Constant turbine inlet temperature control of a turbine power generating system
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the turbine of a turbine powered generating system regardless of the load on said system, to maximize the efficiency of said turbine, said turbine having a fixed inlet nozzle geometry, said system further including an electrical generator, and a storage device, said method comprising:
- (a) maintaining said inlet nozzle at a substantially constant temperature;
(b) using said electrical generator to satisfy the power demand on said system until said system is required to satisfy an additional power demand;
(c) when said additional power is demanded, temporarily using said storage device to satisfy said additional power demand and at least a portion of said power demand;
(d) increasing the speed of said turbine from the speed required to satisfy said power demand to a higher speed required to satisfy said power demand and said additional power demand; and
(e) once said higher speed is achieved, using said electrical generator to satisfy both said power demand and said additional power demand.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microturbine power generating system includes an electrical generator and a turbine having a fixed inlet nozzle geometry. Maximum thermodynamic efficiency of the microturbine power generating system is achieved by maintaining the turbine inlet at or near maximum temperature. When power demanded of the system is constant, power is supplied by the electrical generator. When an increase in power is demanded, at least a portion of the entire demand is supplied by a battery or other energy storage device until the electrical generator can satisfy the increased power demand. Conversely, when a decrease in power is demanded, the load on the generator is temporarily increased (effectively putting a brake on the generator and turbine) and such load is absorbed by the battery or other energy storage device.
104 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the turbine of a turbine powered generating system regardless of the load on said system, to maximize the efficiency of said turbine, said turbine having a fixed inlet nozzle geometry, said system further including an electrical generator, and a storage device, said method comprising:
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(a) maintaining said inlet nozzle at a substantially constant temperature;
(b) using said electrical generator to satisfy the power demand on said system until said system is required to satisfy an additional power demand;
(c) when said additional power is demanded, temporarily using said storage device to satisfy said additional power demand and at least a portion of said power demand;
(d) increasing the speed of said turbine from the speed required to satisfy said power demand to a higher speed required to satisfy said power demand and said additional power demand; and
(e) once said higher speed is achieved, using said electrical generator to satisfy both said power demand and said additional power demand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of controlling the turbine of a turbine powered generating system regardless of the load on said system, to maximize the efficiency of said turbine, said turbine having a fixed inlet nozzle geometry, said system further including an electrical generator, and a storage device, said method comprising:
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(a) maintaining said inlet nozzle at a substantially constant temperature;
(b) using said electrical generator to satisfy the power demand on said system until said system is required to satisfy a lower power demand;
(c) when said lower power is demanded, temporarily increasing the power demand on said generator and temporarily using said storage device to absorb said additional power demand and at least a portion of said power demand;
(d) decreasing the speed of said turbine from the speed required to satisfy said power demand to a lower speed required to satisfy said lower power demand; and
(e) once said lower speed is achieved, using said electrical generator to satisfy said lower power demand. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A turbine powered generating system comprising:
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(a) a turbine having a fixed inlet nozzle and a predetermined maximum inlet temperature;
(b) a generator coupled to said turbine, said generator capable of supplying the power demand on said system;
(c) an energy storage device, said storage device also capable of supplying said power demand on said system; and
(d) a controller, coupled to both said storage device and said turbine, for maintaining said inlet nozzle at or near said maximum inlet temperature, said controller, in response to an additional power demand on said system, causing said energy storage device to satisfy said additional power demand and at least a portion of said power demand, to allow the speed of said turbine to increase to a higher speed at which said generator can satisfy said additional power demand and said power demand. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A turbine powered generating system comprising:
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(a) a turbine having a fixed inlet nozzle and a predetermined maximum inlet temperature;
(b) a generator coupled to said turbine, said generator capable of supplying the power demand on said system;
(c) an energy storage device, said storage device also capable of temporarily absorbing at least a portion of said power demand on said system; and
(d) a controller, coupled to both said storage device and said turbine, for maintaining said inlet nozzle at or near said maximum inlet temperature, said controller including means, in response to a decreased power demand on said system, for temporarily causing an additional power demand on said generator and for causing said additional power demand and at least a portion of said power demand to be shifted to said energy storage device to allow the speed of said turbine to decrease to a lower speed, where said generator can supply said decreased power demand.
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16. Apparatus for controlling a turbine power generation system, said system including a turbine having a fixed inlet nozzle, said system being responsive to a load demand during operation, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) an electric generator;
(b) an energy storage device;
(c) a controller including means for monitoring the speed of said turbine and the temperature of said inlet nozzle, said controller further including means for determining whether to shift any of said load demand from said generator to said energy storage device when said load demand changes; and
(d) means, responsive to said controller, for regulating fuel flow to said turbine to hold said temperature of said inlet nozzle substantially constant, even when said load demand changes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification