Patents by Inventor Christian Brunhuber
Christian Brunhuber has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20160177827Abstract: A gas turbine power plant includes a gas turbine having a compressor, combustion chamber, and expander and is rotationally mechanically coupled to an energisation unit designed for motor operation of the compressor and for electricity-generating generator operation of the gas turbine. The power plant includes a recuperator, thermally connected to an exhaust-gas discharge line of the turbine such that heat is transferred from the exhaust-gas flow in the exhaust-gas discharge line to a fluid flow in a fluid line during operation, which fluid flow is fed to the combustion chamber. A supply line is fluidically connected to the turbine such that water is supplied to the turbine to increase operating mass flow during operation. The exhaust-gas discharge line is thermally coupled to at least one heat accumulator, such that, during operation, heat of the exhaust-gas flow is transferred to a heat accumulator medium for storage in the heat accumulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2014Publication date: June 23, 2016Applicant: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Carsten Graeber, Uwe Lenk, Klaus Werner, Gerhard ZIMMERMANN
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Patent number: 9366180Abstract: A method for capturing carbon dioxide is provided. In a first absorption process, carbon dioxide is absorbed by contacting a supplied carbon dioxide-containing natural gas with a first substream of a solvent. In this process a carbon dioxide-depleted natural gas and carbon dioxide-enriched solvent are formed. Then in a combustion process, the carbon dioxide-depleted natural gas is burnt, with a carbon dioxide-containing exhaust gas being formed. Then, in a second absorption process, carbon dioxide is absorbed by contacting the carbon dioxide-containing exhaust gas with a second substream of the solvent. In this process an exhaust gas freed from carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide-enriched solvent are formed. Then, in a desorption process, the first substream and the second substream of the carbon dioxide-enriched solvent are combined and carbon dioxide is desorbed by supplying heating energy, with carbon dioxide-depleted solvent being formed.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2011Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Roland Birley, Christian Brunhuber, Hermann Kremer, Gerhard Zimmermann
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Patent number: 9341114Abstract: A method for operating a gas power plant is provided, having a gas turbine which has a compressor stage and a turbine stage, and is connected to a generator via an axle, wherein the generator is designed to also be operated as a motor, wherein the method involves the operation of the generator as a motor for the rotatory operation of the axle, as well as a simultaneous discharge of the heated gas flow exiting from the turbine stage and routing of said gas flow to a first heat exchanger for the transfer of thermal energy from the gas flow to a heat exchanger fluid, wherein the heat exchanger fluid is provided to either discharge thermal energy to a heat accumulating medium or it can be used an accumulating medium itself for temporary storage.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2013Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Oliver Hirschfelder, Uwe Lenk, Wolfgang Menapace, Nicolas Vortmeyer
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Patent number: 9322297Abstract: An energy storage device for storing thermal energy, with a charging circuit for a working gas, is provided, having a compressor, heat accumulator and expansion turbine, the compressor and expansion turbine arranged on a common shaft, and the compressor connected on the outlet side to the inlet of the expansion turbine via a first line for the working gas, the heat accumulator wired into the first line, wherein the compressor is connected on the inlet side to a line, which is open to the atmosphere, and the expansion turbine is connected on the outlet side to a line, which is open to the atmosphere such that a circuit open to the ambient air is formed, wherein the expansion turbine is connected to the heat accumulator via a line for a hot gas such that the working gas in the expansion turbine can be heated by heat from the heat accumulator.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2012Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Carsten Graeber, Gerhard Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20150252726Abstract: A method for operation of a gas power plant, and to a gas power plant of this type, comprising a gas turbine, which is connected to a generator that can also be operated as a motor and which is thermally coupled to a water vapour circuit by way of a first heat exchanger are provided. The method includes: operating the generator as a motor in such a way that a heated gas flow is discharged from the gas turbine; thermally treating of water in the water vapour circuit via the first heat exchanger by the heated gas flow; storing of the water thermally treated in this way in a vapour accumulator; operating a steam turbine with water vapour taken from the vapour accumulator; diverting of the water vapour after interaction with the steam turbine into a vapour chamber for condensation; and collecting of the condensed water in a condensate reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2013Publication date: September 10, 2015Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Katja Knobloch, Wolfgang Menapace, Frank Strobelt, Nicolas Vortmeyer, Gerhard Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20150165368Abstract: A device for separating CO2 from an exhaust gas flow of a combustion device is provided. The device has a store for storing a heat transfer fluid together with a CO2 separating device which has an absorber and a desorber. The store and the desorber are thermally coupled to each other via a line system, and the store is thermally coupled to an electrically driven heating device which allows a thermal conditioning of the heat transfer fluid in the store. The heating device is designed as a gas turbine driven by a generator as a motor, and air is sucked into the compression stage of the gas turbine while the turbine is driven and is substantially adiabatically heated as a result of the compression. The heated exhaust gas exiting the gas turbine interacts with the store for the purpose of the heat transfer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2013Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Hermann Kremer, Mike Rost, Rudiger Schneider, Henning Schramm, Nicolas Vortmeyer, Gerhard Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20150114590Abstract: A heat store for storing at least 100 MWh of thermal energy of a relatively warmer gas in a charging state and for giving off thermal energy to a relatively colder gas in a discharging state is provided. In the charging state, the heat store has at least one inflow surface, provided with inflow openings, for introducing the gas, and at least one outflow surface, provided with outflow openings, for discharging the gas after giving off heat to a granular heat storage medium, wherein the inflow surface is formed at least in certain portions into a channel which is surrounded, in particular completely, by the outflow surface, and wherein an intermediate space in which the granular heat storage medium is arranged is defined between the inflow surface and the outflow surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Horst Oerterer
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Publication number: 20150111160Abstract: A steam power station is provided having a steam boiler which can be fired by a combustion device in a combustion chamber and has an air preheater which is suitable for removing thermal energy from the flue gas of the combustion chamber in order to transfer the thermal energy to a first air flow, the first air flow being fed back to the combustion chamber at least partly as combustion air. The steam power station also has a high-temperature battery which can likewise be supplied with air from the first air flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: April 23, 2015Applicant: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Carsten Graeber, Gerhard Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20150035277Abstract: A method for operating a gas power plant is provided, having a gas turbine which has a compressor stage and a turbine stage, and is connected to a generator via an axle, wherein the generator is designed to also be operated as a motor, wherein the method involves the operation of the generator as a motor for the rotatory operation of the axle, as well as a simultaneous discharge of the heated gas flow exiting from the turbine stage and routing of said gas flow to a first heat exchanger for the transfer of thermal energy from the gas flow to a heat exchanger fluid, wherein the heat exchanger fluid is provided to either discharge thermal energy to a heat accumulating medium or it can be used an accumulating medium itself for temporary storage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2013Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Oliver Hirschfelder, Uwe Lenk, Wolfgang Menapace, Nicolas Vortmeyer
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Publication number: 20150033558Abstract: A method for retrofitting an already existing gas turbine power plant is provided. The method features at least the following steps: fluidically connecting a gas turbine to a flue gas duct which is suitable for conducting flue gas which is produced by the gas turbine; connecting the flue gas duct to a steam generating unit which is fluidically connected to a water-steam cycle, and via which water-steam cycle a power generating facility can be operated; fluidically connecting a CO2 separation apparatus to the flue gas duct for separating the CO2 from the flue gas in the flue gas duct; and electrically connecting the power generating facility to the CO2 separation apparatus, preferably for the essentially energy-autonomous operation of the CO2 separation apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2012Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Hermann Kremer, Frank Strobelt, Nicolas Vortmeyer, Gerhard Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20150027122Abstract: An energy storage power plant for harvesting electric energy, and suitable for converting electric energy into thermal energy is provided. The thermal energy can be temporarily stored in at least two thermal stores until demanded and retrieved to increase the energy content of water in a water circuit upon demand. The power plant has the at least two thermal stores, each has at least one converting device that allows electric energy to be directly or indirectly converted into thermal energy, the thermal stores being thermally chargeable by temporarily storing thermal energy, wherein one thermal store is for storing sensible heat and one thermal store is for storing latent heat; and at least one energy generating unit operated using the water in the water circuit, the energy content of the water having been increased by the temporary storage of thermal energy, in order to generate electric energy when operated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: January 29, 2015Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Carsten Graeber, Gerhard Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20140360191Abstract: An energy storage apparatus for the storage of thermal energy is provided, with a charging circuit, having a compressor, a heat store and an expansion turbine, the compressor connected on the outlet side to the inlet of the expansion turbine via a first line for a first working gas, and the heat store inserted into a second line, and the first line connected to a first heat exchanger, in which the first line and the second line are coupled thermally, and, furthermore, having a discharge circuit which has a water/steam circuit equipped with a steam generator and which has at least one feed water preheater preceding the steam generator with respect to the direction of flow of the water in this water/steam circuit, and thermal coupling between the charging circuit and discharge circuit achieved by the feed water preheater, in particular achieved solely by the feed water preheater.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2014Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Carsten Graeber, Gerhard Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20140338330Abstract: An energy storage device for storing thermal energy, with a charging circuit for a working gas, is provided, having a compressor, heat accumulator and expansion turbine, the compressor and expansion turbine arranged on a common shaft, and the compressor connected on the outlet side to the inlet of the expansion turbine via a first line for the working gas, the heat accumulator wired into the first line, wherein the compressor is connected on the inlet side to a line, which is open to the atmosphere, and the expansion turbine is connected on the outlet side to a line, which is open to the atmosphere such that a circuit open to the ambient air is formed, wherein the expansion turbine is connected to the heat accumulator via a line for a hot gas such that the working gas in the expansion turbine can be heated by heat from the heat accumulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2012Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Carsten Graeber, Gerhard Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20140298813Abstract: A charging circuit for converting electrical energy into thermal energy is provided, having a compression stage, connected via a shaft to an electric motor, a heat exchanger and an expansion stage, which is connected via a shaft to a generator, wherein the compression stage is connected to the expansion stage via a hot-gas line, and the heat exchanger is connected on the primary side into the hot-gas line, wherein the expansion stage is connected via a return line to the compression stage, so that a closed circuit for a working gas is formed. A recuperator is also provided which, on the primary side, is connected into the hot-gas line between the heat exchanger and the expansion stage and, on the secondary side, is connected into the return line, so that heat from the working gas in the hot-gas line can be transferred to the working gas in the return line.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2012Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Carsten Graeber, Gerhard Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20140223910Abstract: An energy-storing device with a charging circuit for a working gas for storing thermal energy, comprising a compressor, a heat accumulator, and an expansion turbine is provided. The compressor is connected to the inlet of the expansion turbine at the outlet side of the compressor via a first line for the working gas, and the heat accumulator is connected into the first line. The compressor and the expansion turbine are arranged on a common shaft, and the heat exchanger of the heat accumulator is designed such that the working gas which is expanded in the expansion turbine largely matches the thermodynamic state variables of the working gas prior to entering the compressor. Only a part of the thermal energy is transferred to the heat accumulator in the process. The working gas fed to the expansion turbine remains relatively hot.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2012Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Carsten Graeber, Gerhard Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20130300372Abstract: An energy store includes a rechargeable primary energy store having a first electrode which generates anions and which conducts anions, a second electrode which accepts anions and/or which conducts anions, an electrolyte which is arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode and which conducts anions and is embodied as a solid, and a first redox pair which forms the second electrode or is in contact with same and which includes an oxidation reactant and an oxidation product. The store includes at least one storable second oxidation reactant that belongs to a second redox pair and a secondary energy store which is designed as a store for the second oxidation reactant. A connecting line is provided between the primary energy store and the secondary energy store, the connecting line allowing the second oxidation reactant to be conducted from the primary energy store to the secondary energy store and back.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2012Publication date: November 14, 2013Inventors: Christian Brunhuber, Wolfgang Menapace, Nicolas Vortmeyer
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Publication number: 20130174566Abstract: A method for capturing carbon dioxide is provided. In a first absorption process, carbon dioxide is absorbed by contacting a supplied carbon dioxide-containing natural gas with a first substream of a solvent. In this process a carbon dioxide-depleted natural gas and carbon dioxide-enriched solvent are formed. Then in a combustion process, the carbon dioxide-depleted natural gas is burnt, with a carbon dioxide-containing exhaust gas being formed. Then, in a second absorption process, carbon dioxide is absorbed by contacting the carbon dioxide-containing exhaust gas with a second substream of the solvent. In this process an exhaust gas freed from carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide-enriched solvent are formed. Then, in a desorption process, the first substream and the second substream of the carbon dioxide-enriched solvent are combined and carbon dioxide is desorbed by supplying heating energy, with carbon dioxide-depleted solvent being formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2011Publication date: July 11, 2013Inventors: Roland Birley, Christian Brunhuber, Hermann Kremer, Gerhard Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20110283710Abstract: A synthesis gas-based fuel system with a main synthesis gas pipe which branches off a gasification device and ends at a transfer point is described. The main gas pipe is connected to a burner. A device for admixing a second fuel and, downstream there from in a direction of flow of a synthesis gas, a mixing device are arranged within the main synthesis gas pipe. Further, a method for operating the synthesis gas-based fuel system for rapid load changes in a synthesis gas-operated gas turbine is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventors: Christian Brunhuber, Jens Keyser, Oliver Reimuth
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Publication number: 20110277440Abstract: A synthesis gas-based fuel system with a main synthesis gas pipe that branches of a gasification device is provided. A synthesis gas storage tank is connected to the main synthesis gas pipe via a first secondary pipe. Further, a method for operating such a synthesis gas-based fuel system is described.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2010Publication date: November 17, 2011Inventors: Christian Brunhuber, Jens Keyser, Oliver Reimuth