
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a system including a Rankine power cycle cooling subsystem providing emissions-critical charge cooling of an input charge flow. The system includes a boiler fluidly coupled to the input charge flow, an energy conversion device fluidly coupled to the boiler, a condenser fluidly coupled to the energy conversion device, a pump fluidly coupled to the condenser and the boiler, an adjuster that adjusts at least one parameter of the Rankine power cycle subsystem to change a temperature of the input charge exiting the boiler, and a sensor adapted to sense a temperature characteristic of the vaporized input charge. The system includes a controller that can determine a target temperature of the input charge sufficient to meet or exceed predetermined target emissions and cause the adjuster to adjust at least one parameter of the Rankine power cycle to achieve the predetermined target emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, Christopher R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8776520
    Abstract: A method for operating a steam power station is provided. The steam turbine power station includes at least one steam turbine and a process steam consumer, wherein a steam mass flow is subdivided into a first partial mass flow and a second partial mass. In a first operating state, the first partial mass flow is supplied to the steam turbine and the second partial mass flow is supplied to the process steam consumer. In a second operating state, at least part of the second partial mass flow is supplied to the steam turbine at least after the first turbine stages. A steam power station is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Beul, Stefan Glos, Matthias Heue, Thomas Hofbauer, Ralf Hoffacker, Nils Lückemeyer, Norbert Pieper, Roland Sievert
  • Patent number: 8776523
    Abstract: A steam-driven power plant includes a steam source providing steam at a desired pressure and a steam turbine operably connected to the steam source. The steam turbine includes a low pressure section and an intermediate pressure section. A low pressure admission conduit is configured to convey steam from the steam source to an entrance of the low pressure section and an intermediate pressure admission conduit is configured to convey steam from the steam source to a mid-steampath point of the intermediate pressure section. One or more valves are located between the steam source and the steam turbine to control a flow of steam from the steam source through the low pressure admission conduit and/or the intermediate pressure admission conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahendra Singh Mehra, Nachiket Chilhatey, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20140165565
    Abstract: A steam turbine plant capable of stably controlling start up of a steam turbine provided with a turbine bypass system and a driving method thereof are provided. A steam turbine plant 10 of an embodiment includes: a superheater 21; a reheater 22; a high-pressure turbine 30; an intermediate-pressure turbine 40; a low-pressure turbine 50; a condenser 110; a bypass pipe 74 that branches off a main steam pipe 70 and is provided with a high-pressure turbine bypass valve 95; a bypass pipe 75 that branches off a high-temperature reheat steam pipe 72, is connected to the condenser 110, and is provided with a low-pressure turbine bypass valve 97; and a branch pipe 76 that branches off a low-temperature reheat steam pipe 71, is connected to the condenser 110, and is provided with a ventilator valve 99.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Osamu Shindo
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8739541
    Abstract: A Rankine cycle system includes: an evaporator configured to receive heat from a heat source and circulate a working fluid to remove heat from the heat source; an expander in flow communication with the evaporator and configured to expand the working fluid fed from the evaporator; a condenser in flow communication with the expander and configured to condense the working fluid fed from the expander; a pump in flow communication with the condenser and configured to pump the working fluid fed from the condenser; a first conduit for feeding a first portion of the working fluid from the pump to the evaporator; and a second conduit for feeding a second portion of the working fluid from the pump to the expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gabor Ast, Sebastian Walter Freund, Thomas Johannes Frey, Pierre Sebastien Huck, Herbert Kopecek, Günther Wall
  • Patent number: 8726662
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a carbon-dioxide-recovery-type steam power generation system comprises a boiler that produces steam and generates an exhaust gas, a first turbine that is rotationally driven by the steam, an absorption tower allows carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas to be absorbed into an absorption liquid, a regeneration tower that discharges the carbon dioxide gas from the absorption liquid supplied from the absorption tower, a condenser that removes moisture from the carbon dioxide gas, discharged from the regeneration tower, by condensing the carbon dioxide gas using cooling water, a compressor that compresses the carbon dioxide gas from which the moisture is removed by the condenser, and a second turbine that drives the compressor. The steam produced by the cooling water recovering the heat from the carbon dioxide gas in the condenser is supplied to the first turbine or the second turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yuya Murakami, Nobuo Okita, Takeo Takahashi, Mikio Takayanagi, Takeo Suga, Takeshi Sasanuma, Toshihisa Kiyokuni, Hideo Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8720203
