EP0364106A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method of and apparatus for producing power using compressed air
Assignee: Ormat Inc
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Filing: 1989-09-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A method for producing power comprises compressing gas from an ambient source during a first period of time; storing the compressed gas in a storage reservoir (90); and supplying said compressed gas from the storage reservoir to a gas turbine (60) during a second period of time to produce electric power. The first period of time may coincide with periods of off-peak demand for electricity, such as at night. In such case, the said second period of time is during the day. The compressed gas supplied to the gas turbine may be heated in a combustion chamber (58) wherein fuel is burned, and/or a solar collector. A sensing/control unit (59) may be provided which is responsive to the temperature of the gas exiting the solar receiver for effecting operation of the combustion chamber when the temperature of the gas falls below a predetermined value. The heat available at compressor intercoolers/turbine exhaust can be used to vaporise a suitable liquid to drive additional turbines, to increase the power output of the plant.
Inventors
- 👤 Lucien Y. Bronicki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:27
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02C; F02C1/00; F02C1/04; F02C1/05; F02C6/00; F02C6/14; F02C6/16; F02C6/18; F03; F03G; F03G6/00; F03G6/06; F03G6/064; F03G6/065; F03G6/067; F03G6/071; F03G6/074; F24; F24S; F24S20/00; F24S20/20; F05; F05D; F05D2260/00; F05D2260/20; F05D2260/211; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/46; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/16; Y02E70/00; Y02E70/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for producing power comprising the steps of: compressing gas from an ambient source during a first period of time; storing the compressed gas in a storage reservoir; and supplying said compressed gas from the storage reservoir to a gas turbine during a second period of time to produce electric power.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for producing power comprising the steps of: compressing gas from an ambient source during a first period of time; storing the compressed gas in a storage reservoir; and supplying said compressed gas from the storage reservoir to a gas turbine during a second period of time to produce electric power.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said first period of time coincides with periods of off-peak demand for electricity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said first period of time is during the night, and said second period of time is during the day.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the compressed gas supplied to the gas turbine is heated in a combustion chamber wherein fuel is burned.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the compressed gas supplied to the gas turbine is heated in a solar collector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the compressed gas supplied to the gas turbine is heated in a combustion chamber wherein fuel is burned, and is heated in a solar collector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of cooling the compressed gas prior to storing it by transferring heat present in the compressed gas to another fluid in a heat exchanger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 7 further comprising producing electric power using heat transferred to the other fluid in said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger being part of a waste heat converter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein said heat supplied to the other fluid vaporizes the fluid, the vapors being supplied to a turbine contained in said waste heat converter to produce electric power, said waste heat converter being an organic-fluid Rankine cycle power plant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 6 wherein said solar collector comprises a receiver positioned at the top of a tower for receiving the compressed gas, and tracking reflectors for focusing solar radiation on said receiver for heating the gas therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of commencing operation of said combustion chamber in response to sensing a fall in temperature of the gas exiting the solar receiver below a predetermined value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus for producing power using compressed gas and a gas turbine for driving an electric. generator comprising: compressor means for compressing said gas during a first period of time; a storage reservoir for storing air compressed by said compressor means; means for supplying compressed gas to the gas turbine during a second period of time to produce power; and means for heating the gas supplied to said turbine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus for producing power using compressed gas and a gas turbine for driving an electric. generator comprising: compressor means for compressing said gas during a first period of time; a storage reservoir for storing air compressed by said compressor means; means for supplying compressed gas to the gas turbine during a second period of time to produce power; and means for heating the gas supplied to said turbine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising a heat exchanger for cooling the gas compressed by said compressor means before the gas is stored in said storage reservoir.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said heat exchanger is part of a waste heat converter for producing electrical power.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said waste heat converter is an organic-fluid Rankine Cycle power plant and, said heat exchanger is a vaporizer for vaporizing the organic working fluid of the organic-fluid Rankine cycle power plant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising a heat exchanger for cooling gases exiting said gas turbine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said heat exchanger is part of a waste heat converter for producing electrical power.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said waste heat converter is an organic-fluid Rankine cycle power plant and said heat exchanger is a vaporizer for vaporizing the organic working fluid of the Rankine cycle power plant.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for heating the gas includes a solar collector.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said first period of time is during periods of off-peak demand for electricity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said first period of time is during the night and said second period of time is during the day.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising a heat exchanger for cooling the compressed gas.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said heat exchanger is part of a waste heat converter for producing electrical power.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said waste heat converter is an organic-fluid Rankine cycle power plant and said heat exchanger is a vaporizer for vaporizing the organic working fluid of the Rankine cycle power plant.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said solar collector comprises a receiver positioned at the top of a tower for receiving the compressed gas, and tracking reflectors for focusing solar on said receiver and heating the gas therein.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said means for heating the gas further comprises a combustion chamber for heating gas supplied to the gas turbine.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the solar radiation receiver and combustion chamber are arranged such that the gas flowing to said gas turbine first passes through the solar receiver and said combustion chamber.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 27 wherein said combustion chamber is upstream of the solar collector.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said solar radiation receiver comprises a rotatable ceramic member for transferring heat from solar radiation to the gas.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising an electric motor for driving said compressor.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said electric motor operates as an electric generator when driven by the gas turbine during the second period of time.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said gas turbine is a multi-stage compressor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
10 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said gas is air.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 27 further comprising a sensing/control unit responsive to the temperature of the gas exiting the solar receiver for effecting operation of the combustion chamber when the temperature of the gas falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 34 wherein said gas turbine is a multi-stage turbine having a high pressure stage and a low pressure stage.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 35 further comprising a second solar collector and second combustion chamber for heating gas exiting said high pressure stage prior to entering said low pressure stage of multi-stage turbine.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said second solar collector comprises a receiver positioned at the top of a tower for receiving the compressed gas from the reservoir, and tracking reflectors for focusing solar radiation on said receiver and heating the gas therein.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said storage reservoir is an abandoned oil reservoir and said means for supplying compressed gas to said gas turbine include an abandoned oil wall for supplying gas from storage reservoir to the gas turbine through the receiver.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said storage reservoir is an abandoned oil reservoir and said means for supplying compressed gas to said gas turbine include an abandoned oil well for supplying gas from the storage reservoir to the turbine through the solar collector.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said storage reservoir is an abandoned oil reservoir, and said means for supplying compressed gas to said gas turbine include an abandoned oil well for supplying gas from said storage reservoir to the gas turbine through said means for heating the gas.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for heating the gas includes an external combustion chamber operating on low grade fuel.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said combustion chamber is an external combustion chamber operating on low grade fuel.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said combustion chamber is an external combustion chamber operating on low grade fuel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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