1231results about "Steam use" patented technology

Power generation systems and methods are provided with features directed to various innovations including ones relating to the conversion of concentrated solar and biomass energy to electricity, load-shifting of electrical power supply systems, gas turbine devices and cycles, and power plant control systems.

The invention discloses a method for recovering the waste heat of a thermal power plant and heating and supplying heat to hot water in a stepping way. In the method, low-temperature heat-net return water is firstly mixed with circulating cooling water positioned on an outlet of a cooling condenser or exchanges heat with the circulating cooling water positioned on the outlet of the cooling condenser to be increased in temperature and then sequentially delivered into an each-step vapour absorption type heat pump and a vapor-water heat exchanger in a series connection way to be gradually heated to be increased in temperature to heat supplying temperature and finally discharged through a water supplying pipeline; the circulating cooling water absorbs the waste steam condensation heat of a steam turbine in the cooling condenser, then one path of the circulating cooling water is directly mixed with the low-temperature heat-net return water or heats the low-temperature heat-net return water through the heat changer, the other path of the circulating cooling water is delivered into an each-step absorption type heat pump unit to be used as a low-order heat source of the absorption type heat pump unit, and the redundant heat of the circulating cooling water is discharged to the environment through a cooling tower. The invention uses the steam extraction of the steam turbine as a driving heat source of the absorption type heat pump so that the low-temperature heat-net return water is heated in a stepping way, thereby reducing the effective energy loss; the waste heat of the discharged steam of the steam turbine is sufficiently recovered in a direct heating way and an absorption type heat pump temperature increasing heating way, therefore, the comprehensive energy usage efficiency of the thermal power plant is enhanced.

The invention relates to systems and methods for rapidly and isothermally expanding gas in a cylinder. The cylinder is used in a staged hydraulic-pneumatic energy conversion system and includes a gas chamber (pneumatic side) and a fluid chamber (hydraulic side) and a piston or other mechanism that separates the gas chamber and fluid chamber while allowing the transfer of force/pressure between each opposing chamber. The gas chamber of the cylinder includes ports that are coupled to a heat transfer subassembly that circulates gas from the pneumatic side and exchanges its heat with a counter flow of ambient temperature fluid from a reservoir or other source.

A power controller controls the turbine of a turbine powered generating system regardless of the load on the system to maximize the efficiency of the turbine and maintains the turbine at a substantially constant temperature during a system load change by using an energy storage device to provide power to the load while the turbine is changing speed to meet the new load demand.

A method of generating electrical power in which a synthesis gas stream generated in a gasifier is combusted in an oxygen transport membrane system of a boiler. The combustion generates heat to raise steam to in turn generate electricity by a generator coupled to a steam turbine. The resultant flue gas can be purified to produce a carbon dioxide product.

A wind powered turbine with low voltage ride-through capability. An inverter is connected to the output of a turbine generator. The generator output is conditioned by the inverter resulting in an output voltage and current at a frequency and phase angle appropriate for transmission to a three-phase utility grid. A frequency and phase angle sensor is connected to the utility grid operative during a fault on the grid. A control system is connected to the sensor and to the inverter. The control system output is a current command signal enabling the inverter to put out a current waveform, which is of the same phase and frequency as detected by the sensor. The control system synthesizes current waveform templates for all three-phases based on a sensed voltage on one phase and transmits currents to all three-phases of the electrical system based on the synthesized current waveforms.

A thermodynamic system for waste heat recovery, using an organic rankine cycle is provided which employs a single organic heat transferring fluid to recover heat energy from two waste heat streams having differing waste heat temperatures. Separate high and low temperature boilers provide high and low pressure vapor streams that are routed into an integrated turbine assembly having dual turbines mounted on a common shaft. Each turbine is appropriately sized for the pressure ratio of each stream.

A method to integrate collected solar thermal energy into the feedwater system of a Rankine cycle power plant is disclosed. This novelty uses a closed loop, single phase fluid system to collect both the solar heat and to provide the heat input into the feedwater stream of a regenerative Rankine cycle. One embodiment of this method of integrating solar energy into a regenerative Rankine power plant cycle, such as a coal power plant, allows for automatic balancing of the steam extraction flows and does not change the temperature of the feedwater to the boiler. The concept, depending on the application, allows for the spare turbine capacity normally available in a coal plant to be used to produce incremental capacity and energy that is powered by solar thermal energy. By “piggybacking” on the available components and infrastructure of the host Rankine cycle power plant, considerable cost savings are achieved resulting in lower solar produced electricity costs.

A desalination apparatus capable of obtaining fresh water stably at low cost by utilizing low-temperature waste, wherein the desalination apparatus including a heat exchanger 92 cooperating with an evaporation can 60 so as to subject a low-temperature waste heat 11 and raw water 62 in the evaporation can 60 to heat exchange and generate water vapor 63 in the evaporation can 60; a condenser 98 cooperating with a raw water tank 72 so as to receive the water vapor 63 from the evaporation can 60, cool the water vapor 63 by subjecting the water vapor 63 and raw water 71 in the raw water tank 72 to heat exchange and obtain distilled water 76; a distilled water tank for storing the distilled water 76; vacuum means for evacuating the evaporation can 60 and depressurizing the inside thereof so as to promote generation of water vapor 63 in the evaporation can 60; and raw water supply means for supplying raw water to the evaporation can.

Water is generated onboard of a craft such as an aircraft or in a self-contained stationary system by partially or completely integrating a water generating unit into a power plant of the craft or system. The water generating unit includes one or more high temperature fuel cells which partially or completely replace the combustion chamber or chambers of the power plant. A reformer process is integrated into the high temperature fuel cell which is arranged between, on the one hand, a fan (30) and power plant compressor stages (31, 32) and, on the other hand, power plant turbine stages (33, 34). These power plant stages may be provided in such redundant numbers that safety and redundancy requirements are satisfied.

A closed loop system for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies from hydrogen, fossil fuels, bio-fuels, solar or other renewable and recoverable energy sources. The system can have a heating source, a superheater, an expander, a receiver, a condenser, vacuum pump, or absorber, a desorber, and regenerator with pumps and controls. The heating source and superheater are used to heat a working fluid (including ammonia, other refrigerants, a combination of refrigerants, or steam). A positive displacement liquid/vapor expander expands the heated working fluid to the near saturated or saturated state utilizing a reduced pressure, low-pressure, or sub-atmospheric exhaust sink. A condenser, vacuum pump, or absorber is used to generate the reduced pressure, low pressure, or sub-atmospheric sink. The desorber is used to reconstitute inlet vapor (for reuse) and the regenerator recovers heat generated by the process. The system can generate mechanical energy (or power) which can be used to drive a wide range of mechanical systems (including pumps, compressors, vehicles, conveyances, or other similar mechanical devices); or used to drive an electrical generator to meet electrical power needs-for residences, businesses or office buildings, or commercial and industrial applications. The system can supply electrical energy to power grids, and can be an alternative to power generation plants.

A solar thermal power plant 10 includes a steam generation portion 12 and a turbine 30. The steam generation portion 12 includes a steam drum 50 that separates water and steam, and an evaporator 36 and super heater 38 in fluid communication with the steam drum. The evaporator 36 receives and heats a portion of a flow of water from the steam drum 50 to provide the steam using solar energy provided thereto. The super heater 38 heats the steam from the evaporator 36 to provide super heated steam. A turbine 30 receives the super heated steam from the steam generation portion 12 to rotate the turbine. A plurality of extraction stages 66 extracts steam from the turbine 30 and provides the steam to a plurality of feedwater heaters 68. The feedwater heaters 68 heat the feedwater provided by the turbine 30, wherein the heated feedwater is provided to the steam generation portion 12.

A heat/electric supply system the entire efficiency of which is enhanced while reducing the capacity of facility. The heat/electric supply system is characterized in that electric power is supplied from a generator, a commercial power supply and a power storage unit in the time zone when power consumption by the power load is higher than a specified output C1 and commercial power is stored in a power storage unit in the night time zone can be utilized at the time of peak power demand, the backup power at the time of peak power demand can be reduced.

A method for producing power from a heat source comprises the steps of: heating an intermediate fluid with heat from the heat source and producing a vaporized intermediate fluid in an intermediate fluid heater/vaporizer. Heat from the vaporized intermediate fluid vaporizes an organic liquid working fluid present in an organic working fluid vaporizer to form a vaporized organic working fluid and intermediate fluid condensate. The vaporized organic working fluid is expanded in an organic vapor turbine for generating power and producing expanded vaporized organic working fluid; the expanded organic vaporized working fluid being condensed to produce an organic fluid condensate with the organic fluid condensate being supplied to the organic fluid vaporizer. According to the present invention, prior to supplying the vaporized intermediate fluid to the organic fluid vaporizer the vaporized intermediate fluid is expanded in an intermediate fluid vapor turbine and power is produced.

A method in which a parent hydrocarbon-rich material is processed so as to produce both a carbon-rich solid material that has a higher carbon to hydrogen ratio than that of the parent material and a carbon-deficient combustible gas that has a lower carbon to hydrogen ratio than the parent material. In the process, the material is activated by exposing it to a hot gas stream having elevated levels of one or both of carbon dioxide and water vapor. The combustible gas is combusted to produce heat. At least about 80% of the heat is used in one or more endothermic steps that include drying coal or biomass.

A method of and an apparatus for storing heat energy in a body of graphite at an elevated temperature are disclosed. The method comprises heating an inner region of a body of graphite when it is required to store the heat energy and recovering the heat by way of a heat exchanger, when the energy is required to be used. The apparatus is suitable for the storage of renewable energy and electric energy obtainable from off peak periods of supply.

In a method for removing carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas from a gas turbine plant (11), which exhaust gas is subjected to a downstream heat recovery process (12, 33), preferably in the heat recovery steam generator (33) of a water/steam cycle (12), a simplification of the plant engineering is achieved by the fact that the carbon dioxide is removed from the exhaust gas (39) between the gas turbine plant (11) and the heat recovery process (12, 33), and that a rotating, regenerative absorber/desorber (22) is used to remove the carbon dioxide, the absorber side of which absorber/desorber is connected into the exhaust gas stream (39) and the desorber side of which absorber/desorber is connected into a carbon dioxide cycle (38).

An exhaust gas treatment apparatus (20) for reducing the concentration of NO_x, HC and CO in an exhaust gas stream (18) such as produced by a gas turbine engine (12) of a power generating station (10). The treatment apparatus includes a multifunction catalytic element (26) having an upstream reducing-only portion (28) and a downstream reducing-plus-oxidizing portion (30) that is located downstream of an ammonia injection apparatus (24). The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO_x is promoted in the upstream portion of the catalytic element by the injection of ammonia in excess of the stoichiometric concentration, with the resulting ammonia slip being oxidized in the downstream portion of the catalytic element. Any additional NO_x generated by the oxidation of the ammonia is further reduced in the downstream portion before being passed to the atmosphere (22).

A roadway system and method for energy generation and distribution are presented. This system allows a geothermal infrastructure to be tied into the roadway system electricity grid. The geothermal infrastructure may include energy exchangers that are electrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid. By connecting the energy exchangers electrically to the roadway system electricity grid, the energy exchangers may be powered by solar and/or wind generating devices. In one embodiment of the invention, a roadway system for energy generation and distribution comprises a plurality of energy harnessing devices (e.g., solar and/or wind generating devices). The roadway system electricity grid is configured for mass distribution of electricity. The energy exchangers are configured to electrically connect to the roadway system electricity grid. Each of substantially all of the energy harnessing devices, is electrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of one of the roads.

A compact, lightweight steam turbine is connected to a central shaft that drives a high pressure pump, a high efficiency generator and a blower. An igniter burns fuel exiting a fuel injector to generate heat in a cyclone combustion chamber. Water pumped through coils is heated in the combustion chamber to produce steam energy to drive the turbine. Exhaust steam is directed through a centrifugal condenser having an arrangement of flat plates to condense the steam to a liquid state. The turbine drives the generator at a high rpm, through the connected shaft, to generate electric power.

A power generation system includes a power module and an external process module. The external process module may include at least one engine support element. The power module has at least one connection zone, and the external process module has at least one connection zone that is configured to align with the at least one connection zone of the power module. The aligned connection zones of the power module and the external process module permit relatively quick and inexpensive attachment of the external process module to the power module. The at least one engine support element may be an aftertreatment element.

The invention discloses an energy-saving heat supply system with a function of reducing the temperature of heat supply return water, and belongs to the field of improvement of energy utilization efficiency. Heat exchange can be repeatedly carried out on heat sources by multistage heat exchangers, multistage absorption heat exchange units, multistage compression heat pumps and an ice making type refrigerator, accordingly, the heat supply areas can be enlarged, and the energy utilization efficiency can be improved. The energy-saving heat supply system has the advantages that the temperature of the return water of heat supply primary pipe networks can be reduced and reach 0 DEG C, the return water contains 10% of ice particles, accordingly, route heat loss of the return water of the heat supply primary pipe networks can be reduced, the temperature difference of the return water of the heat supply primary pipe networks can be increased and reaches 118 DEG C from the original 60 DEG C, the flow rate of circulating water of the heat supply primary pipe networks can be lowered, energy consumption of circulating pumps can be reduced, heat supply flow rates of a user side can be greatly increased, the delivery efficiency of the pipe networks can be improved, the heat supply scale can be expanded, waste heat of a cooling tower can be recycled, and the like.

A process and apparatus are described for generating electrical energy using grains or other renewable biomass as the fuel, and for producing fertilizer to grow subsequent crops. In the process, a biomass material is incinerated in a firebox of a boiler to power a first turbine to create electricity. An excess air flow is introduced into the firebox to increase NO_x production. The oxidation area of the boiler is operated at a temperature exceeding about 2,000° F., and the flue gases are maintained in the high temperature environment for an increased residence time to increase NO_x production. The flyash from the incinerated biomass is filtered from the flue gases exhausted from the boiler. The NO_x is removed from the filtered flue gases and used to produce a nitrogen fertilizer. The nitrogen fertilizer is blended with the flyash to form a balanced fertilizer product which allows sustainable production of the biomass material.

A system and method for converting kinetic energy into useable thermal energy by means of a gas compression based cogeneration. Kinetic forces applied, that are coupled to kinetic components of electro-mechanic thrusters 3, 49-input side, and upper small area pistons 7, 53-receiving side transmitted by shafts 4 and 50 get multiplied through Pascal hydraulic oil links 16 and 17, that are between the lower side small area pistons 12, 58 and lower side large area pistons 21, 60. At least two compression chambers are used to compress gas therein repeatedly to increase the pressure and temperature of the same. Auxiliary compressors 41, 73 help to increase temperature of compressed gas further. Said heat generated is conducted into a single liquid sodium thermal storage volume 36 that facilitates a highly stable thermal storage volume and contains working gas spiral sections 35, 39 circulating within. Steam 113 generated within spiral sections 35, 39 generates power in turbines 99, 106 and then heat residential and/or commercial buildings 115. Service hot-water is provided utilizing a water tank 85 and refrigerant coil circulation oil volume 92, both utilize thermal storage volume 36 waste heat by conduction for a triple integrated system. The system may also be combined with other power generation systems. In second embodiment 121 with more than two units of compression chambers and higher capacity, low cost electric power generated enables efficient hydrogen mass production. A thermo-physical cogeneration system with central heating means, and a cogeneration power plant 121 with hydrogen mass production and hydrogen storage capabilities; are presented as what are new in the art.

An apparatus and a method generate power and refrigeration from low-grade heat. The apparatus includes a heating module, a power generator module, an ejector, a heat exchanger, a condenser module, a low-temperature evaporator, a reservoir, a pressure pump and two direction controllable three-way valves. The heating module includes a heat source and a boiler. The power generator module includes an expansion turbine and a power generator. The condenser module includes a condenser and a cooling tower. The method is that the direction controllable three-way valves are operated to change the flow directions of the working fluid for executing a power generation and refrigeration mode, a power generation mode, a refrigeration mode or an idle mode.

A process for separating carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide containing fluid comprises the steps of: compressing the fluid in a compressor to form a compressed fluid, drying at least part of the compressed fluid to form a compressed and dried fluid, cooling at least part of the compressed and dried fluid to form a compressed, dried and cooled fluid, separating the compressed, dried and cooled fluid at a temperature lower than 0° C. into a carbon dioxide rich stream, a carbon dioxide lean stream and at least one intermediate purity liquid stream having a carbon dioxide purity lower than that of the carbon dioxide rich stream and higher than that of the carbon dioxide lean stream, expanding at least one intermediate purity liquid stream to produce at least one expanded stream using at least one expanded stream to cool the compressed and dried fluid and recycling at least part of the expanded stream.

A combined heat and AC power generating system is disclosed having black start capability for the full time, simultaneous production of both electricity and heat. Heat generated within the system is captured and used for heating applications such as heating building air and tap water. The power generating system comprises an engine, generator, rectifier, variable frequency drive inverter, and inverter control electronics. The system provides improved efficiency and prolonged engine life by always operating the engine with its throttle fully open to obtain maximum efficiency and the engine is normally operated near its stall point. In this operating state the inverter control electronics adjust the power output from the inverter to control the speed of the engine. This is done by increasing the power output from the inverter when the power drawn by the load decreases. This causes the engine to operate closer to its stall point and it slows down. The power from the inverter is decreased when the power drawn by the load increases. This causes the engine to operate further from its stall point and it speeds up. The slight power changes to facilitate this operation will always be drawn from or distributed to the electric utility grid so there is no wasted power. The inverter control electronics are responsive to signals from loads such as refrigeration loads to cause the frequency of the inverter output to change to permit the refrigeration load to operate more efficiently.

A system is provided for converting thermal energy derived from a solar field into electricity. The system is adapted to operate in accordance with at least two modes of operation, depending upon the thermal energy intake, and comprises: a first power generation sub-system comprising means to heat water into superheated steam by exchanging heat with a first heat transfer fluid being heated at the solar radiation collecting field, and a back pressure turbine for producing electricity; a second power generation sub-system comprising means to heat a second working fluid, and the second working fluid is used to operate a second turbine for producing electricity; and wherein the system is characterized in that when the thermal energy received at the first power generation sub-system exceeds a predetermined threshold of a selected criterion, both power generation sub-systems are operative to produce electricity and at least part of the heat required to heat the second working fluid is derived from exhaust steam being produced at the first power generation sub-system, whereas when the thermal energy received at the first power generation sub-system does not exceed that threshold, the thermal energy conveyed by the first heat transfer fluid is used essentially to heat the second working fluid and the electricity is generated only by the second power generation sub-system.

The invention provides a combined-cycle combined heat and power system, which comprises a steam turbine, an afterheat boiler and a heat network steam extraction system, wherein the steam turbine comprises a high-pressure cylinder, an intermediate-pressure cylinder and a low-pressure cylinder, the afterheat boiler comprises a high-pressure steam drum, an intermediate-pressure steam drum and a low-pressure steam drum, the three steam drums respectively generate three flows of steam, high-pressure steam, intermediate-pressure steam and low-pressure steam are respectively injected into the high-pressure cylinder, the intermediate-pressure cylinder and the low-pressure cylinder to apply work through expansion, and a generator is driven to output electric energy. A high-discharge check valve is arranged on a steam discharge pipeline of the high-pressure cylinder, and the heat network steam extraction system designed for heating is arranged at the downstream part of the high-discharge check valve and comprises two regulating valves in parallel connection, wherein the first regulating valve is connected with a first-stage temperature and pressure reduction device used for realizing the primary steam extraction regulation of the steam turbine, and the second regulation valve is connected with a pipeline arranged between an intermediate-pressure steam generator and an intermediate-pressure superheater through a cold reheating pipeline. Compared with a traditional combined cycle combined heat and power system, the combined-cycle combined heat and power system provided by the invention has the advantages that the operation efficiency is high, the generating efficiency is high, and high-quality energy source waste is little.

A vapor compression cycle system is combined with a Rankine cycle system, with the two systems having a common suction accumulator from which the compressor draws refrigerant vapor for the vapor compression cycle system and from which a pump draws liquid refrigerant for circulation within the Rankine cycle system. The vapor from the Rankine cycle system expander is passed to the compressor discharge to provide a mixture which is circulated within the vapor compression cycle system to obtain improved performance. The heat exchangers are sized so as to obtain a non-complete evaporation, with the resulting two-phase fluid passing to the suction accumulator to provide liquid refrigerant to the Rankine cycle system and vapor refrigerant to the vapor compression cycle system.