Including Superheating, Desuperheating, Or Reheating Patents (Class 60/653)
  • Publication number: 20140250885
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing the systems includes aeroderivative gas turbine subsystem and an energy extraction subsystem extracting energy from an exhaust of the aeroderivative gas turbine subsystem, where the energy extraction subsystem includes a heat exchange subsystem, a dual pressure turbine subsystem, and a condensation-thermal compression subsystem and where an intercooler portion of the heat recovery and vapor generator subsystem permits a working fluid flow rate to be increased to relative to a flow of the exhaust stream resulting in a bottoming cycle gross output increase of at least 23% relative a dual pressure Rankine cycle bottoming cycle, a bottoming cycle net output increase of at least 25% relative a dual pressure Rankine cycle bottoming cycle, a combined cycle net output increase of at least 5.5% relative a dual pressure Rankine cycle bottoming cycle, and a combined cycle efficiency increase to at least 54% relative to 51.1% for a dual pressure Rankine cycle bottoming cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: KALEX, LLC
    Inventor: KALEX, LLC
  • Patent number: 8820077
    Abstract: A saturated steam or weakly superheated steam thermodynamic cycle in an electricity generating plant includes at least a nuclear energy source and a turbine having at least a high-pressure module, a medium-pressure module and a low-pressure module. The steam flows successively through the high-pressure, medium-pressure and low-pressure modules. The steam undergoes a first drying and/or superheating cycle between the high-pressure and medium-pressure modules and also a second cycle comprising at least a drying and/or a superheating process between the medium-pressure module and the low-pressure module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Vincent Jourdain, Jérôme Colin, Hoan Levan
  • Patent number: 8820078
    Abstract: A once-through high pressure steam generator and reheater configured to eliminate the majority of components limiting cyclical life of fast start conventional HRSGs. Two remaining problematic components in conventional designs the final superheater and reheater tubes overheat while their headers remain colder in fast starts. In this inventive HRSG the critical components are arranged and started by a method that limits these damaging temperature differentials. At ignition when exhaust gas surges into a wet superheater steam flow starts minutes before conventional systems. This early steam flow cools the tubes while heating the headers, thereby reducing life damaging stresses. Steam temperature is controlled through the start and warms the rest of the plant earlier without attemperators with their problematic thermal stress history. Faster starts than conventional result without damaging fatigue life depletion with this low cost innovation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas Edward Duffy
  • Publication number: 20140238021
    Abstract: A generator comprising: a heat differential module with a first, high temperature source configured for providing a work medium at high temperature, a second, low temperature source configured for providing a work medium at low temperature, and a heat mechanism in fluid communication with the first and second sources, configured for maintaining a temperature difference therebetween by at least one of: providing heat to the work medium at said first source, and removing heat from the work medium at said second source; a pressure module comprising a pressure medium which is in selective fluid communication with the work medium from the first, high temperature source and the work medium from the second, low temperature source, for alternately performing a heat exchange process with the high/low temperature work medium, to have its temperature fluctuate between a minimal operative temperature and a maximal operative temperature corresponding to the high and low temperature of the respective work medium; a convers
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: GERSHON MACHINE LTD.
    Inventor: Gershon Harif
  • Patent number: 8813498
    Abstract: A pressure sensor measures an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) working fluid pressure in front of a radial inflow turbine, while a temperature sensor measures an ORC working fluid temperature in front of the radial inflow turbine. A controller responsive to algorithmic software determines a superheated temperature of the working fluid in front of the radial inflow turbine based on the measured working fluid pressure and the measured working fluid temperature. The controller then manipulates the speed of a working fluid pump, the pitch of turbine variable inlet guide vanes when present, and combinations thereof, in response to the determined superheated temperature to maintain the superheated temperature of the ORC working fluid in front of the radial inflow turbine close to a predefined set point. The superheated temperature can thus be maintained in the absence of sensors other than pressure and temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Herbert Kopecek, Gabor Ast, Thomas Johannes Frey, Pierre Sebastien Huck
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8800287
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) system at least partially co-generative for the production of electric energy and the heating of a fluid. The system includes at least two regenerative exchangers positioned in series on the route of the work fluid between the exit of an electric expander-generator group and the entrance of a condenser of the ORC system, and a heat exchanger-user connected by means of an offtake line to at least one of said regenerative exchangers to receive from them a part of the capacity of work fluid and crossed by the user fluid to be heated by means of a thermal exchange with said capacity of work fluid. A part of the capacity of the work fluid on exiting from the user exchanger is returned to the same regenerative exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Turboden S.R.L.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini
  • Publication number: 20140216034
    Abstract: A thermal power generation system includes a combustor burning oxygen and fuel with supercritical CO2, a turbine driven by the supercritical CO2 and water vapor fed from the combustor, a low-pressure supercritical CO2 storage storing low-pressure supercritical CO2 from the turbine, a compressor compressing the low-pressure supercritical CO2, a high-pressure supercritical CO2 storage storing high-pressure supercritical CO2 from the compressor, and a high-pressure supercritical CO2 feeder supplying between the high-pressure supercritical CO2 storage and the combustor, in which the high-pressure supercritical CO2 feeder supplies the high-pressure supercritical CO2 to the combustor at a constant pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shohei NUMATA, Susumu NAKANO, Takanori SHIBATA, Hidefumi ARAKI
  • Publication number: 20140216001
    Abstract: The air cooling system and method for a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) inlet provides a combined cycle power plant utilizing a powerful fan coupled to ductwork connected to pipes that enter the HRSG inlet duct coupled to an exhaust duct of a Combustion Turbine (CT) for lowering the temperature of the CT exhaust gas provided to the heat recovery steam generator by the CT. The cool air injection system is utilized during low load operation or startup of the CT to ensure that spray water from an inter-stage desuperheater in an HRSG is fully evaporated prior to entering the downstream superheater or reheater. A feedback system includes temperature elements measuring the mix temperature that regulates the cooling air injection rate into the HRSG inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: HRST, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy L. Sieben, Bryan F. Craig
  • Patent number: 8794002
    Abstract: A method for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy in a thermodynamic cycle includes placing a thermal energy source in thermal communication with a heat exchanger arranged in a working fluid circuit containing a working fluid (e.g., sc-CO2) and having a high pressure side and a low pressure side. The method also includes regulating an amount of working fluid within the working fluid circuit via a mass management system having a working fluid vessel, pumping the working fluid through the working fluid circuit, and expanding the working fluid to generate mechanical energy. The method further includes directing the working fluid away from the expander through the working fluid circuit, controlling a flow of the working fluid in a supercritical state from the high pressure side to the working fluid vessel, and controlling a flow of the working fluid from the working fluid vessel to the low pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems
    Inventors: Timothy J. Held, Stephen Hostler, Jason D. Miller, Brian F. Hume
  • Patent number: 8794913
    Abstract: A steam turbine facility suppresses the possibility of vibration from occurring and prevents a drastic increase in facility cost, thereby realizing an increase in size of the facility, even if steam conditions of 650° C. or higher are adopted. In the steam turbine facility including a high-pressure turbine, an intermediate-pressure turbine, and a low-pressure turbine, the intermediate-pressure turbine is separated into a first intermediate-pressure turbine on a high-temperature and high-pressure side and a second intermediate-pressure turbine on a low-temperature and low-temperature side. At least any one of the rotors and casings of the steam-introduction-side turbines into which steam with a temperature of 650° C. or higher is introduced is formed from Ni-based alloy, and at least any one of the overall rotors and the overall casings of the turbines are constructed by joining together a plurality of rotor members or casing members by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Nishimoto, Yoshinori Tanaka, Tatsuaki Fujikawa, Ryuichi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8776517
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a system including a Rankine power cycle cooling subsystem providing emissions-critical charge cooling of an input charge flow. The system includes a boiler fluidly coupled to the input charge flow, an energy conversion device fluidly coupled to the boiler, a condenser fluidly coupled to the energy conversion device, a pump fluidly coupled to the condenser and the boiler, an adjuster that adjusts at least one parameter of the Rankine power cycle subsystem to change a temperature of the input charge exiting the boiler, and a sensor adapted to sense a temperature characteristic of the vaporized input charge. The system includes a controller that can determine a target temperature of the input charge sufficient to meet or exceed predetermined target emissions and cause the adjuster to adjust at least one parameter of the Rankine power cycle to achieve the predetermined target emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, Christopher R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8776521
    Abstract: The present application describes a heat recovery steam generator. The heat recovery steam generator may include a superheater, a first turbine section, a first main steam line in communication with the superheater and the first turbine section, and a first prewarming line positioned downstream of the first main steam line such that a flow of steam from the superheater preheats the first main steam line without entry into the first turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leslie Yung-Min Tong, Diego Rancruel, SriHarsha Vedavyasachar
  • Patent number: 8752383
    Abstract: A boiler system for producing steam from water includes a plurality of serially arranged oxy fuel boilers. Each boiler has an inlet in flow communication with a plurality of tubes. The tubes of each boiler form at least one water wall. Each of the boilers is configured to substantially prevent the introduction of air. Each boiler includes an oxy fuel combustion system including an oxygen supply for supplying oxygen having a purity of greater than 21 percent, a carbon based fuel supply for supplying a carbon based fuel and at least one oxy-fuel burner system for feeding the oxygen and the carbon based fuel into its respective boiler in a near stoichiometric proportion. The oxy fuel system is configured to limit an excess of either the oxygen or the carbon based fuel to a predetermined tolerance. The boiler tubes of each boiler are configured for direct, radiant energy exposure for energy transfer. Each of the boilers is independent of each of the other boilers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Jupiter Oxygen Corporation
    Inventors: Brian R. Patrick, Tom L. Ochs, Danylo B. Oryschyn, Cathy A. Summers
  • Patent number: 8733104
    Abstract: A heat recovery steam generation system is provided. The heat recovery steam generation system includes at least one superheater in a steam path for receiving a steam flow and configured to produce a superheated steam flow. The system also includes an inter-stage attemperator for injecting an attemperation fluid into the steam path. The system further includes a control valve coupled to the inter-stage attemperator. The control valve is configured to control flow of attemperation fluid to the inter stage attemperator. The system also includes a controller coupled to the control valve and the inter-stage attemperator. The controller further includes a feedforward controller and a trimming feedback controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajeeva Kumar, Karl Dean Minto, William Forrester Seely, William George Carberg, Peter Paul Polukort
  • Patent number: 8726662
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a carbon-dioxide-recovery-type steam power generation system comprises a boiler that produces steam and generates an exhaust gas, a first turbine that is rotationally driven by the steam, an absorption tower allows carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas to be absorbed into an absorption liquid, a regeneration tower that discharges the carbon dioxide gas from the absorption liquid supplied from the absorption tower, a condenser that removes moisture from the carbon dioxide gas, discharged from the regeneration tower, by condensing the carbon dioxide gas using cooling water, a compressor that compresses the carbon dioxide gas from which the moisture is removed by the condenser, and a second turbine that drives the compressor. The steam produced by the cooling water recovering the heat from the carbon dioxide gas in the condenser is supplied to the first turbine or the second turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yuya Murakami, Nobuo Okita, Takeo Takahashi, Mikio Takayanagi, Takeo Suga, Takeshi Sasanuma, Toshihisa Kiyokuni, Hideo Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8720203
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a carbon-dioxide-recovery-type steam power generation system comprises a boiler that generates steam and an exhaust gas, an absorption tower that allows carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas to be absorbed in an absorption liquid, a regeneration tower that regenerates discharges a carbon dioxide gas from the absorption liquid, a reboiler that heats the absorption liquid of the regeneration tower, a turbine that is rotationally driven by the steam, a condenser that generates condensate by cooling steam exhausted from the turbine, a compressor that compresses the carbon dioxide gas, and a cooler that cools the carbon dioxide gas, which has been compressed by the compressor, while using a part of the condensate as cooling water. The reboiler is supplied with steam from the turbine and steam generated by the cooling of the carbon dioxide gas at the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takeshi Sasanuma, Nobuo Okita, Takeo Takahashi, Mikio Takayanagi, Takeo Suga, Yuya Murakami, Toshihisa Kiyokuni, Hideo Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8707700
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a carbon-dioxide-recovery-type steam power generation system comprises a boiler that generates steam and an exhaust gas, an absorption tower that allows carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas to be absorbed in an absorption liquid, a regeneration tower that discharges a carbon dioxide gas from the absorption liquid supplied from the absorption tower, a reboiler that heats the absorption liquid of the regeneration tower, a turbine that is rotationally driven by the steam, a first condenser, a second condenser, and a desuperheater. The first condenser generates condensate by cooling steam exhausted from the turbine. The second condenser condenses the carbon dioxide gas while using a part of the condensate as cooling water, and generates hot water. The desuperheater lowers the temperature of the steam exhausted from the turbine by spraying the hot water, and supplies the steam at lowered temperature to the reboiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takeshi Sasanuma, Nobuo Okita, Takeo Takahashi, Mikio Takayanagi, Takeo Suga, Yuya Murakami, Toshihisa Kiyokuni, Hideo Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8701421
    Abstract: A system for converting potential energy into heat including a tower configured to contain a fluid and to permit the formation of a substantially nitrogen-free combustion chamber defined by the tower and the surface of the fluid in the tower and at a pressure less than ambient, a first tower outlet in fluid communication with a first fuel valve configured to regulate a flow of the fluid out of the tower, an oxygen source in fluid communication with an oxygen valve in fluid communication with an oxygen inlet in fluid communication with the tower, a source of combustible fuel including hydrogen in fluid communication with a fuel valve in fluid communication with a fuel inlet in fluid communication with the tower, and an ignition source positioned so that it resides within the combustion chamber and is configured to initiate a reaction between oxygen and fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: SOG Partners
    Inventors: Carl W. Glasgow, Robert C. Olson, Edward J. Stockton
  • Patent number: 8695344
    Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for converting heat from external heat source streams or from solar energy derived from a solar collector subsystem. The systems and methods comprise a thermodynamic cycle including three internal subcycles. Two of the subcycles combine to power a higher pressures turbine and third or main cycle powers a lower pressure turbine. One of the cycles increases the flow rate of a richer working solution stream powering the lower pressure turbine. Another one of the cycles is a leaner working solution cycle, which provides increased flow rate for leaner working solution stream going into the higher pressure turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Kalex, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • Patent number: 8689557
    Abstract: A steam seal dump re-entry system delivers steam dump flow to an LP steam turbine. The system includes a steam seal header receiving steam leaking from turbine end seal packings, and a desuperheater receiving and cooling the steam from the steam seal header. The desuperheater outputs cooled steam. A temperature sensor is disposed downstream of the desuperheater and detects a temperature of the cooled steam. A flow control circuit communicating with the temperature sensor selectively delivers the cooled steam to at least one of the condenser and to the LP steam turbine depending on the temperature of the cooled steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Eric Maki, Kevin J. Odell, Michael James Molitor, Timothy Andrew Melsert, Steven Paul Scarlata, James Daniel Antalek
  • Patent number: 8689565
    Abstract: A combined cycle power generation plant can include at least one gas turbine and at least one steam turbine. A method for providing Asymmetric Joint Control for Primary Frequency Regulation (PFR) in the combined cycle power generation plant can include the use of the spinning energy existing in the high pressure steam to rapidly supply additional power to the steam turbine for PFR service within the time frame established as a requirement to participate in the PFR service. The PFR control method can be carried out by controlling flow of high pressure steam to a medium pressure steam circuit through a bypass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Petrobras Energia S.A.
    Inventors: Benjamin Guzman, Jorge Vugdelija, Julio Aguirre
  • Patent number: 8671687
    Abstract: A hydrogen based combined steam cycle apparatus having an irreversible isobaric Rankine steam cycle portion, an irreversible isobaric Carnot steam cycle portion and a reversible isobaric Rankine steam cycle portion, all three portions of which operate simultaneously. The apparatus includes a source of liquid oxygen, a source of liquid hydrogen, a combustion chamber, a first pump, a second pump, a pressure vessel, a steam turbine, a superheater, and a condenser. A plurality of valves and a computer are used to control the flow of working fluid in the hydrogen based combined steam cycle apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventor: Chris Gudmundson
  • Publication number: 20140060053
    Abstract: A steam power plant with a steam turbine with a high pressure stage and a low pressure stage is provided. A first steam source provides a motive steam, and a second steam source provides a heating steam, wherein the motive steam and the heating steam have different qualities. A reheater is arranged between the high pressure stage and the low pressure stage. The motive steam is supplied to the high pressure stage and is reheated by the reheater after leaving the high pressure stage, wherein the reheater is operated with the heating steam. Further, a method of operating a steam power plant is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: THORSTEN WOLF
  • Patent number: 8661820
    Abstract: LNG is regasified with concurrent power production in systems and methods where the refrigeration content of the LNG condenses a low pressure working fluid vapor and in which the combined refrigeration content of the warmed LNG and low pressure working fluid condensate condenses an intermediate pressure working fluid vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 8661821
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for reducing coal consumption in coal fired plant with fluidized-bed drying, namely a fluidized-bed drying system is provided between a coal powder bunker as well as a weighing belt and a coal grinding mill of the prior coal fired boiler generating set, and superheated steam which has done partial work is extracted from an steam turbine and used as a drying medium, moisture contained in the coal powder is evaporated with sensible heat and latent heat of the superheated steam, water resulted from the condensation of the superheated steam is fed into a deaerator of the steam turbine via a condensate pump for recirculation. The present invention has advantages of reducing coal consumption and saving coal, recovering residual heat, reducing emission of carbon dioxide and adopting to the national industrial policy on energy saving and emission reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Tianhua Institute of Chemical Machinery and Automation, National Engineering Technology Research Center of Drying Technology & Equipment, Lanzhou Ruide Drying Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xu Zhao, Maikui Zhang, Yan Dou, Yongzhong Jiang, Jinwen Shi
  • Publication number: 20140053544
    Abstract: A heat engine system comprises a first heat exchanger, an expander, a second heat exchanger and a valve assembly. The first heat exchanger is in fluid communication with a heat source for heating a working fluid therein. The expander is downstream the first heat exchanger and is in fluid communication therewith for receiving the heat working fluid. The second heat exchanger is downstream the expander and in fluid communication therewith for cooling down the working fluid received therefrom. The valve assembly is in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger and the expander for providing for selectively injecting the expander with cooled working fluid from the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: University of Ontario
    Inventors: Ibrahim DINCER, Calin ZAMFIRESCU
  • Patent number: 8656720
    Abstract: The present invention includes systems and methods to recover heat from a lower quality heat source and convert that heat represented by its temperature differential range into a different form of extractable energy. In various illustrative examples, the system may include a heat recovery heat exchanger, a conventional counter-flow vortex tube, a power producing turbine, a condenser heat exchanger, and a liquid circulating pump. The system further comprises a condenser heat exchanger that is adapted to receive the turbine exhaust vapor, wherein the temperature of the exhaust vapor is reduced via heat transfer rejecting the waste heat to the surrounding atmosphere at atmospheric temperatures; wherein the compressible working vapor is converted to a saturated liquid and returned to the first heat exchanger by pumping means for further cycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: William David Hardgrave
  • Patent number: 8650878
    Abstract: A turbine system includes a valve coupled to a leak off line from a leak packing of a first turbine, the valve controlling a first steam flow used to maintain a constant self-sustaining sealing pressure to a second turbine across numerous loading conditions. A related method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahendra Singh Mehra, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez, Jegadeesan Maruthamuthu, Rajasekar Natarajan, Manikandan Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20140041386
    Abstract: A cooling tower system is disclosed. The cooling tower system includes a first heat exchanger that receives a process fluid from a first fluid circuit, and receives a working fluid from a second fluid circuit, thereby effecting thermal communication between the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit. The first fluid circuit includes a heat source disposed upstream of the first heat exchanger, and a cooling tower unit configured to transfer heat from the process fluid to a flow of ambient air. The second fluid circuit includes a waste heat expansion engine disposed downstream of the first heat exchanger in a direction of working fluid flow. The waste heat expansion engine is configured to extract power from the working fluid and transfer at least a portion of the power extracted to a component of the cooling tower unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Spencer D. Conard, Glenn S. Brenneke, Eldon F. Mockry
  • Publication number: 20140033712
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an M-type pulverized coal boiler suitable for ultrahigh steam temperature. The pulverized coal boiler comprises a hearth of which the bottom is provided with a slag hole and a tail downward flue of which the lower part is provided with a flue gas outlet. The pulverized coal boiler further comprises a middle flue communicated between the hearth and the tail downward flue, wherein the middle flue comprises an upward flue and a hearth outlet downward flue of which the bottoms are mutually communicated and the upper ends are respectively communicated with the upper end of the hearth and the upper end of the tail downward flue to form a U-shaped circulation channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: HUANENG CLEAN ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Minhua Jiang, Ping Xiao, Jianzhong Jiang, Li Zhong
  • Publication number: 20140033676
    Abstract: A method of integrating a supplemental steam source into a combined cycle plant comprising a gas turbine engine, generator and heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) by providing a solar steam generation subsystem that captures and transfers heat using solar radiation to produce supplemental superheated steam; providing a steam turbine operatively connected to the gas turbine; and injecting a portion of the steam formed by solar radiation into one or more intermediate stages of the high pressure section of the steam turbine. The exemplary method uses steam produced by the HRSG (having one, two or three pressure levels and with or without reheat), as well as steam produced by a solar steam generation subsystem when the plant is operating at full capacity. Significantly, the throttle pressure of the high pressure steam turbine remains substantially the same when the solar steam generation is either active or inactive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Raymond PANG, Kamlesh Mundra, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8631658
    Abstract: A steam reheat process is provided to enhance a thermal power cycle, and particularly a renewable steam thermal cycle. An oxyfuel combustion gas generator is provided which combusts a hydrogen and/or carbon containing fuel with an oxidizer of primarily oxygen to generate products of combustion including steam and/or carbon dioxide. Water from the thermal cycle is directed to the reheater for mixing with the products of combustion within the reheater to generate a working fluid containing steam. This steam is routed through a turbine or other expander and power is outputted from the system. The water is optionally thereafter condensed and at least partially routed back to the thermal cycle. Any carbon dioxide within the working fluid can be separated in a condenser downstream of the expander for capture of the carbon dioxide, such that increased power output for the thermal power cycle is achieved without atmospheric emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Clean Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott MacAdam, Roger E. Anderson, Keith L. Pronske
  • Publication number: 20140013748
    Abstract: Method for operating a solar installation. The solar installation includes a solar field with direct evaporation accompanied by the generation of superheated live steam, a turbine for expanding the live steam, and a generator driven by the turbine for generating electrical energy. At least one valve is associated with the turbine by which the amount of live steam fed to the turbine is adjusted. The valve, or each valve, through which the amount of live steam fed to the turbine is adjusted such that an actual value of a live steam pressure occurring upstream of the turbine follows a reference value determined depending on a live steam temperature of the live steam upstream of the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas SCHAAKE, Stefan Morgenstern, Heinz-Hugo Bösch
  • Publication number: 20130333386
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided that may be used to control the temperature of steam being reheated by a moisture separator reheater (MSR). One embodiment provides a system including a steam turbine, a moisture separator reheater coupled to the steam turbine, and a controller programmed to control a temperature of steam leaving the moisture separator reheater based at least in part on sensor feedback. The controller is programmed to facilitate substantially smooth linear temperature ramping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Craig Kluge, Michael James Molitor
  • Patent number: 8596034
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the generation of electrical energy through the combination of steam flows produced from different fuel sources. Steam produced from processing of a biomass fuel source is combined with steam produced from the processing of natural gas or fossil fuel and routed through a steam turbine generator to produce electrical energy. The steam is preferably reheated after partial processing in the steam turbine generator and then recirculated for further processing in the steam turbine generators. Following extraction of all available energy from the steam, the condensed wet vapor is reheated and used for processing of both energy sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: EIF NTE Hybrid Intellectual Property Holding Company, LLC
    Inventors: Seth Shortlidge, Gregory J. Cahill
  • Patent number: 8596067
    Abstract: A cooling tower system is provided that can exhibit increased energy efficiency. The cooling tower system includes a cooling tower unit, an expansion engine and a power operated component such as a fan or pump. The process fluid is first used to heat a working fluid for an expansion engine before being sent to the cooling tower for cooling. Power generated by the expansion engine is utilized to operate a component of the cooling tower such as a fan or a pump. The cooling tower is also utilized to provide cooling to condense the working fluid from a vapor to a liquid form cooling tower is used to remove waste heat from a process fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Spencer D Conard, Glenn S Brenneke, Eldon F Mockry
  • Patent number: 8596066
    Abstract: A closed Rankine cycle power plant using an organic working fluid includes a solar trough collector for heating an organic working fluid, a flash vaporizer for vaporizing the heated organic working fluid, a turbine receiving and expanding the vaporized organic working fluid for producing power or electricity, a condenser for condensing the expanded organic working fluid and a pump for circulating the condensed organic working fluid to the solar trough collector. Heated organic working fluid in the flash vaporizer that is not vaporized is returned to the solar trough collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ohad Zimron, Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Publication number: 20130312416
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steam Rankine cycle plant and a method for operating thereof. The plant comprises a higher-pressure steam turbine with an outlet and a reheater fluidly connected to the higher-pressure steam turbine. In addition, the plant has a lower-pressure steam turbine with an inlet that is fluidly connected to the reheater. The plant also has a bypass that is fluidly connecting the outlet and the inlet so as to bypass the reheater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technolgy Ltd
    Inventors: Maurus Herzog, Suman Ray
  • Publication number: 20130305722
    Abstract: A method for operating a steam power plant at low load is suggested comprising the extraction of live steam LS before the last superheater SH3 and/or resuperheated steam before the last resuperheater RSH2 and using the thermal energy of this steam in other heat sinks. Thus, nearly constant steam parameters of the live steam LS are achieved and the overall efficiency of the steam power plant remains at a high level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: Volker SCHULE, Julia HEINTZ, Stephan HELLWEG
  • Publication number: 20130305721
    Abstract: Methods and systems for implementing a thermodynamic cycle using heat source streams having initial temperatures between about 200° F. and about 500° F. and coolant stream having relatively high temperatures greater than or equal to about 80° F., where the methods and systems have overall energy extraction efficiencies that are at least 40% higher than a corresponding Rankine cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: KALEX, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8555643
    Abstract: Simple thermodynamic cycles, methods and apparatus for implementing the cycles are disclosed, where the method and system involve once or twice enriching an upcoming basic solution stream, where the systems and methods utilize relatively low temperature external heat source streams, especially low temperature geothermal sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kalex LLC
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • Patent number: 8544274
    Abstract: A thermodynamic system for waste heat recovery, using an organic rankine cycle is provided which employs a single organic heat transferring fluid to recover heat energy from two waste heat streams having differing waste heat temperatures. Separate high and low temperature boilers provide high and low pressure vapor streams that are routed into an integrated turbine assembly having dual turbines mounted on a common shaft. Each turbine is appropriately sized for the pressure ratio of each stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy C Ernst
  • Patent number: 8544273
    Abstract: A solar thermal power plant is provided. The plant includes a steam-electric power plant associated with a steam generation system operationally connected thereto for providing heat to drive its operation, a solar collection system designed to heat thermal fluid and is in communication with the steam-electric power plant to provide heat thereto for driving its operation, and a non-solar power plant including a power generation unit and a waste heat recovery unit. The solar thermal power plant further includes a controller configured to selectively operationally connect the solar collection system and the waste heat recovery unit to the steam-electric power plant to provide heat thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Concentrated Solar Power Ltd.
    Inventors: Avraham Brenmiller, Michael Schaal, Daniel Yossefi
  • Patent number: 8544272
    Abstract: A method for generating steam for a turbine electric power plant uses solar radiation. Solar radiation is directed onto a solar receiver. The solar receiver includes a first section, which receives feedwater input and is arranged to heat the feedwater input to generate steam using the directed solar radiation. Feedwater flows through a feedwater vessel to serve as feedwater input to an inlet of the first section of the receiver. Water is separated from the steam in steam separation vessel, which is in fluid communication with an outlet of the first section of the receiver. The feedwater input may be selectively preheated by a source of preheat other than solar energy in response to system operating conditions, predicted insolation schedule, or an electrical energy tariff schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Brightsource Industries (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventors: Israel Kroizer, Gabriel Kaufmann, Leon Afremov, Yoel Gilon
  • Publication number: 20130227947
    Abstract: For increasing power plant efficiency during periods of variable heat input or at partial loads, a motive fluid is cycled through a Rankine cycle power plant having a vaporizer and a superheater such that the motive fluid is delivered to a turbine at a selected inlet temperature at full admission. A percentage of a superheated portion of the motive fluid is adjusted during periods of variable heat input or at partial loads while virtually maintaining the inlet temperature and power plant thermal efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. BRONICKI, David MACHLEV
  • Publication number: 20130227949
    Abstract: A self-contained energy converter, suitable for powering a vehicle for example, includes an assembly for gasification of a liquid fuel to produce a combustible gas. A number of burners are provided burn the combustible gas in order to heat a heat exchanger for heating water from a tank to produce wet steam. A superheated steam generator is provided in communication with the heat exchanger and includes a number of heating assemblies arranged to heat cylindrical surfaces for converting the wet steam into a superheated steam. Nozzles are provided to direct the superheated steam to a turbine to produce mechanical motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventor: Edward Robnik
  • Patent number: 8516817
    Abstract: An electrogenerating device comprises a steam boiler, a hydrogen plant for steam conversion of natural gas into hydrogen, an oxygen plant for production of oxygen from air, a high-temperature H2/O2 steam superheater, a steam turbine provided with an electric power generator and a condenser, and a heat recovery boiler. Inlets of the high-temperature steam superheater are connected to an outlet of the steam boiler and outlets of the hydrogen and oxygen plants at a ratio of hydrogen to oxygen flow rates close to a stoichiometric ratio. The total noncondensable gas impurities in hydrogen and oxygen are less than 0.5% by volume at a temperature of 20 to 100° C. An outlet of the high-temperature steam superheater is connected to an inlet of the steam turbine, an outlet of the hydrogen plant is exhaust-gas connected to a gas path of the heat recovery boiler. In addition, an outlet of the heat recovery boiler is steam connected to an intermediate inlet of the steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventors: Vladimir Alekseevich Fedorov, Oleg Nikolaevich Favorskiy, Alexander Ivanovich Leontiev, Oleg Osherevich Milman
  • Publication number: 20130205782
    Abstract: A feed water storage and recirculation system for a steam turbine power plant having a post-combustion carbon capture plant which uses steam from the power plant as a heat source for regeneration of absorbent and returns condensate from the post-combustion carbon capture plant to the steam turbine power plant, and a plant with post-combustion carbon capture are described, comprising: a feed water storage tank; a deaerator integral to or fluidly in series with the feed water storage tank; a steam extraction conduit to convey water/steam to the feed water storage tank and deaerator after extraction from a turbine of a steam turbine power plant; a feed water supply conduit to supply feed water from the feed water storage tank to a boiler of a steam turbine power plant; a low pressure condensate conduit comprising at least a PCC condensate conduit to return condensate from an associated post-combustion carbon capture plant to a location upstream of the deaerator, together with the condensate returning through the
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventor: Pramurtta Shourjya Majumdar