U.S. patent application number 11/681146 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-27 for high-temperature pipeline.
Invention is credited to Arnold J. GOLDMAN.
Application Number | 20070221208 11/681146 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38532043 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070221208 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GOLDMAN; Arnold J. |
September 27, 2007 |
HIGH-TEMPERATURE PIPELINE
Abstract
A solar insulation capturing and transporting system includes a
solar insulation receiving member configured in combination with a
dual walled conduit. Fluid is flowed through one portion of the
conduit and into the solar insulation receiving member and thence
into a second portion of the conduit. Heat energy captured in the
fluid is then transferred, in the flowing fluid, to a use location
where the energy may be usefully exploited.
Inventors: |
GOLDMAN; Arnold J.;
(Jerusalem, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATTERSON & SHERIDAN, L.L.P.
3040 POST OAK BOULEVARD
SUITE 1500
HOUSTON
TX
77056
US
|
Family ID: |
38532043 |
Appl. No.: |
11/681146 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60779983 |
Mar 7, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/651 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 10/44 20130101;
Y02E 10/40 20130101; F05B 2220/301 20130101; F24S 80/60 20180501;
F03G 6/005 20130101; F24S 10/25 20180501; Y02E 10/46 20130101; F24S
20/20 20180501; F28F 1/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/651 |
International
Class: |
F24J 2/24 20060101
F24J002/24 |
Claims
1. An solar energy capture and transfer apparatus, comprising: a
dual walled conduit having an inner volume sealed from an outer
volume, said inner and outer volumes forming a continuous pathway
for fluid to flow along one of said inner and outer volumes and
then flow therefrom into the other of the inner and outer flow
volumes; and at least one solar insulation collection member
including a flow inlet, a flow outlet and an insulation receiving
volume extending between said inlet and outlet; wherein, one of
said inner and outer volumes of said flow conduit is interconnected
to said inlet, and the other of said inner and outer flow annulus
is connected to said outlet, such that a working fluid may flow
through the conduit, into the solar insulation receiving volume of
said collection member, and thence through the flow conduit and
thereby capture energy from said solar insulation in said working
fluid and transport said energy to a location where the captured
energy may be recovered for use.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said solar insulation
collection member is a Karni style collector.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said conduit is in fluid
communication with a heat exchanger.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conduit is in fluid
communication with a steam turbine.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said conduit is in fluid
communication with a subsurface formation.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of solar
insulation collector members are in fluid communication with said
conduit.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said conduit is supported in a
substantially vertical position.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, further including at least one
reflector for reflecting and concentrating solar insulation at said
solar insulation collector members.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said reflectors change
orientation to cause the reflected solar insulation to be directed
at said solar insulation collector members as the sun moves
relative to the reflector.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a heat exchanger in
fluid communication with said conduit and a source of compressed
gas, and a flow passage connecting the compressed gas side of the
heat exchanger to a gas turbine.
11. A method of capturing and transporting energy from solar
insolation, comprising: a. providing a flow conduit having an inner
conduit portion and an annular outer flow conduit portion in
surrounding relationship with said inner flow conduit portion; b.
providing a solar insulation receiver in fluid communication with
the inner and outer flow conduit portions; c. directing reflected
solar insulation at the solar insulation receiver while flowing
fluid through the solar insulation receiver; and d. flowing the
fluid to a location where heat may be recovered from the working
fluid.
12. The method of claim 11, further including the step of flowing
the fluid to a subsurface formation.
13. The method of claim 11, further including the steps of
capturing solar insulation in the fluid in the solar insulation
receiver; and, flowing the fluid to an electrical generating
facility.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the electrical generating
facility includes a gas turbine.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the electrical generating
facility includes a steam turbine.
16. The method of claim 11, further including the step of flowing
the fluid to a heat exchanger.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/779,983, filed Mar. 7, 2006, which is
herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to the field of the generation
of energy. More particularly, the invention relates to the
generation of energy using heat, including energy generated using
solar insulation directly or indirectly as a heat source.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] The generation of energy for purposes of power generation,
including the direct conversion of energy to power such as through
the use of an internal combustion engine to drive a shaft to rotate
a tire for powering a vehicle, as well as the indirect use of using
that rotating shaft to drive a generator for the generation of
electricity has relied predominately on fossil fuel energy sources
for nearly 100 years. Fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal have
been readily available, relatively cheap, and easy to use for the
generation of power. However, the side affects of nearly one
hundred years of fossil fuel use for generating power has resulted
in a diminishment of fossil fuel resources at the same time as
world demand for energy and power is increasing, geopolitical
instability as a result of real or perceived bias in favor of oil
producing countries, and environmental impact ranging from
ruination of land and other natural resources as coal is strip
mined, to greenhouse gas emission based global warming. As a
result, the true cost of fossil fuel based electrical generation is
only now just being understood, and the immediate cost, based on
the trade value of fossil fuel, is rapidly increasing as supply is
outstripped by demand.
[0006] Therefore, there exists a need in the art for reliable, cost
effective, energy and power generation using non-fossil fuel
sources. One such source which has received considerable attention
nearly three decades ago, and is again receiving considerable
attention, is solar power generation.
[0007] One aspect of solar power generation is heat based solar
power generation. This approach to power generation captures solar
insulation to heat a working medium to generate electricity or
provide energy for heating of homes and facilities. The methodology
for solar generation of electricity typically includes a mechanism
for heating a working fluid into a gas state, and expanding that
heated gas state fluid through an expansion device which extracts
energy from the fluid. For example, steam may be produced from
solar heating water, and the steam is passed through a gas turbine
or a steam turbine to cause the turbine to rotate about a shaft and
enable the motion and momentum of the shaft to drive an electrical
generator.
[0008] A common difficulty associated with the generation of steam
for electrical generation using solar insulation is the inability
to concentrate heat to generate steam in sufficient quantity at
specific quality to effectively and economically generate
electricity which can compete in price and reliability with fossil
fuel based electrical generation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides a solar based generating
system, alone or in conjunction with other solar generating systems
and/or wind powered systems, geothermal powered systems and fossil
fuel powered systems, wherein solar insulation is used to heat a
working fluid to high temperatures and then transfer that heat to a
generating mechanism, such as a gas turbine, a steam turbine or the
like directly, or through a secondary exchange of energy in the
form of heat between the working fluid and an additional fluid such
as air, or water and steam which is useful for passing through such
power generating devices.
[0010] In one aspect, a double walled tubular conveyance is
provided, coupled to which are one or more solar insulation
focusing devices. Fluid is passed through the annular tubular
portion of the conveyance, thence through one or more of the
focusing devices, and thence into the inner diameter of the
conveyance device. Once the fluid is so heated by solar insulation,
it is passed to a generation portion, wherein the energy is used to
generate electricity.
[0011] In another aspect, the heated fluid is passed to a heat
exchanger, and the heated fluid is caused to lose heat to a second
fluid, which second fluid absorbs heat lost by the fluid. This
second fluid is then converted to work. In one aspect, that work is
the expansion of the gas through a gas turbine to cause the gas
turbine to rotate a shaft and thereby ultimately drive a generator
for the generation of electricity. In another aspect, the second
fluid may be preheated before it exchanges heat with the heat
exchanger. In still a further aspect, the second fluid may be used
to drive a steam turbine to cause a shaft to ultimately drive a
generator to generate electricity.
[0012] In yet another aspect, the heated fluid may be ported to a
reservoir of hydrocarbons, such as oil shale, where the
hydrocarbons cannot be immediately recovered without a secondary
process, such as the introduction of heat to cause the hydrocarbons
to exit the underlying matrix and be recoverable for use as a fuel.
In this aspect, the heated water, in the form of steam, superheated
steam or high pressure high temperature liquid water, are directed
to a reservoir, such as a shale bed, where the liquid is circulated
and returned to a generating facility. Typically, the liquid may be
injected through a well bore which has been drilled to a subsurface
formation, and a return bore is provided at a distance from the
first, injection bore. The high temperature liquid is injected into
the reservoir, and the high temperature liquid, and any hydrocarbon
or other material released by the formation during injection of the
high temperature liquid, are flowed to the surface through the
return or second bore, where they may be separated for use as
combustible fuel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] So that the manner in which the above recited features of
the present invention can be understood in detail, a more
particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above,
may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are
illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however,
that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of
this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of
its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective
embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a dual walled
conveyance useful for the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a prior art solar insulation
capturing device useful for the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the operation of the
solar insulation capturing device of FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the solar insulation
capturing device of FIG. 2 coupled to the dual walled conveyance of
FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a plurality of the
solar insulation capturing devices of FIG. 2 coupled to the dual
walled conveyance of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the solar insulation capturing
device of FIG. 2 coupled to the dual walled conveyance of FIG. 1
positioned to receive solar insulation and convey the captured
energy of solar insulation to a generating facility;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a generating facility coupled
to the solar insulation capturing device of FIG. 2 coupled to the
dual walled conveyance of Figure;
[0021] FIG. 8 is an additional schematic view of a generating
facility coupled to the solar insulation capturing device of FIG. 2
coupled to the dual walled conveyance of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a schematic vie of a solar insulation capturing
device of FIG. 2 coupled to the dual walled conveyance of FIG. 1,
wherein the captured solar insulation is used to release
hydrocarbons from a trapped hydrocarbon reservoir; and
[0023] FIG. 10 is a schematic vie of the solar insulation capturing
device of FIG. 2 coupled to the dual walled conveyance of FIG. 1,
coupled with an additional solar facility for generation of
electricity.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Reference is now made to FIG. 1 in which a dual walled
conveyance forming a high-temperature energy transportation
pipeline 20 is shown which comprises an outer tubing 22 and an
inner tubing 24, having a gap therebetween forming a flow annulus
26. Within inner tubing 24 is provided a flow conduit 28. Both the
outer tubing 22 and the inner tubing 24 may be constructed from
materials such as carbon steel and others well known to one skilled
in the art. Pipeline 20 enables the delivery of a fluid, or gas to
a location, and passage of that fluid back to its origin through
the pipeline 20. To accomplish this, and to minimize temperature
change of the returning fluid, the flow annulus 26 is used to
transport cooler fluids and the flow conduit 28 is used to
transport hotter fluids. Such fluids include water/steam, air,
helium, argon, and molten salts. To help increase the likelihood of
a constant temperature differential between the flow volume 28 and
the flow annulus 26 a high efficiency thermal insulator 32
surrounds and is contacted against the outer surface of the inner
tubing 24 within flow annulus 26. The thermal insulator 32 may be
made from materials such as low-density, high-purity silica at
99.8-percent amorphous fibers and made rigid by ceramic bonding and
other methods that are known to one skilled in the art. In the
preferred embodiment the pressure maintained in the outer flow
annulus 26 is roughly equivalent to the pressure in the flow
conduit 28 thereby circumventing the necessity of using higher
pressure resistant materials for the inner tubing 24. Such pressure
can be controlled by managing the flow rates of the fluids and
gasses in conjunction with known information about their
density/specific gravity at the range of temperatures they will
exist at within the pipeline 20.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a solar insulation
capturing device useful for practicing the inventions herein. In
the specific device shown, a Karni collector 40, substantially as
shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,794, hereby incorporated
by reference, is employed as the capturing device. Generally, the
Karni collector includes a body 42, typically of a metal, having a
front cover 44 through which extends an opening 46, with which is
sealingly engaged a generally conically shaped window 48. This
window 48 includes a front surface 50 which faces a source of
concentrated solar insulation, and a back surface 52 against which
fluid can be brought to bear. Fluid to be heated by solar
insulation is flowed through an inlet 58 and into a solar receiving
portion 60 formed between the window 48 and the body 42 and exits
therefrom, after being heated by solar insolation, through exit 64.
The operation and construction of a Karni collector is believed to
be well know to one skilled in the art.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, the mechanism for heating of the
fluid in the Karni 40 collector is shown schematically. A focused
beam 74 on solar radiation, typically formed by locating one or
more mirrors to reflect and focus solar insolation, is directed at
the window 48 of the collector 40. Fluid to be heated from the
solar insulation is flowed into the collector as shown by arrows
70, enters the collector 40, contacts the window 48, and is heated
wherein it is then flowed out of the collector 40 as shown by
arrows 72. Thus, cooler fluid as shown by arrows 70 enters into the
into the central solar receiving portion 60 adjacent to the window
48 and is heated by the focused beam of solar insulation 74 (as
will be described further herein) and outputted as higher
temperature fluid as shown by arrows 72 through exit 64 (FIG.
2).
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 4, a Karni style collector is
configured to be directly coupled to a pipeline 20 in which cooler
fluid is flowed from the flow annulus 26 to enter the central solar
receiver 60, and the fluid, is heated to higher temperatures in the
focused solar insulation (FIG. 2) which is directed to the receiver
and is then flowed to the flow volume 28 as a heated fluid.
Alternatively, a plurality of such collectors 40 as shown in FIG. 5
may be coupled to the pipeline 20 to receive fluid from the flow
annulus 26 and after passing therethrough, flowed into flow volume
28. In one aspect, the fluid can be flowed in series such that the
fluid is flowed from the outlet 64 of one Karni style collector to
the inlet 58 of another, or in parallel, such that a plurality of
Karni style collectors each receive fluid from the flow annulus of
the pipeline 20, and each discharges the fluid to the flow volume
28 of the pipeline 20.
[0028] To operate, the pipeline 20 with the Karni collector 40 must
be positioned in line with directed solar insolation. Referring now
to FIG. 6, a solar tower 80 is provided to support pipeline 20 such
that plurality of Karni collectors 40 (only one shown) are
supported adjacent to the terminus 82 of the pipeline 20. Pipeline
20 is supported in a substantially vertical position. The pipeline
20 is connected to a power plant 100, such that a working fluid is
pumped from the power plant 100 through flow annulus 26, and thence
through the Karni collector(s) 40, and thence back to the power
plant 100 through flow conduit 28. Thus, the heat from solar
insulation input into the fluid passing through the Karni collector
40 is captured by that fluid, and thence flowed to power plant 100
to be used to produce electricity in the power plant 100. Such
power generation, including electrical power generation, is known
to those skilled in the art. The heat from solar insulation may be
used as the sole heat source to turn a steam or gas turbine, or as
a supplemental boost heat source in combination with other energy
sources, including fossil fuel sources such as coal, oil or gas.
The solar insulation is concentrated directly into the Karni
collectors 40 by a plurality of ground-based reflectors such as
heliostats 102 and/or curved mirrors 104 which are positioned to
reflect light from the sun 110 and direct that light in a
concentrated beam in the direction of the Karni collectors 40.
Although only one heliostat 102 and one curved mirror 104 are
shown, it is specifically contemplated that a plurality of such
reflectors may be provided, and a plurality of such reflectors are
configured to direct a concentrated beam of reflected solar
insulation at a single Karni collector 40. These reflectors 102,
104 may be controlled to track the sun such that their focused
reflection falls upon the window of a Karni collector 40.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 7, one configuration of the power
plant 100 of FIG. 6 is shown in schematic. As discussed with
respect to FIG. 6, pipeline 40 is supported by solar tower 80, such
that solar insulation is reflected off a plurality of reflectors
102, directly into a plurality of Karni collectors 40 (in FIG. 5).
Energy from the focused insulation beam is transferred to the heat
transporting fluid and is flowed through flow volume 28. In one
aspect the working fluid may be steam/or superheated pressurized
water, i.e. water remaining liquid above the one atmospheric
boiling point of 212 degrees farenheit. Super-heated water at
270.degree. C. under a pressure of, by way of example, 100 bars is
introduced into the Karni collectors 40 and converted into
super-heated steam at a temperature between 1000.degree. C. and
1500.degree. C. The steam travels down the flow conduit 28 to the
power plant 100 where it is directed into a stream turbine 110 that
drives an electricity generator 112 to produce electricity 114.
During hours when sunlight is not available (night or cloudy) steam
is provided via a boiler 116 heated by conventional energy source
118 such as natural gas. The expended steam exits the turbine 110
after the first stage 120 still as pressurized steam or after the
second stage 122 as steam at low pressure (215.degree. C. and 0.01
bar). In the latter case the steam is directed to a Steam Condenser
58 that condensates the steam back into water while increasing the
pressure back up to pressures of 100 bar and temperatures of
200.degree. C. The Steam Condenser 124 is cooled by a Cooling Tower
126. The steam exiting the Steam Condenser 124 is then mixed with
the steam that exited the Steam Turbine 110 at the first stage 120.
The water is then heated in a Pre-Heater 130 to 270.degree. C.
while maintaining a pressure of 100 bar and returned to the
pipeline 20.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 8, an alternative configuration of
power plant 100 is shown in schematic. Again, as in the
configuration shown in FIG. 7, the pipeline 20 is structured into a
solar tower 80 (FIG. 6) in a manner described in FIG. 6. Solar
light is reflected off a plurality of reflecting surfaces 102, 104
(FIG. 6) directly into a plurality of Karni collectors 40 as
illustrated in FIG. 5. The energy from the focused light beam is
transferred to the heat transporting fluid which is then flowed in
the flow conduit 28 to the power plant 100. In this embodiment the
fluid is steam/water. Super-heated water at 270.degree. C. under a
pressure of, by way of example, 100 bars is introduced into the
Karni central solar receivers 40 and converted into super-heated
steam at a temperature between 1000.degree. C. and 1500.degree. C.
