Gas Turbine Storage Engine Design for Peaking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy storage systems, such as CAES, face limitations in scalability, flexibility, and environmental impact, making them unsuitable for widespread adoption and efficient integration with renewable energy sources.
Innovation Solution
The T-Phase engine technology modifies existing gas turbines by removing the compressor section and introducing a thrust bearing, allowing air to be heated by the engine's exhaust and supplied from a remote source, enabling a continuous peaking output mode and increased energy storage efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the compressor section is removed and air is supplied from a remote source, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the system requires additional external infrastructure increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the compressor section from the gas turbine engine, extracting this component entirely from the system. The compressor housing is modified to eliminate compressor rotatable airfoils, and a thrust bearing is added to the shaft line to handle the thrust loads previously managed by the compressor. This extraction simplifies the engine core while maintaining functionality through alternative air supply methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a remote air supply system as an intermediary component to provide compressed air to the engine inlet. This external air supply system acts as a mediator between the atmosphere and the engine combustor, eliminating the need for an onboard compressor while ensuring adequate air delivery. The intermediary system includes air storage tanks and delivery mechanisms that bridge the gap between external air sources and engine requirements.
2Loss of energy
If air is heated by exhaust and supplied from remote source, then energy efficiency is improved by heat recovery, but loss of time increases due to heating requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preheating of the compressed air using exhaust gases before the air enters the combustor. This preliminary heating action occurs in a heat exchanger where exhaust heat is transferred to the incoming compressed air, reducing the additional fuel required for combustion and improving overall thermal efficiency. The preheating process prepares the air in advance, minimizing the energy deficit that would otherwise require extra fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat in the exhaust gases into a beneficial resource by using it to preheat the compressed air supply. The exhaust heat, which would otherwise be lost to the environment, is captured and utilized in a heat recovery system to warm the incoming air, thereby reducing fuel consumption and improving energy efficiency. This transformation turns a detrimental waste product into a valuable energy source.
3Ease of manufacture
If compressor rotatable airfoils are removed, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but productivity decreases due to reduced air compression capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical compression system (rotatable compressor airfoils) with an alternative air delivery mechanism. Instead of using rotating blades to dynamically compress air, the system relies on a remote compressed air supply system that delivers pre-compressed air to the engine. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical compression components while maintaining adequate air supply capacity through external compression infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the air compression function from the engine core, separating the compression process into an independent external system. The engine itself focuses solely on combustion and power generation, while air compression is handled by separate external equipment. This functional segmentation allows the engine to be simpler and easier to manufacture, while the compression capability is maintained by dedicated external compression systems.
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 enhances energy storage capacity, reduces costs, and increases flexibility by allowing the system to operate efficiently in a continuous peaking mode, addressing the limitations of traditional energy storage systems.
Implementation Method 1
air supplied to the combustor of the storage engine is heated by exhaust of the storage engine
Implementation Method 2
introducing an increased capacity thrust bearing on a shaft line
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a method of modifying an existing gas turbine to create a storage engine is provided. The gas turbine has a combustor, a compressor section, and a turbine section. The method comprises the step of modifying the compressor section of the gas turbine to form the storage engine. Air supplied to the combustor of the storage engine is heated by exhaust of the storage engine and is supplied from a remote source of air. Modifying the compressor section includes removing at least some of a plurality of rotatable airfoils of a compressor of the compressor section and introducing an increased capacity thrust bearing on a shaft line.