Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110113781 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECONDARY ENERGY PRODUCTION IN A COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM - A method, system, and apparatus including a compressed air energy storage (CAES) system including a compression train with a compressor path, a storage volume configured to store compressed air, a compressed air path configured to provide passage of compressed air egressing from the compression train to the storage volume, and a heat recovery system coupled to at least one of the compressor path and the compressed air path and configured to draw heat from at least one of the compressor path and the compressed air path to a first liquid. The compression train is configured to provide passage of compressed air from a first compressor to a second compressor. The heat recovery system includes a first evaporator configured to evaporate the first liquid to a first gas and a first generator configured to produce electricity based on an expansion of the first gas. | 05-19-2011 |
20110146277 | FLUID FEEDBACK PUMP TO IMPROVE COLD START PERFORMANCE OF ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE PLANTS - A system and method improves cold start performance of an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) plant. The system includes one or more pumps configured to pump condensed fluid from points of natural accumulation of the condensed fluid within an ORC loop back into a corresponding low pressure liquid storage vessel shortly after shutting down the ORC plant to ensure the start-up routine works properly for the next ORC plant start event. One or more of the pumps can also be configured to pump fluid away from the ORC expansion machine(s) at any time prior to starting the ORC if the fluid is in a liquid phase. | 06-23-2011 |
20110203278 | AUTO OPTIMIZING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE PLANTS - A waste heat recovery plant control system includes a programmable controller configured to generate expander speed control signals, expander inlet guide vane pitch control signals, fan speed control signals, pump speed control signals, and valve position control signals in response to an algorithmic optimization software to substantially maximize power output or efficiency of a waste heat recovery plant based on organic Rankine cycles, during mismatching temperature levels of external heat source(s), during changing heat loads coming from the heat sources, and during changing ambient conditions and working fluid properties. The waste heat recovery plant control system substantially maximizes power output or efficiency of the waste heat recovery plant during changing/mismatching heat loads coming from the external heat source(s) such as the changing amount of heat coming along with engine jacket water and its corresponding exhaust in response to changing engine power. | 08-25-2011 |
20110209473 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WASTE HEAT RECOVERY IN EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION - A system and method for waste heat recovery in exhaust gas recirculation is disclosed. The system includes an engine having an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, an exhaust conduit connected to the exhaust manifold, and a turbocharger having a turbine and a compressor, the turbine being connected to the exhaust conduit to receive a portion of the exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold. The system also includes an EGR system connected to the exhaust conduit to receive a portion of the exhaust gas, with the EGR system including an EGR conduit that is connected to the exhaust conduit to receive a portion of the exhaust gas, a heat exchanger connected to the EGR conduit and being configured to extract heat from the exhaust gas, and a waste heat recovery system connected to the heat exchanger and configured to capture the heat extracted by the heat exchanger. | 09-01-2011 |
20110308252 | TURBINE INLET CONDITION CONTROLLED ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE - A pressure sensor measures an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) working fluid pressure in front of a radial inflow turbine, while a temperature sensor measures an ORC working fluid temperature in front of the radial inflow turbine. A controller responsive to algorithmic software determines a superheated temperature of the working fluid in front of the radial inflow turbine based on the measured working fluid pressure and the measured working fluid temperature. The controller then manipulates the speed of a working fluid pump, the pitch of turbine variable inlet guide vanes when present, and combinations thereof, in response to the determined superheated temperature to maintain the superheated temperature of the ORC working fluid in front of the radial inflow turbine close to a predefined set point. The superheated temperature can thus be maintained in the absence of sensors other than pressure and temperature sensors. | 12-22-2011 |
20120000200 | INERT GAS PURGING SYSTEM FOR AN ORC HEAT RECOVERY BOILER - In one embodiment, a system includes a valve system switchable between a waste heat recovery position configured to direct incoming exhaust gas through an interior volume of an exhaust section of an engine and a bypass position configured to direct the incoming exhaust gas through a bypass duct to bypass a heat recovery boiler disposed within the interior volume. The system also includes an inert gas purging system configured to inject an inert gas into the interior volume to displace residual exhaust gas from the interior volume. | 01-05-2012 |
20120000201 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING AND STORING TRANSIENT INTEGRATED ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE ENERGY - A system and method are provided for using the thermal mass of an ORC, the working fluid, the oil loop, the cooling fluid loop and all components, to provide additional transient power to an electrical grid. A pre-heater transfers heat from the cooling fluid to a low temperature (LT) ORC loop working fluid. A LT ORC loop expander generates transient power to support stabilization of the electrical grid. A heat exchanger transfers heat from the thermal oil to a high temperature (HT) ORC loop working fluid. A HT ORC loop expander generates transient power to support stabilization of the electrical grid. | 01-05-2012 |
20120125002 | RANKINE CYCLE INTEGRATED WITH ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE AND ABSORPTION CHILLER CYCLE - A power generation system is provided. The system comprises a first Rankine cycle-first working fluid circulation loop comprising a heater, an expander, a heat exchanger, a recuperator, a condenser, a pump, and a first working fluid; integrated with a) a second Rankine cycle-second working fluid circulation loop comprising a heater, an expander, a condenser, a pump, and a second working fluid comprising an organic fluid; and b) an absorption chiller cycle comprising a third working fluid circulation loop comprising an evaporator, an absorber, a pump, a desorber, a condenser, and a third working fluid comprising a refrigerant. In one embodiment, the first working fluid comprises CO | 05-24-2012 |
20120159923 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING GAS TURBINE INTERCOOLER HEAT IN A BOTTOMING STEAM CYCLE - A steam cycle power plant includes a gas turbine, a gas turbine intercooler, a steam turbine, and a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). The gas turbine intercooler recovers unused heat generated via the gas turbine and transfers substantially all of the recovered heat for generating extra steam for driving the steam turbine. | 06-28-2012 |
20120216502 | GAS TURBINE INTERCOOLER WITH TRI-LATERAL FLASH CYCLE - A gas turbine intercooler operates to heat a predetermined organic fluid via heat generated by the gas turbine. The heated organic fluid remains in a partially evaporated or non-evaporated liquid phase to provide a heated organic fluid that reaches a state of saturation with a vapor quality less than unity. An expansion machine expands the heated organic fluid via a Tri-Lateral Flash cycle to increase the vapor quality and generate electrical power therefrom. | 08-30-2012 |
20130081395 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING ELECTRIC POWER - A system includes a gas turbine system, a thermal energy storage device, and a heat recovery system. The gas turbine system is powered by solar energy to generate a first amount of electric power. The thermal energy storage device is coupled to the gas turbine system. The thermal energy storage device is configured to selectively receive expanded exhaust gas from the gas turbine system and store heat of the expanded exhaust gas. The heat recovery system is coupled to the gas turbine system and the thermal energy storage device. The heat recovery system is selectively powered by at least one of the gas turbine system and the thermal energy storage device to generate a second amount of electric power. | 04-04-2013 |