Patents by Inventor François Droux

François Droux 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).

  • Patent number: 10851990
    Abstract: The present application provides an energy control computing device for adjusting one or more steam flow parameters delivered to a steam turbine from a heat recovery steam generator via a number of control devices. The energy control computing device includes a processor in communication with a memory. The processor is programmed to receive a number of measured operating values, identify steam turbine operating limits, identify a number of candidate operating modes meeting steam turbine operating limits, selecting the candidate operating mode maximizing the steam flow parameters while not exceeding the steam turbine operating limits, and directing the control devices to meet the selected candidate operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles Michael Jones, Robert John Gdaniec, Raub Warfield Smith, Francois Droux
  • Publication number: 20200284427
    Abstract: The present application provides an energy control computing device for adjusting one or more steam flow parameters delivered to a steam turbine from a heat recovery steam generator via a number of control devices. The energy control computing device includes a processor in communication with a memory. The processor is programmed to receive a number of measured operating values, identify steam turbine operating limits, identify a number of candidate operating modes meeting steam turbine operating limits, selecting the candidate operating mode maximizing the steam flow parameters while not exceeding the steam turbine operating limits, and directing the control devices to meet the selected candidate operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Charles Michael JONES, Robert John GDANIEC, Raub Warfield SMITH, Francois DROUX
  • Patent number: 10066513
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operation of a combined-cycle power plant with cogeneration, in which method combustion air is inducted in at least one gas turbine, and in which method the exhaust gas emerging from the at least one turbine is passed through a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) in order to generate steam. The electricity production can be decoupled from the steam production in order to restrict the electricity production while the heat provided by steam extraction remains at a constant level. A portion of the inducted combustion air can be passed through at least one turbine to the HRSG without being involved in the combustion of the fuel in the gas turbine. This portion of the combustion air can be used to operate at least one supplementary firing in the heat recovery steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Francois Droux, Dario Ugo Breschi, Karl Reyser, Stefan Rofka, Johannes Wick
  • Patent number: 10041379
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a combined cycle power plant, which includes a steam turbine powertrain with a high-pressure steam turbine, an intermediate pressure steam turbine and a low-pressure steam turbine, whereby intermediate pressure steam flowing from the exit of the high-pressure steam turbine to the inlet of the intermediate pressure steam turbine is reheated by means of the reheat device, and which is connected to a solar thermal plant, that generates additional solar steam for being used by said steam turbine powertrain. The output of the solar steam generator is used more effectively, and the overall plant performance, flexibility and operability are enhanced by at least part of the additional solar steam reaching the intermediate pressure steam turbine without being reheated in said reheat device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Richard Carroni, Henrik Nielsen, François Droux
  • Patent number: 10006313
    Abstract: The invention refers to a CCPP comprising a gas turbine, a water steam cycle with a steam turbine and a HRSG with at least two pressure levels, and a fuel preheater for preheating the fuel of the gas turbine. The fuel preheater includes a first heat exchanger for preheating the fuel to a first elevated temperature, which is connected to a feed water line from a pressure level of the HRSG, which is below the highest HRSG pressure level, and a second heat exchanger for further preheating the fuel gas to a second elevated temperature, which is connected to the high pressure feed water with the highest pressure level of the HRSG. The disclosure further refers to a method for operating a CCPP with such a fuel preheater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Paul Drouvot, François Droux, Klara Berg
  • Patent number: 9518731
    Abstract: A heat recovery steam generator that includes a first steam drum for receiving a flow of water and steam from an evaporator. The first steam drum is adapted to provide the flow of water and steam to a second steam drum. The second steam drum is in fluid communication with the first steam drum and receives the flow of water and steam from the first steam drum and separates steam from the flow of water and steam to form a separated steam. There is a steam flow outlet positioned in the second steam drum, the steam flow outlet adapted to release the separated steam from the second steam drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Donald W. Bairley, Wesley P. Bauver, II, Francois Droux, Alan C. Hazelton, Ian J. Perrin, Christoph Ruchti, Falk Ruecker, Glenn T. Selby
  • Patent number: 9181872
    Abstract: A power plant includes a first gas turbine engine, a second gas turbine engine, a flue gas duct, a CO2 capture system for treating flue gases from the second gas turbine engine and an exhaust system. It additionally includes at least one among a direct connection between the first gas turbine engine and the exhaust system, and a damper for on-line regulating the flue gases flow through it, a direct connection between the first gas turbine engine and the CO2 capture system, and a damper for regulating the flue gases flow through it, a supply of fresh oxygen containing fluid for the second gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Hongtao Li, Alexander Zagorskiy, Jürgen Hoffmann, Francois Droux, Christoph Ruchti
  • Publication number: 20150114319
    Abstract: The feedwater preheating system includes a feedwater tank and a constant volume recirculation pump. The feedwater tank is adapted to store the feedwater. The feedwater tank includes feed and return lines. The feed line is adapted to feed the feedwater to the HRSG, and the return line enables returning of the feedwater into the feedwater tank. The return line precludes a control valve, and is configured to the feedwater tank to reduce component loss while feedwater recirculation. The constant volume recirculation pump is configured in the feed line to recirculate the feedwater between the HRSG and the feedwater tank. The pump is capable of recirculating the feedwater at constant speed and volume to reduce heat loss while feedwater recirculation, as against the prior art feedwater preheating systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Paul DROUVOT, Torbjörn STENSTRÖM, Joerg DIETZMANN, François DROUX
  • Publication number: 20150082803
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operation of a combined-cycle power plant with cogeneration, in which method combustion air is inducted in at least one gas turbine, and in which method the exhaust gas emerging from the at least one turbine is passed through a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) in order to generate steam. The electricity production can be decoupled from the steam production in order to restrict the electricity production while the heat provided by steam extraction remains at a constant level. A portion of the inducted combustion air can be passed through at least one turbine to the HRSG without being involved in the combustion of the fuel in the gas turbine. This portion of the combustion air can be used to operate at least one supplementary firing in the heat recovery steam generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Francois DROUX, Dario Ugo BRESCHI, Karl REYSER, Stefan ROFKA, Johannes WICK
  • Patent number: 8984894
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operation of a combined-cycle power plant with cogeneration, in which method combustion air is inducted in at least one gas turbine, is compressed and is supplied to at least one combustion chamber for combustion of a fuel, and the resultant exhaust gas is expanded in at least one turbine, producing work, and in which method the exhaust gas emerging from the at least one turbine is passed through a heat recovery steam generator in order to generate steam, which generator is part of a water-steam circuit with at least one steam turbine, a condenser, a feedwater tank and a feedwater pump, wherein heat is provided by extracting steam from the at least one steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Francois Droux, Dario Ugo Breschi, Karl Reyser, Stefan Rofka, Johannes Wick
  • Publication number: 20150007578
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a combined cycle power plant, which includes a steam turbine powertrain with a high-pressure steam turbine, an intermediate pressure steam turbine and a low-pressure steam turbine, whereby intermediate pressure steam flowing from the exit of the high-pressure steam turbine to the inlet of the intermediate pressure steam turbine is reheated by means of the reheat device, and which is connected to a solar thermal plant, that generates additional solar steam for being used by said steam turbine powertrain. The output of the solar steam generator is used more effectively, and the overall plant performance, flexibility and operability are enhanced by at least part of the additional solar steam reaching the intermediate pressure steam turbine without being reheated in said reheat device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Richard CARRONI, Henrik NIELSEN, François DROUX
  • Publication number: 20150007575
    Abstract: The invention refers to a CCPP comprising a gas turbine, a water steam cycle with a steam turbine and a HRSG with at least two pressure levels, and a fuel preheater for preheating the fuel of the gas turbine. The fuel preheater includes a first heat exchanger for preheating the fuel to a first elevated temperature, which is connected to a feed water line from a pressure level of the HRSG, which is below the highest HRSG pressure level, and a second heat exchanger for further preheating the fuel gas to a second elevated temperature, which is connected to the high pressure feed water with the highest pressure level of the HRSG. The disclosure further refers to a method for operating a CCPP with such a fuel preheater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Paul Drouvot, François Droux, Klara Berg
  • Publication number: 20130312386
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant includes a CO2 capture system operatively integrated with a liquefied natural gas LNG regasification system, where cold energy from the regasification process is used for cooling processes within the CO2 capture system or processes associated with it. These cooling systems include systems for cooling lean or rich absorption solutions for the CO2 capture or the cooling of flue gas. The LNG regasification system is arranged in one or more heat exchange stages having and one or more cold storage units. The power plant with CO2 capture can be operated at improved overall efficiencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Manfred WIRSUM, Christoph RUCHTI, Hongtao LI, François DROUX, Frederic Zenon KOZAK, Alexander ZAGORSKIY
  • Publication number: 20130269346
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant with a gas turbine, steam turbine, and first HRSG comprises a CO2 capture plant for the at least partial capture of CO2 from the exhaust gases from the gas turbine. It comprises in particular a second HRSG or boiler arranged to receive a portion of the exhaust gases and transfer its heat to steam and feedwater. Steam generated in the second HRSG or boiler is used for the operation of the CO2 capture plant and/or to operate a steam turbine that drives a generator and optionally a CO2 compressor. The power plant according to the invention allows for greater flexibility in power plant part load control and power plant efficiency. A method to operate the power plant is also claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Hongtao Li, Francois Droux, Christoph Ruchti, Karl Reyser
  • Publication number: 20130227958
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a combined-cycle power plant with cogeneration, in which method combustion air is inducted in at least one gas turbine, is compressed and is fed to at least one combustion chamber for combustion of a fuel, and the resultant exhaust gas is expanded in at least one turbine producing work, and in which method the exhaust gas which emerges from the at least one turbine is fed through a heat recovery steam generator in order to generate steam, which heat recovery steam generator is part of a water-steam circuit with at least one steam turbine, a condenser, a feedwater tank and a feedwater pump, wherein heat is produced by extraction of steam from the at least one steam turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Francois Droux, Dario Ugo Breschi, Karl Reyser, Stefan Rofka, Johannes Wick
  • Publication number: 20130227957
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operation of a combined-cycle power plant with cogeneration, in which method combustion air is inducted in at least one gas turbine, is compressed and is supplied to at least one combustion chamber for combustion of a fuel, and the resultant exhaust gas is expanded in at least one turbine, producing work, and in which method the exhaust gas emerging from the at least one turbine is passed through a heat recovery steam generator in order to generate steam, which generator is part of a water-steam circuit with at least one steam turbine, a condenser, a feedwater tank and a feedwater pump, wherein heat is provided by extracting steam from the at least one steam turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Francois Droux, Dario Ugo Breschi, Karl Reyser, Stefan Rofka, Johannes Wick
  • Patent number: 8516787
    Abstract: A method involves operating a combined-cycle power plant (10), which has a gas turbine (11) with a compressor (12) and a turbine (13), a heat recovery steam generator (17) which is connected downstream to the gas turbine (11) and is for producing steam in a water/steam cycle, and also at least one once-through cooler (21), through which flows compressed air which is compressed in the compressor (12) and intended for cooling the gas turbine (11), and, cooling down, converts feed-water (24) which is fed from the heat recovery steam generator (17) into steam, and discharges the steam to the heat recovery steam generator (17). The combined-cycle power plant is switched between a first operating mode, in which only the gas turbine cycle is used for power generation, and a second operating mode, in which the gas turbine cycle and the water/steam cycle are used for power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Gijsbertus Oomens, Christoph Ruchti, Francois Droux
  • Patent number: 8408006
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a combined cycle power plant including a CO2 capture system and flue gas recirculation system. The method includes controlling a flue gas recirculation rate and a re-cooling temperature of the recirculated flue gases, depending on load, to optimize the overall plant efficiency including the CO2 capture system. Also provided is a combined cycle power plant including a CO2 capture system and flue gas recirculation system. The plant being configured to carry out a method in which a flue gas recirculation rate and a re-cooling temperature of recirculated flue gases is controlled depending on load to optimize the overall plant efficiency including the CO2 capture system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Hongtao Li, Jurgen Hoffmann, Holger Nagel, Francois Droux, Celine Mahieux, Christoph Ruchti, Manfred Wirsum
  • Publication number: 20120240871
    Abstract: A heat recovery steam generator that includes a first steam drum for receiving a flow of water and steam from an evaporator. The first steam drum is adapted to provide the flow of water and steam to a second steam drum. The second steam drum is in fluid communication with the first steam drum and receives the flow of water and steam from the first steam drum and separates steam from the flow of water and steam to form a separated steam. There is a steam flow outlet positioned in the second steam drum, the steam flow outlet adapted to release the separated steam from the second steam drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Donald W. Bairley, Wesley P. Bauver, II, Francois Droux, Alan C. Hazelton, Ian J. Perrin, Christoph Ruchti, Falk Ruecker, Glenn T. Selby
  • Patent number: 8268813
    Abstract: This invention is directed generally to zilpaterol enantiomer compositions, and, in particular, to compositions comprising the 6R,7R zilpaterol enantiomer. This invention is also directed to processes for making such compositions; methods for using such compositions to, for example, increase the rate of weight gain, improve feed efficiency, and/or increase carcass leanness in livestock, poultry, and/or fish; and uses of such compositions to make medicaments. This invention is further directed to methods for determining the absolute configurations of zilpaterol enantiomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Intervet International B.V.
    Inventors: Christian Miculka, Thorsten Meyer, Christopher Kern, Serge Francois Droux