Calcium carbide power system with waste energy recovery
First Claim
1. A power system comprising;
- a reactor utilizing a dry process for reacting calcium carbide and water to provide acetylene;
a converter for converting a heat rate to power;
a burner coupled to said reactor and said converter for burning the acetylene to provide a first source of heat to said converter and a source of heated exhaust gas;
a heat scavenger coupled to said burner and said converter for conveying heat from said heated exhaust gas to said converter.
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Accused Products
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 expander. The exhaust of the steam expander is condensed and pumped back into the boiler, first being pre-heated by a heat exchanger using the heat in burner exhaust gas and then in the carbide-water reactor to further 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 and combustion of the acetylene for maximum system efficiency. The system may further provide for preheating the combustion air with waste heat from the exhaust of the steam expander. The system may further provide for preheating the combustion air with heat from the acetylene produced by the reactor, thereby removing moisture from the acetylene. Dissociated hydrogen may be recovered from the exhaust of the steam expander by cyclonic separation and burned as fuel in the boiler.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power system comprising;
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a reactor utilizing a dry process for reacting calcium carbide and water to provide acetylene;
a converter for converting a heat rate to power;
a burner coupled to said reactor and said converter for burning the acetylene to provide a first source of heat to said converter and a source of heated exhaust gas;
a heat scavenger coupled to said burner and said converter for conveying heat from said heated exhaust gas to said converter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A power system comprising:
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a boiler;
a feed water system coupled to said boiler for providing water to said boiler;
a calcium carbide-water reactor for reacting calcium carbide and water utilizing a dry process to produce acetylene;
an acetylene burner system coupled to said boiler and said calcium carbide-water reactor for heating said boiler by burning said acetylene to produce steam; and
a steam expander coupled to said boiler for extracting power from the steam;
a first heat exchanger coupled to said acetylene burner system and said feed water system for heating water provided to said boiler using heat in exhaust gas from said acetylene burner system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A power system comprising:
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a boiler;
a feed water system coupled to said boiler for providing water to said boiler;
a calcium carbide-water reactor for reacting calcium carbide and water utilizing a dry process to produce acetylene;
an acetylene burner system coupled to said boiler and said calcium carbide-water reactor for heating said boiler by burning said acetylene to produce steam;
a steam expander coupled to said boiler for extracting power from the steam;
a first heat exchanger coupled to said acetylene burner system and said feed water system for heating water provided to said boiler using heat in exhaust gas from said acetylene burner system; and
a second heat exchanger coupled to said acetylene burner system and to said feed water system at the output of said steam expander for heating air provided to said acetylene burner system using heat in the output of said steam expander, and a pump coupled to said second heat exchanger for pumping water from said second heat exchanger into said first heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification