Solid Fuel Patents (Class 60/781)
  • Patent number: 11318441
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new hydrogen chloride removing agent that exhibits a good hydrogen chloride removal effect at a relatively low temperature. The present invention preferably provides a new hydrogen chloride removing agent for removing hydrogen chloride contained in a hydrogen-chloride-containing gas, such as a pyrolysis gas, a combustion exhaust gas, a dry distillation gas, etc., especially hydrogen chloride contained in a biomass pyrolysis gas. The present invention relates to a hydrogen chloride removing agent characterized by containing a mixture of a calcium carbonate and an imogolite and/or a synthetic imogolite, and relates to a method for removing, by using said hydrogen chloride removing agent, hydrogen chloride contained in a hydrogen-chloride-containing gas, especially hydrogen chloride contained in a biomass pyrolysis gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: JAPAN BLUE ENERGY CO., LTD., TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Naoki Dowaki, Mitsuo Kameyama, Kiyoshi Dowaki
  • Patent number: 10859034
    Abstract: A monolithic heater body includes a combustor body and an eductor body. The combustor body has an annulus with an outward annular wall and an inward annular wall. The annulus defines a conditioning conduit between the outward annular wall and the inward annular wall, and a combustion chamber circumferentially surrounded by the inward annular wall. A distal portion of the conditioning conduit fluidly communicates with a distal portion of the combustion chamber. The eductor body defines a plurality of eductive pathway couplets circumferentially spaced about a perimeter of the annulus. Respective ones of the eductive pathway couplets have a motive pathway and an eduction pathway respectively oriented oblique to the annulus and fluidly communicating with the conditioning conduit. Respective ones of the plurality of motive pathways are configured to provide a jet of intake air from a corresponding plurality of intake air pathways to the conditioning conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshua Tyler Mook, Kevin Michael VandeVoorde, Aigbedion Akwara, Michael Robert Notarnicola, Jason Joseph Bellardi, Mohammed El Hacin Sennoun, Mohamed Osama
  • Patent number: 10317070
    Abstract: An integrated combustion device power saving system includes: a hydrogen generation device, for generating a hydrogen-rich gas; a combustion device, for receiving the hydrogen-rich gas for combustion and generating heat energy and flue gas; a smoke distributing device, for distributing flue gas to the hydrogen generation device or atmosphere; a hydrogen-generation feed preheating device, for capturing waste heat of the flue gas from the smoke distributing device to preheat a hydrogen-generation feed to be used in the hydrogen generation device; and a power generating device, for receiving the flue gas from the hydrogen-generation feed preheating device while recycling waste heat of the flue gas to generate power to at least one of the hydrogen generation device or the combustion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yu-Li Lin, Chien-Hsuan Yeh, Bo-Yi Sung
  • Patent number: 10138758
    Abstract: The quatro generation system of the present invention includes: a power generation engine driven by fuel gas; an exhaust-heat boiler configured to utilize energy of exhaust gas discharged from the power generation engine to produce steam from boiler water; a boiler-water circulation device configured to supply the steam produced by the exhaust-heat boiler to a steam-energy recovery unit, and to return condensed water of the steam to the exhaust-heat boiler after the steam-energy recovery unit recovers energy of the steam; a condensation economizer configured to utilize condensation latent heat of exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust-heat boiler to heat a heat medium; and a heat-medium circulation device configured to supply the heat medium heated by the condensation economizer to a thermal-energy recovery unit, and to return the heat medium to the condensation economizer after the thermal-energy recovery unit recovers energy of the heat medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yagita, Kouji Abe, Takao Koide, Toshihide Noguchi, Tomoaki Nakai, Hiroaki Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Esashi, Jun Hyodo
  • Patent number: 9726364
    Abstract: A highly efficient LED lighting fixture includes a plurality of LEDs and a power converter and control circuit. The power converter circuit is a non-isolated power converter circuit. A heat sink is thermally coupled to a circuit board that carries the power converter, and an AC powered fan directs air over the heat sink to remove heat from the circuit board. The LED lighting fixture has an efficacy of at least 70 lm/w.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventors: Gary K. Mart, Jose Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9657605
    Abstract: A steam power generating system is provided with an inflow pipe, a split-flow member disposed rearward of a screw-plug with the inflow pipe passing through, a blocking member disposed rearward of the split-flow member, a cylindrical case disposed rearward of the blocking member, a thermal conductor in the case, a base disposed rearward of the case, a porous member disposed rearward of the base, a hollow cylinder secured onto the screw-plug, the split-flow member, the blocking member, the cylindrical case, and the porous member, a heat source around the cylinder, an insulation member around the heat source, a steam output disposed rearward of the porous member, a power conversion device disposed rearward of the steam output for receiving steam therefrom, and a cooling device interconnecting the power conversion device and a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TAIZHOU DAJIANG INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guiwen Liu, Mingjun Yang, Jinquan Huang
  • Patent number: 9458398
    Abstract: Biomass gasification systems including a reactor configured to gasify a dried biomass fuel in the presence of air to generate producer gas are provided. The biomass gasification systems also may include a heat exchanger adapted to transfer heat from the producer gas to a biomass feedstock to produce the dried biomass fuel and cooled producer gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Niraj Kumar Mishra
  • Patent number: 9328631
    Abstract: A gasification facility includes an air separator and a high temperature gas cooler for cooling the gaseous products that are produced at the facility's gasifier. The high temperature gas cooler is configured and a method is provided to produce superheated steam that is used to generate electric power in a steam turbine to satisfy the power demands of at least the air separator. Alternatively, or in addition, the superheated steam can be employed to drive compressors at the air separator. The high temperature gas cooler can be further configured so that it produces only that quantity of superheated steam required for the steam turbine to power the gasification facility, including the air separator, or a quantity of superheated steam adequate for the steam turbine to both power the gasification facility, including the air separator, and provide electric power or superheated steam to other users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Delome Fair
  • Patent number: 9315734
    Abstract: A method and system for the use of low quality fuel and solids-rich water, like fine tailings or lime sludge, for extracting bitumen from shallow and deep underground oil sand formations. The method includes the steps of combustion fuel and oxidizing gas, mixing hot combustion gas with solids-rich water, evaporating the liquid water to steam and solids, removing the solids from the gas phase to generate a solid lean gas, recovering the heat and condensing the steam to generate hot water, mixing the hot water with oilsands ore for extracting bitumen. The solid lean gas is mixed with saturated water to scrub the remaining solids and acid gases and produce saturated steam. The solids-rich saturated water is recycled and evaporated by being mixed with the combustion gases, and the saturated steam is condensed to generate heat and condensate for steam generation for use in enhanced oil recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ex-Tar Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Maoz Betzer-Zilevitch
  • Patent number: 9192911
    Abstract: Provided is a preparation method of an oxygen-selective adsorbent selectively adsorbing oxygen in the air and an oxygen-selective adsorbent prepared thereby. The preparation method includes: preparing BaMg(CO3)2 particles or particles in which MgCO3 or Mg(OH)2 are attached to the outside of BaMg(CO3)2; and sintering the particles at a high temperature. The oxygen-selective adsorbent according to the present invention may adsorb oxygen in the air at a fast rate as compared with an existing oxygen-selective adsorbent and have high thermal stability and excellent oxygen adsorptivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Jong Ho Park, Kwang Bok Yi, Jong Nam Kim, Hee Tae Beum, Jong Kee Park, Chang Hyun Ko, Sang Sup Han, Soon Haeng Cho, Taesung Jung
  • Patent number: 9150801
    Abstract: A system includes a gasifier configured to gasify a gasification fuel during a gasification mode. The system also includes a first injector configured to inject a heat control fuel and an oxygen enriched air into the gasifier for combustion during a heat control mode. The heat control fuel is the same or different from the gasification fuel, and the oxygen enriched air includes air enriched with additional oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Saunders Stevenson, Shashishekara Sitharamarao Talya
  • Patent number: 9145524
    Abstract: A system includes a gasifier injector configured to inject a heat control fuel and a mixed air into a gasifier for combustion during a heat control mode. The heat control fuel is the same or different from the gasification fuel, and the system is configured to create the mixed air from independent supplies of oxygen and nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Saunders Stevenson, Shashishekara Sitharamarao Talya
  • Patent number: 9101900
    Abstract: A system configured for the production of at least one product selected from the group consisting of syngas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products, power, and chemicals, the system comprising a dual fluidized bed gasification apparatus and at least one apparatus selected from power production apparatus configured to produce power from the gasification product gas, partial oxidation reactors configured for oxidation of at least a portion of the product gas, tar removal apparatus configured to reduce the amount of tar in the product gas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis apparatus configured to produce Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products from at least a portion of the product gas, chemical production apparatus configured for the production of at least one non-Fischer-Tropsch product from at least a portion of the product gas, and dual fluidized bed gasification units configured to alter the composition of the product gas. Methods of operating the system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: RES USA, LLC
    Inventors: Weibin Jiang, Bruce E. McComish, Bryan C. Borum, Benjamin H. Carryer, Mark D. Ibsen, Mark Robertson, Eric Elrod, Sim Weeks, Harold A. Wright
  • Patent number: 9057138
    Abstract: An energy supply system is provided with an electricity generating device for regeneratively generating electrical energy that can be fed into an electricity supply grid. The energy supply system includes an electricity generating device for regeneratively generating electrical energy which can be fed into an electricity supply grid, a hydrogen generating device for generating hydrogen using electrical energy from the regenerative electricity generating device, a methanation device for converting hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generating device and a supplied carbon oxide gas into a gas containing methane, and a gas providing device for providing a supplementary gas or a replacement gas in a variably specifiable supplementary/replacement gas quality suitable for feeding into a gas supply grid with the use of the gas containing methane from the methanation device and/or the hydrogen from the hydrogen generating device. A method of operating the system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Zentrum fuer Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Wuerttemberg
    Inventors: Bernd Stuermer, Volkmar Frick, Michael Specht, Michael Sterner, Berthold Hahn, Ulrich Zuberbuehler
  • Publication number: 20150090939
    Abstract: A system for converting a solid fuel into a fuel including a pyrolytic unit for producing a pyro gas comprising hydrocarbons, a synthesis gas production unit for converting the pyro gas into a synthesis gas comprising a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and a gas-to-liquid unit for converting the synthesis gas into a fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Latif Mahjoob
  • Publication number: 20150059351
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an operation control method for a gasification power generation system for gasifying carbon-based fuel such as coal in a gasifier using oxygen or oxygen-enriched air as an oxidizing agent, burning the obtained syngas as fuel in a gas turbine, driving the gas turbine by the syngas, driving a steam turbine by steam generated using exhaust heat of the gas turbine, thus executing combined power generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Fumihiko KISO, Yasuhiro YOSHIDA, Hirotsugu FUKUHARA
  • Patent number: 8893506
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating an IGCC power plant, wherein the coal gas from a gasifier, comprising CO and hydrogen, is supplied to at least one shift stage, wherein this is converted primarily into CO2 and hydrogen and the coal gas is subjected to at least one gas cleaning step. The coal gas is conducted over a membrane, which at least partially selectively separates the hydrogen from the coal gas. In order to achieve driving potential in the membrane, a flushing gas is used on the permeate side. The hydrogen depleted retentate is fed to a CO2 conditioning process, while the separated hydrogen is fed together with the flushing gas to a gas turbine as fuel gas. The flushing gas used for the membrane is a component of the waste gas produced in the gas turbine after the waste gas has left the waste heat recovery boiler, which is connected downstream of the gas turbine. In the power plant, the gas turbine also functions as a means for providing the flushing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst Riensche, Reinhard Menzer, Ludger Blum
  • Patent number: 8813507
    Abstract: A method for producing electric energy from solid and liquid fuels is provided. The fuels are first subjected to a gasification process at high pressure, and the scrubbed gasification gas is fed to a gas and steam turbine process. The combustion of the scrubbed gasification gas in the gas turbine chamber does not occur with air, but with a mixture made of the three components oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor. As a result, the waste gas of the gas turbine is made only of carbon dioxide and water vapor. After the condensation thereof, technically pure carbon dioxide remains, which can be dissipated by storage in the deep substrate of the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Siemens Fuel Gasification Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Hannemann, Martin Pfund, Manfred Schingnitz
  • Publication number: 20140230451
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gas turbine power plant, a gas turbine power plant, a method for controlling a carbon-containing fuel gasifier, and a carbon-containing fuel gasifier that can keep constant the amount of heat generated from a synthetic gas produced by the carbon-containing fuel gasifier. The gas turbine power plant includes a coal gasifier including a coal gasifier unit that gasifies a fuel containing carbon to produce a synthetic gas and a water-cooled wall duct disposed on the coal gasifier unit and to which a coolant, i.e., water, is directed; a gas turbine combustor that combusts the synthetic gas to produce combustion gas; a gas turbine rotated by the combustion gas produced by the gas turbine combustor; and a generator that generates electrical power. The amount of fuel fed to the coal gasifier is controlled depending on the amount of heat absorbed by the coolant directed to the water-cooled wall duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasunari Shibata, Yuichiro Kitagawa, Kengo Shibata, Yuichiro Urakata
  • Publication number: 20140206778
    Abstract: A system and method for providing an integrated indirectly fired reactor and steam generator are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the reactor comprises an indirect heating zone heating water and generating steam, a mixing zone mixing feedstock and the steam and providing a mixture of the feedstock and the steam, and a reaction zone comprising a first reactor and a second reactor. The first reactor converts the mixture to a first syngas at a first temperature. The second reactor converts the first syngas to a second syngas at a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Enventix, Inc.
    Inventor: Abdelmonem Hussein Alyaser
  • Patent number: 8776532
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a power production system that is adapted to achieve high efficiency power production with complete carbon capture when using a solid or liquid hydrocarbon or carbonaceous fuel. More particularly, the solid or liquid fuel first is partially oxidized in a partial oxidation reactor. The resulting partially oxidized stream that comprises a fuel gas is quenched, filtered, cooled, and then directed to a combustor of a power production system as the combustion fuel. The partially oxidized stream is combined with a compressed recycle CO2 stream and oxygen. The combustion stream is expanded across a turbine to produce power and passed through a recuperator heat exchanger. The expanded and cooled exhaust stream is scrubbed to provide the recycle CO2 stream, which is compressed and passed through the recuperator heat exchanger and the POX heat exchanger in a manner useful to provide increased efficiency to the combined systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Palmer Labs, LLC, 8 Rivers Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Rodney John Allam, Jeremy Eron Fetvedt, Miles R. Palmer
  • Patent number: 8776531
    Abstract: The present application provides an integrated gasification combined cycle system. The integrated gasification combined cycle system may include a gas turbine engine, a syngas system for producing a syngas for the gas turbine engine and having a compressor therein, and a second gas engine in communication with the syngas system. The second gas engine dives the compressor via the syngas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raymond Douglas Steele, Anindra Mazumdar, Pradeep S. Thacker, Richard DePuy, Gary D. Miller
  • Publication number: 20140157790
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a combustor assembly which has a burner assembly and a combustor. The burner assembly has a body having a first end and a second end and a center passageway. The center passageway extends between the first end and the second end of the body. The body of the burner assembly is provided with a biomass inlet for receiving biomass, a primary air inlet for receiving air, a gas inlet for receiving gas, and a secondary air inlet for receiving air. The biomass inlet is in communication with the center passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Zilkha Biomass Power LLC
    Inventor: Lars Björn Forsberg
  • Patent number: 8739549
    Abstract: Systems and methods for injection of feedstock are included. In one embodiment, a system includes a solid fuel injector. The solid fuel injector includes a solid fuel passage, a first gas passage, and a second gas passage. The solid fuel passage is configured to inject a solid fuel through a fuel outlet in a fuel direction. The first gas passage is configured to inject a first gas through a first gas outlet in a first gas direction. The second gas passage is configured to inject a second gas through a second gas outlet in a second gas direction. The first gas direction is oriented at a first angle relative to the fuel direction. The second gas direction is oriented at a second angle relative to the fuel direction, and the first and second angles are different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus
  • Patent number: 8733109
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generation of electric power employing fuel and air staging in which a first stage gas turbine and a second stage partial oxidation gas turbine power operated in parallel. A first portion of fuel and oxidant are provided to the first stage gas turbine which generates a first portion of electric power and a hot oxidant. A second portion of fuel and oxidant are provided to the second stage partial oxidation gas turbine which generates a second portion of electric power and a hot syngas. The hot oxidant and the hot syngas are provided to a bottoming cycle employing a fuel-fired boiler by which a third portion of electric power is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Iosif K. Rabovitser, John M. Pratapas, Dmitri Boulanov
  • Patent number: 8695323
    Abstract: A plant (100) for the gasification of biomass comprises a gasifier (10) and an apparatus (23) for the filtration of the gas. The apparatus comprises a scrubber (31), a tank (41), and a wet electrostatic precipitator (51). The scrubber is in fluid communication with the gasifier and with the tank, and is adapted for the injection of a washing liquid in the gas flow. The tank comprises a bottom area for collecting the liquid and a top area for holding the gas. The wet electrostatic precipitator is in fluid communication with the top area of the tank. In some examples, a gasifier comprises a gasification reactor (12), a grate (125) for the support of the biomass in the reactor (12) and a plug (126). The plug is vertically movable so as to close and/or open the middle part of the grate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: A.G.T. SRL
    Inventor: Giovanni Cappello
  • Patent number: 8621872
    Abstract: A method and device for converting thermal energy from carbonaceous raw materials into mechanical work is provided. The device includes at least one first and one second device for storing and releasing thermal energy connected at least intermittently alternatingly in a turbine branch having a gas turbine connected downstream. The method includes the steps of: a) combusting a gas in a gas burner; b) passing the smoke gases arising in the gas burner through a device for storing thermal energy; and c) feeding the hot air released by at least one device into the gas turbine, wherein the gasification of the carbonaceous raw materials takes place in a gasifier in a first step and the product gas is fed into the gas burner connected downstream of the gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Dragan Stevanovic, Sven Johannssen, Reinhard Pritscher
  • Patent number: 8561412
    Abstract: A method is provided for converting thermal energy from carbonaceous raw materials into mechanical work, having at least one first and one second device for storing and releasing thermal energy connected to least intermittently alternatively in a turbine branch having a gas turbine connected downstream thereof. The method includes the steps of: a) combusting a gas in a gas combustor; b) passing the exhaust gases arising in the gas combustor through a device for storing thermal energy; and c) feeding the hot air released by the one device into the gas turbine, wherein the hot air released by the gas turbine is fed to at least one heat exchanger connected downstream of the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Dragan Stevanovic
  • Patent number: 8555652
    Abstract: A chemical-looping combustion system is provided in which an oxygen carrier, for example a metallic oxide or peroxide, is used for fuel combustion and produces carbon dioxide and water as by-products. The system delivers steam and CO2 at for direct utilization by steam cycle power generation equipment and heat exchangers. After fuel combustion, the oxygen-poor carrier is regenerated by exposure to air in a second, sequestered reactor. Choice of oxygen-carrier material and conditions allows for the fuel oxidizer reactor to run at temperatures greater than the running temperature of the regenerator reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Zere Energy and Biofuels, Inc.
    Inventor: Amanda Touchton
  • Patent number: 8528343
    Abstract: A method of producing substitute natural gas (SNG) includes providing at least one steam turbine engine. The method also includes providing a gasification system that includes at least one gas shift reactor configured to receive a boiler feedwater stream and a synthesis gas (syngas) stream. The at least one gas shift reactor is further configured to produce a high pressure steam stream. The method further includes producing a steam stream within the at least one gas shift reactor and channeling at least a portion of the steam stream to the at least one steam turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Steven Wallace, Arnaldo Frydman
  • Patent number: 8495882
    Abstract: A syngas cleanup section includes a water-gas shift reactor, a first operation unit and a second operation unit. The first operation unit includes a high permeance membrane with H2/CO2 selectivity in flow communication with the water-gas shift reactor to provide a H2-rich permeate stream and an H2-poor retentate stream. The second operation unit recovers H2 and CO from the retentate stream to produce a single, CO2-rich product stream, the entire content of which has a minimum pressure of at least about 10.0 bar. In one embodiment, the second operation unit includes a membrane with Knudsen selectivity for permeating H2, CO and CO2. In this embodiment, the permeate streams are combined to produce a H2 and CO-rich fuel stream used by a combined cycle power generation unit to produce electricity, and the retentate stream is sent to a catalytic oxidation unit to produce the CO2-rich product stream. In another embodiment, the second operation unit is the catalytic oxidation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony Yu-Chung Ku, Harish Radhakrishna Acharya, Parag Prakash Kulkarni, Scott Michael Miller, William Cook Livingood, III
  • Patent number: 8464540
    Abstract: A plant produces electrical energy from municipal solid waste without exhausting a carbon dioxide or other carbon based gas to the atmosphere. The plant includes a source of artificial light powered by electrical energy, and a reactor into which the municipal solid waste is fed and which is operated under temperature, pressure and flow rate conditions to produced a syngas. An electrical energy generating station at which the syngas is burned produces the electrical energy and a flue gas comprising carbon dioxide and other products of combustion. At least a portion of the electrical energy is used to power the artificial light source. A carbon dioxide collector separates the carbon dioxide from the other products of combustion in the flue gas to provide a clean carbon dioxide suitable as a nutrient for microorganisms, and a farm of the microorganisms is illuminated essentially constantly, alternately with sunlight and artificial light from said source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Pacific Waste, Inc.
    Inventors: Kosti Shirvanian, Arthur Aykanian
  • Publication number: 20130130343
    Abstract: The present invention improves corn dry milling in several ways. Integrated corn biorefinery processes are disclosed which can produce ethanol, edible corn oil, DDGS, solvent-extracted meal, power, and optionally crude corn oil, starting from corn. Some variations employ corn fractionation and edible corn oil recovery using liquid carbon dioxide, avoiding hazardous hydrocarbon-based solvents to produce edible corn oil. Some variations employ integration of gas-fired co-generation into the dry-milled corn ethanol plant to significantly reduce energy usage and carbon footprint associated with the overall process. Counter-current drying is preferably employed to produce a high-quality DDGS product with high protein content, low mycotoxin content, and low residual ethanol content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Ian PURTLE, Luca ZULLO
  • Publication number: 20130081403
    Abstract: A gas turbine power generation plant including: a solid fuel gasifier for the production of a fuel gas stream, an arrangement for fuel gas treatment, a combustor for receiving the fuel gas stream and for the production of a flue gas stream, a gas turbine unit having an inlet for said flue gas stream and being mechanically coupled to an electric generator for the extraction of useful work; a compressor unit for the supply of compressed oxygen to the combustor. A steam generator is arranged for heat recovery in the flue gas stream downstream of the turbine unit positioned for water recovery in the flue gas stream, said condenser having a connection for water supply to the steam generator, and the steam generator is connected for supply of steam to the combustor for contributing as process gas. The invention also concerns a method for operating a power plant and an arrangement and a method for fuel gas treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: EUROTURBINE AB
    Inventor: Hans-Erik Hansson
  • Patent number: 8402767
    Abstract: At least one solid mass of oxidizing-species-releasing material (ORM), selected as a solid oxidizer (SO), and/or as oxidizing-species-releasing burning substance (ORBS) is used as a device for enhancing the starting process of a turbine engine under various ambient conditions. The ORM is introduced into the combustion chamber of the turbine engine and the starting process of the turbine engine is initiated, by help of the igniter and in association with the ORM to enhance the starting process. In operation, an ORM selected as an SO releases gaseous oxygen when heated to decompose, while an ORM chosen as an ORBS discharges oxidizing species when ignited to burn. An ORM such as an SO or an ORBS may operate alone or in various combinations of both. The ORM is configured to release a predetermined mass flow rate of oxidizing species or of gaseous oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Rafael-Advanced Defense Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Amichay H. Gross, Savely Khosid, Arie Peretz
  • Publication number: 20130017460
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for producing hydrocarbons from biomass. Certain embodiments of the method are particularly useful for producing substitute natural gas from forestry residues. Certain disclosed embodiments of the method convert a biomass feedstock into a product hydrocarbon by hydropyrolysis. Catalytic conversion of the resulting pyrolysis gas to the product hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide occurs in the presence of hydrogen and steam over a CO2 sorbent with simultaneous generation of the required hydrogen by reaction with steam. A gas separator purifies product methane, while forcing recycle of internally generated hydrogen to obtain high conversion of the biomass feedstock to the desired hydrocarbon product. While methane is a preferred hydrocarbon product, liquid hydrocarbon products also can be delivered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Matthew L. Babicki, Brian G. Sellars, Edson Ng
  • Publication number: 20120285176
    Abstract: A method of improving the output and efficiency of a pulverized coal plant by integration with a gas turbine and a Heat Recovery Steam Generator. Specifically, embodiments of the invention provide improvements in the performance of an existing coal steam turbine electricity generating plant by the addition of coal gasifiers, a gas turbine and a heat recovery steam generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: ECONO-POWER INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: David W. Wakefield, Robert G. Jackson
  • Publication number: 20120167585
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems, methods and equipment that include Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle technology to retrofit existing plants, that include, e.g., subsystems for separating char fines from syngas after it emerges from an internally-circulating fluidized bed carbonizer and injecting the char into the carbonizer draft tube as a fuel source. Efficiency and power generation are thus increased to the extent that inclusion of carbon capture systems are now possible for existing coal plants in order to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: WORMSER ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Alex Wormser
  • Publication number: 20120137700
    Abstract: A system for power generation using low pressure gasification of a stock fuel, such as coal or biomass. The system can include a gasifier, a gas clean up unit connected to a gas compressor, a gas turbine combustion system, a heat recovery steam generator, and a steam turbine. The gasifier can provide low pressure synthetic methane gas to the gas clean up unit, which can remove tars and sulfur from the synthetic methane gas, and can cool the synthetic methane gas. The gas compressor can receive the cooled synthetic methane gas and can compress the cooled synthetic methane gas. The gas turbine combustion system can receive the compressed synthetic methane gas and produce power and an exhaust gas. The heat recovery steam generator can receive the exhaust gas and generate steam. The steam turbine can receive the steam from the heat recovery steam generator and generate power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Dennis John Werner, Thomas Edwin Hogan
  • Publication number: 20120137701
    Abstract: The invention relates in particular to a method for converting thermal energy from carbonaceous raw materials into mechanical work, having at least one first (4) and one second (6) device for storing and releasing thermal energy connected to least intermittently alternatingly in a turbine branch (T) having a gas turbine (8) connected downstream thereof, comprising the steps of: a) combusting a gas in a gas combustor (2); b) passing the smoke gases (3) arising in the gas combustor (2) through a device (4, 6) for storing thermal energy; and c) feeding the hot air released by at least one device (4, 6) into the gas turbine (8), wherein the hot air (7) released by the gas turbine (8) is fed to at least one heat exchanger ( ) connected downstream of the gas turbine (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Dragan Stevanovic
  • Publication number: 20120137702
    Abstract: The invention relates in particular to a method for converting thermal energy from carbonaceous raw materials into mechanical work, having at least one first (4) and one second (6) device for storing and releasing thermal energy connected at least intermittently alternatingly in a turbine branch (T) having a gas turbine (8) connected downstream thereof, comprising the following steps: a) combusting a gas in a gas burner (2); b) passing the smoke gases (3) arising in the gas burner (2) through a device (4, 6) for storing thermal energy; and c) feeding the hot air (7) released by at least one device (4, 6) into the gas turbine (8), wherein the gasification of the carbonaceous raw materials takes place in a gasifier (1) in a first step and the product gas is fed into the gas burner (2) connected downstream of the gasifier (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Dragan Stevanovic, Sven Johannssen, Reinhard Pritscher
  • Patent number: 8146368
    Abstract: A method for meeting both base-load and peak-load demand in a power production facility. By integrating a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) hydrocarbon production facility with an electrical power generating facility, peak-load power demand can be met by reducing the temperature of the FT reactor thereby increasing the quantity of tail gases and using FT tail gases to fuel a gas turbine generator set. The method enables rapid power response and allows the synthesis gas generating units and the FT units to operate with constant flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Rentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis L. Yakobson, Claude C. Corkadel, III, Charles B. Benham, Belma Demirel, Peter S. Pedersen
  • Patent number: 8132416
    Abstract: Apparatus and processes are provided for combusting hydrocarbon-containing waste fuel with an oxidizer, preferably liquid oxygen, and producing a substantially clean exhaust gas and a separate high purity steam product (e.g., superheated steam) that can be used to generate electrical power. The apparatus includes a plurality of combustion chambers in series with means to control the combustion temperature while facilitating complete combustion. The apparatus and method are useful for transforming waste materials, particularly solid and liquid wastes, such as the rubber from scrap tires into non-hazardous materials and energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Combustion Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James Andrew Prentice, III
  • Patent number: 8127556
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of controlling a turbomachine having at least one fuel supply system that uses an unchoked valve. Here, the method may determine the flow characteristics of a fuel in a fuel supply system without using a flow meter. The present invention also provides a fuel supply system with a configuration comprising at least one unchoked valve. The fuel system may not require the use of a flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Reuben Aiton, Joseph Robert Law
  • Publication number: 20110239658
    Abstract: Systems and methods for injection of feedstock are included. In one embodiment, a system includes a solid fuel injector. The solid fuel injector includes a solid fuel passage, a first gas passage, and a second gas passage. The solid fuel passage is configured to inject a solid fuel through a fuel outlet in a fuel direction. The first gas passage is configured to inject a first gas through a first gas outlet in a first gas direction. The second gas passage is configured to inject a second gas through a second gas outlet in a second gas direction. The first gas direction is oriented at a first angle relative to the fuel direction. The second gas direction is oriented at a second angle relative to the fuel direction, and the first and second angles are different from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus
  • Patent number: 8028511
    Abstract: A gasifying agent supply path A from an axial flow compressor 21 which boosts pressure of a gasifying agent to a gasifying furnace 2 is branched, and a gasifying agent bypass path D having an escaping pressure adjusting valve 23 is provided. The flow quantity or pressure of the gasifying agent supplied to the gasifying furnace 2 from the gasifying agent supply path A can be adjusted according to the degree of opening of the adjusting valve 23 disposed in the gasifying agent bypass path D, whereby providing a control valve in the gasifying agent supply path A is no longer necessary. Thus, pressure loss at the gasifying agent supply path A can be suppressed, and the discharge pressure of the axial flow compressor 21 can be greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Hyakutake, Yoshiaki Tsukuda, Takao Hashimoto, Satoshi Uchida, Katsuhiro Ota, Takashi Sonoda
  • Patent number: 8001788
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing pulverized coal used in the production of synthesis gas combusted in gas turbines used in integrated gasification combined cycle power plants uses gas turbine exhaust gas to dry and convey pulverized coal from a pulverizer to a coal/gas separation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc.
    Inventors: William N. Martin, Todd M. Sommer
  • Patent number: 7997084
    Abstract: A gasifying furnace gasifies solid fuel or liquid fuel. A gas turbine drives a turbine to generate power by using combustion gas generated by burning mixed gas of compressed air compressed in a compressor and gas generated in the gasifying furnace in a combustor. A booster boosts compressed air bled from the compressor, and feed the compressed air to the gasifying furnace. A bleed source valve is provided in a bleed line between the compressor and the booster. An abnormality stop controller stops the booster and the gas turbine, based on an opening angle of the bleed source valve or a bleed pressure on an upstream side of the bleed source valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Kamohara, Akihiko Saito, Takashi Sonada, Yasuhiro Takashima, Satoko Fujii
  • Patent number: 7975398
    Abstract: This invention discloses systems and methods for conversion of high moisture waste materials to dry or low moisture products for recycle or reuse. The equipment systems comprise a gas turbine generator unit (preferred heat source), a dryer vessel and a processing unit, wherein the connection between the gas turbine and the dryer vessel directs substantially all the gas turbine exhaust into the dryer vessel and substantially precludes the introduction of air into the dryer vessel and wherein the processing unit forms the dried material from the dryer vessel into granules, pellets or other desired form for the final product. Optionally, the systems and methods further provide for processing ventilation air from manufacturing facilities to reduce emissions therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: EarthRenew, Inc.
    Inventors: Christianne Carin, Brian N. Gorbell, Christianne Carin, legal representative, Alvin W. Fedkenheuer, John S. Jonasson, Alexander Starosud
  • Publication number: 20110162382
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating an IGCC power plant, wherein the coal gas from a gasifier, comprising CO and hydrogen, is supplied to at least one shift stage, wherein this is converted primarily into CO2 and hydrogen and the coal gas is subjected to at least one gas cleaning step. The coal gas is conducted over a membrane, which at least partially selectively separates the hydrogen from the coal gas. In order to achieve driving potential in the membrane, a flushing gas is used on the permeate side. The hydrogen depleted retentate is fed to a CO2 conditioning process, while the separated hydrogen is fed together with the flushing gas to a gas turbine as fuel gas. The flushing gas used for the membrane is a component of the waste gas produced in the gas turbine after the waste gas has left the waste heat recovery boiler, which is connected downstream of the gas turbine. In the power plant, the gas turbine also functions as a means for providing the flushing gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Forschungszentrum Jülich GMBH
    Inventors: Ernst Riensche, Reinhard Menzer, Ludger Blum