Of Accommodating, Fluctuating Or Peak Loads Patents (Class 60/652)
  • Patent number: 5582011
    Abstract: A power plant operating on geothermal steam containing more than about 5% non-condensable gases includes a topping steam turbine for expanding the steam to produce power and from which exhaust steam is extracted at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, and an indirect contact heat exchanger containing clean water for condensing the exhaust steam at a pressure above atmospheric pressure to produce geothermal steam condensate, and for consequently vaporizing the clean water to produce clean steam. The non-condensable gases contained in the geothermal steam are extracted from the heat exchanger and, being at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, can be injected, without being further pressurized, directly into the ground. The clean steam produced by the heat exchanger is applied to a bottoming steam turbine which expands the clean steam to produce power and from which clean exhaust steam is extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Dan Batsha
  • Patent number: 5537822
    Abstract: A compressed air energy storage (CAES) system utilizes compressed air stored in a cavity for electric power and cold production. During periods of excess power production, atmospheric air is compressed then cooled in stages using energy from a motor/generator. Condensed water is then separated from the air which is then stored in a cavity. When there is an energy demand from the CAES system, the stored compressed air is heated using heat from an external low grade energy source such as refrigerated substances, surrounding water, surrounding air, waste heat sources and solar energy. The heated compressed air is then expanded through a plurality of expansion stages to provide mechanical power to the motor/generator for generating electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: The Israel Electric Corporation Ltd.
    Inventors: Isaac Shnaid, Dan Weiner, Shimshon Brokman
  • Patent number: 5513494
    Abstract: A hybrid ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system, including an energy generation sub-system for receiving warm sea water, evaporating a working fluid at a natural depth of the received warm sea water to produce a working vapor, and generating energy from the working vapor and a pumping sub-system for pushing cold sea water up to a natural depth of the received warm sea water and condensing the working vapor with the cold sea water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: OTEC Developments
    Inventors: Robert J. Flynn, George J. Cicchetti, Jonathan d'E. Coony, Lloyd A. Bush
  • Patent number: 5507145
    Abstract: A steam generating power plant includes a generator connected to a network, a steam turbine driving the generator, a steam bleeder line being connected to the steam turbine and having a load-dependently adjustable valve, a system having a superconducting magnetic energy accumulator and being connected electrically parallel to the generator, and a control unit. The control unit furnishes electrical power directly from the superconducting energy accumulator to level a power deficit lasting on the order of several seconds in the network and the control unit at the same time adjusts the valve to increase steam available to the steam turbine. A process for operating a steam generating power plant, an interlocking electrical network in combination with a number of steam generating power plants, and a process for operating the interlinking network in combination with the steam generating power plants, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heribert Kurten, Uwe Radtke, Wolfgang Taube, Horst Vollmar
  • Patent number: 5448889
    Abstract: A method for producing power comprises compressing gas from an ambient source during a first period of time; storing the compressed gas in a storage reservoir; and supplying said compressed gas from the storage reservoir to a gas turbine during a second period of time to produce electric power. The first period of time may coincide with periods of off-peak demand for electricity, such as at night. In such case, the said second period of time is during the day. The compressed gas supplied to the gas turbine may be heated in a combustion chamber wherein fuel is burned, and/or a solar collector. The solar collector may comprise a receiver positioned at the top of a tower for receiving the compressed gas, and tracking reflectors for focusing solar on said receiver and heating the gas therein. The solar radiation receiver may comprise a rotatable ceramic member for transferring heat from solar radiation to the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Ormat Inc.
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 5435138
    Abstract: A method of reducing turbine inlet temperature excursions during sudden load demand reductions on a steam turbine, the turbine being coupled to a controllable source of high pressure, high temperature steam, incorporates throttling of steam within the steam source in conjunction with steam throttling at the turbine so as to apportion temperature drops between the source and turbine. In one form, the method includes the steps of sensing a sudden drop in load demand on the steam turbine, operating the steam source to reduce exit pressure of the steam at the steam source and bypassing sufficient steam around the steam turbine to reduce steam flow through the turbine by an amount commensurate with the drop in load demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: George J. Silvestri, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5339633
    Abstract: An electric generating power plant and a method of operation thereof wherein the boiler (1) produces steam to a turbine driven-generator (2), carbon dioxide from combustion exhaust gas emitted from the boiler is simultaneously absorbed in an absorbing solution in an absorber (7), the absorbing solution with the absorbed carbon dioxide is passed through a regenerator (10) where the carbon dioxide is stripped from the absorbing solution, the regenerated absorbing solution is returned to the absorber (7), and steam from either the boiler (1) or turbine of the turbine-driven generator (2) is supplied to a reboiler (13) to provide heat for operation of the regenerator (10). During periods of high demand for electric power steam extraction from the boiler or turbine is discontinued, operation of the regenerator (10) is discontinued and the absorbing solution from the absorber (7) is stored in a first storage unit (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignees: The Kansai Electric Power Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masumi Fujii, Yoshitsugu Hotta, Taiichiro Suda, Kenji Kobayashi, Kunihiko Yoshida, Shigeru Shimojo, Mutsunori Karasaki, Masaki Iijima, Toru Seto, Shigeaki Mitsuoka
  • Patent number: 5309492
    Abstract: A throttle valve having defined characteristics controls flow of gas from a gas heater to a turbine in a closed cycle gas turbine system. The gas heater may be a nuclear reactor fueled by fission material preferably having a negative temperature coefficient of reactivity whereby the reactor automatically ceases heat production upon closing of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Adams Atomic Engines, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney M. Adams
  • Patent number: 5170629
    Abstract: In conjunction with a method and apparatus for regulating the power of a steam power plant block, an improved method and an improved apparatus for restoration of a given throttling of the turbine inlet valves as a conclusion to a regulating process for stabilizing a sudden or abrupt elevation of the load set point is proposed by the invention. The necessary storage of fresh steam takes place without influencing the electrical output power or the regulating devices necessary for regulating it with the aid of a separate closed control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Sindelar
  • Patent number: 5131231
    Abstract: A process for operating a closed Brayton-cycle engine (14) at two substantially differrent levels of output power by selectively changing the molecular weight of the working fluid, and an engine adapted for use with the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal
    Inventors: Steven W. Trimble, Robert Bons, David M. Mathis
  • Patent number: 5065581
    Abstract: A power plant and method of production of synchronous electric power utilizes diesel railroad locomotives which, when connected in parallel and when suitably governed and connected, can provide utility grade electrical power during periods of peak electrical demand while still supplementing the railroad fleet during the remainder of the year. The dual use of railroad locomotives provides substantial economic benefits to both rail carriers and electrical utilities with complimentary seasonal peaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: Energy Resources & Logistics, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 4995234
    Abstract: LNG is pumped to high pressure, vaporized, further heated and then expanded to create rotary power that is used to generate electrical power. A reservoir of carbon dioxide at about its triple point is created in an insulated vessel to store energy in the form of refrigeration recovered from the evaporated LNG. During peak electrical power periods, liquid carbon dioxide is withdrawn therefrom, pumped to a high pressure, vaporized, further heated, and expanded to create rotary power which generates additional electrical power. The exhaust from a fuel-fired combustion turbine, connected to an electrical power generator, heats the high pressure carbon dioxide vapor. The discharge stream from the CO.sub.2 expander is cooled and at least partially returned to the vessel where vapor condenses by melting stored solid carbon dioxide. During off-peak periods, CO.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Technical Services Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Kooy, John S. Andrepont, Roger F. Gyger, Lewis Tyree, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4949542
    Abstract: In a brake system having an auxiliary, booster or slave cylinder, the addition of a middle chamber between the forward and rear chambers of the master cylinder to increase the unit pressure (psi) and insure sufficient fluid volume to prevent failure of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Inventor: Lloyd L. Pruett
  • Patent number: 4947647
    Abstract: An energy storage and generation apparatus is formed by a vertical tube extending downward into a body of water with an upper opening near the surface of the water that permits a flow of water down the tube. A stream of air bubbles is introduced into the water, which is subject to hydraulic compression as the water falls. A separation chamber located at the lower end of the vertical tube separates the compressed air from the water. An exhaust tube extends upward from the lower portion of the separation chamber with an upper opening located below the surface of the body of water. A number of orifices introduce streams of air bubbles into the exhaust tube to induce a flow of water from the separation chamber through the exhaust tube. An air compressor initially powered by an external energy source supplies ambient air to these orifices during off-peak periods to maintain a flow of water through the apparatus to build a reservoir of compressed air in the separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventor: Robert K. Jensen
  • Patent number: 4942736
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of and apparatus for producing power from solar energy wherein a solar collector heats gas supplied to a gas turbine; compressors compress the gas, the gas being compressed and stored gas during a first period of time, with the stored compressed gas being supplied to the gas turbine during a second period of time to produce power by driving an electric generator. Preferably, the first period of time is during periods of off-peak electricity, which normally occur at night. The second period of time is during the day. The solar collector preferably comprises tracking reflectors for focusing solar radiation and a receiver for receiving the focused solar radiation and also heating the gas. The solar radiation receiver preferably comprises a rotating ceramic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: Ormat Inc.
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 4936098
    Abstract: A thermal energy peaking/intermediate power plant is disclosed having an atmospheric Fluidized Bed Combustor (FBC) for heating compressed air which is input to a turbine. Low-grade fuels such as coal may be combusted in the FBC, eliminating the need for additional combustors requiring premium fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Gibbs & Hill, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Nakhamkin
  • Patent number: 4888954
    Abstract: Method for improving the heat rate of a steam turbine operated in a partial-arc mode includes sequential closing of control valves to establish a first arc of admission followed by a reduction of steam pressure to a predetermined level. Additional valves are closed to bring the admission arc to an optimum value and power reduction is thereafter affected by pressure reduction. In a further method, low power operation is achieved by reducing the arc of admission below optimum when steam pressure has been reduced to a minimum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: George J. Silvestri, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4885912
    Abstract: A peaking/intermediate power plant is disclosed having a compression mode in which air is compressed and stored in a storage device and an expansion mode in which such stored compressed air is initially pre-heated by exhaust gas in a recuperator, expanded without combustion in a high pressure turbine, combined with fuel and combusted in a low pressure combustor, expanded in a low pressure turbine, and supplied to the recuperator as exhaust gas of sufficient temperature to heat the compressed air enough to eliminate the need for is combustion prior to supply to the high pressure turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Gibbs & Hill, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Nakhamkin
  • Patent number: 4876854
    Abstract: A thermally powered electrical generating system for use in a space vehicle is disclosed. The rate of storage in a thermal energy storage medium is controlled by varying the rate of generation and dissipation of electrical energy in a thermally powered electrical generating system which is powered from heat stored in the thermal energy storage medium without exceeding a maximum quantity of heat. A control system (10) varies the rate at which electrical energy is generated by the electrical generating system and the rate at which electrical energy is consumed by a variable parasitic electrical load to cause storage of an amount of thermal energy in the thermal energy storage system at the end of a period of insolation which is sufficient to satisfy the scheduled demand for electrical power to be generated during the next period of eclipse. The control system is based upon Kalman filter theory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corp.
    Inventor: William R. Owens
  • Patent number: 4873828
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing excess electricity generated during off-peak periods. The electricity is used to run compressors which compress the air in a plurality of stages. The air is cooled after each stage to remove the heat of enthalpy. The air is stored in bags on the bottom of the sea. To recover the energy, the compressed air is run through turbines and the heat removed during compression is reintroduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Inventors: Oliver Laing, Johannes L. N. Laing
  • Patent number: 4870823
    Abstract: In the operation of a turbine system composed of apparatus (6,12,14,16) for generating steam and a turbine first stage (4) having inlet nozzles connected to be supplied with steam from the steam generating apparatus (6,12,14,16), the steam generating apparatus (6,12,14,16) being composed of a cascade arrangement of a boiler (6) producing steam at a selected pressure which has an assigned lower limit value, a primary superheater section (12), one or more division valves (14) presenting a steam flow passage having a controllable cross-sectional area, and a secondary superheater section (16) connected between the division valves (14) and the inlet nozzles, a method for reducing the output of the system at low load levels comprising: reducing the cross-sectional area of the steam flow passage presented by the division valves (14); and increasing the rate at which heat is supplied to the steam in the secondary superheater section (16) by an amount coordinated with the reduction imparted to the cross-sectional area
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: George J. Silvestri, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4765142
    Abstract: A thermal energy peaking/intermediate power plant is disclosed having a compression mode in which thermal energy is produced and stored in a thermal energy storage device and an expansion mode in which such stored thermal energy is utilized to produce steam from water and inject such steam into a combustion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Gibbs & Hill, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Nakhamkin
  • Patent number: 4728254
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (and an apparatus) for controlling a steam turbine of a power station unit that includes a steam turbine and a steam generator, with the output signal of the turbine controller acting on the adjusting mechanism of the turbine inlet valve arrangement. In order with such a method to relieve the turbine controller of those controller output variations that are already evident from the change of the reference inputs, the output signal of the turbine controller has added to it a signal that is computed from the load setpoint of the turbine controller according to the relationship governing the steam turbine ##EQU1## and that is supplied to the summating point in the computed magnitude or weighted by a factor k that deviates from unity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: M A N Gutehoffnungshutte GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Schmitz-Josten, Rainer Nurnberger
  • Patent number: 4691524
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for underground storage and recovery of energy is disclosed in which a first fluid having a relatively high density is pumped from the bottom of a second cavern to the bottom of a first cavern filled with a fluid having a relatively low density by means of an overground pump/turbine apparatus. The relatively low density fluid is displaced out of the first cavern to the second cavern through an overhead connection which is filled with the second fluid. The stored energy is retrieved as the high density fluid is allowed to return to the second cavern and drives the pump/turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Hugo Holscher
  • Patent number: 4680934
    Abstract: Weight, noise and response difficulties in boilers utilized in torpedoes are eliminated in a construction including a housing having an interior wall, defining a chamber with at least one oxidant inlet. A plurality of working fluid conduits each have an inlet and an outlet exterior of the housing and heat exchange section within the chamber. Each heat exchange section is a plural convolution coil and the individual convolutions of each conduit are interleaved with the individual convolutions of the other conduits. Valves control the flow of working fluid through at least some of the conduits independently of the others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Keith E. Short
  • Patent number: 4665706
    Abstract: A system for the operation of once-through boilers which utilizes variable throttle pressure over a very wide load operating range is disclosed. The system utilizes a valving arrangement permitting the turbine valve (22) to be opened to a predetermined open position, typically 70 percent of its full open position, as soon as possible during the system loading process, maintaining the turbine valve (22) in this predetermined open position while the flow of steam from the boiler is being varied by a control valve (40) and the output pressure of the boiler is varying accordingly, and then allowing the turbine valve (22) to open further from the predetermined open position when the system reaches full design pressure so as to vary the flow of steam from the boiler while the output pressure thereof is maintained substantially constant. In this manner, the boiler is operated at a variable output pressure over a very wide load operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Thomas D. Russell, Robert R. Walker
  • Patent number: 4628212
    Abstract: An oceano-thermosteric power plant is provided with plural evaporators and plural condensers, alternate parts of which are not operated at night and in winter on light load and hence a high efficiency heat exchange can be maintained. During the period that selected condensers and evaporators are not in service, excess cold water from the out-of-service condensers is circulated through the out-of-service evaporators in the opposite direction and hence the filth deposited inside the out-of-service evaporators can be washed away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Saga University
    Inventors: Haruo Uehara, Tsutomu Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 4593202
    Abstract: A fuel efficient combination of pressurized combustion and compressed air energy storage in which combustion air compressors have excess capacity which is utilized, during off-peak periods, to charge an underground storage cavern. Air withdrawn from the cavern during peak periods is utilized as combustion air, freeing the turbines which drove the air compressors during the off-peak period to power generators producing peak load electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: DIPAC Associates
    Inventor: Norman L. Dickinson
  • Patent number: 4585205
    Abstract: A fast opening valve apparatus includes an electronic sensing circuit to determine when a positional error signal exceeds a predetermined reference value corresponding to an opening rate reference value. The sensing circuit provides a fast open command signal which is applied to a solenoid valve which is hydraulically coupled in parallel with a control servo valve. The control servo valve hydraulically couples a primary source of hydraulic fluid under pressure to a valve actuator which is mechanically coupled to a valve stem of an associated steam valve desired to be controlled. The activated solenoid valve opens a supplemental hydraulic fluid path between the valve actuator and the primary source of hydraulic fluid. To ensure an adequate hydraulic fluid pressure at the input of the servo valve and solenoid valve, an auxiliary source of hydraulic fluid under pressure may be coupled upstream of the servo valve and solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick S. Coppola, Paul E. Malone
  • Patent number: 4576007
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an operation of a turbine plant on a reduction of the load on a turbine operates to compute a saturation pressure corresponding to the temperature in the downcomer pipe by using the detected values representing the conditions of the plant, and to control the reduction of the turbine to maintain the pressure in the downcomer pipe higher than the computed saturation pressure so as to prevent an occurrence of flashing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadao Arakawa, Takeshi Ueno, Hiroshi Tsunematsu, Keiichi Toyoda, Tsuguo Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 4549401
    Abstract: In a method for reducing the start-up and stabilization period losses, for increasing the usable power and to improve the controllability of a thermal power plant, there are integrated into the power plant's steam cycle pressurized heat storage reservoirs which are charged by feeding them with excess heat produced in the said power plant as, for example, during the start-up and load stabilizing periods or during periods of reduced electrical power production and, when there is an increased demand for heat, the said heat storage reservoirs are discharged by the release of stored heat into the water-steam cycle. Control deviations in the electrical power while the power plant is in full operation are counterbalanced by changes in the charging and discharging streams of the pressurized heat storage reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: Saarbergwerke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Heinz Spliethoff
  • Patent number: 4506508
    Abstract: Condensing exhaust steam by conveying a stream of the exhaust steam under vacuum to a base cooling tower to condense the steam so long as the heat rejection capacity of the base cooling tower is adequate to condense the steam; supplementing the base cooling tower, when it provides inadequate cooling, by contemporaneously also withdrawing cold cooling water from a cold water reservoir and injecting the cooling water into the stream of exhaust steam under vacuum to condense a portion of the steam to water such that the remaining portion of the steam is condensed to water in the base cooling tower; withdrawing hot condensed water from the exhaust steam stream and feeding a portion thereof to a hot reservoir; withdrawing hot cooling water from the hot reservoir, when the cooling tower capacity is adequate to decrease the temperature of the exhaust steam to below the temperature of the hot cooling water in the hot reservoir, and subjecting the withdrawn hot cooling water to the exhaust steam vacuum to cool the hot
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company
    Inventors: Don H. Coers, John T. Crawford
  • Patent number: 4479352
    Abstract: A hot-water storage type power generating unit includes a first tank coupled to a power generating system having a generator, a hot water producting unit for heating medium-temperature water from the first tank with exhaust heat from external equipment to produce high-temperature water, and a second tank for storing the high-temperature water from the hot water producing unit. The high-temperature water is supplied from the second tank to the power generating system for generating electric power to meet peak load demands. The power generating system includes a rotary separator turbine rotatable by the high-temperature water from the second tank for separating steam from the high-temperature water, and a steam turbine rotatable by the steam from the rotary separator turbine, the generator being operatively coupled with the steam turbine for being rotated thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keijiro Yamaoka, Hajime Endo
  • Patent number: 4455835
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for storing excess thermal energy of a fossil fuel-fired vapor generator during low demand periods and for recovering the stored thermal energy for use during high demand periods. A first moving bed heat exchanger is provided for flowing a bed of refractory particles in heat exchange relation with vapor generator flue gases to receive thermal energy therefrom. At least a portion of the bed of heated refractory particles is stored. A second moving bed heat exchanger is provided for flowing at least a portion of the bed of heated refractory particles in heat exchange relation with a fluid to impart thermal energy to the fluid for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Oliver W. Durrant
  • Patent number: 4452045
    Abstract: Coupling a solar array to a device with fluctuating power requirements through a mechanical energy accumulator to smooth power demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1984
    Assignee: TriSolar Corp.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Matlin, Alan R. Millner, Frederick W. Sarles
  • Patent number: 4449368
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of cooling and condensing exhaust steam from a power plant which rejects heat to air and uses a peak shaving water based cooling system to supplement a primary cooling system. During regeneration of the cooling water, which is heated during peak shaving, the hot water is fed directly to the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company
    Inventor: Timothy J. Haynie
  • Patent number: 4446700
    Abstract: A solar pond power plant has a solar pond with a heat storage layer for storing heat absorbed from solar radiation incident on the pond, and a low-temperature, closed Rankine-cycle turbogenerator operating on heat extracted from the heat storage layer. The turbogenerator has a generating capacity of Q.sub.I watts/m.sup.2 of pond area, this capacity being in excess of Q.sub.e watts/m.sup.2 of pond area where Q.sub.e is the net electrical energy that can be generated by the turbogenerator when heat is extracted from the heat storage layer at substantially the same average rate at which heat is absorbed by the layer. According to the invention, the generating capacity Q.sub.I of the turbogenerator is in the range 2-10 times Q.sub.e, whereby the solar pond power plant can be utilized for peak power requirements of a regional electrical generating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Assignee: Solmat Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Haim Hershman, Gerard Lehmann
  • Patent number: 4442678
    Abstract: A vapor generating and vapor superheating installation for marine propulsion purposes, and a method of operating such an installation. The installation including a vapor generating and vapor superheating unit adapted to be fired with fluent fuel including tubulous vapor generating and vapor superheating surface proportioned to give a predetermined superheated vapor output at a maximum firing rate. The installation also including a fluent fuel fired fluidized bed furnace provided with a superheater tube bank connected to receive vapor from the vapor generating and vapor superheating unit and arranged to impart superheat to the vapor at part load operation of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: Babcock Power Limited
    Inventor: Alan F. Hodgkin
  • Patent number: 4438630
    Abstract: A method of operating a co-generating steam supply system having two units, the second of which utilizes a molten-salt primary heat transfer fluid, is disclosed for utilizing the steam produced by the first unit for maintaining selected component operating temperatures in the second unit during periods when the second unit is not producing steam. The steam generator of the second unit is maintained at operating temperature by reversing the fluid flow through both the shell and tube sides. The reverse flow of molten salt is in heat exchange relation with the reverse flow of steam drawn from the steam flow line of the first unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: George H. Rowe
  • Patent number: 4428190
    Abstract: A power plant includes a steam boiler that delivers a rated amount of high-pressure steam at rated temperature and pressure to a steam turbine having a high-pressure stage and at least one low-pressure stage driven by low-grade steam exhausted from the high-pressure stage. A main generator, driven by the steam turbine, furnishes electricity to a variable load. When the load decreases below rated value, the boiler operation is maintained, but low-grade steam exhausted from the high-pressure stage of the turbine is diverted from the low-pressure stage to a heat store large enough to accumulate heat during the time that the power plant operates at less than rated load. A waste heat converter, having its own generator, is responsive to the low-grade heat stored in the heat store, and can be operated selectively to furnish electricity to the load to supplement the output of the power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Ormat Turbines, Ltd.
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 4408458
    Abstract: An electric power generating system capable of absorbing a variable load comprises a boiler, and steam turbines, which are interconnected through a steam conduit including a control valve which adjusts the flow amount of the steam, an electric generator driven by the turbines, and a variable pressure operation control device. The control device maintains a constant degree of opening of the control valve at a time when a steam pressure in the steam conduit lies in a range between predetermined pressure values. The control device comprises an element for comparing an actual steam pressure in the steam conduit and a steam pressure predeterminable in accordance with load variation thereby to generate a signal to determine a variable pressure operation characteristic line. Thus, the degree of opening of the control valve can be changed in response to the compared pressure differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akiomi Torii
  • Patent number: 4407131
    Abstract: A system is provided which improves the ability of cogeneration facilities to meet varying electrical power and process steam demands. One or more thermal boosting systems each having a Rankine cycle evaporator coupled with a solution heat pump cycle is integrated with the turbines of the cogeneration facility to maintain full steam flow through the turbines and provide a portion of the process steam demands on the facility. Optionally, a bottoming turbine is added to the system to further improve its flexibility to meet varying demands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: Battelle Development Corporation
    Inventor: William H. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 4403476
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a steam turbine using turbine reserve capacity for attaining operation at elevated loads. In a preferred form of the invention, a bypass overload valve is provided in parallel with the steam admission control valves but is connected to discharge steam to a lower pressure stage of the turbine. During operation of the turbine at less than full load, the bypass overload valve is maintained closed and the control valves are positioned to sustain a preselected load. As load on the turbine increases, the control valves are increasingly opened until they have all reached their fully opened position corresponding to a nominal rated capacity of the turbine. Then, at the discretion of operating personnel, the bypass overload valve is fully opened while simultaneously one or more of the control valves is throttled to offset any steam passing through the bypass overload valve in excess of the amount required to sustain the preselected turbine load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lloyd H. Johnson, Robert S. Couchman, Robert C. Spencer, Jr., John A. Booth, Russell J. Holman
  • Patent number: 4399656
    Abstract: A long-period storage accumulator for storing heat water is used as a storing medium. The water is enclosed in large thin-walled containers which are arranged under the ground. The water pressure forces acting on the container walls are carried by the surrounding of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Inventors: Nikolaus Laing, Ingeborg Laing, Oliver Laing
  • Patent number: 4389847
    Abstract: A steam turbine plant capable of rapidly increasing its output in instances of sudden load jumps, by drawing the necessary process steam from a bleeding point of a turbine during normal operations, while, at the same time, filling a steam accumulator, or keeping full, by means of steam taken from a bleeding point of the high-pressure component of the turbine and/or by live steam. In order to boost the increase in output of the generator the drawing off of process steam from the turbine is interrupted and replaced by process steam from the steam accumulator, so that the condensing component of the turbine automatically receives more steam. Title of the Invention Method for the rapid increase in output of a steam turbine plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited
    Inventor: Rolf Kehlhofer
  • Patent number: 4373340
    Abstract: Peak load device of a multistage turbine, having a high pressure turbine section with an inlet pipe supplying working medium and an exhaust steam outlet, a subsequent turbine section having an inlet pipe connected to the exhaust steam outlet of the high pressure turbine section for receiving the exhaust steam thereof, a bypass line connected from the high pressure turbine section inlet pipe to the subsequent turbine section inlet pipe through which part of the working medium bypasses the high pressure turbine section as a bypass flow, including a jet compressor inlet disposed at the connection of the bypass line to the subsequent turbine section inlet pipe for receiving the bypass flow as a motive medium while increasing the pressure of the flow through the subsequent turbine section inlet pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Inventor: Herbert Keller
  • Patent number: 4361009
    Abstract: An energy storage and recovery system designed for storing excess over demand energy generated by a steam cycle electrical generating plant during slack electricity demand periods and for recovering the stored energy to provide supplemental electricity during peak demand periods.The system utilizes one or more moving bed heat exchangers for transferring heat between the steam cycle of the power plant and a moving bed of refractory particles. Pipes and valves establish fluid communication between the heat exchangers and the steam cycle to supply fluid to selectively heat the moving bed of refractory particles or to cool them as the case may be.One or more insulated silos are provided for storing the refractory particles and means are provided for transporting the particles between the silos and the heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1982
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Donald C. Schluderberg
  • Patent number: 4353214
    Abstract: A method for storing excess energy produced by an electric utility during low energy demand periods, utilizing a closed system with a gaseous fluid as the energy storage medium and turbine working fluid. The fluid medium is stored at low pressure in an underground cavern which is located near a commercial electric utility system. During low energy demand periods, electrical output from the utility is channeled to the subject invention for conversion to potential energy, stored in the form of pressurized fluid in a second, high pressure cavern. This fluid transfer is accomplished by a compressor powered by excess electric output of the utility. During peak periods of power demand, a stream of the pressurized fluid is heated and expanded through a turbine/generator combination to generate electrical output. This electrical power is then used to supplement the utility output to meet the higher level of energy requirement arising during peak demand periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Inventor: James H. Gardner
  • Patent number: 4353216
    Abstract: A solution to the problem of excessive rotation loss heating in a bypass steam turbine has been provided by the introduction of a reverse flow of steam to the high-pressure section of the turbine during those operating periods in which such heating is of concern. The present invention is directed to a control system for automatically selecting either the forward or reverse steam flow regime as is most appropriate, depending on turbine and other related operating conditions. In a preferred embodiment, the control system includes means for selecting either a forward or reverse flow control signal to govern the steam admission control valves; means for controlling the reverse flow valve and having decisional logic for determining whether the reverse flow valve shall be open or closed; and means for controlling the ventilator valve and having decisional logic for determining whether the ventilator valve shall be open or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Royston J. Dickenson
  • Patent number: 4338789
    Abstract: A method of varying turbine output from approximately 85% rated load down to approximately 65% rated output or alternatively from 100% down to approximately 85% where the turbine forms part of a supercritical installation having a steam generator for generating steam to a predetermined amount in excess of critical pressure. The installation includes a feed water pump or maintaining pressures in the steam generator to the predetermined amount in excess of critical pressure, a division valve and a turbine control valve. Output is varied by maintaining the control valve in a fully or partially open position, the division valve in a fully open position and varying the delivery pressure of the feed water pump from the predetermined supercritical pressure to a pressure slightly above critical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Inventor: John E. Dolan