EGR Heat Exchanger Fuel Heating Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbomachines face challenges in reducing NOx, CO2, and SOx emissions, and the high temperature of exhaust gases from recirculation in EGR systems poses issues for efficient energy use, particularly in heating fuels, leading to a parasitic load that decreases overall efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An EGR system integrated with a heat exchanging device that utilizes low-value heat from the exhaust stream to increase the temperature of the fuel consumed by the turbomachine, reducing the parasitic load by transferring heat from the exhaust stream to the fuel, thereby optimizing energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If exhaust gas recirculation is used to reduce emissions, then NOx and SOx emission levels are reduced, but the high temperature of the exhaust stream becomes too high for safe recirculation into the inlet section
Solution Approach 1:
A heat exchanger is introduced as an intermediary device between the exhaust stream and the inlet section. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the hot exhaust stream to the fuel stream, cooling the exhaust to a safe recirculation temperature while simultaneously heating the fuel to its required temperature, thus resolving the temperature contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the exhaust stream by transferring heat to another medium (fuel). This parameter change allows the exhaust to be cooled from its initially too-high temperature to a safe recirculation temperature range, enabling the EGR process to proceed safely.
2Temperature
If a fuel heater is used to increase the temperature of natural gas to meet turbomachine requirements, then the fuel temperature is increased to the required range, but a parasitic load is created that reduces the overall efficiency of the turbomachine site
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful waste heat from the exhaust stream into a beneficial resource by using it to heat the fuel. This eliminates the need for separate fuel heating systems and their associated parasitic loads, turning an energy waste into a useful function that improves overall system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger performs multiple functions simultaneously: it cools the exhaust stream to enable safe recirculation and heats the fuel to its required temperature. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heating systems, reducing parasitic loads and improving overall efficiency.
3Temperature
If the exhaust stream is cooled to an allowable temperature range for recirculation, then the exhaust stream can be safely recirculated into the inlet section, but the heat removed from the exhaust stream represents low value heat that is typically wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the previously wasted low-value heat from the exhaust stream into a useful resource by using it to heat the fuel. This eliminates energy waste and improves overall system efficiency while achieving the necessary temperature reduction for safe exhaust recirculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust stream's own heat content is used to serve the fuel heating requirement. The exhaust stream effectively heats itself (indirectly through the heat exchanger) and simultaneously provides the necessary cooling to enable its own safe recirculation, creating a self-sufficient thermal management system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively reduces NOx and SOx emissions while utilizing low-value heat to efficiently heat the fuel, enhancing the turbomachine's overall efficiency by minimizing energy loss associated with fuel heating.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one heat exchanging device receives the fuel at a first temperature and discharges the fuel at a second temperature while a portion of the exhaust stream flows through a portion of the at least one heat exchanging device
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present invention may take the form of a system that may use the heat removed from an exhaust stream during an exhaust gas recirculation process to heat the fuel consumed by a turbomachine.