System for warming pressurized gas

• US 6,658,855 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2000
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Iles, Thomas L., Koerner, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ted
• Application Number:
  US09/516,877
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 607/27, 607/30, 602/60, 60/391.42, 606/59, 607/72, 607/87, 62/502, 62/503, 137/571, 137/334, 137/340, 431/11, 431/207
• US Class Current: 60/772
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/16 for storing compressed air
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/08 Heating air supply before combustion, e.g. by exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids

Abstract

A plurality of vessels contains pressurized gas. Each vessel fluidly communicates with an adjacent vessel through a line. A heat exchanger is positioned in a heat conducting relationship with each line. The system includes an exhaust valve communicating with lower pressure. In one embodiment, the vessels communicate in series and only one of the vessels communicates with the exhaust valve. Alternatively, the vessels are arranged in a loop configuration with two of the vessels communicating with the exhaust valve through respective lines each containing a shutoff valve. The two shutoff valves are opened and closed in concert to cause the flow in the system to alternate directions as it is being exhausted. In a third configuration, two vessels communicate through a singular line in accordance with the most basic embodiment, but the vessel communicating with the exhaust valve encloses the other vessel. Heat transfer fins are located in the enclosed vessel, and extend into the enclosing vessel. A heat exchanger is located in a heat conducting relationship with the communicating line to heat the gas flowing from the enclosed vessel, and the fins conduct part of this heat to the gas still inside the enclosed vessel.

Claims

1. In a system for combusting a fuel having a combustor, a fuel supply connected with the combustor and a gaseous oxidant supply connected with the combustor, the improvements comprising:

a first vessel containing a gaseous oxidant under pressure;

a second vessel containing a gaseous oxidant under pressure;

a line which connects said first and second vessels for gaseous oxidant flow under pressure from said second vessel to said first vessel;

a heat exchanger positioned in a heat conducting relation with said line for heating and increasing a temperature of gaseous oxidant flowing in said line from said second vessel to said first vessel; and

an exhaust valve in communication with said first vessel and with said combustor for allowing flow of said gaseous oxidant from said first vessel to said combustor.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a third vessel containing a gaseous oxidant under pressure;

a second line which connects said third vessel to said second vessel for gaseous oxidant flow under pressure from said third vessel to said second vessel; and

a heat exchanger positioned in a heat conducting relation with said second line for heating and increasing a temperature of gaseous oxidant flowing in said second line from said third vessel to said second vessel.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said exhaust valve is in communication with said combustor via a combustor feed line from said exhaust valve to said combustor to feed said gaseous oxidant to said combustor and wherein, for operation of said system, said gaseous oxidant contained in each vessel is under a pressure higher than a pressure in said combustor feed line.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said gaseous oxidant is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, of air enriched with oxygen and of air.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said line directly connects said first and second vessels for restriction of gaseous oxidant flow in the absence of a valve.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said exhaust valve is in communication with said combustor via a combustor feed line from said exhaust valve to said combustor to feed said gaseous oxidant to said combustor and wherein, for operation of said system, said gaseous oxidant contained in each vessel is under a pressure higher than a pressure in said combustor feed line.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said gaseous oxidant is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, of air enriched with oxygen and of air.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein said line directly connects said first and second vessels for restriction of gaseous oxidant flow in the absence of a valve.

9. In an emergency power system for aircraft wherein the system has a combustor for combusting a fuel with an oxidant, a fuel supply connected with said combustor and a gaseous oxidant supply connected with said combustor which, in operation, produces expanding gases for rotating a turbine wheel which drives an electric alternator or generator and a hydraulic pump, the improvements comprising:

a first vessel containing a gaseous oxidant under pressure;

a second vessel containing a gaseous oxidant under pressure;

a line which connects said first and second vessels for gaseous oxidant flow under pressure from said second vessel to said first vessel;

a heat exchanger positioned in a heat conducting relation with said line for heating and increasing a temperature of gaseous oxidant flowing in said line from said second vessel to said first vessel; and

an exhaust valve in communication with said first vessel and with said combustor for allowing flow of said gaseous oxidant from said first vessel to said combustor.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a third vessel containing a gaseous oxidant under pressure;

a second line which connects said third vessel to said second vessel for gaseous oxidant flow under pressure from said third vessel to said second vessel; and

a heat exchanger positioned in a heat conducting relation with said second line for heating and increasing a temperature of gaseous oxidant flow in said second line from said third vessel to said second vessel.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said exhaust valve is in communication with said combustor via a combustor feed line from said exhaust valve to said combustor to feed said gaseous oxidant to said combustor and wherein, for operation of said system, said gaseous oxidant contained in each vessel is under a pressure higher than a pressure in said combustor feed line.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said gaseous oxidant is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, of air enriched with oxygen and of air.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said line directly connects said first and second vessels for restriction of gaseous oxidant flow in the absence of a valve.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said exhaust valve is in communication with said combustor via a combustor feed line from said exhaust valve to said combustor to feed said gaseous oxidant to said combustor and wherein, for operation of said system, said gaseous oxidant contained in each vessel is under a pressure higher than a pressure in said combustor feed line.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein said gaseous oxidant is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, of air enriched with oxygen and of air.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein said line directly connects said first and second vessels for restriction of gaseous oxidant flow in the absence of a valve.

17. A method for delivering a gaseous oxidant under pressure to a combustor from a system closed off from the combustor comprising:

opening an exhaust valve to open said closed system and allowing a gaseous oxidant contained under pressure in a first vessel to flow from said first vessel through said exhauster to a combustor and allowing a gaseous oxidant contained under pressure in a second vessel to flow from said second vessel through a line to said first vessel; and

heating said gaseous oxidant flowing in said line from said second vessel to said first vessel for increasing a temperature of gaseous oxidant flowing in said line.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

allowing a gaseous oxidant contained under pressure in a third vessel to flow from said third vessel through a line to said second vessel; and

heating said gaseous oxidant flowing in said line from said third vessel to said second vessel for increasing a temperature of said egaseous oxidant in said line.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said gaseous oxidant is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, of air enriched with oxygen and of air.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said gaseous oxidant under pressure passes through said exhauster to a lesser pressure.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein said gaseous oxidant is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, of air enriched with oxygen and of air.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein said gaseous oxidant under pressure passes through said exhauster to a lesser pressure.

23. In a method providing emergency power for an aircraft wherein a fuel is delivered to a combustor and wherein a gaseous oxidant under pressure is delivered to said combustor from a system closed off from the combustor and wherein said combustor produces expanded gases for rotating a turbine wheel which drives an electric alternator or generator and a hydraulic pump, the improvements comprising:

opening an exhaust valve to open said system and allowing a gaseous oxidant contained under pressure in a first vessel to flow from said first vessel through said exhauster to said combustor and allowing a gaseous oxidant contained under pressure in a second vessel to flow from said second vessel through a line to said first vessel; and

heating said gaseous oxidant flowing in said line from said second vessel to said first vessel for increasing a temperature of gaseous oxidant flowing in said line.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

allowing a gaseous oxidant contained under pressure in a third vessel to flow from said third vessel through a line to said second vessel; and

heating said gaseous oxidant flowing in said line from said third vessel to said second vessel for increasing a temperature of gaseous oxidant flowing in said line.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said gaseous oxidant is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, of air enriched with oxygen and of air.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said gaseous oxidant under pressure passes through said exhauster to a lesser pressure.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein said gaseous oxidant is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, of air enriched with oxygen and of air.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein said gaseous oxidant under pressure passes through said exhauster to a lesser pressure.