Method and apparatus for total energy systems

The method of generating a hot high pressure fluid stream comprising the steps of combustion of an oxygen bearing fluid and fuel, introducing a carbonaceous water-bearing material into a pressure zone without substantial loss in pressure, transferring heat from said stream to react with and to evaporate the water from said material, separating the dried part of said material from said zone while continuing to substantially maintain said pressure in the remanant flow of product gas and water vapor, sequentially expanding at least a portion of said flow in the turbine part of a turbo-compressor means in the compression of said oxygen bearing fluid while continuing high static pressure in said flow after said expansion for optimal utilization of the heat content in said flow, and further whereby the delivery of product gas with minimal surplus steam is controlled by effecting, at the most, four independently varied steam sources including said material by directing water in, at system pressure, which becomes steam by direct heat transfer from at least two combustion reactions within the system.

The method of delivering a heating fluid at high pressure for its transport and the transfer and utilization of most of its heat by a jet pump means comprising the steps of discharging a primary jet from a confined space at a high pressure, introducing combustible reactants through at least one secondary port, the mixing of said reactants and the material of said jet in a zone just sequent to said jet and said port whereby the mixed flow just downstream of said zone contains a product gas from combustion effected at least once in any part of said means, and whereby the high pressure in said space is developed by a substantial discharge from a gas turbine driven compressor;

• and further, whereby said substantial discharge is developed by increasing the mass flow through the turbine by the steps of proportioning the reactants in the combustor of said gas turbine for minimal excess oxygen and modulating the turbine inlet temperature by injecting water into the proximity of said combustion of said reactants whereby said water becoming steam augments the flow expanding through said turbine part thus allowing for a maximal increase in oxidant delivered to said jet pump means.

The method of boosting the flow energy of an existing flow of fluidized matter at a temperature above 300.degree. F. for the utilization more fully of its heat content by the addition of more heat comprising the steps of metered introduction of at least combustible reactants into said flow to establish the upper energy level of a cascade for said utilization, effecting said introduction without significant loss in the system pressure of said flow, providing ignition means for said reactants and an adequately long downstream portion of the passage for said flow for the thorough mixing of the combustion products after said ignition with unreacted matter, extending said passage for the transport and transfer and the utilization of most of the combined heat energies arising from said addition including the flow energy converted to heat in effecting said cascade to conclude in a temperature substantially lower than the initial temperature of said flow for the utilization of the remaining heat, whereby said existing flow comprises high pressure, high temperature steam, which is superheated to temperatures above 2000.degree. F.

The jet pump method of generating a heating fluid at a selected substantially high pressure for the transport and transfer of most of its heat whereby said pressure is behind the jet and is provided by superheated steam, at temperatures above 1600.degree. F. comprising the steps of discharging a primary jet of said steam in a confined space, said space having at least one secondary port, introducing material containing combustible reactants through said port to mix with the material of said jet, igniting said reactants in said mixture, whereby the energy released in the combustion of said reactants, is first selected in magnitude as stored energy so as to complement said high pressure thereby further raising the energy level of the mixture, so programmed as the optimal pressure and heat-utilization cascade, whereby the ultimate step in said utilization exhausts a product gas at a significantly low temperature, whereby carbonaceous material in stoichiometric proportions is introduced along with said combustion reactants so as to effect a substantial water-gas reaction on mixing with said jet, accordingly utilizing a substantial portion of said heat.

The jet pump method of generating a heating fluid at a selected substantially high pressure for the transport and transfer of most of its heat whereby said pressure is behind the jet and is provided by superheated steam, at temperatures above 1600.degree. F. comprising the steps of discharging a primary jet of said steam in a confined space, said space having at least one secondary port, introducing material containing combustible reactants through said port to mix with the material of said jet, igniting said reactants in said mixture, whereby the energy released in the combustion of said reactants, is first selected in magnitude as stored energy so as to complement said high pressure thereby further raising the energy level of the mixture, so programmed as the optimal pressure and heat-utilization cascade, whereby the ultimate step in said utilization exhausts a product gas at a significantly low temperature, whereby said steam is first superheated in a high pressure boiler and is further superheated to said temperatures in a suitable duct between said boiler and said jet.

The jet pump method of generating a heating fluid at a selected substantially high pressure for the transport, transfer and utilization of most of its heat whereby said pressure is behind the jet and is provided by superheated steam, at temperatures above 1600.degree. F. comprising the steps of discharging a primary jet of said steam in a confined space, said space having at least one secondary port, introducing material containing carbonaceous reactants through said port to mix with and react with said jet, whereby the constituents of the ensuing reaction first selected in proportion to complement said high pressure thereby establishing the energy level of the products of said reaction as the optimal pressure for a heat-utilization cascade, whereby the ultimate step in said utilization exhausts a product gas at a significantly low temperature, whereby said steam is first superheated in a high pressure boiler and is further superheated to said temperatures in a suitable duct between said boiler and said jet.