Regenerator Patents (Class 60/39.511)
  • 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: 8984894
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operation of a combined-cycle power plant with cogeneration, in which method combustion air is inducted in at least one gas turbine, is compressed and is supplied to at least one combustion chamber for combustion of a fuel, and the resultant exhaust gas is expanded in at least one turbine, producing work, and in which method the exhaust gas emerging from the at least one turbine is passed through a heat recovery steam generator in order to generate steam, which generator is part of a water-steam circuit with at least one steam turbine, a condenser, a feedwater tank and a feedwater pump, wherein heat is provided by extracting steam from the at least one steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Francois Droux, Dario Ugo Breschi, Karl Reyser, Stefan Rofka, Johannes Wick
  • Patent number: 8973650
    Abstract: A system, including a superconductive heat transfer assembly, including, a first superconductive heat transfer pipe, a second superconductive heat transfer pipe, and a superconductive heat transfer contact switch configured to open and close a gap between the first superconductive heat transfer pipe and the second superconductive heat transfer pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Harish Chandra Dhingra, Donald Gordon Laing
  • Publication number: 20150040574
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor, a turbine driven by combustion products from the turbine combustor, and an exhaust gas compressor. The exhaust compressor is configured to compress and route an exhaust gas from the turbine to the turbine combustor. The system also includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) path extending through the exhaust gas compressor, the turbine combustor, and the turbine, a first exhaust gas (EG) extraction port disposed along the EGR path, and a second EG extraction port disposed along the EGR path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Lisa Anne Wichmann, Stanley Frank Simpson
  • Publication number: 20150033751
    Abstract: A system includes a compressor configured to compress a gaseous stream, an exhaust gas cooler configured to cool an exhaust gas from combustion with a cooling water, and a water injection system configured to inject the cooling water from the exhaust gas cooler into at least one of a compressor inlet of the compressor, a stage of the compressor, between stages of the compressor, or an inlet duct coupled to the compressor inlet of the compressor, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Philip Lynn Andrew
  • Publication number: 20150033748
    Abstract: A system includes an oxidant compressor and a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine includes a combustor section having a turbine combustor, a turbine driven by combustion products from the turbine combustor, and an exhaust gas compressor driven by the turbine. The exhaust gas compressor is configured to compress and route an exhaust flow to the turbine combustor and the oxidant compressor is configured to compress and route an oxidant flow to the turbine combustor. The gas turbine engine also includes an inlet oxidant heating system configured to route at least one of a first portion of the combustion products, or a second portion of the exhaust flow, or any combination thereof, to an inlet of the oxidant compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Vahid Vaezi, Franklin F. Mittricker, Richard A. Huntington
  • Patent number: 8943838
    Abstract: An integrated turbomachine plant is provided and includes a combustor a turbomachine operably connected to the combustor and including a compressor and a turbine expander, a pathway to flow compressed air from the compressor through the turbine expander to heat the compressed air, an additional pathway by which high temperature fluids output from the turbomachine are employed to heat the compressed air and an air separation unit operably connected to the pathway and configured to separate the heated compressed air into oxygen and oxygen-depleted air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ashok Kumar Anand, John Edward Sholes, Veerapan Muthaiah
  • Patent number: 8938966
    Abstract: A device and a method for using overcapacities in the power grid is provided. In case of an oversupply of energy, the energy is transferred to a thermal storage device directly via a heating element and in the discharge case of the thermal storage device the heat is removed from the thermal storage device and made available to a thermodynamic cycle whereby electrical energy is produced. The heat from the thermal storage device is used to preheat air in an air feed line to a combustion chamber, or fuel is pre-heated using heat from the thermal storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tobias Jockenhoevel, Norbert König, Rainer Nies, Nicolas Vortmeyer, Erik Wolf
  • Publication number: 20150020500
    Abstract: A micro gas turbine system (16) having an annular recuperator (24). The recuperator (24) serves to transfer heat from an exhaust stream (27) of the turbine (17) to an air stream (23) compressed by a compressor (19). Passages (1) for the exhaust stream (27) and passages (2) for the air stream (23) are arranged in alternation to each other in the recuperator (24). Adjacent passages (1, 2) are separated from each other by at least one wall (15). A filler (5) is arranged in the passages (1, 2) of at least one fluid stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: BABCOCK BORSIG STEINMULLER GMBH
    Inventors: Lina Kling, Frieder Neumann, Mathias Born, Karl-Friedrich Schroder, Thomas Dziekan, Holger Alder, Ornella Mattner
  • Publication number: 20150000290
    Abstract: A turbine system and method of operating is provided. The system includes a compressor configured to generate a compressed low-oxygen air stream and a combustor configured to receive the compressed low-oxygen air stream and to combust a fuel stream to generate a post combustion gas stream. The turbine system also includes a turbine for receiving the post combustion gas stream to generate a low-NOx exhaust gas stream, a heat recovery system configured to receive the low-NOx exhaust gas stream and generate a cooled air stream and an auxiliary compressor configured to generate an oxygen and water vapor deficient cooled and compressed air stream. A portion of the oxygen and water vapor deficient cooled and compressed air stream is directed to the combustor to generate an Oxygen and H2O deficient film on exposed portions of the combustor, and another portion is directed to the turbine to provide a cooling flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Narendra Digamber Joshi, Joel Meier Haynes, Venkat Eswarlu Tangirala, Christian Lee Vandervort
  • Publication number: 20150000295
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process to obtain a compressed gas starting from a starting gas having a lower pressure by performing the following steps: (i) increasing the pressure and temperature of a gas having an intermediate pressure by means of indirect heat exchange against a fluid having a higher temperature to obtain a gas high in pressure and temperature, (ii) obtaining part of the gas high in temperature and pressure as the compressed gas, (iii) using another part of the gas high in temperature and pressure as a driving gas to increase the pressure of the starting gas in one or more stages to obtain the gas having an intermediate pressure for use in step (i). The invention is also directed to a configuration wherein the process can be performed and directed to a process to generate energy using the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Ice Industrial Properties BV
    Inventors: Johannes Arjen Hoogland, George Johannes Kruijer
  • Publication number: 20140366547
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel apparatus and methods for augmenting the power of a gas turbine engine, improving gas turbine engine operation, and reducing the response time necessary to meet changing demands of a power plant. Improvements in power augmentation and engine operation include additional heated compressed air injection, steam injection, water recovery, exhaust tempering, fuel heating, and stored heated air injection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Robert J. Kraft, Scott Auerbach, Peter A. Sobieski, Sergio A. Arias-Quintero
  • Patent number: 8904749
    Abstract: The present invention provides an inductively coupled plasma device with a cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the cylindrical vessel is transparent or semi-transparent to a wave energy. A tangential inlet is connected to or proximate to the first end. A tangential outlet is connected to or proximate to the second end. An electrode housing is connected to the first end of the cylindrical vessel such that a first electrode is (a) aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and (b) extends into the cylindrical vessel. A hollow electrode nozzle is connected to the second end of the cylindrical vessel such that the center line of the hollow electrode nozzle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel. An electromagnetic radiation source that produces a wave energy and is disposed around or within the cylindrical vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Foret Plasma Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Foret
  • Publication number: 20140352318
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel apparatus and methods for augmenting the power of a gas turbine engine, improving gas turbine engine operation, and reducing the response time necessary to meet changing demands of a power plant. Improvements in power augmentation and engine operation include additional heated compressed air injection, steam injection, water recovery, exhaust tempering, fuel heating, and stored heated air injection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: ROBERT J. KRAFT
  • Publication number: 20140345249
    Abstract: A regenerative gas turbine combustor is provided that enable to reduce an amount of leakage of compressed air before preheating to compressed air after the preheating. The regenerative gas turbine combustor is such that a compressed air passage between a combustor inner cylinder 10 and a tail cylinder 12, and a combustor outer cylinder 7 is blocked by a division wall 15 at a position between a bleeding port 13 and an injection port 14, and compressed air is preheated in a regenerator 4 and then the compressed air thus preheated is burnt together with fuel. This combustor includes seal rings 17a-17c, a holder 16 installed on the inner circumferential portion of the division wall 15 and having ring grooves 25a-25c for holding the respective seal rings 17a-17c, and gaps 20 provided between the inner circumferential surfaces of the ring grooves 25a-25c and the outer circumferential surfaces of the seal rings 17a-17c.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya FUKUDA, Yasuyuki WATANABE, Hironori TSUKIDATE
  • Patent number: 8893505
    Abstract: The integrated solar-gas turbine cogeneration plant includes a fuel reformer, a plurality of solar collectors, and a gas turbine. The fuel reformer produces syngas to be used as fuel for the gas turbine. One solar collector is operatively connected to both the fuel reformer and the turbine to provide heat for the reforming reaction and to preheat air for a combustion chamber. Exhaust gas from the turbine is directed to the fuel reformer and to a heat recovery steam generator, the former as an additional heat source and the latter to heat the generator. Another solar collector is connected to the generator and heats a portion of the water being fed into the generator in order to help produce steam. The syngas is stored in a fuel storage unit to provide fuel to the gas turbine continuously and to a supplemental heater on the steam generator during low insolation periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Esmail M. A. Mokheimer, Mohamed Abdel-Aziz Habib
  • Publication number: 20140260178
    Abstract: A recuperator disposed in the exhaust duct of a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of recuperator plates arranged in a spaced-apart relationship to define therebetween a plurality of interstices and fluid channels, the plurality of interstices adapted to direct therethrough at least one first stream received at a leading plate edge of the recuperator plates and the plurality of fluid channels adapted to direct therethrough at least one second stream to effect heat exchange between the at least one first stream and the at least one second stream. Each recuperator plate includes, formed at the leading plate edge thereof, a first concavity extending along the leading edge in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the plate. The first concavity extends transversely to a direction of the at least one first stream flowing over each recuperator plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Andreas ELEFTHERIOU, Daniel Alecu, David Menheere
  • Patent number: 8833054
    Abstract: The present invention provides a plasma arc torch that can be used for lean combustion. The plasma arc torch includes a cylindrical vessel, an electrode housing connected to the first end of the cylindrical vessel such that a first electrode is (a) aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and (b) extends into the cylindrical vessel, a linear actuator connected to the first electrode to adjust a position of the first electrode, a hollow electrode nozzle connected to the second end of the cylindrical vessel such that the center line of the hollow electrode nozzle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and wherein the tangential inlet and the tangential outlet create a vortex within the cylindrical vessel, and the first electrode and the hollow electrode nozzle create a plasma that discharges through the hollow electrode nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Foret Plasma Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Foret
  • Patent number: 8820085
    Abstract: Provided is a lean fuel sucking gas turbine system including a compressor for compressing a mixed gas having a fuel and air mixed to a concentration of an inflammable limit or lower, thereby producing a compressed gas, a first catalyst combustor for burning the compressed gas by a catalyst reaction, a turbine adapted to be driven by a combustion gas from a second catalyst combustor, and a reproducer for heating the compressed gas to be introduced into the first catalyst combustor with an exhaust gas from the turbine. Between the turbine and the reproducer, there is arranged a duct burner for flame-burning a first auxiliary fuel in the exhaust gas. Thus, it is possible to attain efficient operation of the system while simplifying the entire constitution and to prevent the blow-by of the mixed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Kajita
  • Publication number: 20140230446
    Abstract: The present techniques are directed to a system and methods for operating a gas turbine system. An exemplary gas turbine system includes an oxidant system, a fuel system, and a control system. A combustor is adapted to receive and combust an oxidant from the oxidant system and a fuel from the fuel system to produce an exhaust gas. A catalyst unit including an oxidation catalyst that includes an oxygen storage component is configured to reduce the concentration of oxygen in the exhaust gas to form a low oxygen content product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Tilman W. Beutel, Sulabh K. Dhanuka
  • Patent number: 8807989
    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: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Ener-Core Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Armstrong, Richard Martin, Douglas Hamrin, Joe Perry
  • Patent number: 8763363
    Abstract: A method of assembling a turbine engine is provided. The method includes providing a heat exchanger having a curvilinear body. The method also includes coupling the heat exchanger to at least one of a fan casing and an engine casing of the turbine engine. The curvilinear body facilitates reducing pressure losses in airflow channeled into the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Srikanth Ranganathan
  • Patent number: 8726629
    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: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Lightsail Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Coney
  • Publication number: 20140096535
    Abstract: The present application provides a gas turbine system. The gas turbine system may include a gas turbine engine producing a flow of exhaust gases, a heat recovery steam generator with a reheater and an evaporator in communication with the flow of exhaust gases, and a gas flow control system for diverting a first portion of the flow of exhaust gases away from the reheater and towards the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lakshmanan Esakki, Mahendhra Muthuramalingam
  • Patent number: 8689566
    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: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Lightsail Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Coney
  • Patent number: 8661780
    Abstract: A gas turbine plant is provided with exhaust gas recirculation and includes a main gas turbine having a main compressor and main turbine driving a main generator, and a combustion chamber, with an outlet connected to the inlet of the main gas turbine, has a fuel feed, and via the recuperator's high-pressure side obtains combustion air from the main gas turbine's compressor outlet. The outlet of the main turbine and the inlet of the main compressor are connected via the recuperator's low-pressure side and a cooler for exhaust gas recirculation. On the recuperator's low-pressure side, a charging unit, with a compressor and a turbine is arranged, and draws in air via an air intake and by the outlet of its compressor is connected to the recuperator's low-pressure side outlet and by the inlet of its turbine is connected to a surplus-gas extraction line on the recuperator's low-pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Hans Wettstein, Manfred Wirsum, Steffen Schulz
  • Patent number: 8640438
    Abstract: The present invention provides high humidity gas turbine equipment including a compressor compressing air, a combustor combusting the compressed air and a fuel, a gas turbine driven by the combustion gas, a generator driven by the gas turbine to generate power, a humidifier humidifying the compressed air by directly contacting it with hot water, and a regenerative heat exchanger heating the humidified compressed air by exhaust gas of the gas turbine and feeding it to the combustor, heat exchangers generating hot water for the humidifier utilizing a factory exhaust heat medium from the outside, a boiler generating steam to be supplied to the outside utilizing the exhaust gas of the gas turbine, and a boiler generating steam to be supplied to the outside utilizing the compressed air discharged from the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Sasaki, Yoshiki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8613186
    Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a two-shaft gas turbine that exhibits improved reliability, output power, and efficiency. The turbine operates stably by establishing a balance between the driving force of a compressor and the output power of a high-pressure turbine in the case where the two-shaft gas turbine is applied to a system, in which the flow rate of a fluid flowing into a combustor is higher than a simple cycle gas turbine. A portion of the fluid driving the high-pressure turbine is allowed to flow not into the high-pressure turbine but into a low-pressure turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomi Koganezawa, Shinichi Higuchi, Yasuo Takahashi, Ryo Akiyama, Shinya Marushima
  • Patent number: 8601825
    Abstract: An integrated absorption refrigeration and dehumidification system includes an absorber containing an absorption solution, an after-cooler having a flow path to receive the solution and a flow path to receive a warm fluid, the flow paths being thermally coupled to separate a refrigerant from the solution, and an auxiliary heat exchanger having a flow path to receive the solution from the after-cooler and a flow path to receive a warm fluid, the flow paths being thermally coupled to separate more refrigerant from the solution. The system also includes a condenser positioned to receive and cool the refrigerant from the auxiliary heater, an expansion valve positioned to receive the refrigerant from the condenser, an evaporator positioned to receive the refrigerant from the expansion valve and the warm fluid from the after-cooler, and a separator to remove condensate from the warm fluid from the after-cooler or a cool fluid from the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventor: James C. Collins
  • Patent number: 8573291
    Abstract: An annular design heat exchanger is formed from an arrangement of wedge-shaped stacks of wafers. Each wafer includes sheets of material separated by peripheral and supporting walls that define interior flow channels through which a first fluid can flow. Holes in the sheets provide inlets and outlets to the channels, and walls surrounding the holes mate with neighboring wafers in the stack, forming integral inlet and outlet manifolds, while ensuring uniform spacing between the wafers. A second fluid can flow around the manifolds and through the spaces between the wafers in a counterflow pattern. In the annular assembly, the manifolds are oriented substantially axially, and the flow channels are oriented substantially radially. The heat exchanger can be formed from a ceramic material, and can be incorporated into an engine assembly or a heat-recirculating combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Michael J. Vick
  • Publication number: 20130255267
    Abstract: A power generation system and method of generating power with reduced NOx emission includes a gas turbine system. The turbine system includes a compressor configured to receive a feed oxidant stream and supply a compressed oxidant stream to a combustion chamber and an expander configured to receive a discharge stream from the combustion chamber and generate an exhaust stream comprising carbon dioxide and electrical energy. The system further includes an exhaust gas recirculation system configured to generate a recycle stream, wherein the recycle stream is mixed with a fresh oxidant to generate the feed oxidant stream. The exhaust gas recirculation system includes an exhaust gas recirculation control loop to control a pilot ratio (diffusion to total fuel ratio) based on received feedback related to combustion parameters. The control loop configured to control the pilot ratio required to keep NOx in its minimum ratios with improved flame stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ahmed Mostafa ElKady, Andrei Tristan Evulet, Anthony John Dean
  • Publication number: 20130255268
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine recuperator system includes a heat recuperator positioned in a gas turbine exhaust gas duct for recovering heat from turbine exhaust gases to preheat a compressor flow being supplied to the combustor. A continuous bleed flow of the turbine exhaust gases is provided to bypass the heat recuperator. The continuous bleed flow of the turbine exhaust gases is adjustable to reduce turbine exhaust gas pressure loss at a high engine operation level and to provide efficient heat recovery at low and/or medium engine operation levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Andreas ELEFTHERIOU, Daniel ALECU, David MENHEERE
  • Publication number: 20130213050
    Abstract: A recuperated micro gas turbine combustor has a casing, liner, fuel injector and a flame stabilization device. This flame stabilization device is characterized by a swirl strength and air passage geometry as such that the pressure loss over the device is less than 1.5%. The flame stabilization device and the fuel injector form together with the liner inlet/head hardware a single burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Miro Turbine Technology BV
    Inventor: Micro Turbine Technology BV
  • Patent number: 8505309
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the efficiency of a power generation facility utilize heat energy to preheat inlet-air that is supplied to the compressor of a turbine or to preheat fuel that is burned in the turbine. The heat energy used to preheat the inlet-air can be drawn from a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) that produces steam using at least part of the exhaust gas of the turbine. The heat energy can be obtained from one or more predetermined points within the HRSG, such as a feed water line exiting a drum of the HRSG or a feed line connecting an economizer of the HRSG to a drum of the HRSG. The fluid drawn from the predetermined point passes through a heat exchanger or a preheater to remove the heat energy used for preheating. The fluid is then returned to the HRSG immediately downstream from the point from which it was drawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Barrett Gardiner, Brett Thompson, Aaron Vorel, Kihyung Kim, Ricky Conard
  • Publication number: 20130199152
    Abstract: A heat recuperator includes a plurality of channel walls composed substantially of thermally-conductive material and supported in spaced-apart relation, defining fluid channels and interstices therebetween. The fluid channels receive at least one primary fluid flow and the interstices receive at least one secondary fluid flow so as to effect heat exchange between the two flows. In use, the plurality of channel walls are deformable by pressure differential between the primary and secondary fluid flows. When at least some of the channel walls are in a deformed state, the plurality of channel walls are stabilized through press fit engagement of mutually opposed contact regions formed in adjacent pairs of the channel walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: David Harold MENHEERE, Andreas ELEFTHERIOU, Daniel T. ALECU, Quantai LIU
  • Patent number: 8474240
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed that overcome the deficiencies of traditional steam engines and internal combustion engines. In an embodiment, a system is disclosed for generating reaction products having elevated temperature and pressure. The system comprises a first chamber including a reactor to decompose hydrogen peroxide to generate oxygen and water vapor. The system further comprises a second chamber including a reactor to catalytically combust a mixture of the generated oxygen and a fuel to generate reaction products having elevated temperature and pressure. The system further comprises a passageway to receive reaction products exiting the second chamber and to channel the reaction products to come into contact with external surfaces of the first and second chambers to thereby transfer heat to the first and second chambers, and an outlet to allow the reaction products to exit the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: NW Licensing Company LLC
    Inventor: Charles Robin Nail
  • Patent number: 8474241
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes a gas turbine engine using vaporized liquefied gas as fuel. The gas turbine engine is configured to ingest intake air from an intake port and direct exhaust gases to an exhaust port. The gas turbine engine system also includes a heat exchanger with a heat transfer fluid therein. The heat exchanger is configured to create at least a part of the fuel by heating the liquefied gas. The gas turbine engine system also includes an intake air temperature control circuit. The intake air temperature control circuit includes conduits configured to direct the heat transfer fluid to the intake port and the exhaust port. The gas turbine engine system also includes a control system configured to selectively direct the heat transfer fluid to one of the intake port and the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Peter John Baron, David Anthony Pocengal, Rainer Kurz
  • Publication number: 20130125525
    Abstract: A gas turbine power plant and a method for operating a gas turbine power plant are provided. The power plant includes a gas turbine installation which may supply a mains supply network with electric power and includes a compressor and an associated first gas turbine. Differing from previous gas turbine installations, the compressor of the gas turbine installation and the first gas turbine of the gas turbine installation are decoupled from each other. A second turbine is provided which drives compressor. As a result, the compressor of the gas turbine installation is operated independently of the first gas turbine. Influences on the mains supply network side, such as generating deficiencies in the main supply network, which act upon the first gas turbine as a result of speed reduction, are also not able to have an impact upon the compressor which is decoupled from the first gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Olaf Hein, Hardy Kliemke, Andreas Waruschewski
  • Publication number: 20130098049
    Abstract: A system includes a gas production source configured to produce a gas stream comprising nitrogen oxides (NOx) and a hydrocarbon injector disposed downstream of the gas production source and configured to inject a hydrocarbon into the gas stream. The hydrocarbon is configured to oxidize molecules of the NOx in the gas stream to produce a higher order compound of nitrogen and oxygen (NyOz). The system also includes a removal device disposed downstream of the hydrocarbon injector. The removal device is configured to remove the NyOz from the gas stream via absorption or reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Harish Radhakrishna Acharya, Robert Thomas Thatcher
  • Patent number: 8421258
    Abstract: A machine for recovering power from a flow of compressed gas, for example, natural gas includes a turbo-expander having a turbo-expander wheel, and a generator having a rotor able to be driven by the turbo-expander wheel and a stator about the rotor. The turbo-expander and the generator are housed in a length of pipe. The turbo-expander wheel has an obverse side facing the generator. There is a flow passage for the flow of expanded gas that places the obverse side of the wheel in gas flow communication with an outer surface of the stator. This outer surface typically carries fins to facilitate cooling of the stator by expanded gas from the turbo-expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Cryostar SAS
    Inventors: Josef Pozivil, Jean-Louis Galelli, Patrice Pflieger
  • Publication number: 20130081403
    Abstract: A gas turbine power generation plant including: a solid fuel gasifier for the production of a fuel gas stream, an arrangement for fuel gas treatment, a combustor for receiving the fuel gas stream and for the production of a flue gas stream, a gas turbine unit having an inlet for said flue gas stream and being mechanically coupled to an electric generator for the extraction of useful work; a compressor unit for the supply of compressed oxygen to the combustor. A steam generator is arranged for heat recovery in the flue gas stream downstream of the turbine unit positioned for water recovery in the flue gas stream, said condenser having a connection for water supply to the steam generator, and the steam generator is connected for supply of steam to the combustor for contributing as process gas. The invention also concerns a method for operating a power plant and an arrangement and a method for fuel gas treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: EUROTURBINE AB
    Inventor: Hans-Erik Hansson
  • Patent number: 8387357
    Abstract: A by-pass turbofan gas turbine engine, has a by-pass fan, a generally annular core engine duct, a generally annular by-pass duct situated in a generally coaxial relationship with the core engine duct coupled to the by-pass fan, an upstream axial compressor coupled to the core engine duct, a downstream radial compressor coupled to the upstream compressor, a generally annular recuperator with a cool side inlet coupled to the downstream compressor, a generally annular combustor coupled to a cool side outlet of the recuperator, a radial turbine coupled to the combustor and a warm side inlet of the recuperator coupled to the radial turbine, at least one exhaust nozzle coupled to a warm side outlet of the recuperator that discharges into the by-pass duct and a propelling nozzle coupled to the by-pass duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney
    Inventors: Gordon F Jewess, Charles Travelbee
  • Publication number: 20130047629
    Abstract: An integrated turbomachine plant is provided and includes a combustor a turbomachine operably connected to the combustor and including a compressor and a turbine expander, a pathway to flow compressed air from the compressor through the turbine expander to heat the compressed air, an additional pathway by which high temperature fluids output from the turbomachine are employed to heat the compressed air and an air separation unit operably connected to the pathway and configured to separate the heated compressed air into oxygen and oxygen-depleted air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ashok Kumar Anand, John Edward Sholes, Veerappan Muthaiah
  • Publication number: 20130036723
    Abstract: An integrated oxy-combustion power generation process is provided. This process includes providing an air separation unit for producing at least an oxygen-enriched stream, providing a carbon dioxide recycle stream, which is combined with the oxygen-enriched stream thereby producing a synthetic air stream, providing a gas turbine comprising a gas inlet , a combustor, and a gas outlet, wherein the synthetic air stream is introduced into the gas inlet, providing a fuel stream to the combustor, thereby producing a power output, and a hot exhaust gas stream, which exits the gas outlet, introducing the exhaust gas stream, along with a boiler feed water stream, into a heat recovery steam generator, thereby producing a steam stream and a cooled exhaust gas stream, and separating the cooled exhaust gas stream into an enriched carbon dioxide product stream and the carbon dioxide recycle stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Air Liquide Process and Construction Inc.
    Inventor: Craig LA FORCE
  • Patent number: 8365699
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes in one aspect a source of a pressurized working medium and an expander. The expander has a housing and a piston, movably mounted within and with respect to the housing, to perform one of rotation and reciprocation, each complete rotation or reciprocation defining at least a part of a cycle of the engine. The expander also includes a septum, mounted within the housing and movable with respect to the housing and the piston so as to define in conjunction therewith, over first and second angular ranges of the cycle, a working chamber that is isolated from an intake port and an exhaust port. Combustion occurs at least over the first angular range of the cycle to provide heat to the working medium and so as to increase its pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: LiquidPiston, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander C. Shkolnik, Nikolay Shkolnik
  • Patent number: 8356466
    Abstract: A heating and cooling system for inlet air of a gas turbine engine in a combined cycle power plant having a steam turbine. The heating and cooling system may include a fluid coil positioned about the gas turbine engine, a heat exchanger in communication with the fluid coil, and a condenser in communication with the steam turbine and the heat exchanger such that waste heat from the steam turbine is forwarded to the fluid coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abbas Motakef, Peter Feher
  • Publication number: 20120285175
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a compressor, a combustion chamber and a turbine arranged in flow series, wherein the gas turbine engine further includes: one or more combustion zones; a source of steam configured to deliver steam to the combustion chamber; and a liquid water delivery system configured to selectively provide liquid water to one or more of the combustion zones after a start up period of the gas turbine engine. A method of generating power with a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine including a compressor, a combustion chamber and a turbine arranged in flow series, wherein the method includes: selectively delivering steam from a source of steam to the combustion chamber; and providing liquid water to one or more combustion zones after a start up period of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Paul FLETCHER, Andrew C. GRAHAM, John MORAN, Christopher NEESON, Terry J. HALL
  • Patent number: 8302403
    Abstract: A compressor-less micro gas turbine has a compressed working medium container for maintaining a gas turbine under pressure. A combustion chamber is in fluid communication with the compressed gas container for receiving a gas from the gas container and heating the gas within the combustion chamber to create an expanded gas. A heater heats the combustion chamber to expand the working gas therein. A turbine in fluid communication with the combustion chamber for receiving the expanded gas. The expanded gas drives the turbine. A generator is operatively coupled to the turbine. The turbine provides a mechanical input to the generator causing the generator to produce electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Acudyne Incorporated
    Inventors: Darren T. Engle, Jody W. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20120260662
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for directing flow to a combustor embedded in a recuperator while shielding the recuperator from radiative heat transfer from the combustor. The radiation heat shield also serves as a structural component to center the combustor within the recuperator core cavity and to allow motion between the combustor and recuperator as temperatures vary. The disclosure is illustrated by the example a gas turbine engine comprising three turbomachinery spools, an intercooler, a recuperator and a combustor. Thermal efficiency of such an engine can be increased by raising the high pressure turbine inlet temperature. It is a specific goal of the present disclosure to reduce radiative heating of a recuperator by a combustor which is housed substantially inside the recuperator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ICR Turbine Engine Corporation
    Inventors: James S. Nash, Alex Moerlein
  • Publication number: 20120260660
    Abstract: The present application provides a stoichiometric exhaust gas recovery turbine system. The stoichiometric exhaust gas recovery turbine system may include a main compressor for compressing a flow of ambient air, a turbine, and a stoichiometric exhaust gas recovery combustor. The stoichiometric exhaust gas recovery combustor may include a combustion liner, an extended flow sleeve in communication with the main compressor, and an extraction port in communication with the turbine. The extended flow sleeve receives the flow of ambient air from the main compressor so as to cool the combustion liner and then the flow of ambient air splits into an extraction flow to the turbine via the extraction port and a combustion flow within the combustion liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Sam David Draper, Kyle Wilson Moore