Turbine with supersonic separation
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsStanley Joseph Frey, Michael Van de Cotte
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A turbine with a supersonic separator disposed upstream of the turbine. The supersonic separator imparts a swirl on a vapor stream to remove any heavier components. A superheated vapor stream from the supersonic separator is passed through the turbine to reduce the pressure of the vapor stream. At the same time, electricity is generated by the superheated vapor stream via a turbine wheel. The turbine and the supersonic separator can be integrally formed, or they can be discrete components.
Claims18
A process for recovering power from a vapor stream with a turbine, the process comprising:
- condensing a portion of the vapor stream in a supersonic separator, the supersonic separator comprising a baffle configured to impart a swirl at or above a sonic velocity on the vapor stream passing therethrough;
- separating the condensed portion from the vapor stream with the supersonic separator to provide a superheated vapor stream;
- and,
- recovering power from the superheated vapor stream in a turbine, the turbine comprising a turbine wheel configured to transmit rotational movement to an electrical generator,
- wherein the supersonic separator comprises a body with an inlet for the vapor stream, an outlet for a liquid stream comprising the condensed portion from the vapor stream, and an outlet for the superheated vapor stream, and
- wherein the turbine is disposed within the body.
A process for recovering power from a vapor stream with a turbine, the process comprising:
- passing a vapor stream to a supersonic separator, the supersonic separator comprising a baffle configured to impart a swirl at or above a sonic velocity on the vapor stream passing therethrough;
- separating a condensed portion of the vapor stream with the supersonic separator to provide a superheated vapor stream;
- passing the superheated vapor stream to a turbine, the turbine comprising a turbine wheel configured to transmit rotational movement to an electrical generator;
- rotating the turbine wheel with the superheated vapor stream;
- and,
- generating electricity with the electrical generator,
- wherein the supersonic separator comprises a body with an inlet for the vapor stream, an outlet for a liquid stream comprising the condensed portion from the vapor stream, and an outlet for the superheated vapor stream, and
- wherein the turbine is disposed within the body.
An apparatus for generating electricity, the apparatus comprising:
- a body with an inlet configured to receive a vapor stream, a first outlet for a superheated vapor stream and, a second outlet for a liquid stream;
- a baffle disposed within the body and configured to impart a swirl at or above sonic velocity to the vapor stream;
- an internal cavity in the body between the inlet, the first outlet, and the second outlet;
- and,
- a turbine wheel configured to transmit rotational movement from the superheated vapor stream to an electrical generator, the turbine wheel disposed in the body between the outlet and the internal cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.