Fuel Gas Conditioning System with U-Shaped Heaters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Circulation heaters for gas turbines face challenges in efficiently heating feed gas to a superheated state above its dew point, with existing systems often requiring complex setups and struggling to maintain consistent temperature and pressure conditions to prevent condensation.
Innovation Solution
A fuel gas conditioning system with a pressure vessel containing pre-heater and super-heater units, featuring U-shaped electrical resistance heater elements and a variable expansion valve, which together ensure the gas is heated above its dew point, using a controller to manage power and temperature sensors to maintain desired conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If circulation heaters use heating elements in direct contact with fluidic material, then heating efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for consistent temperature and pressure control
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into multiple heating elements arranged in series within a single passageway, allowing progressive heating of the gas stream while maintaining simpler control requirements for each individual element
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors are positioned at strategic locations within the passageway to provide feedback to the control system, enabling automatic adjustment of heating element power to maintain desired temperature profile and prevent condensation
2Volume of moving object
If heating elements are positioned within passageway, then space requirements are reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Heating elements are nested within the passageway structure, with each element positioned to extend through corresponding passages in baffles, creating a compact integrated assembly that reduces overall volume while maintaining manufacturability through standardized positioning features
3Reliability
If gas is heated to superheated state, then condensation prevention is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating action by pre-heating the gas stream before it enters the main heating zone, reducing the total energy required to achieve the final superheated state and preventing condensation more efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts heating parameters based on real-time temperature and pressure measurements, optimizing energy consumption by applying only the necessary heat to maintain the gas in a superheated state above its dew point
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
The system effectively conditions the feed gas to a superheated state, preventing condensation and ensuring a dry gas supply to the turbine, with a compact design reducing space requirements and external flowlines, while maintaining reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of spaced apart baffles are positioned within the passageway of the inner tubular housing, wherein each baffle defines at least one passageway. One or more heating elements are positioned within the passageway of the inner tubular housing, wherein each heating element extends through a corresponding passageway in each of the baffles
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for heating fluidic materials.