Power plants – Combustion products used as motive fluid
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-31
2001-05-22
Freay, Charles G. (Department: 3746)
Power plants
Combustion products used as motive fluid
C060S039010, C060S039120, C060S039182
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233914
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for producing power, and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for producing power using a reformer for heating a hydrocarbon fuel and water vapor to form hydrogen and carbon monoxide which are used for producing power through use of a gas turbine in a combined cycle or together with a cogeneration system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the last few years different schemes have been proposed for producing power from hydrocarbon fuels. In addition, lately several schemes for producing power from solar energy have been considered. Both types of schemes have had relatively low levels of efficiency.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of and means for producing power which substantially overcomes or significantly reduces the disadvantages outlined above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for producing power from a hydrocarbon fuel and water vapor heated in a solar reformer to form hydrogen and carbon monoxide comprising the steps of: supplying the hydrogen and carbon monoxide from said solar reformer to a steam generator for producing steam and heat depleted hydrogen and carbon monoxide; supplying exhaust gases from the exhaust of a gas turbine to said steam generator; supplying said steam to a superheater for producing superheated steam; supplying said heat depleted hydrogen and carbon monoxide from said steam generator to a preheater for preheating said hydrocarbon fuel prior to supplying the hydrocarbon fuel to said solar reformer and producing preheated hydrocarbon fuel and further heat depleted hydrogen and carbon monoxide; adding said superheated steam to said preheated hydrocarbon fuel prior to supplying said preheated hydrocarbon fuel to said solar reformer; and supplying said further heat depleted hydrogen and carbon monoxide to a Rankine cycle power plant for producing power and cooled and dried hydrogen and carbon monoxide. According to the present invention the cooled and dried hydrogen and carbon monoxide are supplied to a separator for separating water vapor condensate from said cooled and dried hydrogen and carbon monoxide and producing further dried hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The further dried hydrogen and carbon monoxide are then supplied to a compressor for producing compressed hydrogen and carbon monoxide which is furnished to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine. In accordance with the present invention, the step of supplying the further heat depleted hydrogen and carbon monoxide to a Rankine cycle power plant for producing power can be carried out by supplying the further heat depleted hydrogen and carbon monoxide to a power plant having a steam turbine. Alternatively, this step can be carried out by supplying the further heat depleted hydrogen and carbon monoxide to a power plant having an organic vapor turbine.
Moreover, the present invention comprises providing apparatus for carrying the above-mentioned method steps of the present invention. An embodiment of such apparatus comprises: a steam generator for producing steam and heat depleted hydrogen and carbon monoxide from hydrogen and carbon monoxide supplied from said solar reformer; a gas turbine for producing power and from which exhaust gases exit and supply means for supplying said exhaust gases from the exhaust of a gas turbine to said steam generator; a superheater for producing superheated steam from said steam; a preheater for preheating said hydrocarbon fuel prior to supplying the hydrocarbon fuel to said solar reformer and producing preheated hydrocarbon fuel and further heat depleted hydrogen and carbon monoxide from said heat depleted hydrogen and carbon monoxide supplied from said steam generator; means for adding said superheated steam to said preheated hydrocarbon fuel prior to supplying said preheated hydrocarbon fuel to said solar reformer; and a Rankine cycle power plant for producing power and cooled and dried hydrogen and carbon monoxide from said further heat depleted hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3462948 (1969-08-01), Scholz
patent: 4799357 (1989-01-01), Hanrahan et al.
patent: 5669216 (1997-09-01), Ankersmit et al.
Epstein, M. “Solar Fuels and Chemicals at the WIS,” (abstract), presented at Sun Day Symposium “From Basic Research to Industry” ed. by Pinhas Doran, May 1996.
Epstein, M. “Solar Thermochemistry Activities at the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS),” presented at Sun Day Symposium “From Basic Research to Industry” ed. By Pinhas Doran, May 1996.
Freay Charles G.
Meyer Jerald L.
Nath Gary M.
Nath & Associates PLL
Ormat Industries Ltd.
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