CN117321298A

CN117321298A - Apparatus for efficient fuel to mechanical energy conversion

Info

Publication number: CN117321298A
Application number: CN202280035275.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: F·甘贝里; 西蒙·阿米迪; L·科西; A·塞米纳拉
Original assignee: Nuovo Pignone Technologie SRL
Current assignee: Nuovo Pignone Technologie SRL
Priority date: 2021-04-26
Filing date: 2022-04-22
Publication date: 2023-12-29

Abstract

An energy conversion device is disclosed having a plurality of drive units for driving respective loads, such as electric motors or centrifugal compressors. The energy conversion device comprises at least one heat exchange recuperator for heating the pre-compressed carbon dioxide to be fed into the drive unit by the heat generated by the drive unit itself.

Description

Apparatus for efficient fuel to mechanical energy conversion

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a fuel-to-mechanical energy conversion device that may be used for power generation, based on thermodynamic cycles, for mechanically driven applications and/or multiple generator sets. The thermodynamic cycle operates by using a fluid, such as carbon dioxide, to transfer energy generated by the combustion of a fuel.

Background

In the field of power generation, fossil fuels are still mainly used. However, it is well known that a serious drawback of fossil fuels is the generation of more carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) And other emissions. This is one of the causes of so-called global warming, which is considered potentially dangerous and causes of future natural disasters.

Currently, alternative energy production systems have no ability to replace fossil fuel combustion for at least a short period of time. In particular, power production using this alternative approach cannot meet the consumer demand of the evolving population.

Based on the foregoing, research in the art is striving to improve known fossil fuel or biomass based power generation systems to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere while maintaining high energy efficiency.

Furthermore, known fossil fuel or biomass based power generation systems are costly compared to other systems. In fact, capital expenditures and maintenance costs increase the total production cost per megawatt. Thus, the design trend is to achieve decarbonization of mechanically driven production operations with lower capital expenditure.

Accordingly, an improved fuel-to-mechanical energy conversion device that can increase efficiency and thus reduce carbon dioxide produced per kilowatt while using oral carbon dioxide vented to the atmosphere would be welcomed in the technology.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a fuel-to-mechanical energy conversion device. The energy conversion device has a fluid feedback line for supplying a fluid, in particular carbon dioxide, and a compression and pumping unit for compressing and increasing the pressure of the fluid feedback line. The energy conversion device also has a plurality of drive units, each connected to drive an associated load, such as a compressor or a generator, by combusting fuel and expanding fluid. The energy conversion device includes one or more heat exchange recuperators connected between the fluid feedback line and the drive units and between each drive unit and the compression and pumping units. Each heat exchange recuperator is arranged to heat fluid supplied by the fluid feedback line and compressed by the compression and pumping unit to feed the drive unit by exchanging heat of the expanded exhaust fluid from the drive unit.

In another aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to each drive unit including a combustor that combusts fuel, an expander operatively connected to the combustor, a rotating shaft driven by the expander connected to a load (i.e., such as a compressor or a generator).

In another aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to the fact that: the compression and pumping unit comprises a separation unit for separating water from the fluid from the drive unit after cooling by the at least one heat exchange recuperator; a compressor for compressing and increasing a pressure of the dehumidifying fluid; a heat exchanger; and a pump for increasing the pressure of the fluid. The pump is interposed between the heat exchanger and the fluid feedback line.

In a further aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to an energy conversion device having one or more fluid extraction lines to extract fluid under pressure. The extraction line may be connected to the fluid feedback line or upstream of the pump.

In another aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a fuel-to-mechanical energy conversion apparatus having a plurality of drive units, each drive unit connected to an associated load, wherein the load may be a generator and/or a centrifugal compressor and/or a generator connected to a centrifugal compressor.

Drawings

The disclosed embodiments of the invention, together with many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a fuel-to-mechanical energy conversion device according to a first embodiment;

fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an energy conversion device according to a second embodiment;

fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an energy conversion device according to a third embodiment;

fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an energy conversion device according to a fourth embodiment;

fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of an energy conversion device according to a fifth embodiment;

fig. 6 shows a schematic diagram of an energy conversion device according to a sixth embodiment;

fig. 7 shows a schematic diagram of an energy conversion device according to a seventh embodiment;

fig. 8 shows a schematic diagram of an energy conversion device according to an eighth embodiment;

fig. 9 shows a schematic diagram of an energy conversion device according to a ninth embodiment; and is also provided with

Fig. 10 shows a schematic diagram of an energy conversion device according to a tenth embodiment.

Like parts will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the various figures.

Detailed Description

In the field of power generation using fossil fuels, it is required to reduce the generation of carbon dioxide, and it is known that the generation of carbon dioxide is dangerous. There are some power generation arrangements that can use a transmission fluid to recover heat to save energy. The fluid used may be carbon dioxide. According to one aspect, the present subject matter relates to an arrangement of an energy conversion device comprising a plurality of drive units for driving an associated load, all of the drive units operating based on recovering heat generated by combustion of fossil fuel transported by carbon dioxide.

Referring now to the drawings, fig. 1 shows a fuel-to-mechanical energy conversion device, or simply energy conversion device, according to a first embodiment, indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 1.

In particular, the energy conversion device 1 basically comprises: a plurality of drive units 2 connected to respective loads, as will be better explained below; a plurality of heat exchange recuperators 3, each connected to an associated drive unit 2; a compression and pumping unit 4 connected to the heat exchange recuperator 3; and a fluid or carbon dioxide feedback line 5 connected between the output of the compression and pumping unit 4 and the heat exchange recuperator 3.

With continued reference to fig. 1, the energy conversion device 1 specifically comprises three drive units, namely a first drive unit 21, a second drive unit 22 and a third drive unit 23.

The first drive unit 21 comprises, inter alia, a burner 211 and an expander 212 connected to the burner 211. The burner 211 has: a fuel inlet 214 for introducing fuel to be combusted; an oxidant inlet 215 for introducing additional fluids, namely carbon dioxide and pure oxygen, for the situation; and a fluid inlet 216 for supplying a fluid to be recovered, as further explained below.

More specifically, with reference to oxidant inlet 215, the fluid may consist of pure oxygen or a mixture of pure oxygen and carbon dioxide, taken from the described loop in the solution. Pure oxygen is produced by commercially available production methods, such as ASU-air separation units or any other available system.

The rotation shaft 213 is also driven by the expander 212. Each drive unit 2 is capable of converting fuel and carbon dioxide as inputs to the burner 211 into mechanical energy.

Still referring to the first drive unit 21, the first drive unit is connected to a motor E, which is connected to an expander 212 through a rotation shaft 213. Then, in this case, the motor E is the load of the first drive unit 21. Thus, with this configuration, the first drive unit 21 is able to convert the chemical energy obtained by combusting the fuel and expanding the carbon dioxide (the fluid used) into electrical energy, possibly introduced into the mains (not shown in the figures).

Referring now to the second drive unit 22, the second drive unit further comprises a burner 221 and an expander 222, but in this case the second drive unit is connected by an associated rotation shaft 223 to a centrifugal compressor C, which in this case is a mechanical load. Of course, different mechanical loads may be provided as desired. Expander 222 also has a fuel inlet 224, an oxidant inlet 225, and a fluid inlet 226.

Also, the third driving unit 23 includes a burner 23 and an expander 232, similar to the first driving unit 21 and the second driving unit 22. The expander 232 has a fuel inlet 234, an oxidant inlet 235, and a fluid inlet 236. The fluid expander 232 is connected to another centrifugal compressor C by a rotary shaft 233, in this case also as a mechanical load.

