Power plants – Combustion products used as motive fluid
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-19
2001-01-09
Kim, Ted (Department: 3746)
Power plants
Combustion products used as motive fluid
C060S039010, C060S039511
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170251
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 and how these units can be modified in a novel manner to produce a second value stream, i.e., compressed air.
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 wide spread 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.
The microturbine generation units generate mechanical shaft work, which is used to generate electrical power. However, some of the mechanical shaft work is unused and, therefore, wasted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention makes use of some of the mechanical shaft work and heat used to produce compressed air in a Brayton cycle. The invention can be regarded as a microturbine power generating system including a primary compressor, an electrical generator and a turbine that can be rotated as a unit. Hot, expanding gases resulting from combustion are expanded through the turbine, and the resulting turbine power is used for powering the electrical generator.
The microturbine power generating system further includes an auxiliary compressor that is driven by the turbine power. During operation of the system, a small portion of air can be bled off the primary compressor and further compressed by the auxiliary compressor to provide an auxiliary supply of cooled pressurized air. The heat produced by generating the auxiliary compressed air is partially recovered in a novel manner to increase the overall machine efficiency.
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Prophet Tony
Skowronski Mark J.
Kim Ted
Rafter John R.
Starr Ephraim
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