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a carbon-dioxide-recovery-type steam power generation system comprises a boiler that generates steam and an exhaust gas, an absorption tower that allows carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas to be absorbed in an absorption liquid, a regeneration tower that regenerates discharges a carbon dioxide gas from the absorption liquid, a reboiler that heats the absorption liquid of the regeneration tower, a turbine that is rotationally driven by the steam, a condenser that generates condensate by cooling steam exhausted from the turbine, a compressor that compresses the carbon dioxide gas, and a cooler that cools the carbon dioxide gas, which has been compressed by the compressor, while using a part of the condensate as cooling water. The reboiler is supplied with steam from the turbine and steam generated by the cooling of the carbon dioxide gas at the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takeshi Sasanuma, Nobuo Okita, Takeo Takahashi, Mikio Takayanagi, Takeo Suga, Yuya Murakami, Toshihisa Kiyokuni, Hideo Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8713941
    Abstract: A method for operating a multi-step steam turbine operating in high temperature conditions is provided. The rotor is embodied as a welded construction including a first component and a second component. A coolant is supplied to the steam turbine after an intermediate state when the steam turbine is in the light-load or no-load phase. As a result, the thermal loads in the outflow area of the steam turbine are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Glos, Matthias Heue, Ernst-Wilhelm Pfitzinger, Norbert Pieper
  • Patent number: 8707700
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a carbon-dioxide-recovery-type steam power generation system comprises a boiler that generates steam and an exhaust gas, an absorption tower that allows carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas to be absorbed in an absorption liquid, a regeneration tower that discharges a carbon dioxide gas from the absorption liquid supplied from the absorption tower, a reboiler that heats the absorption liquid of the regeneration tower, a turbine that is rotationally driven by the steam, a first condenser, a second condenser, and a desuperheater. The first condenser generates condensate by cooling steam exhausted from the turbine. The second condenser condenses the carbon dioxide gas while using a part of the condensate as cooling water, and generates hot water. The desuperheater lowers the temperature of the steam exhausted from the turbine by spraying the hot water, and supplies the steam at lowered temperature to the reboiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takeshi Sasanuma, Nobuo Okita, Takeo Takahashi, Mikio Takayanagi, Takeo Suga, Yuya Murakami, Toshihisa Kiyokuni, Hideo Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8695347
    Abstract: A boiling water nuclear power plant supplies steam from a reactor to high-pressure and low-pressure turbines. Feed water generated by condensing steam in a condenser is heated by low-pressure and high-pressure feed water heaters and supplied to the reactor. The steam discharged from the low-pressure turbine is compressed by a steam compressor and supplied to one of the low-pressure feed water heaters to heat feed water. The steam extracted from the low-pressure turbine is supplied to the low-pressure feed water heater. When power required for the steam compressor is Q1, heat energy supplied from the steam compressor is Q3, a coefficient of performance of the steam compressor is COP (=Q3/Q1), and a thermal efficiency of the boiling water nuclear power plant is ?, the steam compression apparatus is connected to a position in a main steam system and to the feed water heater so as to satisfy COP?1/?>0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Hatamiya, Koji Namba, Fumio Takahashi, Koji Nishida, Susumu Nakano, Takanori Shibata
  • Patent number: 8689557
    Abstract: A steam seal dump re-entry system delivers steam dump flow to an LP steam turbine. The system includes a steam seal header receiving steam leaking from turbine end seal packings, and a desuperheater receiving and cooling the steam from the steam seal header. The desuperheater outputs cooled steam. A temperature sensor is disposed downstream of the desuperheater and detects a temperature of the cooled steam. A flow control circuit communicating with the temperature sensor selectively delivers the cooled steam to at least one of the condenser and to the LP steam turbine depending on the temperature of the cooled steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Eric Maki, Kevin J. Odell, Michael James Molitor, Timothy Andrew Melsert, Steven Paul Scarlata, James Daniel Antalek
  • Patent number: 8689565
    Abstract: A combined cycle power generation plant can include at least one gas turbine and at least one steam turbine. A method for providing Asymmetric Joint Control for Primary Frequency Regulation (PFR) in the combined cycle power generation plant can include the use of the spinning energy existing in the high pressure steam to rapidly supply additional power to the steam turbine for PFR service within the time frame established as a requirement to participate in the PFR service. The PFR control method can be carried out by controlling flow of high pressure steam to a medium pressure steam circuit through a bypass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Petrobras Energia S.A.
