# US 11,028,711 B2 · Supercritical carbon dioxide power generation system including dry gas seal and method of operating the same

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,028,711 B2
- Document ID: US11028711B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/453,655
- Filed: 2019-06-26
- Published: 2020-04-30
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-10-30
- Assignees: Korea Institute of Energy Research
- Applicants: Korea Institute of Energy Research
- Inventors: Jun Hyun Cho; Bong Su Choi; Ho Sang Ra; Hyung Ki Shin; Jong Jae Cho; Beom Joon Lee; Chul Woo Roh; Gil Bong Lee; Young Jin Baik
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028711B2

## CPC

- F01D 11/003: {by packing rings; Mechanical seals}
- F01D 11/005: {Sealing means between non relatively rotating elements}
- F01D 11/04: using sealing fluid, e.g. steam
- F01D 25/183: {Sealing means}
- F01K 7/32: the engines using steam of critical or overcritical pressure
- F01K 25/103: {Carbon dioxide (F01K25/065 takes precedence)}
- F02C 1/10: Closed cycles
- F02C 3/04: having a turbine driving a compressor (power transmission arrangements F02C7/36; control of working fluid flow F02C9/16)
- F05D 2210/12: gaseous, i.e. compressible
- F05D 2240/55: Seals
- F16J 15/40: by means of fluid
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- F01K: STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES (gas-turbine or jet-propulsion plants F02; nuclear power plants, engine arrangements therein G21D)
- F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS

## Abstract

According to the present invention, part of carbon dioxide heated by a heater is supplied to a dry gas seal portion of a compressor so that a device for pressurizing and heating a seal gas is not additionally required, configuration can be simplified and cost can be reduced. In addition, a seal gas flow path includes a low-temperature seal gas flow path and a high-temperature seal gas flow path so that, in an initial driving mode, carbon dioxide heated by a high-temperature portion of the heater is used as a seal gas and in a turbine-driving mode, carbon dioxide heated by a low-temperature portion of the heater is used as a seal gas and thus a more efficient operation can be performed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A supercritical carbon dioxide power generation system including a dry gas seal, comprising:
a turbine;
a cooler;
a compressor;
a heater;
a carbon dioxide injecting portion injecting carbon dioxide as a working fluid from a carbon dioxide tank into an intake side of the compressor;
a heater flow path provided in the heater and configured to introduce and heat the carbon dioxide received from the compressor and then to discharge the carbon dioxide to the turbine;
a seal gas flow path diverged from the heater flow path and guiding at least part of the carbon dioxide heated on the heater flow path to be injected into a dry gas seal portion of the compressor and to be used as a seal gas;
a seal gas valve installed on the seal gas flow path and opening/closing of the seal gas flow path; and
a controller controlling an amount of an opening degree of the seal gas valve according to temperature of the carbon dioxide heated by the heater,
wherein the seal gas flow path comprises:
a low-temperature seal gas flow path diverged from the heater flow path; and
a high-temperature seal gas flow path diverged from a downstream side of the heater flow path compared to the low-temperature seal gas flow path, and
wherein the seal gas valve comprises:
a low-temperature seal gas valve installed on the low-temperature seal gas flow path; and
a high-temperature seal gas valve installed on the high-temperature seal gas flow path.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The supercritical carbon dioxide power generation system including the dry gas seal of claim 1, wherein, in an initial driving mode in which injecting of the carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide injecting portion into the compressor starts, the controller operates the heater, closes the low-temperature seal gas valve, and opens the high-temperature seal gas valve so that the at least part of the carbon dioxide heated by the heater is capable of being supplied to the dry gas seal portion of the compressor via the high-temperature seal gas flow path.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The supercritical carbon dioxide power generation system including the dry gas seal of claim 1, further comprising a low-temperature seal gas temperature sensor installed on the low-temperature seal gas flow path, wherein, when temperature sensed by the low-temperature seal gas temperature sensor is equal to or higher than first predetermined setting temperature, the controller closes the high-temperature seal gas valve and opens the low-temperature seal gas valve so that the carbon dioxide heated by the heater is capable of being supplied to the dry gas seal portion of the compressor via the low-temperature seal gas flow path.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The supercritical carbon dioxide power generation system including the dry gas seal of claim 1, further comprising:
a turbine intake flow path connecting the heater to the turbine;
a turbine bypass flow path diverged from the turbine intake flow path and guiding the carbon dioxide generated in the heater to bypass the turbine and to move to a discharge side of the turbine; and
a turbine bypass valve installed on the turbine bypass flow path and opening the turbine bypass flow path before the turbine is driven.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The supercritical carbon dioxide power generation system including the dry gas seal of claim 4, wherein, in an initial driving mode in which injecting of the carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide injecting portion into the compressor starts, the controller operates the heater, closes the low-temperature seal gas valve, and opens the high-temperature seal gas valve so that the at least part of the carbon dioxide heated by the heater is capable of being supplied to the dry gas seal portion of the compressor via the high-temperature seal gas flow path, and the controller opens the turbine bypass flow path so that remaining part of the carbon dioxide heated by the heater is capable of being supplied to the compressor via the turbine bypass flow path.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The supercritical carbon dioxide power generation system including the dry gas seal of claim 1, further comprising:
a high-temperature seal gas temperature sensor installed on the high-temperature seal gas flow path; and
a heater discharge pressure sensor provided on a heater discharge flow path,
wherein the high-temperature seal gas temperature sensor measures discharge temperature of the heater and the heater discharge pressure sensor measures discharge pressure of the heater.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The supercritical carbon dioxide power generation system including the dry gas seal of claim 6, wherein, in a turbine-driving mode in which the discharge temperature of the heater and the discharge pressure of the heater satisfy predetermined conditions and the turbine is operated, the controller closes a turbine bypass flow path and opens a turbine intake flow path so that the carbon dioxide heated by the heater is supplied to the turbine.

### Claim 8

A method of controlling a supercritical carbon dioxide power generation system including a dry gas seal, the method comprising:
in an initial driving mode in which injecting of carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide injecting portion into a compressor starts, operating a heater;
opening a high-temperature seal gas flow path diverged from a high-temperature portion of a heater flow path that passes through the heater and closing a low-temperature seal gas flow path diverged from a low-temperature portion of the heater flow path so that at least part of the carbon dioxide heated by the high-temperature portion of the heater is capable of being supplied to a dry gas seal portion of the compressor and is capable of being used as a seal gas; and
measuring temperature of the carbon dioxide on the low-temperature seal gas flow path and when the measured temperature is equal to or higher than predetermined setting temperature, closing the high-temperature seal gas flow path and opening the low-temperature seal gas flow path so that part of the carbon dioxide heated by the low-temperature portion of the heater is capable of being supplied to the dry gas seal portion of the compressor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein, in the initial driving mode, a turbine bypass flow path on which the carbon dioxide generated in the heater flow path bypasses the turbine, is opened so that carbon dioxide that is not discharged onto the low-temperature seal gas flow path and the high-temperature seal gas flow path of the carbon dioxide heated by the heater is capable of bypassing a turbine and circulating in the compressor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein, in the initial driving mode, discharge temperature of the heater and discharge pressure of the heater are measured, and when the discharge temperature of the heater and the discharge pressure of the heater satisfy predetermined condition, a current mode is converted into a turbine-driving mode in which a turbine is driven.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein, in the turbine-driving mode, a turbine bypass flow path is closed, and a turbine intake flow path connecting the heater to the turbine is opened so that carbon dioxide that is not discharged to the low-temperature seal gas flow path and the high-temperature seal gas flow path of the carbon dioxide heated by the heater is capable of being supplied to the turbine.