U.S. patent application number 10/351712 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-29 for heat extraction system for cooling power transformer.
Invention is credited to Longardner, Robert L..
Application Number | 20040144113 10/351712 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32735837 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040144113 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Longardner, Robert L. |
July 29, 2004 |
Heat extraction system for cooling power transformer
Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for improving
efficiency of power transformers by capturing heat energy that is
produced by air breathing heat engine (ABHE) or a feed water heater
to produce chillant. The systems of the present invention may be
used with step-down or step-up power transformers. A heat energy
dissipation device is in communication with the transformer and may
recover heat energy from the ABHE and transformer. A refrigeration
system is coupled to the dissipation device to use recovered heat
energy to produce chillant which is supplied to the transformer and
ABHE. The system may also include a gas compressor and
post-compression and pre-compression heat exchangers; steam turbine
engines, and power generators.
Inventors: |
Longardner, Robert L.;
(Indianapolis, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & DANIELS
300 NORTH MERIDIAN STREET
SUITE 2700
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204-1782
US
|
Family ID: |
32735837 |
Appl. No.: |
10/351712 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/238.3 ;
62/259.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02C 7/143 20130101;
F02C 6/18 20130101; F25B 27/02 20130101; F02C 7/141 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/238.3 ;
062/259.2 |
International
Class: |
F25B 027/00; F25D
023/12 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for improving efficiency of air breathing heat engines
(ABHE) and power transformers comprising: a power transformer; a
heat energy dissipation device in communication with said power
transformer and adapted to recover heat energy from the ABHE and
said power transformer; and a refrigeration system operably coupled
to said dissipation device using recovered heat energy to produce a
chillant, said refrigeration system supplying the chillant to said
power transformer and the ABHE.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said dissipation device includes
a transformer heat exchanger.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein said transformer heat exchanger
includes a liquid to liquid heat exchanger.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein said transformer heat exchanger
includes a liquid to gas heat exchanger.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said refrigeration system
includes an absorption chiller, said chiller employing the
recovered heat energy to energize a staged process of
concentration, condensation, evaporation and absorption to produce
the chillant for cooling said power transformer.
6. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a gas compressor
having a gas compression area; and a post-compression heat
exchanger disposed within said gas compressor, and operably
associated with said gas compression area to recover heat energy
released when compressed gas is produced by said gas compressor,
said post-compression heat exchanger operably coupled with said
refrigeration system, said refrigeration system using the recovered
heat energy to produce the chillant.
7. The system of claim 6 further comprising: a pre-compression heat
exchanger for cooling pre-compression gas operably coupled with
said refrigeration system, said pre-compression heat exchanger
utilizing the chillant produced by said refrigeration system for
cooling pre-compression gas simultaneously with compression of gas
in said gas compressor.
8. The system of claim 6 wherein said refrigeration system includes
an absorption chiller, said chiller employing the recovered heat
energy to energize a staged process of concentration, condensation,
evaporation and absorption to produce the chillant.
9. The system of claim 6 further comprising: an air breathing heat
engine operably coupled to said gas compressor, said air breathing
heat engine using the condensed gas from said gas compressor in a
combustion to produce heat energy; a post-combustion heat exchanger
operably coupled to said air breathing heat engine and arranged to
recover the heat energy produced by said air breathing heat engine,
said refrigeration system operably coupled with said
post-combustion heat exchanger, said refrigeration system using the
recovered heat energy for producing the chillant.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein said air breathing heat engine
includes a shaft, and a power generator drivingly connected to said
shaft to actuate said power generator.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein said refrigeration system
includes an absorption chiller, said chiller employing the
recovered heat energy to energize a staged process of
concentration, condensation, evaporation and absorption to provide
the chillant.
12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a steam turbine
generating heat energy, said steam turbine connected to and in
communication with said refrigeration system, enabling the heat
energy to be used by said refrigeration system for producing the
chillant.
13. A system for improving a power transformer efficiency which is
impacted by heat losses, said system comprising: a power
transformer; a transformer heat exchanger for dissipating heat
energy operably coupled with said power transformer; a heat
generating component generating additional heat energy; a second
heat exchanger for recovering additional heat energy operably
coupled with said heat generating component; and a refrigeration
system operably coupled with said transformer heat exchanger and
said second heat exchanger, said refrigeration system utilizing the
heat energy in a process for producing a chillant, the chillant
used for cooling said power transformer.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein said heat generating component
is at least one of a gas compressor, an air breathing heat engine
(ABHE), and a steam turbine.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein said refrigeration system
includes an absorption chiller, said chiller employing the heat
energy to energize a staged process of concentration, condensation,
evaporation and absorption to provide the chillant.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of said
transformer heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger includes
a liquid to liquid heat exchanger.
17. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of said
transformer heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger includes
a liquid to gas heat exchanger.
18. A method for controlling the internal temperature of a power
transformer comprising the steps of: (a) providing a power
transformer unit, a heat exchanger operably coupled with the power
transformer, and a refrigeration system operably coupled with the
heat exchanger; (b) dissipating heat energy produced by the power
transformer in the heat exchanger; (c) transferring the heat energy
to the refrigeration system; (d) producing chillant in the
refrigeration system using the heat energy; and (e) transferring
the chillant to the power transformer for cooling the power
transformer.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of: (f)
providing a heat generating component, and a second heat exchanger
for recovering additional heat energy produced by the heat
generating component; (g) recovering the additional heat energy in
the second heat exchanger; (h) transferring the additional heat
energy to the refrigeration system; (i) producing additional
chillant in the refrigeration system using additional heat energy;
and (j) transferring the additional chillant to the power
transformer for cooling the power transformer.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of: (k)
transferring the additional chillant to the heat generating
component for cooling within the heat generating component.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein the heat generating component
of said (k) transferring step includes at least one of a gas
compressor, an air breathing heat engine (ABHE) and a steam
turbine.
22. The method of claim 18, wherein the refrigeration system of
said (a) providing step includes an absorption chiller, the chiller
employing the recovered heat energy to energize a staged process of
concentration, condensation, evaporation and absorption to provide
the chillant.
23. The method of claim 19, wherein the refrigeration system of
said (a) providing step includes an absorption chiller, said
chiller employing the recovered heat energy and additional heat
energy to energize a staged process of concentration, condensation,
evaporation and absorption to provide the chillant.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention.
[0002] The present invention relates to power transformers, which
may be step-up or step-down transformers.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The manufacturing of electricity begins at the power plant,
where natural gas, oil, coal or other fuels are burned in a boiler
producing steam under high pressure and/or in air breathing heat
engines (ABHE), which turns a turbine connected to a generator
having a large magnet surrounded by coiled copper wire. The turbine
causes the magnet to rotate inside the coils and generate
electricity by creating a current in each coil.
[0005] From the generator, the power is "stepped up" to a very high
voltage by a large power transformer for more economical
transmission over long distances to different substations. A
substation is comprised of electrical apparatus that generally
transforms the voltage to lower levels. From the substations the
power then travels to other distribution transformers. These
transformers again reduce the voltage to the 120-volt and 240-volt
levels required for appliances and equipment.
[0006] From the distribution transformers, the power is channeled
to distribution panels and home circuit breakers. It is at this
point that the power is divided up into several circuits that serve
different loads.
[0007] Generally, transformers are highly efficient and can deliver
practically the full power received in the primary coil to the
secondary coil. However, transformer losses, typically in the form
of heat, can reduce transformer efficiency, resulting in a
reduction of load that the transformer can serve. Examples of
transformer losses affected by heat and load which can be metered
are: copper loss, hyteresis loss, eddy current loss, iron loss,
no-load loss, and impedance loss. In addition, heat from
transformer losses can degrade the insulation of the transformer,
leading to reduced life of the transformer.
[0008] It is prudent to manage transformer losses to prevent
overheating. Known systems address the overheat problem of power
transformer by using fans or other cooling mechanisms such as
cooling oil baths or electric refrigeration systems. Traditionally,
the fans or the electric refrigeration systems utilize external
sources of energy, therefore, they are not very efficient.
[0009] Further improvements in power transformer systems are
needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The invention provides a system and method for improving the
inner workings of a power transformer and simultaneously
conditioning the intake air to an air breathing heat engine (ABHE)
as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,109 of the present inventor. The
inventive system also may modulate the heat from losses described
herein and provide for the `on-line` conditioning of the heat from
a power transformer.
[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system for
improving efficiency of power transformers includes a power
transformer, a device for dissipating the heat energy, and a
refrigeration system that uses the dissipated heat energy to
produce a chillant. The chillant is then re-circulated and used to
lower the temperature of the power transformer system. The device
for dissipating the heat energy may be a liquid to liquid heat
exchanger or a liquid to air heat exchanger. The refrigeration
system may be an absorption chiller that employs heat energy to
produce a chillant by energizing a staged process of concentration,
condensation, evaporation and absorption of a mixture of gas and
liquid.
[0012] In another embodiment, the system may further include a gas
compressor that generates heat energy during gas compression, and a
device for recovering the heat energy to supply to the
refrigeration system producing a chillate. The device for
recovering heat energy may include a post-compression heat
exchanger. The chillant from the refrigeration system is used in a
heat exchange process to condition the intake air to the
compressor. In this particular embodiment, the gas compressor may
further include a pre-compression heat exchanger, which also
receives the chillant from the refrigeration system and an
embodiment to provide chillant for reducing the heat related
transformer losses. The pre-compression heat exchanger serves to
cool the intake gas prior to the compression process, so that the
energy used for gas compression can be reduced.
[0013] In yet another embodiment, the system of the present
invention further includes an air breathing heat engine (ABHE)
operably coupled to the gas compressor, whereby the gas compressor
compresses air that flows through the ABHE. The compressed air is
mixed with fuel, and ignited to create a combustion force to run
the ABHE. At the same time, exhaust gas containing heat energy is
produced. The ABHE has a device for recovering the heat energy from
the exhaust gas. The device may be a post-combustion heat exchanger
located downstream of the combustion area. The heat exchanger
recovers heat energy from the exhaust gas by a heat exchange
process. The recovered heat energy is then transferred to the
refrigeration system for use in the production of chillant. The
post-combustion heat exchanger is embodied to provide heat energy
that can produce chillant from the refrigeration system to use in
the heat exchange process. In a specific embodiment of the present
invention, the ABHE may be connected, by a shaft, to a generator
for power generation. The combustion force generated in the ABHE is
used to drive the shaft, which in turn drives the generator.
[0014] In an alternative embodiment, the system of the present
invention includes a steam turbine, instead of the ABHE. The steam
turbine receives pressurized steam from a steam source, such as a
boiler. Once entering the steam turbine, the pressurized steam
expands with an output of power that can drive a shaft to actuate a
connected power generator. After complete expansion, the steam
flows into a downstream condenser to be condensed and cooled. The
steam changes to hot water carrying heat energy that can be
transferred to the refrigeration system. The refrigeration system
can use this additional heat energy for the production of chillant.
The steam turbine may provide hot water to a connected hot water
heater, which distributes hot water for various purposes.
[0015] One advantage of the invention is that it provides the
method for cooling the inner working of a transformer for all
atmospheric and load conditions while other directed chillate is
conditioning the ambient air stream to the ABHE which magnifies the
amount of electrical energy for retail by 20-30% when ambient
termperatures are around 95.degree. F. (35.degree. C.) compared to
the through-put for turbine ISO or transformer nameplate rating.
The chillate provides the means to protect the transformer against
the damage of temperature rise due to the heat gain in the inherent
losses.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of
this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more
apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by
reference to the following description of embodiments of the
invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the system of
the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a graph depicting rising transformer temperature
and showing a zone in which chilled oil is used to augment ambient
cooling;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a diagram of another embodiment of the present
invention, showing the heat generating section;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a diagram of an alternative embodiment of the
present invention, showing the heat generating section.
[0021] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent
embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not
necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in
order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. The
exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the
invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be
construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be
exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise form disclosed in
the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are
chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize
their teachings.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 1, system 10 for improving a power
transformer efficiency generally includes power transformer 20
generating heat through transformation losses such as heat due to
resistance flow of current, heat due to hysteresis, heat due to
eddy currents, and heat due to no-load. The efficiency of
transformer 10 can be calculated in terms of energy units (kilowatt
hour, Kwh):
Efficiency=Output/Input=Output (Kwh)/[Output (Kwh)+Heat loss
(Kwh)]
[0024] The voltage regulation of transformer 20 is the percentage
change in the output voltage from no-load to full-load. [%
Regulation=(no-load voltage-load voltage).times.100/load voltage)].
Ideally, there should be no change in the transformer's output
voltage from no-load to full-load. In such a case, the voltage
regulation is 0%. To get the best performance out of a transformer,
it is necessary to have the lowest possible voltage regulation.
[0025] Power transformer 20 may be any commercially available
transformer, such as any one of the common classes of transformers
listed in TABLE 1.
1TABLE 1 The most common classes of transformer THE MOST COMMON
CLASSES OF TRANSFORMER CLASS COOLING METHOD OA OUTSIDE-AIR
SELF-COOLED (BY CONVECTION) OA/FA OUTSIDE-AIR/FAN-AIR SELF-COOLED
OR FAN COOLED OA/FA/FA OUTSIDE-AIR W/2 FAN SELF-COOLED/FAN COOLED
COOLING SETS OA/FA/FOA OUTSIDE-AIR/FAN-AIR/FORCED (PUMPED) OIL
SELF-COOLED, FAN COOLED PUMPED OIL FOA FORCED OIL/FAN COOLED PUMPED
OIL WITH FANS AA AIR-AIR DRY TYPE (OR CAST INSULATION) SELF COOLED
(BY CONVECTION) AA/FA AIR-AIR/FAN-AIR IN DRY TYPE SELF-COOLED WITH
FANS
[0026] Transformer 20 may have transformer coil (not shown) that is
made of any suitable material such as copper wire. In an oil cooled
transformer where the hot spot temperature changes the heat of the
coil, for example from 95.degree. C. to 115.degree. C., the
resistance to current flow would be increased by: (115.degree.
C.-95.degree. C.=) 20.degree. C..times.43%/100.degree. C.=8.3%. The
increased resistance produces lower voltage.
[0027] By the theorem of Similar Triangles, calculations can be
made for comparing power and energy lost in transformer due to
increase in resistance within the secondary coil. For example (See
FIG. 2), by limiting the rise in the oil temperature an average of
126.degree. F. (52.degree. C.) to 221.degree. F. (105.degree.) when
ambient temperature is 95.degree. F. (35.degree. C.), and absolute
zero is 459.degree. F. (237.2.degree. C.) these losses are reduced
by 4.0% when compared to 248.degree. F. (120.degree. C.) hot spot
(See calculation below): 1 R 248 R 221 = 459 + 153 + 95 459 + 126 +
95 = 1.04
[0028] Similarly when ambient is 50.degree. F. (10.degree. C.) and
the oil temperature rise is limited to an average 110.degree. .F
(43.3.degree. C.), the resistance to current flow is decreased by
14.0% and the current flow could be increased by 14.0% when
compared to 248.degree. F. (120.degree. C.) hot spot (See
calculation below): 2 R 248 R 160 = 459 + 153 + 95 459 + 110 + 50 =
1.14
[0029] Power transformer 20 may have various built-in overload
capabilities, and existing cooling method as shown in TABLE 1. The
existing cooling method requires a supply of external energy. For
example, a cooling fan requires a connection to an outside
electrical source. The existing cooling method may be replaced or
complemented by system 10 of the present invention.
[0030] System 10 further includes device for dissipating heat
energy 30 in communication with power transformer 20. According to
FIG. 1, device for dissipating heat energy 30 includes heat
exchanger 31. Heat exchanger 31 may include elongated tube 29
defining interior space 32 and hollow coil 33 disposed within
interior space 32 and extending from inlet connection 41 along the
length of tube 29 to outlet connection 40. Medium line 24 has first
end 34 connected to power transformer 20, and second end 35 open
into interior space 32 at first end 36 of tube 29. First end 34 of
first medium line 24 is connected to power transformer 20 through
valve 50, which can open when the internal temperature of power
transformer 20 reaches a predetermined temperature, and can close
as the internal temperature of power transformer 20 drops below the
predetermined temperature. Medium return line 25 has a first end 43
open into interior space 32 at second end 37 of tube 29, and second
end 44 in communication with power transformer 20.
[0031] First chillant line 52 and first chillant return line 53 are
in communication with heat exchanger 31 and refrigeration system
60. First chillant line 52 has first end 55 connected to and in
communication with refrigeration system 60, and second end 54
connected to and in communication with hollow coil 33 at inlet
connection 41 of tube 29. First chillant return line 53 has first
end 57 connected to and in communication with hollow coil 33 at
outlet connection 40 of tube 29, and second end 56 connected to and
in communication with refrigeration system 60.
[0032] Refrigeration system 60 may include any suitable absorption
chiller or refrigeration generator available in the market.
Examples of absorption chillers and refrigeration generators that
can be used in system 10 are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,109,
the disclosure of which is herein fully incorporated by reference.
Generally, an absorption chiller or a refrigeration generator
employs heat energy to energize a staged process of concentration,
condensation, evaporation and absorption to provide a chillant for
cooling purposes. The chillant may be in a fluid form, such as
water or gas.
[0033] As depicted in FIG. 1, refrigeration system 60 produces
chillant 62 that is transferred through first chillant line 52 into
hollow coil 33 at inlet connection 41 of heat exchanger 31. At the
same time, heat energy from transformer losses is transferred to
medium 21, which may be an oil, water, a gas, or any other cooling
fluid that circulates inside power transformer 20. Medium 21
becomes heated medium 22 as the temperature rises. When the
temperature of heated medium 22 reaches a pre-determined
temperature, valve 50 opens to release heated medium 22 into medium
line 24. The ambient temperature may affect the temperature of
medium 21, but will not influence the operation of valve 50.
[0034] Heated medium 22 from medium line 24 enters interior space
32 of tube 29 at first end 36. While in tube 29, heat energy is
transferred to chillant 62 in hollow coil 33 by a heat transfer
process, resulting in cool medium 21, and heated chillant 64. The
initial temperature of chillant 62 may be about 50.degree. F.
(10.degree. C.). After the heat transfer process, the temperature
of heated chillant 64 may reach a about 80.degree. F. (29.4.degree.
C.). Cool medium 21 exits tube 29 from second end 37 and enters
medium return line 25 to travel back to power transformer 20. Cool
medium 21 circulates inside power transformer 20 to capture
additional heat energy released from power transformer 20.
Simultaneously, heat energy captured in heated chillant 64 is
transferred to refrigeration system 60 to energize a staged process
of concentration, condensation, evaporation and absorption to
produce chillant 62 having a sufficiently cool temperature.
[0035] In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
FIG. 3 in addition to all components of system 10 in FIG. 1, system
70 further includes gas compressor 72, and post-compression heat
exchanger 80 positioned downstream of gas compression area 75
within gas compressor 72. Post-compression heat exchanger 80 may
include sensible cooling coil 78 which receives chillant 62 from
refrigeration system 60. Sensible cooling coil 78 extends within
compressor 72. When gas is compressed, a certain amount of heat
energy is released. The heat energy is transferred to chillant 62
within sensible cooling coil 78 by a heat exchange process. As a
result, chillant 62 becomes heated chillant 64, which is
transferred back to refrigeration system 60. Refrigeration system
60 uses the heat energy in the staged process of concentration,
condensation, evaporation, and absorption to produce another
chillant 62, as described hereinabove.
[0036] System 70 further includes second chillant line 82, and
second chillant return line 83. Second chillant line 82 is
connected to and in communication with refrigerator system 60 and
post-compression heat exchanger 80. Second chillant line 82 may
have a first end 84 branching from first chillant line 52. First
end 84 and first chillant line 52 may form a T-position 85,
allowing chillant 62 produced by refrigeration system 60 to move in
two directions, one within first chillant line 52 toward heat
exchanger 31 (see FIGS. 1 and 3), another within second chillant
line 83 toward post-compression heat exchanger 80. Second end 88 of
chillant line 82 connects to first end 89 of sensible cooling coil
78.
[0037] Second chillant return line 83 is connected to and in
communication with post-compression heat exchanger 80 and
refrigeration system 60, allowing heated chillant 64 to be
transferred from post-compression heat exchanger 80 to
refrigeration system 60. Second chillant return line 83 has first
end 90 connected to second end 92 of sensible cooling coil 78.
Second end 91 of second chillant return line 83 may form a
T-position 86 with first chillant return line 53. Heated chillant
64 from first chillant return line 53 and second chillant return
line 83 combine at T position 86 before moving along chillant
return line 53 toward refrigeration system 60.
[0038] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), first end 84 of
second chillant line 82 may be in direct communication with
refrigeration system 60, without first joining first chillant line
52. Similarly, second end 91 of second chillant return line 83 may
be in direct communication with refrigeration system 60, without
first joining first chillant return line 53. In this specific
embodiment, chillant 62 from refrigeration 60 will be transferred
through a separate second chillant line 82 all the way to
post-compression heat exchanger 80. Likewise, heated chillant 64
from post-compression heat exchanger 80 will be transferred through
a separate second chillant return line 83 all the way to
refrigeration system 60.
[0039] As further shown in FIG. 3, system 70 may include
pre-compression heat exchanger 71 positioned within compressor 72
upstream of post-compression heat exchanger 80 for cooling the gas
that enters compressor 72 prior to or at the same time as gas
compression. Lowering the temperature of the gas, prior to or
simultaneously with the gas compression, reduces the energy
required to compress the gas.
[0040] Heat exchanger 71 may include air condition coil 74 in
communication with second chillant line 82 through extension line
94, and second chillant return line 83 through extension line 95.
Air condition coil 74 receives chillant 62 from refrigeration
system 60 through second chillant line 82 and extension line 94,
and returns heated chillant 64 to refrigeration system 60 through
extension line 95 and second chillant return line 83.
[0041] In operation, compressor 72 may be driven by any power
engine, such as a steam turbine engine, an electric motor, internal
combustion engine. Air supplied through gas intake 73 flows through
pre-compression heat exchanger 71, whereby heat energy in the air
is transferred by a heat exchange process into chillant 62
contained in air condition coil 74. The air is compressed in
compressor 72, releasing heat energy. The compressed air then
passes post-compression heat exchanger 80, and through compressed
gas line 76 to a place where the compressed air is to be used or
stored. Post-compression heat exchanger 80 recovers heat energy by
a process of heat exchange, wherein heat energy is transferred to
chillant 62 in sensible cooling coil 78, producing heated chillant
64. Heated chillant 64 from pre-compression heat exchanger 71
combined with that from post-compression heat exchanger 80 is
transferred to refrigeration system 60, which uses the combined
heat energy to produce chillant 62, in the same way as what
described herein above. Chillant 62 is circulated back to air
condition coil 74 and sensible cooling coil 78. In one example,
chillant 62 has a temperature of 42.degree. F. (5.6.degree. C.)
when it is supplied to sensible cooling coil 78 and air condition
coil 74, whereas, heated chillant 64 may have a temperature of
52.degree. F. (11.degree. C.) when heated chillant 64 returns to
refrigeration system 60.
[0042] In FIG. 3, system 70 further includes air breathing heat
engine (ABHE) 100. As is conventional, air breathing heat engine
100 includes combustor 101 and turbine 102 which utilizes
combustion force from combustor 101 to drive shaft 103. Shaft 103
is drivingly connected to a generator 106 for power generation.
[0043] Air breathing heat engine 100 is positioned downstream of
compressed gas line 76. Compressed air from compressor 72 is mixed
with injected fuel in combustor 101 and the air and fuel mixture is
ignited resulting in a combustion force that drives shaft 103 to
actuate generator 106. Exhaust gas 107 is produced as a result of
the combustion is ported via conduit 108 to a waste heat recovery
unit 111, having combustion heat exchanger 112 positioned within
flue 117 of heat recovery unit 111. Combustion heat exchanger 112
includes at least one chillant coil 113 receiving chillant 62 from
refrigeration system 60. As demonstrated in FIG. 3, combustion heat
exchanger 112 includes top chillant coil 114 stacked above bottom
chillant coil 115. Both top chillant coil 114 and bottom chillant
coil 115 are connected to and in communication with chillant supply
line 116 and chillant return line 118.
[0044] In operation, heat energy from exhaust gas 107 in waste
recovery unit 111 is captured in chillant 62 within top chillant
coil 114 and bottom chillant coil 115. Chillant 62 becomes heated
chillant 64, leaving waste recovery unit 111 through chillant
return line 118 to refrigeration system 60. The heat energy is used
by refrigeration system 60 to produce chillant 62, as described
above. Chillant 62 circulates back to top chillant coil 114 and
bottom chillant coil 115 via chillant supply line 116.
[0045] In a specific embodiment of the present invention (not
shown), air breathing heat engine 100 may further include an
acoustic enclosure, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,094, the
disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
Refrigeration 60 may supply chillant 62 for ventilating the
acoustic enclosure via appropriate chillant supply line connection
(not shown) or through an additional heat exchanger placed within
the acoustic enclosure, or as described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,082,094.
[0046] Returning to FIGS. 1 and 3, refrigeration system 60 of
system 10 and 70 may simultaneously receive heat energy from power
transformer 20, compressor 72, and air breathing heat engine 100,
and use the combined heat energy to generate chillant 62. Chillant
62 may be supplied to one or more heat exchangers for various
cooling purposes as described above.
[0047] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, system 120 includes
steam turbine 121 connected to and in communication with
refrigeration 60. Refrigeration system 60 is connected to power
transformer 20 in the same fashion, as shown in FIG. 1. Generally,
steam turbine 121 releases heat energy which is transferred to
refrigeration system 60 for use in the production of chillant 62,
similar to what discussed hereinabove.
[0048] Steam turbine 121 may be any known steam turbine that has a
suitable configuration. For example, as depicted in FIG. 4, steam
turbine 121 includes steam condenser 122 in communication with
turbine engine 123. Turbine engine 123 includes shaft 125 connected
to power generator 126, or other machine or equipment that is
operable using power from an engine. Steam turbine 121 receives
condensed steam from a source, which can be a boiler of a
compatible capacity. The condensed steam enters steam turbine 121
through steam inlet pipe 128 and expands in turbine engine 123,
with an output of power driving shaft 125 to actuate power
generator 126. After complete expansion, the expanded steam flows
to steam condenser 122 from turbine engine 123 through an
appropriate exhaust steam casing (not shown), and is condensed to
hot water. Expanded steam or hot water can be returned to the steam
source or the boiler through return pipe 129. Some excess hot water
130 containing heat energy which may be at a temperature of about
210.degree. F. (98.9.degree. C.), may flow through first hot water
pipe 132 from condenser 122 to refrigeration system 60.
Refrigeration system 60 uses the heat energy for the production of
chillant 62 for cooling power transformer 20 (see FIG. 1).
[0049] Additional hot water or working fluid 133 may flow through
second hot water pipe 134 to hot water heater 140, which is
connected to steam turbine 121. It is also possible to have excess
steam from turbine engine 123 to flow through steam pipe 136 to
supply heat to hot water heater 140.
[0050] Hot water or working fluid 141, which is a residual hot
water derived from hot water 130 flowing through refrigeration
system 60, wherein a portion of heat is extracted from hot water
130 for the production of chillant 62, may be supplied to hot water
heater 140 through third hot water pipe 142. Output hot water 150
from hot water heater 140 can be distributed for various heating
purposes.
[0051] In a specific embodiment (not shown), condenser 122 may
contain a heat exchanger that can capture heat energy from
condensing the steam. The captured heat energy can then be
transferred to refrigeration system 60, similar to what have been
discussed above as relating to gas compressor 72.
[0052] Further, it is possible to combine the embodiments shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4, so that both steam turbine 121 and air breathing
heat engine 100 are components of the same system. Both turbine 121
and air breathing heat engine 100 may produce heat energy that
together can be supplied to refrigeration system 60. In addition,
if air breathing heat engine 100 produces excess heat, the heat
energy may be used to heat the water in the connected hot water
heater 140. For particular applications and circumstances, the
amount of generated heat apportioned to refrigeration system and
hot water heater 140 may be adjusted.
[0053] It is one advantage of the present invention to protect
power transformer 20 by keeping power transformer 20 at a suitable
temperature, regardless of the ambient temperature. It is another
advantage of the present invention to use one on-line refrigeration
system 60 to produce chillant 62 for cooling different components
of a power generation system. Refrigeration system 60 takes
advantage of heat energy that is released from internal sources
within the system, and minimizes external energy requirements.
[0054] While the present invention has been described as having a
preferred design, the present invention can be further modified
within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is
therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of
the invention using its general principles. Further, this
application is intended to cover such departures from the present
disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to
which this invention pertains.
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