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US 11,776,702 B2Granted
System for control of externally heated turbine engine
AssigneeRolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
InventorsDaniel G. Edwards, Alexander Michalik, Andrew J. Eifert, Brian T. Spangler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power-generation system for a nuclear reactor includes a power unit, a heat exchanger, and a temperature control system. The power unit produces compressed air that is heated by the nuclear reactor via the heat exchanger. The temperature control system includes a heat transfer fluid and a heat exchanger fluidly connected with the compressed air to transfer heat between the compressed air and heat transfer fluid to control the power level of the power unit.
Claims16
A power-generation system for a nuclear reactor, the power-generation system comprising
- a power unit that includes a first generator for producing electric energy and a turbine engine coupled to and configured to drive the first generator, the turbine engine includes a compressor configured to receive and compress ambient air to produce compressed air and a turbine configured to receive the compressed air after the compressed air is heated to extract work from the compressed air and drive the first generator,
- a reactor heat exchanger in fluid communication with the compressor and the turbine and configured to transfer heat continuously from a nuclear reactor to the compressed air to heat the compressed air during use of the power-generation system, and
- a temperature control system configured to regulate a temperature of the compressed air so that the temperature of the compressed air received by the turbine is within a predetermined range, the temperature control system including a temperature control heat exchanger, a first fluid source, and a controller, the temperature control heat exchanger connected between the compressor and the turbine and in fluid communication with both the compressed air and the first fluid source to transfer heat between the compressed air and a first fluid from the first fluid source,
- wherein the controller is programmed to adjust a flow rate of the first fluid through the temperature control heat exchanger based on the temperature of the compressed air received by the turbine and a load demand on the first generator,
- wherein the first fluid source includes a blower configured to provide a flow of ambient air as the first fluid,
- wherein the temperature control system further includes an auxiliary power unit and a mixing valve in fluid communication with the blower, the auxiliary power unit, and the temperature control heat exchanger, wherein the auxiliary power unit is configured to produce electric power and exhaust a second fluid, and the controller is further programmed to adjust a flow rate of the first fluid and a flow rate of the second fluid through the mixing valve.
3 more elements
A power-generation system comprising
- a power unit that includes a first generator and a turbine engine coupled to and configured to drive the first generator, the turbine engine includes a compressor that produces compressed air and a turbine,
- a reactor heat exchanger in fluid communication with the compressor and the turbine and configured to transfer heat from a nuclear reactor to the compressed air, and
- a temperature control system that includes a temperature control heat exchanger and a fluid source, the temperature control heat exchanger connected between the compressor and the turbine and in fluid communication with both the compressed air and the fluid source,
- wherein the temperature control system further includes a controller and a mixing valve connected between the temperature control heat exchanger and the fluid source, and the controller is programmed to adjust the mixing valve to vary a flow rate of air through the mixing valve and to the temperature control heat exchanger,
- wherein the fluid source is a blower that provides a flow of cool ambient air to the mixing valve so that the temperature control heat exchanger extracts heat from the compressed air.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.