With the arrangement shown in fig. 1, the energy conversion device 1 drives a generator E to generate electrical energy and drives two mechanical loads, namely a centrifugal compressor C.

In some embodiments, a gearbox may be included between the drive units 21,22 and 23 and the associated loads connected to the associated rotation shafts 213,223 and 233. The conversion ratio of the gearbox varies according to design requirements.

In other embodiments, a different number of drive units 2 may be foreseen, depending on the number and type of loads to be driven.

For each drive unit 2, namely the first drive unit 21, the second drive unit 22 and the third drive unit 23, there is an associated heat exchange recuperator 3. Each heat exchange recuperator 3 has a first inlet 31 connected to the carbon dioxide feedback line 5 through which high pressure, low temperature carbon dioxide enters into each heat exchange recuperator 3 and a first outlet 32 connected to the burner 211 of the associated drive unit 2, and in particular to the fluid inlet 216 through which high pressure and high temperature carbon dioxide is introduced into the burner of the associated drive unit 2, for example with reference to the first drive unit 21.

Furthermore, each heat exchange recuperator 3 has a second inlet 33 connected to the expander of the associated drive unit 2 through a turbine exhaust stream, for example, with reference to the first drive unit 21, to the expander 212, where low pressure, high temperature carbon dioxide, used here as a fluid, enters the heat exchange recuperator 3, and a second outlet 34 connected to a compression and pumping system 4 (as further explained below), where low pressure, low temperature fluid (carbon dioxide) is extracted from the heat exchange recuperator 3.

The heat exchange recuperator 3 is configured to heat a high pressure (details about the pressure and temperature operating range of the fluid (i.e., carbon dioxide) are given below) before being introduced into the drive unit 2 and expanded by combustion of the fuel, so as to drive a load connected thereto, i.e., the generator E or the centrifugal compressor C. The heat exchange recuperator 3 heats the carbon monoxide from the carbon dioxide feedback line 5 with the heated carbon monoxide of the exhaust stream of the associated drive unit 2. In other words, the heat exchange recuperator 3 cools the fluid (carbon dioxide), transfers its heat to the high pressure fluid from the carbon dioxide feedback line 5, and then introduces it into the drive unit 2.

The heat exchange recuperator 3 may include one or more heat exchangers to allow improved heat extraction from the carbon dioxide feedback line 5.

Still referring to fig. 1, it can be seen that a compression and pumping unit 4 is connected between the second outlet 34 of each drive unit 3 and the carbon dioxide feedback line 5. The compression and pumping unit 4 has a function of separating water and a general wet portion from the fluid and increasing the pressure of the fluid, and is then reheated by the heat exchange recuperator 3.

The compression and pumping unit 4 shown in the first embodiment of the energy conversion device 1 of fig. 1 comprises a separation unit 41, a compressor 42, a heat exchanger 43 and a pump 44 connected in series.

In other embodiments, there may also be multiple sets of compressors and pumps, possibly operating in parallel.

After being cooled by the heat exchange recuperator 3, the separation unit 41 separates the liquid water from the discharge streams from each of the drive units 21,22, and 23.

After the fluid is dehumidified by the separation unit 41, the compressor 42 compresses the fluid, thereby increasing the pressure of the fluid.

The fluid then passes through the heat exchanger 43 such that the temperature of the fluid reaches ambient temperature.

Finally, the fluid passes through a pump 44 which increases the pressure of the fluid before introducing it into the carbon dioxide feedback line 5, which is connected to the first inlet 31 of the heat exchange recuperator 3, as described above.

In addition, the carbon dioxide feedback line 5 comprises a carbon dioxide extraction line 51, whereby pressurized carbon dioxide can be extracted from the plant 1. The advantages and operation of extraction line 51 will be further explained below.

The operation of the energy conversion device 1 is as follows.

