Steam Power Plant Fuel Drying with Exhaust Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for converting thermal energy into electrical energy suffer from low efficiency and high thermal energy losses, leading to reduced productivity and environmental pollution.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a tank for wet combustible matter, a steam boiler, a heat exchanger, and an electrical turbogenerator, where exhaust steam from the turbogenerator is used to dry and then burn the combustible matter, with the condensed steam reused in the boiler to generate high-pressure steam for energy conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If exhaust steam is used to dry wet combustible matter before combustion, then thermal energy efficiency is improved and productivity increases, but device complexity increases due to the addition of a drying chamber and heat exchanger system
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful waste heat from exhaust steam into a useful resource for drying wet combustible matter. The exhaust steam, which would otherwise be discarded causing thermal energy loss, is redirected to the drying chamber where it evaporates moisture from the fuel. This transforms an energy loss into a productive function, improving overall thermal efficiency while utilizing an existing resource
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the drying function with the existing combustion system by integrating a drying chamber and heat exchanger into the steam cycle. The drying chamber is connected to receive exhaust steam, and the condensed water from drying is fed back to the boiler. This combines thermal energy recovery with fuel preparation in a unified system
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a closed energy conversion cycle with steam reuse is implemented, then environmental pollution is reduced and efficiency increases, but device complexity increases due to additional heat exchanger and condensate management systems
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger serves multiple functions: it condenses exhaust steam to recover water, preheats the wet combustible matter before drying, and manages condensate flow back to the boiler. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and minimizes pollution by creating a closed water cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The invention recovers both the thermal energy and water from the exhaust steam condensate. Instead of discarding the condensed water, it is fed back to the boiler through the heat exchanger system, creating a closed loop that reduces environmental pollution and improves water utilization efficiency
3Use of energy by moving object
If wet combustible matter is dried using exhaust steam in a drying chamber, then the quality of fuel for combustion is improved and thermal efficiency increases, but loss of time increases due to the additional drying process step
Solution Approach 1:
The drying chamber performs preliminary drying of wet combustible matter using exhaust steam before the fuel enters the combustion chamber. This preliminary action removes excess moisture that would otherwise reduce combustion efficiency, preparing the fuel in advance for optimal burning conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature and humidity parameters of the combustible matter by passing it through the drying chamber where exhaust steam provides controlled heating. This parameter change optimizes the fuel's moisture content for efficient combustion while utilizing the thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted
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 approach enhances efficiency, productivity, and reduces environmental pollution by optimizing the use of thermal energy through a closed energy conversion cycle.
Implementation Method 1
a combustible drying chamber which is joined by means of a tube with the secondary or exhaust steam outlet of said electrical turbogenerator to use said exhaust steam as a heat source for heating said wet combustible matter for the purpose of drying it
Implementation Method 2
the steam resulting from the drying chamber and from the electrical turbogenerator is introduced in said heat exchanger, from which a condensate is obtained
Implementation Method 3
high-pressure steam generated by the boiler upon burning dry combustible matter
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for converting thermal energy into electrical energy, which comprises: - a boiler (3), - a tank (1) of wet combustible matter (12), - an electrical turbogenerator (5) with a turbine communicated with a steam outlet (14) of said boiler (3); - a vacuum chamber (2) with: • a heat exchanger (11) for heating said wet combustible matter (12) to dry it, • a first outlet (4) connected to the boiler (3) to supply it with said dry combustible matter, and • a second outlet (8) connected to a heat exchanger (6) to supply it with the steam leaving the vacuum chamber (2), in which the exhaust steam from the turbogenerator (5) circulates through the heat exchanger (11) of the vacuum chamber (2) to said heat exchanger (6), which condenses the steam arriving therein and supplies the condensed steam to the boiler (3) through an outlet (9).