Multi-shaft reheat turbine mechanism for generating power
AssigneeSolo Energy Corporation
InventorsRajiv K. Mongia, Steven G. Buckley, George L. Touchton, Robert W. Dibble, Peter D. Neuhaus
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-shaft reheat turbine mechanism includes multiple turbines mounted on respective compressor shafts, and catalytic reactors feeding respective ones of the turbines. Fuel is introduced into a low pressure compressor, whereby there is no need to pressurize the fuel. The compressor side of the mechanism emits a compressed air/fuel flow, portions of which are combusted in respective ones of the catalytic reactors. The air/fuel flow traveling from the compressor side to the turbine side passes through a regenerator in heat exchanging relationship with exhaust gas from a low pressure turbine.
Claims18
A multi-shaft reheat turbine mechanism comprising:
- a plurality of shafts, expansion turbines connected respectively to all shafts, and compressors connected respectively to at least two shafts for compressing air and fuel;
- means for supplying air and fuel into the compressor side to be compressed thereby;
- an intercooler disposed in a line extending between an outlet of one of the compressors and an inlet of another of the compressors for cooling compressed air/fuel traveling between those compressors;
- the compressors constituting a compressor side of the mechanism for compressing air/fuel, and the turbines constituting a turbine side of the mechanism for driving the compressors;
- at least one electrical generator operably connected to the turbine side to be powered thereby;
- a heat exchanger for conducting compressed air/fuel from the compressor side in heat exchange relationship with hot exhaust gas from the turbine side, to heat the compressed air/fuel;
- the turbine side further including combustors for combusting compressed air/fuel, each combustor disposed upstream of an associated turbine, and including an outlet for conducting combusted air/fuel to its respective turbine;
- a first of the turbines being disposed upstream of a second of the turbines, with an exhaust outlet of the first turbine connected to a second of the combustors, the second combustor being associated with the second turbine;
- and
- a conduit arrangement for conducting a first portion of the heated compressed air/fuel to a first of the combustors, the first combustor being associated with the first turbine, and for conducting the exhaust gas from the first combustor, together with a second portion of the heated compressed air/fuel, to the first turbine to be expanded therein.
A turbine mechanism comprising:
- a spool comprising a shaft, a compressor connected to the shaft, and a first expansion turbine connected to the shaft:
- the compressor comprising a compressor side of the mechanism for compressing air/fuel, and the turbine comprising a turbine-side of the mechanism for driving the compressor;
- means for supplying air and fuel to the compressor side to be compressed thereby;
- at least one electrical generator operably connected to the turbine side to be powered thereby:
- a heat exchanger for conducting compressed air/fuel from the compressor side in heat exchange relationship with hot exhaust gas from the turbine side, to heat the compressed air/fuel;
- the turbine side including a first combustor disposed upstream of first turbine, a second combustor disposed downstream of the first turbine, and a second turbine disposed downstream of the second combustor;
- and
- a conduit arrangement for conducting a first portion of the heated compressed air to the first combustor, and for conducting products of combustion from the first combustor, together with a second portion of the heated compressed air/fuel, to the first turbine.
A method of producing energy, utilizing a multi-shaft reheat turbine mechanism comprising a plurality of shafts, expansion turbines connected respectively to all shafts, and compressors connected respectively to at least two shafts, the compressors constituting a compressor side, and the turbines constituting a turbine side;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- A. delivering air and fuel one of the compressors which emits compressed air/fuel;
- B. cooling the compressed air/fuel in an intercooler;
- thereafter
- C. delivering the cooled air/fuel from the intercooler to another of the compressors;
- thereafter
- D. passing the cooled air/fuel through a heat exchanger in heat exchanging relationship with exhaust gas from the turbine side of the mechanism subsequent to step C, to produce a heated compressed air/fuel flow;
- thereafter
- E. reacting only a portion of the fuel of the flow in a combustor and then delivering the flow, including unreacted fuel, to one of the turbines of the turbine side;
- thereafter
- F. reacting expanded exhaust from the one turbine, including unreacted fuel, in another combustor, and then delivering the flow, including expanded exhaust, to another turbine disposed downstream thereof;
- and
- G. driving an electrical generator operably connected to the turbine side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.