Patents Assigned to ABB Alstom Power Inc.
  • Patent number: 6263675
    Abstract: A method of operating a power generation system is provided. The system includes) a turbine, a regenerative heat exchanger, a vapor generator and a distiller/condenser having multiple condensing elements. The turbine expands a vaporized multicomponent working fluid to produce power. The regenerative heat exchanger transfers heat from a lean hot multicomponent working fluid having a relatively low concentration of a component of the multicomponent working fluid to a rich cool multicomponent working fluid having a relatively high concentration of the component to thereby cool the lean hot multicomponent working fluid. The vapor generator vaporizes the cooled multicomponent working fluid to form the vaporized multicomponent working fluid. The multiple condensing elements of the distiller/condenser condense the expanded multicomponent working fluid to form the lean hot multicomponent working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Hansen, Paul D. Kuczma, Jens O. Palsson, Jonathan S. Simon
  • Patent number: 6202575
    Abstract: An air compartment of a corner windbox of a tangential firing system of a fossil fuel-fired furnace for injecting secondary air into the furnace. The air compartment includes a channel portion with an entrance end communicating with an air delivery duct and an exit end communicating via an exit assembly with the furnace opening. The exit assembly includes at least one vane for guiding an air stream and a mounting frame for supporting the vane relative to the channel portion for guiding thereby of an air stream passing from the channel portion through the furnace opening into the furnace. The vane includes a surface portion which intersects the horizontal plane at an acute angle and a pair of opposed transverse edges. The vane and the mounting frame are disposed within the channel portion such that the leading edge of the vane is upstream of the furnace opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley P. Bauver, II, Richard C. LaFlesh, John C. Lewis, Robert D. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6202574
    Abstract: A fossil fuel fired combustion apparatus and a method for operating the fossil fuel fired combustion apparatus are provided which offer the flexibility to use carbon dioxide (CO2) both as a desirable end product and as support to the combustion process. The method includes the step of introducing a substantially pure oxygen feed stream into the fossil fuel fired combustion apparatus and the step of combusting a fossil fuel in the presence of the substantially pure oxygen feed stream to produce a flue gas having carbon dioxide and water vapor as its two largest constituent elements by volume. The method also includes the step of passing the flue gas through an oxygen feed stream pre-heater at which heat from the flue gas is transferred to the oxygen feed stream. Furthermore, the method includes the step of separating the flue gas into an end product portion and a recycling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory N. Liljedahl, Mark Palkes
  • Patent number: 6195998
    Abstract: A method of operating a Kalina cycle power generation system includes directing a stream of vaporized binary working fluid to a turbine where it is expanded to produce power. At least a portion of the expanded binary working fluid is directed to a regenerative heat exchanger where it is transformed into a feed binary working fluid. The feed binary working fluid is directed to a vapor generator where it is vaporized. The binary working fluid flow within the regenerative heat exchanger is actively regulated to balance the expanded binary working fluid and the feed working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Hansen, Paul D. Kuczma, Jens O. Palsson, Jonathan S. Simon
  • Patent number: 6193940
    Abstract: A firing system for a thermal cracking furnace is provided. The firing system includes a plurality of air inlets for introducing air into the furnace interior, the air inlets being generally arrayed along a lengthwise row on the floor of the furnace at a predetermined proximity to one of the sidewalls, and a plurality of start up fuel ports disposed intermediate the row of air inlets and the radiant coils of the furnace. The firing system also includes a plurality of normal operation fuel ports disposed intermediate the row of start up ports and the radiant coils and an assembly for selectively controlling the overall supply of fuel to the start up fuel ports and the normal fuel operation ports to effect supply of fuel solely to the start up fuel ports during a start up mode of operation of the firing system and supply of fuel solely to the normal operation fuel ports during a normal mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Shin G. Kang, Galen H. Richards, Majed A. Toqan, Dieter Winkler
  • Patent number: 6167705
    Abstract: A method of operating a Kalina cycle power generation system, includes directing a stream of superheated binary working fluid to a turbine where it is expanded to produce power. A first portion of the expanded binary working fluid is directed to a distiller/condenser where it is transformed into a first concentration binary working fluid, having a first concentration of a component of the binary working fluid, and a second concentration binary working fluid, having a second concentration of the component. At least the first concentration binary working fluid is directed to a regenerative heat exchanger. A second portion of the expanded binary working fluid is also directed to the regenerative heat exchanger. The first concentration binary working fluid is transformed into a vaporized binary working fluid and the second portion of expanded binary working fluid is transformed into a feed binary working fluid in the regenerative heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Hansen, Paul D. Kuczma, Jens O. Palsson, Jonathan S. Simon
  • Patent number: 6158221
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system includes a chamber. A gas inlet and gas outlet direct the flow of hot gas from a waste heat source to and from the chamber. A working fluid inlet port and working fluid outlet port direct the flow of multicomponent working fluid to and from the chamber. A plurality of heating surfaces are disposed within the chamber. The heating surfaces are formed of tubes which transport the flow of multicomponent working fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port such that the flow of the hot gas from the gas inlet to the gas outlet transfers heat from the hot gas to the flow of multicomponent working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Fancher, Juan F. Garcia, Stephen L. Goodstine, Richard E. Waryasz
  • Patent number: 6155052
    Abstract: A method of operating a power generation system is provided. The system includes a turbine, a regenerative heat exchanger, a boiler, and a superheater. The turbine receives a stream of first working fluid and expands the first working fluid to produce power. The regenerative heat exchanger receives a stream of the expanded first working fluid from the turbine and a stream of second working fluid, for example from the RHE or DCSS of a Kalina type system. The exchanger transfers heat from the expanded first working fluid to the second working fluid to heat the second working fluid and condense the expanded first working fluid. The boiler receives and vaporizes a stream of the condensed first working fluid. The superheater receives and superheats the vaporized stream of first working fluid and the heated stream of second working fluid to form the stream of first working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Hansen, Paul D. Kuczma, Jens O. Palsson, Jonathan S. Simon
  • Patent number: 6155053
    Abstract: A method of operating a power generation system is provided. The system includes a turbine, a regenerative heat exchanger, and a vapor generator. The turbine receives a stream of working fluid and expands the working fluid to produce power. The regenerative heat exchanger has a plurality of condensing heat exchangers which transfer heat from the expanded working fluid to condense the expanded working fluid. The vapor generator vaporizes the condensed portions of working fluid to form the stream of working fluid. In operating the system, a respective portion of the expanded working fluid is directed to each of the condensing heat exchangers, and the amount of condensed working fluid at at least one of the condensing heat exchangers is regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Hansen, Paul D. Kuczma, Jens O. Palsson, Jonathon S. Simon
  • Patent number: 6152053
    Abstract: A method and an assembly for efficiently converting waste water to a gaseous state in a fossil fuel-fired power generation system is provided. The method includes feeding the slurry to the spray dryer reactor, the slurry having a predetermined ratio of liquid to absorbent, and controlling the feed rate of the slurry into the spray dryer reactor as a function of the monitored sulfur oxide level such that the sulfur oxide level is maintained within an acceptable range. The method also includes supplying supplemental liquid in the form of waste water into the spray dryer reactor in a non-proportionate manner relative to the feed of absorbent into the spray dryer reactor such that the ratio of liquid to absorbent in the spray dryer reactor changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas S. Czarnecki, Gustave E. Friedrichs, Douglas F. Grabowski, Michael C. Tanca
  • Patent number: 6148744
    Abstract: A method of operating a pulverized coal-firing furnace so as to achieve no more than a predetermined variation in the instantaneous vertical velocities of the flow exiting a combustion chamber of the furnace is provided. The method includes, in one variation thereof, providing a series of lower compartments for introducing therethrough one of air, fuel, and air and fuel into the combustion chamber. At least one upper compartment is disposed above the topmost compartment of the series of lower compartments at a relative disposition to the topmost compartment in a spacing range between a contiguous disposition to a more spaced disposition which is no more than twice the average spacing between any given compartment and an adjacent compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Chapman, John F. Drennen, Michael L. Kaplan, Majed A. Toqan
  • Patent number: 6138588
    Abstract: A method of operating a pulverized coal-firing furnace is provided which includes injecting air from an upper compartment generally in opposition to a swirling fireball. The method also provides the step of sensing a temperature characteristic of one side of a convection pass of the furnace. The sensed value, in accordance with the method of the present invention, is then evaluated to determine if the sensed value of the temperature characteristic exceeds an allowable value. In response to a determination that the temperature characteristic exceeds the allowable value, the momentum of the air injected through the upper air compartment is changed. After the step of changing the momentum of the air injected through the upper air compartment, the temperature characteristic of the one convection pass location is sensed to obtain a post adjustment value of the temperature characteristic and compared to an allowable value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Chapman, Michael L. Kaplan, Majed A. Toqan
  • Patent number: 6125632
    Abstract: A method of operating a power generation system, such as a Kalina cycle power generation system, which includes a turbine, regenerative heat exchanger and vapor generator, is provided. The turbine receives a stream of first working fluid and expands the first working fluid to produce power. The regenerative heat exchanger receives a stream of the expanded first working fluid from the turbine and a stream of second working fluid, and transfers heat from the expanded first working fluid to the second working fluid to heat the second working fluid and condense the expanded first working fluid. The vapor generator receives a stream of the condensed first working fluid and transfers heat from an external heat source to the condensed first working fluid to heat the condensed working fluid for use in the stream of first working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Hansen, Paul D. Kuczma, Jens O. Palsson, Jonathan S. Simon
  • Patent number: 6116028
    Abstract: A method of operating a power generation system is provided. The system includes a turbine, a distiller/condenser, a boiler, and a superheater. The turbine expands a superheated multicomponent working fluid to produce power. The distiller/condenser transforms the expanded multicomponent working fluid into first and second concentration multicomponent working fluids. The first concentration multicomponent working fluid has a first concentration of a component of the multicomponent working fluid. The second concentration multicomponent working fluid has a second concentration of the component which is different than the first concentration. The boiler vaporizes a feed multicomponent working fluid. The superheater superheats the vaporized feed multicomponent working fluid to form the superheated multicomponent working fluid. In operating the system, the temperature of the vaporized multicomponent working fluid is sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Hansen, Paul D. Kuczma, Jens O. Palsson, Jonathan S. Simon
  • Patent number: 6105368
    Abstract: A method for capturing working fluid which includes a hazardous component and is discharged from a power generating system, includes directing the discharge to a container. There, the discharged working fluid is combined with a liquid in which the hazardous component is soluble to form a less hazardous mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Hansen, Paul D. Kuczma, Jens O. Palsson, Jonathan S. Simon
  • Patent number: 6105369
    Abstract: A vapor generator includes a first plurality of tubes configured to direct a multicomponent working fluid so as to be subjected to process heat from a direct fired source, and a second plurality of tubes configured to direct a single component working fluid so as to be subjected to the process heat. The first plurality of tubes form a furnace wall with the multicomponent working fluid being supplied to the furnace wall in a vapor state. The multicomponent working fluid absorbs a portion of the process heat from the furnace wall thereby cooling the furnace wall. A backpass receives flue gases, and the second plurality of tubes are located in the backpass to absorb heat from the flue gases of the backpass so that the single component working fluid increases in temperature and the flue gases are cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Peletz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6092591
    Abstract: There is provided an arrangement for mounting the top end of a heat exchange module to and between a pair of opposed support frame surfaces, the arrangement including an elongate transverse beam and a pair of end mounting assemblies. The elongate transverse beam is securable to the top end of the heat exchange module with the longitudinal extent of the transverse beam oriented in the direction from one opposed support frame surface toward the other opposed support frame surface. One longitudinal end of the transverse beam has a left hand overextension portion extending longitudinally beyond the portion of the transverse beam immediately therebelow and the other longitudinal end of the transverse beam having a right hand overextension portion extending longitudinally beyond the portion of the transverse beam immediately therebelow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: John Anthony McDonald, Glenn Thomas Selby