Gas purification and conditioning system

• US 5,294,410 A
• Filed: 06/01/1992
• Issued: 03/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David J White
• Original Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: White, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JASTRZAB, KRISANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US07/891,251
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 422/169-171, 422/173, 422/177, 422/211, 422/201, 55/437, 55/456, 55/457, 55/473
• US Class Current: 422/171
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/12 by centrifugal forces centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/508 by treating the gases with solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/70 Organic halogen compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/8668 Removing organic compounds not provided for in B01D53/8603 - B01D53/8665
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/052 with dust-separation devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

Gas purification systems presently use air bleed from an engine and further remove carbon dioxide therefrom. The present gas purification and thermal conditioning system also bleeds from the engine, however; the gas is further partially filtered to remove solids. The gas is heated to a preestablished level having a temperature of between 800 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit by using a first heat exchanger or recuperator. The system further purifies the gas by using a reactor system including a thermal reactor and a catalytic reactor. The system further purifies the gas by using a polisher and an absorber. After the gas has been purified, the gas is thermally conditioned by a supersonic turbine so that the gas temperature is usable for its intended purpose.

Claims

1. A gas purification and thermal conditioning system for removal of an objectionable impurity generally not acceptable for public consumption and temperature control of said purified gas for future use in a confined area, said gas purification and thermal conditioning system comprising:

a gas turbine engine including a compressor section in which a gas is compressed, a combustor section being interconnected with the compressor section;

a condensed phase gas filtering/separating apparatus being positioned upstream of said compressor section, in fluid communication with the compressor section and wherein said gas is at least partially purified;

a first heat exchanger being positioned downstream of said compressor section and in fluid communication with the compressor section;

means for further purifying the gas being positioned downstream of said first heat exchanger and in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, said means for further purifying the gas including a reactor system;

means for polishing being positioned downstream of said first heat exchanger and in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, said means for polishing having a solids filter and an alkaline absorber therein; and

a second heat exchanger being positioned downstream of said means for further purifying and said means for polishing and in fluid communication with said means for polishing.

2. The gas purification and thermal conditioning system of claim 1 wherein said gas filtering apparatus has the capability of filtering particles having a diameter greater than about 5 microns from the gas passing therethrough.

3. The gas purification and thermal conditioning system of claim 1 wherein said filtering apparatus includes a cyclone filter and a scavenging system.

4. The gas purification and thermal conditioning system of claim 1 wherein said filtering apparatus includes a single stage barrier filter.

5. The gas purification an thermal conditioning system of claim 4 wherein said single stage barrier filter includes a stand-alone unit having the capabilities of being self cleaning.

6. The gas purification and thermal conditioning system of claim 1 wherein said first heat exchanger is a primary surface type heat exchanger.

7. The gas purification and thermal conditioning system of claim 1 wherein said first heat exchanger increases the temperature of the partially purified gas to a range of between 800 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.

8. The gas purification and thermal conditioning system of claim 1 wherein said first heat exchanger increases the temperature of the partially purified gas to about 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.

9. The gas purification and thermal conditioning system of claim 1 wherein said reactor system includes a pair of reactor beds.

10. The gas purification and thermal conditioning system of claim 9 wherein said pair of reactor beds includes a thermal reactor including a mixing section having a plurality of internal walls being coated with alumina.

11. The gas purification and thermal conditioning system of claim 10 wherein said mixing section further has a plurality of alumina Raschig rings therein.

12. The gas purification and thermal conditioning system of claim 9 wherein said pair of reactor beds includes a catalytic reactor including an afterburner, said afterburner being packed with an oxidation catalyst.

13. The gas purification and thermal conditioning system of claim 12 wherein said oxidation catalyst is a copper oxide.

14. The gas purification and thermal conditioning system of claim 1 wherein said means for polishing includes a polisher being packed with a bed of calcium carbonate.

15. The gas purification and thermal conditioning system of claim 1 wherein said second heat exchanger is a primary surface type heat exchanger.