Including Mixing Or Separating Materials Of Different Chemical Compositions In A Motive Fluid Flow Path Patents (Class 60/649)
  • Publication number: 20030233830
    Abstract: A novel power generation system, more specifically an integrated power generation and air separation system and an integrated power generation and air separation process is provided. A key component of the system and process is an oxygen-fired combustor designed for gas turbine operating pressures. The combustor produces a high-temperature gas stream that enters one or more heat exchangers to generate/heat steam, and then enters one or more turbines to generate power. The steam from the heat exchanger drives one or more steam turbines to generate power, and the discharged steam is admitted to the combustor. To maximize cycle efficiency, steam extraction and reheat is incorporated in the process. Additional power is generated from a high-pressure nitrogen stream produced by an air separation unit (ASU). This process has the potential to attain high cycle efficiencies with zero emissions, while utilizing existing or near-term steam turbines, and moderate-pressure combustion systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventors: Ovidiu Marin, Scott Macadam, Pietro Di Zanno
  • Publication number: 20030233829
    Abstract: The present invention permits determination of steady-state off-design performance characteristics of a vehicle, such as a torpedo, powered by a closed cycle thermal propulsion system. The method may be utilized to determine propellant consumption for a torpedo resulting from various off-design kinematic maneuvers. Total run time may be calculated in response to a plurality of torpedo speed changes and/or torpedo configurations of variable torpedo length or torpedo diameter. The present invention may be utilized to define weapon design options for existing or future underwater weapons with mission requirements different from those for which the weapons were originally designed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventor: William A. Girouard
  • Patent number: 6655325
    Abstract: The present system and method relate to power generation utilizing an exhaust side solid oxide fuel cell. Fuel is burned in an engine in the presence of air. The engine exhaust passes through a solid oxide fuel cell where it is consumed in the production of electricity and ionization of oxygen in an air stream also introduced to the solid oxide fuel cell. The solid oxide fuel cell effluent fuel stream and/or air stream can be recycled through the engine, directed through a turbine to recover additional energy therefrom, and/or passed through a catalytic converter. The resulting system exhaust has negligible to zero amounts of nitric oxides, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Joseph Botti, Malcom James Grieve, Carl Elmer Miller
  • Patent number: 6639328
    Abstract: A power generation system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the power generation system includes a fuel source to provide fuel, a turbogenerator, coupled to the fuel source, to generate AC power, and a power controller electrically coupled to the turbogenerator. The power controller includes a first power converter to convert the AC power to DC power on a DC bus, and a second power converter to convert the DC power on the DC bus to an output power to supply a load. The power controller to regulate the fuel to the turbogenerator, independent of a DC voltage on the DC bus. A capacitor, such as an electrochemical capacitor or a hybrid capacitor, is coupled to the DC bus to source instantaneous power to and sink instantaneous power from the DC bus, due to load changes, to stabilize the DC voltage on the DC bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventor: Joel Wacknov
  • Publication number: 20030196437
    Abstract: A gas transfer system and method for dissolving at least one gas into a liquid. The system includes a gas transfer vessel also known as a reactor. A liquid inlet feed is connected to the reactor for transferring the liquid into the reactor. A gas inlet is connected to the reactor for feeding the gas into the reactor. An outlet is connected to the reactor for transferring the liquid with at least some of the gas therein away from the reactor. The system also includes a feed pump connected to the inlet feed to pressurize the contents of the inlet feed and the reactor, and a regenerative turbine connected to the feed pump and to the outlet. The various embodiments of the gas transfer system use pressurization in the gas transfer vessel to enhance gas transfer therein, minimize the net energy consumption, and retain highly supersaturated dissolved gas in solution. Some embodiments further help to reduce effervescence loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: Eco Oxygne Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Richard E. Speece
  • Publication number: 20030154718
    Abstract: The present invention comprises, in one embodiment, a process for producing energy through a thermodynamic cycle comprising transforming a first working fluid having at least two components into usable energy and a first exhaust stream; diverting at least a portion of the first exhaust stream to form a diverted first exhaust stream; transferring heat from the diverted first exhaust stream to the first working fluid, thereby partially condensing the diverted first exhaust stream to form a partially condensed diverted first exhaust stream; separating the partially condensed diverted first exhaust stream into a vapor stream and a liquid stream; and transforming the vapor stream into usable energy. The present invention also comprises a system for producing energy through novel implementation of a thermodynamic cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventor: Ramesh C. Nayar
  • Patent number: 6574962
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated power plant, which burns fuel using an oxygen-enriched stream in a combustion furnace and converts emissions of air pollutants and carbon dioxide into byproducts. The combustion flue gas stream, after leaving an economizer of a steam generation system, splits into stream A and stream B. Stream A recirculates back to the combustion furnace through the first flue gas recirculation fan for combustion temperature control. Stream B, after passing through a dust collector for fly ash removal, a series of condensers for byproduct recovery, and the second flue gas recirculation fan, mixes with an oxygen-enriched stream from an air separation unit and flows back to the combustion furnace. The plant does not need an exhaust stack and does not discharge combustion flue gases into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventor: Justin Chin-Chung Hsu
  • Publication number: 20030101725
    Abstract: This invention proposes innovative techniques of NOx reduction in boiler operation through an adaptation of staged combustion in combustion boilers. In preferred processes, air is fed into an air separation unit, and a nitrogen-enriched stream is combined with air to produce a nitrogen-enriched first stage air stream, and at least a portion of an oxygen-enriched stream is mixed with air to produce an oxygen-enriched second stage air stream. A reduction in NOx and increase in efficiency is promoted by the inventive processes and systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventors: Ovidiu Marin, Erwin Penfornis
  • Patent number: 6568185
    Abstract: This invention proposes innovative techniques of NOx reduction in boiler operation through an adaptation of staged combustion in combustion boilers. In preferred processes, air is fed into an air separation unit, and a nitrogen-enriched stream is combined with air to produce a nitrogen-enriched first stage air stream, and at least a portion of an oxygen-enriched stream is mixed with air to produce an oxygen-enriched second stage air stream. A reduction in NOx and increase in efficiency is promoted by the inventive processes and systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a'Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, American Air Liquide
    Inventors: Ovidiu Marin, Erwin Penfornis
  • Patent number: 6550234
    Abstract: Integrated air-separation process and plant, including at least two air separation units (1, 101), an air compressor (13), which feeds a combustion chamber and at least one of the air separation units with compressed air, and at least one dedicated air compressor (21, 121) feeding one or both of the air separation units, so that, if both air separation units receive air from the compressor (13), the proportions of air coming from the air compressor are different in the case of the two air separation units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Alain Guillard
  • Publication number: 20030070431
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently generating mechanical or electrical energy. The method includes the steps of heating a vaporizable, first liquid heat transfer medium to generate a high pressure vapor; utilizing the high pressure vapor to provide mechanical energy and thereafter condensing the vapor to a liquid; and recycling the condensed liquid to the heating step for re-use as the first liquid heat transfer medium. The apparatus includes a closed loop heat transfer medium system having a first heat exchanger for heating a vaporizable, first liquid heat transfer medium to generate a high pressure vapor; a mechanical device which utilizes the high pressure vapor to provide mechanical energy; a condenser for condensing the vapor to a liquid; and piping for fluidly connecting the first heat exchanger, mechanical device and condenser, and for recycling the condensed liquid to the first heat exchanger for re-use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventor: Pat Romanelli
  • Patent number: 6539717
    Abstract: As geothermal steam containing contaminants such as boron, arsenic, and mercury is passed through a turbine-condenser system, the contaminants preferentially collect in the initial condensate produced from the steam. Collecting this initially-produced condensate and segregating it from the remainder of the steam being condensed ensures that condensate produced from the remainder of the steam is contaminants-lean, preferably containing the contaminants in concentrations allowing for discharge of the contaminants-lean condensate to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventor: Kevin R. Kitz
  • Patent number: 6539719
    Abstract: An oxygen selective ion transport membrane is integrated with a boiler furnace to generate steam and, optionally, high purity oxygen and nitrogen. The heat required to drive the system is obtained by the combustion of an oxygen transported through the oxygen selective ion transport membrane with a high BTU fuel such as methane or natural gas. NOx compound formation is minimized either by utilizing a combustion products diluted air/fuel mixture for combustion in the boiler furnace or by limiting combustion to a mixture of oxygen and a fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Prasad, Hisashi Kobayashi, Pauline Jane Cook
  • Patent number: 6510693
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hot working gases for a gas turbine system. In a burner, combustion that generates hot combustion waste gas takes place. A portion of the combustion waste gas branches off and feeds into an oxygen separation device. A heat exchanger produces a heated oxygen-containing gas from oxygen-containing gas. The heated oxygen-containing gas feeds to the oxygen separation device. The oxygen separation device includes an oxygen separation means that removes oxygen from the heated oxygen-containing gas and feeds it to the branched-off waste gas. Oxygen-reduced hot gas then leaves the oxygen separation device. Oxygen-enriched branched-off waste gas as well as fuel feed to the burner and form a combustion mixture that bums in the burner while forming the hot combustion waste gases. In order to improve the efficiency of the device, the oxygen-enriched branched-off waste gas heats the oxygen-containing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Dieter Winkler, Timothy Albert Griffin, Ulf Linder
  • Patent number: 6499300
    Abstract: A power plant and a method for operating a power plant with a CO2 process is shown. The power plant includes a compressor, a turbine, a generator, a recuperator, and a burner unit with an oxygen separation device and a burner. Oxygen-containing gas, CO2 medium from the CO2 process, and fuel are supplied to the burner unit. The oxygen separation device removes oxygen from the oxygen-containing gas and adds it to the CO2 medium. To improve the efficiency of the burner unit, the burner unit is provided with an additional burner. A portion of the oxygen-enriched CO2 medium as well as fuel is fed to the additional burner. Hot CO2 medium formed by the combustion in the additional burner is mixed with the heated CO2 medium at the input of the oxygen separation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Timothy Albert Griffin, Dieter Winkler
  • Patent number: 6497098
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing hot combustion waste gases (11), in particular for a gas turbine system. In a burner (2), a combustion that produces hot combustion waste gases (11) takes place. A portion (17) of the combustion waste gases (11) is branched off and fed to a first inlet (16) of an oxygen separation device (5). An oxygen-containing gas (20) is fed to a second inlet (23) of the oxygen separation device (5). The oxygen separation device (5) is provided with oxygen separation means (6) that remove oxygen from the oxygen-containing gas (20) and feed it to the branched-off waste gas (17), producing oxygen-containing gas (34) whose oxygen content has been reduced as well as oxygen-enriched, branched-off waste gas (25). The oxygen-enriched, branched-off waste gas (25) as well as a fuel (31) or a fuel/steam mixture are fed to the burner (2) and form a combustion mixture that burns in the burner (2) while forming the hot combustion waste gases (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Timothy A. Griffin, Dieter Winkler, Richard Carroni
  • Publication number: 20020178724
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manufacture of a cryogenic vapor powered vehicle via the efficient onboard production of air cryogen (liquid air) produced from atmospheric air and a method to impart heat (thermal energy) to the produced cryogen to vaporize the cryogen into energetic cryogenic vapor, having high kinetic energy, capable of generating substantial work, including powering rotary vane motors attached to the axles of the vehicle next to the vehicle's wheels
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Robert Daniel Hunt
  • Patent number: 6484502
    Abstract: A power generating system comprising a heating furnace having an ion burner and positioned on the way of a vertical cylindrical path having a lower gas inlet port and an upper gas outlet port, an axial fan disposed in said path, and a power generator disposed out of said path and interlocking with said axial fan, and wherein a temperature and ion concentration inside said heating furnace are increased by said ion burner, with the result that gas flowed in from said gas inlet port flows through said path upward as a vortical ascending current, and said axial fan is rotated by the vortical ascending current, and said power generator is driven by a rotation of said fan for power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Masaichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6474067
    Abstract: In a gasification furnace, a combustible gas is generated from an organic substance for gasification containing biomass of organic wastes or the like. An engine of a cogeneration is operated using this combustible gas to generate electricity by an electric generator driven by the engine, and hot water is generated by heating water in a radiator. The hot water is heated by a superheated steam generator of a heat storage type utilizing the electric power from the electric generator to generate superheated steam. Furthermore, a dry-distilled gas and a carbide are generated by dry-distilling and carbonizing an organic substance for carbonization containing biomass of organic wastes or the like with this superheated steam in the carbonization furnace. Thus, the resources are recovered from the organic substances containing biomass of organic wastes or the like by gasifying or carbonizing the organic substances with the superheated steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Chugoku Maintenance Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromu Shishido, Norio Omoda
  • Publication number: 20020144506
    Abstract: A low or no pollution engine is provided for delivering power for vehicles or other power applications. The engine has an air inlet which collects air from a surrounding environment. At least a portion of the nitrogen in the air is removed using a technique such as liquefaction, pressure swing adsorption or membrane based air separation. The remaining gas is primarily oxygen, which is then compressed and routed to a gas generator. The gas generator has an igniter and inputs for the high pressure oxygen and a high pressure hydrogen-containing fuel, such as hydrogen, methane or a light alcohol. The fuel and oxygen are combusted within the gas generator, forming water and carbon dioxide with carbon containing fuels. Water is also delivered into the gas generator to control the temperature of the combustion products. The combustion products are then expanded through a power generating device, such as a turbine or piston expander to deliver output power for operation of a vehicle or other power uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Fermin Viteri, James P. Taylor, Harry Brandt, Roger E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6434943
    Abstract: A novel pressure-exchange compressor-expander is disclosed whereby a high energy primary fluid compresses a lower energy secondary fluid through direct fluid-fluid momentum exchange. The pressure-exchange compressor-expander utilizes non-steady flow principles and supersonic flow principles to obtain an ejector-compressor which can attain high adiabatic efficiencies while having a simplicity of construction, small size and weight, and the low manufacturing cost. This disclosure includes a fuel-cell pressurization system and humidity control system utilizing the pressure-exchange compressor-expander. The disclosure includes a novel turbo-charger for internal combustion engines incorporating exhaust gas recirculation capabilities. Further, an air-cycle heat pump suitable for aircraft applications is disclosed utilizing the pressure-exchange compressor-expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: George Washington University
    Inventor: Charles Alexander Garris
  • Patent number: 6397599
    Abstract: In the preparation of ethylene oxide by direct oxidation of ethylene with air or oxygen using water as heat carrier to dissipate the heat of reaction, with water vapor being formed, a process for optimizing the specific energy consumption is proposed. In this, the water vapor is first expanded in one or more backpressure steam turbine(s) T for operating working machines M, before it is fed to one or more consumers, such as bottoms reboilers or steam injectors, for further utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Theis, Frans Vansant
  • Patent number: 6370878
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, which during operation generates electrical energy by reacting a first stream of reactant gas and a second stream of reactant gas. The fuel cell stack also produces a fuel cell exhaust stream. An oxidizer unit is positioned to receive the fuel cell exhaust stream and oxidize at least a part of the fuel cell exhaust stream during operation, to produce an oxidizer exhaust stream. A heat recovery system is positioned to receive the oxidizer exhaust stream. The heat recovery system transfers at least some heat from the oxidizer exhaust stream to an input stream to generate a heated stream of water. In some embodiments, a temperature sensor is positioned to sense the temperature of the heated input stream. A control system maintains the heated stream of water at a target temperature based on the sensed temperature by controlling the amount of the heat from the oxidizer exhaust stream that is transferred to the input stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Plug Power Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Dean, Norm Peschke, Anton Scholten, Kenneth M. Rush, Jr., Mihail Penev, Thomas D. Prevish
  • Patent number: 6347520
    Abstract: A method is provided for implementing a thermodynamic cycle with district water heating capabilities that combines a simplified Kalina bottoming cycle with a district water heating plant. The preferred method includes pressurizing, vaporizing and superheating a mixture working fluid (e.g., H2O/NH3) using gas turbine exhaust energy in a heat recovery vapor generator, expanding the working fluid in a turbine to produce power, and then transferring the working fluid thermal energy to the district water by condensing the working fluid in a single stage condenser. The method can also include systems that efficiently use excess thermal energy only when the district water heating demand is low, e.g., during summer months.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jatila Ranasinghe, Raub Warfield Smith, Robert William Bjorge
  • Patent number: 6332320
    Abstract: As geothermal steam containing contaminants such as boron, arsenic, and mercury is passed through a turbine-condenser system, the contaminants preferentially collect in the initial condensate produced from the steam. Collecting this initially-produced condensate and segregating it from the remainder of the steam being condensed ensures that condensate produced from the remainder of the steam is contaminants-lean, preferably containing the contaminants in concentrations allowing for discharge of the contaminants-lean condensate to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventor: Kevin R. Kitz
  • Patent number: 6314738
    Abstract: A multistage two-phase turbine having multiple stages to receive fluid, each stage having an inlet and outlet comprising nozzles at the inlet to each stage to accelerate the fluid that consists of a mixture of gas and liquid, to form two-phase jets; a rotating separator structure to receive and separate the two-phase jets into gas streams and liquid stream in each stage; the turbine having a rotating output shaft, and there being structure to convert the kinetic energy of the liquid streams into shaft power; structure to remove the separated liquid from at least one stage and transfer it to nozzles at the next stage; structure to remove the separated liquid from the last stage and transfer it to primary outlet structure; and structure to remove the separated gas from at least one stage and transfer it to a secondary outlet structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Biphase Energy Company
    Inventor: Lance G. Hays
  • Patent number: 6298664
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for generating power and/or heat in a combustion process having a fuel combusted with an oxygen-containing gaseous mixture as an oxidant supplied from a mixed conducting membrane capable of separating oxygen from oxygen-containing gaseous mixtures at elevated temperatures. The oxygen is picked up from the permeate side of the membrane by means of a sweep gas. The sweep gas can be obtained from at least one combustion process upstream the membrane. The sweep gas can be formed by mixing a recycled part of the exhaust gas containing oxygen and fuel which are passed over a catalytic or non-catalytic burner or combuster. The process produces a resultant exhaust gas with a high concentration of CO2 and a low concentration of NOx making the exhaust gas stream suitable for direct use in different processes, for injection in a geological formation for long term deposition or for enhanced oil and natural gas recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Knut Ingvar Åsen, Erik Sandvold
  • Patent number: 6298665
    Abstract: A power generating device employing hydrogen absorbing alloy and low heat and further comprising: two types of hydrogen absorbing alloys which are able to reversibly absorb and release hydrogen gas and which have different thermal equilibrium hydrogen pressure characteristics; said two types of hydrogen absorbing alloys loaded respectively in a first determined hydrogen absorbing alloy heat exchanger container (1) and a second determined hydrogen absorbing alloy heat exchanger container (2) which are connected ventably to each other; at least two sets of heat generating cycles which employ heat generated when hydrogen gas is moved between said first hydrogen absorbing alloy heat exchanger container (1) and second hydrogen absorbing alloy heat exchanger container (2) provided; a hydrogen compound of one of said hydrogen absorbing alloys at a low temperature side having a higher equilibrium pressure at the same temperature is heated by at least one low quality heat sources (8)(9)(10) having a temperature from 1
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: World Fusion Limited
    Inventor: Yasuaki Osumi
  • Patent number: 6286314
    Abstract: As geothermal steam containing contaminants such as boron, arsenic, and mercury is passed through a turbine-condenser system, the contaminants preferentially collect in the initial condensate produced from the steam. Collecting this initially-produced condensate and segregating it from the remainder of the steam being condensed ensures that condensate produced from the remainder of the steam is contaminants-lean, preferably containing the contaminants in concentrations allowing for discharge of the contaminants-lean condensate to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventor: Kevin R. Kitz
  • Patent number: 6286315
    Abstract: A closed-cycle heat engine system that operates within a sealed, gas tight enclosure uses CO2, water vapor and O2 in the intake and compression cycles, injecting fuel to promote combustion and using the high temperature and pressure product CO2 and water vapor as the post combustion working gas. By controlling the individual partial pressures of the O2 and CO2 in the enclosure and allowing H2O vapor to exist in saturation within the enclosure the gamma value of the ingested gas can be controlled to meet engine design and operating requirements. Excess CO2 produced by combustion is compressed, removed from the enclosure, liquefied and stored in a separate tank. Noncondensable gasses are returned to the engine enclosure where they are recycled to promote system efficiency. Excess water produced by combustion is also removed from the enclosure and stored in a separate tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Submersible Systems Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Michael Staehle
  • Patent number: 6282900
    Abstract: A calcium carbide based power system for stationary and mobile power plants. The carbide is reacted with water to create heat and acetylene, with the acetylene then being burned to heat a boiler for providing steam to a steam expander. The exhaust of the steam expander is condensed and pumped back into the boiler, first being pre-heated by a heat exchanger using the heat in burner exhaust gas and then in the carbide-water reactor to further pre-heat the boiler makeup water (steam) and to cool the reactor. The system may limit the excess water required for the carbide-water reactor, and provides recovery of the heat given off in the generation and combustion of the acetylene for maximum system efficiency. The system may further provide for preheating the combustion air with waste heat from the exhaust of the steam expander. The system may further provide for preheating the combustion air with heat from the acetylene produced by the reactor, thereby removing moisture from the acetylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Inventor: Ealious D. Bell
  • Patent number: 6282901
    Abstract: An integrated air separation process produces an O2-enriched gas stream and an N2-enriched gas stream in an air separation unit. The N2-enriched gas stream is heated in a first heat exchanger associated with a first boiler and then power is generated from the heated gas stream. The O2-enriched gas stream is introduced with fuel to a combustor associated with the first boiler, producing flue gas. At least a portion of the flue gas exiting the first boiler is used to generate power. In a preferred embodiment, another portion of the flue gas exiting the first boiler is recycled to the first boiler, as a temperature controlling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Ovidiu Marin, Olivier Charon, Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 6269644
    Abstract: An absorption power cycle is disclosed which achieves a closer match to heat source temperature glide, and also lower heat source exit temperatures, and hence higher conversion efficiencies, in practical equipment. Referring to FIG. 7, two separate absorbers (725 and 706) are provided, each with a pumping path for a different concentration absorbent liquid to a different temperature location within counter-current high-pressure desorber 721. Heat source 710 heats the high-pressure desorber 721 and superheater 724 in parallel, and subsequently heats intermediate-pressure desorber 761. Dotted lines in the figures signify vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventors: Donald C. Erickson, Gopalakrishnan Anand
  • Publication number: 20010010156
    Abstract: As geothermal steam containing contaminants such as boron, arsenic, and mercury is passed through a turbine-condenser system, the contaminants preferentially collect in the initial condensate produced from the steam. Collecting this initially-produced condensate and segregating it from the remainder of the steam being condensed ensures that condensate produced from the remainder of the steam is contaminants-lean, preferably containing the contaminants in concentrations allowing for discharge of the contaminants-lean condensate to the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Kevin R. Kitz
  • Patent number: 6263675
    Abstract: A method of operating a power generation system is provided. The system includes) a turbine, a regenerative heat exchanger, a vapor generator and a distiller/condenser having multiple condensing elements. The turbine expands a vaporized multicomponent working fluid to produce power. The regenerative heat exchanger transfers heat from a lean hot multicomponent working fluid having a relatively low concentration of a component of the multicomponent working fluid to a rich cool multicomponent working fluid having a relatively high concentration of the component to thereby cool the lean hot multicomponent working fluid. The vapor generator vaporizes the cooled multicomponent working fluid to form the vaporized multicomponent working fluid. The multiple condensing elements of the distiller/condenser condense the expanded multicomponent working fluid to form the lean hot multicomponent working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Hansen, Paul D. Kuczma, Jens O. Palsson, Jonathan S. Simon
  • Patent number: 6256994
    Abstract: The generation of electric power and the separation of a feed gas mixture containing oxygen and nitrogen are carried out by combusting an oxidant gas and fuel in a combustion engine to generate shaft work and a hot exhaust gas, utilizing the shaft work to drive an electric generator to provide the electric power, compressing the feed gas mixture and separating the resulting compressed feed gas mixture into two or more product gas streams with differing compositions, heating one of the product gas streams by indirect heat exchange with the hot exhaust gas, and work expanding the resulting heated product gas stream to generate shaft work and yield an expanded product gas stream. The feed gas mixture can be air and the combustion engine can be a gas turbine combustion engine, and the air separation process preferably is operated independently of the gas turbine combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: John Lloyd Dillon, IV
  • Patent number: 6253552
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating a multicomponent working fluid includes a circulating fluidized bed configured to combust a collection of solid particles producing flue gases carrying particulate matter. Heat from the flue gases is transferred to a multicomponent working fluid contained within a plurality of first fluid tubes forming an enclosure for containing and directing a flow of the flue gases. The enclosure may also contain additional tubes forming a superheater. A separator receives the flue gases from the enclosure and separates the particulate matter therefrom expelling a first portion of the flue gases substantially without the separated particulate matter and a second portion of the flue gases containing the particulate matter. A heat exchanger receives the second portion of the flue gases provided as an output from the separator. An adjustable flow controller regulates the flow from the separator of the second portion of the flue gases to the heat exchanger and to the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Combustion Engineering
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Peletz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6250078
    Abstract: An engine cycle that is carried out in a reciprocating piston/cylinder engine consists of a working stroke in which exothermic decomposition of at least one liquid compound is caused to occur without combustion so as to produce a gaseous product of the decomposition that drives the piston along the cylinder in one direction and an exhaust stroke in which the products of the decomposition are exhausted from the cylinder upon return movement of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Millennium Cell, L.L.P.
    Inventors: Steven C. Amendola, Phillip J. Petillo
  • Patent number: 6237340
    Abstract: A method for reusing substance's thermal expansion energy wherein the first given thermal expansion energy can be reused by repeating chemical bonding and electrolysis of a substance is based on raising a first given thermal energy by using chemical bonding, etc. in addition to the principle that the substance absorbs heat as its volume increases but emits heat as the volume decreases. The method is effective for saving energy resources and minimizing fuel consumption as well as greatly decreasing pollution even in the field of applications requiring massive energy such as power plants and rockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Chang Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 6237339
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for generation of heat and/or power comprising a membrane reactor where a fuel is oxidized and further comprising an improved method for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and emission of oxides of nitrogen from said process. There is applied a membrane reactor being a mixed oxygen ion and electron conducting membrane reactor comprising a first surface (feed side) capable of reducing oxygen to oxygen ions and a second surface (oxidation side) capable of reacting oxygen ions with a carbon containing fuel. The carbon containing fuel is mixed with recycled CO2 and H2O containing exhaust gas before being supplied to the oxidation side of the membrane reactor. The air is heated before being supplied to the feed side of the membrane reactor at about atmospheric pressure. The CO2 containing gas mixture from the process can be injected in an oil and gas reservoir for enhanced oil recovery or to a geological formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro Asa
    Inventors: Knut Ingvar Åsen, Erik Sandvold, Petter Inge Longva
  • Patent number: 6230494
    Abstract: The power generation system and method of the present invention employ a solid oxide fuel cell which reforms fuel to a degree which is controlled by the amount of fuel introduced to the solid oxide fuel cell. The effluent is directed preferably through a heat exchanger and then into an engine. This hybrid system more efficiently produces energy, both mechanical and electrical, over conventional systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Joseph Botti, Malcolm James Grieve, Carl Elmer Miller
  • Patent number: 6223535
    Abstract: As geothermal steam containing contaminants such as boron, arsenic, and mercury is passed through a turbine-condenser system, the contaminants preferentially collect in the initial condensate produced from the steam. Collecting this initially-produced condensate and segregating it from the remainder of the steam being condensed ensures that condensate produced from the remainder of the steam is contaminants-lean, preferably containing the contaminants in concentrations allowing for discharge of the contaminants-lean condensate to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventor: Kevin R. Kitz
  • Patent number: 6220033
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for a thermochemical closed cycle employing a polyatomic, chemically active working fluid for converting heat energy into useful work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Solomon Davidovich Labinov, James R. Sand, James C. Conklin, James VanCoevering, George E. Courville
  • Patent number: 6209307
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for generating work that comprises the steps of: (a) combusting natural gas and oxygen in a combustor to form a gas stream; (b) passing the gas stream through a regenerator where heat from the gas stream causes a strong liquor present in the regenerator to form a carbon dioxide stream and a weak liquor, the reduction of heat from the gas stream resulting in an exhaust gas stream; (c) extracting work from the carbon dioxide stream resulting in a work-extracted carbon dioxide stream; (d) introducing the work-extracted carbon dioxide stream, the exhaust gas stream and the weak liquor to an absorber to cause carbon dioxide to be absorbed by the weak liquor converting the weak liquor into the strong liquor; (e) introducing said carbon dioxide stream remaining from the absorber to waste and/or the combustor; and (f) introducing the strong liquor from the absorber to the regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: FPL Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Hartman
  • Patent number: 6202419
    Abstract: A device which can convert energy of latent heat at an ambient temperature, without a change of temperature, to power to kinetic energy of motion and levitation of mass, by a manufactured molecular force which acts only in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: Lawrence E. Bissell
  • Patent number: 6202418
    Abstract: A system for changing the temperature of a working fluid, including amonia, includes a working fluid source and a steel tube. The working fluid source is configured to direct a flow of the working fluid. The working fluid from the source is at a temperature. The steel tube has a treated inner surface layer defining a flow passage. The surface may comprise a mill finish surface, an oxidizing surface and/or a chromized surface. The tube is configured to receive the working fluid from the source and to direct the flow of the received working fluid along a path to change the temperature of the received working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Combustion Engineering
    Inventors: Frank Gabrielli, Thomas B. Gibbons, Stephen L. Goodstine, James K. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 6195997
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for recovering work from a heat source and providing a cooling source that comprises: a. providing a selected working fluid comprising at least two components; to a first low pressure pump; b. feeding the selected working fluid to a dividing means; c. dividing the working fluid into a first stream and a second stream, d. feeding the first stream at a first low pressure to a first heat transfer zone to transfer heat to the working fluid stream heating the stream to a higher temperature, e. feeding the higher temperature stream to a separation means, f. separating a volatile component enriched stream and a volatile component depleted stream; g. heating the volatile component enriched stream; h. feeding the volatile component enriched stream to an expansion means i. expanding the volatile component enriched stream to a lower temperature and pressure; j.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignees: Lewis Monroe Power Inc., (KKA) Lewis Monroe Piniow, Inc
    Inventors: Larry Lewis, Walter D. Monroe, James H. Pinion
  • Patent number: 6195998
    Abstract: A method of operating a Kalina cycle power generation system includes directing a stream of vaporized binary working fluid to a turbine where it is expanded to produce power. At least a portion of the expanded binary working fluid is directed to a regenerative heat exchanger where it is transformed into a feed binary working fluid. The feed binary working fluid is directed to a vapor generator where it is vaporized. The binary working fluid flow within the regenerative heat exchanger is actively regulated to balance the expanded binary working fluid and the feed working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Hansen, Paul D. Kuczma, Jens O. Palsson, Jonathan S. Simon
  • Patent number: 6195999
    Abstract: An electrochemical engine for a vehicle comprises a storage tank containing hydrogen-retention material which reversibly takes-up and stores hydrogen at a hydrogen-storage temperature and releases it upon heating to a release temperature. A fuel cell stack using the released hydrogen produces electricity and heat by-product. A primary coolant flow circuit extends from a radiator, through the fuel cell stack and the storage tank, and back to the radiator, and has a coolant-distribution valve intermediate the fuel cell stack and the storage tank. A bypass coolant flow line extends from the coolant-distribution valve to the radiator. During operation, the heat by-product of the fuel cell stack is transferred via the primary coolant flow circuit to the storage tank for heating the hydrogen-retention material to release hydrogen for fueling the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gerd Arnold, Jonas Bereisa, Michael A. Stratton, James V. McManis, William S. Wheat, Lee Curtis Whitehead, Daniel B. O'Connell, Steve McIlwaine
  • Patent number: 6196000
    Abstract: An elevated pressure power plant or system is disclosed that provides for cleanly and efficiently oxidizing or combusting a fuel, such as a fossil fuel, as follows. The fuel and an oxidant are passed to a reaction chamber, and the fuel is oxidized in the chamber at a pressure that is preferably substantially within a range of from approximately 700 psia to approximately 2000 psia and that is more preferably substantially within a range of from approximately 850 psia to approximately 1276 psia. A coolant is passed to the reaction chamber in a heat exchange relationship with the fuel and oxidant. The pressure of the reaction chamber is selected so that it is greater than or equal to a liquid-vapor equilibrium pressure of carbon dioxide at the temperature at which the coolant is passed to the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Thermo Energy Power Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander G. Fassbender