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

• US 9,976,448 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Peter, Andrew Maxwell, Kalra, Chiranjeev Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): Pho, Pascal M Bui
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malatek, Katheryn
• Application Number:
  US14/725,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20160348539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/08 with working fluid of one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle
• 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: F01K 25/103 Carbon dioxide F01K25/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 7/32 the engines using steam of critical or overcritical pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/005 being recirculated
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/007 combination of cycles
• 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 1/06 using reheated exhaust gas F02C1/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/10 Closed cycles
• 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: Y02E 20/16 Combined cycle power plant [CCPP], or combined cycle gas turbine [CCGT]

Abstract

A method for operating a closed loop regenerative thermodynamic power generation cycle system is presented. The method includes supplying a high-temperature working fluid stream at a first pressure P₁ to an expander, and extracting a partially expanded high temperature working fluid stream from the expander at a second pressure P₂. Each of the first pressure P₁ and the second pressure P₂, are higher than a critical pressure of the working fluid; and the second pressure P₂ is lower than P₁. The method further includes regeneratively supplying the extracted high temperature working fluid stream at the second pressure P₂ to a low temperature working fluid stream at the first pressure P₁. A closed loop regenerative thermodynamic power generation cycle system is also presented.

Claims

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

a pressurization device configured to pressurize a working fluid, and to deliver a working fluid stream, wherein the working fluid stream is at a first pressure (P₁), wherein P₁ is higher than a critical pressure of the working fluid;

a first heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the pressurization device and receiving the working fluid stream from the pressurization device, and the first heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat to the working fluid stream, wherein the working fluid stream is at P₁;

a second heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the first heat exchanger and receiving the working fluid stream from the first heat exchanger, and configured to transfer heat to the working fluid stream; and

an expander fluidly coupled to the second heat exchanger and receiving the working fluid stream from the second heat exchanger, and configured to expand the working fluid stream, wherein the working fluid stream is at P₁, to produce mechanical energy;

wherein the expander comprises;

a first outlet path to extract a partially expanded portion of the working fluid stream from the expander, wherein the partially expanded portion of the working fluid stream is at a second pressure (P₂), and to regeneratively supply the partially expanded portion of the working fluid stream to the first heat exchanger;

wherein P₂ is lower than P₁, and P₂ is higher than the critical pressure of the working fluid; and

a second outlet path to provide an exhaust fluid stream from the expander wherein the exhaust fluid stream is at a third pressure (P₃), and to regeneratively supply the exhaust fluid stream to the second heat exchanger, wherein P₃ is lower than P₂.

2. The closed loop regenerative thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 1, wherein the pressurization device comprises a compressor configured to compress a supercritical working fluid.

3. The closed loop regenerative thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 1, wherein the working fluid comprises carbon dioxide.

4. The closed loop regenerative thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 1, further comprising a heat source fluidly coupled between the second heat exchanger and the expander, wherein the heat source is configured to receive the working fluid stream from the second heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid stream is at P₁, and to supply the working fluid stream to the expander.

5. The closed loop regenerative thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 1, wherein the expander includes a device selected from an axial flow turbine, a radial flow turbine, a reciprocating engine and a combination thereof.

6. The closed loop regenerative thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 1, further comprising an electrical generator coupled to the expander.

7. The closed loop regenerative thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 1, further comprising a precooler configured to supply the working fluid to the pressurization device.

8. The closed loop regenerative thermodynamic power generation cycle system of claim 1, further comprising a flow control device to control a mass flow rate of the extraction of the partially expanded portion of the working fluid stream.