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US 5,669,216 AGranted
Process and device for generating mechanical energy
AssigneeMannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsHendrik Jan Ankersmit, Rudolf Hendriks, Leo Jozef Maria Joannes Blomen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for the continuous conversion of energy chemically bound in a starting fuel based on C-H compounds into usable mechanical energy. For this purpose, a gas turbine is used and in order to obtain high mechanical efficiency the combustion is effected at least partially with a fuel obtained from the starting fuel by endothermic reaction, the heating of the reaction space for the endothermic reaction being effected either by compressed combustion air, which has been heated by the exhaust gases, or by the hot exhaust gas itself.
Claims15
A process for continuously converting energy that is chemically bound in a gaseous starting fuel essentially containing methane into usable mechanical energy, comprising the steps of:
- compressing combustion air;
- obtaining drive energy for the compression of the combustion air from a compressor drive gas turbine unit through which at least a flow volume of the compressed combustion air is conducted accompanied by partial expansion;
- combusting fuel in two stages with the compressed combustion air to generate hot exhaust gases;
- partially expanding the hot exhaust gas that is generated in a first of the combustion stages and has a high amount of excess air in the compressor drive gas turbine;
- feeding the partially expanded exhaust gas to a second of the combustion stages with additional fuel;
- expanding the hot exhaust gas generated in the second combustion stage in a gas turbine for producing usable mechanical energy;
- endothermically converting the starting fuel at a temperature below 780.degree. C., in a reaction space arranged after the gas turbine for producing usable mechanical energy, into a converted fuel having a higher absolute thermal value by heating the reaction space using the total flow of the hot exhaust gas generated in the combustion after the hot exhaust gas has been expanded in the gas turbine for producing usable mechanical energy, so that at least a predominant quantity of individual combustible components of the converted fuel remain for combustion;
- using the converted fuel in the combusting steps;
- and
- heating the compressed combustion air prior to entering the first combustion stage using residual heat of the hot exhaust gas expanded in the gas turbine.
7 more elements
A process for continuously converting energy that is chemically bound in a gaseous starting fuel essentially containing methane into usable mechanical energy, comprising the steps of:
- compressing combustion air;
- obtaining drive energy for the compression of the combustion air from a compressor drive gas turbine unit through which at least a flow volume of the compressed combustion air is conducted accompanied by partial expansion;
- combusting fuel in two stages with the compressed combustion air to generate hot exhaust gases;
- partially expanding the hot exhaust gas that is generated in a first of the combustion stages and has a high amount of excess air in the compressor drive gas turbine;
- feeding the partially expanded exhaust gas to a second of the combustion stages with additional fuel;
- expanding the hot exhaust gas generated in the second combustion stage in a gas turbine for producing usable mechanical energy;
- endothermically converting the gaseous starting fuel at a temperature below 780.degree. C., in a reaction space arranged after the gas turbine for producing usable mechanical energy, into a converted fuel having a higher absolute thermal value by heating the reaction space using the total flow of the hot exhaust gas generated in the combustion after the hot exhaust gas has been expanded in the gas turbine for producing usable mechanical energy, so that at least a predominant quantity of individual combustible components of the converted fuel remain for combustion;
- and
- using the converted fuel in the combusting stages.
6 more elements
A process for continuously converting energy that is chemically bound in a gaseous starting fuel essentially containing methane into usable mechanical energy, comprising the steps of:
- compressing combustion air;
- obtaining drive energy for the compression of combustion air from a compressor drive gas turbine unit through which at least a flow volume of the compressed combustion air is conducted accompanied by partial expansion;
- combusting fuel in two stages with the compressed combustion air to generate hot exhaust gases;
- partially expanding the hot exhaust gas that is generated in a first of the combustion stages and has a high amount of excess air in the compressor drive gas turbine;
- feeding the partially expanded exhaust gas to a second of the combustion stages with additional fuel;
- expanding the hot exhaust gas generated in the second combustion stage in a gas turbine for producing usable mechanical energy;
- endothermically converting the starting fuel at a temperature below 780.degree. C., in a reaction space, into a converted fuel having a higher absolute thermal value by heating the reaction space using the hot exhaust gas before the hot exhaust gas is partially expanded in the compressor drive gas turbine, so that at least a predominant quantity of individual combustible components of the converted fuel remain for combustion;
- and
- using the converted fuel in the combustion stages.
6 more elements
A process for continuously converting energy that is chemically bound in a gaseous starting fuel essentially containing methane into usable mechanical energy, comprising the steps of:
- compressing combustion air;
- obtaining drive energy for the compression of the combustion air from a compressor drive gas turbine unit through which at least a flow volume of the compressed combustion air is conducted accompanied by partial expansion;
- combusting fuel in two stages with the compressed combustion air to generate hot exhaust gases;
- partially expanding the hot exhaust gas that is generated in a first of the combustion stages and has a high amount of excess air in the compressor drive gas turbine;
- feeding the partially expanded exhaust gas to a second of the combustion stages with additional fuel;
- expanding the hot exhaust gas generated in the second combustion stage in a gas turbine for producing usable mechanical energy;
- endothermically converting the starting fuel at a temperature below 780.degree. C., in a reaction space, into a converted fuel having a higher absolute thermal value by heating the reaction space using the hot exhaust gas generated in the combustion after being partially expanded in the compressor drive gas turbine unit, but before being expanded in the gas turbine, so that at least a predominant quantity of individual combustible components of the converted fuel remain for combustion;
- and
- using the converted fuel in the combustion stages.
6 more elements
A process for continuously converting energy that is chemically bound in a gaseous starting fuel essentially containing methane into usable mechanical energy, comprising the steps of:
- compressing combustion air;
- obtaining drive energy for the compression of the combustion air from a compressor drive gas turbine unit through which at least a flow volume of the compressed combustion air is conducted accompanied by partial expansion;
- combusting fuel in two stages with the compressed combustion air to generate hot exhaust gases;
- partially expanding the hot exhaust gas that is generated in a first of the combustion stages and has a high amount of excess air in the compressor drive gas turbine;
- feeding the partially expanded exhaust gas to a second of the combustion stages with additional fuel;
- expanding the hot exhaust gas generated in the second combustion stage in a gas turbine for producing usable mechanical energy;
- endothermically converting the starting fuel at a temperature below 780.degree. C., in a reaction space, into a converted fuel having a higher absolute thermal value by heating the reaction space before expanding the hot exhaust gas generated in the combustion, so that at least a predominant quantity of individual combustible components of the converted fuel remain for combustion;
- and
- using the converted fuel in the combusting stages.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.