GB2494140A - Solar-powered gas turbine engine with direct heating - Google Patents
Solar-powered gas turbine engine with direct heating Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2494140A GB2494140A GB201114951A GB201114951A GB2494140A GB 2494140 A GB2494140 A GB 2494140A GB 201114951 A GB201114951 A GB 201114951A GB 201114951 A GB201114951 A GB 201114951A GB 2494140 A GB2494140 A GB 2494140A
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- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- text
- turbine engine
- solar
- engine according
- powered
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03G—SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03G6/00—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy
- F03G6/06—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with solar energy concentrating means
- F03G6/064—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with solar energy concentrating means having a gas turbine cycle, i.e. compressor and gas turbine combination
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
- Y02E10/46—Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
Abstract
A solar powered gas turbine engine receives solar radiation 2 through windows 5 into heating zone 7. The turbine engine has a compressor 10 and turbine 9. The turbine 9 may receive further solar radiation 2 which heats parts of the turbine such as blades 8, to provide turbine re-heat. The radiation may be provided by a solar concentrator with a first concave mirror, a second convex mirror (1, 3, figure 1) and third mirrors or prisms (4, figure 2) to distribute the light to appropriate parts of the gas turbine engine.
Description
Solar-powered gas turbine engine with optical concentration of radiation into the turbine engine.
This invention relates to a solar-powered gas turbine engine, in which a large diameter optical concentrator and additional optics focus solar radiation into a gas turbine engine, such that it heats the flowing gas inside the turbine engine, thus allowing this gas to transfer power to the turbine, from whence it is used to perform useflul work. (For clarity, the term "turbine engine" refers to the entire assembly of compressor, heating zone, turbine discs and the casing in which they are enclosed. The term "turbine" refers to the set of turbine discs, which are turned by the heated gas.) In current solar-thermal generators, a large-area optical concentrator -a concave mirror or a lens (usually a Fresnel lens) focuses solar radiation onto a collector located at the focal point of the optical concentrator. The incident solar radiation heats a fluid which passes through this collector. This fluid may be a liquid (generally water) which is heated to form vapour (steam, in the case of water), which is used to drive a vapour-cycle turbine engine. Alternatively, gas may be heated in the collector, and then used to drive a gas turbine engine.
For each of these variations, there are factors which tend to reduce the energy conversion efficiency. In transferring the heat from the collector to the turbine engine, heat is lost due to conduction, etc. The use of a heat exchanger in this transfer incurs additional losses. A steam turbine engine has a maximum operating temperature of a few hundred degrees, which is much lower than the temperature which can be obtained in the solar collector. The second law of thermodynamics thus limits the efficiency to well below that obtainable if the collector temperature could be used. A gas turbine engine can operate at higher temperatures, approaching that of the solar collector. The Ericsson cycle has an efficiency close to the limit (Carnot cycle efficiency) for a given operating temperature. However, practical implementation of the Ericsson cycle involves very large turbine engines. Most gas turbine engines are based on the Brayton cycle, which has a lower efficiency, but is easier to implement practically. Heat recovery techniques, such as regeneration and recuperation, produce a working cycle which more closely resembles the Ericsson cycle, with a corresponding improvement in efficiency.
Higher efficiencies can be achieved in a combined cycle gas turbine (engine) (CCGT), in which the exhaust gas from the gas turbine engine (which is still at a high temperature) is used to heat water in a boiler, to generate steam which drives a steam turbine engine. The resulting increase in efficiency comes at the expense of a more complicated system involving two cascaded turbine engines.
To overcome the limitations stated above, the present invention incorporates a solar concentrator and additional optics, which directs solar radiation into the turbine engine, where it heats a working fluid to high temperature, such that it can drive a turbine and produce output power on the shaft to which the turbine discs are mounted. This shaft can be used to drive an electrical generator, or to perform other fonns of useffil work.
By concentrating solar radiation directly into the turbine engine, rather than a collector at the focal point of the concentrator, the heat losses in transferring a high temperature fluid from the collector to the turbine engine are avoided. This allows potentially higher conversion efficiencies. The high working temperature of a gas turbine engine can be used. The basic operation is based on the Brayton cycle, allowing for a practicable design. Direction of a fraction of the solar radiation onto the turbine discs (and other surfaces as required) can be used to add turbine reheat to the cycle. In addition, recuperation and equivalent or similar modifications can result in a working cycle, which is closer to the Ericsson cycle, with a corresponding improvement in efficiency. Optionally, the gas turbine engine can be coupled to a steam turbine engine to form a combined cycle gas turbine engine, for a further improvement in efficiency.
A particular implementation of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shows the primary and secondary optics.
Figure 2 shows the tertiary optics and a transverse section (relative to the axis) of the turbine engine.
Figure 3 shows the tertiary optics and a longitudinal section of the turbine engine.
In figure 1, the primary optical concentrator is a concave mirror 1. This directs the incoming solar radiation 2 onto the secondary minor 3, positioned just before the focal point of the primary mirror 1. This secondary mirror 2 directs the radiation 2 through a hole in the primary mirror 1. In this particular implementation, the primary mirror 1 and the secondary mirror 2 form a Cassegrain optical system. This system is steerable to follow the apparent daily and seasonal motion of the sun.
In figure 2, solar radiation 2 from the secondary minor 3 is directed by tertiary mirrors 4 through windows 5 in the casing of the turbine engine 6. A number of such tertiary minors may be used to achieve a reasonably uniform angular distribution of radiation entering the turbine engine casing, to provide even heating of the circulating gas.
In figure 3, the solar radiation 2 is shown entering the windows 5 located on the top surface of the casing of the turbine engine 6 Some of the solar radiation 2 enters the turbine engine 6 via windows into the heating zone 7, where it raises the circulating gas to high temperature, producing a thermodynamic cycle, and allowing the turbine engine 6 to produce useful work.
The remainder of the solar radiation 2 may optionally be directed onto the turbine rotor discs 8 andlor stator discs 9, to provide turbine reheat, for improved efficiency. The compressor 10 may incorporate intercooling, for a further improvement in efficiency.
The primary application of the turbine engine is to provide the mechanical shaft power to drive an electrical generator. In general, the shaft speed of a gas turbine engine (typically over 10,000 rpm) is much higher than the shaft speed of an electrical generator producing electrical power at typical grid frequencies (50 or 60 cycles per second (Hertz, Hz), requiring shaft speeds of 3000 or 3600 rpm for a two-pole generator). Two alternative approaches can be used to produce the required frequency from the high speed turbine engine.
In the first option, a reduction gearbox can be used to reduce the high shaft speed of the turbine engine to the lower shaft speed required for the generator to produce a frequency of 50 or 60 Hz.
This further requires that the shaft speed is accurately controlled, to maintain the correct electrical output frequency, subject to fluctuations in the level of solar radiation, and hence the power being converted by the turbine engine/generator.
In the second option, the turbine engine directly drives the generator at high shaft speed. The electrical output of this generator is therefore at a high frequency. This electrical output is rectified to direct current, and then re-converted by an inverter to alternating current at the grid frequency. This does not require control of the shaft speed of the turbine engine for the purpose of electrical frequency control.
A secondary application of the turbine engine is to provide power for specialised industrial processes. This may require electrical power (via a generator), or mechanical power directly via the shaft or a reduction gearbox, or a combination of the two. Heat may also be required for the industrial process, and the rejected heat from the thermodynamic cycle in the turbine engine (which would otherwise be wasted) can be used for this purpose.
Claims (1)
- <claim-text>Claims 1. A solar-powered turbine engine in which a set of optics concentrates solar radiation, and transfers it through windows in the casing of a turbine engine, to absorbing surfaces, where the resultant energy heats the fluid flowing through the engine to high temperature, thus allowing the hot fluid to rotate a set of turbine discs, which can then provide mechanical work to an external system.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, in which the primary optical component is a concave mirror.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1. in which the primary optical component is a lens system.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1 and Claim 3, in which the primary optical component is a Frcsnel lens system.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which a secondary optical component is located at the focal point of the primary optical component.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 2 or Claim 3, and Claim 5, in which the secondary optical component is a convex mirror.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 2 or Claim 3, and Claim 5, and Claim 6, in which tertiary optics directs solar radiation from the secondary optics onto the windows in the casing of a turbine engine.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 2 or Claim 3, and Claim 5, and Claim 6, and Claim 7, in which the tertiary optics consists of a set of minors.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 2 or Claim 3, and Claim 5, and Claim 6, and Claim 7, in which the tertiary optics consists of a set of prisms.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 2 or Claim 3, and Claim 5, and Claim 6, and Claim 7, and Claim 8 Claim 9, in which the tertiary optics consists of a combination of minors and prisms.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 2 or Claim 3, and Claim 5, in which the secondary optical component is a light pipe or a set of light pipes.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, in which the turbine engine is a gas turbine engine.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 12, in which the gas turbine engine implements the Ericsson cycle.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 12, and Claim 13, in which the gas turbine engine implements the Ericsson cycle, modified by additional heat transfer andlor work transfer processes.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim I, and Claim 12, in which the gas turbine engine implements the Brayton cycle.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 12, and Claim 15, in which the gas turbine engine implements the Brayton cycle, modified by additional heat transfer and/or work transfer processes.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 12, and Claim 15, and Claim 16, in which turbine reheat is incorporated into the Brayton cycle.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 12, and Claim 15, and Claim 16, and Claim 17, in which turbine reheat is implemented by appropriate distribution of the solar radiation entering the turbine engine via the windows and being absorbed on appropriately located heating surfaces.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 12, and Claim 15, and Claim 16, and Claim 17, and Claim 17, in which the appropriately located heating surfaces include the turbine blades mounted on the turbine discs.</claim-text> <claim-text>20. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 12, and Claim 15, and Claim 16, in which intercooling is incorporated into the Brayton cycle.</claim-text> <claim-text>21. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 12, and Claim 15, and Claim 16, in which recuperation is incorporated into the Brayton cycle.</claim-text> <claim-text>22. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 12, and Claim 15, and Claim 16, and Claim 17 and Claim 20 and Claim 21, in which a combination of these modifications are incorporated into the Brayton cycle.</claim-text> <claim-text>23. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, in which the turbine engine is a steam turbine engine.</claim-text> <claim-text>24. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 23, in which the steam turbine engine implements the Rankine cycle.</claim-text> <claim-text>25. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 23, and Claim 24, in which the steam turbine engine implements the Rankine cycle, modified by additional heat transfer andlor work transfer processes.</claim-text> <claim-text>26. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 12, and Claim 23, in which a gas turbine engine and a steam turbine engine are cascaded to form a combined cycle gas turbine engine.</claim-text> <claim-text>27. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, in which the output power of the turbine shaft is used to drive an electrical generator.</claim-text> <claim-text>28. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 27, in which a reduction gear system is incorporated to drive the generator at a lower rotational speed than the turbine shaft.</claim-text> <claim-text>29. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 27, and Claim 28, in which the speed of the turbine shaft and generator shaft arc controlled, such that the electrical power generated is at the voltage and frequency of the transmission grid to which the generator is connected.</claim-text> <claim-text>30. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 27, in which the turbine shaft directly drives the electrical generator.</claim-text> <claim-text>31. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 27, and Claim 30, in which a rectifier converts the alternating current output of the generator into direct current.</claim-text> <claim-text>32. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 27, and Claim 30, and Claim 31, in which the electrical power supplies a local load with direct current at a voltage suitable for operation of that load.</claim-text> <claim-text>33. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 27, and Claim 30, and Claim 31, in which an inverter converts the direct current from the rectifier into alternating current.</claim-text> <claim-text>34. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 27, and Claim 30, and Claim 31, and Claim 33, in which output at the voltage and frequency of the transmission grid to which the inverter is connected.</claim-text> <claim-text>35. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 27, and Claim 30 and Claim 31, and Claim 33, in which the electrical power supplies a local load at a voltage and frequency suitable for operation of that load.</claim-text> <claim-text>36. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, in which the turbine shaft provides mechanical power for direct application to an industrial process.</claim-text> <claim-text>37. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, in which heat recovered from the turbine engine is used for an industrial process.</claim-text> <claim-text>38. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 27, and Claim 37, in which electrical power from a generator coupled to the turbine engine and heat recovered from the turbine engine are used for an industrial process.</claim-text> <claim-text>39. A solar-powered turbine engine according to Claim 1, and Claim 27, and Claim 36, and Claim 37, in which any combination of electrical power, mechanical power and heat recovered from the turbine engine is used for an industrial process.</claim-text>
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB201114951A GB2494140A (en) | 2011-08-27 | 2011-08-27 | Solar-powered gas turbine engine with direct heating |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB201114951A GB2494140A (en) | 2011-08-27 | 2011-08-27 | Solar-powered gas turbine engine with direct heating |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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GB201114951D0 GB201114951D0 (en) | 2011-10-12 |
GB2494140A true GB2494140A (en) | 2013-03-06 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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GB201114951A Withdrawn GB2494140A (en) | 2011-08-27 | 2011-08-27 | Solar-powered gas turbine engine with direct heating |
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Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4403601A (en) * | 1979-07-26 | 1983-09-13 | Hunt Arlon J | Radiation receiver |
US6141949A (en) * | 1996-12-12 | 2000-11-07 | Deutsches Zentrum Fuer Luft- Und Raumfahrt E.V. | Process and apparatus using solar energy in a gas and steam power station |
FR2844561A1 (en) * | 2002-09-16 | 2004-03-19 | Bernard Pierre Million | Device for transforming solar energy into mechanical and electrical energy, comprises a convergent mirror and a turbine unit with electrical generator mounted on an orientable support |
US20080184989A1 (en) * | 2005-11-14 | 2008-08-07 | Mecham Travis W | Solar blackbody waveguide for high pressure and high temperature applications |
US20090134748A1 (en) * | 2007-09-17 | 2009-05-28 | Cristian Penciu | Systems and methods for collecting solar energy for conversion to electrical energy with piezoelectric generators |
US20090261592A1 (en) * | 2008-04-16 | 2009-10-22 | Kay Thomas P | Solar Energy Conversion Using Brayton System |
WO2010149277A2 (en) * | 2009-06-22 | 2010-12-29 | Eth Zurich | Non-stationary reciprocating solar thermal heat engine driven by pulsed concentrated solar irradiation |
US20110233940A1 (en) * | 2009-06-15 | 2011-09-29 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. | Solar-thermal gas turbine generator |
-
2011
- 2011-08-27 GB GB201114951A patent/GB2494140A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4403601A (en) * | 1979-07-26 | 1983-09-13 | Hunt Arlon J | Radiation receiver |
US6141949A (en) * | 1996-12-12 | 2000-11-07 | Deutsches Zentrum Fuer Luft- Und Raumfahrt E.V. | Process and apparatus using solar energy in a gas and steam power station |
FR2844561A1 (en) * | 2002-09-16 | 2004-03-19 | Bernard Pierre Million | Device for transforming solar energy into mechanical and electrical energy, comprises a convergent mirror and a turbine unit with electrical generator mounted on an orientable support |
US20080184989A1 (en) * | 2005-11-14 | 2008-08-07 | Mecham Travis W | Solar blackbody waveguide for high pressure and high temperature applications |
US20090134748A1 (en) * | 2007-09-17 | 2009-05-28 | Cristian Penciu | Systems and methods for collecting solar energy for conversion to electrical energy with piezoelectric generators |
US20090261592A1 (en) * | 2008-04-16 | 2009-10-22 | Kay Thomas P | Solar Energy Conversion Using Brayton System |
US20110233940A1 (en) * | 2009-06-15 | 2011-09-29 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. | Solar-thermal gas turbine generator |
WO2010149277A2 (en) * | 2009-06-22 | 2010-12-29 | Eth Zurich | Non-stationary reciprocating solar thermal heat engine driven by pulsed concentrated solar irradiation |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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GB201114951D0 (en) | 2011-10-12 |
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WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |