Blowdown recovery system in a Kalina cycle power generation system

• US 6,105,368 A
• Filed: 01/13/1999
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALSTOM Power Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: ABB Alstrom Power Incorporated
• Inventors: Simon, Jonathan S., Hansen, Paul L., Kuczma, Paul D., Palsson, Jens O.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG M
• Application Number:
  US09/229,632
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 60/685, 60/686, 60/688, 60/689, 60/646, 60/654, 60/649
• US Class Current: 60/646
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/065 with an absorption fluid remaining at least partly in the liquid state, e.g. water for ammonia F01K5/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for capturing working fluid which includes a hazardous component and is discharged from a power generating system, includes directing the discharge to a container. There, the discharged working fluid is combined with a liquid in which the hazardous component is soluble to form a less hazardous mixture.

Claims

1. A method for capturing working fluid which includes a hazardous component and is discharged from a power generating system, comprising the steps of:

directing the discharge to a container; and

combining, in the container, the discharged working fluid with a liquid in which the hazardous component is soluble to form a mixture.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

monitoring a concentration of the hazardous component within the mixture to determine if the concentration exceeds a threshold concentration of the hazardous component.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

performing one of adding an amount of the liquid to the mixture and removing the mixture from the container, if it is determined that the threshold is exceeded.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

venting vapor from the container which is non-soluble in the liquid.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the discharged working fluid is in a vapor state, and further comprising the step of:

detecting an amount of the hazardous component in the vapor working fluid within the container.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of:

spraying an amount of the liquid to combine the detected hazardous component with the mixture.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the discharged working fluid is directed to the container so as to avoid back-pressure.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is water and the hazardous component is ammonia.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the container is a single container and the discharged working fluid is directed from multiple outlets within the power generation system.

10. A power generator working fluid recovery system for capturing discharged working fluid which includes a hazardous component, comprising:

a container configured to hold a liquid in which the hazardous component is soluble and to receive the discharged working fluid; and

a sensor configured to detect a concentration of the hazardous component in a mixture of the liquid and the received discharged working fluid within the container.

11. A system according to claim 10, further comprising:

at least one inlet flow line configured to direct the discharged working fluid to the container.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the container is a single container and the at least one flow line is multiple flow lines.

13. A system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a control device configured to determine if the detected concentration exceeds a threshold concentration.

14. A system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a liquid supply configured to direct an amount of the liquid to the mixture within the container if it is determined that the threshold is exceeded.

15. A system according to claim 13, further comprising:

an outlet flow line configured to direct the mixture from the container if it is determined that the threshold is exceeded.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the container is a first container and further comprising:

a second container to receive the mixture directed by the outlet flow line.

17. A system according to claim 10, wherein the received discharged working fluid includes vaporized working fluid, and further comprising:

a vent configured to provide an outlet for the vaporized working fluid, which is non-soluble in the liquid, from the container.

18. A system according to claim 10, wherein the sensor is a first sensor and further comprising:

a second sensor configured to detect the hazardous component in a vapor state within the container.

19. A system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a sprayer configured to apply a spray of the liquid to combine the detected hazardous component in a vapor state with the mixture.

20. A system according to claim 10, wherein the liquid is water and the hazardous component is ammonia.