Steam And Combustion Products Patents (Class 60/39.182)
-
Patent number: 10219337Abstract: A control module is able to be installed with electrical devices, such as, for example electrical loads (e.g., lighting loads) and/or load regulation devices. The control module may determine whether an LED driver for an LED light source is responsive to one or more of a plurality of control techniques. The control module may be able to automatically determine an appropriate control technique to use to control the connected LED driver and/or LED light source. The control module may sequentially attempt to control the LED driver and/or LED light source using each of the plurality of control techniques and determine if the LED driver and/or LED light source is responsive to the present control technique. The plurality of control techniques may include one or more analog control techniques and one or more digital control techniques.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2018Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Galen Edgar Knode, Steven J. Kober, Daniel Curtis Raneri, Richard M. Walsh, III
-
Patent number: 10196942Abstract: In an operation method of a multi-shaft combined cycle plant, a low-load mode in which an output of the multi-shaft combined cycle plant is adjusted by adjustment of only an output of a gas turbine and a high-load mode in which the output of the multi-shaft combined cycle plant is adjustable by adjustment of the output of the gas turbine and adjustment of an output of a steam turbine are switched according to a demanded load. In the low-load mode, steam at a standby flow rate at which the steam turbine is capable of maintaining a predetermined initial load is supplied to the steam turbine, and the initial load is applied to the steam turbine.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignees: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD., MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS EUROPE, LTD.Inventors: Kazunari Matsumoto, Jumpei Suzuki, Elvio Rubio, Pablo Ratia, Carlos Mora Daniel
-
Patent number: 10184406Abstract: A multi-shaft variable speed gas turbine apparatus includes a multi-shaft gas turbine having a gas turbine compressor, a gas turbine burner, a gas generator provided with a first turbine for rotationally driving the gas turbine compressor, and a power turbine, provided with a second turbine that is mechanically separated from the gas generator, rotationally driven by exhaust gas of the gas generator, and having a main generator. A sub-electric motor/generator is connected to the gas generator, and a frequency converter controls the sub-electric motor/generator. A fuel flow rate control valve adjusts output using a fuel flow rate to be injected into the gas turbine burner. Variation of the fuel flow rate is restricted, and a control device determines a drive load of the gas turbine compressor in accordance with an output load for a request load, and controls the sub-electric motor/generator using the frequency converter.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2014Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Naohiro Kusumi, Noriaki Hino, Aung Ko Thet
-
Patent number: 10180086Abstract: Heat recovery steam generator comprises a casing, low-pressure evaporator coils, preheater booster coils upstream thereof and feedwater heater coils downstream thereof, a water-to-water heat exchanger having low and high temperature paths; a first conduit from the preheater to the high-temperature path, and a second conduit from the feedwater heater to the preheater. A conduit can extend from feedwater heater to low-pressure evaporator. A conduit can extend from the water-to-water heat exchanger to the feedwater heater. High-pressure economizer coils can be upstream of the preheater, with a conduit exiting the feedwater heater to the high-pressure economizer. Additional coils can be upstream of the high-pressure economizer. The feedwater heater can comprise first and second sections, or first, second and third sections; or more sections. The connections among the various components and sections can be near their upstream and downstream faces.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2014Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: NOOTER/ERIKSEN, INC.Inventor: Daniel B. Kloeckener
-
Patent number: 10180085Abstract: A combined cycle power plant is described, comprising a steam turbine, a first heat recovery steam generator and a second heat recovery steam generator. The first heat recovery steam generator is attached to the steam turbine by a first steam pipe system and the second heat recovery steam generator is attached to the steam turbine by a second steam pipe system, to allow steam to pass from the first and second heat recovery steam generators to the steam turbine. The steam turbine is arranged in between the first heat recovery steam generator and the second heat recovery steam generator.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbHInventors: Siegfried Trippold, Andre Koenig, Atish Dipankar Roy Choudhury, Patrice Richard Cantin, Reza Alikhani, Prashant Agrawal
-
Patent number: 10143986Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluidized bed system having a sparger capable of minimizing a blockage by solids and controlling method thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCHInventors: Ho-Jung Ryu, Dal-hee Bae, Sung-ho Jo, Seung-yong Lee, Chang-keun Yi, Gyoung-tae Jin, Do-won Shun, Jae-hyeon Park, Young Cheol Park, Jong-ho Moon, Hyo Jin Lee, Do Yeon Lee, Dong-ho Lee, Jeom In Baek
-
Patent number: 10126810Abstract: An optimal feedforward control design for controlling equipment performs intermittent re-initialization based on estimated state information. A model-based constrained optimization is explicitly performed during the feedforward calculation. During the course of operation of the equipment, state estimation is continuously performed. When a load target change is detected, the estimated state may serve as the new signal baseline.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT POWER & WATER SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: Xu Cheng, Richard W. Kephart, Steven J. Schilling
-
Patent number: 10113535Abstract: A combined cycle power plant comprises a combustion turbine generator, another heat source in addition to the combustion turbine generator, a steam power system, and an energy storage system. Heat from the heat source, from the energy storage system, or from the heat source and the energy storage system is used to generate steam in the steam power system. Heat from the combustion turbine generator exhaust gas may be used primarily for single phase heating of water or steam in the steam power system. Alternatively, heat from the combustion turbine generator exhaust gas may be used in parallel with the energy storage system and/or the other heat source to generate steam, and additionally to super heat steam. Both the combustion turbine generator and the steam power system may generate electricity.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Inventor: William M. Conlon
-
Patent number: 10077682Abstract: A system includes an HRSG that includes a plurality of heat exchanger section fluidly coupled to each other. The plurality of heat exchanger sections comprises at least one economizer, at least one evaporator, at least one reheater, and at least one superheater. In addition, the HRSG includes an additional heat exchanger section coupled to two different heat exchanger sections of the plurality of heat exchanger sections. Further, the HRSG includes a controller programmed to selectively fluidly couple the additional heat exchanger section to one of the two different heat exchanger sections to alter a heat duty for the selected heat exchanger section fluidly coupled to the additional heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Jeffrey Fredrick Magee
-
Patent number: 10066532Abstract: An object is to improve fuel consumption, drivability and exhaust gas purification by efficiently converting waste heat of the engine into electrical power and storing the electrical power in a dedicated electric storage so that the boost pressure from the electric air compressor can be flexibly outputted. The electric supercharging device includes a steam cycle device configured to expand the steam generated by waste heat of an engine to rotate an expander, a first generator connected to the expander and configured to generate an electrical power by torque of the expander, a dedicated battery which stores the electrical power generated by the first generator, and an electric supercharger configured to drive a compressor with a motor driven by the electrical power of the dedicated battery to generate compressed air.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2012Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Yukio Yamashita, Byeongil An, Motoki Ebisu, Musashi Sakamoto, Hiroshi Ogita
-
Patent number: 10060298Abstract: A thermal energy recovery device capable of suppressing a rapid increase of thermal stress generated in an evaporator when the operation is started and a start-up method thereof are provided. The thermal energy recovery device includes an evaporator, a preheater, an energy recovery unit, a circulating flow path, a pump, a heating medium flow path for supplying a heating medium to the evaporator and the preheater, a flow adjustment unit provided in a portion on the upstream side than the evaporator within the heating medium flow path, and a control unit. The control unit controls the flow adjustment unit so that the inflow amount of the heating medium in a gas-phase to the evaporator gradually increases, in a state that the pump is stopped, until the temperature of the evaporator becomes a specified value.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuo Takahashi, Shigeto Adachi, Yutaka Narukawa, Eiji Kanki, Shirohiko Okamoto
-
Patent number: 10054012Abstract: A water-steam circuit of a power plant includes at least one low-pressure steam system and a reservoir for waste water from the water-steam circuit, wherein the reservoir has, in addition to at least one waste water feed line, a further heat supply from the water-steam circuit and a steam outlet which is connected via a waste steam pipe to the low-pressure steam system of the water-steam circuit. A method for cleaning waste water from a power plant having a water-steam circuit, wherein the waste water is conducted into a reservoir and, in addition to a steam fraction generated by automatic evaporation of waste water in the reservoir, a water fraction that is also produced is evaporated using energy from the water-steam circuit, and the entire steam mass flow is introduced into a low-pressure steam system of the power plant.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2015Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Uwe Juretzek
-
Patent number: 10009969Abstract: A control module is able to be installed with electrical devices, such as, for example electrical loads (e.g., lighting loads) and/or load regulation devices. The control module may determine whether an LED driver for an LED light source is responsive to one or more of a plurality of control techniques. The control module may be able to automatically determine an appropriate control technique to use to control the connected LED driver and/or LED light source. The control module may sequentially attempt to control the LED driver and/or LED light source using each of the plurality of control techniques and determine if the LED driver and/or LED light source is responsive to the present control technique. The plurality of control techniques may include one or more analog control techniques and one or more digital control techniques.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2017Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Galen Edgar Knode, Steven J. Kober, Daniel Curtis Raneri, Richard M. Walsh, III
-
Patent number: 10003000Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for generating and delivering electricity and/or hot water for combined heat and power (CHP) using one or more fuels. In many embodiments, the system can be used to provide efficient electrical, heating and cooling utilities to a residential household or group of households. Embodiments of the system can be configured for specific heat flow, while minimizing losses and maximizing total system efficiency. Embodiments also provide for stackable energy generation modules allowing the system to be placed in or nearby a residence to provide power to the residence. Embodiments also provide a control system which can be configured to monitor household electrical usage and dynamically regulate the system to operate at maximum efficiency as well as sell power to an external grid.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2013Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: InCube Labs, LLCInventors: Mir Imran, Matthew Harrison, Brent Nowak, Cody Lee
-
Patent number: 9995244Abstract: A heat energy recovery system includes an evaporator, a superheater, an expander, a power recovery device, a condenser, a pump, and a controller. The controller includes: an engine load calculation section; a maximum rotation speed determination section for determining a maximum rotation speed of the pump which is obtained when a pinch temperature reaches a target pinch temperature, based on a relational expression representing a relationship between the engine load and the maximum rotation speed, and an engine load; and a rotation speed regulation section for regulating the rotation speed of the pump in such a way as to allow the degree of superheat of the working medium flowing into the expander to be equal to or greater than a reference value, and to allow the rotation speed to be equal to or less than a maximum rotation speed determined by the maximum rotation speed determination section.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2016Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.), ASAHI SHIPPING CO., LTD., TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd., MIURA Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Tanaka, Kazuo Takahashi, Shigeto Adachi, Yutaka Narukawa
-
Patent number: 9976440Abstract: A method for testing an overspeed protection mechanism of a single-shaft combined-cycle plant that includes, during testing, an electrical load is first connected to the generator and the load is disconnected and a trigger threshold value can be achieved at a test moment in time, thereby triggering the overspeed protection mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2014Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Martin Bennauer, Edwin Gobrecht, Martin Hallekamp
-
Patent number: 9970312Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing temperatures associated with a throttle loss recovery system. One exemplary system includes a flow control assembly for recovering energy from a fluid bypassing a flow control valve based on an orientation of the flow control valve, a conduit providing fluid communication with the flow control assembly for the portion of the fluid flow bypassing the flow control valve, and an electronics assembly including an electronics module coupled to the flow control assembly. At least a portion of the electronics assembly is in fluid communication with the portion of the fluid flow bypassing the flow control valve, thereby allowing for heat transfer between the electronics assembly and the fluid bypassing the flow control valve.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2015Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Andrew Love, Mike Guidry, Patrick Beresewicz
-
Patent number: 9944874Abstract: The invention relates to a lignite fired steam power plant comprising a water/steam power cycle, a dryer system for drying lignite coal and a heat recovery system for recovering thermal energy from the dryer system. The heat recovery system vaporises condensate against a vapour line of the dryer steam and then compresses the vaporised condensate for use to preheat either or both combustion air or condensate of the water/steam power cycle.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBHInventors: Thomas Edel, Frederic Geiger, Thierry Pourchot, Didier Wantz
-
Patent number: 9945556Abstract: A fossil-fuel power generation system assisted by waste incineration includes a waste incineration subsystem and a fossil-fuel power generation subsystem; wherein: the waste incineration subsystem includes a waste incinerator and the fossil-fuel power generation subsystem includes a main boiler; a flue gas channel is provided between a furnace of the waste incinerator and the main boiler; flue gas generated by waste incineration of the waste incinerator enters the main boiler through the flue gas channel; and the flue gas channel is located in a low part of the main boiler. Based on a high-temperature combustion environment of the main boiler, thermal energy of combustible waste is fully released and a thermal efficiency is increased; moreover, the flue gas discharged by the waste incinerator contains harmful substances which are mostly burned down by a high-temperature incineration of the main boiler. A secondary incineration greatly reduces the harmful substances and protects environment.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Inventor: Xiangyuan Wen
-
Patent number: 9944875Abstract: The invention relates to a lignite fired steam power plant comprising a water/steam power cycle and a lignite dryer system having a heat pump circuit configured and arranged to provide heat energy to a lignite dryer of the dryer system. The heat pump includes a dryer heat exchanger, an expansion device and an evaporator heat exchanger connected to the first outlet line so as to enable heat energy transfer from the vapour of the first outlet line to the first working fluid. A compressor is also included in the heat pump circuit. In addition the heat pump circuit is connected to the water/steam power cycle by a steam makeup line from the pressure series of steam turbines and a condensate return line.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBHInventors: Thomas Edel, Frederic Geiger, Thierry Pourchot, Didier Wantz
-
Patent number: 9903276Abstract: This fuel-preheating device is provided with the following: a cooling-steam line that supplies steam, for the purposes of cooling, to a hot part of a gas turbine, namely a combustion liner of a combustor; a superheated-steam line through which superheated steam that is steam having passed through the combustion liner of the combustor flows; and a preheater that receives the superheated steam from the superheated-steam line and preheats fuel to be supplied to the combustor by exchanging heat between the superheated steam and said fuel.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2014Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventor: Katsuhiro Hotta
-
Patent number: 9891003Abstract: A CHP system includes a combustor as a heat source, a Rankine cycle apparatus, a second heat exchanger, and a thermal fluid flow path. The Rankine cycle apparatus includes, as an evaporator, a first heat exchanger that absorbs thermal energy from combustion gas (thermal fluid). The second heat exchanger absorbs thermal energy from the combustion gas and transfers the thermal energy to a heat medium. The first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are disposed in the thermal fluid flow path. The thermal fluid flow path includes a first flow path that allows the combustion gas to reach the first heat exchanger directly from the combustor and a second flow path that allows the combustion gas to reach the second heat exchanger directly from the combustor.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Takumi Hikichi, Osao Kido, Atsuo Okaichi, Osamu Kosuda
-
Patent number: 9879600Abstract: Systems for cooling turbine components via fluid filled conduits are disclosed. Various embodiments include a system having: a set of fan systems for cooling a set of conduits, the set of conduits fluidly connected with a turbine component; a temperature sensor operably connected to the turbine component, the temperature sensor for obtaining a temperature indicator of the turbine component; and a control system operably connected to the set of fan systems and the temperature sensor, the control system for modifying a speed of at least one fan system in the set of fan systems across a range of speeds in response to determining the temperature indicator deviates from a predetermined range of temperature values.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2012Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steven David Stovall, George Martin Gilchrist, III, John Victor Hains
-
Patent number: 9874359Abstract: Systems and methods for selectively producing steam from solar collectors and heaters are disclosed. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes directing a flow of water to a solar collector, directing the flow of water to a gas-fired heater, and, as a result of heating the flow of water at the solar collector and the gas-fired heater, forming steam from the flow of water. The method further includes changing a sequence by which at least a portion of the flow passes through the solar collector and the gas-fired heater.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: GlassPoint Solar, Inc.Inventors: John Setel O'Donnell, Peter Emery von Behrens, Andras Nady
-
Patent number: 9863280Abstract: A CHP system includes a combustor (heat source), a Rankine cycle apparatus, and a second heat exchanger. The Rankine cycle apparatus includes, as an evaporator, a first heat exchanger that absorbs thermal energy produced in the combustor. The second heat exchanger is located closer to the combustor than is the evaporator, absorbs thermal energy produced in the combustor, and transfers the thermal energy to a heat medium.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2015Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Takumi Hikichi, Osao Kido, Atsuo Okaichi, Osamu Kosuda
-
Patent number: 9856792Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a gas turbine, in which an oxygen-reduced gas and fresh air are delivered to a compressor of the gas turbine in a radially staged manner, the fresh air being delivered via an outer sector of the inlet cross section in relation to the axis of rotation of the compressor, and the oxygen-reduced gas being delivered via an inner sector of the inlet cross section in relation to the axis of rotation of the compressor. The invention relates, further, to a gas turbine power plant with a gas turbine having a compressor inlet which is followed by the flow duct of the compressor and which is divided into an inner sector and an outer sector, a feed for an oxygen-reduced gas being connected to the inner sector of the compressor inlet, and a fresh air feed being connected to the outer sector of the compressor inlet.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AGInventors: Jaan Hellat, Eribert Benz, Frank Graf, Torsten Wind, Felix Guethe, Klaus Doebbeling
-
Patent number: 9856768Abstract: A turbomachine system according to an embodiment includes: a gas turbine system including a compressor component, a combustor component, and a turbine component; a mixing area for receiving an exhaust gas stream produced by the gas turbine system; a fluid injection system for injecting a fluid into the mixing area to reduce a temperature of the exhaust gas stream; and an exhaust processing system for processing the reduced temperature exhaust gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Parag Prakash Kulkarni, Hua Zhang
-
Patent number: 9841008Abstract: Solar and steam hybrid power generation system including a solar steam generator, an external steam regulator, a turboset, and a power generator. A steam outlet end of the solar steam generator is connected to a steam inlet of the turboset. A steam outlet end of the external steam regulator is connected to the steam inlet of the turboset. A steam outlet of the turboset is connected to the input end of a condenser, and the output end of the condenser is connected to the input end of a deaerator. The output end of the deaerator is connected to the input end of a water feed pump. The output end of the water feed pump is connected to a circulating water input end of the solar steam generator. The output end of the water feed pump is connected to a water-return bypass of the external steam.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2014Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: WUHAN KAIDI ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD.Inventors: Yilong Chen, Qingping Yang, Yanfeng Zhang
-
Patent number: 9835119Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing temperatures associated with a flow control assembly, such as a throttle loss recovery assembly. One exemplary method of operating a flow control assembly generating electrical energy in response to a bypass fluid flow influenced by an orientation of a flow control valve involves operating the flow control assembly to deliver the electrical energy to a vehicle electrical system and automatically adjusting operation to increase heat generation at the flow control assembly in response to a temperature condition, such as a potential icing condition or a cold start condition.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2015Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Andrew Love, Mike Guidry
-
Patent number: 9833737Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of separating one or more components from a feed composition, methods of desorbing one or more components from an absorbent fluid, as well as systems and apparatus that can carry out the methods. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of separating one or more components from a feed composition including contacting at least some of a first component of a feed composition including the first component with an absorbent fluid, to provide a contacted composition and a used absorbent fluid including at least some of the first component contacted with the absorbent fluid. In some embodiments the absorbent fluid can be an organosilicon fluid including an organosilicon including at least one of a hydroxy group, an ether group, an acrylate group, a methacrylate group, an acrylamide group, a methacrylamide group, and a polyether group.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2015Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Dow Corning CorporationInventors: Dongchan Ahn, Aaron J. Greiner, James S. Hrabal, Alexandra N. Lichtor
-
Patent number: 9828887Abstract: A power generation system may include: a first gas turbine system including a first turbine component, a first integral compressor and a first combustor to which air from the first integral compressor and fuel are supplied. The first integral compressor has a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of the first combustor and/or the first turbine component, creating an excess air flow. A second gas turbine system may include similar components to the first except but without excess capacity in its compressor. A turbo-expander may be operatively coupled to the second gas turbine system. Control valves may control flow of the excess air flow from the first gas turbine system to at least one of the second gas turbine system and the turbo-expander, and flow of a discharge of the turbo-expander to an exhaust of at least one of the first turbine component and the second turbine component.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Dale Joel Davis, Kihyung Kim, Alston Ilford Scipio, Leslie Yung Min Tong
-
Patent number: 9816490Abstract: A solar hybrid power plant comprises a combustion turbine generator, a steam power system, a solar thermal system, and an energy storage system. Heat from the solar thermal system, from the energy storage system, or from the solar thermal system and the energy storage system is used to generate steam in the steam power system. Heat from the combustion turbine generator exhaust gas may be used primarily for single phase heating of water or steam in the steam power system. Alternatively, heat from the combustion turbine generator exhaust gas may be used in parallel with the energy storage system and/or the solar thermal system to generate steam, and additionally to super heat steam. Both the combustion turbine generator and the steam power system may generate electricity.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Inventor: William M. Conlon
-
Patent number: 9812723Abstract: A power producing system adapted to be integrated with a flue gas generating assembly, the flue gas generating assembly including one or more of a fossil fueled installation, a fossil fueled facility, a fossil fueled device, a fossil fueled power plant, a boiler, a combustor, a furnace and a kiln in a cement factory, and the power producing system utilizing flue gas containing carbon dioxide and oxygen output by the flue gas generating assembly and comprising: a fuel cell comprising an anode section and a cathode section, wherein inlet oxidant gas to the cathode section of the fuel cell contains the flue gas output from the flue gas generating assembly; and a gas separation assembly receiving anode exhaust output from the anode section of the fuel cell and including a chiller assembly for cooling the anode exhaust to a predetermined temperature so as to liquefy carbon dioxide in the anode exhaust, wherein waste heat produced by the fuel cell is utilized to drive the chiller assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventor: Hossein Ghezel-Ayagh
-
Patent number: 9797653Abstract: The invention relates to a method for condensing a carbon dioxide-rich gas stream, wherein a stream of water heated by an exchange of heat with the carbon dioxide-rich stream, which is at least partially condensed, is sent to at least one compressor (3,21) for compressing the carbon dioxide-rich stream or a fluid, the carbon dioxide-rich stream of which is derived, in order to at least partially cool at least one stage of said compressor.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme pour l'Étude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventor: Arthur Darde
-
Patent number: 9764802Abstract: A floating type LNG station floats on the sea and is used for refueling a ship or a marine structure using LNG. The floating LNG station comprises: a floating structure; an LNG tank which is prepared for storing LNG in the floating structure; an LNG line for discharging the LNG from the LNG tank to the ship or the marine structure; and an LNG pump which provides the LNG line with pumping force for discharging the LNG.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2011Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Samsung Heavy Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventor: Joong Nam Lee
-
Patent number: 9745871Abstract: A system includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger configured to heat a heating fluid stream by exchange with a heat source in a crude oil associated gas processing plant; and a Kalina cycle energy conversion system including a first group of heat exchangers to heat a first portion of a working fluid by exchange with the heated heating fluid stream and a second group of heat exchangers to heat a second portion of the working fluid. The second group of heat exchangers includes a first heat exchanger to heat the second portion of the working fluid by exchange with a liquid stream of the working fluid; and a second heat exchanger to heat the second portion of the working fluid by exchange with the heated heating fluid stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Mahmoud Bahy Mahmoud Noureldin, Akram Hamed Mohamed Kamel
-
Patent number: 9739178Abstract: The invention relates to a steam Rankine cycle plant and a method for operating thereof. The plant comprises a higher-pressure steam turbine with an outlet and a reheater fluidly connected to the higher-pressure steam turbine. In addition, the plant has a lower-pressure steam turbine with an inlet that is fluidly connected to the reheater. The plant also has a bypass that is fluidly connecting the outlet and the inlet so as to bypass the reheater.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2013Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbHInventors: Maurus Herzog, Suman Ray
-
Patent number: 9732635Abstract: A method for enhanced cold (or warm) steam turbine start in a supplementary fired multi-gas turbine combined cycle plant is disclosed. Boiler supplementary firing, which is normally used to increase steam flow when the plant gas turbine is at maximum load, is used to augment steam production with a partly loaded, temperature matched gas turbine. This is done to satisfy minimum required steam flow for a cold (or warm) steam turbine start. Lighting the supplementary firing burners in the heat recovery steam generator/boiler and setting them at a minimum or low heat load serves to add enough steam, at the proper temperature, to insure a successful cold or warm steam turbine start when the gas turbine load and related steam production capacity from the gas turbine exhaust flow are limited by the need to match the required steam temperature and/or maintain low gas turbine exhaust emissions.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Bruce Charles Martindale
-
Patent number: 9719676Abstract: A power plant, particularly a coupled gas and steam power plant, including a plurality of first drainage lines that are fluidically connected on the upstream side to a water-steam circuit and are fluidically connected on the downstream side to an overpressure vessel, is provided. Additionally, at least one steam-conducting supply line, via which steam can be fed back to the water-steam circuit, is fluidically connected to the overpressure vessel. A method for operating such a power plant, wherein the at least one steam-conducting supply line can supply steam to the water-steam circuit in the region of a low-pressure stage, particularly in the region of the steam drum of the low-pressure stage is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Erich Schmid, Michael Schöttler, Anja Wallmann
-
Patent number: 9709261Abstract: To provide a condensate flow rate control device and a control method for a power plant which improve responsiveness to frequency fluctuations or requested load changes and can suppress frequency fluctuations with precision or improve precision with which output power conforms to requested load instructions. A power plant to which a condensate flow rate control device is adapted includes a deaerator to which condensate generated by a condenser is supplied via a deaerator water level adjustment valve and into which bleed steam from a steam turbine is introduced. The condensate flow rate control device has a water level adjustment unit for executing condensate flow rate control, wherein the water level adjustment unit adjusts pressure in a condensate flow path extending from the deaerator water level adjustment valve to the deaerator so that inputted frequency fluctuations are suppressed or an output value of a generator conforms to inputted requested load changes.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Rikio Inoue, Koichi Takei, Yuichiro Deguchi, Takanori Tsutsumi, Yuji Ohta, Kanta Inoue
-
Patent number: 9702376Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing a gas flowing comprising at least 0.1 vol % water, include a compressor containing N compression stages, in which each compression stage includes a compressing means and an exchanger directly or indirectly connected to a water-coolant circuit; and in which at least a first exchanger and a second exchanger, in first and second consecutive or non-consecutive compression stages, are connected in series to the water-coolant circuit. The exchangers, which are not connected in series to the water-coolant circuit, include at their water-coolant output a pressure drop device.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2013Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Arthur Darde, Cyril Defaye, Thomas Morel
-
Patent number: 9689280Abstract: A gas turbine plant including a gas turbine and a compressor is provided with a steam turbine plant including a steam turbine and a condenser, and, an exhaust heat recovery boiler. Steam from the exhaust heat recovery boiler is directly flown to the condenser of the steam turbine plant through a bypass control valve. A pressure sensor detects pressure in a turbine bypass system. A controller outputs, based on a set value from an input device and a process value from the pressure sensor, an open level instruction value to the control value so as to make the process value consistent with the set value in a predetermined sampling cycle. A corrector corrects the set value from the input device in a direction in which the open level instruction value decreases when the open level instruction value from the controller becomes a value that substantially fully opens the control valve.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Hironori Watanabe, Masayuki Tobo, Takuji Yamasaki, Firman Bagja Juangsa
-
Patent number: 9664110Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a gas turbine which includes a compressor with annular inlet area, at least two burners, a combustion chamber and a turbine. According to the method, at least one first partial intake flow, consisting of oxygen-reduced gas which has an oxygen concentration which is lower than the average oxygen concentration of the compressor intake flow, and at least one second partial intake flow, consisting of fresh air, are fed to the compressor in an alternating manner in the circumferential direction of the inlet area. In addition, the invention relates to a gas turbine power plant with a gas turbine, the compressor inlet of which includes at least one first segment and at least one second segment which are arranged in an alternating manner around a compressor inlet in the circumferential direction, wherein a feed for an oxygen-reduced gas is connected to the first segment and a fresh air feed is connected to the second segment of the compressor inlet.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AGInventors: Felix Guethe, Madhavan Narasimhan Poyyapakkam, Frank Graf, Bruno Schuermans, Eribert Benz
-
Patent number: 9593609Abstract: A method for reducing NOx emissions in the exhaust of a combined cycle gas turbine equipped with a heat recovery boiler and a catalyst effective for NOx reduction, wherein a slip stream of hot flowing exhaust gases is withdrawn from the primary gas flow after the catalyst at a temperature of 500° F. to 900° F. and directed through a fan to a continuous duct into which an aqueous based reagent is injected for decomposition to ammonia gas and the outlet of the continuous duct is connected to an injection grid positioned in the primary exhaust for injection of ammonia gas into the primary exhaust stream at a location upstream of the catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2013Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: PEERLESS MFG. CO.Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Broderick, Kathryn V. O'Leary, R. Gifford Broderick, John N. Dale, James M. Valentine
-
Patent number: 9595880Abstract: A control module is able to be installed with electrical devices, such as, for example electrical loads (e.g., lighting loads) and/or load regulation devices. The control module may determine whether the electrical loads (e.g., drivers for lighting loads) are responsive to one or more of a plurality of control techniques. The control module may be able to automatically determine an appropriate control technique to use to control the connected driver and/or lighting load. The control module may sequentially attempt to control the connected driver and/or lighting load using each of the plurality of control techniques and determine if the driver and/or lighting load is responsive to the present control technique. The plurality of control techniques may include one or more analog control techniques and one or more digital control techniques.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONIC CO., INC.Inventors: Galen Edgar Knode, Steven J. Kober, Daniel Curtis Raneri, Richard M. Walsh, III
-
Patent number: 9581051Abstract: A power generation plant including a solar radiation receiver for heating a medium stream and a turbine assembly being arranged to receive the heated medium stream from the solar radiation receiver, said turbine assembly being coupled to an electric power generator, wherein a combustor is positioned downstream of the solar radiation receiver and upstream of the turbine assembly, an air compressor unit having a compressed air outlet is arranged to supply compressed combustion air to the combustor, and a steam generator is arranged to extract heat from an outlet flow from the turbine assembly, and to produce steam to be transmitted to a medium stream inlet of the solar radiation receiver and subsequently to combustor. The invention also related to a method.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2012Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Euroturbine ABInventors: Hans-Erik Hansson, Leif Nilsson
-
Patent number: 9574461Abstract: A method of controlling a thermal power plant for electricity generation, said power plant comprising at least one heat source to supply thermal energy to a working fluid circulation circuit. The circuit comprises a high pressure turbine mechanically connected to an electricity generator, a high pressure regulating valve controlling the steam supply to said high pressure turbine from a high pressure superheater associated with a high pressure storage tank. The fluid supply to said high pressure storage tank from a high pressure steam generator is controlled by a high pressure supply valve, and, in response to a need for additional electrical power, the opening of the high pressure regulating valve is increased the opening of the high pressure supply valve is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2013Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: ELECTRICITE DE FRANCEInventor: Eve Dufosse
-
Patent number: 9567913Abstract: A system and method for supercharging a combined cycle system includes a forced draft fan providing a variable air flow. At least a first portion of the air flow is directed to a compressor and a second portion of the airflow is diverted to a heat recovery steam generator. A control system controls the airflows provided to the compressor and the heat recovery steam generator. The system allows a combined cycle system to be operated at a desired operating state, balancing cycle efficiency and component life, by controlling the flow of air from the forced draft fan to the compressor and the heat recovery steam generator.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Steven Hartman, Dale J. Davis
-
Patent number: 9567903Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2012Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: ENER-CORE POWER, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey Armstrong, Richard Martin, Douglas Hamrin
-
Patent number: 9550261Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 12, 2012Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Christian Brunhuber, Hermann Kremer, Frank Strobelt, Nicolas Vortmeyer, Gerhard Zimmermann