Combined rankine and vapor compression cycles

• US 20040088992A1
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Biederman, Bruce P., Brasz, Joost J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,892,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/772
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/08 with working fluid of one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle
• 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: F02C 6/18 using the waste heat of gas-turbine plants outside the plants themselves, e.g. gas-turbine power heat plants using waste heat as source of energy for refrigeration plants F25B27/02; using the waste heat of a gasturbine for steam generation or in a steam cycle see F01K23/10
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/00 Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy F25B30/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

An organic rankine cycle system is combined with a vapor compression cycle system with the turbine generator of the organic rankine cycle generating the power necessary to operate the motor of the refrigerant compressor. The vapor compression cycle is applied with its evaporator cooling the inlet air into a gas turbine, and the organic rankine cycle is applied to receive heat from a gas turbine exhaust to heat its boiler within one embodiment, a common condenser is used for the organic rankine cycle and the vapor compression cycle, with a common refrigerant, R-245a being circulated within both systems. In another embodiment, the turbine driven generator has a common shaft connected to the compressor to thereby eliminate the need for a separate motor to drive the compressor.

Claims

1. A combination of a rankine cycle turbine generator system and an air conditioner comprising:

a rankine cycle system including a boiler, a turbine for driving a generator, a condenser and a pump, wherein said boiler is heated from the exhaust gases of a gas turbine engine; and

a vapor compression system including an evaporator, a motor driven compressor, a condenser and a throttle valve, wherein said evaporator is adapted to cool inlet air flowing to said gas turbine engine.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said compressor drive motor receives its electrical power entirely from the turbine generator.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said condenser in said rankine cycle system is common with the said condenser of said vapor compression system.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein a common refrigerant used in both the rankine cycle system and the vapor compression system is an organic refrigerant.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said refrigerant is R-245a.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the turbine generator and said compressor motor comprises a single element with a common shaft interconnecting said turbine to said compressor.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air conditioning system is a chiller.

12. A method set forth in claim 5 wherein said refrigerant is R-245a.

8. A method of generating power comprising the steps of:

operating a gas turbine for driving a generator, said gas turbine having an inlet for receiving inlet air and an outlet for discharging exhaust gases;

operating an rankine cycle system having a boiler, a turbine for driving a generator, a condenser and a pump wherein said boiler is heated by pumped gas turbine exhaust; and

operating an air conditioning system having an evaporator, a motor driven compressor, a condenser and a expansion device, wherein said evaporator is applied to cool said gas turbine inlet air.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 and including the further step of having said motor compressor with power from said turbine generator.

10. A method as set forth in claim 8 and including the step of using refrigerant from outlet of said turbine and from an outlet of said compressor to a single common condenser.

13. A method as set forth in claim 8 and including the further step of driving said compressor with a shaft from said turbine generator.

14. A method as set forth in claim 8 and including the steps of transmitting power with a generated said gas turbine generator to a grid for further distribution.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14 and including the further step of transmitting electrical energy.

11. A method as set forth in claim wherein 10 said refrigerant is an organic refrigerant.

16. A method of generating power comprising the steps of:

heating a boiler to generate a high pressure vapor;

applying said high pressure vapor to a turbine and responsively driving a generator to produce electrical power while converting said high pressure vapor to a low pressure vapor;

causing said lower pressure vapor to flow to a condenser where it is condensed to a liquid;

pumping at least a portion of said liquid to said boiler;

passing a portion of said liquid to an expansion valve where it is flashed to a liquid/vapor mixture, and passing said mixture to an evaporator for conversion to a vapor;

passing said vapor to a compressor for compressing it to a high pressure and vapor;

and

passing said high pressure vapor to said duplex condenser.