Microturbine power generating system including variable-speed gas compressor
First Claim
1. A microturbine power generating system comprising:
- a combustor for combusting gaseous fuel and an oxidant to produce gaseous heat energy;
an air compressor for providing air for said combustor;
a turbine for converting the gaseous heat energy into mechanical energy;
an electrical driven by said turbine generator for converting the mechanical energy produced by the turbine into electrical energy;
a gas compressor for supplying the gaseous fuel to the combustor; and
first means for operating the gas compressor at variable speeds to maintain a desired pressure of the gas compressor at a set point;
wherein gaseous fuel flow to the combustor is regulated by varying the speed of the gas compressor to maintain the desired pressure at the set point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microturbine power generating system includes a combustor and a gas compressor that provides a flow of natural gas to a combustor. The flow of natural gas is regulated by varying the speed of the gas compressor to maintain gas compressor discharge pressure at a set point. The system further includes a turbine and an electrical generator that is driven by the turbine during a run mode of operation. A rectifier and a main inverter convert an output of the electrical generator into fixed frequency ac power during the run mode. A secondary inverter operates an electric motor of the gas compressor at the variables speeds during the run mode. During a startup mode, however, the main inverter operates the gas compressor motor, and the secondary inverter operates the electrical generator as a starter motor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A microturbine power generating system comprising:
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a combustor for combusting gaseous fuel and an oxidant to produce gaseous heat energy; an air compressor for providing air for said combustor; a turbine for converting the gaseous heat energy into mechanical energy; an electrical driven by said turbine generator for converting the mechanical energy produced by the turbine into electrical energy; a gas compressor for supplying the gaseous fuel to the combustor; and first means for operating the gas compressor at variable speeds to maintain a desired pressure of the gas compressor at a set point;
wherein gaseous fuel flow to the combustor is regulated by varying the speed of the gas compressor to maintain the desired pressure at the set point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A microturbine power generating system having a startup mode of operation and a run mode of operation, the system comprising:
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a combustor for combusting gaseous fuel and an oxidant to produce gaseous heat energy; a gas compressor for supplying the gaseous fuel to the combustor; a gas compressor motor; a turbine for converting the gaseous heat energy into mechanical energy; an electrical generator for converting the mechanical energy produced by the turbine into electrical energy during the run mode of operation; a source of electrical power; a main inverter for converting a rectified output of the electrical generator to ac power during the run mode of operation, the main inverter also functioning to start the gas compressor motor during the start mode of operation by inverting power from said source of electrical power; and a secondary inverter for operating the electrical generator as a starter motor during the start mode of operation by inverting power from said source of electrical power, the secondary inverter operating the gas compressor motor at variable speeds during the run mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a microturbine power generating system that has a combustor, a gas compressor, a turbine, an electrical generator, a rectifier, a main inverter, and a secondary inverter, the method comprising the steps of:
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operating the gas compressor to provide a flow of gaseous fuel to the combustor; measuring discharge pressure of the gas compressor; and regulating the gaseous fuel flow by varying gas compressor speed to maintain the discharge pressure at a set point; using the turbine to convert gaseous heat energy from the combustor into mechanical energy during a run mode of operation; using the turbine to drive the electrical generator during the run mode of operation; using the rectifier and the main inverter to convert an output of the electrical generator to ac power during the run mode of operation; and using the secondary inverter to operate an electrical motor of the gas compressor at the variable speeds during the run mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of operating a microturbine generating system that has a combustor, a gas compressor, a turbine with air compressor, an electrical generator, a rectifier, a main inverter, a secondary inverter, and a source of electrical power, the method comprising the steps of:
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using the secondary inverter to operate the electrical generator as a starter motor during a start mode of operation by inverting power from said source of electrical power; using the main inverter to operate the gas compressor motor during the start mode by inverting power from said source of electrical power; using the turbine to convert gaseous heat energy from the combustor into mechanical energy during a run mode of operation; using the turbine to drive the electrical generator during the run mode using the rectifier and the main inverter to convert an output of the electrical generator to ac power during the run mode; and using the secondary inverter to operate an electrical motor of the gas compressor at variable speed during the run mode. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification