Gas turbine energy storage and conversion system

• US 8,499,874 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Turbocell LLC
• Original Assignee: ICR Turbine Engine Corporation
• Inventors: Dewis, David William, Kesseli, James, Donnelly, Frank Wegner, Wolf, Thomas, Watson, John D., Upton, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIGGS, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US12/777,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20100288571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 180/165, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/303, 180/304, 180/305, 180/306, 606/68, 606/59, 606/45, 606/18
• US Class Current: 180/165
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 3/04 of turbine type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/15 Pneumatic energy storages, e.g. pressure air tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/10 Heating, e.g. warming-up before starting
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 15/02 for driving vehicles, e.g. locomotives
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 3/02 Use of accumulators and specific engine types; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/05 characterised by the type or source of heat, e.g. using nuclear or solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/16 for storing compressed air
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/62 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/90 Braking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

The present invention combines the principles of a gas turbine engine with an electric transmission system. A method and apparatus are disclosed for utilizing metallic and ceramic elements to store heat energy derived from a regenerative braking system. The subject invention uses this regenerated electrical energy to provide additional energy storage over conventional electrical storage methods suitable for a gas turbine engine. The subject invention provides engine braking for a gas turbine engine as well as reducing fuel consumption.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving electrical energy from a regenerative braking system;

converting at least a portion of the received electrical energy into thermal energy;

transferring, directly and/or indirectly, the thermal energy to a pressurized working fluid to form a heated pressurized working fluid;

introducing the heated pressurized working fluid into at least one turbine to propel a vehicle; and

wherein the converting step is performed within a pressure boundary of a gas turbine engine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the regenerative braking system comprises a mechanical-to-electrical conversion device, at least one of which is a synchronous or asynchronous alternator, a generator, a permanent magnet machine, a direct current (“

DC”

) generator, a switched reluctance machine and a traction motor, and a DC bus and further comprising;

when the vehicle brakes, engaging the mechanical-to-electrical conversion device to generate the electrical energy; and

storing the thermal energy in a heat storage element in thermal communication with the pressurized working fluid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring step is performed between a cold side of a recuperator and a combustor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring step is performed in a combustor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring step is performed between a combustor and a high pressure turbine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring step is performed between a high pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring step is performed between a low pressure turbine and a free power turbine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring step is performed upstream of a hot side of a recuperator.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the heat storage element has the following characteristics:

a density of at least about 1,800 kg/m³;

a heat capacity of at least about 400 J/kg-K; and

a melting temperature in excess of a maximum temperature in the combustor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the heat storage element is at least one of graphite, boron nitride, boron carbide, silicon carbide, silicon dioxide, magnesium oxide, tungsten carbide, alumina, a Kanthal alloy, and an Inconel alloy.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein, during an extended period of regenerative braking, a first portion of the pressurized working fluid is passed through a cold side of a recuperator and a second portion of the pressurized working fluid bypasses the recuperator.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving electrical energy from a regenerative braking system;

converting at least a portion of the received electrical energy into thermal energy;

transferring, directly and/or indirectly, the thermal energy to a pressurized working fluid to form a heated pressurized working fluid, wherein said transferring is performed between a cold side of a recuperator and a combustor; and

introducing the heated pressurized working fluid into at least one turbine to propel a vehicle.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving electrical energy from a regenerative braking system;

converting at least a portion of the received electrical energy into thermal energy;

transferring, directly and/or indirectly, the thermal energy to a pressurized working fluid to form a heated pressurized working fluid;

introducing the heated pressurized working fluid into at least one turbine to propel a vehicle;

wherein the regenerative braking system comprises a mechanical-to-electrical conversion device, which is at least one of a synchronous or asynchronous alternator, a generator, a permanent magnet machine, a direct current (“

DC”

) generator, a switched reluctance machine, and a traction motor, and a DC bus and further comprising;

when the vehicle brakes, engaging the mechanical-to-electrical conversion device to generate the electrical energy, and

storing the thermal energy in a heat storage element in thermal communication with the pressurized working fluid; and

wherein the heat storage element has the following characteristics;

a density of at least about 1,800 kg/m³,

a heat capacity of at least about 400 J/kg-K, and

a melting temperature in excess of a maximum temperature in the combustor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the heat storage element is at least one of graphite, boron nitride, boron carbide, silicon carbide, silicon dioxide, magnesium oxide, tungsten carbide, alumina, a Kanthal alloy, and an Inconel alloy.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving electrical energy from a regenerative braking system;

converting at least a portion of the received electrical energy into thermal energy;

transferring, directly and/or indirectly, the thermal energy to a pressurized working fluid to form a heated pressurized working fluid;

introducing the heated pressurized working fluid into at least one turbine to propel a vehicle; and

wherein, during an extended period of regenerative braking, a first portion of the pressurized working fluid is passed through a cold side of a recuperator and a second portion of the pressurized working fluid bypasses the recuperator.