Steam And Combustion Products Patents (Class 60/39.182)
  • Patent number: 9540962
    Abstract: An air cooled heat exchanger, such as a combustion turbine intercooler or rotor cooler or an air cooled condenser, utilizes a pressurized gas fluid entraining misting device that evaporatively cools conduits carrying the cooled fluid medium. Evaporative cooling liquid is entrained in the pressurized gas where it is atomized for evaporative cooling of the heat exchanger conduits. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention the misting device is a jet pump or ejector that entrains a supply of non-pressurized cooling liquid. In other exemplary embodiments of the invention the misting device is a misting emitter that entrains a supply of pressurized cooling liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Sharp, Monica B. Hansel, Michael Scheurlen, Joshua A. Bernstein
  • Patent number: 9523313
    Abstract: A system including a gas turbine system configured to transition between a first load state and a second load state, wherein the gas turbine system comprises an airflow control module configured to adjust an airflow through the gas turbine system between a minimum airflow condition and a maximum airflow condition, and a controller configured to control the gas turbine system to operate with a load path between a first load path corresponding to the minimum airflow condition and a second load path corresponding to the maximum airflow condition, wherein the controller is configured to control the gas turbine system to transition between the first load state and the second load state using the load path between the first and second load paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kihyung Kim, Seyfettin Can Gulen, Brett Matthew Thompson
  • Patent number: 9506376
    Abstract: A fossil-fired steam generator for a steam power station includes a number of economizer, evaporator and superheater heating surfaces forming a flow path through which a flow medium flows in a plurality of pressure stages. In a high-pressure stage, an overflow line is connected to the flow path on its inlet side and leads to an injection valve disposed upstream in the flow path from a superheater heating surface in a medium-pressure stage on the flow medium side. The overflow line has two supply lines of which a first supply line branches off on the flow medium side upstream from a high-pressure preheater and a second supply line branches off on the flow medium side downstream from the high-pressure preheater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Martin Effert, Frank Thomas
  • Patent number: 9506373
    Abstract: A steam turbine arrangement is provided and includes a first steam turbine with a first steam outlet, wherein the first steam turbine exhibiting a first sealing leakage, a second steam turbine exhibiting a second sealing leakage, and a third steam turbine with a cooling steam inlet, a functional device and a cooling arrangement. The cooling arrangement is coupled to the cooling steam inlet. The cooling arrangement is adapted for guiding a cooling steam to the functional device for cooling purposes. A steam pipe is coupled to the first steam turbine and to the second steam turbine such that a first steam being provided by the first sealing leakage and a second steam being provided by the second sealing leakage is gathered to a cooling steam in the steam pipe. The steam pipe is coupled to the cooling steam inlet such that the cooling steam is injectable to the cooling arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Olga Chernysheva, Oskar Mazur
  • Patent number: 9494086
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improved control of a turbomachine system with a bottoming cycle system are presented. The systems and methods include a controller that utilizes modeling techniques to derive a plurality of load path curves. The controller utilizes a current load path, a minimum load path, and a constant efficiency load path. The systems and methods include a control process configured to receive a user input representative of a life cycle control modality and to execute a control action based on deriving a load efficiency by applying the current load path, the minimum load path, the constant efficiency load path, or a combination thereof, and the life cycle control modality. The control action is applied to control the turbomachine system and the bottoming cycle system fluidly coupled to the turbomachine system. Further, the life cycle control modalities may be selected by a user based upon known tradeoffs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Achalesh Kumar Pandey, John Edward Sholes, Dwayne David McDuffie, Kamlesh Mundra, Maria Cecilia Mazzaro
  • Patent number: 9488416
    Abstract: A multistage pressure condenser includes, a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber, a pressure partition wall which partitions an inner portion of the low pressure chamber to an upper portion and a lower portion, a cooling pipe group which condenses low pressure side steam to low pressure side condensate, a reheat chamber positioned in the lower portion of the low pressure chamber and in which the low pressure side condensate which flows down through the porous plate is stored, high pressure side steam introduction portion for introducing high pressure side steam in the high pressure chamber to the reheat chamber, liquid-film forming portion which guides the low pressure side condensate which flows down through the porous plate to the reheat chamber while dispersing the low pressure side condensate on a surface, and air feeder for promoting the flow of the high pressure side steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Issaku Fujita, Jiro Kasahara, Seiho Utsumi
  • Patent number: 9476584
