FLUIDIZED BED POWERPLANT WITH HELIUM CIRCUIT, INDIRECT HEAT EXCHANGE AND COMPRESSED AIR BYPASS CONTROL

• US 3,791,137 A
• Filed: 05/15/1972
• Issued: 02/12/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Albert Jubb, David Eyre Williams
• Original Assignee: Albert Jubb, David Eyre Williams
• Inventors: Jubb, Albert, Williams, David Eyre
• Primary Examiner(s): Croyle, Carlton R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olsen, Warren
• Application Number:
  US05/253,023
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 60/39.18A,39.18B,39.18C,39.18R,39.46 122/4D 23/288S
• US Class Current: 60/39.181
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/05 characterised by the type or source of heat, e.g. using nuclear or solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/10 Closed cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 3/205 in a fluidised-bed combustor in combination with a steam cycle see F01K23/061; fluidised-bed apparatus in general B01J8/18; fluidised-bed combustors in general F23C10/00

Abstract

A power unit consists basically of two gas turbine engines. In the first which is a closed cycle the working fluid (helium) is heated by passing it through a duct embedded in a fluidized bed. The exhaust gas is passed through a conventional heat exchanger before being returned to the compressor. In the second engine, consisting of a compressor and a turbine, air from the compressor is passed through the particulate material of the fluidised bed with fuel which maintains combustion in the fluidised bed. The exhaust gas from the turbine of the second engine is passed through a conventional heat exchanger and then to atmosphere. The two engines each drive an alternator.

Claims

1. A gas turbine engine power plant comprising:

compressor means, fluidised bed combustion means, said fluidised bed combustion means being connected to receive working fluid compressed by said compressor means in heat exchange relationship with said fluidised bed, turbine means, said turbine means being connected to receive and be driven by said working fluid heated by said fluidised bed combustion means, said turbine means also being drivingly connected to said compressor means, said turbine means and said compressor means being connected to form a closed cycle, further compressor means, said further compressor means being adapted to supply said fluidised bed combustion means with compressed air to support combustion therein, further turbine means, said further turbine means being connected to receive and be driven by the combustion products of the fluidised bed combustion means, said further compressor means being connected to be driven by said further turbine means, control valve means, said control valve means being operative to permit at least a part of the compressed air compressed by said further compressor means to by-pass said fluidised bed combustion means and flow to said further turbine means, auxiliary combustion means connected to receive and heat compressed air from said further compressor before said fluidised bed combustion means, and further auxiliary combustion means connected to receive and heat combustion products from said fluidised bed combustion means before said further turbine.

2. A power plant as claimed in claim 1 having throttle valve means connected between the outlet of the further compressor means and the fluidised bed combustion means.

3. A power plant as claimed in claim 2 having further control valve means operable to permit at least a part of the compressed air compressed by the further compressor means to by-pass the fluidised bed combustion bed combustion means and flow to the inlet of the further auxiliary combustion means.

4. A power plant as claimed in claim 1 having condenser means and pump means connected in series between the outlet of the first mentioned turbine means and the fluidised bed combustion means.

5. A power plant as claimed in claim 1 in which the gas in the closed cycle is helium.

6. A power plant as claimed in claim 1 having heat exchange means connected to receive exhaust gases from the further turbine means in heat exchange relationship with the working fluid compressed by the further compressor means prior to its heating by the fluidised bed combustion means.

7. A power plant as claimed in claim 6 having further heat exchange means connected to receive exhaust gases from the further turbine means in heat exchange relationship with the air compressed by the first mentioned compressor means.

8. A power plant as claimed in claim 7 having a recuperator connected to receive the working fluid compressed by the further compressor means prior to its heating by the fluidised bed combustion means, the recuperator being connected between the compressor means and the first mentioNed heat exchange means.

9. A power plant as claimed in claim 7 in which the heat exchange means and the further heat exchange means are connected in flow series.

10. A power plant as claimed in claim 7 in which the heat exchange means and the further heat exchange means are connected in parallel.