JPH03100332A - Apparatus and method for generating electric power - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent the discharge of water into space by providing a gas generator for burning hydrogen and oxygen, a turbine generator, a hydrogen transporting means for feeding hydrogen to the gas generator and to a gas turbine and an oxygen transporting means for feeding oxygen to the gas generator. CONSTITUTION: A generator 10 includes a gas generator 12 for burning hydrogen and oxygen to produce hot exhaust gas containing steam. It also includes a turbine generator 14 having a turbine 16 for creating electricity by the rotation of the generator 18. The turbine 16 is driven with hydrogen heated by heat exchange with exhaust gas of the generator 12 in a second heat exchanger 20. Almost all steam in the exhaust gas is condensed into water by a condenser 22 and cooled by heat exchange with oxygen transported to the generator 12 in a first heat exchanger 23. At least part of water is driven by a turbo pump 24 and used to cool the generator 12, and unused (remaining) water 25 is fed through an entrance pressure control valve 26 to a reservoir 28.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to power generation, and more particularly to power generation apparatus and methods in a space environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Existing devices capable of generating electricity for spacecraft (including rockets, space stations, satellites, etc.) may be unsuitable for some applications.

Batteries and solar energy devices cannot provide large amounts of electricity (ie, more than about 1 kW) without increasing their size and weight. When electricity is generated using a turbine generator driven by a gas generator, water is inevitably ejected into space.

It is predicted that future activities in outer space will require power generation devices that can supply large amounts of electricity without emitting water into outer space. For example, production activities in zero gravity on a space station in Earth orbit require large amounts of electricity, but when water is released into space as a byproduct of the space station's power generating equipment, The performance of the surveillance camera may deteriorate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus and method for generating large amounts of electricity in a space environment.

Another object of the invention is to generate electricity in the form of an alternative to nuclear power.

Another object of this invention is to obtain electricity without releasing water into space.

According to a first aspect, the power generation device of the present invention includes a gas generator that burns hydrogen and oxygen, a turbine generator, and a turbine generator that sends hydrogen to an inlet area of the gas generator. A means for transporting hydrogen to the turbine and a means for transporting oxygen to the inlet region of the gas generator are provided. The device also includes a mechanism for exchanging heat between the hot (steam-containing) gas exhaust of the gas generator and the hydrogen that is sent to the turbine of the turbine generator. The apparatus further includes means for condensing substantially all of the exhaust steam into water after exchanging heat with the exhaust gas with hydrogen that is directed to the turbine. The apparatus further includes means for delivering at least a portion of the condensate to the combustion zone of the gas generator and storing the remainder of the condensate.

According to another aspect, the power generation device of the present invention includes a gas generator that burns hydrogen and oxygen, a turbine generator, a condenser, a heat exchanger, a tank, and a transportation means. The transport means includes a transport means for delivering oxygen to the inlet area of the gas generator and a transport means for transporting hydrogen to the condenser. The transport means further includes a hydrogen transport means for transporting hydrogen between the condenser and the inlet region of the gas generator, between the condenser and the heat exchanger, and between the heat exchanger and the turbine of the turbine generator. In addition, the means of transportation
It includes an exhaust transport means for transporting the exhaust gas between the gas generator exhaust outlet and the heat exchanger, between the heat exchanger and the condenser, between the condenser and the combustion area of the gas generator, and between the condenser and the metering.

According to yet another aspect, the power generation device of the present invention includes a gas generator that burns hydrogen and oxygen, a turbine generator, a condenser, first and second heat exchangers, a tank, and a transporter. and means. The transport means includes means for transporting oxygen to the first heat exchanger and means for transporting hydrogen to the condenser. The transport means further includes a hydrogen transport means for transporting hydrogen between the condenser and the inlet region of the gas generator, between the condenser and the second heat exchanger, and between the second heat exchanger and the turbine of the turbine generator. include. The transport means further includes an oxygen transport means for transporting oxygen between the first heat exchanger and the inlet region of the gas generator. In addition, the means of transportation are
The exhaust gas is routed between the exhaust outlet of the gas generator and the second heat exchanger, between the second heat exchanger and the condenser, between the condenser and the first heat exchanger, and between the first heat exchanger and the combustion area of the gas generator. and an exhaust conveying means for calibrating the exhaust gas between the first heat exchanger and the first heat exchanger.

In yet another aspect, the power generation method of the present invention provides hydrogen and oxygen to the inlet region of the gas generator to produce hot exhaust gas containing steam from the exhaust outlet of the gas generator, and the hydrogen to the turbine generator. turbine.

Furthermore, heat is exchanged between the exhaust gas of the gas generator and the hydrogen sent to the turbine of the turbine generator, and after the exhaust gas exchanges heat with the hydrogen sent to the turbine of the turbine generator, all the steam is removed from the exhaust gas into water. condensed into. Furthermore, at least a portion of the condensed water is sent to the combustion zone of the gas generator and the remainder of the condensed water is stored.

In yet another embodiment, the power generation method of the present invention is the same as the embodiment described in the paragraph above, but with hydrogen and oxygen being directed into the inlet region of the gas generator and hot exhaust gas containing steam from the exhaust outlet of the gas generator. As an alternative to the step of producing gas, a stoichiometric mixture of hydrogen and oxygen is sent to the inlet region of the gas generator to produce steam exhaust from the gas generator's exhaust outlet.

This invention has many effects and advantages. A large amount of electricity can be obtained by using a turbine generator. The use of gas generators provides an alternative to nuclear energy. Since it operates in a closed water cycle, the release of water into space can be avoided. The use of stoichiometric hydrogen-oxygen mixtures provides good fuel utilization efficiency. Water can be injected into the gas generator to cool it.

Specific Configuration As shown in FIG. 1, a power generation device 10 of the present invention includes a gas generator 12 that burns hydrogen and oxygen to generate high-temperature exhaust gas containing steam (preferably only steam). Briefly, the apparatus 10 also includes a turbine generator 14 having a turbine 16 that rotates a generator 18 to produce electricity.

Turbine 16 is not driven by exhaust gas from gas generator 12 as is done in conventional systems.

Instead, the turbine 16 is driven by hydrogen heated by heat exchange with the exhaust gas of the gas generator in the second heat exchanger 20. Almost all of the water vapor in the exhaust gas is condensed into water in the condenser 22, and further cooled by heat exchange with oxygen carried to the gas generator 12 in the first heat exchanger 23. At least a portion of this water is driven by the turbo pump 24 and the gas generator 12
The unused (remaining) water 25 is sent to a water storage tank 28 through an inlet pressure regulating valve 26.

The device further comprises means for transporting hydrogen (including liquid and/or gas) 50a-50e, transport means for oxygen (including liquid and/or gas) 48a-48b1 and (steam, saturated steam and/or water). (including) exhaust transportation means 60a to 60g. Such vehicles may consist of vibrators (or other conduits), manifolds, ducts, valves, and other components for transporting hydrogen, oxygen, or exhaust air, as is well known to those skilled in the art. preferable. In addition, the heat exchanger and condenser described above are means for exchanging heat and means for condensing into water, respectively, and any type of heat exchanger in which heat exchange between two quantities of substances does not involve physical mixing. For example, there may be a device having two sets of close multiple tubes, or a device in which a multiple tube through which a second substance flows passes through a housing through which a first substance flows.

Gas generator 12 for combusting hydrogen and oxygen includes an inlet area 30 (for receiving and taking hydrogen and oxygen), an inlet area 30 (for receiving and taking hydrogen and and a combustion zone 32 (for igniting oxygen and receiving cooling water) and an exhaust outlet 34. Inner wall 36 is surrounded by a generally bell-shaped impermeable outer wall 38 to define a generally bell-shaped channel 40 therebetween. This structure is known to those skilled in the art as typical of conventional hydrogen/oxygen rocket engines. While conventional rocket engines cool the rocket engine by introducing hydrogen into the channels and then permeating the hydrogen through the porous inner wall, in the present invention water is injected into the channels 40 from the water inlet 42 in the outer wall 38. This cools the gas generator 12 and allows its exchange water to permeate through the porous inner wall 36 into the combustion zone 32 . A hydrogen inlet pipe 44 in which an oxygen inlet pipe 46 is concentrically arranged and fixed is connected to the inner wall 36 and the outer wall 3 of the gas generator 12.
8 near the entrance area 30. Hydrogen and oxygen are ignited within combustion zone 32 by conventional ignition means (ignition means are not part of this invention and are not shown) to produce hot exhaust gas containing steam. When hydrogen and oxygen are supplied in stoichiometric ratios, only steam is produced.

The transport means 48a is for transporting oxygen to the first heat exchanger 23. Preferably, the oxygen is in the form of pressurized, cold liquid oxygen, as found in typical rocket engines. The oxygen passes through the first heat exchange '523 as pressurized oxygen gas, and the transport means 48b transports the oxygen between the first heat exchanger 23 and the inlet area of the gas generator 12.

The transportation means 50a is for transporting hydrogen to the condenser 22. Preferably, the hydrogen is in the form of a pressurized, cold gas, which can be realized by those skilled in the art.

Hydrogen is transferred to condenser 2 as warm gas pressurized to a higher pressure.
2, the transport means 50b transports the hydrogen between the condenser 22 and the inlet area of the gas generator 12.

To start the gas generator, additional valves and piping direct hydrogen and oxygen to a torch igniter (all not shown), as is well known in rocket engine technology.

The transportation means 50c transports hydrogen from the condenser 22 to the second heat exchanger 2.
This is to bring it to 0. The hydrogen exits the second heat exchanger 20 as a highly pressurized, high-method gas, and the transport means 50d transports the hydrogen from the second heat exchanger 20 between the turbine 16 and the turbine generator 14. Drive to generate electricity. Such a transportation means 50d has a pipe 52 branching from the second heat exchanger 20 into two valves 54 and 56, one valve 54 is connected to the turbine 16 by a pipe 58, and the second valve 56 is connected to the turbine 16 (59a). ) It is preferable to have a configuration that exhausts the air into outer space. The used hydrogen coming out of the turbine 16 is also exhausted into space at 59b.

The transport means 60a, 60b and 60c transport the exhaust gas of the gas generator from the exhaust outlet 34 to the second heat exchanger 20, from the second heat exchanger 20 to the condenser 22, and from the condenser 22 to the first
It is for conveying to the heat exchanger 23. Second heat exchanger 2
The exhaust gas, which is all steam when it enters zero, is saturated steam when it exits the second heat exchanger 20 and enters the condenser 22, and hot water when it exits the condenser 22 and enters the first heat exchanger RI23. It is preferable to have one.

The transport means 60d and 60e transport the cold water effluent from the first heat exchanger 23 to the pump section 62 of the turbo pump 24;
The gas is then transported from the turbo pump 24 to the combustion region of the gas generator 12.

Hydrogen is transferred to the condenser 22 to drive the turbo pump 24.
A transport means 50e is provided for transporting the fuel from the turbo pump 24 to the turbine section 64 of the turbo pump 24.

The spent hydrogen exiting the turbine 64 is discharged (at 65) into space. The transportation means 60f and 60g are
It is for conveying the cold water effluent from the first heat exchanger 23 to the inlet pressure regulating valve 26 of the water tank 28 and from the inlet pressure regulating valve 26 to the water tank 28 . Inlet pressure control valve 26
The setting determines how much of the waste water is sent to the water storage tank 28 and how much of the waste water is injected into the combustion region of the gas generator 12.

In the power generation method of the present invention, hydrogen and oxygen are transported to the inlet region 30 of the gas generator 12, and high-temperature exhaust gas containing steam is produced from the exhaust outlet 34 of the gas generator 12. In addition, in this method, hydrogen is transferred to the turbine 1 of the turbine generator 14.
6 to exchange heat between the exhaust gas and the hydrogen transported to turbine 16.

Furthermore, after the exhaust gas has completed heat exchange with the hydrogen carried to the turbine 16, substantially all of the steam from the exhaust gas is condensed into water;
At least a portion of the condensed water is transferred to the combustion zone 3 of the gas generator 12.
2 and store the remainder of the condensate. A substantially stoichiometric mixture of hydrogen and oxygen is introduced into the inlet region 3 of the gas generator 12.
Preferably, the gas is supplied to the gas generator to produce a substantially steam exhaust from the exhaust outlet 34 of the gas generator.

In addition, when operating this power generation device so that gas remains in the exhaust gas even after the first heat exchanger 23, as an appropriate design, all the exhaust gas from the first heat exchanger 23 is removed from the inlet pressure regulating valve. 26 and a water storage tank 28. In that case, the water storage tank 28 is provided with a gas separator (a hydrogen separator if the device is operated to generate hydrogen from exhaust gas mainly consisting of steam) and an exhaust port for discharging the gas into space (both shown in the figure). (not shown). A transport means (not shown) is then provided for conveying water from the reservoir 28 to the pump section 62 of the turbo pump 24. Those skilled in the art should be able to understand the operation of the power generation device of the present invention from the above explanation. Control of the device (hydrogen and oxygen supply conditions, settings of the inlet pressure control valve 26, settings of the hydrogen inlet valve 54 and bypass valve 56 of the turbine generator turbine 16, etc.) will not be described, but is an element constituting the present invention. Rather, such control is within the ordinary skill of those skilled in the art.

Several preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the power generating apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the gas generator shown in FIG. 1. Explanation of main symbols 10: Power generator, 12: Gas generator, 14: Turbine generator, 16: Turbine, 18: Generator,
20: Second heat exchanger, 22: Condenser, 23:
1st heat exchanger, :turbo pump, :water tank, :combustion area, :inner wall, :outer wall, :hydrogen inlet pipe, :oxygen transport means, 54:pipe, :exhaust transport means. :Pressure control valve, 2nd person area, :Exhaust outlet, 2 channels, :Water inlet, :Oxygen inlet pipe, :Hydrogen transport means, 56:Valve

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. (a) A gas generator for combusting hydrogen and oxygen to produce high-temperature exhaust gas containing steam, the gas generator including an inlet region, a combustion region, and an exhaust outlet; (b) a turbine generator having a turbine; (c) hydrogen transport means for delivering hydrogen to an inlet region of said gas generator and for delivering hydrogen to said turbine; and (d) hydrogen transport means for delivering oxygen to an inlet region of said gas generator. (e) means for heat exchange between said exhaust gas and hydrogen directed to said turbine; and (f) means for carrying out heat exchange between said exhaust gas and hydrogen directed to said turbine; A power generating apparatus comprising: means for condensing substantially all of the steam into water; and (g) means for delivering at least a portion of the condensed water to a combustion region of the gas generator and storing the remainder of the condensed water. 2. (a) A gas generator for combusting hydrogen and oxygen to produce high-temperature exhaust gas containing steam, the gas generator including an inlet region, a combustion region, and an exhaust outlet; (c) a condenser; (d) a means of transport for hydrogen to said condenser; (e) a heat exchanger; and (f) a turbine generator. (h) means for transporting hydrogen from the condenser to the inlet region of the gas generator, from the condenser to the heat exchanger, and from the heat exchanger to the turbine; (i) (j) directing the exhaust gas from the exhaust outlet to the heat exchanger, from the heat exchanger to the condenser, from the condenser to the combustion zone of the gas generator, and from the condenser to the combustion zone of the gas generator; and a means for transporting exhaust gas to the tank. 3. (a) a gas generator that burns hydrogen and oxygen to produce high-temperature exhaust gas containing steam, the gas generator including an inlet region, a combustion region, and an exhaust outlet; (b) a first heat exchanger; (c) an oxygen transport means for transporting oxygen to the first heat exchanger; (d) a condenser; (e) a transport means for transporting hydrogen to the condenser; (f) a second heat exchanger; (g) a turbine generator having a turbine; (h) transferring hydrogen from the condenser to the inlet region of the gas generator, from the condenser to the second heat exchanger, and (i) an oxygen transport means for transporting oxygen from the first heat exchanger to the inlet region of the gas generator; (j) a tank; (k) a tank; The exhaust gas is passed from the exhaust outlet to the second heat exchanger, from the second heat exchanger to the condenser, from the condenser to the first heat exchanger, and from the first heat exchanger to the gas generation. a combustion zone of the machine and an exhaust transport means for conveying exhaust gas from the first heat exchanger to the tank. 4. The exhaust transport means between the first heat exchanger and the combustion region of the gas generator includes a turbo pump, and the device further includes a hydrogen transport means for transporting hydrogen from the condenser to the turbo pump. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising: 5. The tank includes an inlet pressure regulating valve, and the exhaust transport means between the first heat exchanger and the tank sends the exhaust gas from the first heat exchanger to the inlet pressure regulating valve. 5. The apparatus of claim 4. 6. (a) delivering hydrogen and oxygen to the inlet region of the gas generator to produce hot exhaust gas containing steam from the exhaust outlet of the gas generator; (b) delivering hydrogen to the turbine of the turbine generator; (c) ) exchanging heat between the exhaust gas and hydrogen directed to the turbine; (d) condensing substantially all of the steam from the exhaust gas into water after the exhaust gas exchanges heat with hydrogen directed to the turbine; (e) directing at least a portion of the condensed water to a combustion zone of the gas generator; and (f) storing the remainder of the condensed water. 7. (a) delivering a substantially stoichiometric mixture of hydrogen and oxygen to the inlet region of the gas generator to produce an exhaust consisting substantially of steam from the gas generator's exhaust outlet; and (b) directing the hydrogen to the turbine generator. (c) exchanging heat between the exhaust gas and hydrogen sent to the turbine; and (d) converting substantially all of the steam exhaust after heat exchange with the hydrogen sent to the turbine. (e) directing at least a portion of the condensed water to a combustion zone of the gas generator; and (f) storing the remainder of the condensed water.