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US 2004/0103669 A1Published application
Integrated turbine power generation system with catalytic reactor
AssigneeCapstone Turbine Corporation
InventorsJeffrey W. Willis, Paul Berner, Guillermo Pont, Joel Wacknov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides integrated turbogenerators having a turbine wheel, a compressor impeller, and a motor generator mounted to or mechanically constrained to a common shaft, and improved components and configurations thereof.
Claims44
An energy producing apparatus comprising:
- compressor mechanism for compressing air and fuel;
- an energy take-off device;
- turbine mechanism for driving the compressor mechanism and the energy take-off device;
- a main catalytic combustor disposed between an outlet of the compressor mechanism and an inlet of the turbine mechanism for combusting the air/fuel mixture compressed by the compressor mechanism and supplying the resulting products of combustion to the turbine side for driving the turbine mechanism, the main catalytic combustor having a volume sufficient for oxidizing enough of the fuel to achieve a predetermined turbine inlet temperature, and insufficient for oxidizing all of the fuel;
- a secondary catalytic combustor disposed downstream of the turbine mechanism for receiving turbine exhaust gases and combusting at least some of the fuel therein that was not combusted by the main catalytic combustor;
- and
- a heat exchanger arranged to receive turbine exhaust gases from the secondary catalytic combustor and for transferring heat therefrom to the compressed air/fuel being conducted to the main catalytic combustor, a passage extending from the turbine mechanism to the heat exchanger for conducting the exhaust gases being free of turbine mechanism.
4 more elements
An energy producing apparatus comprising:
- an energy conversion mechanism comprising a compressor side for compressing air/fuel, and a turbine side for driving the compressor side;
- an air supply conduit and a fuel supply conduit for conducting air and fuel separately into a compressor of the compressor side to be compressed and mixed therein, wherein only one stream of compressed air/fuel mixture exits the compressor side;
- an electrical generator operably connected to the turbine side to be driven thereby for producing electrical energy;
- a heat exchanger having a first passage for conducting the stream of compressed air/fuel mixture traveling from an outlet of the compressor side, and a second passage for conducting hot waste gas from an outlet of the turbine side in heat exchange relationship with the stream of compressed air/fuel mixture in the first passage;
- a catalytic combustor disposed between an outlet of the first passage of the heat exchanger and an inlet of the turbine side for reacting compressed the air/fuel mixture received from the first passage prior to entry thereof into the turbine side;
- and
- wherein the entire compressed stream of air/fuel mixture exiting the compressor side passes through the heat exchanger, and all of the fuel entering the catalytic combustor passes first through the compressor side-and the heat exchanger during steady state operation of the apparatus.
4 more elements
An energy producing apparatus comprising:
- compressor mechanism for compressing air and fuel;
- an energy take-off device;
- turbine mechanism for driving the compressor mechanism and the energy take-off device;
- a main combustor disposed between an outlet of the compressor mechanism and an inlet of the turbine mechanism for combusting the air/fuel mixture compressed by the compressor mechanism and supplying the resulting products of combustion to the turbine side for driving the turbine mechanism;
- a secondary catalytic combustor disposed downstream of the turbine mechanism for receiving turbine exhaust gases;
- and
- a heat exchanger arranged to receive turbine exhaust gases from the secondary catalytic combustor and for transferring heat therefrom to the compressed air/fuel being conducted to the main catalytic combustor.
4 more elements
An energy producing apparatus comprising:
- an energy conversion mechanism comprising a compressor side for compressing air/fuel, and a turbine side for driving the compressor side;
- an air supply conduit and a fuel supply conduit for conducting air and fuel separately into a compressor of the compressor side to be compressed and mixed therein, wherein only one stream of compressed air/fuel mixture exits the compressor side;
- an electrical generator operably connected to the turbine side to be driven thereby for producing electrical energy;
- a heat exchanger having a first passage for conducting the stream of compressed air/fuel mixture traveling from an outlet of the compressor side, and a second passage for conducting hot waste gas from an outlet of the turbine side in heat exchange relationship with the stream of compressed air/fuel mixture in the first passage;
- a combustor disposed between an outlet of the first passage of the heat exchanger and an inlet of the turbine side;
- and
- wherein the entire compressed stream of air/fuel mixture exiting the compressor side passes through the heat exchanger, and all of the fuel entering the combustor passes first through the compressor side and the heat exchanger during steady state operation.
4 more elements
An energy producing apparatus comprising:
- compressor mechanism for compressing air and fuel;
- an energy take-off device;
- turbine mechanism for driving the compressor mechanism and the energy take-off device;
- a main combustor disposed between an outlet of the compressor mechanism and an inlet of the turbine mechanism for combusting the air/fuel mixture compressed by the compressor mechanism and supplying the resulting products of combustion to the turbine side for driving the turbine mechanism, said main combustor designed to catalytically combust fuel;
- a secondary catalytic combustor disposed downstream of the turbine mechanism for receiving turbine exhaust gases;
- and
- a heat exchanger arranged to receive turbine exhaust gases from the secondary catalytic combustor and for transferring heat therefrom to the compressed air/fuel being conducted to the main catalytic combustor.
4 more elements
An energy producing apparatus comprising:
- an energy conversion mechanism comprising a compressor side for compressing air/fuel, and a turbine side for driving the compressor side;
- an air supply conduit and a fuel supply conduit for conducting air and fuel separately into a compressor of the compressor side to be compressed and mixed therein, wherein only one stream of compressed air/fuel mixture exits the compressor side;
- an electrical generator operably connected to the turbine side to be driven thereby for producing electrical energy;
- a heat exchanger having a first passage for conducting the stream of compressed air/fuel mixture traveling from an outlet of the compressor side, and a second passage for conducting hot waste gas from an outlet of the turbine side in heat exchange relationship with the stream of compressed air/fuel mixture in the first passage;
- a combustor disposed between an outlet of the first passage of the heat exchanger and an inlet of the turbine side, said combustor designed to catalytically combust fuel;
- and
- wherein the entire compressed stream of air/fuel mixture exiting the compressor side passes through the heat exchanger, and all of the fuel entering the combustor passes first through the compressor side and the heat exchanger during steady state operation.
4 more elements
An energy producing apparatus comprising:
- compressor mechanism for compressing air and fuel;
- an energy take-off device;
- turbine mechanism for driving the compressor mechanism and the energy take-off device;
- a main combustor disposed between an outlet of the compressor mechanism and an inlet of the turbine mechanism for combusting the air/fuel mixture compressed by the compressor mechanism and supplying the resulting products of combustion to the turbine side for driving the turbine mechanism, said main combustor designed to catalytically combust fuel;
- a secondary catalytic combustor disposed downstream of the turbine mechanism for receiving turbine exhaust gases;
- and
- a heat exchanger arranged to receive turbine exhaust gases from the secondary catalytic combustor and for transferring heat therefrom to the compressed air/fuel being conducted to the main catalytic combustor;
- and
- wherein said turbine mechanism includes a turbine wheel, said energy take-off device is a motor-generator, said motor-generator includes a rotor, and said turbine wheel and said rotor are constrained to rotate together.
6 more elements
An energy producing apparatus comprising:
- an energy conversion mechanism comprising a compressor side for compressing air/fuel, and a turbine side for driving the compressor side;
- an air supply conduit and a fuel supply conduit for conducting air and fuel separately into a compressor of the compressor side to be compressed and mixed therein, wherein only one stream of compressed air/fuel mixture exits the compressor side;
- an electrical generator operably connected to the turbine side to be driven thereby for producing electrical energy;
- a heat exchanger having a first passage for conducting the stream of compressed air/fuel mixture traveling from an outlet of the compressor side, and a second passage for conducting hot waste gas from an outlet of the turbine side in heat exchange relationship with the stream of compressed air/fuel mixture in the first passage;
- a combustor disposed between an outlet of the first passage of the heat exchanger and an inlet of the turbine side, said combustor designed to catalytically combust fuel;
- wherein the entire compressed stream of air/fuel mixture exiting the compressor side passes through the heat exchanger, and all of the fuel entering the combustor passes first through the compressor side and the heat exchanger during steady state operation;
- and
- wherein said turbine side includes a turbine wheel, said electric generator includes a rotor, and said turbine wheel and said rotor are constrained to rotate together.
5 more elements
An energy producing apparatus comprising:
- compressor mechanism for compressing air and fuel;
- an energy take-off device;
- turbine mechanism for driving the compressor mechanism and the energy take-off device;
- a main combustor disposed between an outlet of the compressor mechanism and an inlet of the turbine mechanism for combusting the air/fuel mixture compressed by the compressor mechanism and supplying the resulting products of combustion to the turbine side for driving the turbine mechanism;
- a secondary catalytic combustor disposed downstream of the turbine mechanism for receiving turbine exhaust gases;
- a heat exchanger arranged to receive turbine exhaust gases from the secondary catalytic combustor and for transferring heat therefrom to the compressed air/fuel being conducted to the main catalytic combustor;
- and
- wherein said main combustor defines a substantially annular main combustion chamber having a main combustion chamber annular outer radius, said secondary catalytic combustor has a substantially annular shape and a secondary catalytic combustor inner annular radius, and said secondary catalytic combustor inner annular radius is greater than said main combustion chamber annular outer radius.
5 more elements
An energy producing apparatus comprising:
- an energy conversion mechanism comprising a compressor side for compressing air/fuel, and a turbine side for driving the compressor side;
- an air supply conduit and a fuel supply conduit for conducting air and fuel separately into a compressor of the compressor side to be compressed and mixed therein, wherein only one stream of compressed air/fuel mixture exits the compressor side;
- an electrical generator operably connected to the turbine side to be driven thereby for producing electrical energy;
- a heat exchanger having a first passage for conducting the stream of compressed air/fuel mixture traveling from an outlet of the compressor side, and a second passage for conducting hot waste gas from an outlet of the turbine side in heat exchange relationship with the stream of compressed air/fuel mixture in the first passage;
- a combustor disposed between an outlet of the first passage of the heat exchanger and an inlet of the turbine side;
- wherein the entire compressed stream of air/fuel mixture exiting the compressor side passes through the heat exchanger, and all of the fuel entering the combustor passes first through the compressor side and the heat exchanger during steady state operation;
- and
- wherein said combustor defines a substantially annular main combustion chamber.
5 more elements
An method of producing energy comprising the steps of:
- compressing air and fuel using a compressor mechanism;
- taking of energy using an energy take-off device;
- driving the compressor mechanism and the energy take-off device using a turbine mechanism;
- combusting the air/fuel mixture compressed by the compressor mechanism and supplying the resulting products of combustion to the turbine side for driving the turbine mechanism using a main combustor disposed between an outlet of the compressor mechanism and an inlet of the turbine mechanism;
- receiving turbine exhaust gases using a secondary catalytic combustor disposed downstream of the turbine mechanism;
- receiving turbine exhaust gases from the secondary catalytic combustor and transferring heat therefrom to the compressed air/fuel being conducted to the main catalytic combustor using a heat exchanger;
- and
- wherein said main combustor defines a substantially annular main combustion chamber having a main combustion chamber annular outer radius, said secondary catalytic combustor has a substantially annular shape and a secondary catalytic combustor inner annular radius, and said secondary catalytic combustor inner annular radius is greater than said main combustion chamber annular outer radius.
5 more elements
An method of producing energy comprising the steps of:
- compressing air/fuel, and a turbine side for driving the compressor side using an energy conversion mechanism comprising a compressor side;
- conducting air and fuel separately into a compressor of the compressor side to be compressed and mixed therein, wherein only one stream of compressed air/fuel mixture exits the compressor side;
- producing electrical energy using in an electrical generator operably connected to and driven by the turbine side;
- conducting hot waste gas from an outlet of the turbine side in heat exchange relationship with the stream of compressed air/fuel mixture in a first passage, in a heat exchanger;
- combusting fuel in a combustor disposed between an outlet of the first passage of the heat exchanger and an inlet of the turbine side;
- wherein the entire compressed stream of air/fuel mixture exiting the compressor side passes through the heat exchanger, and all of the fuel entering the combustor passes first through the compressor side and the heat exchanger during steady state operation;
- and
- wherein said combustor defines a substantially annular main combustion chamber.
5 more elements
A turbogenerator system, comprising:
- a turbine;
- a compressor;
- a motor/generator;
- a common shaft on which the turbine, compressor and motor/generator are mounted for rotation;
- a primary combustor downstream of said compressor, said primary combustor having an exhaust gas outlet applied to the turbine to rotate the common shaft, the compressor and motor/generator;
- a source of fuel for providing fuel to the primary combustor;
- a catalytic reactor downstream of said turbine for reducing unburned hydrocarbons in said exhaust gases;
- and
- a recuperator for transferring heat from said exhaust gases to compressed gas applied by said compressor to said primary combustor.
6 more elements
A turbogenerator system, comprising:
- a turbine;
- a compressor;
- a motor/generator;
- a common shaft on which the turbine, compressor and motor/generator are mounted for rotation;
- a primary combustor downstream of said compressor, said primary combustor having an exhaust gas outlet applied to the turbine to rotate the common shaft, the compressor and motor/generator;
- a source of fuel for providing fuel to the primary combustor;
- a catalytic reactor downstream of said turbine for reducing unburned hydrocarbons in said exhaust gases;
- a recuperator for transferring heat from said exhaust gases to compressed gas applied by said compressor to said primary combustor;
- and
- a flame burner.
7 more elements
A method of operating a turbogenerator system, comprising the steps of:
- increasing gas temperature by compressing it in a compressor;
- further increasing temperature of said gas in a heat exchanger downstream of said compressor;
- further increasing temperature of said gas by converting chemical energy to heat in a catalytic reactor downstream of the heat exchanger;
- reducing the temperature of said gas by flowing it through a turbine;
- increasing the temperature of the gas downstream of said turbine by converting chemical energy to heat in a second catalytic reactor;
- and
- decreasing temperature of said gas by flowing said gas through a heat exchanger downstream of said second catalytic converter.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.