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US 2022/0299205 A1Published application
Turboexpander inter-stage heating and nh3 cracking
AssigneeRaytheon Technologies Corporation
InventorsMalcolm MacDonald, Sean C. Emerson, Brian M. Holley, Lance L. Smith, Peter Cocks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A turbo-expanding cracking assembly includes a plurality of stages each including a rotating blade coupled to an output shaft and a fixed stator, at least one heat exchanger configured to transfer heat to an ammonia containing fuel flow, and a catalyst that is configured to decompose an ammonia containing fuel flow into a flow containing hydrogen (H2).
Claims31
A turbo-expanding cracking assembly comprising:
- a plurality of stages each including a rotating blade coupled to an output shaft and a fixed stator;
- at least one heat exchanger configured to transfer heat to an ammonia containing fuel flow:
- and
- a catalyst configured to decompose an ammonia containing fuel flow into a flow containing hydrogen (H2).
1 more element
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a turbo-expanding cracking assembly in communication with an ammonia containing fuel flow, the turbo-expander cracking assembly including at least one heat exchanger configured to transfer heat to the ammonia containing fuel flow, a catalyst configured to decompose the ammonia containing fuel flow into a flow containing hydrogen (H2) than ammonia (NH3) and a plurality of stages, wherein each of the plurality of stages includes a rotating blade coupled to an output shaft and a fixed stator;
- a combustor configured to receive and combust a hydrogen flow communicated from the turbo-expander cracking assembly to generate an exhaust gas flow;
- a compressor section configured to supply compressed air to the combustor;
- and
- a turbine section in flow communication with the exhaust gas flow produced by the combustor and mechanically coupled to drive the compressor section.
2 more elements
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a pump configured to increase a pressure of an ammonia containing fuel flow;
- a thermal transfer device configured to heat the ammonia containing fuel flow:
- a primary cracking assembly in communication with the ammonia containing fuel flow, the primary cracking assembly including a catalyst configured to decompose the ammonia containing fuel flow into a first fuel flow containing hydrogen (H2) and ammonia (NH3);
- a turboexpander receiving the fuel flow containing more hydrogen than ammonia from the primary cracking assembly, the turbo-expander including a plurality of stages each including a rotating blade coupled to an output shaft and a fixed stator;
- a secondary cracking assembly in communication with an outlet of the turbo-expander to further decompose the ammonia containing fuel flow into a second fuel flow containing hydrogen (H2) and ammonia (NH3);
- a combustor configured to receive and combust at least one of the first fuel flow and the second fuel flow containing more hydrogen than ammonia to generate an exhaust gas flow;
- a compressor section configured to supply compressed air to the combustor;
- and
- a turbine section in flow communication with the exhaust gas flow produced by the combustor and mechanically coupled to drive the compressor section.
6 more elements
A method of operating a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- communicating an ammonia containing fuel flow to a turbo-expanding cracker assembly that includes plurality of stages each including a rotating blade coupled to an output shaft and a fixed stator;
- transferring heat into the ammonia containing fuel flow within the plurality of stages of the turbo-expanding cracker assembly;
- decomposing the ammonia fuel flow with a catalyst disposed within the turbo-expanding cracking assembly into a flow containing hydrogen (H2);
- and
- communicating the flow containing hydrogen (H2) to a combustor configured to generate a gas flow.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.