US6775987B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low-emission, staged-combustion power generation
Assignee: RTX Corp
•
Filing: 2002-09-12
•
Granted: 2004-08-17
•
Expires: 2022-09-12
Abstract
Abstract There is provided a low-emission, staged-combustion power generation system and associated method for generating power. The power generation system and method combust a carbonaceous fuel with an oxidizing fluid, both of which are substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur, to generate power, for example, in the form of electricity, without the formation of nitrous oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx). Efficiency is enhanced using a multi-staged combustion, in which the carbonaceous fuel is partially combusted before passing through a first power take-off device and subsequently reheated and passed through one or more additional power take-off devices. Additionally, exhaust gases from one or more of the power take-off devices can be extracted and processed to provide quantities of useful products such as hydrogen and methanol.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth M. Sprouse
- 👤 James A. Hartung
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:44
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K23/00; F01K23/02; F01K23/06; F01K23/067; F01K23/068; F02; F02C; F02C1/00; F02C1/04; F02C1/05; F02C1/06; F01K21/00; F01K21/04; F01K21/047; F02C3/00; F02C3/20; F02C3/22; F02C3/26; F02C3/28; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E20/00; Y02E20/16; Y02E20/18; Y02E20/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of generating power, comprising: supplying a carbonaceous fuel substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur to a gas generator; supplying a first oxidizing fluid substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur to the gas generator at a sub-stoichiometric rate relative to the carbonaceous fuel; combusting the carbonaceous fuel with the first oxidizing fluid in the gas generator to produce a combusted gas; discharging the combusted gas to a first power take-off device; discharging at least a portion of the combusted gas from the first power take-off device to a reheater; combusting the combusted gas with a second oxidizing fluid substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur in the reheater to form a reheated gas; and discharging the reheated gas to a second power take-off device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of generating power, comprising: supplying a carbonaceous fuel substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur to a gas generator; supplying a first oxidizing fluid substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur to the gas generator at a sub-stoichiometric rate relative to the carbonaceous fuel; combusting the carbonaceous fuel with the first oxidizing fluid in the gas generator to produce a combusted gas; discharging the combusted gas to a first power take-off device; discharging at least a portion of the combusted gas from the first power take-off device to a reheater; combusting the combusted gas with a second oxidizing fluid substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur in the reheater to form a reheated gas; and discharging the reheated gas to a second power take-off device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of generating power according to claim 1 , further comprising providing at least one of the first and second oxidizing fluids by separating oxygen from air.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of generating power according to claim 1 , wherein the step of supplying the carbonaceous fuel to the gas generator comprises supplying methane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of generating power according to claim 1 , wherein said step of supplying the first oxidizing fluid to the gas generator at a sub-stoichiometric rate comprises supplying the first oxidizing fluid to the gas generator at a sub-stoichiometric rate of between 0 and 50 percent relative to the carbonaceous fuel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of generating power according to claim 1 , further comprising regulating a supply of the second oxidizing fluid to the reheater to be sub-stoichiometric relative to combustible materials in the combusted gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of generating power according to claim 1 , wherein said step of combusting the carbonaceous fuel with the first oxidizing fluid in the gas generator comprises at least partially combusting at least 98 percent of the carbonaceous fuel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method of generating power according to claim 1 , wherein said steps of discharging the combusted gas to a first power take-off device comprises discharging the combusted gas to a first turbine coupled to at least one electric generator, and discharging the reheated gas to a second power take-off device comprises discharging the reheated gas to a second turbine coupled to the at least one electric generator, and further comprising rotating the at least one electric generator to generate electricity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of generating power according to claim 1 , wherein said step of combusting the combusted gas with a second oxidizing fluid in the reheater comprises heating the combusted gas to at least 2000° F.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method of generating power according to claim 1 , wherein said step of combusting the combusted gas with a second oxidizing fluid in the reheater comprises producing a reheated gas comprising steam, carbon dioxide, between about 3 and 10 percent hydrogen by volume, between about 1 and 3 percent carbon monoxide by volume, and substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of generating power according to claim 1 , further comprising: subsequent to said step of discharging the reheated gas to the second power take-off device, discharging the reheated gas to a catalytic shift reactor to convert the carbon monoxide to hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of generating power according to claim 1 , further comprising: subsequent to said step of discharging the reheated gas to the second power take-off device, passing the reheated gas through at least one condenser and at least one compressor to remove water from the gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of generating power according to claim 1 , further comprising: subsequent to said step of discharging the reheated gas to the second power take-off device, discharging the reheated gas to a separator to separate carbon dioxide from the reheated gas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of generating power according to claim 1 , further comprising: subsequent to said step of discharging the reheated gas to the second power take-off device, passing the reheated gas through a carbon monoxide catalytic converter to convert the reheated gas to methanol and hydrogen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method of generating power according to claim 1 , further comprising discharging a variable portion of the combusted gas from the first power take-off device to a catalytic shift reactor to convert carbon monoxide in the variable portion of the combusted gas to hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of generating power according to claim 14 , further comprising discharging the variable portion of the combusted gas from the catalytic shift reactor to a separator to separate carbon dioxide from the combusted gas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of generating power according to claim 1 , further comprising discharging a variable portion of the reheated gas from the second power take-off device to a low pressure reheater, combusting the variable portion of the reheated gas to form a twice reheated gas, and discharging the twice reheated gas to a third power take-off device.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
277 words
A method of generating power, comprising: generating an oxidizing fluid substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur; supplying a carbonaceous fuel substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur to a gas generator; supplying the oxidizing fluid to the gas generator at a sub-stoichiometric rate relative to the carbonaceous fuel; combusting the carbonaceous fuel with the oxidizing fluid in the gas generator to produce a combusted gas; discharging the combusted gas to a first power take-off device; discharging a first variable portion of the combusted gas to a first catalytic shift reactor; discharging a second variable portion of the combusted gas to a first reheater operating at a lower pressure than the gas generator; combusting the second variable portion of the combusted gas with the oxidizing fluid in the first reheater to form a reheated gas; discharging the reheated gas to a second power take-off device; discharging a first variable portion of the reheated gas to a second catalytic shift reactor operating at a lower pressure than the first catalytic shift reactor; discharging a second variable portion of the reheated gas to a second reheater operating at a lower pressure than the first reheater; combusting the second variable portion of the reheated gas with the oxidizing fluid in the second reheater to form a twice reheated gas; discharging the twice reheated gas to a third power take-off device; discharging the twice reheated gas to a third catalytic shift reactor operating at a lower pressure than the second catalytic shift reactor; and separating the carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and water from the first variable portion of the combusted gas, the first variable portion of the reheated gas, and the twice reheated gas.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
277 words
A method of generating power, comprising: generating an oxidizing fluid substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur; supplying a carbonaceous fuel substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur to a gas generator; supplying the oxidizing fluid to the gas generator at a sub-stoichiometric rate relative to the carbonaceous fuel; combusting the carbonaceous fuel with the oxidizing fluid in the gas generator to produce a combusted gas; discharging the combusted gas to a first power take-off device; discharging a first variable portion of the combusted gas to a first catalytic shift reactor; discharging a second variable portion of the combusted gas to a first reheater operating at a lower pressure than the gas generator; combusting the second variable portion of the combusted gas with the oxidizing fluid in the first reheater to form a reheated gas; discharging the reheated gas to a second power take-off device; discharging a first variable portion of the reheated gas to a second catalytic shift reactor operating at a lower pressure than the first catalytic shift reactor; discharging a second variable portion of the reheated gas to a second reheater operating at a lower pressure than the first reheater; combusting the second variable portion of the reheated gas with the oxidizing fluid in the second reheater to form a twice reheated gas; discharging the twice reheated gas to a third power take-off device; discharging the twice reheated gas to a third catalytic shift reactor operating at a lower pressure than the second catalytic shift reactor; and separating the carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and water from the first variable portion of the combusted gas, the first variable portion of the reheated gas, and the twice reheated gas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of generating power according to claim 17 , wherein said step of supplying the oxidizing fluid to the gas generator comprises supplying the oxidizing fluid to the gas generator at a sub-stoichiometric rate of between 0 and 50 percent relative to the carbonaceous fuel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method of generating power according to claim 17 , further comprising: regulating a supply of the oxidizing fluid to the first reheater to a sub-stoichiometric rate higher than the sub-stoichiometric rate of the oxidizing fluid in the gas generator; and regulating a supply of the oxidizing fluid to the second reheater to a sub-stoichiometric rate higher than the sub-stoichiometric rate of the oxidizing fluid in the first reheater.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of generating power according to claim 17 , wherein said step of combusting the carbonaceous fuel with the oxidizing fluid comprises at least partially combusting at least 98 percent of the carbonaceous fuel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method of generating power according to claim 17 , wherein said steps of discharging the combusted gas to a first power take-off device comprises discharging the combusted gas to a first turbine coupled to at least one electric generator, and discharging the reheated gas to a second power take-off device comprises discharging the reheated gas to a second turbine coupled to the at least one electric generator, and further comprising rotating the at least one electric generator to generate electricity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method of generating power according to claim 17 , further comprising discharging at least part of the first variable portion of the combusted gas, the first variable portion of the reheated gas, and the twice reheated gas to a carbon monoxide catalytic reactor to convert carbon monoxide in the gases to methanol and hydrogen.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
124 words
A power generation system, comprising: a gas generator configured to receive a carbonaceous fuel substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur and an oxidizing fluid substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur and combust the carbonaceous fuel with the oxidizing fluid to produce a combusted gas; a regulation system configured to regulate the flow of the oxidizing fluid into the gas generator at a sub-stoichiometric rate relative to the carbonaceous fuel; a first power take-off device configured to receive the combusted gas from the gas generator; a reheater configured to receive and combust the combusted gas from the first power take-off device and the oxidizing fluid to form a reheated gas; and a second power take-off device configured to receive the reheated gas from the reheater.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
124 words
A power generation system, comprising: a gas generator configured to receive a carbonaceous fuel substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur and an oxidizing fluid substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur and combust the carbonaceous fuel with the oxidizing fluid to produce a combusted gas; a regulation system configured to regulate the flow of the oxidizing fluid into the gas generator at a sub-stoichiometric rate relative to the carbonaceous fuel; a first power take-off device configured to receive the combusted gas from the gas generator; a reheater configured to receive and combust the combusted gas from the first power take-off device and the oxidizing fluid to form a reheated gas; and a second power take-off device configured to receive the reheated gas from the reheater.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
75 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , further comprising a source of the carbonaceous fuel substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur and a source of the oxidizing fluid substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur, wherein the source of the carbonaceous fuel is configured to supply the carbonaceous fuel to the gas generator and the source of the oxidizing fluid is configured to supply the oxidizing fluid to the gas generator and the reheater.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , further comprising at least one generator coupled to the first and second power take-off devices.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , further comprising an air separation plant for producing the oxidizing fluid from air.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , wherein the carbonaceous fuel is methane.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , wherein the gas generator is capable of at least partially combusting at least about 98 percent of the carbonaceous fuel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , wherein the first and second power take-off devices are turbines.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , further comprising a regulation system configured to regulate the flow of the oxidizing fluid into the reheater at a stoichiometric rate relative to the carbonaceous fuel.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , wherein the reheater is capable of heating the combusted gas to at least 2000° F.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
42 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , wherein the reheated gas comprises carbon dioxide, between about 3 and 10 percent hydrogen by volume, between about 1 and 3 percent carbon monoxide by volume, and substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , wherein the reheater comprises a partial catalytic bed to facilitate the reaction of hydrogen in the combusted gas with oxygen.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , further comprising: a catalytic shift reactor configured to receive the reheated gas from the second power take-off device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , further comprising: at least one condenser and at least one compressor configured to receive the reheated gas from the second power take-off device.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , further comprising: a separator configured to receive the reheated gas from the second power take-off device and capable of separating carbon dioxide from the reheated gas.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
A power generation system according to claim 36 , wherein the separator is configured to receive cryogenic nitrogen from the air separation plant.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
28 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , further comprising a carbon monoxide catalytic converter configured to receive the reheated gas from the second power take-off device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
53 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , further comprising: a catalytic shift reactor configured to receive a variable portion of the combusted gas from the first power take-off device, and wherein the catalytic shift reactor is capable of converting the variable portion of the combusted gas to hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
42 words
A power generation system according to claim 39 , further comprising: a separator configured to receive the variable portion of the combusted gas from the catalytic shift reactor and capable of separating carbon dioxide from the variable portion of the combusted gas.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
51 words
A power generation system according to claim 23 , further comprising: a low pressure reheater configured to receive and combust a variable portion of the reheated gas from the second power take-off device to form a twice reheated gas and discharge the twice reheated gas to a third power take-off device.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
295 words
A power generation system, comprising: a gas generator configured to receive a carbonaceous fuel substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur, receive an oxidizing fluid substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur, and combust the carbonaceous fuel with the oxidizing fluid to produce a combusted gas; a regulation system configured to regulate the flow of the oxidizing fluid into the gas generator at a stoichiometric rate relative to the carbonaceous fuel; a first power take-off device configured to receive the combusted gas from the gas generator; a first catalytic shift reactor configured to receive a first variable portion of the combusted gas from the first power take-off device; a first reheater configured to receive and combust a second variable portion of the combusted gas from the first power take-off device with the oxidizing fluid to form a reheated gas; a second power take-off device configured to receive the reheated gas from the first reheater; a second catalytic shift reactor configured to receive a first variable portion of the reheated gas from the second power take-off device; a second reheater configured to receive and combust a second variable portion of the reheated gas from the second power take-off device with the oxidizing fluid to form a twice reheated gas; a third power take-off device configured to receive the twice reheated gas from the second reheater; a third catalytic shift reactor configured to receive the twice reheated gas from the third power take-off device; and at least one separator, configured to receive the first variable portion of the combusted gas, the first variable portion of the reheated gas, and the twice reheated gas and capable of separating carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and water from the combusted gas, the first variable portion of the reheated gas, and the twice reheated gas.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
295 words
A power generation system, comprising: a gas generator configured to receive a carbonaceous fuel substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur, receive an oxidizing fluid substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur, and combust the carbonaceous fuel with the oxidizing fluid to produce a combusted gas; a regulation system configured to regulate the flow of the oxidizing fluid into the gas generator at a stoichiometric rate relative to the carbonaceous fuel; a first power take-off device configured to receive the combusted gas from the gas generator; a first catalytic shift reactor configured to receive a first variable portion of the combusted gas from the first power take-off device; a first reheater configured to receive and combust a second variable portion of the combusted gas from the first power take-off device with the oxidizing fluid to form a reheated gas; a second power take-off device configured to receive the reheated gas from the first reheater; a second catalytic shift reactor configured to receive a first variable portion of the reheated gas from the second power take-off device; a second reheater configured to receive and combust a second variable portion of the reheated gas from the second power take-off device with the oxidizing fluid to form a twice reheated gas; a third power take-off device configured to receive the twice reheated gas from the second reheater; a third catalytic shift reactor configured to receive the twice reheated gas from the third power take-off device; and at least one separator, configured to receive the first variable portion of the combusted gas, the first variable portion of the reheated gas, and the twice reheated gas and capable of separating carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and water from the combusted gas, the first variable portion of the reheated gas, and the twice reheated gas.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
79 words
A power generation system according to claim 42 , further comprising a source of the carbonaceous fuel substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur and a source of the oxidizing fluid substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur, wherein the source of the carbonaceous fuel is configured to supply the carbonaceous fuel to the gas generator and the source of the oxidizing fluid is configured to supply the oxidizing fluid to the gas generator, the first reheater, and the second reheater.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
25 words
A power generation system according to claim 42 , further comprising at least one generator coupled to the first, second, and third power take-off devices.
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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) | 2007-08-17 | 2008-02-16 | 2008-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-08-17 | 2012-02-16 | 2012-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-08-17 | 2016-02-16 | 2016-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |