Patent · US Active

Operating method for CAES plant using humidified air in a bottoming cycle expander

US7669423B2 · kind B2 · utility

24Cited by
4References
9Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 26, 2009
Grant dateMar 2, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 26, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/16
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A power generation system includes a combustion turbine assembly (11) having a main compressor (12) receiving ambient inlet air, a main expansion turbine (14), a main combustor (16), and an electric generator (15) for generating electric power. An air storage (18′) has a volume for storing compressed air. A source of humidity (23, 34, 42) humidifies the compressed air that exits the air storage and thus provides humidified compressed air. A heat exchanger (24) receives a source of heat and the humidified compressed air so as to heat the humidified compressed air. A air expander (30) expands the heated, humidified compressed air to exhausted atmospheric pressure for producing additional power, and permits a portion of airflow expanded by the air expander to be injected into the combustion turbine assembly for power augmentation. An electric generator (31) is associated with the air expander for producing additional electrical power. The compressed air humidification reduces the compressed air storage volume for the same stored/generated energy.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.