IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,266,940
Granted Patent B2
US 7,266,940 · App. 11/178,165 · Granted Sep 11, 2007

Systems and methods for power generation with carbon dioxide isolation

Assignee: General Electric Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,266,940
App. No.
11/178,165
Granted
Sep 11, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power generation system and method includes a first gas turbine system comprising a first combustion chamber configured to combust a first fuel stream of primarily hydrogen that is substantially free of carbon-based fuels. The first gas turbine system also includes a first compressor configured to supply a first portion of compressed oxidant to the first combustion chamber and a first turbine configured to receive a first discharge from the first combustion chamber and generate a first exhaust and electrical energy. The power generation system further includes a second gas turbine system comprising a second combustion chamber configured to combust a second fuel stream to generate a second discharge. The first compressor of the first gas turbine system is configured to supply a second portion of compressed oxidant to the second combustion chamber. The second turbine system also includes a second turbine configured to receive the second discharge from the second combustion chamber to generate a second exhaust and electrical energy and a second compressor configured to receive the second discharge comprising carbon dioxide. The second compressor is also configured to discharge a recycle stream to the second combustion chamber and a split stream to a separator system adapted to recover carbon dioxide.

Claims (38)

1. A power generation system comprising:

a first gas turbine system comprising:

a first combustion chamber configured to combust a first fuel stream of primarily hydrogen that is substantially free of carbon-based fuels;

a first compressor configured to supply a first portion of compressed oxidant to the first combustion chamber; and

a first turbine configured to receive a first discharge from the first combustion chamber and generate a first exhaust and electrical energy; and

a second gas turbine system comprising:

a second combustion chamber configured to combust a second fuel stream to generate a second discharge, wherein the first compressor of the first gas turbine system is configured to supply a second portion of compressed oxidant to the second combustion chamber; and

a second turbine configured to receive the second discharge from the second combustion chamber to generate a second exhaust and electrical energy; and

a second compressor configured to receive the second discharge comprising carbon dioxide and to discharge a recycle stream to the second combustion chamber and a split stream to a separator system adapted to recover carbon dioxide.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the separator system comprises a heat exchanger configured to recover heat from the split stream and a carbon dioxide separator congifured to generate a carbon dioxide rich stream and a carbon dioxide lean stream.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the the heat exchanger comprises a cross-exchanger configured to exrecover heat from the split stream in exchange with the carbon dioxide lean stream from the carbon dioxide separator.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the carbon dioxide separator comprises a membrane unit.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first heat recovery steam generator configured to recover heat from the first exhaust and generate a first portion of steam and a second heat recovery steam generator configured to recover heat from the second exhaust and generate a second portion of steam.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a hydrogen generation system.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the hydrogen generation system comprises a reforming zone configured to reform fossil-based fuels to generate a reformate comprising hydrogen.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the hydrogen generation system further comprises a heat exchanger and a hydrogen separator.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the hydrogen separator employs pressure swing adsorption.

10. A power generation system comprising:

a first turbine system configured to combust a hyrdogen-rich stream substantially free of carbon-based fuels and to discharge an exhaust substantially free of carbon dioxide; and

a second turbine system configured to combust carbon-based fuels and to discharge a compressed stream rich in carbon dioxide to a carbon dioxide separator adapted to recover the carbon dioxide;

wherein a compressor in the first turbine system is configured to supply air to the first turbine system and the second turbine system;

wherein the second turbine system is configured to recycle its exhaust stream internally within the second turbine system to concentrate carbon dioxide for feed to the carbon dioxide separator separator; and

wherein the power generation system does not discharge substantial amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the carbon-based fuels comprise natural gas.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a hydrogen generation system configured to a reform carbon-based fuels, wherein the hydrogen generation system is adapted to discharge a hydrogen-rich stream to the first turbine system and an off gas comprising carbon dioxide to a compressor in the second turbine system.

13. A method comprising:

combusting hydrogen and a first portion of compressed oxidant in a first turbine system;

discharge a first exhaust from the first turbine system that is substantially free of carbon dioxide;

introducing a second portion of compressed air from the first turbine system to a second turbine system;

combusting carbon-based compounds in the second turbine system and generating a second exhaust comprising carbon dioxide;

internally recycling within the second turbine system the second exhaust of the second turbine system to concentrate carbon dioxide within the second turbine system; and

recovering the carbon dioxide from the second exhaust in a carbon dioxide separator.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising generating the hydrogen for the combustion in the first turbine system.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein generating the hydrogen comprises reforming a carbon-based fuel.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising substantially isolating the hydrogen and generating an off gas.

17. The method of claim 16 , comprising combusting the off gas in a burner to supply heat for the reforming process, wherein combusting of the off gas generates reformer exhaust stream comprising carbon dioxide.

18. The method of claim 17 , comprising separating the carbon dioxide from the reformer exhaust stream in the carbon dioxide separator.

19. The method of claim 13 , comprising measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide in the recycled second exhaust within the second turbine system.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2005
From: BALAN, CHELLAPPA; BOWMAN, MICHAEL JOHN; HIBSHMAN, JOELL RANDOLPH; EVULET, ANDREI TRISTAN; MOLAISON, JENNIFER LYNN
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 016772/0035 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070006592A1 · Jan 11, 2007