Power conversion systems
First Claim
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1. A power plant, comprising:
- a source of compressed air;
a heat source with an inlet connected to the source of compressed air and an outlet, the heat source for receiving air through said inlet and discharging heated air through said outlet;
a series of two or more turbo-generators connected to said outlet;
each of said two or more turbo-generators including a turbine coupled to a generator, said turbine for receiving the heated air and producing rotary motion and said generator for converting the rotary motion into electrical power;
said turbines of the two or more turbo-generators being connected in series such that each turbine reduces the pressure of said gas received by it, thereby defining a multi-stage series of turbines;
at least one of said one or more turbines including a variable area nozzle adjustable to control turbine power input in response to one or both of varying solar power input and a varying pressure of said compressed air;
means for controlling the speed of at least one of said one or more turbines to effect an efficient conversion of said heated air to mechanical work.
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Abstract
Power generation systems and methods are provided with features directed to various innovations including ones relating to the conversion of concentrated solar and biomass energy to electricity, load-shifting of electrical power supply systems, gas turbine devices and cycles, and power plant control systems.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A power plant, comprising:
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a source of compressed air; a heat source with an inlet connected to the source of compressed air and an outlet, the heat source for receiving air through said inlet and discharging heated air through said outlet; a series of two or more turbo-generators connected to said outlet; each of said two or more turbo-generators including a turbine coupled to a generator, said turbine for receiving the heated air and producing rotary motion and said generator for converting the rotary motion into electrical power; said turbines of the two or more turbo-generators being connected in series such that each turbine reduces the pressure of said gas received by it, thereby defining a multi-stage series of turbines; at least one of said one or more turbines including a variable area nozzle adjustable to control turbine power input in response to one or both of varying solar power input and a varying pressure of said compressed air; means for controlling the speed of at least one of said one or more turbines to effect an efficient conversion of said heated air to mechanical work. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electric power plant, comprising:
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a compressor station delivering air to a plurality of tracking parabolic solar concentrators; said concentrators each containing a power conversion module for generating electrical power from compressed air and heat generated thereby; said compressor station including one or more electric-drive compressors; a pressure vessel for storing compressed air from said compressor station; a controller configured to control the compressor station to modulate a net amount of electric power produced by said electric power plant; a power module containing one or more turbo-generators, a solar receiver, and a recuperator; at least one of said one or more turbo-generators including a variable area nozzle adjustable to control turbine power input in response to one or both of varying solar power input and a varying pressure of said compressed air; and means for controlling the speed of at least one of said one or more turbines to effect an efficient conversion of said heated air to mechanical work.
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Specification