Including Production Of Withdrawable Product Or Steam For External Use Patents (Class 60/648)
  • Publication number: 20150027120
    Abstract: A device for capture of acid gas of combustion fumes of a thermal power plant, including: absorption means (10) of the gas by capture fluid, a regenerator (1) where the capture fluid and a regeneration fluid steam are put in contact, introduction means (11) of the regeneration fluid in the regenerator, condensation means (2, 3, 4), at the head of said regenerator, separation means (6) of liquid phase of the regeneration fluid and gaseous phase rich in acid gas, Wherein: the regeneration fluid steam introduced is superheated, the regenerator (1) includes means limiting the contact time to substantially maintain the flow rate of regeneration fluid steam, the condensation means (2, 3, 4) are in thermal exchange with first evaporation means of working fluid, and first reintroduction means (13) of steam obtained in a turbine (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Yann Le Moullec
  • Publication number: 20140366539
    Abstract: A system and methods for power generation uses non-aqueous solvent. The method includes treating oil sands with a non-aqueous solvent to extract bitumen in an extraction process and separating the non-aqueous solvent from the bitumen in a solvent recovery process. The method also includes heating the non-aqueous solvent, expanding the non-aqueous solvent to generate power, and cooling the non-aqueous solvent. The method further includes recycling at least a portion of the non-aqueous solvent to the extraction process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Douglas W. Hissong, O. Angus Sites
  • Publication number: 20140360204
    Abstract: The present techniques are directed to systems and a method for extracting a high pressure gas from a power plant. A method includes providing a fuel to a burner, and providing an oxidant to the burner, wherein an oxidant flow rate is adjusted to provide a substantially stoichiometric ratio of the oxidant to the fuel. The fuel and the oxidant are combusted in the burner to produce an exhaust gas. At least a portion of the exhaust gas is extracted downstream of the burner to form a product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Srinivas N. Moorkanikkara
  • Patent number: 8904789
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating energy by means of thermal cycles with high pressure and moderate temperature steam, which allows improving the energy and operational efficiency of the conversion of heat energy into mechanical or electrical energy by means of thermal cycles in which the temperature of the steam is limited to moderate values in its generation, comprising the following steps: a) generating steam at a pressure above 65 bar and a moderate temperature below 400° C., b) expanding said steam in a steam turbine, steam of an intermediate pressure, comprised between 10-40 bar, with a moderate moisture, below 15%, being obtained c) drying said steam by means of a moisture separator and reheating said steam, d) expanding said steam in the turbine, and e) heating boiler water used to generate the steam by means of a plurality of steam extractions from the turbine, in order to exchange heat with said boiler water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sener Grupo de Ingenieria, S.A.
    Inventors: JoséMaría Menéndez Salcedo, Jerónimo Angulo Aramburu
  • Patent number: 8899045
    Abstract: Before being fed into a pipe, particularly a network of pipes for the supply of consumers, gas, preferably natural gas, is continuously conditioned. The pressurized gas is removed from a reservoir, expanded, and heated to a predefined temperature before or after the expansion thereof in that a branched-off partial flow of the fed-out natural gas is mixed with oxygen and the resulting burnable gas is catalytically burned. The fed-out gas is heated with the thermal energy that is produced. For this purpose, a partial exhaust gas flow is branched off from a hot exhaust gas flow released during the catalytic combustion and conducted into a first container together with the cold burnable gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: EWE Gasspeicher GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Lenk
  • Publication number: 20140318130
    Abstract: Cogeneration method, according to which a hot source (2) produces steam that is released in at least one turbine (3) having a low-pressure steam outlet (5) linked to a condenser; at least a fraction (Q) of the steam leaving the turbine (3) is directed towards a Venturi thermocompressor (14) into which a fluid having higher pressure and temperature than the outgoing steam is injected, resulting in a fluid having higher pressure and temperature than the outgoing steam, and this mixture is directed towards a second condenser (21) where the heat of the mixture is transferred to an auxiliary fluid of a circuit (23) external to the thermodynamic cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Frederic Duong
  • Publication number: 20140318129
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combustion chamber for burning an air-fuel mixture, a gas mixture or a gas-liquid mixture, including an outer casing; a flame tube located inside the outer casing and provided with an inner space, whereby the outer casing and the flame tube form an annular channel therebetween, the flame tube including flow apertures which penetrate through its casing and interconnect the annular channel and the inner space of the flame tube; a cover part arranged in inlet ends of the outer casing and the flame tube and provided with flow apertures opening up into the annular channel; a combustion air inlet part which is arranged in an outer surface of the cover part and which is in connection with the flow apertures of the cover part; a fuel jet located in the cover part and extending inside the flame tube for feeding fuel into the flame tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Markus Viitamäki
  • Publication number: 20140283517
    Abstract: A system reclaiming contaminated water includes a heat exchanger that receives the contaminated water and converts at least a portion of the contaminated water into steam and collects at least a portion of the contaminants within the heat exchanger. A thermal transfer fluid is heated by a heat exchanger is communication with a heat source. The heated fluid is circulated through the heat exchanger to heat the contaminated water. A steam engine is coupled to a generator, the steam engine receives the steam from the heat exchanger to drive the generator to provide power for the system. Steam exhausted from the steam engine is supplied to supplemental heat loads and then condensed in a modular condensing system. The collected contaminants are directed to an evaporation device to remove residual liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Morningside Venture Investments Limited
    Inventor: Frank Schubert
  • Publication number: 20140260251
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the generation of liquid natural gas (“LNG”) are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Bret Shapot, Devendra Agrawal, John Ray, Eric Southward
  • Patent number: 8833081
    Abstract: Systems for regenerating an absorbent solution include steam produced by a boiler; a set of pressure turbines fluidly coupled to the boiler for receiving the steam, wherein the set of pressure turbines comprises a high pressure turbine, a medium pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine; and a regenerating system comprising a regenerator for regenerating a rich and/or semi-rich absorbent solution to form a lean absorbent solution in fluid communication with a reboiler, the regenerating system fluidly coupled to the set of pressure turbines, wherein steam from the low pressure turbine provides a heat source for preheating the rich or the semi-rich absorbent solution fed to the regenerator. Also disclosed are processes of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Daniel Nicolaus Secundus Mattstedt, Joseph P. Naumovitz, Sanjay Kumar Dube
  • Patent number: 8806870
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a carbon-dioxide-recovery-type thermal power generation system includes an absorption column allows carbon dioxide contained in exhaust gas from a boiler to be absorbed in an absorption liquid, a regeneration column that discharges a carbon dioxide gas from the absorption liquid supplied from the absorption column, a reboiler that heats the absorption liquid discharged from the regeneration column and supplies steam generated, to the regeneration column, a condenser that generates condensate by cooling the steam exhausted from a turbine, a heater that heats the condensate, a water supply pump that supplies the condensate to the boiler, a line through the steam extracted from the turbine is supplied to the reboiler and the heater, and a steam flow rate adjusting unit. The steam flow rate adjusting unit maintains an amount of steam, which is extracted from the turbine through the line, to be constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Haruhiko Hirata, Hideo Kitamura, Takashi Ogawa, Yukio Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20140208752
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for operating a combined heat and power system with greater flexibility, reliability, control and stability, for providing operational flexibility and energy efficiency in operating a combined heat and power plant which includes a backpressure steam engine that expands a high temperature heat source of a thermodynamic fluid to generate mechanical power and discharge its spent heat for a beneficial use comprises a vessel subsystem for the spent heat, said vessel subsystem including: at least one main indirect heat exchange device or vessel (7) in heat exchange communication between its primary space (10) and its secondary space (11). The present invention also discloses the use of a method and apparatus to operate a combined heat and power system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Krishna Moorthy Palanisamy
  • Patent number: 8783036
    Abstract: A system includes a syngas cooler configured to cool a syngas. The syngas cooler includes a first syngas cooler section configured to cool the syngas and a second syngas cooler section configured to cool the syngas and generate a first superheated steam with an enthalpy of less than approximately 3800 kJ/kg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Judeth Brannon Corry, Leroy Omar Tomlinson, James Michael Storey, Paul Stephen Dimascio, Mark Joseph Steffen, Wei Chen, Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus, Richard Anthony De Puy
  • Patent number: 8776520
    Abstract: A method for operating a steam power station is provided. The steam turbine power station includes at least one steam turbine and a process steam consumer, wherein a steam mass flow is subdivided into a first partial mass flow and a second partial mass. In a first operating state, the first partial mass flow is supplied to the steam turbine and the second partial mass flow is supplied to the process steam consumer. In a second operating state, at least part of the second partial mass flow is supplied to the steam turbine at least after the first turbine stages. A steam power station is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Beul, Stefan Glos, Matthias Heue, Thomas Hofbauer, Ralf Hoffacker, Nils Lückemeyer, Norbert Pieper, Roland Sievert
  • Patent number: 8707557
    Abstract: The invention apparatus and method is practiced in large steam surface condensers and in one aspect comprises relatively narrow horizontal trays installed between the vertical tube bundles to drain the condensate from the upper bundle around the lower ones and thereby improve the heat transfer coefficient of the lower bundle(s). A second aspect of the invention apparatus comprises relatively narrow horizontal trays installed slightly below the lowest bundle to improve reheating of falling condensate up toward the saturation temperature of the condenser thereby reducing subcooling and the level of dissolved oxygen in that condensate. A third aspect of the invention apparatus comprises a partial hood retrofitted at the top of the central tube sheet air off-take entrance which is a unique element of the starburst/core pipe condenser design to thereby improve the air removal capability and consequently the performance of the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Inventors: John M. Burns, Daniel C. Burns, Jeffrey S. Burns, Robert L. Stevens
  • Patent number: 8707697
    Abstract: A systems design is disclosed which converts Geopressured-Geothermal (GPGT) brine into saturated brine in concert with the production of electricity from GPGT brine energy. The design integrates a GPGT conversion system which super-concentrates a portion of the GPGT brine, utilizing that portion's thermal energy, with a system designed to produce electricity from the remainder of GPGT brine energy. The end-brine from the electricity producing system is concentrated (sub-saturated) in a spray evaporation pond, which serves as a heat sink for both systems, and is combined with the super-saturated product brine from the GPGT conversion system, resulting in a saturated brine end-product. The saturated brine can be used for beneficial purposes, including for use as bulk material in the construction of salinity gradient solar ponds (SGSP), which collect, store, and deliver solar thermal baseload power (e.g., for electricity generation).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Inventor: George Nitschke
  • Patent number: 8701412
    Abstract: Systems for recovering heat from a biomass gasifier are provided. One gasification system includes a gasifier having an inlet section configured to receive a biomass feedstock and air, and a reactor section configured to gasify a mixture of the biomass feedstock and the air to generate a producer gas. The gasifier also has an outlet section configured to output the producer gas from the reactor section. The gasification system also includes a heat exchanger system coupled to the gasifier. The heat exchanger system is configured to recover heat from the gasifier by transferring heat to a fluid to create a heated fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jinmesh Pranav Majmudar, Omprakash Mall, Lakshmanan Subramanian, Avish Ivan Dsouza
  • Patent number: 8695342
    Abstract: A turbine for converting thermal energy into mechanical work. The turbine includes a heating system, wherein the heating system is adapted for heating the turbine in a power off state and/or a start-up phase of the turbine. The heating system may include an electrical heating device and/or a steam heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mikael Fredriksson, Torbjörn Johansson, Tommy Larsson, Oskar Mazur
  • Publication number: 20140096522
    Abstract: Provided is a power plant and a method of operating thereof. The power plant includes a boiler for heating process fluids; and a multistage first steam turbine with an outlet line that passes through the boiler. The outlet line includes an extraction line that is configured and arranged to extract steam from an intermediate stage of the first steam turbine and heat at least one of the process fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Julia KIRCHNER, Volker Schüle, Stefan Hellweg
  • Patent number: 8689443
    Abstract: The invention apparatus and method is practiced in large steam surface condensers and in one aspect comprises relatively narrow horizontal trays installed between the vertical tube bundles to drain the condensate from the upper bundle around the lower ones and thereby improve the heat transfer coefficient of the lower bundle(s). A second aspect of the invention apparatus comprises relatively narrow horizontal trays installed slightly below the lowest bundle to improve reheating of falling condensate up toward the saturation temperature of the condenser thereby reducing subcooling and the level of dissolved oxygen in that condensate. A third aspect of the invention apparatus comprises a partial hood retrofitted at the top of the central tubesheet air off-take entrance which is a unique element of the starburst/core pipe condenser design to thereby improve the air removal capability and consequently the performance of the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventors: John M. Burns, Daniel C. Burns, Jeffrey S. Burns, Robert L. Stevens
  • Patent number: 8661819
    Abstract: A system reclaiming contaminated water includes a heat exchanger that receives the contaminated water and converts at least a portion of the contaminated water into steam and collects at least a portion of the contaminants within the heat exchanger. A thermal transfer fluid is heated by a solar concentrator during daytime and by a biofuel combustion device during nighttime. The heated fluid is circulated through the heat exchanger to heat the contaminated water. A steam engine is coupled to a generator, the steam engine receives the steam from the heat exchanger to drive the generator to provide power for the system. Steam exhausted from the steam engine is supplied to supplemental heat loads. The collected contaminants are directed to an evaporation device to remove residual liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Morningside Venture Investments Limited
    Inventor: Frank Schubert
  • Patent number: 8656719
    Abstract: A thermal power plant includes a boiler for burning fossil fuel to generate steam, a steam turbine including a high-pressure turbine, an intermediate-pressure turbine, and a low-pressure turbine which are driven by steam generated in the boiler, an absorber for absorbing and capturing CO2 contained in boiler exhaust gas discharged from the boiler in an absorbing liquid, a desorber for circulating the absorbing liquid between the desorber and the absorber and separating CO2 from the absorbing liquid that has absorbed CO2, a reboiler for feeding a heating source for separating CO2 from the absorbing liquid to the desorber, a steam pipe system for feeding steam taken out from the high-pressure turbine and the intermediate-pressure turbine to the reboiler, and a steam feed source switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kosaka, Nobuyoshi Mishima, Takashi Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20140007576
    Abstract: A method and a device for conversion of energy are proposed, in which a hydrocarbon-containing energy source is burned in a combustion space (12) in an oxygen-enriched atmosphere and the generated heat is transmitted to a steam power plant circuit (60). Flue gas (104), which is formed in the combustion of the hydrocarbon-containing energy source, is cooled in a direct-contact cooler (20) in direct contact with a water-containing coolant flow (138).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Alexander ALEKSEEV
  • Patent number: 8621866
    Abstract: A steam power unit including a double-flow medium pressure turbine section that is fluidically connected to a low pressure turbine section is provided. A flow section of the medium pressure turbine section is configured to supply an external steam consumer. A throttle valve for adjusting the pressure in the steam extraction line is arranged only in a turbine discharge line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Pieper, Rudolf Pötter
  • Patent number: 8613201
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing a pressure of compressed natural gas and for delivering natural gas are disclosed. A regulator comprising a vortex tube may be used to reduce the pressure of compressed natural gas while a temperature thereof is also reduced. The temperature reduction associated with a pressure drop in the compressed natural gas is achieved by throttling the gas at constant enthalpy from 3,000 PSIG to 150 PSIG through the regulator. At least one heat exchanger may be utilized to increase the temperature of the compressed natural gas to a temperature suitable for injection delivery. A pressure-reducing regulator may be used to further reduce a pressure of the gas to about 45 PSIG for delivery to an end-user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Questar Gas Company
    Inventors: Todd Allan Bayliff, Troy David Sorensen, Michael Lowell Gill, Richard Joseph Kiser, II, Kelly D. Pace, Lee R. Mettmann
  • Patent number: 8572971
    Abstract: A boiler apparatus is provided that generates a heat source capable of efficiently regenerating absorbing liquid while maintaining steam turbine efficiency to a maximum extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Mishima, Takashi Sugiura, Tetsuya Kosaka
  • Patent number: 8567196
    Abstract: A steam turbine power plant 10 includes a steam turbine facility 20 in which power is generated by driving steam turbines with steam from a boiler 21 generating steam using combustion heat and steam from a heat collecting steam generator 31 generating steam using sunlight, and a carbon dioxide collecting facility 60 in which carbon dioxide contained in combustion gas from the boiler 21 and the like is collected. Further, steam from the heat collecting steam generator 31 is delivered to a solar heat steam turbine 32 and performs expansion work, and thereafter part of the steam is delivered to the carbon dioxide collecting facility 60 via a pipe 51 and heats the absorbing liquid 100 in the recovery tower 80.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuo Okita, Takeo Suga, Haruhiko Hirata
  • Publication number: 20130276448
    Abstract: Liquid is flash evaporated in a series of cells along and surrounding an exhaust duct to generate a pressurized vapor where at least one of the surfaces is in communication with the source of heat sufficient to maintain the surface at a temperature such that the liquid injected into the chamber is substantially instantly converted to a superheated vapor with no liquid pooling within the chamber. The liquid is introduced by controlled injectors operating at a required rate. Each of the cells is periodically discharged by a pressure controlled relief valve and the vapor from the cells combined to form a continuous stream feeding a turbine or other energy conversion device. The outer wall of the cell is offset so that it contacts the inner wall at one point around the periphery. Heat transfer ribs and bars can be provided in the duct to provide increased heat transfer where necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Laurie Davies
  • Patent number: 8562791
    Abstract: A system and method for decontaminating water and generating water vapor includes introducing contaminated water in to a vessel. The water is moved through a series of rotating trays alternately separated by stationary baffles so as to swirl and heat the water to effect the vaporization thereof to produce a vapor having at least some of the contaminants separated therefrom. The vapor is removed from the vessel for condensing apart from the separated contaminants and the remaining water. The vapor may be passed through a turbine connected to an electric generator. Sensors in a controller may be employed to adjust the speed of rotation of the trays or water input into the vessel in response to the sensed conditions. The treated water may be recirculated and reprocessed through the vessel to increase the purification thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Verno Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John D. Riley, Dana L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130269631
    Abstract: The present invention relates to delivery of steam produced by an electrical power generation plant to a lignocellulosic biomass refinery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Inbicon A/S
    Inventors: Henrik Boye Jørgensen, Henning Andersen
  • Publication number: 20130269347
    Abstract: A combined power and water production system includes a steam generator, a water production facility, and a heater to heat water and to provide the heated water to the steam generator to generate steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Mahendhra Muthuramalingam
  • Publication number: 20130247571
    Abstract: A method for retrofitting an existing steam turbine with a steam extraction facility is provided. The stem turbine has a plurality of pressure stages and is integrated into a fossil-fired steam power plant. A steam extraction line is connected to one pressure stage or between two pressure stages of the steam turbine, and a heating steam turbine is connected into the steam extraction line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Andreas Pickard, Thomas Schneider, Gerald Stief, Johannes-Werner Wein
  • Patent number: 8537961
    Abstract: Disclosed is an advanced process that relates to the enhanced production of energy using the integration of multiple thermal cycles (Brayton and Rankine) that employ multiple fuels, multiple working fluids, turbines and equipment. The method includes providing a nuclear reactor, reactor working fluid, heat exchangers, compressors, and multiple turbines to drive compressors that pressurize a humidified working fluid that is combusted with fuel fired in at least one gas turbine. The turbine(s) provide for electrical energy, processes or other mechanical loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Keller
  • Publication number: 20130205781
    Abstract: A steam turbine system is described comprising fluidly in series: at least one high pressure turbine and/or at least one intermediate pressure turbine and at least one low pressure turbine; and further comprising steam outlet means to enable extraction of auxiliary process steam from a location upstream of the low pressure turbine and for example between the intermediate pressure turbine and the low pressure turbine; and at least one flow restrictor in a steam extraction conduit from the or each low pressure turbine. The system is described as part of a steam generator fuelled by carbonaceous fuel combustion with post combustion carbon capture capability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventor: Pramurtta Shourjya Majumdar
  • Publication number: 20130139509
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide compression system is disclosed. The system comprises at as a first corner stage and a second compressor stage arranged in at least one inter-stage heat exchanger arranged to receive a compressed gas containing carbon dioxide flowing from the first compressor stage into the second compressor stage and to remove waste heat from the compressed gas, and an energy conversion unit, wherein at least part of the waste heat is recovered and transformed into mechanical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: NUOVO PIGNONE S.P.A.
    Inventor: NUOVO PIGNONE S.P.A.
