Combined Power Generation System Using Turbine Cooling Air and Waste Heat

The patent combines the LNG regasification process with the gas turbine power generation system by integrating a heat exchanger that uses turbine exhaust heat to regasify LNG. This merging of functions allows the system to simultaneously generate power and regasify LNG without additional energy input, converting what would be wasted exhaust heat into useful regasification energy.

The patent converts the harmful waste heat from turbine exhaust into a beneficial resource for LNG regasification. By directing turbine exhaust through a heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy to liquefied natural gas, the system transforms previously wasted thermal energy into the cooling capability needed for efficient regasification.

The patent introduces turbine exhaust gas as an intermediary heat transfer medium between the heat source and the LNG. Instead of using seawater directly for heat exchange, the system uses the exhaust gas in a heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy to the LNG, eliminating direct contact between seawater and the regasification process while still achieving the desired thermal transfer.

The patent extracts the heat transfer function from the seawater and relocates it to a controlled heat exchanger system using turbine exhaust. This separation removes the harmful interaction with marine ecosystems while preserving the essential heat transfer capability needed for regasification.

The patent converts the energy that would be lost as waste heat during pressure reduction into a useful resource. By capturing the thermal energy from the pressure reduction process and routing it through a heat exchanger to preheat combustion air or provide process heat, the system transforms the previously wasted energy into a beneficial contribution to overall system efficiency.

The pressure reduction system is designed to serve multiple functions: it controls gas pressure for safe operation while simultaneously generating thermal energy that can be used for preheating, process heating, or power generation. This multi-functionality eliminates the traditional trade-off between pressure control and energy conservation.

The patent merges the turbine cooling air discharge with the LNG regasification process by directing the cooled exhaust air through a heat exchanger that contacts the LNG. This integration allows the cooling air, which would otherwise be wasted, to serve a dual purpose: maintaining turbine cooling while providing the thermal energy needed for efficient LNG regasification.

The patent converts the wasted thermal energy in the discharged cooling air into a beneficial resource for LNG regasification. By capturing this thermal energy in a heat exchanger and using it to cool the LNG, the system transforms what was previously a loss into a valuable contribution to the regasification process.