US 2012/0210714 A1 · Hydrogen based combined steam cycle apparatus

Abstract

A hydrogen based combined steam cycle apparatus having an irreversible isobaric Rankine steam cycle portion, an irreversible isobaric Carnot steam cycle portion and a reversible isobaric Rankine steam cycle portion, all three portions of which operate simultaneously. The apparatus includes a source of liquid oxygen, a source of liquid hydrogen, a combustion chamber, a first pump and at second pump. At the first pump, the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen from their respective sources are pumped to the combustion chamber where they are burned to produce heat, radiant energy and working fluid masses. A pressure vessel surrounds the combustion chamber. A superheater receives working fluid mass in the form of plasma from the combustion chamber and cools the plasma. A steam turbine receives working fluid mass from the superheater and outputs work. A condenser receives working fluid from the steam turbine and outputs liquid water. Liquid water outputted from the condenser is sent through the second pump to the pressure vessel for use in cooling the combustion chamber or back to the superheater. A plurality of valves and a computer are used to control the flow of working fluid to the superheater and to and from the pressure vessel, one of the valves controlling the flow of working fluid from the second pump to the superheater in the irreversible Rankine steam cycle portion of the combined cycle and the other two valves controlling the flow of working fluid mass into and out of the pressure vessel in the irreversible isobaric Carnot steam cycle portion of the combined cycle and the reversible isobaric Rankine steam cycle portion of the combined cycle.

Claims10

Dependent claims

(a) a source of liquid oxygen;
(b) a source of liquid hydrogen;
(c) a combustion chamber;
(d) a first pump connected to the source of liquid oxygen and to the source of liquid hydrogen for pumping liquid oxygen from the source of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen from the source of liquid hydrogen into the combustion chamber where said liquid oxygen and said liquid hydrogen are burned to produce heat, radiant energy and working fluid mass, said working fluid mass being in the form of a plasma;
(e) a superheater connected to the combustion chamber for receiving plasma from the combustion chamber and cooling said plasma;
(f) a pressure vessel surrounding the combustion chamber for cooling the combustion chamber;
(g) a steam turbine connected to the superheater for receiving working fluid mass from the superheater and outputting work;
(h) a condenser operatively connected to the steam turbine for receiving working fluid from the steam turbine and outputting liquid water;
(i) a second pump connected to the condenser and operatively coupled to the pressure vessel for pumping liquid water from the condenser to the pressure vessel for cooling the combustion chamber or to the superheater;
(j) a first valve connected to the superheater and the second pump for regulating the flow of working fluid from the second pump to the superheater;
(k) a second valve coupled between the third conduit and the fourth conduit for regulating the flow of working fluid from the second pump to the pressure vessel;
(l) a third valve coupled between the output of the pressure vessel and the second inlet to the superheater regulating the flow of working fluid mass from the pressure vessel to the superheater;
and
(m) a computer for controlling the operation of the three valves, the first and second pumps and the temperature of the combustion chamber.

11 more elements

(a) a source of liquid oxygen, said source having an outlet;
(b) a source of liquid hydrogen, said source having an outlet;
(c) a combustion chamber;
said combustion chamber having an inlet and an outlet;
(d) a first conduit having an inlet and an outlet end;
the outlet end being connected to the inlet of the combustion chamber;
(e) a first pump having an outlet connected to the inlet end of the first conduit for pumping liquid oxygen from the source of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen from the source of liquid hydrogen into the combustion chamber where said liquid oxygen and said liquid hydrogen are burned to produce heat, radiant energy and working fluid mass;
(f) a second conduit having an inlet end connected to the outlet of the combustion chamber and an outer end;
(g) a superheater having first, second and third inlets and one outlet, said first inlet being connected to the outlet of the combustion chamber, said superheater receiving working fluid mass in the form of plasma from the combustion chamber and cooling said plasma;
(h) a pressure vessel surrounding the combustion chamber and having an inlet and an outlet;
(i) a steam turbine coupled to the outlet of the superheater for receiving working fluid mass from the superheater and outputting work;
(j) a condenser operatively connected to the steam turbine for receiving working fluid from the steam turbine and having an output outputting liquid water;
(k) a second pump operatively connected to the condenser for pumping liquid water form the condenser to the pressure vessel for cooling the combustion chamber through the third conduit, the second valve and the fourth conduit;
(l) a third conduit coupled between the first valve and a second valve;
(m) a first valve;
(n) a second valve coupled between the second pump and the pressure vessel for regulating the flow of working fluid from the second pump to the pressure vessel;
(o) a third valve coupled between the pressure vessel and the superheater for controlling the flow of working fluid mass from the pressure vessel to the superheater;
and
(p) a computer for controlling the operation for the three valves, the first and second pumps and the temperature of the combustion chamber.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hydrogen based combined steam cycle apparatus

Life of this patent

Hydrogen based combined steam cycle apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10