Integrated absorption cogeneration

• US 6,651,443 B1
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Milton Meckler
• Original Assignee: Milton Meckler
• Inventors: Meckler, Milton
• Primary Examiner(s): Gartenberg, Ehud
• Application Number:
  US09/974,368
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 60/391.81, 60/391.82, 607/83, 60/391.9, 607/28
• US Class Current: 60/783
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/10 with exhaust fluid of one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle F01K17/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/18 using the waste heat of gas-turbine plants outside the plants themselves, e.g. gas-turbine power heat plants using waste heat as source of energy for refrigeration plants F25B27/02; using the waste heat of a gasturbine for steam generation or in a steam cycle see F01K23/10
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/143 before or between the compressor stages
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 15/008 with multi-stage operation F25B15/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 15/06 the refrigerant being water vapour evaporated from a salt solution, e.g. lithium bromide F25B15/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/02 using waste heat, e.g. from internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/274 using waste energy, e.g. from internal combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/625 combined with heat or power generation [CHP], e.g. trigeneration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]

Abstract

The heated exhaust gases of a fueled turbine are used to heat a high-temperature-resistant heat transfer liquid, which is used first to generate steam, and then as a heat source for an absorption chiller, and then to heat hot water, thereby maximizing heat transfer from the exhaust gases. Steam is used to drive a steam turbine, and another absorption chiller is connected selectively to use the exhaust steam from the turbine as a heat source to produce refrigeration. Chilled water from the chiller(s) can be used for space cooling in buildings, and/or to cool the fueled turbine inlet air in hot weather.

Claims

1. A cogeneration system comprising;

a fuel-burning turbine having a first output drive shaft and producing heated exhaust gases;

a first working machine coupled to said output drive shaft for producing electrical energy;

a hot-liquid heat-exchanger using a high-temperature-resistant liquid heat transfer fluid to absorb heat from said exhaust gases produced by said fueled turbine,

a heat utilization device connected to receive heated heat transfer fluid from said heat-exchanger and extract heat from said fluid,

a closed-circuit conduit for conveying said heat transfer fluid from said heat-exchanger, past said heat utilization device and back to said heat-exchanger,

means in said closed circuit for flowing said heat transfer fluid through said closed-circuit conduit, and

an absorption chiller having a generator section in heat-transfer connection with said conduit at a location downstream from said heat utilization device to utilize heat from said heat transfer fluid to produce cooling.

2. A system as in claim 1 in which said heat utilization device is selected from the group consisting of a steam generator, a hot water generator, and a combination steam and hot water generator, and said liquid heat transfer fluid is an organic liquid.

3. A system as in claim 2 including

a steam turbine connected to receive steam from said steam generator and develop shaft power, and

a second working machine driveably connected to receive said shaft power and generate an output selected from the group consisting of electrical power and refrigeration.

4. A system as in claim 1 including at least one hot water heater connected in said conduit downstream from said heat exchanger, said hot water heater being connected to use heat from said transfer fluid to generate hot water.

5. A system as in claim 4, including a second hot water heater connected in said conduit downstream from the first-named water heater, said first-named water heater being adapted to heat water to a relative high temperature, and said second water heater being adapted to heat water to a temperature lower than said relatively high temperature.

6. A system as in claim 4 in which said absorption chiller is a two-stage chiller, and including a second absorption chiller having a second generator section, the first-named generator section being connected to receive said heat transfer fluid from said heat-utilization device, and said second generator section being connected to receive hot water from said hot water heater.

7. A system as in claim 1 including a selectively operable heater upstream from said absorption chiller for heating said heat transfer fluid, and control means for sensing the temperature of said heat transfer fluid and operating said heater whenever said temperature falls below a pre-determined level.

8. A system as in claim 1 including a valve in said conduit for bypassing a variable portion of the flow of said heat transfer fluid around said absorption chiller, and control means for controlling said valve to meter the amount of heat transfer fluid flowing through said chiller in accordance with system refrigeration needs.

9. A system as in claim 1 including a valve in said conduit for selectively bypassing heat transfer fluid around said heat-exchanger, and control means for operating said valve in response to system requirements.

10. A method of cogeneration, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) developing shaft power by operating a fueled turbine emitting heated exhaust gases;

(b) using said shaft power to generate an output selected from the group consisting of electrical energy and refrigeration;

(c) using said heated exhaust gases by applying said gases to a heat exchanger containing a high-temperature-resistant heat transfer liquid,

(d) flowing said heat transfer liquid through a closed circuit path in which said heat-exchanger is located, and

(e) transferring heat from said heat transfer liquid downstream from said heat exchanger to the generator section of an absorption chiller.

