US2409159A

US2409159A - Elastic fluid conditioning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2409159A
Application number: US551370A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph L Singleton
Original assignee: Allis Chalmers Corp
Current assignee: Allis Chalmers Corp
Priority date: 1944-08-26
Filing date: 1944-08-26
Publication date: 1946-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 1963-10-08

Description

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ELASTIC FLUID CONITIONING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 26, 1944' cooL Ea SPA c s c 00L ER /g CO/VB (Aff/0N CHA MBE mom/W5 Patented st. 8, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Joseph L. Singleton, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company,

Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application August 26, 1944, Serial No. 551,370

i4 Claims.

This invention relates to gas conditioning and more particularly to apparatus for cooling and/or heating combustion supporting elastic fluids by the successive compression and expansion thereof.

In this connection, theknown apparatus for so treating elastic fluids embodies one or more compressors, a cooler, an expanding engine, and a prime mover; the expanding engine and prime mover being both drivingly connected with the gas compressing means. All of the compressed fluid passes successively through the cooler and expanding engine which necessitates either ernploying a self operative internal combustion engine type of prime mover or a separate power source if a turbine or an electric motor type of prime mover is employed. In either case, the initial and operating costs of such apparatus, particularly when designed for producing large quantities of cooled and/or heated low pressure fluid, are objectionably high, and in some instances, the space required for its installation and operation is also objectionable.

It is therefore the primary object of this in- 25 2, by means of a common shaftv I9 to one end of vention to provide a-self operative, simplified apparatus for eiiiciently cooling and/or heating large quantities of low pressure combustion Supporting elastic fluid.

The construction and operation of apparatus in accordance with this invention and the advantages afforded thereby will become readily apparent as the disclosure progresses and particu larly points out features which are considered of special importance and applicable to apparatus other and different from that herein shown and described for purposes of illustration.

Accordingly the invention may be considered as consisting of various correlations of elements and arrangement of parts as is more fully set forth in the detailed description and in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a gas turbine system embodying the invention; and

Fig. Z schematically illustrates still another gas turbine system embodying the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, it is seen that apparatus embodying the invention may be utilized for purposes of illustration, to deliver cool air to a room, building, or other air confining space I and that such apparatus may include a compressor 2, a, pair of

gas turbines

3 and 4 drivingly connected with compressor 2, a combustion suitable source (not shown) through a valve controlled pipe 6, and a cooler l.

Compressor 2 has its inlet connected with space l by means of a valve controlled conduit 8 and with the atmosphere by means of a valve controlled branch conduit 9. A major portion of the air discharged from compressor 2 is delivered to combustion chamber 5 by means of a conduit il while the remainder of the air dis- 10 charged from compressor 2 is delivered to the inturbine 4 is connected with space I by means of a conduit ifi and with conduit 8 by means of a valve controlled crossover conduit I6. A conduit il conducts the motive fluid generated in combustion chamber 5 to the inlet of turbine 3 which may exhaust to atmosphere through a conduit I8.

The fluid expanding prime movers, in this case the turbines 3 and Il, are preferably drivingly connected with a compressing means, compressor which may be connected a suitable starting device Or engine 2l. In starting, device 2l is operated until the compressing and fluid expanding elements attain a predetermined speed Where- 39 upon the system is rendered self operative by combusting fuel in the air or other elastic fluid delivered to one of the fluid expanding elements, in this case, the turbine 3; the speed of the compressing and fluid expanding elements and the quantity of elastic fluid compressed and severally delivered to such elements being readily varied to meet operating requirements by regulating fuel input, in this case, the quantity of fuel supplied to combustion chamber 5.

40 The temperature of that portion of the compressed air flowing through branch conduit l2` is preferably initially reduced in cooler l and then further reduced to the desired extent by expansion in turbine il. However, the valve in bypass conduit Hl may be selectively positioned as desired. The cold or cool air discharged from turbine 4 flows through pipe i4 into space I and/ or into conduit 8 depending upon the setting of the valve in crossover conduit I5. Space i is preferably providedV With a valve controlled discharge conduit 22 and all or a portion of the air entering such space may be discharged to atmosphere depending upon the setting of the valves in

conduits

8 and 22. In any case, the

chamber 5 to which fluid fuel is supplied from a 55 desired amount of combustion make-up air 3 can be readily obtained by adjusting the valve in branch conduit 9. Consequently, compressor 2 may draw air from the atmosphere, and cold air from conduit I4, if only a portion of the air discharged from turbine 4 is to be delivered to space I, to compensate for the quantity of air which leaks or is otherwise discharged from such space.

The system shown in Fig. 1 may be modified, for example as shown in Fig. 2 in which like numerals are applied to the same or corresponding parts, to deliver either heated or cooled air to space I; such a modication comprising incorporating a valve 23 in conduit I2, incorporating a clutch or the like 24 in the portion of' shaft i9 connecting compressor 2 with turbine 4, providing exhaust conduit I8 of turbine 3 with a heat exchanging portion 26, providing conduit I I with a heat exchanging portion 21 operatively associated with the portion 23 of exhaust conduit I8, and providing compressor 2,' with a low pressure discharge conduit 28 which communicates with space I and includes a control valve 29, a heat exchanging portion 3l operatively associated with the portion 23 of exhaust conduit 8, and a valve controlled bypass portion 32 for varying the quantity of low pressure air flowing through heat exchanging portion 3I. The cooler bypass portion IEl of conduit I2 has been omitted in the interest of simplicity.

This modiied system may be operated to deliver cold or cool air to the space I in substantially the same manner as described with respect to the system of Fig. 1 simply by engaging clutch 24 and maintaining valve 23 open and valve 28 closed; the combustion supporting portion of the air discharged from compressor 2 being regeneratively heated by the associated

heat exchanging portions

26 and 2 of conduits I8 and II, respectively. However, when it is desired to deliver heated air to space I, all that has to be done is to close valves I 6 and 23, disengage clutch 24, and open valve 29 whereupon low pressure air, that is air compressed to a much lower pressure than that utilized in the

turbines

3 and 4, flows through conduit 28 and into space I If the air entering space I is insuiiiciently heated and/or dried by the compression thereof, a greater degree of` heating and/or drying may be readily effected by closing or partially closing the valve in bypass conduit 32. Whether compressor 2 withdraws any air or gas from space I is of course dependent upon the positions of the valves in conduits 8, i6 and 22. If desired, conduit I4 may also be provided with a valve 33 which should be closed when the system is operated to deliver heated air to space I.

When operating the system of Fig. 2 to deliver cooled air to the space I as previously indicated, air enters the compressor 2 through pipe 8 which may communicate with the space I, or with the atmospherey and/or with conduit I4 depending upon the positions of the valves in conduits 8, 9 and I6, and after being compressed, a portion cf the air ows through pipe I2 including the heat exchanging portion I3 thereof disposed in cooler "I, through the turbine 4 wherein it is expanded and thus further cooled, and through pipe I4 to the space I. The remainder of the compressed air ows through pipe II including the heat exchanging portion 21 thereof, through combustion chamber wherein fuel is burned therein thus producing highly heated motive fluid comprising products of combustion and possibly excess air, through conduit I'I, through the turbine 3, and then through conduit I 8; including the heat exchanging portion 26, to atmosphere.

However, when operating the system of Fig. 2 to deliver heated air to the space I, air enters the compressor 2 through pipe 8 which may communicate with another space I and/or with the atmosphere depending upon the positions of conduits 8 and 9, and after being partially compressed, soine of the low pressure air is discharged Ithrough conduit 28 while the remainder 0I" the air is further compressed and passes through combustion chamber 5, conduit I'I, turbine 3 and conduit IS to atmosphere in exactly the same manner as described in connection with the operation of the system to deliver cool air to the space I. The low pressure air entering conduit 28 may iiow, depending upon the setting of valve 32, either wholly or in part through the heat exchanging and bypass portions 3l and 32, respectively, of conduit 28, and then into the space I.

Both systems are adapted to be compactly arranged thereby minimizing space requirements and while it is preferable to operate the systems of Figs. l and 2 with the various valves positioned as herein indicated, it should be understood that the number and arrangement of the valves, whether manual or automatic, and of other parts may be varied and selectively operated as desired, that although systems embodying the invention are particularly adapted to deliver large quantities of cooled and/or heated air or other combust-ion supporting elastic uid to one or more spaces in which such fluid is wholly or partially utilized, certain features and/or correlations thereof are of more general application, and that therefore it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and correlations of elements herein shown and described for purposes of illustration as various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A self operative power unit for cooling and delivering large quantities of air or other combustion supporting elastic fluid into a uid confining space comprising means for compressing a combustion supporting elastic iiuid, a plurality of fluid expanding prime movers drivingly connected with said compressing means, uid conductors severally connecting the inlets of said prime movers with the discharge of said compressing means, a fuel combusting means forming at least a part of one of said conductors and disposed in upstream relation with respect to the inlet of the prime mover connected thereto, means for cooling the fluid ilowing through another one of said conductors prior to its entering the inlet of the prime mover connected thereto, and conduit means connecting the exhaust of the prime mover receiving compressed uid through another one of said conductors with a uid confining space to be cooled.

2. A self operative power unit for cooling and delivering large quantities of air or other combustion supporting elastic fluid into a iluid' conning space comprising means for compressing a combination supporting elastic uid, a plurality of gasturbines drivingly connected with said compressing means, fluid conductors severally connect-ing the inlets of said turbines with the discharge of said compressing means, a fuel combusting means forming at least a part of one of said conductors, means for cooling the iiuid nowing through at least another oneof said conductors, and conduit means connecting the exhaust -necting the inlets of said turbines with the discharge of said compressing means, a fuel combusting means forming at least a part of the conductor connecting the discharge of said compressing means with the inlet of one of said turbines, means for cooling the fluid flowing through the conductor connecting the discharge of said compressing means with the inlet of another one of said turbines, conduit means for coniining and conducting the exhaust from said other turbine to a fluid confining space valve controlled conduit for placing the inlet of said compressing means in communication with said conduit means.

e. A self operative power unit for delivering large quantities of cooled air or other combustion supporting elastic fluid to a gas confining space comprising a gas compressing means having an inlet connected with said space, a plurality of gas turbines drivingly connected with said compressing means, iiuid conductors severally connecting the inlets of said turbines with the discharge of said compressing means, a fuel combusting means forming at least a part of the conductor connecting the discharge of the compresscr with the inlet of one of said turbines, means for selectively cooling the gas flowing through the conductor connecting the discharge of said compressing means with the inlet to another one of said turbines, a nrst conduit connecting the exhaust of said other turbine with said space, and a valve controlled second conduit connecting the inlet of said compressing means w'th said first conduit. s

5. A self operative power unit for delivering large quantities of cooled and/or heated combustion supporting elastic liuid to a confining space comprising an elastic fluid compressing means operative to discharge separate low and high pressure fluid streams, a lplurality of fluid expanding prime movers drivingly connected with said compressing means and severally receiving high pressure fluid discharged therefrom, means for selectively conducting fluid exhausting from one of said prime movers and low pressure fluid discharged from said compressing means into said space while continuing to deliver high pressure fluid from said compressor to another one of said prime movers, and means for combusting fuel in the stream of high pressure uid being delivered to said other prime mover.

6. A self operative power unit for delivering large quantities of cooled and/or heated combustion supporting elastic fluid to a confining space comprising an elastic liuid compressing means operative to discharge separate low and high pressure fluid streams, a plurality of fluid expanding prime movers drivingly connected with said compressing means and severally receiving high pressure fluid discharged therefrom, means for selectively conducting fluid exhausting from one of said prime movers and .low pressure fluid discharged from said compressing means into said space while continuing to deliver high pressure fluid from said compressing to be cooled, and a vlarge means Ato another one of Ysaid prime movers, means for combusting fuel in the stream of high pressure fluid being delivered to said other prime mover and means for terminating the flow of high pressure to said one prime mover and the driving connection between such prime mover and said compressing means whenever low pressure liuid is being delivered to said space.

7. A self operative power unit for delivering large quantities of cooled and/or heated combustion supporting elastic fluid to a confining space comprising an elastic fluid compressing means operative to discharge separate low and high pressure fluid streams, a plurality of fluid expanding prime movers drivingly connected with said compressing means and severallytreceiving high pressure uid discharged therefrom, means for selectively conducting fluid exhausting from one of said prime movers and low pressure fluid discharged from said compressing means into said space while continuing to deliver high pressure fluid from said compressing means to another one of said prime movers, means for combusting fuel in the stream of high pressure fluid being delivered to said other prime mover, andmeans in addition to said compressing means for heating the low pressure fluid being delivered to said space. Y

8. A self operative power unit for delivering quantities of heated combustion supporting elastic iiuid to a confining space comprising an elastic fluid compressing means operative to discharge separate low and high pressure fluid streams, a uid expanding prime mover drivingly connected with said compressing means and receiving high pressure fluid discharged thererom, means for combusting fuel in the stream of high pressure fluid delivered to said prime mover, and means including parts disposed in heat exchanging relation with respect to the fluid exhausting from said prime mover for heating and conducting low pressure iiuid discharged from said compressing means into said space.

9, A self operative power unit for delivering large Vquantities of cooled and/or heated air or other combustion supporting elastic fluid to a confining space comprising an elastic fluid compressing means having high and low pressure outlets, a plurality of gas turbines drivingly connectedv with said compressing means, fluid conductors severally connecting the inlets of said lturbines with the high pressure outlet of said compressing means, means for combusting fuel in the high pressure fluid being delivered to one of said turbines, a first conduit connecting the exhaust of another one of said turbines, with said space, a valve controlled second conduit connecting the inlet of said compressing means with said rst conduit, and a valve controlled third conduit connecting the low pressure outlet of said compressing means with said space.

10. A self operative power unit for delivering large quantities of cooled and/or heated air or other combustion supporting elastic liuid to a gas confining space comprising an elastic fluid compressing means having high and low pressure outlets, a plurality of gas turbines drivingly connected with said compressing means, fluid conductors severally connecting the inlets of said turbines with the high pressure outlet of said compressing means, means for combusting fuel in the high pressure fluid being delivered to one of said turbines, means for cooling the gas flowing through the conductor connected with another one of said turbines, a first conduit connecting the exhaust of said other turbine with said Space, a valve controlled second conduit connectingthe inletv of said compressing means with said first conduit, a valve controlled third conduit connecting the low pressure outlet of said compressing means with said space, and means for variably heating the low pressure uid flowing through said third conduit.

ll. A self Voperative power unit for delivering large quantities of cooled and/or heated air or other combustion supporting elastic uid to a gas confining space comprising an elastic fluid compressing means having high and low pressure outlets, a plurality' of gas turbines drivingly connected with said compressing means, fluid conductors severally connecting the inlets of said turbines with the high pressure outlet of said compressing means, means for combusting fuel in the high pressure fluid being delivered to one of said turbines, a first conduit connecting the exhaust of another one of said turbines with said space, a valve controlled second conduit connecting the inlet of said compressing means with said first conduit, a valve controlled third conduit connecting the low pressure outlet of said compressing means with said space, means for variably heating the low pressure fluid owing through said third conduit, and means for terminating the now of high pressure fluid to said other turbine and the driving connection between such turbine and said compressing means whenever low pressure fluid is being delivered to said space.

12. A self operative power unit for delivering large quantities of cooled 'and/or heated air or other combustion supporting elastic iiuid to a gas conninfI space comprising an elastic fluid compressing means having high and low pressure outlets, a plurality of gas turbines drivingly connected with said' compressing means, fluid conductors severally connecting the inlets of said turbines with the high pressure outlet of said compressing means, means for combusting fuel in the high pressure fluid being delivered to one of said turbines, a rst conduit connecting the exhaust of another one of said turbines with said space, a valve controlled second conduit connecting the inlet of said compressing means with said first conduit, a valve controlled third conduit connecting the low pressure outlet of said com.. pressing means with said space, said third conduit including a portion heated by gas at least partially expanded in said one turbine, and means 'for terminating the flow of high pressure fluid to saidl other turbine and theV driving connection between such turbine and. said compressing means Whenever low pressure fluid is being deliveredrto said space.

13. A self operative power unit for delivering large quantities of cooled and/or heated combustion'supporting elastic iiuid to a coniining space comprising an elastic uid compressing means operative to discharge separate low and high pressure uid streams, a plurality of fluid expanding prime movers drivingly connected with said compressing means and severally receiving high pressure fluid discharged therefrom, means for selectively conducting fluid exhausting from one of said prime movers and low pressure uid discharged from said compressing means into saidl space while continuing tov deliver high pressure fluid from said compressor to another one of said prime movers, and means for combusting fuel in the stream of high pressure iiuid being delivered to said other prime mover, said means for selectively conducting the uid exhausting from said one prime mover and low pressure fluid from said compressing means including a low pressure fluid confining part disposed in heat exchanging relation with respect to the iiuid exhausting from said other prime mover. g

14. A self operative power unit for delivering large quantities of cooled and/ or heated combustion supporting elastic huid to a confining space comprising an elastic fluid compressing means operative to discharge separate low and high pressure iluid streams, a plurality of fluid expanding prime movers drivingly connected with said compressing means and severally receiving high pressure fluid discharged therefrom, means for selectively conducting fluid exhausting from one of said prime movers and low pressure iiuid discharged from said compressing means into said4 space while continuing to deliver high pressure huid from said compressor to another one of said prime movers, and means for combusting fuel in the stream of high pressure iiuid being delivered to another prime mover and means in addition to said compressing means and includingV parts disposed in heat exchanging relation with respect to the fluid exhausting from said other prime mover for heating the low pressure uid being delivered to said space.

JOSEPH L. SINGLETON.