Calcium carbide power system

• US 4,257,232 A
• Filed: 07/13/1979
• Issued: 03/24/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kraus Phyllis
• Original Assignee: Ealious D. Bell
• Inventors: Bell, Ealious D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrager, Allen M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US06/057,438
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 60/643, 60/645, 60/648-650, 60/670-671, 60/673, 60/676, 60/682, 60/665, 60/667, 48/38, 48/59, 48/216, 423/439, 423/441, 126/263, 106/43
• US Class Current: 60/676
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 3/188 using heat from a specified chemical reaction

Abstract

A calcium carbide based power system for stationary and mobile power plants. The carbide is reacted with water to create heat and acetylene, with the acetylene then being burned to heat a boiler for providing steam to a steam turbine. The exhaust of the turbine is condensed and pumped back into the boiler, first being pre-heated by a heat exchanger in the carbide-water reactor to pre-heat the boiler makeup water (steam) and to cool the reactor. The system may limit the excess water required for the carbide-water reactor, and provides recovery of the heat given off in the generation of the acetylene for maximum system efficiency. Other, alternate embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A power system comprising;

conversion means for converting a heat rate to power;

reactor means utilizing a dry process for reacting calcium carbide and water to provide acetylene and a first source of heat;

means for conveying heat from said first source of heat to said conversion means; and

means coupled to said reactor means for conveying acetylene from said reactor means to said conversion means and for burning the acetylene to provide a second source of heat for said conversion means, said means for conveying heat from said first source of heat to said conversion means being a means for conveying heat at rates dependent upon the rate of the reaction in said reactor means, whereby the temperature of said reactor means will tend to be self-regulating.

2. The power system of claim 1 wherein said conversion means comprises a means for converting a heat rate to electrical power.

3. The power system of claim 1 wherein said conversion means comprises a means for converting a heat rate to mechanical power.

4. The power system of claim 1 wherein said conversion means comprises a steam turbine system.

5. The power system of claim 4 wherein said steam turbine system comprises a closed loop steam turbine system.

6. The power system of claim 1 further comprised of means for controlling the rate of the calcium carbide-water reaction in said reactor means responsive to the heat required in said conversion means.

7. The power system of claim 6 wherein said means for controlling the rate of the calcium carbide-water reaction in said reactor means comprises means for controlling the rate of addition of at least one of the reactants to said reactor.

8. The power system of claim 7 wherein said means for controlling the rate of the calcium carbide-water reaction in said reactor means comprises means for controlling the rate of addition of both calcium carbide and water to said reactor means.

9. The power system of claim 1 wherein said reactor means is a counter flow reactor means.

10. The power system of claim 1 wherein said conversion means utilizes external combustion apparatus.

11. A power system comprising:

a steam turbine means for extracting power from steam;

a boiler coupled to said steam turbine for providing steam thereto;

means for providing water to said boiler;

an acetylene burner system for heating said boiler; and

a calcium carbide-water reactor coupled to said acetylene burner system for reacting calcium carbide and water utilizing a dry process to provide acetylene to said acetylene burner system;

said reactor including a heat exchanger coupled to said means for providing water to said boiler to transfer heat from said reactor to the water, the rate at which water is provided by said means for providing water to said boiler varying with the rate of the reaction in said reactor, whereby the reactor temperature will be self-regulating.

12. The power system of claim 11 wherein said means for providing water comprises a condenser coupled to the output of said steam turbine, and a pump coupled to said condensor for pumping water into said heat exchanger.

13. The power system of claim 11 further comprised of means for controlling the rate of the calcium carbide-water reaction in said reactor responsive to the need for acetylene in said acetylene burner system.

14. The power system of claim 13 wherein said means for controlling the rate of the calcium carbide-water reaction in said reactor comprises means for controlling the rate of addition of at least one of the reactants to said reactor.

15. The power system of claim 14 wherein said means for controlling the rate of the calcium carbide-water reaction in said reactor comprises means for controlling the rate of addition of both calcium carbide and water to said reactor.

16. The power system of claim 15 wherein said reactor is a counter flow reactor having an acetylene outlet adjacent the calcium carbide inlet, and a moisture inlet adjacent the outlet of the reacted calcium carbide outlet.

17. The power system of claim 11 further comprised of a condenser coupled between said reactor and said acetylene burner system for removing moisture from the acetylene produced by the reactor.