Intercooled Cascade Cycle Waste Heat Recovery System
AssigneeIndustrom Power LLC
InventorsPaul Angel, Joseph Harris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided herein is a power generation system and method for transforming thermal energy, such as waste heat, into mechanical energy and/or electrical energy. The system employs features designed to accelerate start times, reduce size, lower cost, and be more environmentally friendly. The system may include multiple compressors on separate pinion shafts with multiple expanders, a temperature valve upstream of compressors with a mass management system downstream, an intercooler between compressors, and a cascade exchanger. In one embodiment, the system is configured to drive a synchronous generator, with the separate pinion shafts rotating at two separate, but constant, speeds.
Claims21
1-7. (canceled)
A supercritical Brayton cycle power generation system comprising:
- a first compressor for compressing working fluid;
- a second compressor for compressing working fluid, wherein the second compressor is fluidly connected with the first compressor;
- an inter-stage cooler, wherein the inter-stage cooler is downstream of the first compressor and upstream of the second compressor such that working fluid is cooled by way of the inter-stage cooler prior to the inlet of the second compressor;
- a primary expander for generating work, wherein the primary expander is downstream of and fluidly connected with the second compressor;
- a cascade expander for generating work, wherein the cascade expander is downstream of and fluidly connected with the primary expander;
- and
- a cascade heat exchanger positioned downstream of the primary expander and upstream of the cascade expander such that excess heat from the primary expander is transferred to the working fluid entering the cascade expander.
A supercritical Brayton cycle power generation system comprising:
- a cascade expander connected to a first compressor through a first pinion shaft;
- a primary expander connected to a second compressor through a second pinion shaft,
- c. wherein the first pinion shaft and second pinion shaft are connected through a gear;
- and
- a generator connected to the first and second pinion shafts.
A supercritical Brayton cycle power generation system comprising:
- a first compressor;
- a second compressor downstream of and fluidly connected with the first compressor;
- a primary expander downstream of and fluidly connected with the second compressor;
- a cascade expander downstream of and fluidly connected with the primary expander;
- and
- an inter-stage cooler positioned downstream of the first compressor and upstream of the second compressor, wherein the inter-stage cooler is configured to cool working fluid prior to an inlet of the second compressor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.