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US 5,852,925 AGranted
Method for producing oxygen and generating power using a solid electrolyte membrane integrated with a gas turbine
AssigneePraxair Technology, Inc.
InventorsRavi Prasad, Christian Friedrich Gottzmann, Raymond Francis Drnevich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compressed, oxygen-containing gas stream is combusted and then contacted with a solid electrolyte membrane to produce an oxygen-depleted, compressed gas stream and product oxygen. Preferably, the oxygen-depleted gas stream is further combusted, used to produce steam, and/or used to preheat the oxygen-containing gas stream prior to expansion in a gas turbine.
Claims16
A method for producing oxygen and generating power by retrofitting a power generation system, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing the power generation system including a first compressor, a first combustor and a gas turbine, said compressor compressing a first oxygen-containing gas stream for delivery to said first combustor, said first combustor combusting the first stream for expansion in said gas turbine;
- providing a second combustor in fluid communication with at least a first separator having a solid electrolyte membrane;
- directing a minor portion of the first stream to said second combustor utilizing a control valve disposed between said first compressor and said first combustor;
- combusting at least the minor portion of the first stream in the second combustor to a temperature below 1100.degree. C. to produce a combusted, heated, compressed gas stream;
- contacting the combusted, heated, compressed gas stream with the solid electrolyte membrane at a temperature below about 1000.degree. C. to produce an oxygen-depleted, compressed gas stream and product oxygen therefrom;
- combining the oxygen-depleted, compressed gas stream with the first stream at least one of before, during and after combustion of the first stream by said first combustor;
- controlling the pressure of the remainder of the first stream after the minor portion is removed, utilizing a pressure matching device in fluid communication between said control valve and said first combustor, said pressure matching device being disposed upstream of the combining of the oxygen-depleted compressed gas stream with the first stream to match the pressure of the controlled first stream with the pressure of the oxygen-depleted stream;
- and expanding the combined gas stream in the gas turbine at a temperature within the range of from about 900.degree. to about 2000.degree. C., thereby generating power,
- wherein at least a portion of the compressed oxygen-containing gas stream bypasses the second combustor and is mixed with the combusted, compressed oxygen-containing gas stream prior to contact with the solid electrolyte membrane.
6 more elements
A method for producing oxygen and generating power by retrofitting a power generation system, said method comprising:
- providing the power generation system including a first compressor, a first combustor and a gas turbine, said compressor compressing a first oxygen-containing gas stream for delivery to said first combustor, said first combustor combusting the first stream for expansion in said gas turbine;
- providing at least a first separator having a solid electrolyte membrane;
- heating at least a minor portion of the first stream utilizing at least a first heat exchanger to a temperature below 1100.degree. C. to produce a heated, compressed gas stream having a pressure of at least 100 psia;
- directing the minor portion of the first stream to said first heat exchanger utilizing a control valve disposed between said first compressor and said first combustor;
- contacting the heated, compressed gas stream with the solid electrolyte membrane at a temperature below about 1000.degree. C. to produce an oxygen-depleted, compressed gas stream having a pressure of at least 100 psia and product oxygen therefrom;
- combining the oxygen-depleted, compressed gas stream with the first stream at least one of before, during and after combustion of the first stream by said first combustor;
- controlling the pressure of the remainder of the first stream, after the minor portion is removed, utilizing a pressure matching device in fluid communication between said control valve and said first combustor, said pressure matching device being disposed upstream of the combining of the oxygen-depleted, compressed gas stream with the first stream to match the pressure of the controlled first stream with the pressure of the oxygen-depleted stream;
- and
- expanding the combined gas stream in the gas turbine at a temperature within the range of from about 900.degree. to about 2000.degree. C., thereby driving said first compressor and generating power;
- wherein heating the compressed oxygen-containing gas stream is accomplished at least in part using a second combustor to produce a combusted, compressed, oxygen-containing gas stream to serve as the heated, compressed gas stream that is contacted with the solid electrolyte membrane;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of the compressed oxygen-containing gas stream bypasses the second combustor and is mixed with the combusted, compressed, oxygen-containing gas stream prior to contact with the solid electrolyte membrane.
9 more elements
A method for producing oxygen and generating power by retrofitting a power generation system, said method comprising:
- providing the power generation system including a first compressor, a first combustor and a gas turbine, said compressor compressing a first oxygen-containing gas stream for delivery to said first combustor, said first combustor combusting the first stream for expansion in said gas turbine;
- providing at least a first separator having a solid electrolyte membrane;
- heating at least a minor portion of the first stream and a compressed oxygen-containing gas stream utilizing at least a first heat exchanger and a second combustor, disposed downstream from said first heat exchanger, to a temperature below 1100.degree. C. to produce a heated, compressed gas stream having a pressure of at least 100 psia;
- bypassing at least a portion of the compressed oxygen-containing gas stream to the second combustor and mixing said bypassed portion with the combusted, compressed, oxygen-containing gas stream prior to contact with the solid electrolyte membrane;
- directing the minor portion of the first stream to said first heat exchanger utilizing a control valve disposed between said first compressor and said first combustor;
- contacting the heated, compressed gas stream with the solid electrolyte membrane at a temperature below about 1000.degree. C. to produce an oxygen-depleted, compressed gas stream having a pressure of at least 100 psia and product oxygen therefrom;
- directing both the oxygen-depleted, compressed gas stream and the product oxygen through said first heat exchanger to transfer heat to the compressed oxygen-containing gas stream;
- combining the oxygen-depleted, compressed gas stream with the first stream at least one of before, during and after combustion of the first stream by said first combustor;
- controlling the pressure of the remainder of the first stream, after the minor portion is removed, utilizing a pressure matching device in fluid communication between said control valve and said first combustor, said pressure matching device being disposed upstream of the combining of the oxygen-depleted, compressed gas stream with the first stream to reduce the pressure of the controlled first stream to match the pressure of the oxygen-depleted stream;
- and
- expanding the combined gas stream in the gas turbine at a temperature within the range of from about 900.degree. to about 2000.degree. C., thereby driving said first compressor and generating power.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.