Solid, Slurry, Emulsive, Or Suspensive Type Fuel Patents (Class 60/39.464)
  • Patent number: 12031480
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor. A turbine is mechanically connected to the compressor by a shaft. An air-driven auxiliary turbine is in fluid communication with the compressor and is configured to receive pressurized air from the compressor. An auxiliary generator is operably connected to the auxiliary turbine. The auxiliary generator is configured to generate electrical energy in response to an operation of the auxiliary turbine. An energy storage device is in electrical communication with the auxiliary generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven M. O'Flarity, Neil Terwilliger
  • Patent number: 12013122
    Abstract: A method and a device provide a uniform recursive sequential combustion of fuel and oxidizing agents within a thermal system having a continuous flow. Compressed fresh air is directed through the combustion chamber along a primary flow direction. A proportion of the fresh air is supplied to a burner by way of a burner entry and in the burner is combusted with fuel and exits the burner as exhaust gas. The burner is disposed at an angle in relation to the primary flow direction such that part of the exhaust gas exiting the burner exit is imparted a tangential flow in relation to the primary flow direction and circulates in the combustion chamber and enters the burner entry of a downstream burner so as to be mixed with the fresh air flowing into the downstream burner such that a recursive sequential combustion is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Combustion Bay One E.U.
    Inventor: Fabrice Louis Michel Giuliani
  • Patent number: 11661863
    Abstract: An air turbine starter that includes a housing. The housing can circumscribe a turbine coupled that is coupled to a gear train in a gear box via a drive shaft. The gear train can couple to an output shaft via at least a carrier. The air turbine starter can include at least a first bearing assembly and a second bearing assembly to rotatably support one or more of the drive shaft, the carrier, or the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignees: UNISON INDUSTRIES, LLC, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Amit Arvind Kurvinkop, David Raju Yamarthi, David Allan Dranschak, Brian Christopher Kemp, Marc David Zinger, Parmeet Singh Chhabra, Roberto Karpik, Eliel Fresco Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10641490
    Abstract: A combustor for use in a turbine engine that includes an inner combustion liner and an outer combustion liner. An interior is defined between the inner combustion liner and the outer combustion liner, and the interior includes a cavity portion and a main portion extending radially inward from the cavity portion. The cavity portion includes a flow inlet and the main portion includes a flow outlet. A plurality of film cooling holes are formed in at least one of the inner combustion liner and the outer combustion liner. The plurality of film cooling holes are configured such that cooling airflow discharged therefrom flows helically relative to a centerline of the turbine engine and towards the flow outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Venkat Eswarlu Tangirala, Narendra Digamber Joshi, Sarah Marie Monahan
  • Patent number: 9989060
    Abstract: A fuel system incorporating a boost pump unit, a boost pump unit and method of pumping fuel are provided. The fuel system and boost pump unit are preferably self-priming and do not utilize an airframe mounted pump for supplying fuel for an aircraft combustor. The boost pump unit includes a liquid ring pump and an air/fuel separator. The air/fuel separator has an inlet and first and second outlet ports. The inlet is operably fluidly coupled to an outlet of the liquid ring pump. The air/fuel separator has an arcuate flow path. The first outlet port is in fluid communication with a radially outer portion of the arcuate flow path and the second outlet port is in fluid communication with a radially inner portion of the arcuate flow path. A return line connected to the first outlet port is configured to return fuel to the liquid ring pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Austin Wade Mueller, Dmitriy Baryshnikov
  • Patent number: 9768660
    Abstract: An air purge system includes an electric motor having an air purge device which supplies air to a space around the outer peripheral surface of an output shaft, an information acquisition unit which acquires operation information of the electric motor, and an air control unit, which controls the amount of air supplied from the air purge device in response to the acquired operation information. The air control unit increases the amount of the air supplied from the air purge device when the information acquisition unit acquires deceleration operation information of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Youhei Kamiya
  • Patent number: 9457313
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generation process in which a portion of the carbon dioxide generated by gaseous fuel combustion is recycled back to the power generation process, either pre-combustion, post-combustion, or both. The power generation process of the invention may be a combined cycle process or a traditional power generation process. The process utilizes sweep-based membrane separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Timothy C. Merkel, Johannes G. Wijmans
  • Patent number: 8899969
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for combustion in which a pressurized preheated liquid fuel is atomized and a portion thereof flash vaporized, creating a mixture of fuel vapor and liquid droplets. The mixture is mixed with primary combustion oxidant, producing a fuel/primary oxidant mixture which is then injected into a primary combustion chamber in which the fuel/primary oxidant mixture is partially combusted, producing a secondary gaseous fuel containing hydrogen and carbon oxides. The secondary gaseous fuel is mixed with a secondary combustion oxidant and injected into the second combustion chamber wherein complete combustion of the secondary gaseous fuel is carried out. The resulting second stage flue gas containing very low amounts of NOx is then vented from the second combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Vincent Gard, Dennis A. Chojnacki, Ioseph K. Rabovitser
  • Patent number: 8901178
    Abstract: A method and system for co-production of electric power, fuel, and chemicals in which a synthesis gas at a first pressure is expanded using a turbo-expander, simultaneously producing electric power and an expanded synthesis gas at a second pressure after which the expanded synthesis gas is converted to a fuel and/or a chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Iosif K. Rabovitser, Arunabha Basu
  • Patent number: 8858223
    Abstract: A Glycerin Fueled Afterburning Engine utilizes the power generation unit exhaust heat to pre-heat the glycerin, or similar difficult to combust fuel, and then utilizes regenerative burner heating to fully vaporize and superheat the fuel above the auto ignition temperature. The combustion inlet air is also highly preheated by the recuperative power generation cycle. The actual combustion process is then accomplished by hypergolic ignition from mixing the hot vapor with the hot air. The overall engine process operates on a cycle of (1) air compression, (2) indirect heating of air in an air heater, (3) air expansion, (4) air heating by combustion, and (5) air cooling by heat transfer to the incoming compressed air charge in the recuperator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Proe Power Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Alan Proeschel
  • Patent number: 8813507
    Abstract: A method for producing electric energy from solid and liquid fuels is provided. The fuels are first subjected to a gasification process at high pressure, and the scrubbed gasification gas is fed to a gas and steam turbine process. The combustion of the scrubbed gasification gas in the gas turbine chamber does not occur with air, but with a mixture made of the three components oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor. As a result, the waste gas of the gas turbine is made only of carbon dioxide and water vapor. After the condensation thereof, technically pure carbon dioxide remains, which can be dissipated by storage in the deep substrate of the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Siemens Fuel Gasification Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Hannemann, Martin Pfund, Manfred Schingnitz
  • Patent number: 8776532
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a power production system that is adapted to achieve high efficiency power production with complete carbon capture when using a solid or liquid hydrocarbon or carbonaceous fuel. More particularly, the solid or liquid fuel first is partially oxidized in a partial oxidation reactor. The resulting partially oxidized stream that comprises a fuel gas is quenched, filtered, cooled, and then directed to a combustor of a power production system as the combustion fuel. The partially oxidized stream is combined with a compressed recycle CO2 stream and oxygen. The combustion stream is expanded across a turbine to produce power and passed through a recuperator heat exchanger. The expanded and cooled exhaust stream is scrubbed to provide the recycle CO2 stream, which is compressed and passed through the recuperator heat exchanger and the POX heat exchanger in a manner useful to provide increased efficiency to the combined systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Palmer Labs, LLC, 8 Rivers Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Rodney John Allam, Jeremy Eron Fetvedt, Miles R. Palmer
  • Patent number: 8776526
    Abstract: The present invention provides a motor including a combustion chamber, an oxidizer injector, a vortex generators and a nozzle. The combustion chamber can be used to dispose a solid fuel, and the oxidizer injector is used to control the flow rate of an oxidizer and to inject the oxidizer into the combustion chamber. The vortex generators is disposed on the inner wall of the combustion chamber for generating eddies to enhance the mixing of the fuel and the oxidizer. Additionally, the nozzle is connected with the combustion chamber for exhausting the gas generated by the combustion of the propellants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: National Applied Research Laboratories
    Inventors: Yen-Sen Chen, Jong-Shinn Wu, Tzu-Hao Chou
  • Publication number: 20140182296
    Abstract: The disclosure is concerned with generating power using new organic fuel that is generated at wastewater purification plants in the form of sewage sludge with moisture content up to 90-95%. The world supplies this new orgabic fuel in very high quantites that are estimated to be more than 25-40 gr of dry mass/man/day. The new composite fuel comprises a coal suspension with the new dispersed medium, which is the liquid sewage sludge. The composite fuel is introduced into a furnace for combustion and generating power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventor: Tomer Zimmels
  • Patent number: 8764856
    Abstract: The invention relates to a solid fuel decoupled fluidized bed gasifying method and a gasifying apparatus. By physically separately performing drying and pyrolyzing of fuel, gasification of char, and tar/hydrocarbon reforming, the interactions between the separated chemical reactions and physical processes during fluidized bed gasification can be utilized. Specifically, in a fluidized bed reactor having two reaction chambers, drying and pyrolyzing of fuel, gasification of char, and tar/hydrocarbon reforming are performed, respectively, the reforming of tar/hydrocarbon is promoted through the catalytic effect of the char, and the evaporated fuel moisture is provided to the char gasification and tar/hydrocarbon reforming as an effective reaction agent. Accordingly, the tar content in product gas can be reduced, the use amount of external steam can be reduced, the overall efficiency of gasification can be improved, and this technique can also be applied to the processing of high water-containing fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Guangwen Xu, Xinhua Liu, Toshiyuki Suda, Toshiro Fujimori
  • Patent number: 8695323
    Abstract: A plant (100) for the gasification of biomass comprises a gasifier (10) and an apparatus (23) for the filtration of the gas. The apparatus comprises a scrubber (31), a tank (41), and a wet electrostatic precipitator (51). The scrubber is in fluid communication with the gasifier and with the tank, and is adapted for the injection of a washing liquid in the gas flow. The tank comprises a bottom area for collecting the liquid and a top area for holding the gas. The wet electrostatic precipitator is in fluid communication with the top area of the tank. In some examples, a gasifier comprises a gasification reactor (12), a grate (125) for the support of the biomass in the reactor (12) and a plug (126). The plug is vertically movable so as to close and/or open the middle part of the grate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: A.G.T. SRL
    Inventor: Giovanni Cappello
  • Patent number: 8615981
    Abstract: An integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility is provided that can prevent a reduction in power generation efficiency even when low-grade coal having a relatively-high moisture content is used. Included are: a gasification section that gasifies supplied coal; a gas power generation section that generates power by using gas supplied from the gasification section; a steam power generation section that generates power by using the heat of exhaust gas discharged from the gas power generation section; and a coal drying unit that dries the coal by using exhaust heat discharged from the steam power generation section and that supplies the dried coal to the gasification section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Yamamoto, Katsuhiro Ota, Hiromi Ishii, Yoshinori Koyama, Kimishiro Tokuda, Isao Mochida, Tatsuro Harada
  • Patent number: 8555652
    Abstract: A chemical-looping combustion system is provided in which an oxygen carrier, for example a metallic oxide or peroxide, is used for fuel combustion and produces carbon dioxide and water as by-products. The system delivers steam and CO2 at for direct utilization by steam cycle power generation equipment and heat exchangers. After fuel combustion, the oxygen-poor carrier is regenerated by exposure to air in a second, sequestered reactor. Choice of oxygen-carrier material and conditions allows for the fuel oxidizer reactor to run at temperatures greater than the running temperature of the regenerator reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Zere Energy and Biofuels, Inc.
    Inventor: Amanda Touchton
  • Patent number: 8551200
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for vertically producing a steam and combustion gas mixture, typically used in enhanced oil recovery processes. The system is a fluid bed up-flow combustor system, including a vertical vessel with fours sections. In a first section, fuel, oxidizer, and possibly water are supplied to the high pressure combustor at a combustion section of a vertical vessel. The combustion gas from the first section flows to a second section for steam generation, where low quality water is injected and turned into steam. Next, the third section is a homogenizer vessel, where any remaining water drops are converted to steam and solid particles and discharged from the vessel. The fourth section located at the bottom of the vessel is a fluid bed, receiving and processing the falling solids from the combustion and the steam generation sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ex-Tar Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Maoz Betzer Tsilevich
  • Patent number: 8535449
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for removing deposits from rotating parts of a gas turbine engine while under full fire or idle speed utilizing a particulate coke composition. The coke composition may be introduced directly into the combustion chamber (combustor) of the gas turbine or, alternatively, anywhere in the fuel stream, water washing system, or the combustion air system. By kinetic impact with the deposits on blades and vanes, the deposits will be dislodged and will thereby restore the gas turbine to rated power output. If introduced into the compressor section, the coke particles impinge on those metal surfaces, cleaning them prior to entering the hot gas section where the process is repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Envirochem Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Hughes, Daniel T. Smith, Kenneth W. Koch, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8528343
    Abstract: A method of producing substitute natural gas (SNG) includes providing at least one steam turbine engine. The method also includes providing a gasification system that includes at least one gas shift reactor configured to receive a boiler feedwater stream and a synthesis gas (syngas) stream. The at least one gas shift reactor is further configured to produce a high pressure steam stream. The method further includes producing a steam stream within the at least one gas shift reactor and channeling at least a portion of the steam stream to the at least one steam turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Steven Wallace, Arnaldo Frydman
  • Patent number: 8464540
    Abstract: A plant produces electrical energy from municipal solid waste without exhausting a carbon dioxide or other carbon based gas to the atmosphere. The plant includes a source of artificial light powered by electrical energy, and a reactor into which the municipal solid waste is fed and which is operated under temperature, pressure and flow rate conditions to produced a syngas. An electrical energy generating station at which the syngas is burned produces the electrical energy and a flue gas comprising carbon dioxide and other products of combustion. At least a portion of the electrical energy is used to power the artificial light source. A carbon dioxide collector separates the carbon dioxide from the other products of combustion in the flue gas to provide a clean carbon dioxide suitable as a nutrient for microorganisms, and a farm of the microorganisms is illuminated essentially constantly, alternately with sunlight and artificial light from said source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Pacific Waste, Inc.
    Inventors: Kosti Shirvanian, Arthur Aykanian
  • Patent number: 8429918
    Abstract: A method for generating electrical energy, wherein a carbonaceous fuel is gasified to a combustible gas, the combustible gas being combusted to drive an apparatus chosen from a gas turbine and a gas engine. Relatively hot exhaust gas from the apparatus is passed along a heat exchanger for removing heat from the relatively hot exhaust gas results in relatively cold exhaust gas after passing the heat exchanger. A kaolin or metakaolin-containing sorbent and a source of active free silica are introduced after the apparatus to remove mercury from the relatively hot exhaust gas, the relatively hot exhaust gas having a temperature of at least 800° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Joseph J. P. Biermann
  • Patent number: 8356992
    Abstract: An oxyfiring system and method for capturing carbon dioxide in a combustion process is disclosed. The oxyfiring system comprises (a) an oxidation reactor for oxidizing a reduced metal oxide; (b) a decomposition reactor wherein a decomposition fuel is combusted and oxidized metal oxide sorbents are reduced with oxygen being released and a flue gas with an oxygen enriched carbon dioxide stream is produced; (c) a fuel combustion reactor for combusting a primary fuel and the oxygen enriched carbon dioxide stream into a primary flue gas; and (d) separation apparatus for separating a portion of the primary flue gas so that a carbon dioxide enriched stream can be prepared. The method comprises providing a primary fuel and an oxygen enriched carbon dioxide stream to a fuel combustion reactor. The primary fuel and oxygen enriched carbon dioxide stream are combusted into a primary flue gas stream which is split into a first flue gas portion and a second flue gas portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Raja A Jadhav
  • Patent number: 8312725
    Abstract: A trapped vortex combustor. The trapped vortex combustor is configured for receiving a lean premixed gaseous fuel and oxidant stream, where the fuel includes hydrogen gas. The trapped vortex combustor is configured to receive the lean premixed fuel and oxidant stream at a velocity which significantly exceeds combustion flame speed in a selected lean premixed fuel and oxidant mixture. The combustor is configured to operate at relatively high bulk fluid velocities while maintaining stable combustion, and low NOx emissions. The combustor is useful in gas turbines in a process of burning synfuels, as it offers the opportunity to avoid use of diluent gas to reduce combustion temperatures. The combustor also offers the possibility of avoiding the use of selected catalytic reaction units for removal of oxides of nitrogen from combustion gases exiting a gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ramgen Power Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Steele, Ryan G. Edmonds, Joseph T. Williams, Stephen P. Baldwin
  • Patent number: 8268896
    Abstract: A method and system for co-production of electric power, fuel, and chemicals in which a synthesis gas at a first pressure is expanded using a stand-alone mechanical expander or a partial oxidation gas turbine, simultaneously producing electric power and an expanded synthesis gas at a second pressure after which the expanded synthesis gas is converted to a fuel and/or a chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Arunabha Basu, Iosif K Rabovitser, John J Lewnard, John M Pratapas, Howard S Meyer, Dennis Leppin, Dmitri Boulanov
  • Patent number: 8240123
    Abstract: A cyclonic combustor comprising a combustion liner forming a combustion chamber having a generally cylindrical shape, a biomass feed inlet for receiving biomass particles under pressure, wherein the biomass feed inlet is formed so that the biomass particles are introduced into the ignition zone of the combustion chamber with a tangential component relative to the longitudinal axis of the combustion liner, and a plurality of air tuyeres formed through the combustion liner for receiving compressed air, wherein the plurality of air tuyeres are arranged to introduce the compressed air into the combustion chamber with a tangential component relative to the longitudinal axis of the combustion liner. A direct-fired biomass-fueled pressurized gas turbine system comprising a pressurized feed system, the cyclonic combustor, and a gas turbine. Methods of operating a cyclonic combustor and methods for direct firing a gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Zilkha Biomass Power LLC
    Inventors: Gerald R. Elliott, Carl E. Linderoth, Clifford T. McConnell, Alvin D. Short
  • Patent number: 8196387
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating electrical power in which a synthesis gas stream generated in a gasifier is partially oxidized, expanded and thereafter, is combusted in an oxygen transport membrane system of a boiler. The combustion generates heat to raise steam to in turn generate electricity by a generator coupled to a steam turbine. The resultant flue gas can be purified to produce a carbon dioxide product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Minish Mahendra Shah, Aqil Jamal, Raymond Francis Dmevich, Bart Antonie van Hassel, Gervase Maxwell Christie, Hisashi Kobayashi, Lawrence E. Bool, III
  • Publication number: 20120111017
    Abstract: A turbine engine, such as for example a jet engine or turbojet, that is fueled by particulate fuel, such as cornstarch or other similar particulate products, that burn under deflagration conditions. The engine is modified from a standard engine in that the dry inlet air is compressed before being premixed with the particulate fuel in a pre-deflagration mixing chamber located immediately upstream of the burners. The mixed fuel is then burned in the deflagration burners to provide turning force for the turbines of the turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: Donald Keith Fritts
  • Patent number: 7997084
    Abstract: A gasifying furnace gasifies solid fuel or liquid fuel. A gas turbine drives a turbine to generate power by using combustion gas generated by burning mixed gas of compressed air compressed in a compressor and gas generated in the gasifying furnace in a combustor. A booster boosts compressed air bled from the compressor, and feed the compressed air to the gasifying furnace. A bleed source valve is provided in a bleed line between the compressor and the booster. An abnormality stop controller stops the booster and the gas turbine, based on an opening angle of the bleed source valve or a bleed pressure on an upstream side of the bleed source valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Kamohara, Akihiko Saito, Takashi Sonada, Yasuhiro Takashima, Satoko Fujii
  • Publication number: 20110120140
    Abstract: A cyclonic combustor comprising a combustion liner forming a combustion chamber having a generally cylindrical shape, a biomass feed inlet for receiving biomass particles under pressure, wherein the biomass feed inlet is formed so that the biomass particles are introduced into the ignition zone of the combustion chamber with a tangential component relative to the longitudinal axis of the combustion liner, and a plurality of air tuyeres formed through the combustion liner for receiving compressed air, wherein the plurality of air tuyeres are arranged to introduce the compressed air into the combustion chamber with a tangential component relative to the longitudinal axis of the combustion liner. A direct-fired biomass-fueled pressurized gas turbine system comprising a pressurized feed system, the cyclonic combustor, and a gas turbine. Methods of operating a cyclonic combustor and methods for direct firing a gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Gerald R. Elliott, Carl E. Linderoth, Clifford T. McConnell, Alvin D. Short
  • Patent number: 7947115
    Abstract: An integrated gasification combined cycle system. In one embodiment (FIG. 2) a system (200) includes an ion transport membrane air separation unit (210) for producing oxygen-enriched gas (209) and oxygen-depleted air (227), a gasification system (5) for generating syngas with the oxygen-enriched gas (209), a gas combustor (234) for reacting the syngas (224), and a subsystem configured to provide a first stream of air to the combustor (234) at a first pressure and to provide a second stream of air to the air separation unit (210) at a second pressure greater than the first pressure. The subsystem includes a compressor (230) having multi-pressure outlets (203, 204).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Terrence B. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20110100017
    Abstract: An open cycle gas turbine system includes a storage tank, a closed helical supplier, a combustor, a gas turbine, a compressor, a propeller and a generator. After the combustion gas in the combustor enters the gas turbine, the combustion gas is expanded to apply a work and to produce a power to the gas turbine so as to operate the gas turbine so that the compressor is operated to compress the air, the generator is operated to generate an electric power, and the propeller is operated to propel vehicles. The closed helical supplier has a closely sealing effect so that the high pressure combustion gas in the combustor will not leak from the closed helical supplier and will not touch the solid fuel powder in the storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Tsung-Hsien Kou
  • Patent number: 7934383
    Abstract: A power generation system (100) and a method of generating power. In one embodiment of the system shown in FIG. 1, a gasification subsystem (1) is configured to convert a carbonaceous fuel to fuel suitable for combustion in a gas turbine (48). A first power generation cycle (2) includes the gas turbine (48) coupled to receive fuel from a gasifier (24). A first Rankine cycle (3) is coupled to receive thermal energy from at least the first power generation cycle (2) and generate power with a first vapor turbine (58). A second Rankine cycle (4) is coupled to receive thermal energy from the gasification subsystem (1) or the first power generation cycle (2) and generate power with a second vapor turbine (82). In an associated method, syngas (26) is generated and processed to remove components therein. Power is generated in a first turbine (48) with the processed syngas (33). Power is generated in a second turbine (58) with heat recovered from exhaust produced by the first turbine (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan P. Gutierrez, Terrence B. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7892303
    Abstract: A first process step comprises creating a hot gas, containing some molecular oxygen, by burning gas fuel with air and subsequently adding air to the burned gases. A second process step passes these hot oxygen containing gases through a bed of coal chunks, to remove volatile matter from the coal, and partially oxidize some of the volatile matter, as well as to transform the coal chunks into coke chunks. These hot coke chunks are transferred into a coke reaction chamber, where air is passed upward through the coke bed and oxidizes the coke largely to carbon monoxide, a fuel gas. This carbon monoxide fuel gas is combined with the volatile matter gases, and this fuel gas combination can be cleanly burned with addition thereto of overfire air. These process steps create a clean hot gas suitable for use in various apparatus, such as, steam boilers, gas turbines, and cement kilns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: Joseph Carl Firey
  • Patent number: 7874139
    Abstract: A system and method for operating an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) gas turbine system that utilizes the fuel stream as a means of controlling the operation of the IGCC to achieve a target output and efficiency. The methods and systems enable the IGCC to be operated at reduced output, but without a corresponding drop in efficiency as compared to prior art gas turbine systems. Conversely, the IGCC may be operated at higher outputs. The methods and systems achieve the target output and efficiency by adjusting the chemical potential energy, sensible energy, or both of a fuel stream entering the combustion turbine. The chemical potential energy and sensible energy may be manually or automatically controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Scot Briesch, Terrence Blaise Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7861509
    Abstract: Methods and systems of operating an integrated gasification combined cycle system are provided. The method includes coupling a non-fuel fluid conduit to a fuel conduit, warming a flow of non-fuel fluid, and channeling the warmed non-fuel fluid through the fuel conduit such that heat from the warmed non-fuel fluid heats the fuel conduit to a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Fredric S. Russ, Douglas K. Holland, Christopher J. Villa, Jerrold S. Kassman, Eileen T. Nguyen, Matthew C. Prater
  • Patent number: 7827776
    Abstract: A power generation system. The exemplary system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a gas turbine (28), a gasifier (10) for generating gaseous fuel and a gas combustor (26) configured to receive the fuel and power the gas turbine (28). A drain collection and separation system (5) is positioned to collect gaseous fuel entrained in liquid and to separate the gaseous fuel from the liquid so the gaseous fuel can be cycled or disposed of separately from the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Douglas Moore, Damien G. Teehan, Christopher J. Davila-Aponte
  • Patent number: 7814742
    Abstract: The problem of a heat exchanger of a heat recovery steam generator being corroded by sulfuric acid is solved, and the gas temperature at the outlet of the heat recovery steam generator is set at a value equal to or lower than the dew point of sulfuric acid, thereby realizing an integrated coal gasification combined cycle plant with high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoshige Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7810310
    Abstract: An IGCC plant which can improve the power generation efficiency and which can suppress the emission of sulfur components and dust into the atmosphere is provided. The IGCC plant described above has a coal gasifier for converting pulverized coal to a syngas; an exhaust heat recovery boiler generating steam; a gas turbine system which is operated by the syngas and which supplies a combustion exhaust gas to the exhaust heat recovery boiler; a steam turbine system operated by the steam generated by the exhaust heat recovery boiler; a power generator connected to the gas turbine system and/or the steam turbine system; a desulfurization device for removing sulfur components from the combustion exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust heat recovery boiler; and a wet-type electric precipitator for removing sulfur components and dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoshige Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7805923
    Abstract: An integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant which appropriately processes an early produced gas to suppress the emission of a sulfur component into the atmosphere for further improving environmental compatibility is provided. The IGCC plant has a gasifier for converting pulverized coal to gas fuel, a gas turbine operated thereby and supplying a combustion exhaust gas to an heat recovery steam generator, a steam turbine operated by steam generated thereby, and a power generator connected to the gas turbine system and/or the steam turbine. In this IGCC plant, a combustion exhaust gas discharged from the heat recovery steam generator is desulfurized and exhausted into the atmosphere. In addition, an initial desulfurization equipment exclusively used for the early produced gas is provided for a flow path extending from an outlet side of the gasifier to a flare system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoshige Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7802435
    Abstract: A cogeneration process is provided for a regenerator in a fluidized catalytic cracking system having a reactor and a regenerator. The process includes introducing flue gas from the regenerator into a heating unit to produce heated flue gas at a temperature of at least about 900° C. The heated flue gas is introduced into an expander. Steam is heated with the heated flue gas to produce heated steam. The heated steam is introduced into a turbine to extract energy from the steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignees: UOP LLC, BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventor: James F. McGehee
  • Patent number: 7802434
    Abstract: A system for reducing NOx emissions, includes a reformer configured to receive a fuel and produce a hydrogen-enriched stream, a combustion system configured to burn the hydrogen enriched-stream and produce electricity and an exhaust stream, and a recuperator configured to recover heat from the exhaust stream, wherein the recovered heat is recycled back to the reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Balachandar Varatharajan, Chellappa Balan, Andrei Tristan Evulet, Ravi Kumar Vipperla
  • Publication number: 20100218477
    Abstract: A process for treating coal includes contacting the coal with a leaching agent configured to remove a mineral from the coal; forming a wastewater stream comprising water and a concentration of a contaminant; and contacting the wastewater stream with a first side of a reverse osmosis membrane under pressure, wherein a permeate stream comprising a reduced concentration of the contaminant permeates the reverse osmosis membrane and flows from a second side of the reverse osmosis membrane, and a concentrate stream comprising an increased concentration of the contaminant is retained on the first side of the reverse osmosis membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Samuel David Draper, David Matthew Polizzotti, Chandrashekhar Ganpatrao Sonwane
  • Patent number: 7739874
    Abstract: The combustor (5) of a gas turbine (7) is supplied with coal bed methane (51), oxygen (53) and a part of the flue gas (55), predominantly CO2, produced from the gas turbine (7) and sent through a heat recovery steam generator (27), all under pressure. The heat recovery steam generator (27) receives the hot flue gas and generates steam (57) for driving a steam turbine (29). The other part of the flue gas stream that passes through the heat recovery steam generator (27) is supplied to a suitable underground storage region (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: BHP Billiton Innovation Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Nello Nigro
  • Patent number: 7726133
    Abstract: A method is for operating a burner of a gas turbine. A fossil fuel is gasified and the gasified fossil fuel is fed as synthesis gas into the burner for combustion. The burner is connected to the gas turbine. The synthesis gas is divided into a first partial current and a second partial current and the partial currents are each fed into the burner for combustion. A power plant, particularly a gas and steam turbine system, includes a gasification device for a fossil fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Hannemann, Andreas Heilos, Michael Huth, Berthold Köstlin
  • Publication number: 20100092280
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a combustor configured to burn a hydrocarbon fuel input and provide a combustion product hot gas output to a turbine inlet having a turbine inlet temperature exceeding about 2200° F., the hot gas output also includes ash in an amount of 0.1% or more by weight of the hydrocarbon fuel input. The turbine also includes a stationary nozzle configured to receive the hot gas output that includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes and a vane cooling circuit located within vane sidewalls configured for circulation of steam as a coolant. The turbine also includes a rotatable rotor configured to receive the hot gas output exiting the nozzle that includes a plurality of buckets and a bucket cooling circuit located within the bucket sidewalls and shank that is configured for circulation of steam as a coolant for the bucket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Samuel David Draper
  • Publication number: 20100083634
    Abstract: A rocket engine for manned or unmanned space flight and atmospheric flight uses an elongated fuel structure that is external to the combustion chamber and that is fed into the combustion chamber during operation of the rocket. The elongated fuel structure includes propellant elements and may include coolant elements and gas generating elements as well. The elongated fuel structure of one embodiment is a ribbon. The ribbon is fed between two opposed wheels of the fuel pump, which seal the engine from escaping gases while permitting the elongated fuel structure to be drawn into the engine. The opposed wheels may serve to activate the gas generating elements, so that gas pressure generated thereby drives the propellant elements into the combustion chamber of the rocket engine. The activation of the gas generating elements also provides coolant to the engine from the coolant elements, in one embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventor: David Lloyd Summers
  • Patent number: 7665291
    Abstract: A system and method for recovering heat from dirty gaseous fuel (syngas), wherein the pressure of clean fuel gas is elevated to a pressure higher than that of the dirty syngas and then the pressurized clean fuel gas is fed to a heat recovery unit for heat exchange with the dirty syngas. Consequently, in the event of a leak in the heat recovery unit, the flow is from the clean fuel side to the dirty syngas side, thereby avoiding the possibility of contamination of the clean fuel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ashok Kumar Anand, Patrick King Wah May, Michael Jandrisevits
  • Patent number: 7658078
    Abstract: A heavy oil reforming system includes a reforming preheater raising the temperature of a mixed fluid comprising a high pressure heavy oil and high pressure steam up to a temperature for reforming reaction. The mixed fluid having been heated up to the temperature for reforming reaction is introduced into a reformer kept at the temperature for reforming reaction and thereby the heavy oil is reformed. This reforming system allows the attainment of a residence time of 1 to 10 min necessary for reforming in a uniform or nearly uniform temperature field, thereby implementing the manufacturing of reformed fuels from a large volume of heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Petroleum Energy Center
    Inventors: Koji Nishida, Nobuyuki Hokari, Shin-ichi Inage, Osami Yokota, Hirokazu Takahashi, Masahiko Yamagishi, Akinori Hayashi