US6014856A — Multi-fuel, combined cycle power plant

Claim 1

Independent Claim 147 words

A power plant comprising: a) a gas turbine unit having a compressor for compressing ambient air, a burner for heating air compressed by said compressor, a generator, and a turbine coupled to the generator for expanding air heated by said burner to drive said compressor and said generator and producing hot exhaust gases and electricity; a) a combustor for containing particles of solid fuel; b) means applying at least some of said exhaust gases to said combustor for fluidizing and combusting said particles in said combustor to produce hot products of combustion that include coarse ash particulate; c) a pyrolyzer to receive solid fuel, and to receive hot ash from said combustor for producing carbonaceous residue and combustible products; d) means for supplying said carbonaceous residue to said combustor; and e) means for supplying said combustible products to said burner; and f) additional means for generating power.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 147 words

A power plant comprising: a) a gas turbine unit having a compressor for compressing ambient air, a burner for heating air compressed by said compressor, a generator, and a turbine coupled to the generator for expanding air heated by said burner to drive said compressor and said generator and producing hot exhaust gases and electricity; a) a combustor for containing particles of solid fuel; b) means applying at least some of said exhaust gases to said combustor for fluidizing and combusting said particles in said combustor to produce hot products of combustion that include coarse ash particulate; c) a pyrolyzer to receive solid fuel, and to receive hot ash from said combustor for producing carbonaceous residue and combustible products; d) means for supplying said carbonaceous residue to said combustor; and e) means for supplying said combustible products to said burner; and f) additional means for generating power.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 154 words

A power plant comprising: a) a gas turbine unit having a compressor for compressing ambient air, a burner for heating air compressed by said compressor, a generator, and a turbine coupled to the generator for expanding air heated by said burner to drive said compressor and said generator and producing hot exhaust gases and electricity; b) a combustor for containing particles of solid fuel; c) means applying at least some of said exhaust gases to said combustor for fluidizing and combusting said particles in said combustor to produce hot products of combustion that include coarse ash particulate; d) a heat exchanger responsive to said hot products of combustion for generating power; e) a pyrolyzer to receive solid fuel, and to receive hot ash from said combustor for producing carbonaceous residue and combustible products; f) means for supplying said carbonaceous residue to said combustor; and g) means for supplying said combustible products to said burner.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 154 words

A power plant comprising: a) a gas turbine unit having a compressor for compressing ambient air, a burner for heating air compressed by said compressor, a generator, and a turbine coupled to the generator for expanding air heated by said burner to drive said compressor and said generator and producing hot exhaust gases and electricity; b) a combustor for containing particles of solid fuel; c) means applying at least some of said exhaust gases to said combustor for fluidizing and combusting said particles in said combustor to produce hot products of combustion that include coarse ash particulate; d) a heat exchanger responsive to said hot products of combustion for generating power; e) a pyrolyzer to receive solid fuel, and to receive hot ash from said combustor for producing carbonaceous residue and combustible products; f) means for supplying said carbonaceous residue to said combustor; and g) means for supplying said combustible products to said burner.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 61 words

A power plant according to claim 2 wherein said heat exchanger includes: a) a waste heat boiler for producing steam; b) a steam turbine for expanding said steam and producing power; c) a steam condenser unit for condensing steam expanded in said steam turbine; and d) means for returning the condensate produced by said condenser unit to said waste heat boiler.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

A power plant according to claim 2 including means for treating said combustible products before they are supplied to said burner.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

A power plant according to claim 3 including means for exchanging heat between said waste heat boiler and air compressed by said compressor upstream of said burner.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

A power plant according to claim 2 wherein said combustor is a spouted bed bed combustor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 47 words

A power plant according to claim 2 wherein said heat exchanger includes a first portion heated by some of said exhaust gases from the turbine for producing preheated water, and a second portion heated by said hot products of combustion for producing steam from said preheated water.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

A power plant according to claim 2 including means for adding an additional fuel rich in sulfur to said combustor.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

A power plant according to claim 6 including means for adding an additional fuel rich in sulfur to said spouted bed combustor.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

A power plant according to claim 2 wherein said solid fuel is oil shale.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 34 words

A power plant according to claim 3 including apparatus that receives exhaust gases not applied to said combustor for transferring heat to said condensate before the latter is returned to said waste heat boiler.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 13 words

A power plant according to claim 11 wherein said apparatus preheats said condensate.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 15 words

A power plant according to claim 12 wherein said waste heat boiler vaporizes said condensate.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 15 words

A power plant according to claim 2 including an auxiliary fan for fluidizing said combustor.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 17 words

A power plant according to claim 1 wherein said additional means is responsive to said exhaust gases.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 73 words

A power plant according to claim 3 wherein said steam condenser unit includes a vaporizer containing an organic fluid which is vaporized by the condensation of steam expanded by said steam turbine for producing vaporized organic fluid, an organic vapor turbine for expanding said vaporized organic fluid, and a condenser for condensing said expanded vaporized organic fluid and producing organic fluid condensate, and means for returning said organic fluid condensate to said vaporizer.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

A power plant according to claim 16 including means for exchanging heat between said waste heat boiler and air compressed by said compressor upstream of said burner.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

A power plant according to claim 3 wherein said waste heat boiler includes a vaporizer for producing steam, and a superheater for superheating steam produced by said vaporizer.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

A power plant according to claim 18 including a preheater for preheating said returned condensate before vaporization, said preheater being responsive to said hot exhaust gases.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 28 words

A power plant according to claim 2 including means for exchanging heat between matter contained in said combustor and air compressed by said compressor upstream of said burner.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 17 words

A power plant according to claim 2 including means for adding sulfur rich fuel to said pyrolyzer.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 17 words

A power plant according to claim 2 including means for adding said solid fuel to said pyrolyzer.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 15 words

A power plant according to claim 2 including means for adding refuse to said pyrolyzer.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 119 words

A power plant comprising: a) a power generating unit for producing electricity and from which exhaust gases exit; b) a combustor for containing particles of solid fuel; c) means applying at least some of said exhaust gases to said combustor for fluidizing and combusting said particles in said combustor to produce hot products of combustion that include coarse ash particulate; d) a heat exchanger responsive to said hot products of combustion for generating power; e) a pyrolyzer to receive solid fuel, and to receive hot ash from said combustor for producing carbonaceous residue and combustible products; f) means for supplying said carbonaceous residue to said combustor; and g) means for supplying said combustible products to said power generating unit.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 119 words

A power plant comprising: a) a power generating unit for producing electricity and from which exhaust gases exit; b) a combustor for containing particles of solid fuel; c) means applying at least some of said exhaust gases to said combustor for fluidizing and combusting said particles in said combustor to produce hot products of combustion that include coarse ash particulate; d) a heat exchanger responsive to said hot products of combustion for generating power; e) a pyrolyzer to receive solid fuel, and to receive hot ash from said combustor for producing carbonaceous residue and combustible products; f) means for supplying said carbonaceous residue to said combustor; and g) means for supplying said combustible products to said power generating unit.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

A power plant according to claim 24 wherein said heat exchanger includes a waste heat boiler for producing steam.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 49 words

A power plant according to claim 25 including: a) a steam turbine for expanding said steam and producing power; b) a steam condenser unit for condensing steam expanded in said steam turbine; and c) means for returning the condensate produced by said condenser unit to said waste heat boiler.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 16 words

A power plant according to claim 24 including means for adding solid fuel to said pyrolyzer.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 14 words

A power plant according to claim 27 wherein said solid fuel is oil shale.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 14 words

A power plant according to claim 24 wherein said solid fuel is oil shale.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 17 words

A power plant according to claim 24 including means for adding sulfur rich fuel to said pyrolyzer.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 15 words

A power plant according to claim 27 including means for adding refuse to said pyrolyzer.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 16 words

A power plant according to claim 24 wherein said power generating unit is a diesel generator.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 17 words

A power plant according to claim 24 wherein said power generating unit is a gas turbine unit.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-01-17	2003-07-19	2004-01-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-01-17	2007-07-19	2008-01-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-01-17	2011-07-19	2012-01-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multi-fuel, combined cycle power plant

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