Power unit

Abstract

This invention aims to eliminate the loss caused by the reduction in volume due to the loss of thermal energy in a turbine, and to provide a power device that utilizes the energy that a liquid absorbs from thermal energy and vaporizes. [Solution] A trap and piping supplying liquid and compressed gas to the trap are installed inside the pressure vessel. High-temperature compressed gas is released into the liquid through numerous small holes at the outlet of the piping in the trap, vaporizing the liquid in the trap and pressurizing the inside of the vessel. This process supplies compressed gas from the pressurized pressure vessel to the ejector, and the liquid supplied to and transported by the ejector is given kinetic energy by the compressed gas. The gas supplied to the ejector and the transported liquid then drive the turbine and produce power.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to obtaining an output from a gas having thermal energy such as exhaust gas applicable to a thermal power plant.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, in order to obtain an output using the thermal energy of a gas, a turbine is driven and output by the volume expansion of the gas due to the thermal energy of the gas.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

[0004]

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a device that eliminates losses caused by the loss of thermal energy and the reduction of volume of steam in a turbine and uses the kinetic energy until the gas liquefies.

[0006] Another object is to provide a device that utilizes the pressure used to discharge gas in a device that drives a turbine only with the liquid pushed out by the pressure of the gas.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To achieve the above object, a pressure vessel is provided with a trap and a pipe for supplying liquid and compressed gas to the trap. A number of pores are arranged at the outlet of the trap liquid in the pipe. The supplied gas and the evaporated liquid operate an ejector, and a turbine is driven by the gas discharged from the ejector and the conveyed liquid.

[0008] By releasing high-temperature compressed gas into the trap liquid inside a pressure vessel, the liquid in the trap can absorb the gas's thermal energy, resulting in improved output and thermal efficiency.

[0009] By supplying gas from a pressure vessel to an ejector and driving a turbine with the liquid transported by the ejector and the supplied gas, the loss of kinetic energy due to the gas supplied to the ejector losing thermal energy and decreasing in volume is minimized, resulting in improved output and thermal efficiency.

[0010] In the present invention, preferably, the power device supplies gas to the device, which is gas heated by waste heat from other equipment, exhaust gas or steam from an internal combustion engine or external combustion engine, or a mixture of exhaust gas, steam or heated gas.

[0011] In the present invention, preferably, the liquid supplied to the device is water, a heated liquid, a coolant heated by a heat exchanger, condensed steam, or a mixture thereof, which can further improve output and thermal efficiency.

[0012] In the present invention, preferably, a power device is provided with feather-shaped or needle-shaped protrusions on the inner and outer surfaces of the trap inside the pressure vessel to increase the surface area of ​​the trap, thereby further improving output and thermal efficiency.

[0013] In the present invention, preferably, a compressor that compresses a gas using a liquid is used to receive thermal energy during gas compression and supply compressed gas, thereby recovering more energy from the gas and further improving output and thermal efficiency.

[0014] In the present invention, preferably, a power unit insulated from the outside can be used to further improve output and thermal efficiency. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, since the kinetic energy of a gas is converted into the kinetic energy of a liquid by an ejector, even if the liquid driving the turbine loses thermal energy, the loss of kinetic energy due to volume reduction is small.

[0016] In addition, since the liquid that obtains kinetic energy by the ejector drives the turbine, it is possible to output the kinetic energy after liquefaction of a gas that could not be used in a device that drives a turbine with a gas such as steam, and it has versatility.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] It is a configuration diagram of Example 1. [Figure 2] It is a configuration diagram of Example 2. [Figure 3] It is a configuration diagram of Example 3. [Figure 4] It is a configuration diagram of Example 8. [Figure 5] It is a configuration diagram of Example 9. [Figure 6] It is a configuration diagram of a device for compressing the gas used in Example 10. [Figure 7] It is a timing diagram of Example 1 and Example 2. [Figure 8] It is a timing diagram of a device for compressing the gas used in Example 10.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

Examples

[0018] This will be described based on FIG. 1. Traps are installed inside pressure vessels such as pressure vessel T3 and pressure vessel T4. Inside the traps, pipes for supplying a liquid and a gas having a pressure above atmospheric pressure into the pressure vessels are arranged. A pipe and a valve for taking out the gas from the pressure vessel that supplies the liquid and the gas into the container from the pipe outlet in the trap liquid are attached. The outlet valves of multiple pressure vessels are alternately opened to supply the gas inside the pressure vessels to the ejector. The liquid conveyed by the ejector and the gas supplied to the ejector are discharged from the ejector to drive a turbine. The operation will be described below with reference to the timing diagram of FIG. 7.

[0019] To supply the amount of liquid necessary for the operation heated by the trap in pressure vessel T3 from FIG. 1's liquid IN, set valve V9 closed, valve V10 closed, and valve V11 open according to FIG. 7. At this time, pressure vessel T4 is in the process of supplying compressed gas and no compressed gas is output. Valve V12 is open, valve V13 is closed, and valve V14 is closed.

[0020] Next, to store compressed gas in pressure vessel T3, with valve V9 open, valve V10 closed, and valve V11 closed, supply the compressed gas into the liquid in trap TR of pressure vessel T3. At this time, the compressed gas in pressure vessel T4 is output. Valve V13 is open, valve V12 is closed, and valve V14 is closed.

[0021] After the compressed gas in pressure vessel T4 is output, to supply the liquid heated by the trap in pressure vessel T4 from liquid IN, set valve V12 closed, valve V13 closed, and valve V14 open. At this time, pressure vessel T3 is in the process of supplying compressed gas and no compressed gas is output. Valve V9 is open, valve V10 is closed, and valve V11 is closed.

[0022] Next, to store compressed gas in pressure vessel T4, set valve V12 open, valve V13 closed, and valve V14 closed. At this time, the compressed gas in pressure vessel T3 is output. Valve V10 is open, valve V9 is closed, and valve V11 is closed.

[0023] Next, the liquid heated in the trap of pressure vessel T3 is supplied again from valve V11, and compressed gas is supplied to pressure vessel T4 from valve V12, and the operation shown in the timing diagram of Figure 7 is repeated to produce a continuous output.

[0024] The heat from the gas supplied to pressure vessels T3 and T4 vaporizes the liquid in the traps within the pressure vessels. The kinetic energy of the gas supplied to the ejector along with the supplied gas imparts kinetic energy to the liquid being transported by the ejector. This kinetic energy of the liquid, along with the kinetic energy of the supplied gas, drives the turbine and generates output. [Examples]

[0025] Based on Figure 2, a trap is installed inside each of the pressure vessels T3, T4, and T5. Inside the trap, piping is arranged to supply liquid and gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure into the pressure vessel. Liquid and gas are supplied into the vessel from the outlet of the piping located in the liquid inside the trap, sealing it in place. Piping and valves are then installed to extract the gas from the pressure vessel, and the gas released from pressure vessels T3, T4, and T5 is supplied to separate ejectors to drive turbines. By alternately opening the outlet valves of the pressure vessels, the gas inside the pressure vessels is supplied to the corresponding ejectors. The gas supplied to the ejectors along with the liquid transported by each ejector is released from the ejectors to drive the turbines. The operation of this power device will be explained below with reference to the timing diagram in Figure 7.

[0026] According to the timing diagram in Figure 7, valves 9 and 10 are closed and valve 11 is open in order to supply liquid into the pressure vessel T3 trap. At this time, pressure vessel T4 is in output mode with valves 12 and 14 closed and valve 13 open, while pressure vessel T5 is supplying gas with valves 16 and 17 closed and valve 15 open.

[0027] Next, in order to supply gas into the pressure vessel T3 trap, valves 10 and 11 are closed and valve 9 is opened. At this time, pressure vessel T4 is in the state of supplying liquid, with valves 12 and 13 closed and valve 14 open, while pressure vessel T5 is in the state of outputting, with valves 15 and 17 closed and valve 16 open.

[0028] To output from the pressure vessel T3 trap, valves 9 and 11 are closed, and valve 10 is open. At this time, pressure vessel T4 is in a state where valves 13 and 14 are closed and valve 12 is open, supplying gas, while pressure vessel T5 is in a state where valves 15 and 16 are closed and valve 17 is open, supplying liquid.

[0029] When the pressure from valve 10 of pressure vessel T3 and valve 13 of pressure vessel T4 is insufficient to drive the turbine, a power unit that outputs valve 16 of pressure vessel T5 supplies liquid into the traps of pressure vessels T3, T4, and T5, and supplies gas from the piping outlet located in the liquid within the traps. The heat from the supplied gas vaporizes the liquid in the traps, and together with the supplied gas, the liquid is supplied to the ejector. The liquid transported by the ejector and the gas supplied to the ejector drive the turbine and generate output. [Examples]

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, the pressure vessel is a single unit. A trap is installed inside the pressure vessel, and piping is provided inside the trap to supply a gas and a liquid at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure separately. The necessary amount of liquid is constantly supplied to the trap from the liquid piping so that the outlet of the gas piping is submerged in the liquid. The liquid level inside the trap is kept constant so that the outlet of the gas piping is submerged in the liquid. The gas supplied to the pressure vessel vaporizes the liquid inside the trap, and the liquid and gas are supplied to the ejector. The liquid transported by the ejector and the gas supplied to the ejector drive a turbine and produce output. [Examples]

[0031] In Example 1 or Example 2, numerous pores are provided at the outlet of a pipe located inside a trap in the pressure vessel, gas is supplied into the vessel to vaporize more of the liquid inside the trap, the vaporized liquid inside the trap and the gas supplied to the pressure vessel are supplied to an ejector, and the liquid transported by the ejector and the gas supplied to the ejector drive a turbine to produce output. [Examples]

[0032] In Example 3, a gas pipe outlet in the liquid inside the trap of the pressure vessel is provided with numerous pores, or a liquid pipe outlet in the trap is provided with numerous pores, or both the gas pipe outlet and the liquid pipe outlet are provided with numerous pores, thereby supplying gas and liquid to the trap in the pressure vessel to vaporize more of the liquid in the trap. The vaporized liquid in the trap and the gas supplied to the pressure vessel are then supplied to the ejector, and the liquid transported by the ejector and the gas supplied to the ejector drive the turbine to generate output. [Examples]

[0033] In Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, or Example 5, feather-shaped or needle-shaped protrusions are provided on the inner, outer, or both sides of the trap of the pressure vessel to increase the surface area of ​​the trap and promote the vaporization of the liquid in the trap. This vapor is then supplied to the ejector along with the gas supplied to the pressure vessel, and the liquid transported by the ejector and the gas supplied to the ejector drive the turbine and produce output. [Examples]

[0034] In Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, or Example 6, the liquid supplied to the pressure vessel and trap is water, heated liquid, coolant heated by a heat exchanger, condensed vapor, or a mixture thereof. This vaporizes more of the liquid in the trap within the pressure vessel and supplies it to the ejector along with the gas supplied to the pressure vessel. The liquid transported by the ejector and the gas supplied to the ejector drive the turbine and generate output. This increases the output. It outputs power to increase the output. [Examples]

[0035] As shown in Figure 4, a gas or liquid with a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure is supplied to the ejector, and the liquid transported by the ejector, along with the gas or liquid supplied to the ejector, drives the turbine and outputs power. [Examples]

[0036] In the power unit of Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6, Example 7, or Example 8, as shown in Figure 5, the liquid conveyed by the ejector is supplied to the ejector by a pump and output. [Examples]

[0037] The gas supplied to the power unit of Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6, Example 7, Example 8, or Example 9 is supplied by the following compressor, and will be explained based on Figure 6, assuming there are two compression vessels.

[0038] The gas to be compressed and the liquid required for compression are supplied from the inlet. Referring to the timing diagram in Figure 8, the operation is explained as follows: With valves V1, V7, and V8 open and valves V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6 closed, the liquid in compression container T2 is supplied to compression container T1 by a pump, compressing the gas in compression container T1 which is filled with gas, and supplying it to pressure vessel T3 or T4.

[0039] At this time, gas is supplied into the compression container T2 from the inlet of valve V7. However, if the amount of liquid in the compression container T2 is insufficient, the gas in the compression container T1 cannot be compressed. Therefore, if the amount of liquid in the compression container T2 is insufficient, the required amount of liquid is supplied along with the gas from the inlet of valve V7.

[0040] When the gas in the compression container T1 reaches the specified pressure, valve V2 is opened and valve V1 is closed simultaneously. At this time, opening valve V5 will not shut off the pump because valve V8 is also open.

[0041] After the compressed air in the compression container T1 has been delivered and valve V2 has been closed, with valves V3, V4, and V5 open and valve V8 closed, the liquid in the compression container T1 is supplied to the compression container T2 by a pump to compress the gas in the compression container T2.

[0042] At this time, gas is supplied into the compression container T1 from the inlet just before valve V3. However, if the amount of liquid in the compression container T1 is insufficient, the gas in the compression container T2 cannot be compressed. Therefore, if the amount of liquid in the compression container T1 is insufficient, the necessary amount of liquid is supplied along with the gas from valve V3.

[0043] When the compressed gas in the compression container T2 reaches the required pressure, valve V6 is opened and valve V5 is closed simultaneously. When valve V1 is opened at this time, valve V4 is also open, so the pump will not shut off completely.

[0044] After the compressed air in the compression container T2 has finished being delivered and valve V6 has been closed, valves V1, V7, and V8 are opened again, and valves V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6 are closed to compress the gas in the compression container T1, and the operation shown in the timing diagram is repeated to generate compressed gas. [Examples]

[0045] In Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6, Example 7, Example 8, Example 9, or Example 10, if the gas supplied is at or below atmospheric pressure, the gas supplied to the power unit is pressurized with a compressor and then supplied. [Examples]

[0046] The gas supplied to Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6, Example 7, Example 8, Example 9, Example 10, or Example 11 is air, heated gas, exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, exhaust gas from an external combustion engine, steam, or a mixture thereof, to promote the vaporization of the liquid and increase the output. [Examples]

[0047] In the power devices of Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6, Example 7, Example 8, Example 9, Example 10, Example 11, or Example 12, the liquid conveyed by the ejector is water, heated liquid, coolant heated in a heat exchanger, condensed vapor, or a mixture thereof, and the vaporization of the liquid is promoted to increase the output. [Examples]

[0048] Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13: The device is insulated from the outside to increase the output. [Examples]

[0049] In the power unit of Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6, Example 7, Example 8, Example 9, Example 10, Example 11, Example 12, Example 13, or Example 14, the power of the turbine drives the generator to generate electricity. [Industrial applicability]

[0050] This power device utilizes the thermal energy of compressed gas to generate output, providing a versatile power source that can make use of previously wasted thermal energy.

[0051] This power system converts the kinetic energy of compressed gas into the kinetic energy of a liquid using an ejector, and outputs it through a turbine, thus providing an efficient and versatile power system that eliminates losses due to temperature drops in the turbine.

[0052] This power device provides a versatile power system that drives a turbine with a liquid that has gained kinetic energy through an ejector, thereby converting the thermal energy of a gas that could not be used in gas-driven systems such as steam turbines into kinetic or electrical energy output. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] T1 Compression container T1 T2 Compression Container T2 T3 pressure vessel T3 T4 pressure vessel T4 T5 pressure vessel T5 TR Trap V1 Valve V2 Valve V3 Valve V4 valve V5 valve V6 valve V7 valve V8 valve V9 valve V10 valve V11 valve V12 valve V13 valve V14 valve V15 valve V16 valve V17 valve EJ Ejector TU Turbine G Generator P Pump

Claims

1. A power system comprising multiple pressure vessels, traps installed inside each pressure vessel, piping to supply liquid and gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure or gas pressurized by a compressor inside each trap, valves attached to the inlet of the piping to supply and seal in the gas, gas supplied through the outlet of the piping in the liquid inside the trap or through numerous small holes made at the outlet of the piping to vaporize the liquid inside the trap, piping and valves attached to the pressure vessels to extract the gas from inside the pressure vessels, the outlet valves of the multiple pressure vessels being opened alternately to supply the gas that has come out of the pressure vessels to an ejector, and the liquid transported by the ejector and the gas supplied to the ejector to drive a turbine.

2. A power device comprising a single pressure vessel with a trap installed inside, separate pipes for supplying a gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure or a gas pressurized by a compressor, and a liquid, into the trap, with the liquid and gas being supplied to the trap from the respective pipe outlets or numerous small holes provided at the pipe outlets within the trap in the pressure vessel, the amount of liquid necessary for the gas pipe outlet to be submerged in liquid being supplied to the trap from the liquid pipe, the liquid vaporized by the gas supplied to the trap from the gas pipe and the gas supplied to the pressure vessel being supplied from the pressure vessel to an ejector, and the liquid transported by the ejector and the gas supplied to the ejector driving a turbine.

3. A power device having feather-shaped or needle-shaped protrusions on the inner surface, outer surface, or both surfaces of a trap located inside a pressure vessel according to claim 1 or claim 2, thereby increasing the surface area.

4. A power device that supplies a gas or liquid with a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, or a gas pressurized by a compressor, to an ejector, and drives a turbine with the liquid transported by the ejector and the gas or liquid supplied to the ejector.

5. A power supply device that supplies gas to a power supply device according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, or claim 4, by attaching inlet and outlet piping and valves to a plurality of sealed containers, closing the outlet valve of a sealed container filled with gas, closing the inlet valve of the sealed container while the gas is compressed by liquid supplied from the inlet valve of the sealed container, and alternately opening the outlet valves of the sealed containers to supply compressed gas to the power supply device.

6. A power device that supplies liquid conveyed by an ejector of a power device according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, or claim 5 using a pump.

7. A power unit according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, or claim 6, which supplies a gas that is air, heated gas, exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, exhaust gas from an external combustion engine, steam, or a mixture thereof, or a power unit that supplies a liquid that is water, heated liquid, coolant heated in a heat exchanger, condensed steam, or a mixture thereof, for driving the ejector according to claim 4.

8. A power device in which the liquid conveyed by the ejector of the power device according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, claim 6, or claim 7 is water, a heated liquid, a coolant heated in a heat exchanger, a condensed form of steam, or a mixture thereof.

9. A power device that generates electricity by attaching a generator to the output shaft of a power device according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, claim 6, claim 7, or claim 8.

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