    Abstract: A method of controlling a water level in a steam drum includes predicting a transient in the steam drum based on plant characteristics including steam flow from the steam drum, drum pressure in the steam drum, and one or both of a gas turbine load and a position of a bypass valve configured to control the steam flow from the steam drum to two or more steam flow conduits. The method further includes generating a sliding setpoint to control the water level based on predicting the transient in the steam drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Awadesh Kumar Tiwari, Sidharth Abrol, Rasika Suresh Kalwit, Achalesh Kumar Pandey, John Alexander Petzen, Charles William Weidner
  • Patent number: 9429075
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel heating system is provided. The method includes performing pre-ignition diagnostic checks on a plurality of components of the fuel heating system, wherein at least one inlet damper and at least one outlet damper of an exhaust flow circuit are each in a closed position. The method also includes purging the fuel heating system of unburned hydrocarbons. The method further includes operating the fuel heating system in a normal operating condition. The method yet further includes operating the fuel heating system in a cool down condition, wherein the at least one inlet damper is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rushi Mahesh Amin, Douglas Scott Byrd, Dean Matthew Erickson, Michael John Mariani, Christina Renee Pompey, Korey Frederic Rendo, Bryan Edward Sweet
  • Patent number: 9381484
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: ENER-CORE POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Armstrong, Richard Martin, Douglas Hamrin
  • Patent number: 9371993
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: ENER-CORE POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Armstrong
  • Patent number: 9365932
    Abstract: A compressor blade for use in a compressor section of a gas turbine engine, comprising: a martensitic stainless steel compressor blade and an abrasive coating having an anodic component. The compressor blade has a blade portion, a dovetail portion and a platform portion intermediate the blade portion and the dovetail portion, the blade portion terminating in a tip opposite the dovetail portion. A cobalt-based coating overlies at least the blade portion of the compressor blade. The cobalt-based coating comprises a cobalt based material that includes precipitates of tungsten carbide that provide erosion resistance and particles of a sacrificial metal-based material distributed through the cobalt-based coating that provide galvanic corrosion resistance to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Krishnamurthy Anand, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Paul Mathew, Surinder Singh Pabla, Guruprasad Sundararajan, Mohandas Nayak
  • Patent number: 9360251
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated device for separating air and heating a gas in the air resulting from said air separation, comprising: an air separation device (9); a heat exchanger (13, 43); a channel for conveying the gas in the air to the heat exchanger; and a channel for conveying water to the heat exchanger, the water-conveying channel being connected to the water inlet or water outlet of a water preheat exchanger (5) or a water deaerator (27). According to the invention, the preheat exchanger and/or the deaerator are connected to an oxy-combustion boiler (19) in order to convey water to and from the boiler, said boiler also being connected to the separation device in order to receive an oxygen-enriched gas (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Richard Dubettier-Grenier, Jean-Pierre Tranier
  • Patent number: 9359947
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ENER-CORE POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Lampe, Douglas Hamrin
  • Patent number: 9353946
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: ENER-CORE POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Hamrin, Richard Martin, Jeffrey Armstrong
  • Patent number: 9347664
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ENER-CORE POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Lampe, Douglas Hamrin
  • Patent number: 9334753
    Abstract: A control system is provided. The control system includes at least one sensor positioned within a turbine engine, wherein the sensor is configured to detect at least one first operating parameter within the turbine engine. A controller is coupled to the sensor and the controller is configured to receive at least one second operating parameter of the turbine engine. The controller is also configured to control a flow of a fluid to a rotor assembly within the turbine engine such that the fluid is distributed substantially uniformly within the rotor assembly and at least one of the first operating parameter and the second operating parameter is less than at least one threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Nathan Stafford Race
  • Patent number: 9316124
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power generating system by combining medium-and-low temperature solar energy and fossil fuel with thermochemical process, the system comprising: a material supply device configured to store fossil fuel; a material mixing device configured to mix the fossil fuel with non-reacted reactant; a material metering device configured to control an amount of material fed to a material preheating device in unit time; a material preheating device configured to heat the material; a solar energy absorption and reaction device configured to drive the fossil fuel by using solar thermal energy absorbed to make a decomposition reaction or reforming reaction, through which the solar energy is converted to chemical energy of hydrogen-rich fuel, obtaining solar-energy fuel; a solar energy heat collecting device configured to collect the solar energy with low energy flux density to medium-and-low temperature solar thermal energy with high energy flux density, so as to provide heat to decomposition
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING THERMOPHYSICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Hongguang Jin, Qibin Liu, Hui Hong, Jun Sui, Wei Han
  • Patent number: 9261273
    Abstract: Apparatus and method to produce point-of-use compressed superheated steam for a wide variety of uses including, but not limited to, cleaning, heating, drying, surface preparation, sterilization, pest control and elimination, degreasing and food preparation. The apparatus produces and compresses superheated steam without the hazards and problems associated with the current state of the art where steam is generated, compressed and stored in potentially dangerous and maintenance intensive boilers and associated piping and fixtures. The in-line steam generator of the present application produces superheated steam at one atmosphere which is immediately pressurized using a compression means and then immediately utilized through application employing a nozzle or a storage tank or other such device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: MHI Health Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Jerod Batt, Jainagesh Sekhar, Michael Connelly
  • Patent number: 9261020
    Abstract: Synthesis gas (syngas) gasified in a gasification furnace to which coal is introduced burns in a combustor. An exhaust-heat recovery boiler generates steam by using exhaust gas let out from a gas turbine equipped with the combustor. The steam generated in the exhaust-heat recovery boiler is introduced to a steam turbine. A generator is driven by the steam turbine and the gas turbine to generate electrical power. Part of the exhaust gas let out from the gas turbine is introduced to a carbon-dioxide recovery unit, where carbon dioxide is recovered therefrom. Coal is carried to the gasification furnace by the carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromi Ishii, Yuichiro Kitagawa, Yasunari Shibata, Yuichiro Urakata
  • Patent number: 9249689
    Abstract: An exemplary system method for the operation of a CCPP with flue gas recirculation to reduce NOx emissions and/or to increase the CO2 concentration in the flue gases to facilitate CO2 capture from the flue gases is disclosed. The flue gas recirculation rate (rFRG) is controlled as function of the combustion pressure and/or the hot gas temperature. Operability is enhanced by admixing of oxygen or oxygen enriched air to the gas turbine inlet gases or to the combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Jaan Hellat, Jürgen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9249760
    Abstract: A method for removing trace levels of oxygen from combustions products includes delivering fuel, oxidant and water into a direct combustion device. The fuel, oxidant and water are combusted in the direct combustion device to produce the combustion products. The combustion products include steam with trace levels of oxygen. The combustion products are then delivered to a scrubber for removal of oxygen. The scrubber includes a material capable of reacting with the oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: John C. Patterson, David A. Brown
  • Patent number: 9222373
    Abstract: A method of operating a combined gas and steam turbine system is provided. The system includes a gas turbine, a waste heat steam generator with an evaporator heating area, and a steam turbine. Fluid is fed to the waste heat steam generator as feed water. A primary control loop controls a feed water flow rate. Taking into account heat stored in the evaporator heating area, a primary desired value for the feed water flow rate is determined based upon a desired overheating value characteristic of a temperature by which the fluid exceeds a boiling point as the fluid exits the evaporator heating area and based upon a heat flow parameter characteristic of a heat flow transfer from fuel gas to the fluid via the evaporator heating area. The desired overheating value is lowered from a first value to a second value in order to activate an instantaneous power reserve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Antje Burgemeister, Frank Thomas
  • Patent number: 9182160
    Abstract: A dedicated heat recovery chiller/heater having a two step heat transfer arrangement is set out. A refrigerant to refrigerant heat transfer steep allows for higher temperature lift as compared to prior dedicated heat recovery systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Mark Platt
  • Patent number: 9163561
    Abstract: A system for improved emissions performance of a power plant generally includes an exhaust gas recirculation system having an exhaust gas compressor disposed downstream from the combustor, a condensation collection system at least partially disposed upstream from the exhaust gas compressor, and a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the exhaust gas compressor and the condensation collection system, where the mixing chamber is in fluid communication with the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ashok Kumar Anand, Thirumala Reddy Nagarjuna Reddy
  • Patent number: 9151277
    Abstract: A method of power generation, including: igniting a biomass boiler; starting a solar concentrating collector; measuring water temperature t3 at water outlet main of the solar concentrating collector; opening a second control valve arranged between the water outlet main and the boiler drum when t3 is greater or equal to 95° C.; closing the second control valve and the third control valve to prevent water in the solar collector tube from running and to maintain the water in a heat preserving and inactive state if the water temperature t3 decreases and t3 is less than 95° C.; turning the turbonator unit into a thermal power generation mode; opening a first control valve arranged between the water outlet main and a water supply tank if the water temperature t3 continues decreasing and when t3 is between 5 and 9° C.; and turning the turbonator unit into a biomass boiler power generation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Wuhan Kaidi Engineering Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qingping Yang, Yanfeng Zhang, Hong Li
  • Patent number: 9151177
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel turbo-generator unit, which at least comprises a boiler and a superheater and a reheater provided in the boiler. On the boiler, the positions corresponding to the header of the steam inlets and outlets of the superheater and reheater form the header-connection area; the steam pipe system at least comprises the pipes that connect the boiler with the HP cylinder and the IP cylinder and are used to transmit the HTHP steam; the HP cylinder and the generator constitute the high-level shafting, and the high-level shafting is positioned outside of boiler and close to the header-connection area. The present invention can also comprise a low-level shafting positioned at a low level. Since the high-level shafting and the low-level shafting are arranged at different levels, the lengths of costly HTHP steam pipes in the pipe system and the pressure drop and heat radiation loss of the pipe system are significantly reduced, and the work capability of the unit is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventor: Weizhong Feng
  • Patent number: 9127653
    Abstract: A solar thermal installation and method for operating a solar thermal installation includes a solar collector arrangement which defines a solar collector fluid passage so that a first heat quantity can be supplied to a fluid, and which has a first fluid infeed connection and a first fluid output connection. A heat exchanger fluid passage permits a second heat quantity to be supplied to a fluid. A heating fluid receiving device is fluidically connected with a first fluid output connection and fluidically connects a second fluid output connection to the first fluid output connection by bypassing the solar collector fluid passage. A consumer device is connected to the heating fluid receiving device. At least a portion of the first heat quantity and second heat quantity can be supplied to the consumer device. A control device controls an operation of the gas turbine depending on the first heat quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: MAN Diesel & Turbo SE
    Inventors: Heinz-Hugo Bösch, Michael Witt
  • Patent number: 9102534
    Abstract: A process for reducing CO2 emissions from combined cycle power generation processes utilizing a gaseous hydrocarbon feed, which includes splitting the hydrocarbon feed into two portions; a first portion ?45% by volume of the feed and a second portion ?55% by volume of the feed, feeding the first portion to an autothermal reforming process to generate a hydrogen-containing gas and a carbon dioxide stream, combining the hydrogen-containing stream with the second portion, combusting the resulting hydrogen-containing fuel stream with oxygen containing gas in a gas turbine to generate electrical power and passing the exhaust gas mixture from the gas turbine to a heat recovery steam generation system that feeds one or more steam turbines to generate additional electrical power. The captured carbon dioxide stream may be fed to storage or enhanced oil recovery processes. The process may be retrofitted into existing combined cycle processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey PLC
    Inventor: Mark McKenna
  • Patent number: 9080467
    Abstract: A method is provided for regulating a brief increase in power of a steam turbine that has an upstream fossil-fired once-through steam generator having a plurality of economizer, evaporator and superheater heating surfaces which form a flow path and through which a flow medium flows. The flow of the flow medium through the fossil-fired once-through steam generator is increased in order to achieve the brief increase in power of the steam turbine. The method involves using desired enthalpy value at the outlet of an evaporator heating surface as a control variable for determining a desired value for the flow of the flow medium through the fossil-fired once-through steam generator. The desired enthalpy value is reduced in order to achieve the brief increase in power of the steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Martin Effert, Frank Thomas
  • Patent number: 9067785
    Abstract: An integrated reforming and power generation process is provided. This process employs a steam methane reformer to provide a hot process gas stream and a flue gas stream, utilizes the hot process gas stream to provide heat to produce a total steam stream comprising a process steam stream and an excess steam stream, and utilizes the flue gas stream to provide heat to at least a pre-reformer mixture stream, a reformer feed stream, the process steam stream and a pre-reformer steam stream The flue gas stream also provides heat to an integrated power generation process, and the excess steam stream is less than 15% of the total steam stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Bruce Eng, Rahul Khandelwal
  • Patent number: 9051880
    Abstract: A system includes a cooler configured to cool a first gas portion of a compressed gas fuel and discharge a cooled fluid. The cooled fluid comprises a cooled gas portion and a cooled liquid portion. The system also includes a separator configured to separate the cooled fluid into the cooled gas portion and the cooled liquid portion and a mixing tank configured to mix a second gas portion of the compressed gas fuel with the cooled gas portion in direct contact with one another to produce a superheated gas fuel. The superheated gas fuel comprises a degree of superheat above a lower threshold for a combustion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wenjie Wu, Ping Yu, Yuan Tian, Zhiyong Chen
  • Publication number: 20150143793
    Abstract: A system for use in a combined cycle power plant including gas and steam turbines includes a single kettle boiler and a valve system. The valve system is operated such that feedwater from a first source passes into the kettle boiler during certain operating conditions, whereas feedwater from a second source passes into the kettle boiler during other operating conditions, wherein the first and second sources have feedwater under different pressures. Rotor cooling air extracted from a compressor section of the gas turbine is cooled with the feedwater in the kettle boiler, wherein at least a portion of the feedwater is evaporated in the kettle boiler by heat transferred to the feedwater from the rotor cooling air to create steam, wherein the valve system is operated to selectively deliver the steam to a first or second steam receiving unit depending on the operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Gerald J. Feller, John H. Copen
  • Patent number: 9032752
    Abstract: A system configured to thermally regulate exhaust portions of a power plant system (e.g. steam turbine) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: a condenser adapted to connect to and thermally regulate exhaust portions of a steam turbine; and a cooling system operably connected to the condenser and adapted to supply a cooling fluid to the condenser, the cooling system including a solar absorption chiller adapted to adjust a temperature of the cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Victor Hannula, Duncan George Watt
  • Publication number: 20150128558
    Abstract: Mechanical work for electric power generation is obtained from thermal energy in a plant arranged for introduction of solar energy, available intermittently, by reflecting and concentrating solar radiation to directly heat a flow medium such as the exhaust gas from a combustion turbine directed into a steam generating boiler/evaporator. Steam generators and staged turbines recover and extract energy optimally at particular temperature, pressure and flow parameters in a closed thermodynamic cycle. Solar energy that is available intermittently is injected into the cycle to elevate the energy of the flow medium, in particular to produce supercritical steam. A steam turbine optimized for expanding supercritical steam is deployed during periods of available solar radiation by a controllable clutch and other switching and valve arrangements. The exhaust from the supercritical steam turbine can be coupled to downstream staged turbines optimized for successively lower pressures and higher flow rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Bechtel Power Corporation
    Inventor: Seyfettin C. Gülen
  • Patent number: 9027322
    Abstract: An integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant includes an air separation unit configured to discharge a nitrogen flow and an oxygen flow. A first heat exchanger is attached to the air separation unit and heats the discharged nitrogen flow. A second heat exchanger is attached to the air separation unit and heats the discharged oxygen flow. A third heat exchanger is attached to a steam cycle of the IGCC and heats a condensate stream received from the steam cycle. A first adiabatic air compressor is attached to the first, second, and third heat exchangers. The adiabatic air compressor is configured to discharge a compressed air flow comprising a first flow and a second flow. The first flow is channeled to the first and third heat exchangers, and the second flow is channeled to the second and third heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George Morris Gulko, Pradeep S. Thacker, Paul Steven Wallace
  • Patent number: 9027321
    Abstract: Integrated systems and methods for low emission power generation in a hydrocarbon recovery processes are provided. One system includes a control fuel stream, an oxygen stream, a combustion unit, a first power generate on system and a second power generation system. The combustion unit is configured to receive and combust the control fuel stream and the oxygen stream to produce a gaseous combustion stream having carbon dioxide and water. The first power generation system is configured to generate at least one unit of power and a carbon dioxide stream. The second power generation system is configured to receive thermal energy from the gaseous combustion stream and convert the thermal energy into at least one unit of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Eric D Nelson, Moses Minta, Loren K Starcher, Franklin Mittricker, Omar Angus Sites, Jasper L Dickson
  • Patent number: 9027352
    Abstract: A method for operating a hydrogen-fueled gas turbine is provided wherein a supply of fuel is passed to a gas turbine combustor, and a supply of nitrogen and sufficient air to provide at least sufficient compressed air to the gas turbine for fuel combustion is passed to a compressor. A sufficient portion of the compressor discharge flow is passed to a combustor for fuel rich combustion of the fuel flow to the combustor and the fuel is combusted to produce hot combustion gases that are, in turn, passed to a turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.
    Inventor: Lisa Burns
  • Publication number: 20150121892
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a power plant including a gas turbine, a heat recovery boiler arrangement with at least a boiler inlet, and an outlet side with a first exit connected to a stack and a second exit connected to a flue gas recirculation, which connects the second exit to the compressor inlet of the gas turbine. The heat recovery boiler arrangement includes a first boiler flue gas path from the boiler inlet to the first boiler exit, and a separate second boiler flue gas path from the boiler inlet to the second boiler exit. Additionally, a supplementary firing and a subsequent catalytic NOx converter are arranged in the first boiler flue gas path. Besides the power plant a method to operate such a power plant is an object of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Eribert BENZ, Klaus DÖBBELING, Michael HOEVEL
  • Patent number: 9021779
    Abstract: The present application thus provides a gas turbine engine system. The gas turbine engine system may include a gas turbine engine, a nitrogen oxides reduction system in communication with a flow of combustion gases downstream from the gas turbine engine, and a nitrogen oxides controller to control the ratio of nitrogen dioxide to nitrogen oxides in the flow of combustion gases entering the nitrogen oxides reduction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert Frank Hoskin
  • Publication number: 20150113940
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for liquid air energy storage in conjunction with power generating cycles. A system can comprise a power generation apparatus and an energy storage apparatus. The energy storage apparatus can comprise a thermal energy storage unit, and the power generation apparatus and energy storage apparatus can be interconnected via the thermal energy storage unit enabling energy transfer from a first cycle of one of the power generation apparatus and energy storage apparatus to a second cycle of the other apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: STANISLAV SINATOV, LEON AFREMOV, ARNOLD J. GOLDMAN
  • Publication number: 20150113939
    Abstract: A CCPP includes a gas turbine, a HRSG, a steam turbine a flash tank and first and second supply lines. The gas turbine, the HRSG and the steam turbine are interconnected to generate power. The gas turbine may include an air preheating system to preheat the air supplied in the gas turbine to enable expedite combustion therein. The flash tank is fluidically connected at a cold end of the HRSG to extract waste hot water from the cold end. Further, the first supply line is configured to interconnect the flash tank and the steam turbine to supply of flash steam to the steam turbine. Furthermore, the second supply line is configured to interconnect the flash tank and the air preheating system to supply hot flash condensate thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Klara BERG, Mariah Couzzi-Carneiro, Paul Drouvot, Torbjörn Stenström
  • Publication number: 20150107218
    Abstract: A combined cycle plant including a gas turbine, a heat recovery boiler for generating steam using exhaust heat of the gas turbine, and a steam turbine for feeding the steam generated by the heat recovery boiler from the heat recovery boiler through a steam system, characterized in that, the steam system is disposed so as to branch to a first steam system for introducing the steam to a first stage entrance of the steam turbine and a second steam system for introducing the steam to a stage entrance on a downstream side of the first stage of the steam turbine, and a flow rate of the steam fed to the steam turbine via the first steam system and the second steam system is adjusted on the basis of a steam flow rate generated by the heat recovery boiler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Tateki NAKAMURA, Koji OGATA, Eiji KUMAKURA, Takeshi KUDO
  • Patent number: 9010081
    Abstract: A power plant includes a gas turbine unit adapted to feed flue gases into a boiler of a steam turbine unit, to be then diverted into a recirculated flow and discharged flow. The recirculated flow is mixed with fresh air forming a mixture that is fed into a gas turbine unit compressor. The discharged flow is fed into a CO2 capture unit that is an amine based or chilled ammonia based CO2 capture unit. A cooler for the flue gases can be configured as a shower cooler located upstream of the CO2 capture unit. The plant can also include a washing unit to neutralize ammonia drawn by the flue gases that can be fed with nitric acid gathered at the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Eribert Benz, Gian-Luigi Agostinelli, Andreas Brautsch, Gisbert Wolfgang Kaefer, Felix Güthe
  • Patent number: 9003763
    Abstract: An apparatus performs a power cycle involving expansion of compressed air utilizing high pressure (HP) and low pressure (LP) air turbines located upstream of a gas turbine. The power cycle involves heating of the compressed air prior to its expansion in the HP and LP air turbines. Taking into consideration fuel consumption to heat the compressed air, particular embodiments may result in a net production of electrical energy of ˜2.2-2.5× an amount of energy consumed by substantially isothermal air compression to produce the compressed air supply. Although pressure of the compressed air supply may vary over a range (e.g. as a compressed air storage unit is depleted), the gas turbine may run under almost constant conditions, facilitating its integration with the apparatus. The air turbines may operate at lower temperatures than the gas turbine, and they may include features of turbines employed to turbocharge large reciprocating engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: LightSail Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Coney
  • Patent number: 9003809
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a power generation system that includes a steam turbine that is coupled to a gas turbine engine. The method includes calculating, by a control system, a gas turbine engine power output that is based at least in part on a predefined power generation system power output and a predefined steam turbine power output. The power generation system is operated to generate a power output that is approximately equal to the predefined power generation system power output. A signal indicative of a sensed operating power output of the gas turbine engine is transmitted from a sensor to the control system. A condition of the steam turbine is determined based at least in part on the sensed operating gas turbine engine power output and the calculated gas turbine engine power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jay Lynn Johnson, Edward Arthur Dewhurst, Charles Scott Sealing, Justin Aden Spade
  • Patent number: 9003764
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine that includes a compressor section configured to generate compressed air and a combustor coupled to the compressor section. The combustor is configured to combust a first mixture comprising the compressed air and a first fuel to generate a first combustion gas. The gas turbine engine also includes a turbine section coupled to the combustor. The turbine section is configured to expand the first combustion gas to generate an exhaust gas. The gas turbine engine also includes a boiler coupled to the turbine section. The boiler is configured to combust a second mixture comprising a portion of the first combustion gas and a second fuel to generate a second combustion gas that is routed to the turbine section. In addition, the boiler generates a first steam from heat exchange with the second combustion gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pradeep Stanley Thacker, Aaron John Avagliano
  • Patent number: 9003796
    Abstract: A system includes a heat exchanger and an organic Rankine cycle system. The heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between extraction air from a power block and nitrogen from an air separation unit. The organic Rankine cycle system is coupled to the heat exchanger. In addition, the organic Rankine cycle system is configured to convert heat from the extraction air into work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Qiong Zhou, Deila Peng, Arnaldo Frydman, Thomas Glen Cobb
  • 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: 8984857
    Abstract: Methods and systems for low emission power generation in hydrocarbon recovery processes are provided. One system includes integrated pressure maintenance and miscible flood systems with low emission power generation. An alternative system provides for low emission power generation, carbon sequestration, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), or carbon dioxide sales using a hot gas expander and external combustor. Another alternative system provides for low emission power generation using a gas power turbine to compress air in the inlet compressor and generate power using hot carbon dioxide laden gas in the expander. Other efficiencies may be gained by incorporating heat cross-exchange, a desalination plant, co-generation, and other features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Moses Minta, Franklin F. Mittricker, Peter C. Rasmussen, Loren K. Starcher, Chad C. Rasmussen, James T. Wilkins, Richard W. Meidel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8984892
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant includes a gas turbomachine, a steam turbomachine operatively coupled to the gas turbomachine, and a heat recovery steam generator operatively coupled to the gas turbomachine and the steam turbomachine. The heat recovery steam generator includes a high pressure reheat section provided with at least one high pressure superheater and at least one reheater. The combined cycle power plant further includes a controller operatively connected to the gas turbomachine, the steam turbomachine and the heat recovery steam generator. The controller is selectively activated to initiate a flow of steam through the heat recovery steam generator following shutdown of the gas turbomachine to lower a temperature of at least one of the high pressure superheater and the at least one reheater and reduce development of condensate quench effects during HRSG purge of a combined cycle power plant shutdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Tailai Hu, Kelvin Rafael Estrada, Joel Donnell Holt, Diego Fernando Rancruel, Leslie Yung-Min Tong