11. A method as in claim 10 including the steps of:

using the heat from said heat exchanger to generate steam,

delivering steam to a steam turbine to develop further shaft power, and

using said further shaft power from said steam turbine to generate an output selected from the group consisting of electrical energy and refrigeration.

12. A method as in claim 10 including the steps of:

locating a temperature sensor and a heater in said path upstream from said absorption chiller, and

operating said heater to heat said liquid when the temperature sensed by said sensor falls below a predetermined level.

13. A method as in claim 10 including the steps of:

locating at least one water heater in said closed circuit path downstream from said absorption chiller, and utilizing hot water from said heater for one of heating and/or hot water supply to a building.

14. A method as in claim 10 including the steps of:

locating a second water heater in said path downstream from the first-named water heater, said second water heater being adapted to heat water to a lower temperature than water heated by said first-named water heater.

15. A method as in claim 10 including the steps of:

locating a valve selectively operable for bypassing said liquid around said absorption chiller, and controlling said valve to vary the amount of said liquid reaching said chiller in response to system refrigeration requirements.

16. A method as in claim 10 in which said absorption chiller is a two-stage device having at least one generator section, directing said heat transfer fluid through said generator section, providing a single-stage absorption chiller with a second generator section, and directing hot water from one of said water heaters to heat said second generator section.

17. A method as in claim 10 including the steps of:

providing a valve for selectively diverting heat transfer liquid around said heat exchanger, sensing the temperature of said liquid proximate said heat exchanger, and controlling said valve in response to said temperature and in accordance with system needs for heat output from said heat exchanger.

18. A method as in claim 11 including the steps of:

selectively connecting an absorption chiller to receive exhaust steam from said steam turbine to supply heat to said absorption chiller to develop refrigeration when such refrigeration is needed, and using said turbine exclusively to generate electrical power when such refrigeration is not needed.

19. A cogeneration system comprising:

a fuel-burning turbine having a first output drive shaft and producing heated exhaust gases;

a first working machine coupled to said output drive shaft for producing electrical energy;

a steam generator positioned to receive said heated exhaust gases from said fuel-burning turbine and to develop steam using heat from said gases;

a steam turbine connected to receive steam from said steam generator, use said steam to develop power on a second output drive shaft, and provide exhaust steam;

a second working machine coupled to said second output drive shaft for generating electrical energy and/or refrigeration;

an absorption chiller connected to use exhaust steam from said steam turbine as a heat source for absorption cooling;

said steam generator including a hot-liquid heat-exchanger using a high-temperature-resistant liquid heat transfer fluid to absorb heat from said exhaust gases produced by said fueled turbine, a steam-generating heat exchanger connected to said hot-liquid heat exchanger to transfer heat from said transfer fluid to water to convert said water into steam, and

a pump for flowing said transfer fluid through said hot-liquid heat-exchanger and said steam-generating heat exchanger.

20. A cogeneration system as in claim 19 including a conduit for conducting relatively low-pressure steam from said steam turbine to said fueled turbine for injection into said fueled turbine.

21. A cogeneration system as in claim 19 in which said second working machine is an electrical generator, and including means for selectively reducing the amount of steam delivered to said absorption chiller to increase electrical power output from said electrical generator.

22. A cogeneration system as in claim 19 in which said steam turbine is a back-pressure type of turbine and said absorption chiller is a single-stage indirectly-heated absorption chiller with a condenser and a return conduit for returning water from said condenser to said steam generator.

23. A cogeneration system as in claim 20 in which said system includes a water deaerator, and said conduit is connected to convey steam to said deaerator for use in deaerating water to be delivered to said steam generator.

24. A cogeneration system as in claim 19 including

a second steam turbine connected to receive exhaust steam from the first-named steam turbine and convert it into shaft power, and

an absorption chiller selected from the group consisting of an ACHP and a VRA absorption chiller, said chiller having a compressor driven by said second steam turbine and connected to use exhaust steam from said steam turbine as a heat source for absorption cooling.

25. A cogeneration method comprising the steps of:

(a) developing shaft power by operating a fueled turbine emitting heated exhaust gases;

(b) using said shaft power to generate an output selected from the group, consisting of electrical energy or refrigeration;

(c) using said heated exhaust gases to generate steam by applying said gases to a heat exchanger containing a high-temperature-resistant heat transfer liquid;

(d) flowing said heat transfer liquid through a steam generator to generate steam and in heat-transfer relationship with the generator of an absorptive chiller;

(e) delivering steam from said steam generator to a steam turbine to develop output power on an output shaft, and

(f) using the output power on said output shaft of said steam turbine to generate electric energy or refrigeration.

26. A method as in claim 25 including feeding relatively low pressure steam from said steam turbine into said fueled turbine at at least one location adjacent the burner of said turbine.