Refrigerated intake brayton cycle system

Abstract

Abstract In an open Brayton cycle, suction air is cooled by refrigeration to a predetermined temperature preferably to at least 50*F. below ambient air temperature. In the case of a conventional refrigeration system with refrigerant evaporation and condensation utilizes ambient air for condensation, the refrigeration is controlled to maintain a fixed temperature differential between the temperature at which the refrigerant evaporates and at which it condenses. If the temperature of the suction air is below the freezing point of water an aqueous solution of a water vapor pressure depressant such as glycol may be used under conditions which avoid, or control, freezing. This aqueous solution may be sprayed on cooling coils in indirect heat transfer or it may be cooled by circulation in indirect heat transfer and then used in direct contact to cool and condense water vapor from the suction air. The condensed water is vaporized, preferably with waste heat and injected into the compressed air stream. The refrigeration system may be a conventional one driven by the shaft or from the power network or it may be one which is driven by a system utilizing waste heat of the Brayton cycle exhaust gases. In a conventional system, multistage refrigeration is preferred. In the use of a solution of glycol the composition is maintained by distillation of water under pressure with utilization of the steam in the air stream between the Brayton cycle compressor and expander to improve output and thermal efficiency. The advantages of suction air refrigeration are especially marked when in combination with regeneration in the Brayton cycle and the advantages of regeneration are greater when in combination with suction air refrigeration. Still greater advantages result from a combination of suction air refrigeraton with both regeneration and gasification of fuels which contain sulfur and particulates. A portion of the refrigeration capacity for suction air cooling may be used for the cooling of electric generators and transformers. Suction refrigeration results in similar advantages when used with a closed Brayton cycle, wherein the working fluid is a dry gas, such as helium, or argon, or the like.

Inventors

• 👤 W Nebgen

Bibliographic Details