Power generation system including multiple cores

• US 10,101,092 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peregrine Turbine Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Peregrine Turbine Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Stapp, David S., Brooks, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Laurenzi, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mian, Shafiq
• Application Number:
  US14/833,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20160053638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 13/00 General layout or general methods of operation of complete plants
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 13/02 Controlling, e.g. stopping or starting
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/10 with exhaust fluid of one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle F01K17/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/103 Carbon dioxide F01K25/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/04 the working fluid being heated indirectly in a fluidised-bed combustor F02C3/205
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/10 Closed cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 21/0003 the heat being recuperated from exhaust gases F28D21/0014 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0006 the plate-like or laminated conduits being enclosed within a pressure vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0025 the conduits being formed by zig-zag bend plates
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0031 the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by paired plates touching each other F28D9/0012, F28D9/0025, F28D9/0081, F28D9/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0037 the conduits for the other heat-exchange medium also being formed by paired plates touching each other F28D9/0043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0062 the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by spaced plates with inserted elements F28D9/0012, F28D9/0025, F28D9/0081, F28D9/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2009/004 Common frame elements for multiple cores
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2009/0285 Other particular headers or end plates
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2265/26 for allowing differential expansion between elements floating header box elements F28F9/0236
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/08 Elements constructed for building-up into stacks, e.g. capable of being taken apart for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/001 Casings in the form of plate-like arrangements; Frames enclosing a heat exchange core
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0075 Supports for plates or plate assemblies

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a power generation system and related methods that use closed supercritical fluid cycles, and in particular, to a power generation system and related methods where multiple cores may be selectively operated to adjust power levels generated by the system.

Claims

1. A method for generating power in a system that includes a supercritical fluid cycle having a supercritical fluid flowing therethrough, and an air-breathing cycle having air flowing therethrough that does not mix with the flow of the supercritical fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

directing the supercritical fluid through a first core of a plurality of cores disposed along the supercritical fluid cycle, each core including a compressor and a turbine;

compressing the supercritical fluid in the compressor of the first core such that the supercritical fluid is discharged from the compressor of the first core as a compressed supercritical fluid;

transferring heat to the compressed supercritical fluid from the air in the air-breathing cycle in at least one heat exchanger such that the compressed supercritical fluid is discharged from the at least one heat exchanger as a heated supercritical fluid;

directing at least a portion of the heated supercritical fluid from the at least one heat exchanger to the turbine of the first core;

expanding the heated supercritical fluid in the turbine of the first core such that the first core generates a first level of power in an output device; and

activating at least a second core of the plurality of cores such that the second core increases the first level power generated in the output device to a second level of power that is greater than the first level of power,

wherein the activating further includes causing the supercritical fluid to flow to a compressor of the second core, the at least one heat exchanger, and a turbine of the second core, such that the turbine of the second core increases the first level of power in the output device to the second level of power.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating step is in response to a power demand on the system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing step further includes:

directing supercritical fluid to the compressor of the second core of the plurality of cores along the supercritical fluid cycle;

compressing the supercritical fluid in the compressor of the second core such that the supercritical fluid is discharged from the compressor of the second core as a compressed supercritical fluid;

mixing the compressed supercritical fluid discharged from the compressor of the second core with the compressed supercritical fluid discharged from the compressor of the first core to define a mixture of supercritical fluid;

directing at least a portion of the mixture of the supercritical fluid to the turbine of the second core;

expanding the at least a portion of the mixture of the supercritical fluid in the turbine of the second core such that the second core increases the first level of power of the output device to the second level of power.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating step further includes causing the supercritical fluid to flow through a compressor of a third core, the at least one heat exchanger, and a turbine of the third core, such that the turbine of the third core increases the second level of power in the output device to a third level of power.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the causing step further includes:

directing supercritical fluid to the compressor of the third core of the plurality of cores along the supercritical fluid cycle;

compressing the supercritical fluid in the compressor of the third core such that the supercritical fluid is discharged from the compressor of the third core as a compressed supercritical fluid;

mixing the compressed supercritical fluid discharged from the compressor of the third core with the mixture of supercritical fluid;

directing at least a portion of the mixture of the supercritical fluid to the turbine of the third core; and

expanding the at least a portion of the mixture of the supercritical fluid in the turbine of the third core such that the third core increases the second level of power of the output device to the third level of power.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the supercritical fluid comprises carbon dioxide.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein sufficient heat is transferred from the expanded supercritical fluid to cool the mixture of expanded supercritical fluid to approximately the critical point of the supercritical fluid.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating step further includes causing the supercritical fluid to flow through a compressor of at least one additional core of the plurality of cores, the at least one heat exchanger, and a turbine of at least one additional core of the plurality of cores, such that the turbine of the at least one additional core increases the second level of power in the output device to a level of power equal to the total number of activated cores.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the causing step further includes:

directing supercritical fluid to the compressor of the at least one additional core of the plurality of cores along the supercritical fluid cycle;

compressing the supercritical fluid in the compressor of the at least one additional core such that the supercritical fluid is discharged from the compressor of the at least one additional core as a compressed supercritical fluid;

mixing the compressed supercritical fluid discharged from the compressor of the at least one additional core with the mixture of supercritical fluid;

directing at least a portion of the mixture of the supercritical fluid to the turbine of the at least one additional core;

expanding the at least a portion of the mixture of the supercritical fluid in the turbine of the at least one additional core such that the at least one additional core increases the second level of power of the output device to the level of power equal to the total number of activated cores.

10. A system configured to generate power including at least a supercritical fluid cycle having a supercritical fluid flowing therethrough, the system comprising:

a plurality of cores disposed along the supercritical fluid cycle, each core including a compressor and a turbine, each core configured to be selectively operated so as to generate a power output; and

a plurality of heat exchangers disposed along the supercritical fluid cycle, at least one of the plurality of heat exchangers arranged so that supercritical fluid from the supercritical fluid cycle and air from an air breathing cycle passes therethrough but does not intermix, wherein the at least one heat exchanger is configured to be in fluid communication with each one of the plurality of cores;

wherein a first core of the plurality of cores is configured to generate a first level of power when the first core is in operation, and a second core of the plurality of cores is configured to increase the first level of power to a second level of power that is greater than the first level of power when the first and second cores are in operation.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the compressor of each core is configured to receive and compress a supercritical fluid and the turbine of each core is configured to receive and expand a supercritical fluid.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of heat exchangers is configured to receive at least a portion of the supercritical fluid expanded in the turbine of at least one core of the plurality of cores, and at least a portion of the supercritical fluid compressed in the compressor of at least one core of the plurality of cores.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a controller that is configured to selectively direct the flow of supercritical fluid through the first core and at least the second core of the plurality of cores so as to adjust the number cores operating.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising one or more valves operably connected to the controller and configured to control the flow of supercritical fluid through the plurality of cores.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of cores further comprises a compressor input valve configured to control flow of the supercritical fluid into the compressor and a compressor discharge valve configured to control flow of the supercritical fluid from the compressor.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of cores further comprises a turbine input valve configured to control flow of the supercritical fluid into the turbine and a turbine discharge valve configured to control flow of supercritical fluid from the supercritical fluid turbine.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising at least one power device operable coupled to each core of the plurality of cores.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of power devices that are each operable coupled to a respective one of the plurality of cores.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the power device is one of a generator, a turboprop, a turbofan, or a gearbox.

20. The system of claim 10, further comprising at least one cooler configured to reduce the temperature of the supercritical fluid.

26. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of heat exchangers are configured for peak effective heat transfer when only one core of the plurality of cores is operational.

21. An engine including a supercritical fluid cycle and an air-breathing cycle, the engine configured to produce multiple levels of power output, the engine comprising:

a plurality of cores disposed along the supercritical fluid cycle, each core including a compressor and a turbine, each one of the compressor and the turbine of the plurality of cores including an inlet and an outlet;

a first input conduit connected to the inlet of the compressor in each core;

a first discharge conduit connected to the outlet of the compressor in each core;

a second input conduit connected to the inlet of turbine in each core;

a second discharge conduit connected to the outlet of the turbine in each core,

wherein each core is configured to be selectively operated so as to generate a power output; and

a plurality of heat exchangers disposed along the supercritical fluid cycle, at least one of the plurality of heat exchangers configured to be in fluid communication with each one of the plurality of cores, the plurality of heat exchangers configured to a) receive supercritical fluid from the first and second discharge conduits, and b) discharge supercritical fluid to the first and second input conduits,

wherein the engine is configured to adjust the number of cores of the plurality cores in operation so as to adjust the levels of power output.

22. The engine of claim 21, wherein a first core of the plurality of cores is configured to generate a first level of power, and a second core of the plurality of cores is configured to increase the first level of power to a second level of power that is greater than the first level of power when the first and second cores are in operation.

23. The engine of claim 21, wherein the plurality of heat exchangers are configured to transfer heat from the air in the air-breathing cycle to at least a portion of the supercritical fluid from the first discharge conduit and to transfer heat from at least a portion of the supercritical fluid from the second discharge conduit to the air in the air-breathing cycle.

24. The engine of claim 21, further comprising a device to heat air in the air-breathing cycle.

25. The engine of claim 21, wherein the plurality of heat exchangers are configured for peak effective heat transfer when only one core of the plurality of cores is operational.