The steam travels down the flow conduit 28 to the power plant 34
where it is directed into a heat exchange unit 200. Compressed air
202 at 500.degree. C. from a compressor 204 is heated in the heat
exchange unit to temperatures between 1000.degree. C. and
1500.degree. C. This super heated air is then fed into a gas
turbine 206 connected to an electricity generator 208 that produces
an electrical output 210. The temperature of the super heated air
is supplemented by means of air heated in a combustion chamber 212
by means of a non-solar fuel 214 such as natural gas. The cooled
steam from the heat exchange unit 200 is passed to a steam
condenser 216 that is cooled by cooling towers 218. The water from
the steam condenser 216 is reheated in a pre-heater 220 that is
heated by the exhaust gases from the gas turbine 206. The water
exits the pre-heater 220 at a temperature between 150.degree. C.
and 400.degree. C. at a pressure, by way of example, of 100 bar.
The super-heated water then re-enters the flow annulus 26 of the
pipeline 20. It is specifically contemplated that a steam turbine
(FIG. 7) can be added to the cycle, driven by the steam exiting the
heat exchange unit 200 for a combined cycle high efficiency
turbine.
[0031] The heat energy captured from solar insulation by the
pipeline 20 and collector 40 combination may be used for other than
direct electrical energy production. Referring now to FIG. 9, one
such use is shown and described, wherein the pipeline 20 is
configured to inject hot working fluid into a subsurface formation
300, into which a well has been drilled and cased, such that a
wellbore 304 extends from the formation 300 to the surface.
Pipeline 20 and collector 40 are configured to provide heat energy
to the subsurface formation containing fossil fuels entrained or
trapped in a formation 300, whereby heat will release the fossil
fuel from the formation. In this aspect, pipeline 20 and Karni
collectors 40 are structured into a solar tower 80 as shown in FIG.
6. Solar light is reflected off a plurality of reflecting surfaces
102 and/or 104 (FIG. 6) directly into a plurality of Karni
collectors 40 as illustrated in FIG. 5. The energy from the focused
solar insolation beam is transferred to the heat transporting or
working fluid flowing in the flow conduit 28. In this embodiment
the fluid is steam/water. Super-heated water at 270.degree. C.
under a pressure of, by way of example, 100 bars is introduced into
the Karni collectors 40 and converted into super-heated steam at a
temperature between 1000.degree. C. and 1500.degree. C. The steam
travels down the flow conduit 28 and is released into a
mineral-rich geological formation 300 such as shale. The extracted
materials 302 are taken up the wellbore 304 and directed to a
processing plant 320. The processing plant 320 also prepares the
super-heated water for the pipeline 20 in a similar manner
described hereinabove (FIG. 6).
[0032] The pipeline 20 and Karni collector 40 may also be used to
provide supplemental heat to a power generating facility. With
reference to FIG. 10, the pipeline 20 is structured into a solar
tower 80 in a manner described in FIG. 6 hereinabove. Solar light
is reflected off a plurality of reflecting surfaces 102, 104
directly into a plurality of Karni collectors 40 as illustrated in
FIG. 5. The energy from the focused light beam is transferred to
the heat transporting or working fluid flowing in the flow conduit
28 of the pipeline 20. In this embodiment the fluid is steam/water.
Super-heated water at 270.degree. C. under a pressure of, by way of
example, 100 bars is introduced into the Karni collector 40 and
converted into super-heated steam at a temperature between
1000.degree. C. and 1500. The steam travels down the flow conduit
40 where it is directed into a heat exchange unit 400. The heat
exchange unit 400 is conjoined with piping from an energy producing
source such as a Solar Energy Generating Station (SEGS) 402 in such
a manner as to increase the temperature of the heat transfer
liquid, for instance oil, from the SEGS 402 from a current maximum
in the range of 450.degree. C. to above 1000.degree. C. The
temperature boosted energy transfer fluid is directed from the heat
exchange unit 400 to a power block 404. The increase in temperature
of the energy transfer fluid will enable higher efficiency
production of electricity. The cooled fluid from the solar tower 80
exits the heat exchange unit and returns through the flow annulus
26 of the pipeline 20 back to the Karni collectors 40. Thus, the
solar insulation captured in the working fluid may be used to
supplement or boost the heat energy used to generate electricity.
Although the supplement and/or boosting feature is described in
terms of a SEGS facility, the pipeline 20 may be used in
combination with other generating facilities, including facilities
solely based on fossil fuel, to boost or supplement the heat energy
used to generate electricity therewith.
[0033] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the
present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention
may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and
the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
* * * * *