Patent Application
20100071878
This disclosure generally relates to cooling systems with system exhaust.
In various applications, there may be by-product or waste streams produced which do not have use for the primary objective of the applications. For example, in some applications emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, may be a rising concern. As such, various techniques for reduction and/or sequestration of greenhouse gases have been proposed. For example, use of captured carbon dioxide for food applications (e.g., liquid carbon dioxide or “dry ice”), natural resource extraction, and other uses have been proposed in conceptual designs.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods for use of by-product and/or waste streams.
This disclosure provides a method for operating a system comprising a number of fluid streams and a number of components including a device. The method comprises separating a cooling fluid from an exhaust stream discharged from a device and transferring heat to the cooling fluid from at least one of the number of fluid streams, at least one of the number of components, or both.
This disclosure also provides a system comprising a number of fluid streams, a number of components including a device, a number of components including a device comprising an exhaust for discharging an exhaust stream, a separator for separating a cooling fluid from the exhaust stream, and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger transfers heat to the cooling fluid from at least one of the number of fluid streams, at least one of the number of components, or both.
This disclosure also provides a system comprising a number of fluid streams, a number of components including a device, a number of components including a device comprising an exhaust for discharging an exhaust stream, a separator for separating a cooling fluid from the exhaust stream, and at least one fluid stream inlet. The at least one fluid stream inlet is for adding the cooling fluid to at least one of the number of fluid streams, at least one of the number of components, or both.
Other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings, and claims.
As summarized above this disclosure encompasses a method and systems comprising a number of fluid steams and a number of components. Embodiments of the method and embodiments of the systems are described below and illustrated in
In alternate embodiments, other fluid streams 14 may comprise, but are not limited to, inlet air streams, fuel streams, or the like. In some embodiments, the components 16 may comprise, but is not limited to, turbine buckets, rotors, stators, turbine air foils, turbine nozzles, heat exchangers, air compressors, burners, combustors, output shafts, or the like.
The exhaust stream 18 is directed to a separator 20 for separating a cooling fluid 22 from the exhaust stream. In certain embodiments, the separator 20 may be, but is not limited to, a cooling fluid adsorber/desorber, a condenser, a cooler, or the like. In the embodiment of
The carbon dioxide 22 temperature, pressure, and/or phase of is then changed or adjusted in the cooling fluid modifying apparatus 30. In the embodiment of
In alternate embodiments, the cooling fluid 22 may have its temperature and/or pressure lowered. In particular embodiments, the phase of the cooling fluid 22 may be changed from a gas to a liquid or a solid. In other embodiments, the cooling fluid 22 may have its temperature, pressure, and/or phase modified to facilitate optimal cooling of a fluid stream 14 or a component 16. It should be understood, however, that a person of ordinary skill in the art would be able to select the appropriate temperature, pressure, and phase of the cooling fluid 22 to cool a fluid stream 14 or a component 16 (e.g., a temperature lower than the fluid stream or component such that heat transfers to the cooling fluid 22). For example, in some embodiments, the carbon dioxide 22 may be used to transfer heat from incoming air feed to a gas turbine 12 inlet apparatus to increase the air's density and associated mass flow, thereby increasing the gas turbine 12 output.
In
As shown in
The gas turbine system 10 additionally includes other components 16, such as a heat exchanger 32 for cooling or heating a fuel stream or steam generation, for example, using the carbon dioxide 22. After passing through the heat exchanger 32, the carbon dioxide 22 is again compressed in the compressor 30 to be stored in the storage container 28.
The present disclosure also provides for a method for operating a system comprising a number of fluid streams and a number of components including a device. The method comprising separating a cooling fluid from an exhaust stream discharged from the device and transferring heat to the cooling fluid from at least one of the number of fluid streams, at least one of the number of components, or both. According to certain embodiments, the system, fluid streams, components, devices, cooling fluid, and exhaust stream may be similar to the systems, fluid streams, components, devices, cooling fluids, and exhaust streams described above.
According to some embodiments, the method may further comprise sequestering at least a portion of the cooling fluid from an environment outside the system. According to other embodiments, the method may further comprise storing the cooling fluid.
According to certain embodiments, the method may further comprise, before the step of transferring heat, changing the temperature, the pressure, the phase or combinations thereof of the cooling fluid. In particular embodiments, the step of changing comprises lowering the temperature, the pressure, or both of the cooling fluid. In still other embodiments, the step of transferring heat comprises adding the cooling fluid to least one of the number of fluid streams. In some embodiments, the step of transferring heat comprises passing the cooling fluid into a heat exchanger in thermal communication with at least one of the number of fluid streams, at least one of the number of components, or both.
In particular embodiments, where the device comprises a gas turbine and the cooling fluid comprises carbon dioxide, the method further comprises lowering the temperature of the carbon dioxide from a first temperature to a second temperature. It should be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that in other embodiments, the cooling fluid may have its temperature lowered to any temperature for use as a cooling fluid in a particular system.
Without being bound by theory, it is believed that embodiments of the methods and systems of the present disclosure cool fluid streams and components of the systems, such as gas turbine systems, so as to optimize its operation. In certain embodiments, such as gas turbine systems, carbon dioxide can be used as a cooling fluid before it is stored or otherwise disposed of, thereby leveraging the carbon dioxide's properties before it is stored, maximizing the system's resources, and enhancing the device operation to offset efficiency penalties incurred by carbon dioxide sequestration.
It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to the preferred embodiments of the present application and that numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the generally spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof.