The fuel and fluid (i.e. in the case described carbon dioxide) enter the burner of each drive unit 2 through a fuel inlet, an oxidant inlet and a fluid inlet. In particular, fuel and carbon dioxide enter the burner 211 of the first drive unit 21, the burner 221 of the second drive unit 22, and the burner 231 of the third drive unit 23. The expander of each drive unit 2 then drives the associated load. More specifically, the expander 212 of the first drive unit 21 drives the generator E, while the expander 222 of the second drive unit 22 and the expander 232 of the third drive unit 23 drive the associated centrifugal compressor C (or compressors).

Carbon dioxide is introduced from each of the expanders 212,222 and 232 to the second inlet 33 of the heat exchange recuperator 3, the carbon dioxide now expanding but having a high temperature in view of the combustion reaction. In particular, in the energy conversion device 1 according to the first embodiment, the temperature is comprised between 500 ℃ and 700 ℃ and the pressure is comprised between 20 bar and 40 bar. Depending on the type of drive unit 2 installed and the load operated by each unit, different temperature ranges may be foreseen.

The fluid is then cooled after passing through the heat exchange recuperator 3 such that the temperature reaches approximately ambient temperature while the pressure is almost the same. The fluid (i.e., carbon dioxide) exits the heat exchange recuperator 3 to a compression and pumping unit 4. In particular, water is extracted from the fluid by the separation unit 41 and discharged through the drain 45.

The fluid is at ambient temperature and at a nearly constant pressure, i.e. kept at about 20 bar to 40 bar, before being compressed by the compressor 42, whereas the temperature depends on the cooling temperature of the cooling medium. Whereas after the compressor 42 the temperature of the fluid is dependent on the architecture of the compressor 42 (the compressor 42 may or may not be intercooled), the pressure is increased to 60 bar to 100 bar.

The fluid then passes through the heat exchanger 43, after which the fluid is at the same pressure of 60 bar to 100 bar and returns to the cooling fluid/room temperature.

Finally, the pressure of the fluid is increased by the pump 44 to 250 bar to 350 bar, the temperature depending on the architecture of the pump 44. Indeed, in some embodiments, the pump 44 may be equipped with an intercooler (or not) depending on the pump design. The fluid at ambient temperature and pressure of 250 bar to 350 bar is then introduced into the carbon dioxide feedback line 5.

As previously mentioned, the feedback line 5 has an extraction line 51, which is able to extract part of the carbon dioxide (CO) directly under pressurized and pure conditions, before entering the heat exchanger 3 ₂ ). The amount of carbon dioxide extracted is such that the manifold pressure of the feedback line 5 remains relatively constant (between 250 bar and 350 bar) while this amount is affected by the load of the plant operation. In other words, the carbon dioxide extracted from extraction line 51 is directly associated with the fuel consumed by device 1.

In other embodiments, extraction line 51 may also be placed before (upstream) pumping by pump 44 in the event that a lower pressure carbon dioxide product is desired by a possible other end user/application. The fuel-to-mechanical energy conversion device 1 thus has the additional advantage of having the function of producing pure carbon dioxide at possibly different pressures. Furthermore, more than one extraction line may be provided in the energy conversion device 1, which extraction lines are connected in different areas or points of the carbon dioxide circuit, as required, to extract carbon dioxide at different pressures.

As described above, the feedback line 5 connects the pump 44 to the first inlet 31 of the heat exchange recuperator 3. Through the heat exchange recuperator 3, the carbon dioxide undergoes a temperature increase, maintaining the same pressure. In this way, the fluid has a pressure of 250 bar to 350 bar and a temperature of between 500 ℃ and 700 ℃ before entering each drive unit 21,22 or 23.

It is evident that the energy conversion device 1 can drive three different loads, even different from each other, by low emissions of carbon dioxide, which is used as fluid to be compressed and at elevated temperature, using a thermodynamic cycle in which the heat exchange recuperator 3 recovers part of the heat generated by the drive unit 2 and in particular by the expander.

In this way, carbon dioxide is obtained that is captured directly in pressurized form, while maintaining a high efficiency of the plant 1, which also reduces the capital expenditure for maintaining the energy conversion plant 1 itself.

Referring now to fig. 2, a second embodiment of the energy conversion device 1 can be seen. In particular, the layout of the apparatus 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment, wherein the expander 212 of the first drive unit 21 is still connected to the generator E and the expander 232 of the third drive unit 23 is connected to the centrifugal compressor C. However, the expander 222 of the second drive unit 2 is now always connected to the centrifugal compressor C by the rotary shaft 233 and is connected in series to the motor E. With this arrangement, the electric machine E can operate as an auxiliary motor as well as a generator for the centrifugal compressor C. The electric machine E is in fact connected to an electrical conversion unit (not shown here for simplicity) which allows it to operate both as an auxiliary motor and as a generator in case the expander 212 has some excess power, which can then be converted into electrical energy. In other words, the difference between the energy conversion apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment (fig. 1) and the energy conversion apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment (fig. 2) is that the load of the second power generation unit 22 is the compressor C connected in series to the motor E.

Also, in a modification, the motor E may be connected to the rotation shaft 223, and the centrifugal compressor C may be connected downstream of the motor E. With this arrangement, the generator/electric machine E can be operated as an auxiliary motor as well as a generator for the centrifugal compressor C. The electric machine E is in fact connected to an electrical conversion unit (not shown here for simplicity) which allows it to operate both as an auxiliary motor and as a generator in case the expander 212 has some excess power, which may be converted into electrical energy.

The operation of the power generation apparatus 1 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Referring now to fig. 3, a third embodiment of the power plant 1 is shown, wherein all drive units 21,22 and 23 are connected to the respective centrifugal compressors C, in comparison to the first embodiment. In this case, all loads are mechanical.

The operation of the power generation apparatus 1 of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Referring to fig. 4, a fourth embodiment of the energy conversion device 1 is shown, comprising two drive units 21 and 22 and two corresponding heat exchange recuperators 3.

Each of the drive units 21 and 22 is connected to a generator E for converting mechanical energy obtained from the rotation shafts 213 and 223 of the drive units 21 and 22 into electrical energy to be introduced into the mains, for example.

The operation of the power generation apparatus 1 of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Referring now to fig. 5, a fifth embodiment of an energy conversion device 1 is shown, comprising a plurality of drive units 2. Specifically, the energy conversion device includes a first drive unit 21, a second drive unit 22, and a third drive unit 23, which are connected to the generator E, the centrifugal compressor C, and the other centrifugal compressor C, respectively.

The energy conversion device 1 according to the fifth embodiment comprises a single heat exchange recuperator 3, in this case having a first inlet 31 connected to the carbon dioxide feedback line 5 and a first outlet 32 connected to the burners 211,221 and 231 of the drive units 21,22 and 23, through which high pressure, low temperature carbon dioxide enters the heat exchange recuperator 3, as described above. The high pressure, high temperature carbon dioxide is then introduced into the burners of the drive units 21,22 and 23.

The drive unit heat exchange recuperator 3 also has a plurality of second inlets, indicated by reference numerals 331, 332, and 333. The number of the second inlets 331, 332, and 333 is the same as that of the driving unit 2.

Each second inlet 331, 332 or 333 is connected to an associated expander of the drive unit 2.

Specifically, still referring to fig. 5, the second inlet 331 of the first drive unit 21 is connected to the associated expander 212, the second inlet 332 of the second drive unit 22 is connected to the associated expander 222, and the second inlet 333 of the third drive unit 23 is connected to the associated expander 232.

Finally, the heat exchange recuperator 3 has a second outlet 34 connected to the compression and pumping system 4, in particular to the separation unit 41. Low pressure and low temperature fluid (i.e., carbon dioxide) is extracted from heat exchange recuperator 3 through a second outlet 34.

The operation of the fifth embodiment of the energy conversion device 1 is entirely similar to the operation of the first embodiment. The main difference is the fact that: the single heat exchange recuperator 3 cools the exhaust fluid from the drive units 21,22, and 23 with carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide feedback line 5, which is now cooled by the single heat exchange recuperator 3, rather than having a heat exchange recuperator 3 for each drive unit 21,22, or 23.

This arrangement allows to reduce the complexity of the system and the overall cost of the system.

Referring now to fig. 6, a sixth embodiment of the energy conversion device 1 is shown. In this case, the layout is the same as the fifth embodiment shown in fig. 5, however, the second drive unit 22 is connected to a different load through a rotary shaft 223 which is connected to a combination of the centrifugal compressor C and the generator E instead of the centrifugal compressor C, wherein the generator may also be used as an auxiliary.

Referring to fig. 7, a seventh embodiment of a power plant 1 is shown, in which case the layout thereof is similar to that of the fifth embodiment, the power plant comprising only a single heat exchange recuperator 3 connected to all drive units 2, in which case all drive units are also three, in particular a first drive unit 21, a second drive unit 22 and a third drive unit 23.

In addition, each drive unit 21,22,23 is connected to the centrifugal compressor C by an associated load. In this embodiment, all loads are mechanical, similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 3.

Referring to fig. 8, an eighth embodiment of an energy conversion device 1 is shown, comprising a single heat exchange recuperator 3 connected to two drive units, indicated with reference numerals 21 and 22, each drive unit being connected to a generator E as a load.

In this case, a so-called energy generating island is realized, since all loads are generators E, intended to be connected to the mains or to supply current.

Referring to fig. 9, a ninth embodiment of the energy conversion device 1 is shown, which is similar in construction to the first embodiment, but for a central burner 6, which is now common to all drive units 21,22 and 23.

The central burner 6 has a fuel inlet 61 for introducing fuel to be combusted, an oxidant inlet 62 for introducing additional fluid, i.e. carbon dioxide and pure oxygen. Furthermore, the first outlet 32 of each heat exchange recuperator 3 is connected to a central burner 6, and in particular to a fluid inlet 63, to supply a fluid to be expanded, through which high pressure and high temperature carbon dioxide is introduced into said central burner 6. Finally, the combustion gas outlet 64 of the central burner 6 is connected to the hot gas inlets 217,227 and 237 of each drive unit 21,22 and 23, respectively.

The operation of the energy conversion device 1 of fig. 9 is similar to the first embodiment disclosed in fig. 1. However, in the embodiment, the combustion of the fuel supplied through the fuel inlet 61 is performed by the central burner 6 to the plurality of driving units 2 (no associated burner is provided in this embodiment). The combusted gases then expand into each of the drive units 21,22 and 23.

Referring to fig. 10, a tenth embodiment of the energy conversion device 1 is shown, similar in construction to the ninth embodiment, but instead of the central burner 6, the energy conversion device 1 comprises a central heater 7.

The central heater 7 has a fluid inlet 71 connected to the first outlet 32 of each heat exchange recuperator 3 to supply the fluid to be expanded. The hot gas outlet 72 of the central heater 7 is connected to the hot gas inlets 217,227 and 237 of each drive unit 21,22 and 23, respectively.

The operation of the energy conversion device 1 of fig. 10 is similar to the operation of the ninth embodiment disclosed in fig. 9. However, in the present embodiment, the fluid from the heat exchanger 3 is heated by the central heater 7 and then distributed to the plurality of driving units 2 through the line manifold exiting from the gas outlet 72 of the central heater 7. The combusted gases then expand into each of the drive units 21,22 and 23. The central heater 7 may be of several types and the thermal energy may be obtained in any way, such as by combustion (performed externally with respect to the central heater 7), radiation, etc.

One advantage of the present solution is that it increases the efficiency of the plant and possibly allows direct capture of carbon dioxide at high pressure.

Another advantage of this solution is that no motor driven compressor train is required, thus reducing the overall capital expenditure of the apparatus. In addition, a flat power output can be achieved at ambient temperature while improving efficiency. Furthermore, the solution can also be applied in the brown field (retrofit) and in the green field.

While aspects of the present invention have been described in terms of various specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, changes and omissions are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. Furthermore, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments unless otherwise indicated herein.

Reference has been made in detail to embodiments of the disclosure, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the disclosure, not limitation of the disclosure. Indeed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" or "some embodiments" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" or "in some embodiments" appearing in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

When introducing elements of various embodiments, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Barzan co and Zanardo Roma s.p.a.

Claims

1. An energy conversion device (1), the energy conversion device comprising:

a fluid feedback line (5) for supplying a fluid;

-a compression and pumping unit (4) for compressing and increasing the pressure of the fluid feedback line (5);

two or more drive units (21, 22, 23),

wherein each drive unit (21, 22, 23) is connected to an associated load (C, E), and

wherein each drive unit (21, 22, 23) is capable of driving the associated load (C, E) by expanding the heated fluid,

wherein the energy conversion for heating the fluid is provided in a common manner or for each drive unit (21, 22, 23) itself;

at least one heat exchange recuperator (3),

connected between the fluid feedback line (5) and the drive units (21, 22, 23) and between each drive unit (21, 22, 23) and the compression and pumping unit (4), and

is arranged for heating the compression and pumping unit (4) by exchanging heat of the expanded exhaust fluid from the drive unit (21, 22, 23)

-said fluid supplied by said fluid feedback line (5) compressed to feed said drive unit (21, 22, 23).

2. Energy conversion device (1) according to the preceding claim, comprising a heat exchange recuperator (3) for each drive unit (21, 22, 23),

wherein each heat exchange recuperator (3) is connected between the fluid feedback line (5) and the associated drive unit (21, 22, 23) and between the associated drive unit (21, 22, 23) and the compression and pumping unit (4), and

wherein each heat exchange recuperator (3) is arranged for heating the fluid supplied by the fluid feedback line (5) before being fed to the associated drive unit (21, 22, 23) by exchanging heat of the expanded exhaust fluid from the associated drive unit (21, 22, 23).

3. The energy conversion device (1) according to claim 1, comprising a single heat exchange recuperator (3);

is connected between the fluid feedback line (5) and each drive unit (21, 22, 23) and between each drive unit (21, 22, 23) and the compression and pumping unit (4).

4. Energy conversion device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid mainly comprises carbon dioxide (CO ₂ )。

5. The energy conversion device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchange recuperator (3) may comprise one or more heat exchangers.

6. The energy conversion device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,

wherein each drive unit (21, 22, 23) comprises:

a burner (211, 221, 231) having

A fuel inlet (214, 224, 234) for introducing fuel to be combusted, and

an oxidant inlet (215, 225, 235) for supplying an oxidant to the burner (211, 221, 231),

a fluid inlet (216, 226, 236) for supplying the fluid to be expanded,

an expander (212, 222, 232) operatively connected to the burner (211, 221, 231),

-a rotating shaft (213,223,233) driven by the expander (212, 222, 232) connected to the load (C, E);

wherein the heat exchange recuperator (3) has

A first inlet (31) connected to the carbon dioxide feedback line (5),

a first outlet (32) connected to the fluid inlet (216, 226, 236) of the burner (211, 221, 231) of the associated drive unit (21, 22, 23),

at least one second inlet (33) connected to the expander (212, 222, 232) of at least one drive unit (21, 22, 23), and

-a second outlet (34) connected to the compression and pumping system (4).

7. The energy conversion device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising:

a central burner (6) having

A fuel inlet (61) for introducing the fuel to be combusted, and

an oxidant inlet (62) for supplying an oxidant to the central burner (6),

a fluid inlet (63) for receiving a recirculating fluid, an

A fluid outlet (64) for delivering the heated fluid to be expanded;

wherein each drive unit (21, 22, 23) comprises:

-a rotary shaft (213,223,233) driven by the expander (212, 222, 232), connected to the load (C, E), and

-a fluid inlet (217,227,237) fluidly connected to a respective fluid outlet (64) of the central burner (6);

wherein the heat exchange recuperator (3) has

A first inlet (31) connected to the carbon dioxide feedback line (5),

-a first outlet (32) connected to a respective fluid inlet (63) of the central burner (6),

at least one second inlet (33) connected to the outlet of the expander (212, 222, 232) of at least one drive unit (21, 22, 23), and

-a second outlet (34) connected to the compression and pumping system (4).

8. The energy conversion device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising:

a central heater (7) for heating the fluid conducted out of the heat exchange recuperator (3) having

A fluid inlet (71) for receiving the fluid to be heated, and

a fluid outlet (72) for delivering the heated fluid to be expanded;

wherein each drive unit (21, 22, 23) comprises:

-a fluid inlet (217,227,237) fluidly connected to a respective fluid outlet (72) of the central burner (6);

wherein the heat exchange recuperator (3) has

A first inlet (31) connected to the carbon dioxide feedback line (5),

-a second outlet (34) connected to the compression and pumping system (4).

9. The energy conversion device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the heat exchange recuperator (3) has a plurality of second inlets (33), each second inlet being connected to one associated expander (212, 222, 232) of a drive unit (21, 22, 23).

10. The energy conversion device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the compression and pumping unit (4) comprises:

at least one separation unit (41) for separating water from the fluid from the drive units (21, 22 and 23) after cooling by at least one heat exchange recuperator (3);

at least one compressor (42) for compressing a dehumidifying fluid and increasing the pressure of said fluid;

at least one heat exchanger (43); and

-at least one pump (44) operable for increasing the pressure of the fluid, wherein the pump (44) is connected between the heat exchanger (43) and the fluid feedback line (5).

11. Energy conversion device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the pump (44) increases the pressure of the fluid to 250 to 350 bar.

12. The energy conversion device (1) according to any one of claims 10 or 11, wherein the compressor (42) increases the pressure of the fluid to 60 to 100 bar.

13. Energy conversion device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one extraction line (51) of the fluid to extract the fluid under pressure.

14. Energy conversion device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the extraction line (51) is connected to the fluid feedback line (5).

15. The energy conversion device (1) according to any one of claims 13 or 14 when dependent on any one of claims 10 or 11, wherein the extraction line (51) is connected upstream of the pump (44).

16. Energy conversion device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature of the fluid heated by the heat exchange recuperator (3) supplied by the fluid feedback line (5) to feed to the drive unit (21, 22, 23) is between 500 ℃ and 700 ℃.

17. The energy conversion device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:

-a first drive unit (21) connected to an associated load (C, E); and

-a second drive unit (22) connected to the associated load (C, E).

18. The energy conversion device (1) according to the preceding claim,

wherein the load of the first drive unit (21) is a generator (E); and is also provided with

Wherein the load of the second drive unit (22) is a generator (E).

19. Energy conversion device (1) according to claim 17, comprising a third drive unit (23) connected to the associated load (C, E).

20. The energy conversion device (1) according to the preceding claim,

wherein the load of the first drive unit (21) is a generator (E);

wherein the load of the second drive unit (22) is a centrifugal compressor (C), or a centrifugal compressor (C) connected to a motor or generator (E), or a motor or generator (E) connected to a centrifugal compressor (C); and is also provided with

Wherein the load of the third drive unit (23) is a centrifugal compressor (C), or a centrifugal compressor (C) connected to a motor or generator (E), or a motor or generator (E) connected to a centrifugal compressor (C).

Barzan co and Zanardo Roma s.p.a.