Patent US3094974A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.

Patent US5490377A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.

US5490377A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Performance enhanced gas turbine powerplants

Assignee: California Energy Commission

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Filing: 1994-01-12

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Granted: 1996-02-13

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Expires: 2014-01-12

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Abstract

Abstract A gas turbine driven powerplant having one or more compressors for producing a down stream air flow, a heat exchanger positioned down stream of the compressors followed by a side stream flow coolant line, a regenerator positioned down stream of the heat exchanger and side stream coolant line, a combustor positioned down stream of the regenerator, one or more turbines positioned down stream of the combustor and mechanically coupled to the compressors, and a power turbine positioned down stream of the turbines. Combustible effluent flows through the heat exchanger and to the combustor, and air discharged from the compressors flows through the heat exchanger and to the coolant line and regenerator. Heat is transferred from the compressor discharge air to the combustible effluent, thereby producing cooling air and heating the combustible effluent. The heat exchanger can be a heat exchanger or a methane/steam reformer which produces a hydrogen-rich, low NO x , steam diluted combustible effluent. In further embodiments, a small portion of the cool air is combined with the recuperation water in a heat recovery unit to allow vaporization of the water throughout the initial portion of the heat exchange path and form a two phased feed of water and air to the combustor. Additionally, in all embodiments a portion of the cooled compressed air can be processed by a compressor/expander for providing coolant to the turbines, compressors, and auxiliary equipment.

Inventors

👤 Clarence W. Janes

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction US

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 18:22

CPC Classifications

F; F01; F01D; F01D13/00; F01D1/00; F01D1/02; F01D1/023; F01K; F01K21/00; F01K21/04; F01K21/047; F02; F02C; F02C1/00; F02C1/04; F02C1/05; F02C1/06; F02C3/00; F02C3/20; F02C3/26; F02C3/28; F02C6/00; F02C6/003; F02C7/00; F02C7/12; F02C7/14; F02C7/141; F02C7/143; F02C7/16; F02C7/18; F02C7/185; F02C7/22; F02C7/224; F05; F05D; F05D2260/00; F05D2260/10; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/60

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 32

Claim 1

Independent Claim 131 words

A gas turbine driven powerplant, comprising: (a) compressor means for producing a downstream flow of air; (b) heat exchanger means for cooling said downstream flow of air from said compressor means, said heat exchanger means positioned downstream of said compressor, said heat exchanger means including a fuel carrying coil; (c) a regenerator positioned downstream of said heat exchanger means; (d) cooling means for carrying a side stream of cooled air from said heat exchanger means to hot section components and/or auxiliary equipment, said cooling means positioned downstream of said heat exchanger means and upstream of said regenerator; (e) a combustor positioned downstream of said regenerator, said combustor including a fuel inlet coupled to said fuel carrying coil of said heat exchanger means; and (f) a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 131 words

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising steam raising means for pressure expansion and equalization of a steam/fuel mixture flowing through said fuel carrying coil of said heat exchanger means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 75 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said steam raising means comprises: (a) a turbine, said turbine including a steam/fuel mixture inlet coupled to said heat exchanger means, said turbine including a steam/fuel mixture outlet coupled to said fuel inlet of said combustor; (b) a compressor, said compressor including a steam/fuel mixture inlet coupled to said heat exchanger means, said compressor including a steam/fuel mixture outlet coupled to said fuel inlet of said combustor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a power turbine positioned downstream of said turbine.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said regenerator is positioned downstream of said power turbine.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said cooling means provides coolant air to said turbines.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said cooling means provides coolant air to said compressor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 79 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising: (a) a methane/steam reformer positioned downstream of said power turbine, said methane/steam reformer including a fuel carrying coil disposed between said fuel carrying coil of said heat exchanger means and said fuel inlet of said combustor; (b) a second heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger positioned downstream of said methane/steam reformer, said second heat exchanger including a fuel carrying coil coupled to said fuel carrying coil of said methane/steam reformer.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 137 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising: (a) a first methane/steam reformer positioned downstream of said power turbine, said first methane/steam reformer including a fuel carrying coil disposed between said fuel carrying coil of said heat exchanger means and said fuel inlet of said combustor; (b) a second methane/steam reformer positioned downstream of said power turbine, said second methane/steam reformer including a fuel carrying coil; (c) a second heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger positioned downstream of said second methane/steam reformer, said second heat exchanger including a fuel carrying coil coupled to said fuel carrying coil of said second methane/steam reformer; and (d) a reheat combustor positioned downstream of said turbine and upstream of said power turbine, said reheat combustor including a fuel inlet coupled to said fuel carrying coil of said second methane/steam reformer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 135 words

A chemically recuperative and thermally regenerative gas turbine driven powerplant, comprising: (a) compressor means for producing a downstream flow of air; (b) a methane/steam reformer positioned downstream of said compressor, said methane/steam reformer including a fuel inlet and fuel outlet, said methane/steam reformer including heat exchanger means for cooling said downstream flow of air from said compressor; (c) a regenerator positioned downstream of said methane/steam reformer; (d) cooling means for carrying a side stream of cooled air from said methane/steam reformer to cool hot section components and/or auxiliary equipment, said cooling means positioned downstream of said methane/steam reformer and upstream of said regenerator; (e) a combustor positioned downstream of said regenerator, said combustor including a fuel inlet coupled to said fuel outlet of said methane/steam reformer; and (f) a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 135 words

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising a power turbine positioned downstream of said turbine.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said regenerator is positioned downstream of said power turbine.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said cooling means provides coolant air to said turbines.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said cooling means provides coolant air to said compressor.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 53 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising: (a) a second methane/steam reformer, said second methane/steam reformer positioned downstream of said power turbine, said second methane/steam reformer including a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, said fuel outlet of said second methane steam reformer coupled to said fuel inlet of said combustor.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 or 10, further comprising compressor/expander means for increasing the pressure of cool air from said heat exchanger means for cooling said compressor.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 36 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 16, further comprising condenser means for using cool air from said compressor/expander means to condense coolant vapor carrying heat from auxiliary plant equipment, and providing heated air to said combustor.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 149 words

A gas turbine driven powerplant, comprising: (a) compressor means for producing a downstream flow of air; (b) heat exchanger means for cooling said downstream flow of air from said compressor means, said heat exchanger means positioned downstream of said compressor, said heat exchanger means including a fuel carrying coil; (c) a regenerator positioned downstream of said heat exchanger means; (d) cooling means for carrying a side stream of cooled air from said heat exchanger means to hot section components and/or auxiliary equipment, said cooling means positioned downstream of said heat exchanger means and upstream of said regenerator; (e) a combustor positioned downstream of said regenerator, said combustor including a fuel inlet coupled to said fuel carrying coil of said heat exchanger means; (f) a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor; and (g) a power turbine positioned downstream of said turbine; said cooling means providing coolant air to said turbines.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 149 words

A gas turbine driven powerplant, comprising: (a) compressor means for producing a downstream flow of air; (b) heat exchanger means for cooling said downstream flow of air from said compressor means, said heat exchanger means positioned downstream of said compressor, said heat exchanger means including a fuel carrying coil; (c) a regenerator positioned downstream of said heat exchanger means; (d) cooling means for carrying a side stream of cooled air from said heat exchanger means to hot section components and/or auxiliary equipment, said cooling means positioned downstream of said heat exchanger means and upstream of said regenerator; (e) a combustor positioned downstream of said regenerator, said combustor including a fuel inlet coupled to said fuel carrying coil of said heat exchanger means; (f) a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor; and (g) a power turbine positioned downstream of said turbine; said cooling means providing coolant air to said turbines.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 136 words

A chemically recuperative and thermally regenerative gas turbine driven powerplant, comprising: (a) compressor means for producing a downstream flow of air; (b) a methane/steam reformer positioned downstream of said compressor, said methane/steam reformer including a fuel inlet and fuel outlet; (c) a regenerator positioned downstream of said methane/steam reformer; (d) cooling means for carrying a side stream of cooled air from said methane/steam reformer to cool hot section components and/or auxiliary equipment, said cooling means positioned downstream of said methane/steam reformer and upstream of said regenerator; (e) a combustor positioned downstream of said regenerator, said combustor including a fuel inlet coupled to said fuel outlet of said methane/steam reformer; (f) a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor; and (g) a power turbine positioned downstream of said turbine, said cooling means providing coolant air to said turbines.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 136 words

A chemically recuperative and thermally regenerative gas turbine driven powerplant, comprising: (a) compressor means for producing a downstream flow of air; (b) a methane/steam reformer positioned downstream of said compressor, said methane/steam reformer including a fuel inlet and fuel outlet; (c) a regenerator positioned downstream of said methane/steam reformer; (d) cooling means for carrying a side stream of cooled air from said methane/steam reformer to cool hot section components and/or auxiliary equipment, said cooling means positioned downstream of said methane/steam reformer and upstream of said regenerator; (e) a combustor positioned downstream of said regenerator, said combustor including a fuel inlet coupled to said fuel outlet of said methane/steam reformer; (f) a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor; and (g) a power turbine positioned downstream of said turbine, said cooling means providing coolant air to said turbines.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 87 words

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 87 words

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 68 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said steam raising means comprises: (a) a turbine, said turbine including a steam/fuel mixture inlet coupled to said heat exchanger means, said turbine including a steam/fuel mixture outlet coupled to said combustor; and (b) a compressor, said compressor including a steam/fuel mixture inlet coupled to said heat exchanger means, said compressor including a steam/fuel mixture outlet coupled to said combustor.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 80 words

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 80 words

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 107 words

A gas turbine driven powerplant, comprising: (a) compressor means for producing a downstream flow of air; (b) heat exchanger means for cooling said downstream flow of air from said compressor means, said heat exchanger means positioned downstream of said compressor; (c) a combustor positioned downstream of said heat exchanger means; (d) a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor; (e) compressor/expander means for increasing the pressure of cool air from said heat exchanger means for cooling said compressor means; and (f) condenser means for using cool air from said compressor/expander means to condense coolant vapor carrying heat from auxiliary plant equipment, and providing heated air to said combustor.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 107 words

A gas turbine driven powerplant, comprising: (a) compressor means for producing a downstream flow of air; (b) heat exchanger means for cooling said downstream flow of air from said compressor means, said heat exchanger means positioned downstream of said compressor; (c) a combustor positioned downstream of said heat exchanger means; (d) a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor; (e) compressor/expander means for increasing the pressure of cool air from said heat exchanger means for cooling said compressor means; and (f) condenser means for using cool air from said compressor/expander means to condense coolant vapor carrying heat from auxiliary plant equipment, and providing heated air to said combustor.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 97 words

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 97 words

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-02-12	1999-08-14	2000-02-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-02-12	2003-08-14	2004-02-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-02-12	2007-08-14	2008-02-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

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