초록 ▼

A process is disclosed for producing mechanical energy or electric power from chemical energy contained in a fuel, utilizing a combustion turbine. The compressed air which is used for combustion of the fuel to drive the turbine is humidified prior to combustion in a multistage countercurrent saturat

A process is disclosed for producing mechanical energy or electric power from chemical energy contained in a fuel, utilizing a combustion turbine. The compressed air which is used for combustion of the fuel to drive the turbine is humidified prior to combustion in a multistage countercurrent saturator to replace some or all of the thermal diluent air with water vapor. Humidification is effected with the water at a temperature below its boiling point at the operating pressure. The compressed air is cooled prior to humidification by passing in heat exchange relationship with the water used for humidification. Low level heat is rejected from the compressed air during intercooling and prior to humidification. This process provides a significant improvement in thermal efficiency, compared to combined cycle, steam injected cycle, intercooled regenerative cycle, and other air humidification based processes. Additionally, the entire steam cycle of a combined cycle process is eliminated, including the steam turbine generator, steam drums, surface condenser and cooling towers.

대표청구항 ▼

A process for producing mechanical power utilizing heat contained in process fluids within the system and heat from combusting a combustible fuel in a combustion chamber to turn a gas turbine comprising: providing combustible fuel; providing process fluids consisting of compressed air and water; pro

A process for producing mechanical power utilizing heat contained in process fluids within the system and heat from combusting a combustible fuel in a combustion chamber to turn a gas turbine comprising: providing combustible fuel; providing process fluids consisting of compressed air and water; providing a circulating water system which contains the water; providing a humidifier capable of creating a gaseous medium including water vapor; producing the gaseous medium by feeding the compressed air to the humidifier and circulating the water through the humidifier; cooling the compressed air by rejecting from the process some heat from at least one of the process fluids prior to producing the gaseous medium; feeding the gaseous medium and the combustible fuel to the combustion chamber; combusting the fuel in the presence of the gaseous medium within the combustion chamber to provide a working fluid at a first elevated temperature; feeding the working fluid to the gas turbine; expanding the working fluid in the gas turbine to produce mechanical power and turbine exhaust; extracting heat from the turbine exhaust for use within the process thereby producing a cooled turbine exhaust; and rejecting the cooled turbine exhaust from the process.