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EP0150990A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Process for producing power

Assignee: Fluor Corp
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Filing: 1985-01-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-01-24
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Abstract

Abstract A process is disclosed for producing mechanical energy or electric power from chemical energy contained in a fuel, utilizing a combustion turbine. The compressed air which is used for combustion of the fuel to drive the turbine is humidified prior to combustion to replace some or all of the thermal diluent air with water vapor. Humidification is effected with the water at a temperature below its boiling point at the operating pressure. The compressed air is cooled prior to humidification by passing in heat exchange relationship with the water used for humidification. This process provides a significant improvement in thermal efficiency, compared to combined cycle, steam injected cycle and intercooled regenerative cycle processes. Additionally, the entire steam cycle of a combined cycle process is eliminated, including the steam turbine generator, steam drums, surface condenser and cooling towers.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ashok Domalpalli Rao

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 10:05
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02C; F02C3/00; F01; F01K; F01K21/00; F01K21/04; F01K21/047; F02C7/00; F02C7/12; F02C7/14; F02C7/141; F02C7/143; F02B; F02B2275/00; F02B2275/14; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E20/00; Y02E20/16

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 80 words
A process for producing power utilizing a combustion turbine, comprising humidifying compressed air, prior to combustion, to provide water vapor as thermal diluent for combustion of said turbine, said water being at a temperature below its boiling point at the operating pressure when in contact with said compressed air, said compressed air being passed in heat exchange relationship with water prior to humidification, whereby the temperature of said water is increased and the temperature of said compressed air is decreased.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 80 words
A process for producing power utilizing a combustion turbine, comprising humidifying compressed air, prior to combustion, to provide water vapor as thermal diluent for combustion of said turbine, said water being at a temperature below its boiling point at the operating pressure when in contact with said compressed air, said compressed air being passed in heat exchange relationship with water prior to humidification, whereby the temperature of said water is increased and the temperature of said compressed air is decreased.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 37 words
The process of claim 1 in which said compressed air is provided by a multiple stage compression step and said heat exchange between said compressed air and water occurs between the stages of said multiple stage compression.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The process of claim 2 in which said compressed air is humidified by counter-current flow with water in a saturator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
The process of claim 1 in which the exhaust from said turbine is passed in heat exchange relationship with said humidified air to preheat the same prior to combustion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
The process of claim 1 in which the exhaust from said turbine is passed in heat exchange relationship with water prior to humidification of said compressed air.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 2 in which said compressed air, following compression, is further cooled prior to humidification.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 41 words
The process of claim 2 in which the temperature of said compressed air is reduced from approximately 300° to about 400° F to approximately 70° to about 140° F by said heat exchange occurring between stages of said multiple stage compression.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
The process of claim 2 in which the temperature of said compressed air exiting said multiple stage compression is approximately 300° to about 400° F.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
The process of claim 8 in which the temperature of said compressed air following said further cooling and prior to humidification is approximately 115° to about 150° F.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 96 words
A process for producing power utilizing a combustion turbine, comprising cooling compressed air which is to be utilized for combustion of the fuel to drive said turbine by passing said compressed air in heat exchange relationship with water between the stages of multiple stage air compression, humidifying said compressed air prior to combustion to provide water vapor as thermal diluent for said combustion, said water being at a temperature below its boiling point at the operating pressure when in contact with said compressed air, and further cooling said compressed air following compression and prior to humidification.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 96 words
A process for producing power utilizing a combustion turbine, comprising cooling compressed air which is to be utilized for combustion of the fuel to drive said turbine by passing said compressed air in heat exchange relationship with water between the stages of multiple stage air compression, humidifying said compressed air prior to combustion to provide water vapor as thermal diluent for said combustion, said water being at a temperature below its boiling point at the operating pressure when in contact with said compressed air, and further cooling said compressed air following compression and prior to humidification.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 29 words
The process of claim 10 in which the exhaust from said turbine is passed in heat exchange relationship with said humidifed air to pre-heat said air prior to combustion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 35 words
The process of claim 11 in which the exhaust from said turbine is passed in heat exchange relationship with said water to increase the temperature of said water prior to humidification of said compressed air.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 41 words
The process of claim 10 in which the temperature of said compressed air is reduced from approximately 300° to about 400° F to approximately 70° to about 140° F by said heat exchange occurring between stages of said multiple stage compression.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 25 words
The process of claim 10 in which the temperature of said compressed air exiting said multiple stage compression is approximatley 300° to about 400° F.

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