Regenerator Patents (Class 60/39.511)
  • Patent number: 7775031
    Abstract: A recuperator for use in transferring heat from gas turbine exhaust gases to compressed air inlet gases before combustion. The recuperator utilizes a plurality (e.g., thousands) of microtubes or microchannels to form a heat exchanger having high effectiveness and low pressure drop while maintaining a low weight. Accordingly, the recuperator presented herein may be incorporated into light aircraft and helicopters without significantly compromising the performance thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Ryan S. Wood
  • Patent number: 7770377
    Abstract: A bypass turbofan engine comprises a first propulsion system and a second propulsion system. The first propulsion system comprises a first fan rotor, a core engine, a first low pressure turbine and a first fan shaft drivingly connecting the first turbine and the first fan rotor. The second propulsion system comprises a second fan shaft drivingly connecting to a second fan rotor and the first propulsion system and arranged so that the first and second shafts are not coaxial with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Andrew M. Rolt
  • Publication number: 20100180568
    Abstract: The invention adds details and alternate design supplementing the concept established with my patent application Ser. No. 12/013,431, Aircraft Propulsion System (APS). The APS ultimate fuel economy objectives requires long term design development, and this invention compromises some fuel economy for the expediency of short term implementation of a heat regeneration for turbofans via the re-arrangement of existing components and a few unique items readily designed. While this Velarus Propulsion (VPx) attains only 42% fuel economy, it retains the original APS fundamental architecture implementing heat regeneration for a turbofan engine, as well as the additional benefits of noise and emission abatement. This invention consists of the three APS technologies as follows: a) A novel arrangement of the power generation core features the turbine exhaust entering directly into the thrust chamber, thus providing heat regeneration with an appropriate configuration of the thrust chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventor: Humberto W. Sachs
  • Patent number: 7757475
    Abstract: A gas turbine equipment includes a humidifying device for humidifying compressed gas for combustion, a heat recovery device for recovering exhaust heat from a gas turbine or the compressed air so as to heat humidifying water in the humidifying device, a recuperator for recovering exhaust heat from the gas turbine and heating the compressed gas for combustion, a dehumidifying device for dehumidifying and recovering moisture in the exhaust gas having passed through the recuperator, and an exhaust gas reheater for heating the exhaust gas after dehumidification, a temperature measuring device for measuring a temperature of the exhaust gas passing through the exhaust gas reheater, and a heating temperature adjusting device for increasing the heating temperature of the exhaust gas reheater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Sasaki, Hidefumi Araki, Yukinori Katagiri, Moriaki Tsukamoto, Shinichi Hoizumi
  • Publication number: 20100139900
    Abstract: A regenerator core for use in a gas turbine regenerator has integral manifold openings formed in the tube plates used to make up the core and has special reinforcing elements which provide high pressure containment in critical portions of the plate-and-fin heat exchanger construction. The reinforcing elements include a series of hoops of U-shaped cross section which are used to bridge the juncture lines of the heat exchanger manifolds. An outer channel region of the hoops is provided with a reinforcing strip of gusset material. The hoops with their reinforcing strips provide structural reinforcement in the region between the manifolds and the conventional side bar reinforcing members in the central core section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Randy Thompson
  • Patent number: 7721523
    Abstract: A ground based power generation system contains at least two compressor stages, a combustion stage and a turbine stage. An intercooler is positioned between the two compressor stages and a regenerator is positioned between the compressor stages and the combustion stage. The combustion stage contains at least one of a pulse detonation combustor and constant volume combustor. Downstream of the combustion stage is the turbine stage. Heat for the regenerator is supplied from the turbine stage. Further, a bypass flow device is included which re-directs flow upstream of the combustion stage to downstream of the combustion stage and upstream of the turbine stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Venkat Eswarlu Tangirala, Adam Rasheed, Narendra Digamber Joshi, Anthony John Dean
  • Patent number: 7721552
    Abstract: A method of operating a gas turbine power plant comprising of a first gas turbine group, consisting of a compressor and a turbine which are connected mechanically with one another, and a second gas turbine group, including a combustion device, which is placed in the gas flow stream between the first group's compressor and turbine, whereby the second gas turbine group consists of a compressor, a fuel injection device, a combustion chamber and a turbine, whereby the second gas turbine group's compressor and turbine are mechanically coupled to one another and at least one of the gas turbine groups having a device for the extraction of work, whereby the fact that a first flow of water and/or steam is heated with heat from the flue gas from the first group's turbine, that further amounts of water and/or steam are heated with heat from a gas stream that is compressed by the first group's compressor, and the produced water and/or steam is injected into the gas stream in such amounts that at least 60% of the oxygen c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Euroturbine AB
    Inventors: Hans-Erik Hansson, Mats Westermark
  • Patent number: 7721543
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for cooling a combustion gas charge prior. The combustion gas charge may include compressed intake air, exhaust gas, or a mixture thereof. An evaporator is provided that may then receive a relatively high temperature combustion gas charge and discharge at a relatively lower temperature. The evaporator may be configured to operate with refrigeration cycle components and/or to receive a fluid below atmospheric pressure as the phase-change cooling medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Mary Cecelia Massey, Thomas Earl Boberg
  • Patent number: 7690186
    Abstract: The gas turbine engine comprises at least one electrical generator and an electrical heater associated with a gas path of the engine. The heater is powered by the generator to selectively add heat to the gas turbine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin Allen Dooley
  • Publication number: 20100043388
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine (10) comprising a compressor (14), a turbine (16) a combustor (20) and a recuperator (26), a first portion air (22) from the compressor (20) is ducted into the combustor (20) where it mixes with fuel and is burned, a second portion (24) of compressor air passes through a high-pressure side of the recuperator (26) where it is heated by gas (32) ducted from the turbine (16), the second portion of air (24) flowing through the recuperator (26) is mixed with the first portion of gas (22) to form a third gas flow (30) which is ducted into the turbine (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Samuel A. Mason, Rory D. Stieger
  • Patent number: 7661268
    Abstract: During operation of a power plant, which basically comprises a gas turbogroup, a compressed air accumulator, an air turbine which is equipped with at least one generator, the compressed air which is extracted from the compressed air accumulator is directed through a heat exchanger which operates on the downstream side of the gas turbogroup, and is thermally conditioned there. This thermally conditioned compressed air then charges the air turbine for producing a quantity of electricity. Furthermore, the power plant is extended by a steam turbine, which in combined operation is operated with steam which is produced from the exhaust gases of the gas turbogroup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Rolf Althaus, Martin Koller
  • Patent number: 7647762
    Abstract: Combined apparatus for heating a fluid and for producing electrical power is comprised of a burner operable to burn a combustible fuel-air mixture to produce gaseous products of combustion; a heat exchanger adapted to receive the products of combustion and to transfer heat therefrom to the fluid; a gas-operated turbine; and an electrical generator that is co-rotatable with the turbine. In operation, gaseous products of combustion are introduced into the turbine after they have passed through at least a portion of the heat exchanger. The products of combustion expand in the turbine to rotate the turbine, which in turn rotates the generator to produce electrical power. The apparatus further includes a compressor that is co-rotatable with the turbine and generator to provide combustion air to the burner and to circulate the products of combustion through the heat exchanger and turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Robert B. Uselton
  • Patent number: 7644573
    Abstract: A system capable of both increasing warm day output and maintaining compressor operating margin across the ambient and load range of a gas turbine combined cycle installation. The proposed solution takes advantage of the fact that both goals can be satisfied by manipulation of compressor inlet air temperature. Specifically, the system is designed to heat inlet air as may be required to maintain safe compressor operating margin at low ambient air temperatures or when burning dilute fuels. In the alternative, the system is designed to cool inlet air on warm days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raub Warfield Smith, Seyfettin Can Gülen, Barrett David Gardiner
  • Publication number: 20090293782
    Abstract: A method of generating power by oxyfuel combustion. Carbonaceous fuel and oxidant gas are fed into a furnace. In a first operating mode, the oxidant gas includes a stream of substantially pure oxygen conveyed from an oxygen supply for combusting the fuel with the oxygen to produce exhaust gas including mainly carbon dioxide and water. The exhaust gas is discharged from the furnace and is divided into a recycling portion and an end portion. The recycling portion is recycled to the furnace. Heat is transferred from the end portion to the stream of substantially pure oxygen by circulating a liquid heat transfer medium in a passage between an exhaust gas cooler and an oxygen heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: FOSTER WHEELER ENERGIA OY
    Inventors: Timo Eriksson, Zhen Fan, Ossi Sippu
  • Publication number: 20090297993
    Abstract: An oxyfuel combustion system for generating power that includes a furnace for combusting carbonaceous fuel and substantially pure oxygen to produce exhaust gas including mainly carbon dioxide and water. An exhaust gas channel system discharges the exhaust gas from the furnace. The exhaust gas channel system has an upstream channel, an outlet channel and a gas recycling channel. The upstream channel recycles a recycling portion of the exhaust gas through the recycling channel to the furnace, and conveys an end portion of the exhaust gas through the outlet channel for final processing. The upstream channel is divided between a first divider piece and a connecting piece into a first exhaust gas channel portion and a second exhaust gas channel portion. A gas-gas heat exchanger arranged in the first exhaust gas channel portion transfers heat from exhaust gas in the first exhaust gas channel portion to gas in the gas recycling channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: FOSTER WHEELER ENERGIA OY
    Inventors: Zhen Fan, Timo Eriksson, Ossi Sippu
  • Publication number: 20090282804
    Abstract: An integrated heat exchanger assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a first flow path, a second flow path, and a third flow path. The first flow path is configured to be coupled to a compressor and a combustor, to receive compressed air from the compressor, and to supply the compressed air to the combustor. The second flow path is configured to be coupled to the compressor or the first flow path, or both, to receive compressed air therefrom, and to be coupled to the combustor and to supply compressed air thereto. The third flow path is disposed adjacent to the first and second flow paths, and is configured to be coupled to an exhaust section, to receive exhaust air therefrom, and to allow heat transfer from the exhaust air in the third flow path to the compressed air in the first and second flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Larry A. Smalley, Greg D. Desplanque
  • Publication number: 20090277154
    Abstract: A recuperator for use in transferring heat from gas turbine exhaust gases to compressed air inlet gases before combustion. The recuperator utilizes a plurality (e.g., thousands) of microtubes or microchannels to form a heat exchanger having high effectiveness and low pressure drop while maintaining a low weight. Accordingly, the recuperator presented herein may be incorporated into light aircraft and helicopters without significantly compromising the performance thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventor: RYAN S. WOOD
  • Publication number: 20090260342
    Abstract: A gas turbine, in which compressed air that is compressed by a compressor (11) is mixed with fuel in a combustor (12), the mixture is burned to produce combustion gas, and the combustion gas is provided to a turbine (13) to produce rotative power, includes: a pressurizing unit (41) that pressurizes some of the compressed air that is compressed by the compressor (11); a combustor cooling unit (42) that cools the combustor (12) with the compressed air that is pressurized by the pressurizing unit (41); and a compressed air circulation line (46) that provides the compressed air to the casing of the combustor (12). In the gas turbine, the combustor can be cooled by minimizing pressure loss of the compressed air, and degradation of the power efficiency can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Ishiguro, Katsunori Tanaka, Tetsu Konishi
  • Patent number: 7596939
    Abstract: A gas turbine apparatus has an air compressor for compressing air, a combustor capable of combusting the compressed air, a turbine rotatable by a gas discharged from the combustor, and a recuperator for exchanging heat between the air supplied from the air compressor and an exhaust gas discharged from the turbine. The gas turbine apparatus includes a fuel supply system having a first fuel supply device for supplying a fuel having a large heating value to the combustor, a second fuel supply device for supplying a gas having a small heating value to the combustor, and a switching device operable to switch the first fuel supply device and the second fuel supply device based on a temperature of the air compressed by the air compressor or the exhaust gas discharged from the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Kataoka, Nobuhiko Hamano
  • Publication number: 20090235633
    Abstract: An integrated power plant comprising a gas turbine set with a compressor, a combustion chamber and a gas turbine, a waste heat recovery unit (WHRU) arranged downstream of the gas turbine, the heat from the gas turbine flue gases being recovered directly in the WHRU in a coil fed by hydrocarbons or other process fluid. The resulting two-phase hydrocarbon or process stream leaving the WHRU is separated into a vapour and liquid stream using a Fractionating Auxiliary Treatment (FAT) system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: Howard Simons
  • Publication number: 20090193812
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant includes a compressor, a first turbine, a second turbine, a first combustor, a second combustor, a heat exchanger and a heat recovery steam generator. A controller operates the combined cycle power plant a first mode wherein compressor air is passed through the heat exchanger before being delivered to the first and second combustors, and exhaust gas from the second turbine is passed to the heat exchanger. The exhaust gas from the second turbine pre-heats the compressor air passing through the heat exchanger to the first and second combustors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph Kirzhner
  • Patent number: 7543440
    Abstract: A turbine system is provided including a plurality of gas turbine engines, each having a compressor section for producing compressed air, a combustor section, and a turbine section yielding hot exhaust gas. A single, common recuperator section is shared by and operatively associated with the plurality of gas turbine engines. A first flow path within the single, common recuperator section is configured to receive compressed air produced by the compressor section of each gas turbine engine. A second flow path, separated from the first flow path and within the single, common recuperator section is configured to receive hot exhaust gases yielded by the turbine section of each gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Callas, Kevin L. Martin, Cody P. Renshaw, Thomas M. Sopko, Jr., Andrew J. Tonsor
  • Publication number: 20090133380
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is described having at least one compressor, at least one combustion chamber, at least one turbine, and having an exhaust heat exchanger, which is used for returning waste heat of the exhaust emissions to the compressed combustion air prior to entry of the same into a combustion chamber. The exhaust heat exchanger is used as a substrate for catalysts for use in the catalytic aftertreatment of the exhaust emissions, in order to thereby reduce the pollutant emissions, in particular NOx emissions, of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Donnerhack
  • Patent number: 7500349
    Abstract: A power plant comprises a gas turbo group with a heat transfer apparatus, for example a recuperator for the preheating of the combustion air, arranged downstream of the turbine in the smoke gas path of the gas turbo group. A smoke gas purification catalyst is arranged downstream of at least part of the heat transfer apparatus, at a point at which the smoke gas is already cooled as a result of heat exchange to an extent such that irreversible damage to the catalyst due to overheating is avoided. On the other hand, the point is selected such that a temperature necessary for maintaining the catalytic smoke gas purification is ensured. In a preferred embodiment, a temperature measurement point is arranged, at which the temperature of the catalyst or of the smoke gas flowing into the catalyst is determined, so that this temperature can be regulated by means of suitable regulating actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Rolf Althaus
  • Patent number: 7472550
    Abstract: A turbine engine system and a method for using the turbine engine system that includes at least one low-pressure compressor, at least one high-pressure compressor, at least one low-pressure turbine, and at least one high-pressure turbine. In addition, the turbine engine system includes an absorption refrigeration system that is used to pre-cool an air-gas mixture before it enters the high-pressure compressor. As such, the pre-cooled mixture is easier to compress, thereby increasing the thermal efficiency of the turbine engine. Additionally, the exhaust heat from the air-gas mixture that is pre-cooled may be used to drive the absorption refrigeration system. Lastly, water, may be extracted from the evaporator of the absorption refrigeration cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Lear, Jr., Sherif A. Sherif
  • Publication number: 20080289313
    Abstract: The present invention provides an organic Rankine cycle power system, which comprises means for superheating vaporized organic motive fluid, an organic turbine module coupled to a generator, and a first pipe through which superheated organic motive fluid is supplied to the turbine, wherein the superheating means is a set of coils through which the vaporized organic motive fluid flows and which is in direct heat exchanger relation with waste heat gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Dany Batscha, Shlomi Argas, Avinoam Leshem
  • Patent number: 7430869
    Abstract: A system comprising a compressor (10) having an inlet stream (25) and an outlet stream (26), a pre-heater (12) having a process inlet stream (29) and a process outlet stream (31), a catalytic combustor (13) having an inlet stream (32) and an outlet stream (33) and containing an catalyst, and a turbine (14) having an inlet stream (34) and an outlet stream (35), wherein, the outlet stream (26) of the compressor(10) is connected to the process inlet stream (29) of the pre-heater (12), the process outlet stream (31) of the pre-heater (12) is connected to the inlet stream (32) of the catalytic combustor (13). The outlet stream (33) of the catalytic combustor (13) is connected to the inlet stream (34) of the turbine (14). During operation of the system, the inlet stream (25) of the compressor (10) has a substantially constant and low concentration of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Shi Su, Andrew Charles Beath, Clifford William Mallett
  • Patent number: 7404294
    Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing and controlling a gas turbine (1) at least one turbine (11, 20, 20?), at least one compressor (2, 5) driven by the turbine and a combustion chamber (16) arranged between the compressor and the turbine in the airflow path. The gas turbine includes devices (8) for direct measurement of the air mass flow at a position upstream of the combustion chamber in the airflow path, with the aim of regulating the quantity of fuel that is delivered to the combustion chamber (16) on the basis of the measured air mass flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventor: Lars Sundin
  • Publication number: 20080173006
    Abstract: A gas turbine apparatus is used in, for example, a power generation apparatus. The gas turbine apparatus according to the present invention includes a turbine, an air compressor rotatable integrally with the turbine, a recuperator for performing heat exchange between air compressed by the air compressor and an exhaust gas discharged from the turbine, a combustor for combusting a fuel mixed with the compressed air heated by the recuperator so as to produce a combustion gas, and an outer tube, an intermediate tube, and an inner tube which are coaxially arranged. An outer passage is formed between the outer tube and the intermediate tube, an intermediate passage is formed between the intermediate tube and the inner tube, and an inner passage is formed in the inner tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi KATAOKA, Tadahiko KISHIKAWA, Teruyuki NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 7383686
    Abstract: A secondary flow, turbine cooling air system for the uniform cooling of high pressure turbine module components such as the turbine shroud, turbine blade tips, turbine nozzle, transion liner, and turbine bearing support housing in a recuperated gas turbine engine is provided. The secondary flow turbine cooling system provides uniform cooling air having a similar pressure and temperature in a recuperated gas turbine engine as the compressor discharge air of a non-recuperated gas turbine engine. A method for uniform cooling of high pressure turbine module components using the secondary flow turbine cooling air system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Larry W. Aycock, John R. Barrett, Howard M. Becker, Michael J. Durden, Robert A. Kime, Brian D. Koch, Robert S. Sandoval
  • Patent number: 7380749
    Abstract: Combined aircraft hybrid fuel cell auxiliary power unit and environmental control system and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an auxiliary power unit includes a fuel cell component which chemically converts combustible fuel into electrical energy. Unutilized fuel emitted by the fuel cell component is combusted by a burner to generate heated gas. The heated gas is received by and drives a turbine, which in turn drives a drive shaft. A compressor, coupled to the drive shaft, compresses a source of oxidizing gas for supplying compressed oxidizing gas to the fuel cell component and to an environmental control system. A heat exchanger controls the temperature of the pressurized air leaving the environmental control system to provide the cabin air supply. Finally, a generator is coupled to the drive shaft to be driven by the turbines to generate additional electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Lars Fucke, David L. Daggett
  • Publication number: 20080092517
    Abstract: A system for conditioning a gas. The system includes a compressor for compressing and heating the gas into a hot gas; an airflow device generating an airflow; and a heat exchanger receiving in a first flow path the hot gas and in a second flow path the airflow. Heat is transferred from the hot gas to the airflow to generate a cool gas and hot airflow, and moisture condenses within the cool gas. A moisture separator separates condensed moisture from the cool gas to generate a saturated gas. A reheater receives in one flow path the saturated gas from the moisture separator and in another flow path the hot airflow from the heat exchanger. Heat is transferred in the reheater from the hot airflow to the saturated gas to generate a superheated gas having a temperature above the saturation temperature of the gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Donald Mark Wood, Richard L. Dishman
  • Patent number: 7340881
    Abstract: The invention provides a gas turbine combustor in which the size of a combustor outer casing can be reduced. A transition inner duct and a transition outer duct are disposed in a main housing, inlet openings for a fluid to cool the transition inner duct are formed at ends of the transition outer duct on both sides nearer to the combustor liner and the turbine, and the transition outer duct is formed as an extraction flow passage for extracting the cooling fluid having flown in through the inlet openings to a recuperator. A partition member is also provided to prevent the fluid in the main housing and the fluid in the combustor outer casing from mixing with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomi Koganezawa, Hiroshi Inoue, Kazuhiko Kawaike
  • Patent number: 7334411
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine includes fabricating a heat exchanger that includes a first manifold including an inlet and an outlet, a first quantity of heat exchanger elements coupled in flow communication with the manifold inlet, a second quantity of heat exchanger elements coupled in flow communication with the manifold outlet, and a plurality of channels coupled in flow communication with the first and second quantity of heat exchanger elements to facilitate channeling compressor discharge air from the first quantity of heat exchanger elements to the second quantity of heat exchanger elements, and coupling the heat exchanger assembly to the gas turbine engine such that the heat exchanger is positioned substantially concentrically with respect to a gas turbine engine axis of rotation, and such that the heat exchanger is configured to receive compressor discharge air and channel the compressor discharge air to the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert Vandermolen
  • Publication number: 20080022687
    Abstract: An air storage plant comprises a storage volume for a pressurized storage fluid, a storage fluid expansion machine and a generator which is arranged with the expansion machine on a common power train. During the start up of the air storage plant, the generator is operated at least temporarily electromotively in order to assist the acceleration of the rotor of the expansion machine. This allows a more rapid acceleration of the expansion machine to the rated rotational speed and, consequently, earlier synchronization and an earlier power output than acceleration caused solely by the storage fluid flowing through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Rolf Althaus, Markus Gruenenfelder, Christian Henssler, Patrik Meier, Hans-Juergen Peters, Urs Zinniker
  • Patent number: 7305832
    Abstract: A work extraction arrangement (10) comprises a cooling assembly (12) for cooling a gas to provide a working fluid capable of doing work. The arrangement (10) further includes storage means (14) for storing the working fluid and a turbine assembly (18) for extracting work from the working fluid. A fluid delivery assembly (16) is also provided to deliver the working fluid to the turbine assembly (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Paul Fletcher, James I Oswald
  • Publication number: 20070271900
    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: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Kenji SASAKI, Yoshiki Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20070240400
    Abstract: A system capable of both increasing warm day output and maintaining compressor operating margin across the ambient and load range of a gas turbine combined cycle installation. The proposed solution takes advantage of the fact that both goals can be satisfied by manipulation of compressor inlet air temperature. Specifically, the system is designed to heat inlet air as may be required to maintain safe compressor operating margin at low ambient air temperatures or when burning dilute fuels. In the alternative, the system is designed to cool inlet air on warm days.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Raub Smith, Seyfettin Gulen, Barrett Gardiner
  • Patent number: 7278255
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gas turbine power generating system capable of achieving a high output power and a high power generating efficiency under conditions with a small amount of supplied water and less change in design of a gas turbine. A fine water droplet spraying apparatus (11) is disposed in a suction air chamber (22) on the upstream side of an air compressor (2), and a moisture adding apparatus (7) for adding moisture to high pressure air supplied from the compressor (2) is disposed. A regenerator (5) for heating the air to which moisture has been added by using gas turbine exhaust gas as a heat source is also provided. With this configuration, there can be obtain an effect of reducing a power for the compressor (2) and an effect of increasing the output power due to addition of moisture to air (20) for combustion. Further, since the used amount of fuel is reduced by adopting a regenerating cycle, the power generating efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Hatamiya, Masahiko Yamagishi, Osamu Yokomizo, Yoshiki Noguchi, Moriaki Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7254937
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine including a compressor and a combustor includes providing a heat exchanger assembly that includes at least one heat exchanger, and coupling the heat exchanger assembly to the gas turbine engine such that the heat exchanger is positioned substantially concentrically with respect to a gas turbine engine axis of rotation, and such that the heat exchanger is configured to channel compressor discharge air from the compressor discharge air to the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter R. Hull, Robert Vandermolen
  • Patent number: 7251926
    Abstract: A plate-fin type regenerative heat exchanger is provided which can prevent clogging of a flow passage caused by a drift of liquid phase water even when compressed air contains a large amount of moisture and liquid droplets. The plate-fin type regenerative heat exchanger comprises a corrugated fin channel for heating compressed air containing liquid droplets and a corrugated fin channel to which the compressed air containing no liquid droplets is supplied. A pitch of fin members of the former corrugated fin channel is set to the Laplace length, whereby bridging of the liquid droplets between the fin members can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Shibata, Shigeo Hatamiya, Nobuhiro Seiki, Tomomi Koganezawa, Katsuhiko Sagae, Hidefumi Araki
  • Publication number: 20070169485
    Abstract: A steam cycle power plant (10) is provided that may include a steam source generating steam (40), a steam turbine (24) receiving the generated steam and discharging an exhaust steam, a condenser (44) receiving the exhaust steam and an atomizer (60) for injecting water into the exhaust steam downstream of the steam turbine (24) and upstream of a cooling surface of the condenser (44) effective to reduce a backpressure on the steam turbine (24) and improve a heat rate of the steam turbine (24). The atomizer (60) may include a plurality of symmetrical spaced fluid connections (70) and a plurality of atomizing nozzles (62) affixed proximate at least one exhaust end of the steam turbine (24). The power plant (10) may be a combined cycle power plant including a heat recovery steam generator (40) and a gas turbine engine (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: James Bellows, Abol Moulavi
  • Patent number: 7240478
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a highly supercharged, regenerative gas-turbine system. The gas turbine comprises a compressor, a regenerator, a combustor, and an expander. A pre-compressor pressurizes air going into the compressor section of the gas turbine. A cooler lowers the temperature of the air going into the compressor. The compressor pressurizes air, which then flows through the regenerator, which heats the air before it enters the combustor. The combustor further heats the air which then flows through the expander and then the regenerator. A post-expander is preferably located downstream of the regenerator. The post-expander is a second expander that receives high-pressure gas exiting the regenerator. The post-expander preferably drives the pre-compressor. The preferred pre-compressor and post-expander are toroidal intersecting vane machines (TIVMs), which are positive-displacement rotary devices. Numerous alternated embodiments of this basic system are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Mechanology, Inc.
    Inventor: William L. Kopko
  • Publication number: 20070137211
    Abstract: A turbine system is provided including a plurality of gas turbine engines, each having a compressor section for producing compressed air, a combustor section, and a turbine section yielding hot exhaust gas. A single, common recuperator section is shared by and operatively associated with the plurality of gas turbine engines. A first flow path within the single, common recuperator section is configured to receive compressed air produced by the compressor section of each gas turbine engine. A second flow path, separated from the first flow path and within the single, common recuperator section is configured to receive hot exhaust gases yielded by the turbine section of each gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: James Callas, Kevin Martin, Cody Renshaw, Thomas Sopko, Andrew Tonsor
  • Publication number: 20070137215
    Abstract: A cogeneration system is provided which is capable of reliably switching a bypass damper even if a supply of electric power is shut off in an abnormal state etc. and which is unlikely to leak exhaust gas and is cost-effective even if it is increased in size. To this end, an exhaust gas path (10) for introducing exhaust gas from a gas turbine (2) into an exhaust-heat-recovery heat exchanger (8) is provided with a bypass path (11) and an inlet of the bypass path (11) is provided with a bypass damper (12) which is controlled so as to be opened and closed by an air cylinder driven by compressed air from the compressor (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: TAKUMA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kishida, Mamoru Shiragaki, Satoshi Shibata
  • Publication number: 20070101695
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a highly supercharged, regenerative gas-turbine system. The gas turbine comprises a compressor, a regenerator, a combustor, and an expander. A pre-compressor pressurizes air going into the compressor section of the gas turbine. A cooler lowers the temperature of the air going into the compressor. The compressor pressurizes air, which then flows through the regenerator, which heats the air before it enters the combustor. The combustor further heats the air which then flows through the expander and then the regenerator. A post-expander is preferably located downstream of the regenerator. The post-expander is a second expander that receives high-pressure gas exiting the regenerator. The post-expander preferably drives the pre-compressor. The preferred pre-compressor and post-expander are toroidal intersecting vane machines (TIVMs), which are positive-displacement rotary devices. Numerous alternated embodiments of this basic system are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventor: William Kopko
  • Patent number: 7204077
    Abstract: Techniques suitable for recovering energy from a high-temperature gas of an ordinary pressure are provided. A turbomachine has a turbine 16 and compressors 20 and 24. A combustor 12 is disposed at a stage above the turbine 16. A power generating system generates power by passing a working fluid for the turbomachine through the combustor 12, the turbine 16 and the compressors 20 and 24 in that order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignees: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology
    Inventors: Kazuo Tanaka, Seiji Yamashita, Eiichi Harada, Norihiko Iki, Sanyo Takahashi, Hirohide Furutani
  • Patent number: 7188478
    Abstract: A power generation system comprising a liquid-cooled electrolyzer operable to produce a supply of hydrogen from water is provided. The power generation system may also comprise a steam turbine and a steam production device operable to produce a supply of steam to the steam turbine. The power generation system may also comprise a system operable to provide cooling liquid to the liquid-cooled electrolyzer and to couple heated cooling liquid from the liquid-cooled electrolyzer to the steam production device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard Scott Bourgeois
  • Publication number: 20070051108
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to increase the efficiency of a gas turbine system (1). Said aim is achieved by transferring at least one portion of the heat of the waste gases (AG) of a gas turbine (2) to a working medium of a thermodynamic circulation process, which comprises at least two substances featuring non-isothermal evaporation and condensation. Said circulation process allows the residual heat of the waste gases (AG) to be used for additionally generating electrical or mechanical power, especially at waste gas (AG) temperatures ranging from 100 to 200° C. Even previously existing systems can be retrofitted in a simple manner with such a circulation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: Roland Klaus, Jorg Lengert, Kathrin Ruhsland
  • Patent number: 7185483
    Abstract: A method for exchanging heat between a first fluid and a second fluid. The method includes providing a heat exchanger having a stack of at least two layers of support structures, wherein each support structure layer is formed from a lattice of support members, and substantially fluidly separating the at least two support structure layers using at least one barrier such that each layer defines a fluid passageway. The method also includes directing a flow of first fluid through a first of the fluid passageways, and directing a flow of second fluid through a second of the fluid passageways that is adjacent the first fluid passageway to facilitate exchanging heat between the first and second fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert P. Czachor