Patent Application
20240410301
The present invention deals with an installation for producing electricity and heat, the installation comprising a gas turbine unit, for example a CCGT (Combined Cycle Gas Turbine), able to produce said electricity and heat.
The invention also deals with a corresponding process for producing electricity and heat.
Such an installation performs well in terms of electricity and heat production, particularly for internal or local users, but also for external users, such as district heating and local, regional or national electricity grids.
However, such an installation consumes fuel, for example natural gas, and produces exhausts containing CO2 as well as some pollutants. There are techniques for capturing and sequestrating fatal CO2, and for filtering pollutants, but they are complex, and are rather costly. There is a growing need for reducing CO2 emissions and fuel consumption, the latter naturally contributing to the former.
Integration of a photovoltaic unit in industrial installation is known for both reducing fuel conception and CO2 emissions for electricity generation, as well as capital expenditures. Using a photovoltaic unit may allow a significant reduction of the gas turbine average load, or even a reduction of the number of gas turbines installed.
However, this also reduces the amount of recoverable waste heat, and results in a heat production reduction. In order to avoid a heat shortage, additional combustion of hydrocarbon fuel is performed, by firing additional boilers or using post-firing so as to meet the heat needs. This of course increases CO2 emissions and fuel consumption again, and reduces the benefits of the photovoltaic unit.
An aim of the invention is to solve or improve the above issues, in particular to provide an installation for producing electricity and heat comprising a gas turbine unit, with reduced CO2 emissions on average.
To this end, the invention proposes an installation for producing electricity and heat, the installation comprising a gas turbine unit, a photovoltaic unit and a solar thermal unit, the installation being configured for switching at least between:
In other embodiments, the installation comprises one or several of the following features, taken in isolation or any technically feasible combination:
The invention also deals with a process for producing electricity and heat comprising the following steps:
The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which
An installation 10 according to the invention will now be described with reference to
The installation 10 is adapted for producing electricity 12 and heat 14.
In the example, the installation 10 comprises a production facility 16 adapted for producing said electricity 12 and heat 14, and local users 18 of said electricity and heat. The installation 10 is advantageously adapted for exporting at least part of the electricity 12 to a local, regional or national grid 20. The installation 10 is also advantageously adapted for delivering at least part of the heat 14 to one or several external users 22, such as a district heating system.
The installation 10 is for example also adapted to receive electricity from said local, regional or national grid 20.
The split between the production facility 16 and the users 18 in the installation 10 is somewhat “artificial” here, as some of the users 18 could be considered as part of the production facility 16 itself. In other words, at least some of the local users 18 are internal users of the production facility.
The users 18 advantageously comprise one or several electricity user(s) 24 and one or several heat user(s) 26.
For example, said one or several heat user(s) 26 comprise(s) one or several users among:
For example, said one or several electricity user(s) 24 comprise(s) one or several users among:
Advantageously, some of said one or several heat user(s) 26 and some of said one or several electricity user(s) 24 altogether form a carbon capture, utilization and sequestration unit 28, and an enhanced oil recovery unit 30 of the installation 10.
Said carbon capture, utilization and sequestration unit 28 and enhanced oil recovery unit 30 are adapted for receiving at least part of said heat 14 and at least part of said electricity 12 as utilities. Said carbon capture, utilization and sequestration unit 28 and enhanced oil recovery unit 30 are for example designed for receiving exhausts and low temperature gas produced by the production facility 16 and symbolized by an exit flux 32 in
The production facility 16 comprises a gas turbine unit 34, a photovoltaic unit 36 and a solar thermal unit 38.
Advantageously, the production facility 16 further comprises a thermal storage unit 40 adapted for selectively receiving heat from or providing heat to the gas turbine unit 34, and for selectively receiving heat from and providing heat to the solar thermal unit 38. Advantageously, the production facility 16 also comprises an electricity storage unit 42, for example comprising batteries (not represented), and adapted for selectively storing electricity from the gas turbine unit 34 and from the photovoltaic unit 36.
The production facility 16 is configured for switching at least between a first operation mode, in which said electricity 12 and said heat 14 are only produced by the gas turbine unit 34, a second operation mode in which said electricity 12 and said heat 14 are produced by the gas turbine unit 34, the photovoltaic unit 36 and the solar thermal unit 38, and a third operation mode, in which said electricity 12 and said heat 14 are only produced by the photovoltaic unit 36 and the solar thermal unit 38.
The production facility 16 may also include an electrical heater (not represented) in order to convert electricity into heat, so as to gain flexibility.
The thermal storage 40 and/or the electricity storage unit 42 are advantageously used to manage intermittency or for peak shifting supply, or for optimizing the efficiency of the electricity and heat supply from the gas turbine unit 34. The thermal storage unit 40 may comprise one or several of the following elements (not represented):
The gas turbine unit 34 for example comprises a gas turbine 44, a heat recovery steam generator 46 (HRSG), and a steam turbine 48. Advantageously, the gas turbine unit 34 further comprises a boiler 50, and a post firing system 52 within the heat recovery steam generator 46.
As a variant, the gas turbine unit 34 may comprise several gas turbines and/or several steam turbines.
The steam turbine 48 may further comprise a bypass system 54.
The photovoltaic unit 36 comprises photovoltaic modules, inverters . . . (all these elements are just symbolized in
For example, the photovoltaic modules define a general direction D, advantageously a north-south line. For example, the photovoltaic modules points at the south if the installation is located in the northern hemisphere.
The solar thermal unit 38 comprises solar collectors, piping for distribution and collection of a fluid to collect the heat, heat exchangers, pumps, and support for the solar collectors (all these elements are just symbolized in
The solar thermal unit 38 for example comprises parabolic troughs collectors, flat panel collectors, evacuated tube collectors, high-vacuum flat panel collectors, and/or linear Fresnel collectors, and/or a solar tower collection system (symbolized in
The solar thermal unit 38 may include various types of solar collectors depending on the temperature(s) at which the heat users 26 need the heat 14.
For example, the solar collectors of the solar thermal unit 38 define a general direction which defines an angle α with the general direction D defined by the photovoltaic modules, the solar collectors being oriented on the east side from the general direction D. Advantageously, the angle α is comprised between 1° and 90°, for example between 5° and 45°.
This advantageously allows the solar thermal unit 38 to warm-up before switching from the first operation mode to the second or third operation modes in order to allow heat production to occur synchronously with the photovoltaic unit output despite the former's inherent latency.
The operation of the installation 10 will now be described, which also illustrates a process according to the invention.
The installation 10 produces said electricity 12 for the users 18 and advantageously the grid 20, or may sometimes receive electricity from said grid. The installation 10 also produces said heat 14 for the users 18, and advantageously for the external users 22.
In the example, among the users 18, the carbon capture, utilization and sequestration unit 28 and the enhanced oil recovery unit receive part of said heat 14 and part of said electricity 12.
Depending in particular on weather conditions, especially the amount of sun, the installation is switched between at least the first, the second and the third operational modes.
In the first operation mode, the gas turbine unit 34 produces all of said electricity 12 and heat 14. The photovoltaic unit 36 and the solar thermal unit 38 are off.
The first mode is typically used when the photovoltaic unit 36 and the solar thermal unit 38 are not available or not able to run, for example at night, or if there is not enough sun.
The gas turbine 44 produces a first portion 46 of said electricity 12, and exhaust gases 58. The heat recovery steam generator 46 receives said exhaust gases 58 and produces steam 60. Additionally or alternatively, a waste heat recovery unit may recover heat employing a liquid-phase heat transfer fluid such as water or oil. If needed, the post firing system 52 allows increasing the amount of said steam 60.
The steam turbine 48 receives at least said steam 60 produced by the heat recovery steam generator 46, and produces a second portion 62 of said electricity 12, and said heat 14. If needed, the boiler 50 produces additional steam 64, the steam turbine 48 receiving said additional steam.
If needed, the bypass system 54 allows said steam 60 produced by the heat recovery steam generator 46 to bypass the steam turbine 48. The by-passed steam is for example sent to the steam users 26. Alternatively or additionally, a waste heat recovery unit may supply heat to the heat users 26.
In order to provide flexibility, the thermal storage unit 40 may receive heat from or provide heat to the gas turbine unit 34. Similarly, the electricity storage unit 42 selectively stores electricity from the gas turbine unit or releases electricity as part of said electricity 12.
Only the differences between the second mode and the first mode will now be described.
In the second operation mode, the gas turbine unit 34 produces only part of said electricity 12 and the photovoltaic unit 36 produces a rest 66 of said electricity. Said electricity 12 is a sum of the first portion 56, the second portion 62 and said rest 66.
The gas turbine unit 34 produces part of said heat 14 and the solar thermal unit 38 produces a rest 68 of said heat 14. Said rest 68 is for example low pressure steam added to steam coming from the steam turbine 48.
As a variant, waste heat from the gas turbine 44 is processed by a waste heat recovery unit, and heat from the solar thermal unit 38 is provided as sensible heat in a liquid-phase heat transfer fluid (not represented).
The second mode is typically used when the photovoltaic unit 36 and the solar thermal unit 38 are not able to provide all the electricity 12 and heat 14, for example because the requested amounts are large, and/or there is not enough sun.
As a variant, the gas turbine unit 34 produces all of said heat 14, and the solar thermal unit 38 provides heat 70 to the gas turbine unit 34. Said heat 70 is for example steam processed by the steam turbine 48.
In order to provide flexibility, the thermal storage unit 40 may receive heat from or provide heat to the solar thermal unit 38. Similarly, the electricity storage unit 42 selectively stores electricity from the photovoltaic unit 36 or releases electricity as part of said electricity 12.
The third mode will now be described.
The third mode is typically used when the photovoltaic unit 36 and the solar thermal unit 38 are able, directly or indirectly, to provide all the electricity 12 and heat 14 requested by the users 18 taking into account the grid 20, for example because the requested amounts are small, and/or there is a lot of sun.
The whole gas turbine unit 34 may be off. The photovoltaic unit 36 produces all of said electricity 12. Advantageously, the grid 20 may provide additional electricity to the installation 10, or receive electricity from it.
The solar thermal unit 38 produces all of said heat 14, for example hot water or low pressure steam.
As a variant, the gas turbine 48 is not off and processes steam coming from the solar thermal unit 38. Said heat 14 may come partly or entirely from the steam turbine 48. Preferably, all fossil fuel consuming elements of the gas turbine unit 34 are off.
In this mode, the thermal storage unit 40 may also receive heat from or provide heat to the solar thermal unit 38, and the electricity storage unit 42 may store electricity from the photovoltaic unit 36 or release electricity.
Thanks to the above features, the installation 10 can produce the electricity 12 and the heat 14, either using the gas turbine unit 34 in the first operation mode, or using the gas turbine unit 34, the photovoltaic unit 36 and the solar thermal unit 38 in the second operation mode, or only the photovoltaic unit 36 and the solar thermal unit 38 in the third operation mode.
In the second operation mode, the load of the gas turbine 44 is reduced and the amount of exhaust gases 58 is reduced. However, this does not create a lack of heat for the users 18, or the lack of heat is smaller, thanks to the heat provided by the solar thermal unit 38. So there is no need, or a smaller need, for firing the additional boiler 50 or the post firing 52. As a result, less CO2 is released by the installation 10.
In the third operation mode, there are no exhaust gases 58 at all. However, this does not create a lack of heat for the users 18, or the lack of heat is smaller, thanks to the heat provided by the solar thermal unit 38. So there is no need, or a smaller need, for firing the additional boiler 50. As a result, less CO2 is emitted. The production capacities of the photovoltaic unit 36 and the solar thermal unit 38 are for example adjusted according to the needs of the local users 18, and advantageously to a CO2 emission reduction target.
By definition, the potential lack of heat, due to running the photovoltaic unit 36 and having to reduce or shut down the gas turbine 44, occurs when there is sun. Also by definition, the solar thermal unit 18 is able to produce heat when there is sun. There is a true synergy between these two units, the latter being able to compensate the lack of heat entailed by the former, leading to reduced amounts of CO2 production.
Thanks to the optional thermal storage unit 40 and electricity storage unit 42, the installation 10 also provides a time flexibility, allowing electricity and heat production not to be strictly equal to actual requested levels.
In the following chart, we compare the performance of the installation 10 (case 3, with a photovoltaic unit nominal power of 100 MW and a solar thermal unit nominal power of 42 MW), with a similar installation without the solar thermal unit 38 (case 2), and with a similar installation without the solar thermal unit 38 and without the photovoltaic unit 36 (case 1):
It appears that case 2 allows reducing CO2 emissions by 85.0 kt/y (kilotons per year) thanks to the photovoltaic unit 36 requesting 150 ha (hectare). However, case 3 allows reducing CO2 emissions by 101.6 kt/y, thanks to a solar thermal unit requesting 166 ha in the example. Relative to the footprint, case 3 allows a reduction of 0.61 kt/yr/ha (kilotons per year per hectare), while case 2 only allows 0.57 kt/yr/ha. In this example, the invention (case 3) not only reduces CO2 emissions in absolute terms, but also relative to the surface that is needed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21306057.7 | Jul 2021 | EP | regional |
The present application is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2022/071189 filed Jul. 28, 2022, which claims priority of European Patent Application No. 21306057.7 filed Jul. 29, 2021. The entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/071189 | 7/28/2022 | WO |
