Patents by Inventor Volker Schüle

Volker Schüle 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: 10253973
    Abstract: A power plant is suggested with an additional heat transfer between the flue gas that flows through a flue gas line (5) and the feed-water in a feed-water line (19). The claimed arrangement of the first heat exchanger (13) upstream and adjacent to a precipitator (7) leads to a reduced space demand and optimizes dust precipitation as well as the pressure drop of the flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Schüle, Daniel Zimmer
  • Patent number: 10196939
    Abstract: The once-through boiler includes a water supply and at least an economizer, an evaporator superheater. No valves are provided between the economizer, the evaporator and the superheater. The high-pressure turbine includes a control valve. The method for low load operation of a power plant with a once-through boiler and a high pressure turbine includes providing a parameter indicative of the stable operation of the once-through boiler in once-through operation, and on the basis of this parameter adjusting the control valve in order to regulate the pressure within the economizer and evaporator and/or adjusting the temperature of the water supplied to the economizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Volker Schüle, Stephan Hellweg, Reinhard Leithner, Niels Brinkmeier
  • Patent number: 10006310
    Abstract: A thermal power plant is described comprising a solar collector field and a heat storage to allow the use of the thermal energy collected by the solar field with a time delay for the production of electricity in the steam power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Olivier Clement, Silvia Velm, Volker Schüle
  • Patent number: 9771926
    Abstract: A Steam power plant comprising a steam turbine (3) and a condenser (5), wherein the condenser (5) is disclosed, comprising a first heat sink being a ground heat exchanger (29) is connected to the condenser during times when ground temperature is lower than air temperature; and a second heat sink being an above-ground heat exchanger is connected to the condenser during times when ground temperature is not lower than air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Volker Schüle, Silvia Velm
  • Patent number: 9752461
    Abstract: A steam power plant with a low-pressure turbine is suggested with a second low-pressure turbine on a separated shaft line including a separate generator. The second low-pressure turbine is connected to an additional condensing system without cooling water consumption, thus allowing to maintain the power output at a high level, even if the main condensing system has a reduced capacity due to cooling water restrictions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Fabian Bierewirtz, Volker Schüle, Hermann Seelinger
  • Patent number: 9745964
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a steam power plant, wherein solar energy can be very flexibly and very efficiently coupled into the water steam circuit of the steam power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Bjoern Ungerer, Ewald Kitzmann, Volker Schuele
  • Patent number: 9726154
    Abstract: A hybrid steam power plant is disclosed using the steam generator as a sub-construction for a solar receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Schüle, Fabian Bierewirtz, Olivier Clement
  • Patent number: 9677429
    Abstract: A steam power plant is suggested having, parallel to the high-pressure preheater passage (VW4 to VW6), a heat reservoir (A) which is loaded with preheated condensate in weak-load times. This preheated condensate is taken from the heat reservoir (A) for generating peak-load and inserted downstream of the high-pressure preheater passage (VW4 to VW6) into the condensate line (19.2) resp. the feed water container (8). Thus it is possible to quickly control the power generation of the power plant in a wide range without significantly having to change the heating output of the boiler of the steam generator (1). A steam power plant equipped according to the invention can thus be operated with bigger load modifications and also provide more control energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Ewald Kitzmann, Volker Schüle, Julia Heintz, Angie Ewert
  • Patent number: 9617874
    Abstract: In a system for effecting pressure control in a thermal power plant operated at low load connected fluidly in series, a relief conduit is disclosed herein. The relief conduit selectively transfers steam from a cold reheat conduit to the second extraction conduit. The plant further includes a boiler, a high-pressure turbine, an intermediate pressure turbine, a low pressure turbine, a main steam conduit for feeding steam from the boiler to an inlet of the high pressure turbine, a cold reheat conduit for feeding steam from an outlet of the high-pressure turbine through a reheat flow path in the boiler, and a first and second high pressure heaters. A first extraction conduit connects the cold reheat conduit to a first high pressure heater to transfer heat, and a second extraction conduit connects the intermediate pressure turbine to the second high pressure heater, to transfer heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Hellweg, Volker Schüle, Manfred Bauer
  • Patent number: 9399928
    Abstract: A steam power plant is suggested having, parallel to the low-pressure passage (VW1 to VW2), a heat reservoir (A) which is loaded with preheated condensate in weak-load times. This preheated condensate is taken from the heat reservoir (A) for generating peak-load and inserted downstream of the low-pressure preheater passage (VW1 to VW2) into the condensate line that contacts the feed water container (8). Thus it is possible to quickly control the power generation of the power plant in a wide range without significantly having to change the heating output of the boiler of the steam generator (1). A steam power plant equipped according to the invention can thus be operated with bigger load modifications and also provide more control energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Ewald Kitzmann, Volker Schüle, Julia Heintz, Benjamin Bond
  • Publication number: 20160032784
    Abstract: The once-through boiler includes a water supply and at least an economizer, an evaporator superheater. No valves are provided between the economizer, the evaporator and the superheater. The high-pressure turbine includes a control valve. The method for low load operation of a power plant with a once-through boiler and a high pressure turbine includes providing a parameter indicative of the stable operation of the once-through boiler in once-through operation, and on the basis of this parameter adjusting the control valve in order to regulate the pressure within the economizer and evaporator and/or adjusting the temperature of the water supplied to the economizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Volker SCHÜLE, Stephan Hellweg, Reinhard LEITHNER, Niels BRINKMEIER
  • Patent number: 9169744
    Abstract: A steam power plant is suggested having, parallel to the preheater passage (VW1 to VW4), a heat reservoir (25) which is loaded with preheated condensate in weak-load times. This preheated condensate is taken from the heat reservoir (25) for generating peak-load and inserted downstream of the preheater passage into the condensate line (19.2) resp. the feed water container (8). Thus it is possible to quickly control the power generation of the power plant in a wide range without significantly having to change the heating output of the boiler of the steam generator (1). A steam power plant equipped according to the invention can thus be operated with bigger load modifications and also provide more control energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventors: Volker Schüle, Ewald Kitzmann, Matthias Legin
  • Patent number: 9151185
    Abstract: Provided is a power plant and a method of operating thereof. The power plant includes a boiler for heating process fluids; and a multistage first steam turbine with an outlet line that passes through the boiler. The outlet line includes an extraction line that is configured and arranged to extract steam from an intermediate stage of the first steam turbine and heat at least one of the process fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Julia Kirchner, Volker Schüle, Stefan Hellweg
  • Publication number: 20150020526
    Abstract: A hybrid steam power plant is disclosed using the steam generator as a sub-construction for a solar receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Volker SCHÜLE, Fabian Bierewirtz, Olivier Clement
  • Publication number: 20140366537
    Abstract: In a system for effecting pressure control in a thermal power plant operated at low load connected fluidly in series, a relief conduit is disclosed herein. The relief conduit selectively transfers steam from a cold reheat conduit to the second extraction conduit. The plant further includes a boiler, a high-pressure turbine, an intermediate pressure turbine, a low pressure turbine, a main steam conduit for feeding steam from the boiler to an inlet of the high pressure turbine, a cold reheat conduit for feeding steam from an outlet of the high-pressure turbine through a reheat flow path in the boiler, and a first and second high pressure heaters. A first extraction conduit connects the cold reheat conduit to a first high pressure heater to transfer heat, and a second extraction conduit connects the intermediate pressure turbine to the second high pressure heater, to transfer heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Stephan HELLWEG, Volker Schüle, Manfred BAUER
  • Publication number: 20140216035
    Abstract: A steam power plant with a low-pressure turbine is suggested with a second low-pressure turbine on a separated shaft line including a separate generator. The second low-pressure turbine is connected to an additional condensing system without cooling water consumption, thus allowing to maintain the power output at a high level, even if the main condensing system has a reduced capacity due to cooling water restrictions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Fabian BIEREWIRTZ, VOLKER SCHÜLE, HERMANN SEELINGER
  • Publication number: 20140202156
    Abstract: A thermal power plant is described comprising a solar collector field and a heat storage to allow the use of the thermal energy collected by the solar field with a time delay for the production of electricity in the steam power plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Olivier CLEMENT, Silvia VELM, Volker SCHÜLE
  • Publication number: 20140096522
    Abstract: Provided is a power plant and a method of operating thereof. The power plant includes a boiler for heating process fluids; and a multistage first steam turbine with an outlet line that passes through the boiler. The outlet line includes an extraction line that is configured and arranged to extract steam from an intermediate stage of the first steam turbine and heat at least one of the process fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Julia KIRCHNER, Volker Schüle, Stefan Hellweg
  • Publication number: 20130298558
    Abstract: A steam power plant is suggested having, parallel to the low-pressure passage (VW1 to VW2), a heat reservoir (A) which is loaded with preheated condensate in weak-load times. This preheated condensate is taken from the heat reservoir (A) for generating peak-load and inserted downstream of the low-pressure preheater passage (VW1 to VW2) into the condensate line (19.2) resp. the feed water container (8). Thus it is possible to quickly control the power generation of the power plant in a wide range without significantly having to change the heating output of the boiler of the steam generator (1). A steam power plant equipped according to the invention can thus be operated with bigger load modifications and also provide more control energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Ewald KITZMANN, Volker SCHÜLE, Julia HEINTZ, Benjamin BOND
  • Publication number: 20130298559
    Abstract: A steam power plant is suggested having, parallel to the high-pressure preheater passage (VW4 to VW6), a heat reservoir (A) which is loaded with preheated condensate in weak-load times. This preheated condensate is taken from the heat reservoir (A) for generating peak-load and inserted downstream of the high-pressure preheater passage (VW4 to VW6) into the condensate line (19.2) resp. the feed water container (8). Thus it is possible to quickly control the power generation of the power plant in a wide range without significantly having to change the heating output of the boiler of the steam generator (1). A steam power plant equipped according to the invention can thus be operated with bigger load modifications and also provide more control energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Ewald KITZMANN, Volker SCHÜLE, Julia HEINTZ, Angie EWERT