    Inventors: Benjamin Guzman, Jorge Vugdelija, Julio Aguirre
  • Patent number: 8656719
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kosaka, Nobuyoshi Mishima, Takashi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 8631658
    Abstract: A steam reheat process is provided to enhance a thermal power cycle, and particularly a renewable steam thermal cycle. An oxyfuel combustion gas generator is provided which combusts a hydrogen and/or carbon containing fuel with an oxidizer of primarily oxygen to generate products of combustion including steam and/or carbon dioxide. Water from the thermal cycle is directed to the reheater for mixing with the products of combustion within the reheater to generate a working fluid containing steam. This steam is routed through a turbine or other expander and power is outputted from the system. The water is optionally thereafter condensed and at least partially routed back to the thermal cycle. Any carbon dioxide within the working fluid can be separated in a condenser downstream of the expander for capture of the carbon dioxide, such that increased power output for the thermal power cycle is achieved without atmospheric emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Clean Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott MacAdam, Roger E. Anderson, Keith L. Pronske
  • Patent number: 8621866
    Abstract: A steam power unit including a double-flow medium pressure turbine section that is fluidically connected to a low pressure turbine section is provided. A flow section of the medium pressure turbine section is configured to supply an external steam consumer. A throttle valve for adjusting the pressure in the steam extraction line is arranged only in a turbine discharge line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Pieper, Rudolf Pötter
  • Patent number: 8596034
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the generation of electrical energy through the combination of steam flows produced from different fuel sources. Steam produced from processing of a biomass fuel source is combined with steam produced from the processing of natural gas or fossil fuel and routed through a steam turbine generator to produce electrical energy. The steam is preferably reheated after partial processing in the steam turbine generator and then recirculated for further processing in the steam turbine generators. Following extraction of all available energy from the steam, the condensed wet vapor is reheated and used for processing of both energy sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: EIF NTE Hybrid Intellectual Property Holding Company, LLC
    Inventors: Seth Shortlidge, Gregory J. Cahill
  • Patent number: 8544274
    Abstract: A thermodynamic system for waste heat recovery, using an organic rankine cycle is provided which employs a single organic heat transferring fluid to recover heat energy from two waste heat streams having differing waste heat temperatures. Separate high and low temperature boilers provide high and low pressure vapor streams that are routed into an integrated turbine assembly having dual turbines mounted on a common shaft. Each turbine is appropriately sized for the pressure ratio of each stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy C Ernst
  • Publication number: 20130205781
    Abstract: A steam turbine system is described comprising fluidly in series: at least one high pressure turbine and/or at least one intermediate pressure turbine and at least one low pressure turbine; and further comprising steam outlet means to enable extraction of auxiliary process steam from a location upstream of the low pressure turbine and for example between the intermediate pressure turbine and the low pressure turbine; and at least one flow restrictor in a steam extraction conduit from the or each low pressure turbine. The system is described as part of a steam generator fuelled by carbonaceous fuel combustion with post combustion carbon capture capability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventor: Pramurtta Shourjya Majumdar
  • Patent number: 8505299
    Abstract: A steam turbine flow adjustment system. In one embodiment, the system includes a steam turbine having a first inlet port and a second inlet port for receiving inlet steam; a first conduit and a second conduit operably connected to a first valve and a second valve, respectively, the first conduit and the second conduit for providing the inlet steam to the first inlet port and the second inlet port, respectively; and a control system operably connected to the first valve and the second valve for controlling an amount of inlet steam flow admitted and pressure to each of the first inlet port and the second inlet port based upon a load demand on the steam turbine and an admission pressure of the inlet steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kamlesh Mundra, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8499561
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided that may be used to control the temperature of steam being reheated by a moisture separator reheater (MSR). The temperature of a steam being reheated by a MSR may be sensed, and controller embodiments may use the sensed temperature to control the transfer of heat from various MSR components into the reheated steam. By using such control embodiments, the MSR may provide optimally heated steam to other power plant components, thus increasing the performance, efficiency, and safety of a power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Craig Kluge, Michael James Molitor
  • Patent number: 8479516
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to an engine for converting heat into mechanical output using a working fluid in a closed circulating system are disclosed. In some embodiments, the engine includes a pump to pressurize the working fluid, a regenerative heat exchanger to transfer heat from a first portion of the working fluid to a second portion, a heating device to heat the working fluid, and a scroll expander to expand the working fluid and generate the mechanical output. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: SECCO2 Engines Inc.
    Inventor: Preston Henry Carter
  • Patent number: 8448439
    Abstract: An electric power plant supplies steam generated to a high-pressure turbine and a low-pressure turbine. The steam discharged from the low-pressure turbine is condensed with a condenser. Water generated with the condenser is heated with a low-pressure feed water heater and a high-pressure feed water heater. The steam extracted from the high-pressure turbine is supplied to the high-pressure feed water heater. The steam extracted from the low-pressure turbine is compressed with a steam compressor, and the steam whose temperature has been increased is then supplied to the high-pressure feed water heater. The feed water is heated in the high-pressure feed water heater by the steam extracted from the high-pressure turbine and the steam compressed with the steam compressor. Because the feed water is heated by the extracted steam and the compressed steam in the high-pressure feed water heater, the amount of power consumed by the steam compressor can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Namba, Shigeo Hatamiya, Fumio Takahashi, Koji Nishida, Susumu Nakano, Takanori Shibata
  • Patent number: 8443606
    Abstract: An enhanced steam cycle utilizing a dual pressure recovery boiler with reheat. A dual pressure designed recovery boiler furnace is provided with a lower furnace and an upper furnace. The lower furnace is operated at a lower temperature to prevent or reduce corrosion of the lower furnace wall tubes. The lower furnace can be either a low pressure natural circulation steam generating (drum) system or economizer. The upper furnace operates as a high pressure natural circulation steam generating (drum) system, or as a once-through supercritical steam generating system at higher temperatures and pressures permitting implementation of higher efficiency reheat steam cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Monacelli, Timothy E. Hicks, Larry A. Hiner, Steven L. Osborne
  • Patent number: 8341962
    Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed that assist in biasing of a working fluid. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a first portion of a working fluid to a first low pressure turbine and a second portion of the working fluid to a second low pressure turbine, the second portion being greater in quantity than the first portion; processing the first portion of the working fluid in the first low pressure turbine to create a first exhaust fluid and processing the second portion of the working fluid in the second low pressure turbine to create a second exhaust fluid; providing the first exhaust fluid to a first condenser; and providing the second exhaust fluid to a second condenser, wherein the second exhaust fluid is greater in quantity than the first exhaust fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Raub Warfield Smith
  • 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: 20120223532
    Abstract: A single shaft steam turbine plant is disclosed with a first and a second low pressure steam turbine located at either end of the shaft. A generator and at least one high-pressure steam turbine are located on the shaft between low pressure steam turbines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Maurus Herzog, Wilhelm Reiter
  • Publication number: 20120131918
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering energy from waste heat are provided. The system includes a waste heat exchanger coupled to a source of waste heat to heat a first flow of a working fluid. The system also includes a first expansion device that receives the first flow from the waste heat exchanger and expands it to rotate a shaft. The system further includes a first recuperator coupled to the first expansion device and to receive the first flow therefrom and to transfer heat from the first flow to a second flow of the working fluid. The system also includes a second expansion device that receives the second flow from the first recuperator, and a second recuperator fluidly coupled to the second expansion device to receive the second flow therefrom and transfer heat from the second flow to a combined flow of the first and second flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: ECHOGEN POWER SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy James Held
  • Publication number: 20120111007
    Abstract: A steam power plant having at least one steam turbine unit and a process steam consumer is provided. The process steam consumer includes a heat exchanger. The steam turbine unit is connected to a heat exchanger by means of a extraction steam line, and a desuperheater is connected in the primary side of the extraction steam line, so that process steam extracted through the extraction steam line of the turbine system may be conditioned by the desuperheater to the process conditions of the process steam consumer, and the heat energy removed in the desuperheater can be fed back into the steam power plant system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Tilman Früh, Carsten Graeber, Mike Rost
  • Publication number: 20120096861
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a carbon-dioxide-recovery-type steam power generation system comprises a boiler that generates steam and an exhaust gas, an absorption tower that allows carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas to be absorbed in an absorption liquid, a regeneration tower that regenerates discharges a carbon dioxide gas from the absorption liquid, a reboiler that heats the absorption liquid of the regeneration tower, a turbine that is rotationally driven by the steam, a condenser that generates condensate by cooling steam exhausted from the turbine, a compressor that compresses the carbon dioxide gas, and a cooler that cools the carbon dioxide gas, which has been compressed by the compressor, while using a part of the condensate as cooling water. The reboiler is supplied with steam from the turbine and steam generated by the cooling of the carbon dioxide gas at the cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takeshi SASANUMA, Nobuo Okita, Takeo Takahashi, Mikio Takayanagi, Takeo Suga, Yuya Murakami, Toshihisa Kiyokuni, Hideo Kitamura