Having Apparatus Cleaning, Sealing, Lubricating, Purging, Standby, Or Protecting Feature Patents (Class 60/657)
  • Patent number: 11809153
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for generating thermal energy from different energy sources, having a combustion-powered thermal energy source, an electric-powered thermal energy source, a steam distribution system, and a controller. The combustion-powered thermal energy source and the electric-powered each having a plurality of sensors. The controller is configured to actuate either or both of the energy sources based at least in part on information received from one or more of the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Antora Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Kearns, Christian Fitch Briere
  • Patent number: 11732617
    Abstract: An installation with a steam turbine, a steam generator, and also a condenser, the steam generator being connected in terms of flow to an inlet of the steam turbine, and an outlet of the steam turbine being connected to the condenser, with the condenser being connected to the steam generator. A booster is arranged in a steam line that leads into the steam turbine in which an oxyhydrogen reaction takes place, the resulting steam being fed to a steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Norbert Sürken
  • Patent number: 11639687
    Abstract: A method of purging fuel injectors of a gas turbine engine, the fuel injectors fluidly connected to a fuel manifold and having primary and secondary fuel passages fluidly connectable to the fuel manifold, the method includes: selectively fluidly disconnecting one or more of the primary and secondary fuel passages from the fuel manifold; and purging the one or more of the primary and secondary fuel passages by injecting a purging fluid into the one or more of the primary and secondary fuel passages while bypassing the fuel manifold. A fuel injector having two fuel passages, a flow divider valve, and a purging valve is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Joseph Cirtwill, Jian-Ming Zhou, Kian McCaldon
  • Patent number: 11585231
    Abstract: A device is provided comprising an expansion machine for generating mechanical energy by expanding vapor of a working medium; a generator connected to a shaft of the expansion machine and used for generating electric energy from mechanical energy of the expansion machine; wherein the expansion machine and the generator form a structural unit with an exhaust vapor chamber between the expansion machine and the generator, and wherein, when the expansion machine is in operation, working medium expanded into the exhaust vapor chamber contacts the generator; and means for feeding, in particular injecting, a liquid working medium into the exhaust vapor chamber. Also provided is an ORC device comprising the device and a method for operating the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: BITZER KÜHLMASCHINENBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Richard Aumann, Andreas Grill, Roy Langer, Andreas Schuster
  • Patent number: 11326465
    Abstract: In a combined cycle plant and a method for operating the same, the combined cycle plant is provided with a gas turbine, a waste heat recovery boiler, and a steam turbine, and is also provided with a low-pressure gland steam line for supplying steam to a low-pressure gland portion of a low-pressure turbine, and a first heat exchanging unit which performs heat exchange between gland steam flowing through the low-pressure gland steam line, and fuel gas to be supplied to a combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Daiki Fujimura
  • Patent number: 11286943
    Abstract: A compressor device includes a housing and a shaft supported for rotation within the housing. The compressor device includes a compressor section with a compressor wheel. Also, the compressor device includes a thrust suppression section with a chamber and a thrust balance body disposed within the chamber. Moreover, the compressor device includes a motor configured to drivingly rotate the shaft, the compressor wheel, and the thrust balance body. The thrust balance body divides the chamber into a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber. Additionally, the compressor device includes a bleed air system that fluidly connects the compressor section and the thrust suppression section. The bleed air system is configured to bleed air from the compressor section, through the first sub-chamber, to the second sub-chamber, pressurizing the first sub-chamber and generating a counterbalancing thrust load that counterbalances a compressor thrust load on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: GARRETT TRANSPORTATION I INC
    Inventors: Milan Nejedly, Ryoken Matsuzaki, Jeffrey Lotterman
  • Patent number: 11110370
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure can include a system for harvesting salt and generating distilled water from at least one of a produced water and salt water, comprising. A direct steam generator (DSG) can be configured to generate saturated steam and combustion exhaust constituents from the at least one of the produced water and salt water. A separation system can be configured to separate the salt from at least one of the saturated steam and combustion exhaust constituents in brine form or solid form. An expansion turbine can be configured to recover energy from the steam and combustion exhaust constituents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: XDI Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: James Charles Juranitch, Alan C. Reynolds, Raymond C. Skinner, Thomas Raymond Juranitch
  • Patent number: 11092040
    Abstract: A combined heat recovery device includes a high pressure cylinder of a steam turbine; a main steam pipe; a final-stage steam extraction pipe; an additional pipe additionally provided on the main steam pipe; a heat exchanger taking main steam in the main steam pipe as a heat source; a feedwater heater taking discharged steam from the heat exchanger as a heat source; and a steam side regulating valve provided on the additional pipe, configured to regulate main steam in the additional pipe, and capable of controlling a pressure of extracted steam behind the steam side regulating valve to control an outlet temperature of the feedwater heater to reach a preset feedwater temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Inventor: Yucheng Feng
  • Patent number: 10933958
    Abstract: A system includes a fuel burner disposed within a buoy, and at least one fuel tank coupled to the fuel burner. The fuel tank preferably contains ethanol or propane. The system comprises either a thermoelectric generator or an electrical generator mechanically coupled to a heat engine. The ethanol or propane is burned to generate electric power. At least a portion of the electric power that is generated is stored in a battery system so that the system can provide peak levels of electric power consumption that are relatively large. The system can be used in autonomous marine applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ocean Power Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Sarokhan
  • Patent number: 10487685
    Abstract: A piping system of a steam turbine plant is provided with: steam piping connected to a steam turbine; bypass piping which branches from the steam piping at a branching portion and which is connected to a condenser; a steam check valve provided between the branching portion of the steam piping and the steam turbine; and a turbine bypass valve provided in the bypass piping. A piping system cleaning method includes the steps of: connecting at least one valve of the steam check valve and the turbine bypass valve and a connecting portion provided between the turbine bypass valve of the bypass piping and the condenser, by using temporary piping having a foreign matter collecting portion; closing a flow path on the outlet side of the valve; cleaning the steam piping by supplying steam to the steam piping; and sending the steam to the condenser through the temporary piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Daiki Fujimura, Ayumu Kuroshima
  • Patent number: 10323545
    Abstract: A method for generating power from a heat source includes mixing a refrigerant in a liquid phase with a lubricating oil, heating the mixture to evaporate the refrigerant, mixing the heated mixture with additional refrigerant in a superheated phase, and atomizing the lubricating oil to disperse the lubricating oil within the refrigerant. The atomized lubricating oil and the refrigerant are passed through a decompressor to generate an electrical current. The refrigerant may be an organic material having a boiling point below about ?35 C. Related systems and heat engines are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Heat Source Energy Corp.
    Inventor: Keith Sterling Johnson
  • Patent number: 10247046
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermodynamic cycle apparatus, comprising: a working medium; an evaporator for evaporating the working medium; an expansion machine; a condenser, and a pump, wherein the geometrical arrangement of the evaporator is selected such that the condensed working medium can flow from the condenser to the evaporator by force of gravity and the working medium can circulate in a closed circuit via the evaporator and the condenser wherein a predetermined head height of the liquid working medium can be provided at the pump. The invention additionally relates to a method of starting the thermodynamic cycle apparatus the method comprising the following steps: applying heat to the evaporator and evaporating the working medium in the evaporator, wherein the working medium is caused to flow to the condenser; condensing the working medium in the condenser; starting the pump when a predetermined head height of the working medium at the pump is reached or exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: ORCAN ENERGY AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schuster, Asim Celik, Andreas Grill, Jens-Patrick Springer, Daniela Gewald, Richard Aumann
  • Patent number: 10041379
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a combined cycle power plant, which includes a steam turbine powertrain with a high-pressure steam turbine, an intermediate pressure steam turbine and a low-pressure steam turbine, whereby intermediate pressure steam flowing from the exit of the high-pressure steam turbine to the inlet of the intermediate pressure steam turbine is reheated by means of the reheat device, and which is connected to a solar thermal plant, that generates additional solar steam for being used by said steam turbine powertrain. The output of the solar steam generator is used more effectively, and the overall plant performance, flexibility and operability are enhanced by at least part of the additional solar steam reaching the intermediate pressure steam turbine without being reheated in said reheat device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Richard Carroni, Henrik Nielsen, François Droux
  • Patent number: 10024196
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for lubricating an expansion machine (30) in a thermodynamic cycle device, wherein the thermodynamic cycle device comprises the expansion machine, a feed pump (50), a lubricant separator (10) and a working medium containing a lubricant, and wherein the method comprises the following steps: The working medium is subjected to pressure by means of the feed pump. The pressurized working medium is delivered by the feed pump to the lubricant separator. At least part of the lubricant is separated from the working medium by means of the lubricant separator. At least part of the separated lubricant is delivered by the lubricant separator to the expansion machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: ORCAN ENERGY AG
    Inventors: Richard Aumann, Andreas Schuster, Andreas Sichert
  • Patent number: 9726049
    Abstract: Disclosed is a waste heat recovery apparatus which comprises: a gas-liquid separator; an expander into which a gaseous working medium separated by the gas-liquid separator flows; a driven machine; a condenser; a first pump; a first heater; a circulation flow passage for serially connecting the gas-liquid separator, the expander, the condenser, the first pump and the first heater in this order; a heat recovery flow passage for allowing a liquid working medium discharged from the gas-liquid separator to merge with the working medium flowing in a portion between the first heater and the gas-liquid separator in the circulation flow passage; and a second pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kishimoto, Ryo Fujisawa, Makoto Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9399925
    Abstract: A seal structure partitions a high-pressure portion and a low-pressure portion including spring-back seal rings on the high-pressure side, including ACC seal rings and fins on the low-pressure side. The ACC seal rings have an adjustable movable seal ring which is a movable seal ring that is movable in a substantially radial direction at a portion thereof and which partitions a high-pressure side steam chamber and a medium-pressure side steam chamber with the fins and a circumferential surface, and including a pressure equalizing pipe that connects the low-pressure side of the adjustable movable seal ring to a high-pressure outlet portion, is provided with an adjusting pipe that connects, on the high-pressure side steam chamber side of the ACC seal rings, a high-pressure dummy to the same high-pressure outlet portion as the medium-pressure side steam chamber, and an open/close valve in the adjusting pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakano, Shin Nishimoto, Hidekazu Uehara
  • Patent number: 9206707
    Abstract: The various embodiments herein provide a safety system for multiple turbine stages for saturated steam applications. The system comprises an isolating system having the inter-stage pipes for isolating the turbine stages and for transferring steam from one stage to another stage. A draining system is connected to each seal housing, inlet casing, exit casing and inter stage pipe to drain out a condensed steam vapor during a passage of steam between two successive stages. The draining system comprises drain pipes and a condensate pot for collecting and storing condensed steam. A thermodynamic trap is attached to the drain pipes and condensate pot for removing the condensed steam vapors collected in the condensate pot and drain pipes without significant steam leakage. A control system is provided for detecting and stopping high speed rotation of rotor disk in turbine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventor: Krishna Kumar Bindingnavale Ranga
  • Patent number: 9088188
    Abstract: A waste-heat recovery system for a waste-heat source, made up of an ORC (Organic-Rankine Cycle) postconnected thereto. The waste-heat source is connected with the heating device of the ORC as well as an expansion machine, coupled to a generator, for steam expansion in the ORC, which has magnetic bearings with an associated control device and a power supply via a direct current intermediate circuit of a generator frequency converter. The design and safe operating behavior of a waste-heat recovery system made up of an ORC post-connected to a waste-heat source are optimized. In a power supply failure, the electric energy that a down-running generator continues to generate is used to supply the magnetic bearings with the associated control device in order to ensure a safe operation in the event of a power supply failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Anayet Temelci-Andon, Konrad Herrmann, Stefan Müller, Harald Köhler
  • Patent number: 9083212
    Abstract: A turbine-generator device for use in electricity generation using heat from industrial processes, renewable energy sources and other sources. The generator may be cooled by introducing into the gap between the rotor and stator liquid that is vaporized or atomized prior to introduction, which liquid is condensed from gases exhausted from the turbine. The turbine has a universal design and so may be relatively easily modified for use in connection with generators having a rated power output in the range of 50 KW to 5 MW. Such modifications are achieved, in part, through use of a modular turbine cartridge built up of discrete rotor and stator plates sized for the desired application with turbine brush seals chosen to accommodate radial rotor movements from the supported generator. The cartridge may be installed and removed from the turbine relatively easily for maintenance or rebuilding. The rotor housing is designed to be relatively easily machined to dimensions that meet desired operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Concepts ETI, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Fairman, Francis A. Di Bella, David Japikse, Frederick E. Becker, Alexander Gofer
  • Patent number: 9046054
    Abstract: A heat engine with external hot source in which the engine has at least one variable volume working chamber for a working gas, and a distribution mechanism that connects this chamber to a cold input from an energy receiving path during an outgoing transfer phase and to a hot output of the energy receiving path during an incoming transfer phase, the energy receiving path being intended to heat the working gas outside the chamber on contact with the external hot source, wherein the distribution mechanism is timed in such a way as to: maintain pressure in the energy receiving path; during stable operation, connect the working chamber with the cold input from the energy receiving path whilst the pressure in the chamber is lower than the pressure in the energy receiving path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventor: Frédéric Thevenod
  • Patent number: 9032733
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include a system including: at least one computing device operably connected with a steam turbomachine and an extraction conduit fluidly connected with the steam turbomachine and a steam seal header fluidly coupled with the steam turbomachine, the at least one computing device configured to modify an output of the steam turbomachine by performing actions including: determining a pressure within the steam turbomachine; comparing the pressure within the steam turbomachine with a pressure threshold range; and instructing the extraction conduit to extract steam seal header steam from the steam seal header and provide the extracted steam seal header steam to the steam turbomachine in response to determining the pressure within the steam turbomachine deviates from the pressure threshold range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Prakash Bavanjibhai Dalsania, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez
  • Patent number: 9027348
    Abstract: A method for retrofitting a fossil-fueled power station is provided. The power station includes a multi-housing stream turbine with a carbon dioxide separation device. As per the method, a suction capability of the steam turbine is adapted for an operation of the carbon dioxide separation device to a process steam to be removed. The carbon dioxide separation device is connected via a process steam line to an intermediate superheating line. Further, an auxiliary condenser is connected to the carbon dioxide separation device. On failure or deliberate switching off of the carbon dioxide separation device surplus process steam is condensed in the auxiliary condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Grumann, Ulrich Much, Andreas Pickard, Mike Rost
  • Publication number: 20150121874
    Abstract: Provided is a steam turbine plant activation control device that can flexibly handle an initial state amount of a steam turbine plant and activate a steam turbine at a high speed. The activation control device 21 for the steam turbine plant includes a heat source device 1 configured to heat a low-temperature fluid using a heat source medium and generate a high-temperature fluid, a steam generator 2 for generating steam by thermal exchange with the high-temperature fluid, a steam turbine 3 to be driven by the steam, and adjusters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 configured to adjust operation amounts of the plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Yasuhiro YOSHIDA, Takuya YOSHIDA, Tatsuro YASHIKI, Yukinori KATAGIRI, Eunkyeong KIM, Kenichiro NOMURA, Kazunori YAMANAKA, Fumiyuki SUZUKI, Norihiro IYANAGA
  • Publication number: 20150121871
    Abstract: A turbine plant (3), in particular a steam turbine plant, and a method (100) for cooling the turbine plant (3). The turbine plant (3) has a turbine (29) through which a process gas (15) flows in a flow direction (27) during operation. A cooling medium (7) is drawn or blown (120) through the turbine (29) either in or counter to the process gas flow direction (27) respectively, cooling the turbine (29). A fan (6) may be coupled to either a turbine inlet (4) or to a turbine outlet (5). The fan acts on the cooling medium (7, 110) which is drawn into the turbine (29) through the turbine inlet (4) or through the turbine outlet (5) to be blown (120) through the turbine (29) in or counter to the process gas flow direction (27).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Stefan Riemann, Klaus Rothe
  • Publication number: 20150068207
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a steam turbine facility includes drain piping in which a shut-off valve is provided, the drain piping being either a valve drain pipe that leads a drain from the main steam regulating valve to an outside thereof, or a casing drain pipe that leads a drain from the turbine casing to an outside thereof. A heat absorber disposed in a range, upstream of the shut-off valve, of the drain piping to absorb heat of the drain piping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Daisuke ASAKURA, Koji KANBE, Tsutomu SHIOYAMA, Tomoo OOFUJI
  • Publication number: 20150033741
    Abstract: Provided are a turbine facility, in which iron oxide particle scale that adheres to inner surfaces of boiler tubes and impedes heat transfer can be efficiently removed from heater drainage water; and a water treatment method for heater drainage water in the turbine facility. The turbine facility includes a boiler 9, steam turbines 12 and 16, a condenser 1, feedwater heaters 5 and 8 which are interposed in water supply lines 4 and 6 that supply condensate condensed by the condenser 1 to the boiler 9, and in which part of steam supplied from the steam turbine 12 to a repeater is extracted as extraction steam, and the feedwater is heated using the extraction steam, and a filtration device 19 in which heater drainage water discharged from the low-pressure feedwater heater 5 is filtered and supplied to the water supply system for recovery. The filtration device 19 includes a filter having a pore size of 1 to 5 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Mamoru Iwasaki, Nobuaki Nagao, Senichi Tsubakizaki, Masaharu Takada
  • Publication number: 20140366538
    Abstract: A structure and method are provided for preventing or at least minimizing thermally-induced structural distortions, such as may occur when a steam turbine is cooling down. The steam turbine may include an inner housing and an outer housing. An intermediate space is formed between the inner housing and the outer housing, and sealing steam may be injected into the intermediate space to avoid the formation of temperature strata in the interspace and thus prevent the outer housing from bowing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Frank Deister, Ingo Forster, Daniel Gloss, Christian Musch, Heinrich Stuer, Frank Truckenmuller
  • Publication number: 20140360190
    Abstract: A drain system (10) for connection to a steam turbine (14). The drain system comprises a main drain line (20) providing a main flow path and a bypass drain line (28) providing a bypass flow path parallel to the main flow path. The main drain line and the bypass drain line are external to the steam turbine. The drain system further comprises a drain orifice assembly (22) within the main drain line, with the drain orifice assembly accessible during operation of the steam turbine. The main drain line and the bypass drain line are connected to a drain path (24) for carrying condensate and contaminants from the steam turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Archambeault, Donald R. Leger
  • Patent number: 8893499
    Abstract: An expander-generator is disclosed having an expansion device and a generator disposed within a hermetically-sealed housing. The expansion device may be overhung and supported on or otherwise rotate a hollow expansion rotor having a thrust balance seal being arranged at least partially within a chamber defined in the expansion rotor. Partially-expanded working fluid is extracted from an intermediate expansion stage and a first portion of the extracted working fluid is used cool the generator and accompanying radial bearings. A second portion of the extracted working fluid may be introduced into the chamber defined within the expander rotor via a conduit defined in the thrust balance seal chamber. The second portion of extracted working fluid minimizes unequal axial thrust loads on the expander rotor due to the overhung arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: William C. Maier
  • Patent number: 8850817
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a steam turbine power plant comprising at least one steam generator that is fueled by lignite, wherein the lignite is indirectly dried in a fluidized bed dryer that is heated at least partially with steam from the water-steam circuit of the steam generator. Said method is characterized in that the flue gas from the steam generator undergoes gas scrubbing to remove CO2 and that the energy required for the gas scrubbing is at least partially extracted from the drying process in the fluidized bed. The invention additionally relates to a device for creating steam from lignite comprising a drying system for the lignite and a device to scrub CO2 from the flue gas, wherein the drying process and the CO2 gas scrubbing are thermally coupled to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: RWE Power Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Georg Berger, Peter Moser, Toni Rupprecht, Sandra Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20140290249
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steam turbine power plant adapted to start operating safely even if prediction accuracy of its startup constraints cannot be obtained. The system calculates predictive values and current values of startup constraints of a steam turbine from process variables of plant physical quantities, next calculates in parallel both a first control input variable for a heat medium flow controller based on predictive values, and a second control input variable for a main steam control valve based on the current values, and while preferentially selecting the first control input variable, if the first control input variable is not calculated, selects the second control input variable instead. After the selection of at least one of the first and second control input variables, the system outputs an appropriate command value to the heat medium flow controller and the main steam control valve according to the kind of selected control input variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuro YASHIKI, Yasuhiro YOSHIDA, Takuya YOSHIDA, Naohiro KUSUMI, Kazunori YAMANAKA, Kenichiro NOMURA, Masaaki TOMIZAWA, Fumiyuki SUZUKI, Yuichi TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20140290250
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steam turbine power plant adapted to start operating very efficiently by highly accurate look-ahead control of a plurality of its startup constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro YOSHIDA, Takuya YOSHIDA, Tatsuro YASHIKI, Kenichiro NOMURA, Kazunori YAMANAKA, Masaaki TOMIZAWA, Yuichi TAKAHASHI, Fumiyuki SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 8844289
    Abstract: A method of cooling a turbine having internal moving components to a predetermined temperature is disclosed. The method comprises taking the turbine offline. While the turbine is offline, nitrogen is flowed through the turbine until the turbine reaches the predetermined temperature while controlling the flow of nitrogen from at least one injection point to prevent damage to the moving components of the turbine by achieving uniform cooling of the internal moving components. Then the flow of nitrogen is stopped. A method and assembly for cleaning a turbine having a deposit formed on an internal surface of the turbine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Steven J. Barber
  • Patent number: 8844288
    Abstract: A steam turbine facility is provided which is capable of appropriately sealing a gap between members made of cast material of Ni-based alloy even under the steam-temperature condition of 650° C. or higher, and which includes a first member and a second member whose base material is formed of cast material composed of at least one of Ni-based alloy, austenite steel, or high-chrome steel, form a space where the steam of 650° C. or higher flows. Between the first member and the second member, a metal gasket is provided which has a plurality of portions in line contact with the first member and the second member. On the first member and the second member, a first high-hardness layer which is harder than the base material, is provided at least in a portion where each of the first member and the second member is in line contact with the metal gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Nishimoto, Katsuhisa Hamada, Yoshinori Tanaka, Tanehiro Shinohara, Tetsuro Akamatsu
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8813506
    Abstract: A method is provided for connecting at least one further steam generator to a first steam generator in a power plant. The power plant includes at least two steam generators and a steam turbine, in which a fluid used to drive the steam turbine is conveyed in a fluid circuit having a plurality of steam systems. The steam systems are assigned individual steam generators and are able to be separated from one another by shut-off valves. The fluid of at least the first steam generator is connected to the steam turbine. The method involves opening the shut-off valve of at least one first steam system of the at least one further steam generator before the steam of the at least one further steam generator has reached approximately the same steam parameters as the steam of the first steam generator, so that steam can flow into the further steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Hermsdorf, Matthias Migl, Georg Peters, Erich Schmid, Michael Schöttler
  • 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: 8794001
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus that suppress cavitation includes a first on/off valve provided between a steam generator and an expander in a circulating channel; a bypass channel connected between an area between the steam generator and the first on/off valve and an area between the expander and a condenser; a second on/off valve provided in the bypass channel; a third on/off valve provided between a pump and the steam generator; and a controller. When stopping the pump, the controller outputs a control signal that stops the pump, a control signal that closes the first on/off valve, a control signal that opens the second on/off valve, and a control signal that closes the third on/off valve. In the case where a predetermined condition has been met, the controller outputs a control signal that closes the second on/off valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Tsuboi, Masayoshi Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20140190165
    Abstract: A binary power generation device is equipped with the flow path of a medium circulating through a heat exchanger, a turbine, a condenser, and a pump. A method for removing air that has intruded into the flow path of the medium includes: an air intrusion detection step of calculating, based on the pressure and temperature of a gas retaining portion communicatively connected to the flow path of the medium, a pressure threshold value obtained by adding the saturated vapor pressure of the medium and a margin value and of detecting, by comparing the pressure of a gas phase portion with the pressure threshold value, that air has intruded into the medium; a medium liquefaction step of producing a gas by pressurizing a mixed gas of the medium and air to reduce the amount of the medium in the mixed gas; and an exhaust step of exhausting the gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Ichiro Myogan, Hiroaki Shibata, Yoshitaka Kawahara, Isamu Osawa, Kokan Kubota
  • Patent number: 8763397
    Abstract: A solar-thermal receiver with a superheater isolation valve is disclosed. The superheater isolation valve is positioned so as to impede the transfer of steam from a steam drum or vertical separator into a superheater. The decays in temperature and pressure, within components of a solar-thermal receiver system that may occur throughout the shutdown period of a solar-thermal receiver, may be reduced or minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventors: Phani K. Meduri, James E. Pacheco, Andrew Heap
  • Patent number: 8726625
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant is provided and includes a gas turbine engine to generate power from combustion of a fuel and air mixture, a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) disposed downstream from the gas turbine engine to receive heat energy from the gas turbine engine from which steam is produced, the HRSG including a superheating element and a drum element, and a steam turbine engine to be receptive of the steam produced in the HRSG and to generate power from the received steam, the HRSG further including a valve operably disposed to isolate the superheating element from the drum element when a risk of condensate formation in the HRSG exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joel Donnell Holt, Gordon Raymond Smith
  • Publication number: 20140123647
    Abstract: A stack ring is formed by an outer ring and an inner ring and is inserted in an annular gap formed between an inlet sleeve and an inner casing. The outer periphery of the outer ring and the inner periphery of the inner ring each have a land part having a flat face and taper faces formed on upper and lower sides of the land part. A ratio of L1 to L0 is 0.3 to 0.7 where L1 is a length of the land part and L0 is a total length in the up-down direction. A ratio of S to S0 is not less than 0.95 where S is an area of the cross sectional shape of the outer ring or the inner ring and S0 is an area of a virtual rectangle BCDE and the taper faces have an inclined angle of 1° to 10°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Tamiaki NAKAZAWA, Masaru NISHIKATSU
  • Publication number: 20140102103
    Abstract: A gas compressor includes a compressor unit having a compressor body for compressing gas and an electricity-generation device generating electricity by obtaining a driving force by vaporizing a working fluid utilizing exhaust heat generated by a compressing action in the compressor body and expanding the working fluid so as to utilize the power generated by the electricity-generation device as a power source, and includes a switch device switching between power from the electricity generation device and power from a commercial power supply to supply power to the power consumption equipment, and a control device detecting an electricity-generation amount or a value correlative to the electricity generation amount and switching between the powers by the switch device, thereby generating the power using exhaust heat as a heat source to surely drive an auxiliary machine by a simple configuration regardless of a shortage of the electricity generation amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro YAMAMOTO, Yuji KAMIYA, Masahiko TAKANO
  • Publication number: 20140102100
    Abstract: The various embodiments herein provide a safety system for multiple turbine stages for saturated steam applications. The system comprises an isolating system having the inter-stage pipes for isolating the turbine stages and for transferring steam from one stage to another stage. A draining system is connected to each seal housing, inlet casing, exit casing and inter stage pipe to drain out a condensed steam vapor during a passage of steam between two successive stages. The draining system comprises drain pipes and a condensate pot for collecting and storing condensed steam. A thermodynamic trap is attached to the drain pipes and condensate pot for removing the condensed steam vapors collected in the condensate pot and drain pipes without significant steam leakage. A control system is provided for detecting and stopping high speed rotation of rotor disk in turbine assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventor: KRISHNA KUMAR BINDINGNAVALE RANGA
  • Patent number: 8695342
    Abstract: A turbine for converting thermal energy into mechanical work. The turbine includes a heating system, wherein the heating system is adapted for heating the turbine in a power off state and/or a start-up phase of the turbine. The heating system may include an electrical heating device and/or a steam heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mikael Fredriksson, Torbjörn Johansson, Tommy Larsson, Oskar Mazur
  • Patent number: 8695345
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a calculation method of moisture loss in a steam turbine calculates first a wetness fraction at the inlet and outlet of each of stationary blade cascades and rotor blade cascades. Subsequently, the moisture loss is classified into (1) supersaturation loss, (2) condensation loss, (3) acceleration loss, (4) braking loss, (5) capture loss and (6) pumping loss, and a loss for calculation of the moisture loss is selected from the above losses (1) to (6) according to the wetness fraction of steam at the inlet and outlet of each blade cascade. An amount of each selected loss is calculated, and an amount of moisture loss at each blade cascade is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawagishi, Akihiro Onoda, Tomohiro Tejima, Tomohiko Tsukuda, Asako Inomata, Naoki Shibukawa
  • Publication number: 20140075941
    Abstract: Provided is a power generating apparatus capable of using power generated by a heat engine in combination with power of a driving source provided separately from the heat engine. In order to prevent a problem caused when activating and stopping the apparatus, the apparatus of the present invention includes a rotary machine driving source which generates a rotational driving force for a rotary machine and a heat engine which drives the rotary machine in cooperation with the rotary machine driving source, wherein the heat engine includes an expander which expands an evaporated working medium so as to generate a rotational driving force, the expander is provided with a bypass pipe which causes a working medium inlet of the expander to communicate with a working medium outlet thereof, and the bypass pipe is provided with an on-off valve which opens and closes the bypass pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Shigeto Adachi, Masayoshi Matsumura, Yutaka Narukawa
  • Patent number: 8671686
    Abstract: Backup energy systems utilizing compressed air storage (CAS) systems and bridging energy systems to supply backup power to a load are provided. During a power failure, the bridging energy system provides backup power to the load at least until the CAS system begins supplying adequate power. In various embodiments, backup power capability is enhanced through the use of one or more exhaustless heaters, which are used to heat compressed air. The compressed air, in turn, drives a turbine which is used to power an electrical generator. In various embodiments, ambient air heat exchangers or other types of heat exchangers are used to heat compressed air prior to the compressed air being routed to the turbine, thereby increasing system efficiency. Backup power and backup HVAC are also provided by utilizing turbine exhaust, heat exchangers and various resistive heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Active Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Pinkerton, David Beatty, David E. Perkins
  • Patent number: RE46316
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system includes a high pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine, in which the high pressure turbine receives high pressure working fluid vapor, the low pressure turbine receives low pressure working fluid vapor and the high pressure turbine also supplies low pressure working fluid vapor to the low pressure turbine. A recuperator receives working fluid vapor from the low pressure turbine. The recuperator produces heated condensate, at least a portion of which is provided to a high pressure vaporizer. The high pressure vaporizer is configured to receive from a high temperature heat source and produces high pressure working vapor used to power the high pressure turbine. The remaining condensed fluid is provided to a low pressure vaporizer which is configured to receive heat from a low-temperature heat source, thereby producing low pressure working fluid vapor used to power the low pressure turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Uri Kaplan, Josef Sinai, Lucien Bronicki
  • Patent number: RE49730
    Abstract: A method for generating power from a heat source includes mixing a refrigerant in a liquid phase with a lubricating oil, heating the mixture to evaporate the refrigerant, mixing the heated mixture with additional refrigerant in a superheated phase, and atomizing the lubricating oil to disperse the lubricating oil within the refrigerant. The atomized lubricating oil and the refrigerant are passed through a decompressor to generate an electrical current. The refrigerant may be an organic material having a boiling point below about ?35 C. Related systems and heat engines are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Heat Source Energy Corp.
    Inventor: Keith Sterling Johnson