Hybrid integrated energy production process
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Abstract
Disclosed is an advanced process that relates to the enhanced production of energy using the integration of multiple thermal cycles (Brayton and Rankine) that employ multiple fuels, multiple working fluids, turbines and equipment. The method includes providing a nuclear reactor, reactor working fluid, heat exchangers, compressors, and multiple turbines to drive compressors that pressurize a humidified working fluid that is combusted with fuel fired in at least one gas turbine. The turbine(s) provide for electrical energy, processes or other mechanical loads.
97 Citations
50 Claims
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1-25. -25. (canceled)
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26. An electric power generation system comprising:
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a reactor plant having a gas cooled nuclear reactor, a gas turbine, a gas compressor, a plurality of heat exchangers and regenerator configured to comprise a closed-system Brayton regenerated gas turbine cycle, an air compressor plant having an air compressor coupled to said reactor plant gas turbine, a combustion turbine plant having a combustion turbine coupled to said air compressor of said air compressor plant, a combustor igniting fuel supplied to said combustion turbine and producing waste heat exhaust, said combustion turbine plant configured to comprise an open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle, a heat recovery unit for generating steam using said waste heat exhaust of said combustion turbine of said combustion turbine plant, a steam turbine using steam generated by said heat recovery unit, said configuration a forming a combined cycle comprising a Rankine steam cycle in combination with said open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle of said combustion turbine plant, an electrical plant having a first electrical generator coupled to said combustion turbine of said combustion turbine plant and a second electrical generator coupled to said steam turbine, whereas said electric power generating system provides an integrated coupled multi-cycle and multi-fuel system comprising said nuclear reactor heated closed-system Brayton regenerated gas turbine cycle coupled to said open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle by way of said air compressor of said open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle and said Rankine steam cycle coupled to said open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle by way of said steam turbine using steam heated by waste heat from said combustion turbine of said open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A power generation system comprising:
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a reactor plant presenting a closed-system Brayton regenerated gas turbine cycle, said reactor plant having;
a nuclear reactor for heating a working gas, a gas turbine to receive the heated working gas from said nuclear reactor to produce a mechanical output, a plurality of gas compressors, driven by said gas turbine, and receiving said working gas from the exhaust of said gas turbine for pressurizing said working gas and returning said working gas to said nuclear reactor, a recuperator coupled between said gas compressors and said nuclear reactor to pre-heat said working gas directed into said nuclear reactor, a plurality of heat exchangers for cooling said heated working gas exhausted from said gas turbine prior to entry of said working gas to said gas compressors, said heat exchangers being connected between said gas turbine and said gas compressors to convey said working gas there through starting with said nuclear reactor, through said gas turbine, said recuperator, said heat exchangers, said gas compressors, said heat exchangers, said gas compressors, said recuperator and back to said nuclear reactor, an air compressor plant having a plurality of air compressors coupled to said gas turbine of said nuclear reactor to raise the pressure of the said air, a plurality of heat exchangers coupled to said air compressors to remove thermal energy from said air prior to entry of said air into said air compressors, a turbine plant having a combustion turbine employing fuel ignited in a combustor, said combustion turbine coupled to said compressors of said compressor plant, said combustion turbine and said air compressors of said compressor plant comprising an open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle, a vapor addition unit having a vessel to mix compressed air from said compressor plant with heated water from said plurality of heat exchangers employed for heat removal from said closed-system Brayton gas turbine cycle and said open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle, thereby adding moisture by way of evaporation of said heated water into said compressed air of said compressor plant, and pumps circulating water to remove heat from said open and closed system Brayton cycles, with said compressed air and vapor directed to said combustion turbine of said open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle, said vapor with said combustion turbine forming a portion of a first Rankine steam cycle, a heat recovery unit having a plurality of heat exchangers to remove thermal energy from combustion gas exhausted from said turbine plant combustion turbine to create steam, to heat water for said vapor addition unit and to heat said compressed air and said vapor prior to entry of said air vapor mixture to said combustion turbine of said turbine plant, a steam turbine using said steam generated by said heat recovery unit to form a second Rankine steam cycle, said second Rankine steam cycle and said open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle comprising a combined cycle, and an electrical plant having a first electrical generator driven by said combustion turbine of said turbine plant and acting as a motor during plant startup, shut down and emergency cooling of said nuclear reactor, and a second electrical generator coupled to said steam turbine, whereas said power generating system provides an integrated coupled multi-cycle and multi-fuel system including said closed-system nuclear reactor heated Brayton regenerated gas turbine cycle coupled to said open-system Brayton regenerated combustion turbine cycle by way of said air compressor of said compressor plant of said open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle, said second Rankine steam cycle coupled to said open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle by way of said steam turbine using steam heated by waste heat exhausted from said combustion turbine and said first Rankine steam cycle coupled to said open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle by way of said vapor addition unit coupled to a plurality of heat exchangers, employed throughout the power generating system, removing heat from said Brayton and Rankine cycles. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A power generation system comprising:
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a reactor plant presenting a closed-system Brayton gas turbine cycle, said reactor plant having;
a nuclear reactor for heating a working gas, a gas turbine to receive the heated working gas from said nuclear reactor to produce a mechanical output and having an exhaust, a plurality of gas compressors coupled to said gas turbine and receiving said heated working gas from said exhaust of said gas turbine for pressurizing said working gas and returning said working gas to said nuclear reactor, a recuperator coupled between said gas compressor and said nuclear reactor to pre-heat said working gas directed into said nuclear reactor, said recuperator coupled between said reactor turbine and said compressor to receive heated working gas from said reactor turbine, and a heat exchanger for cooling said heated working gas exhausted from said gas turbine prior to entry of said working gas to said gas compressors, said heat exchanger connected between said recuperator and said gas compressors, an air compressor plant having a plurality of air compressors coupled to said gas turbine of said nuclear reactor to raise the pressure of the said air, a turbine plant having a combustion turbine employing fuel ignited in a combustor, said combustion turbine coupled to said plurality of air compressors of said air compressor plant, said combustion turbine of said turbine plant and said air compressors of said compressor plant presenting an open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle, and an electrical generator driven by said combustion turbine of said turbine plant and acting as a motor during plant startup, shut down and emergency nuclear reactor cooling, whereas said power generating system providing an integrated coupled multi-cycle and multi-fuel system consisting of said closed-system, nuclear reactor heated Brayton regenerated gas turbine cycle coupled to said open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle by way of said air compressor of said air compressor plant of said open-system Brayton combustion turbine cycle. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification