U.S. patent application number 12/012361 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-15 for steam generator system.
Invention is credited to James A. Rowan.
Application Number | 20090013940 12/012361 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39155235 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090013940 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rowan; James A. |
January 15, 2009 |
Steam generator system
Abstract
A steam generator includes a submersible burner compartment with
at least one burner subassembly and an associated submersible
primary ignition means. The burner subassembly also has an
associated infrared primary flame monitoring subassembly. The
primary flame monitoring system and primary ignition means are all
housed within the burner compartment whereby when the burner
compartment is filled with water, the burners are all submerged.
The infrared flame monitoring subassembly is electronically coupled
to a primary monitoring device and a fuel feed pipe is couple to
the burner subassembly. A super heater compartment is coupled to
and receives steam exhausted from the burner compartment. The super
heater compartment has at least one burner subassembly located
therein. An associated submersible secondary ignition means and an
associated infrared secondary flame monitoring subassembly are
provided for each burner subassembly. The burner, secondary
ignition means and infrared secondary monitoring subassembly are
all housed within the super heater compartment with the infrared
subassembly electronically coupled to a secondary monitoring
device.
Inventors: |
Rowan; James A.; (Fonthill,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT C. CURFISS
19826 SUNDANCE DRIVE
HUMBLE
TX
77346-1402
US
|
Family ID: |
39155235 |
Appl. No.: |
12/012361 |
Filed: |
February 1, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10998265 |
Nov 26, 2004 |
7340893 |
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12012361 |
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60571459 |
May 14, 2004 |
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60592568 |
Jul 30, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
122/13.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01K 25/005 20130101;
F22B 1/003 20130101; F22G 1/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
122/13.01 |
International
Class: |
F24H 1/00 20060101
F24H001/00 |
Claims
1. A steam generator system comprising: a. a submersible burner
compartment having a lower portion, a shaft portion, and an upper
portion, the lower portion having a water feed pipe whereby water
may enter the lower portion being coupled to the lower portion; and
b. at least one burner subassembly with an associated submersible
primary ignition means in the shaft portion, the burner subassembly
also having an associated infrared primary flame monitoring
subassembly, the primary monitoring system and primary flame
ignition means all being housed within the shaft portion of the
submersible burner compartment, whereby when the shaft portion is
filled with water, the burners are all submerged, the infrared
subassembly being electronically coupled to a monitoring device
with the burner assembly having a fuel feed pipe coupled
thereto.
2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the upper portion of
the burner compartment has at least one baffle plate located
therein with the upper portion having a steam exhaust pipe coupled
thereto.
3. The system as set forth in claim 2, further including a super
heater compartment having a generally hollow tubular configuration
with a lower end and an upper end and with the steam exhaust pipe
coupled to the lower end of the super heater compartment thereby
providing a passageway for the steam from the burner to the super
heater compartment, the super heater compartment having at least
one burner subassembly located therein.
4. The system as set forth in claim 3, further including an
associated submersible secondary ignition means and an associated
infrared secondary flame monitoring subassembly for each burner
subassembly, the burner and ignition means and infrared monitoring
subassembly all being housed within the super heater compartment
with the infrared subassembly electronically coupled to a
monitoring device.
5. A steam generator system for allowing a user to safely and
efficiently produce steam, comprising, in combination: a. a
submersible burner compartment having a lower portion, a shaft
portion, and an upper portion, the lower portion having a
cylindrical configuration with a water feed pipe whereby water may
enter a lower portion and fill the burner compartment, the shaft
portion being coupled to the lower portion in an orientation that
is perpendicular to the water feed pipe, the shaft portion having a
hollow tubular configuration; b. at least one burner subassembly
with an associated submersible primary ignition means in the shaft
portion, the burner subassembly also having an associated infrared
primary flame monitoring subassembly, the primary flame monitoring
means and primary ignition means all being housed within the shaft
portion whereby when the shaft portion is filled
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
10/998,265, filed on Nov. 26, 2004, which in turn is based on
Provision Application Ser. Nos. 60/571,459 filed May 14, 2004 and
60/592,568 filed Jul. 30, 2004, all of which are incorporated by
reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a Steam Generator System
and more particularly pertains to generating steam using
submersible burners.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art
[0005] The use of steam generators of known configurations and
apparatuses is known in the prior art. More specifically, steam
generators of known configurations and apparatuses previously
devised and utilized for the purpose of generating steam as a
source of power are known to consist basically of familiar,
expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding
the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which
has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and
requirements.
[0006] By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,699 and No. 6,211,643
disclose storing energy in the form of hydrogen. The latter patent
to Kagatani uses additionally a photovoltaic array or windmill to
provide surplus electricity. The former patent to Yanagi also uses
some of the heat created in a heat-exchanger system to provide
heating and/or cooling.
[0007] The steam generating system as described herein is a
departure from the conventional wisdom of boiler making where the
flame or heat source is separated from the fluid by a wall of
steel. In the present invention the flame is immersed in the water
where all the heat generated by the burning of hydrogen and oxygen
is captured by the surrounding water. While other fluids may be
used, water should be the least expensive and most abundant fluid
available. Flame/water separated boilers, such as those described
by Munday, U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,260, generate waste heat and
pollutants. The present invention produces little, if any, waste
heat, and a minimal amount of pollutants, such as nitric oxide
(NOX).
[0008] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular
objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not
describe a steam generator system that allows a user to safely and
efficiently produce steam.
[0009] In this respect, the steam generator system according to the
present invention substantially departs from the conventional
concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an
apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of generating steam
using submersible burners.
[0010] Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a
continuing need for a new and improved steam generator system which
can be used for generating steam using submersible burners. In this
regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of steam generators of known configurations and apparatuses
now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an
improved steam generator system. As such, the general purpose of
the present invention, which will be described subsequently in
greater detail, is to provide a new and improved steam generator
system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and
none of the disadvantages.
[0012] To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises
a submersible burner compartment, having a lower portion, a shaft
portion, and an upper portion. The lower portion has a cylindrical
configuration with a water feed pipe whereby water may enter a
lower portion and fill the burner compartment. The shaft portion is
coupled to the lower portion in an orientation that is
perpendicular to the water feed pipe. The shaft portion has a
hollow tubular configuration.
[0013] At least one burner subassembly is provided and has an
associated submersible primary ignition means in the shaft portion.
The burner subassembly also has an associated infrared primary
flame monitoring subassembly. The primary flame monitoring system
and primary ignition means are all housed within the shaft portion
whereby when the shaft portion is filled with water, the burners
are all submerged, the infrared flame monitoring subassembly is
electronically coupled to a primary monitoring device and a fuel
feed pipe is couple to the burner subassembly.
[0014] The upper portion of the burner compartment has a
cylindrical configuration with at least one baffle plate located
therein. The upper portion has a steam exhaust pipe coupled
thereto.
[0015] A super heater compartment has a generally hollow tubular
configuration with a lower end and an upper end and with the steam
exhaust pipe coupled to the lower end of the super heater
compartment thereby providing a passageway for steam from the
burner compartment to the super heater compartment. The super
heater compartment has at least one burner subassembly located
therein.
[0016] An associated submersible secondary ignition means and an
associated infrared secondary flame monitoring subassembly are
provided for each burner subassembly. The burner, secondary
ignition means and infrared secondary monitoring subassembly are
all housed within the super heater compartment with the infrared
subassembly electronically coupled to a secondary monitoring
device.
[0017] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a new and improved steam generator system which has all of
the advantages of the prior art steam generators of known
configurations and apparatuses and none of the disadvantages.
[0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
new and improved steam generator system which may be easily and
efficiently manufactured.
[0019] It is further object of the present invention to provide a
new and improved steam generator system which is of durable land
reliable constructions.
[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a new
and improved steam generator system which is susceptible of a low
cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and
which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the
consuming public, thereby making such steam generator system
economically available to the buying public.
[0021] Lastly, it is an object to the present invention to provide
a submersible burner compartment having a lower portion, a shaft
portion, and an upper portion. The lower portion has a water feed
pipe whereby water may enter a lower portion and fill the burner
compartment. The shaft portion being coupled to the lower portion.
At least one burner subassembly with an associated submersible
primary ignition means in the shaft portion is provided. The burner
subassembly also has an associated infrared primary flame
monitoring subassembly. The primary monitoring system and primary
flame ignition means are all housed within the shaft portion of the
submersible burner compartment, whereby when the shaft portion is
filled with water, the burners are all submerged, the infrared
subassembly is electronically coupled to a monitoring device with
the burner assembly having a fuel feed pipe coupled thereto.
[0022] These together with other objects of the invention, along
with the various features of novelty which characterize the
invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed
to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better
understanding of the invention, it operating advantages and the
specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to
the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is
illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The invention will be better understood and objects other
than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration
is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes a reference to the annexed drawings and graphical
representations.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the energy need-based distribution
system in which the steam generator would be employed.
[0025] FIG. 2 is an annotated diagram of the energy need-based
distribution system in which the steam generator would be
employed.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an emergency power need configuration
of the system.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a diagram of the system utilizing an internal
combustion engine generator.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a diagram of the system utilizing a
Hydrogen-Oxygen fueled immersion boiler as is disclosed herein.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a diagram of the system utilizing grid energy
storage.
[0030] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the steam generator
as employed in this system.
[0031] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts
throughout the various Figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0032] With reference now to the included drawings, particularly
FIG. 7, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved steam
generator embodying the principles and concepts of the present
invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will
be described.
[0033] A steam generator system for allowing a user to safely and
efficiently produce steam is disclosed. The system comprises
several components, in combination.
[0034] First provided is a submersible burner compartment 14. The
submersible burner compartment has a lower portion, a shaft portion
16, a shaft portion 18, and an upper portion 20. The lower portion
of the submersible burner compartment has a cylindrical
configuration with a water feed pipe 22 Water enters lower portion
and fills the burner compartment.
[0035] In an alternate embodiment the configurations of the burner
compartment may be any one of a plurality of geometrical
configurations.
[0036] The shaft portion of the submersible burner compartment is
coupled at 17 to the lower portion in an orientation that is
perpendicular to the water feed pipe. The shaft portion has a
hollow tubular configuration. The shaft portion has at least one
burner subassembly 24 with an associated submersible ignition means
26. The burner subassembly also has an associated infrared flame
monitoring subassembly 28. The burner subassembly, the monitoring
system and ignition means are all housed within the shaft portion
of the submersible burner compartment. When the shaft portion 18 is
filled with water, the burners 24 are all submerged in the liquid.
The infrared subassembly is electronically coupled to a monitoring
device 30. The burner assembly has a fuel feed pipe 32 coupled
thereto.
[0037] The upper portion 18 of the burner compartment has a
cylindrical configuration. There is at least one baffle plate 34
located therein. The upper portion has a steam exhaust pipe 36
coupled thereto.
[0038] In an alternate embodiment the shaft portion and the upper
portion, like the lower portion, may be any one of a plurality of
geometric configurations.
[0039] The system also comprises a super heater compartment 40. The
super heater compartment has a generally hollow tubular
configuration with a lower end 42 and an upper end 44. The steam
exhaust pipe is coupled to the lower end of the super heater
compartment, providing a passageway for steam from the burner
compartment to the super heater compartment.
[0040] The super heater compartment has with at least one burner
subassembly 46 located therein. There is an associated submersible
ignition means 48 and an associated infrared flame monitoring
subassembly for each burner subassembly. The burner and secondary
ignition means and infrared secondary flame monitoring subassembly
are all housed within the super heater compartment 40. The infrared
subassembly is electronically coupled to a monitoring device
52.
[0041] The burner subassembly has a fuel feed pipe 56 coupled there
to. The super heater compartment has a steam exit pipe 58 coupled
to the upper end of the super heater compartment.
[0042] The power generation need-based system that may used in
conjunction with a steam generator, described below, is a variable
process of generating electricity. The use of the steam, Hydrogen
gas, Oxygen gas, and electricity produced by the system is
determined according to supply, need and value. The system, as
herein described, utilizes electronic components, such as wiring,
radio frequency generation and reception, infrared emission and
sensing, and a computer having a program, memory and the capability
to receive data and control devices.
[0043] The process of storing energy by converting it to Hydrogen
and then using a regeneration system such as fuel cells or internal
combustion engines (ICE) is not new. The Tennessee Valley Authority
(TVA) set up this type of system in 1992 using fuel cells as their
regenerator. Stuart Energy utilizes an ICE (internal combustion
engine) set up that helped to manage the Midwest-Northeast wide
area power failure in 2003.
[0044] The TVA system was shut down because it was too expensive to
operate. This was only partly because the TVA was using very
expensive fuel cells. It was also due to the fact that the
electricity that was created could only be cost justified at peak
times of the year.
[0045] The process/system as described herein is not only designed
to store energy, but to make the storage profitable by determining
at different times of the hour, day, month or year what the most
profitable use of the energy is. This is determined by addressing
the question of what is the greatest present need. The need,
therefore, becomes a variable, and not a constant.
[0046] The system as described herein uses energy from various
renewable sources or from the commercial electricity grid,
depending on availability and price. It uses the electricity to
maintain draw, make Hydrogen and Oxygen gases, or both.
[0047] The system utilizes a series of controls that, in turn,
utilize sensors and market data from a variety of resources to
compare variables and make decisions on where to use energy
resources based on a hierarchy of supply, need, and value.
[0048] The variables for the decision can be set according to the
energy needs and market demands in a local area. Steam can be made
as part of the process, and can also be made independently of
electricity generation, if required if the need variable so
indicates. Steam can be used in secondary and tertiary
applications, such as area heating, steam-chiller cooling, hot
water generation, or other industrial applications. The system can
be configured with a steam generator system, also known as a
hydrogen-oxygen boiler system. The system can also be configured
with an internal combustion engine (I.C.E.), or fuel cell.
[0049] The system will be flexible as to sales of byproduct,
whether the byproduct is steam, heated water, electricity
generation, or Hydrogen and Oxygen that is produced by the system.
That is to say, if the market for Hydrogen or Oxygen is not going
to be profitable, production of those gases will be halted.
[0050] The process-control system will weigh the variables of
supply, need, and value to decide the `highest and best use` for
the energy or byproducts so produced. The variable `need` can be
calculated from the draw requirements of a building, as a signal
from a larger control system, such as that of an electricity power
utility. The system is designed to accommodate smaller
building-size systems up to huge commercial power-plant
operations.
[0051] The energy industry faces a challenge in meeting growing
demands while reducing emissions and maintaining competitive
pricing. One approach is to use low cost, off-peak electricity as
the fuel for electrolyzers that will produce Hydrogen and Oxygen.
The Hydrogen and Oxygen are captured and stored near the
electrolysis equipment. The Hydrogen can be used in a variety of
applications.
[0052] Such a cycle is not, itself, a new idea. Other power
generating entities have tried this approach, using fuel cells to
regenerate electricity. A disadvantage of this approach, under the
existing technology, is the expense of the required fuel cells. A
way to avoid this disadvantage is to burn the Hydrogen and Oxygen
in a steam generator, as described herein, to produce steam for an
electricity generating turbine.
[0053] Hydrogen and Oxygen can be used as a fuel to produce a flame
under water, such as in the currently described steam generating
system. The burning of the Hydrogen and Oxygen produces a heating
of the water. The hot water becomes steam. The steam can be used
for purposes, such as: [0054] a. turning an electricity producing
turbine; [0055] b. providing an absorption chiller to produce
chilled water for cooling a building; [0056] c. providing heat
input to a desiccant energy or enthalpy wheel; [0057] d. providing
hot water to buildings; [0058] e. providing steam heating for
buildings.
[0059] Hydrogen and Oxygen can be sold commercially during seasons
when electricity demand is lessened. The result of such off-season
energy use is that electrolyzers would use lower priced energy to
produce a form of energy storage that could be employed during peak
energy demand periods. Not only would energy usage be more
efficient, but the production of harmful emissions would be
decreased.
[0060] The current invention increases efficiency and decreases
pollutants by:
[0061] a. allowing all of the heat produced by the combustion of
the Hydrogen and Oxygen to be directly absorbed by the water;
[0062] b. diminishing the contact of Nitrogen with Oxygen during
the burning process, and thereby lessening the production of
NOX;
[0063] c. completely utilizing the heat produced by the reaction
for the production of steam.
[0064] The end result is a highly efficient boiler that produces
little, if any, harmful emissions. As noted above, the steam can
then be used for any one of a myriad of applications, including
heating and cooling application, as well as electricity
production.
[0065] Underwater welding research and experience has shown that
one can produce a hot flame under water. The advantage of such an
submerged burning is that no atmospheric Nitrogen is allowed to
interact with the reactants. It should be noted that the use of
distilled, or non-ionized water is preferred, as it contains no
minerals or dissolved solutes.
[0066] The system of the present invention uses energy from various
renewable sources or the commercial electricity grid depending on
availability and price. It uses the electricity to maintain draw,
make Hydrogen and Oxygen gases or both in utility or industrial
power-plant operations.
[0067] The present system constantly compares variables of supply,
need, and value of the different energy sources, and the efficiency
of storage devices and energy conversion devices-dynamically
determining the highest and best use of the electricity inputs.
[0068] While in operation, the currently disclosed system resembles
a large loop of sensor readings, decision points and computer
controlled activities. However from the human standpoint, the
process starts with a user, usually a company or organization, and
one or more sources of electricity.
[0069] The system software by means of sensors notes whether the
electricity comes from Local Renewable sourced generation box 50
called Local Renewable on FIG. 1, such as from wind turbines or
solar panels (or other source) or the commercial electricity grid,
box 52 called Grid IN on FIG. 1.
[0070] If the Local Renewable source 50 is producing electricity,
the control software compares at 55 to see if the Local Renewable
electricity would be profitable to send to the commercial
electricity grid, box 56 called Grid OUT on FIG. 1. At this point
the system compares Value in comparison with the Grid market price
for electricity at that moment. If, because of prices in the
electricity marketplace, it would be profitable to sell
electricity, then the system checks at 48 to ensure that the means
exists and is operational, Grid OUT, to send electricity to the
grid as indicated at 60. This operation depends on the system being
programmed with such a parameter, on physical means to connect to
the Grid, and on rolling agreements having been negotiated with the
connecting power utility.
[0071] If price comparison shows that it is not profitable to sell
electricity at that moment, then the system checks by means of
sensors to decide if it should send the Local Renewable electricity
to Local Draw, see diagram box 62 by that name on FIG. 1, or to the
local energy storage sub-system 64, shown as the group of boxes on
FIG. 1 that are labeled Battery System 66 and so on downwards. To
do this the system must by means of sensors determine the following
inputs for, including but not limited to: [0072] 1) is there
connection to Local Draw, e.g. sine inverter from direct current to
alternating current or other equipment; [0073] 2) if there is
connection to Local Draw, is there need, how much power does the
user utilize, and does the supply match the need? and; [0074] 3) is
there no Local Draw but only local energy storage?
[0075] If there is no Local Draw and no local energy storage
subsystem then the example system would probably only accommodate
Grid IN 54 and Grid OUT 56.
[0076] Once the system has sensed what the connections are, in the
case when it is not profitable to send electricity to Grid OUT,
then the computer uses programmed parameters to decide where to
send the electricity. If there is no Local Draw connection 62 or
the need for Local Draw in that moment is zero, then the system at
that decision point sends the electricity to the Battery System 66
for storage. This would usually be a large capacity UPS
(Uninterruptible Power Supply). The system can also decide to send
some of the power to Local Draw 62 and some to Battery System 66
for storage. If the Battery System is intended as Uninterruptible
Power Supply then the control system can by means of sensors
determine whether the Battery System is recharged to 100% of
capacity. The control system can keep a historical database to
monitor battery efficiency. The system can also maintain a
historical database to monitor energy usage and thus be ready to,
for instance, provide more energy at peak hours, less energy at
off-peak hours, or make a report, `alert`, if the Local Draw 62 is
anomalous because of usage that could signal an equipment
malfunction or other noteworthy condition.
[0077] If the Battery System 66 is fully charged then the system
checks at 67 the value in terms of energy market prices at that
moment in terms of the price to efficiency ratio of the other
connected storage device(s) 68. The system then decides whether the
return amount of electricity justifies sending the electricity to
one or another specific storage device.
[0078] If the Battery System 66 is fully charged and the Other
Energy Storage devices 68 are fully charged, the system must
compare at 67 to the energy market prices for that moment and
decide whether to send electricity back to the beginning part of
the system, Local Draw 62 or Grid OUT 66 or to send it to a
connected Electrolyzer 70. This decision point compares the value
for electricity with the value for Hydrogen and Oxygen that the
electrolyzer would produce. If electricity is less profitable for
use, for Local Draw 62 or Grid OUT 56, at that moment in terms of
the price to efficiency ratio, then the system sends the
electricity to the electrolyzer 70. The gases are electrolyzed from
water, and therefore water becomes a system costing factor to be
calculated.
[0079] Once the Hydrogen and Oxygen gases are made in the
electrolyzerb 70, as known to the system by means of sensors, then
the system comes to another decision point 72, if this is
programmed in as a system parameter. If a Liquefier 74 is connected
to the system, it determines some or all of the following; [0080]
1) is the liquefier operational according to safety parameters?
[0081] 2) what is the price to efficiency ratio at that moment?
[0082] 3) how much Hydrogen and Oxygen gases are already in storage
and is there room for more to be stored? [0083] 4) is the commodity
market price for such gases at levels that make selling them
profitable?
[0084] Depending on the liquefier design, the Hydrogen and Oxygen
may be liquefied simultaneously or separately, and the control
software will sense, monitor and control these functions. Once the
Hydrogen and Oxygen are liquefied, if available storage is becoming
full and the commodity price of the gases is not high enough to
send the gas(es) out to customers, see 77, 79, by whatever pipeline
or transportation system might be used, then the system decides at
76, 78 whether to send the gases to a connected regeneration device
80 to make electricity.
[0085] The regeneration device 80 could be the Hydrogen-Oxygen
fueled immersion boiler 10 as described herein. The boiler could be
connected to a steam turbine electric generator. The system
balances the supply of the gases as required. Once the system
decides to make electricity, it must, again, check value versus
need ratio of the energy market price and requirement for
electricity to determine if the electricity should be used for
Local Draw 62 or sent to Grid OUT 56.
[0086] If the system decides not to make electricity because both
need and value of that form of energy are too low, then it will
compare at 82, 82a and 82b the need and value of steam for the uses
shown at the bottom of FIG. 1: Absorption Chiller 84 for air
conditioning/cooling, Other Uses For Steam 86, Rankine cycle
generator, desiccant energy or enthalpy wheel or industrial uses
such as heating buildings or industrial processes, heating hot
water for various uses including personal use, or recycling hot
water back into the regeneration unit, as indicated at 88.
[0087] The system might choose to instruct the Hydrogen-Oxygen
fueled immersion boiler 10 not to utilize the connection to its
co-located steam turbine electric generator, but to make smaller
and cooler amounts of steam for the purpose of `steam chiller`
cooling instead.
[0088] The foregoing is a description of the Hydrogen-Oxygen
Automatic Electric Energy Transfer Control and Arbitrage System, as
shown in FIG. 1. The whole system is also shown in FIG. 2 with
explanatory notes.
[0089] FIG. 3 is an example showing an "emergency power"
configuration of the process. In this configuration, there is no
Grid OUT option. The company using this configuration desires only
standby power in case of a power outage of the electrical grid. The
battery system 64 is intended as an UPS and is always kept charged
to 100%. The UPS provides power until the Regeneration Device 80,
an Internal Combustion Engine 300 kW generator, starts. The UPS
also smooths the supply to prevent power spikes due to I.C.E.
start-up. The electrolyzer 70 makes only enough Hydrogen and Oxygen
to keep the Hydrogen storage tanks full, and the Oxygen is
discarded as at 73. The I.C.E. runs on hydrogen, much as a hydrogen
car engine does, and the company is only required to store enough
Hydrogen to run the I.C.E. generator for several days of full-time
Local Draw of electricity. The amount of time depends on the user's
needs, the volatility of Grid IN power supply and the user's
storage capacity. This system can provide surplus Hydrogen to run
vehicles or to sell, see 79, as a commodity if so configured,
however such a surplus to this "emergency power" configuration
would always be "on call" in case of an extended power grid outage
such as the Power Failure 2003 event.
[0090] FIG. 4 is an example showing a "grid replacement"
configuration of the process, using internal combustion engines. In
this case the Grid IN connection 54 is only used in case of extreme
emergency. The Regeneration Device 80 is an I.C.E. 900 kW system
that runs on Hydrogen. The UPS battery 66 smooths out the power
supply until the I.C.E. generator 80 is fully started. The
Electrolyzer 70 makes Hydrogen and Oxygen and the Oxygen is sold,
see 77. The Hydrogen, if not used, is sold if commodity prices
warrant, see 79. Although there is a connection for Grid OUT 56,
the priority would not be to sell any electricity to the local
power utility so long as the supply did not exceed the need for the
Local Draw 62.
[0091] FIG. 5 is an example showing a "grid replacement"
configuration of the process, using the Hydrogen-Oxygen fueled
immersion boiler 80. In this case the Grid IN connection 54 is
limited to use in the case of extreme emergency. The immersion
boiler 80 provides 2 mW of electricity and the priority would not
change selling energy to the connected Grid OUT 56 unless there
were a supply that was surplus to need. The UPS battery 66 smooths
out the power supply until the immersion boiler 80 and steam
turbine generator is fully started, which might take 30 to 40
minutes.
[0092] This grid replacement system has a primary focus on
providing power for the Local Draw 62. Sales of surplus
electricity, Hydrogen or Oxygen gas is only done if it does not
impair the ability of the system to generate electricity for local
use. The steam from the immersion boiler can be used either as a
byproduct of electricity generation or independently as a primary
product. Since steam-chiller cooling replaces the need for
electrical-process air conditioning and thus reduces the primary
draw by as much as 35%, when atmospheric conditions warrant, the
absorption chiller 84, and associated enthalpy wheel air treatment,
will have as high a priority in system decision-processing as
providing electricity for the Local Draw 62. The absorption chiller
sub-system includes hot water heating 88 and hot water overflow
return into the regeneration system.
[0093] FIG. 6 is an example showing a "grid energy storage"
configuration of the process, using the Hydrogen-Oxygen fueled
immersion boiler 80. This "utility size" version of the system is
herein referred to as "CDDG" or "Clean Dispatchable Distributed
Generation". The example shows a Hydrogen-Oxygen fueled immersion
boiler 80 of 10 or more mW capacity. This system is scaleable up to
200 mW. The utility is the Grid and consequently the Grid IN 54 and
Grid OUT 56 connections are not subject to the complex
decision-points common to the other configurations. In this
environment the price of the commodity is the main driving force.
Very simply, if the selling price of electricity is higher than the
selling price of the various byproducts such as Hydrogen, Oxygen or
steam for absorption-chiller cooling or building heating, for
clients of the utility, then the electricity will be the primary
focus. If the byproducts, especially Hydrogen gas for
transportation or other uses, are more profitably used as
commodities for sale, then that will be the primary focus. This
configuration includes liquefaction of Hydrogen and Oxygen gases,
see 90, plus provision for large-scale storage tanks 92, 94 capable
of holding vast quantities of gases.
[0094] As to the manner of usage and operation of the present
invention, the same should be apparent from the above description.
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage
and operation will be provided.
[0095] With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and
all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings
and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed
by the present invention.
[0096] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
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