Regenerative thermodynamic power generation cycle systems, and methods for operating thereof

• US 9,644,502 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2015
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Technologie SRL (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Peter, Andrew Maxwell, Kalra, Chiranjeev Singh, Hofer, Douglas Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Laurenzi, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hu, Xiaoting
• Application Number:
  US14/682,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20160298500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 60650, 60682-684, 60659
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/103 Carbon dioxide F01K25/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 5/00 Plants characterised by use of means for storing steam in an alkali to increase steam pressure, e.g. of Honigmann or Koenemann type
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 7/32 the engines using steam of critical or overcritical pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/10 Closed cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/04 the pump being fluid-driven pumps driven by exhaust gases F02B37/00, F02B39/00; turbochargers F02C6/12

Abstract

A regenerative closed loop thermodynamic power generation cycle system is presented. The system includes a high-pressure expander to deliver an exhaust stream. A conduit is fluidly coupled to the high-pressure expander, which is configured to split the exhaust stream from the high-pressure expander into a first exhaust stream and a second exhaust stream. The system further includes a first low-pressure expander and a second low-pressure expander. The first low-pressure expander is coupled to a pressurization device through a turbocompressor shaft, and fluidly coupled to receive the first exhaust stream. The second low-pressure expander is coupled to the high-pressure expander and an electrical generator through a turbogenerator shaft, and fluidly coupled to receive the second exhaust stream. A method for operating the regenerative closed loop thermodynamic power generation cycle system is also presented.

Claims

1. A method for operating a regenerative closed loop thermodynamic power generation cycle system, comprising:

delivering an exhaust stream from a high-pressure expander;

splitting the exhaust stream from the high-pressure expander to a first exhaust stream and a second exhaust stream;

directing the first exhaust stream to a first low-pressure expander, wherein the first low-pressure expander is coupled to a pressurization device through a turbocompressor shaft;

directing the second exhaust stream to a second low-pressure expander, wherein the second low-pressure expander is coupled to the high-pressure expander and an electrical generator through a turbogenerator shaft; and

delivering a pressurized fluid stream above a critical point of a working fluid from the pressurization device and providing the pressurized fluid stream to the high-pressure expander.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating the exhaust stream before splitting the exhaust stream to the first exhaust stream and the second exhaust stream.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating the pressurized fluid stream before supplying the pressurized fluid stream to the high-pressure expander.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering a third exhaust stream from the first low-pressure expander and a fourth exhaust stream from the second low-pressure expander and regeneratively supplying each of the third exhaust stream and the fourth exhaust stream to one or more heat exchangers.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising supplying the third exhaust stream and the fourth exhaust stream to a precooler through the one or more heat exchangers.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving a cooled fluid stream from the precooler to supply the cooled fluid stream to the pressurization device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein splitting the exhaust stream from the high pressure expander comprises controlling a flow ratio of the first exhaust stream to the second exhaust stream.

8. A regenerative closed loop thermodynamic power generation cycle system, comprising:

a high-pressure expander to deliver an exhaust stream,

a conduit fluidly coupled to the high-pressure expander, and configured to split the exhaust stream into a first exhaust stream and a second exhaust stream;

a first low-pressure expander coupled to a pressurization device through a turbocompressor shaft, and fluidly coupled to receive the first exhaust stream; and

a second low-pressure expander coupled to the high-pressure expander and an electrical generator through a turbogenerator shaft, and fluidly coupled to receive the second exhaust stream, wherein the pressurization device is fluidly coupled to the high-pressure expander to supply a pressurized fluid stream above a critical point of a working fluid to the high-pressure expander.

9. The thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 8, wherein the thermodynamic power generation cycle system forms a closed flow path for the working fluid.

10. The thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 9, wherein the working fluid comprises carbon dioxide.

11. The thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 8, wherein the pressurization device comprises a first compressor and a second compressor coupled to each other.

12. The thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 8, wherein the pressurization device is fluidly coupled to the high-pressure expander through one or more heat exchangers.

13. The thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 12, wherein the one or more heat exchangers comprise a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger fluidly coupled to each other.

14. The thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 12, further comprising a first heat source fluidly coupled between the one or more heat exchangers and the high-pressure expander.

15. The thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 12, wherein the one or more heat exchangers are further fluidly coupled to the first low-pressure expander and the second low-pressure expander to receive a third exhaust stream and a fourth exhaust stream.

16. The thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 8, further comprising a second heat source fluidly coupled between the high-pressure expander and the conduit to receive the exhaust stream from the high-pressure expander and deliver a heated exhaust stream to the conduit.

17. The thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 8, further comprising a pressure regulating valve to control a flow ratio of the first exhaust stream to the second exhaust stream.

18. The thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 8, further comprising a precooler fluidly coupled to the pressurization device to supply a cooled fluid stream to the pressurization device.