Prime-mover dynamo plants – Turbogenerators
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-12
2001-10-23
Ponomarenko, Nicholas (Department: 2834)
Prime-mover dynamo plants
Turbogenerators
C060S039511, C310S156030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06307278
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to microturbine power generating systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to modular, distributed power generating units.
The United States Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) which is the uniform research facility for domestic electric utilities, predicts that up to 40% of all new generation could be provided by distributed generators by the year 2006. In many parts of the world, the lack of electric infrastructure (transmission and distribution lines) will greatly expedite the commercialization of distributed generation technologies since central plants not only cost more per kilowatt, but also must have expensive infrastructure installed to deliver the product to the consumer.
Small, multi-fuel, modular distributed microturbine generation units could help alleviate current afternoon “brownouts” and “blackouts” prevalent in many parts of the world. A simple, single moving part concept would allow for low technical skill maintenance and low overall cost would allow for widespread purchase in those parts of the world where capital is sparse. In addition, given the United States emphasis on electric deregulation and the world trend in this direction, consumers of electricity would have not only the right to choose the correct method of electric service, but also a new cost effective choice from which to chose. U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,607, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a microturbine power generating system suitable for cogeneration applications.
Yet to make these units commercially attractive to consumers, improvements are needed in areas such as increasing fuel-efficiency, reducing size and weight, and lowering thermal signature, noise, maintenance and cost penalties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention can be regarded as a microturbine power generating system including an electrical generator and a turbine that can be rotated by a single shaft. Hot, expanding gases resulting from the combustion are expanded through a turbine, and the resulting turbine power generated by the turbine is used for powering the electrical generator. The microturbine power generating system further includes a single shaft connecting the turbine and electrical generator in prestressed relation to allow the electrical generator to rotate in unison with the turbine and to thereby use the mechanical energy extracted by the turbine to produce power.
Electricity production of the system is especially flexible. A variable-frequency ac output produced by the electrical generator can be rectified to dc power. The dc power can then be chopped by an inverter to produce ac power having a selected frequency.
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patent: WO97/09524 (1997-03-01), None
Denk Joseph
Doshi Ramesh
Emerson Terence
Nims Robert A.
Honeywell Power Systems Inc.
Ponomarenko Nicholas
Rafter John R.
Starr Ephraim
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