IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,603,988
Granted Patent B2
US 11,603,988 · App. 17/386,483 · Granted Mar 14, 2023

Humid air turbine power, water extraction, and refrigeration cycle

Inventor: William E. Lear (Gainesville, FL)
Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
F22B1/1815F02C7/08Y02E20/14Y02P80/15
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,603,988
App. No.
17/386,483
Granted
Mar 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various embodiments relate to combined heat and power (CHP) systems. A CHP system can include a turbine system, a turbocharger system, and a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system can receive combustion products from the turbine system and compressed air from the turbocharger system. The refrigeration system can cool the combustion products and the compressed air to generate a cooled combustion product mixture that is provided to the turbine system.

Claims (26)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a turbine system that comprises a combustor, the combustor being configured to generate combustion products;

a refrigeration system that comprises a cold gas heat exchanger, the refrigeration system receiving the combustion products from the turbine system;

a warm gas heat exchanger that receives a mixture of the combustion products and air, the warm gas heat exchanger being configured to absorb heat from the mixture of the combustion products and air; and

the cold gas heat exchanger generates water from the mixture of the combustion products and air provided by the warm gas heat exchanger.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration system comprises a hot gas heat exchanger that generates cooled combustion products by cooling the combustion products provided by the turbine system.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the warm gas heat exchanger receives the mixture of the combustion products and air, wherein the mixture of the combustion products and air comprises a mixture of the cooled combustion products from the hot gas heat exchanger and compressed air from a low pressure compressor of a turbocharger system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprises:

a pump of the refrigeration system that provides the water from the cold gas heat exchanger to the warm gas heat exchanger.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration system comprises a vapor absorption system.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a hot gas heat exchanger that generates steam from the water; and

wherein the combustor combusts a combination of the steam and the mixture of the combustion products and air to generate the combustion products, and the combustor provides the combustion products to a high pressure turbine.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the high pressure turbine is configured to drive a load and a high pressure compressor from the combustion products.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a turbocharger system that comprises a low pressure compressor; and

the low pressure compressor is driven by the combustion products provided to a low pressure turbine.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the low pressure compressor is configured to generate compressed air and mix the compressed air with the combustion products to create the mixture of the combustion products and air.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the compressed air is compressed by a factor of five.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the warm gas heat exchanger is configured to absorb heat from the mixture of the combustion products and air, and the warm gas heat exchanger applies the heat to the water.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the warm gas heat exchanger is configured to provide the mixture of the combustion products and air to the cold gas heat exchanger.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cold gas heat exchanger is configured to generate a chilled mixture of the combustion products and air by absorbing heat from the mixture of the combustion products and air provided by the warm gas heat exchanger.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the chilled mixture of the combustion products and air is provided from the cold gas heat exchanger to a high pressure compressor.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprises:

a hot gas heat exchanger that generates steam from the water; and

a recuperator that receives the steam from the hot gas heat exchanger, wherein the mixture of the combustion products and air are provided from the recuperator to the low pressure turbine associated with the turbine system and to the hot gas heat exchanger.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2023
From: LEAR, WILLIAM E.
To: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 062675/0840 →
Continuity (4)
Division 16284152 · Feb 25, 2019
Division 14940907 · Nov 13, 2015
Provisional Application 62079616 · Nov 14, 2014
Related Publication 20210356117A1 · Nov 18, 2021