  • Publication number: 20130133326
    Abstract: A fossil fuel fired power plant for the generation of electrical energy comprises a water steam cycle and a plant (10) for the capture of CO2 from exhaust gases emitted by the power plant and a steam jet ejector (24) configured and arranged to receive an input steam flow from a low- or intermediate pressure extraction point in the power plant and to increase its pressure. It is further arranged to receive motive steam (25) from a further extraction point in the power plant. A steam line (27, 22) directs the steam of increased pressure from the steam jet ejector (24) to the CO2 capture plant (10). The power plant according to this invention allows the use of low-pressure steam for the operation of the CO2 capture plant, where the extraction of such steam affects the overall efficiency of the power plant to a lesser degree than in power plant of the state of the art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Staffan Jönsson, Hongtao Li, Enrico Conte
  • Publication number: 20130061592
    Abstract: A process for maximization and optimization of coal energy comprising the steps of Selection of old coal mine or coal bearing areas; surveying of the mine or coal bearing areas for preparing of the panels; hydro-geological survey and Geo-Mechanical survey of the panels of Step-II above; sub paneling and slicing of the survey panels of the step-II and III above; preparing of the surface of the panel of step-IV above for development for at least boring of the panels; underground/Channeling of the boreholes at the floor level of the coal; burning of the coal in said channel of step-vi; extraction of the heat from the prepared boreholes seam & simultaneously filling of the voids created by extraction; use of the extraction heat for conversion into steam energy; use of the steam energy for generation of electricity or any other alternate use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Jayant Chandulal Mehta
  • Publication number: 20130042615
    Abstract: The present invention deals with the serious pollution problems from electric power plants that burn coal which may be forced to shut down by virtue of their being uneconomical to be retrofitted with expensive pollution controls. The pollutants from coal-burning power stations comprise SO2, NOx, Hg, Particulate Matter, Ash, and CO2. This invention offers a unique and comprehensive solution that makes possible the prevention of the ill-effects currently caused to health and environment while at the same time would also prevent the closure of these badly needed power generation facilities that provide some 50% of the electricity generated in this country. The herein comprehensive solution converts the six mentioned pollutants into valuable products and thus avoids the discharge of such pollutants into the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Albert Calderon, Richard Owen McCarthy, Terry James Laubis
  • Publication number: 20120324890
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to power generation systems configured to absorb and capture a component, such as carbon dioxide, in a flue gas for later sequestration or utilization, wherein heat generated in the sorption process is captured for use in the power generation system. In some examples, the heat of sorption is used to preheat fluids in one or more systems of the power generation system to reduce the heating load on the subsystem. By using the heat of sorption, the carbon dioxide capture and sequestration process not only reduces or eliminates the concentration of carbon dioxide in the flue gas, but reduces or eliminates the parasitic effect of carbon dioxide capture and sequestration on power generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryan Paul Lively, William John Koros, Ron Chance
  • Patent number: 8328996
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for desalinating water combined with power generation, wherein a desalination system is used for desalinating coastal seawater and is operationally related to a power generation system, wherein such dual purpose co-generation facility captures the heat vapor exhausted or a steam turbine generator's condenser is replaced by the desalination plant's heat exchanger enabling such captured heat energy to reduce the energy requirements of the desalination plant, and wherein brine solution being utilized by the desalination plant is circulated from and to the substrata sea water table via supply and return wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventors: Girard Charles St. Germain, Richard N. Barnett
  • Publication number: 20120291434
    Abstract: Method for recovering energy when compressing a gas using a compressor system with two or more compression stages, with each stage having a compressor element. Downstream from at least two compressor elements there is a heat exchanger having a primary and a secondary part. The coolant is guided successively in series through the secondary part of at least two heat exchangers, and the guiding sequence is chosen such that the temperature at the inlet of the primary part of at least one subsequent heat exchanger is higher than or equal to the temperature at the inlet of the primary part of a preceding heat exchanger, relative to the direction of flow of the coolant. At least one heat exchanger is provided with a tertiary part for a coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventor: Stijn Jozef Rita Johanna Janssens
  • Patent number: 8245948
    Abstract: A co-generation system is provided that includes a heat exchanger that heats water; a heat transfer path connected with the water heat exchanger that transfers heat; a hot water storage tank connected with the water heat exchanger and the water circulation path; a hot water storage water supply apparatus that supplies water in the hot water storage tank to the water circulation path; a water supply path connected with the water circulation path; a water supply apparatus that supplies water to the water supply path; and a hot water supply heat exchanger bypassing apparatus that bypasses the water supplied to the water circulation path from the hot water storage tank through the hot water supply heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eun Jun Cho, Sim Bok Ha, Cheol Min Kim, Se Dong Chang
  • Patent number: 8237299
    Abstract: Power generation systems are provided that include a circular loop of conduit, a dehumidifier coupled to the conduit, a power turbine coupled to the turbine and a pump coupled to the conduit. Processes for generating energy at an industrial mine site are also provided. Water heating systems are provided that can include a dehumidifier associated with a conduit containing water, a holding tank coupled to the conduit and water heaters coupled to the holding tank. Processes of heating water are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventor: Larry Andrews
  • Publication number: 20120111007
    Abstract: A steam power plant having at least one steam turbine unit and a process steam consumer is provided. The process steam consumer includes a heat exchanger. The steam turbine unit is connected to a heat exchanger by means of a extraction steam line, and a desuperheater is connected in the primary side of the extraction steam line, so that process steam extracted through the extraction steam line of the turbine system may be conditioned by the desuperheater to the process conditions of the process steam consumer, and the heat energy removed in the desuperheater can be fed back into the steam power plant system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Tilman Früh, Carsten Graeber, Mike Rost
  • Patent number: 8007729
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon feed to a catalytic reactor can be heat exchanged with flue gas from a catalyst regenerator. This innovation enables recovery of more energy from flue gas thus resulting in a lower flue gas discharge temperature. As a result, other hot hydrocarbon streams conventionally used to preheat hydrocarbon feed can now be used to generate more high pressure steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Yunbo Liu, Xin X. Zhu, Daniel N. Myers, Patrick D. Walker
  • Patent number: 7987677
    Abstract: Turbine exhaust steam, axially fed between counter-rotating radial flow disk turbines, separates into: (1) a radially inward flow of low enthalpy dry steam, and (2) a radially outward flow of high enthalpy steam, noncondensibles, and condensate. The radially inward flow goes to a conventional condenser. The radially outward flow loses enthalpy turning the disk turbines as it passes in the boundary layers against the disks, thus becoming low enthalpy dry steam, and the counter-rotation of the disks by impinging mass flow of condensate, high enthalpy steam, and noncondensibles sustains a cascade of dynamic vortex tubes in the shear layer between the boundary layers. The low enthalpy dry steam resulting from work being done flows into the condenser through the vortex cores of fractal turbulence. Condensate exits the periphery of the workspace, ready to be pumped back into the Rankine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: McCutchen Co.
    Inventor: Wilmot H. McCutchen
  • Patent number: 7981835
    Abstract: A system and method for producing activated carbon comprising carbonizing a solid carbonaceous material in a carbonization zone of an activated carbon production apparatus (ACPA) to yield a carbonized product and carbonization product gases, the carbonization zone comprising carbonaceous material inlet, char outlet and carbonization gas outlet; activating the carbonized product via activation with steam in an activation zone of the ACPA to yield activated carbon and activation product gases, the activation zone comprising activated carbon outlet, activation gas outlet, and activation steam inlet; and utilizing process gas comprising at least a portion of the carbonization product gases or a combustion product thereof; at least a portion of the activation product gases or a combustion product thereof; or a combination thereof in a solid fuel boiler system that burns a solid fuel boiler feed with air to produce boiler-produced steam and flue gas, the boiler upstream of an air heater within a steam/electricity g
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Srivats Srinivasachar, Steven Benson, Charlene Crocker, Jill Mackenzie
  • Patent number: 7963257
    Abstract: A self-contained waste heat recovery system for a commercial oven provides circulating an energy source to an oven heating system. The oven heating system recovers heat from an oven stack or downstream of oxidizer if used and distributes the heat to bakery systems such as proofers, tray washers, process water heating and other points of use. The system features secondary loops to ensure constant flow of the energy source throughout the system optimizing energy savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventor: Scott Houtz
  • Publication number: 20110048006
    Abstract: A desalinization plant and process utilizes solar radiation to produce steam from seawater which is then used to generate freshwater and electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Daniel P. Cap, Alan V. von Arx
  • Publication number: 20110023485
    Abstract: A system reclaiming contaminated water includes a heat exchanger that receives the contaminated water and converts at least a portion of the contaminated water into steam and collects at least a portion of the contaminants within the heat exchanger. A thermal transfer fluid is heated by a solar concentrator during daytime and by a biofuel combustion device during nighttime. The heated fluid is circulated through the heat exchanger to heat the contaminated water. A steam engine is coupled to a generator, the steam engine receives the steam from the heat exchanger to drive the generator to provide power for the system. Steam exhausted from the steam engine is supplied to supplemental heat loads. The collected contaminants are directed to an evaporation device to remove residual liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Frank Schubert