SUPERCRITICAL CO2 TURBINE FOR USE IN SOLAR POWER PLANTS
First Claim
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1. A turbine system comprising:
- a supercritical carbon dioxide turbine having an outlet;
a high temperature recuperator having a first inlet connected to the outlet of the supercritical carbon dioxide turbine and a first outlet;
a low temperature recuperator having a first inlet connected to the first outlet of the high temperature recuperator and a first outlet;
a first valve having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, wherein the first inlet of the first valve is connected to the first outlet of the low temperature recuperator;
a compressor connected to the first outlet of the first valve;
a precooler connected to the second outlet of the first valve; and
a solar heating system having a molten salt heat transfer fluid for providing thermal energy to the supercritical carbon dioxide turbine.
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Abstract
A solar-powered supercritical carbon dioxide turbine system includes a supercritical carbon dioxide turbine system and a solar heating system. The solar heating system has a molten salt heat transfer fluid for providing thermal energy to the supercritical carbon dioxide turbine system.
119 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A turbine system comprising:
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a supercritical carbon dioxide turbine having an outlet; a high temperature recuperator having a first inlet connected to the outlet of the supercritical carbon dioxide turbine and a first outlet; a low temperature recuperator having a first inlet connected to the first outlet of the high temperature recuperator and a first outlet; a first valve having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, wherein the first inlet of the first valve is connected to the first outlet of the low temperature recuperator; a compressor connected to the first outlet of the first valve; a precooler connected to the second outlet of the first valve; and a solar heating system having a molten salt heat transfer fluid for providing thermal energy to the supercritical carbon dioxide turbine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for providing energy for a supercritical carbon dioxide turbine, the system comprising:
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a Brayton cycle working fluid for providing energy to the supercritical carbon dioxide turbine; a high temperature recuperator that receives the Brayton working fluid from the supercritical carbon dioxide turbine and cools it; a low temperature recuperator that receives the Brayton working fluid from the high temperature recuperator and cools it; a precooler; a first valve that divides the Brayton cycle working fluid cooled by the low temperature recuperator into a first portion that flows through the precooler and a second portion that does not flow through the precooler; a second valve that combines the first portion of the Brayton cycle working fluid that is cooled by the precooler and the second portion of the Brayton cycle working fluid that is not cooled by the precooler; and a solar receiver for heating a heat transfer fluid to a temperature of at least about 1065 degrees Fahrenheit, wherein the heat transfer fluid is in communication with the Brayton cycle working fluid. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of generating electricity with a supercritical carbon dioxide turbine, the method comprising:
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capturing solar energy from sunlight; heating a heat transfer fluid to a temperature of at least about 1065 degrees Fahrenheit with the solar energy; transporting energy from the heat transfer fluid to heat a Brayton cycle working fluid of the supercritical carbon dioxide turbine; passing the heated Brayton cycle working fluid through the supercritical carbon dioxide turbine; cooling the Brayton cycle working fluid from the supercritical carbon dioxide turbine with a high temperature recuperator; cooling the Brayton cycle working fluid from the high temperature recuperator with a low temperature recuperator; dividing the cooled Brayton cycle working fluid from the low temperature recuperator into a first portion and a second portion; cooling the first portion of the Brayton cycle working fluid; not cooling the second portion of the Brayton cycle working fluid; and combining the first portion of the Brayton cycle working fluid and the second portion of the Brayton cycle working fluid that is not cooled after the step of cooling the first portion of the Brayton cycle working fluid. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification