System and method for heating make-up working fluid of a steam system with engine fluid waste heat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016245125-A1
Application number	US-201514626856-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2015
Priority date	Feb 19, 2015
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system including an engine and a heat exchanger coupled to the engine is provided. The engine includes an engine fluid and at least one of a compressor section configured to compress a gas, a lubricant path configured to circulate a lubricant, or a coolant path configured to circulate a coolant. The engine fluid comprises at least one of the gas, the lubricant, or the coolant, and the engine fluid is a source of heat derived from one or more operations of the engine. The heat exchanger is configured to receive the engine fluid from the engine and exchange heat between the engine fluid and a working fluid to produce a heated working fluid and a cooled engine fluid, and the heat exchanger is configured to export the heated working fluid to a steam system.

First claim

1 . A system, comprising:
an engine comprising an engine fluid and at least one of a compressor section configured to compress a gas, a lubricant path configured to circulate a lubricant, or a coolant path configured to circulate a coolant, wherein the engine fluid comprises at least one of the gas, the lubricant, or the coolant, and wherein the engine fluid is a source of heat derived from one or more operations of the engine; and a heat exchanger coupled to the engine, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to receive the engine fluid from the engine and exchange heat between the engine fluid and a working fluid to produce a heated working fluid and a cooled engine fluid, and the heat exchanger is configured to export the heated working fluid to a steam system.

2 . The system of claim 1 , comprising the steam system configured to receive the heated working fluid from the heat exchanger as a make-up water supply of working fluid to replace working fluid lost within a process of the steam system.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the steam system comprises a deaerator configured to receive the heated working fluid from the heat exchanger and remove at least one of one or more corrosive substances and/or dissolved gases from the heated working fluid to produce a deaerated heated working fluid.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the steam system comprises:
a boiler configured to receive the deaerated heated working fluid from the deaerator to generate a steam; and a steam turbine coupled to the boiler, wherein the steam turbine is configured to drive a load using at least the steam.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine comprises a gas turbine engine.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine comprises the at least one compressor section configured to compress the gas, and the engine fluid comprises the gas.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the gas comprises an oxidant.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine comprises a lubricant path configured to circulate a lubricant, and the engine fluid comprises the lubricant.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine comprises a coolant path configured to circulate a coolant, and the engine fluid comprises the coolant.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the working fluid comprises a replacement make-up water, and the heated working fluid comprises a heated replacement make-up water.

11 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a controller configured to regulate operation of one or more valves to control a flow of the working fluid or the heated working fluid through the heat exchanger.

12 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a controller configured to regulate operation of one or more valves to control a flow of the heated working fluid exported from the heat exchanger to the steam system.

13 . A system, comprising:
a deaerator of a steam system, wherein the deaerator is configured to receive a heated working fluid exported from a heat exchanger coupled to at least one of a compressor section, a lubricant path, or a coolant path of an engine, wherein the deaerator is configured to remove one or more corrosive substances and/or dissolved gases from the heated working fluid to produce a deaerated heated working fluid prior to steam generation in the steam system.

14 . The system of claim 13 , comprising the heat exchanger coupled to the deaerator.

15 . The system of claim 13 , comprising a controller configured to control a flow and a temperature of the heated working fluid to facilitate deaeration of the heated working fluid in the deaerator.

16 . The system of claim 13 , comprising:
a boiler configured to receive the deaerated heated working fluid from the deaerator, wherein the boiler generates a steam based on heat exchange between the deaerated heated working fluid and an exhaust gas from the engine; and a steam turbine coupled to the boiler, wherein the steam turbine is configured to drive a load with the steam.

17 . The system of claim 13 , comprising the engine, wherein the engine comprises a gas turbine engine having the heat exchanger coupled to a first compressor section and a second compressor section of the gas turbine engine, and the heat exchanger is configured to cool a compressed gas between the first and second compressor sections.

18 . A method, comprising:
flowing a working fluid through a heat exchanger; exchanging heat between the working fluid and an engine fluid from at least one of a compressor section, a lubricant path, or a coolant path of an engine to generate a heated working fluid and a cooled engine fluid; exporting the heated working fluid from the heat exchanger to a steam system; and producing, via the steam system, a steam supply utilizing at least a portion of the heated working fluid.

19 . The method of claim 18 , comprising:
flowing the heated working fluid from the heat exchanger to a deaerator of the steam system; removing one or more corrosive components and/or dissolved gases of the heated working fluid to produce a deaerated heated working fluid; and routing the deaerated heated working fluid to a boiler configured to produce steam at least in part based on the deaerated heated working fluid.

20 . The method of claim 18 , comprising regulating, via a controller, a flow rate of the heated working fluid exported from the heat exchanger to the steam system based on sensor feedback from one or more sensors coupled to the engine, the heat exchanger, or the steam system.

21 . The method of claim 18 , comprising adjusting, via a controller, a flow rate of the heated working fluid exported from the heat exchanger to the steam system with one or more flow control devices coupled to the engine, the heat exchanger, or the steam system.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Watkins Richard Michael

Classifications

• F01K23/02

  the engine cycles being thermally coupled · CPC title

• F02C7/143

  before or between the compressor stages · CPC title

• F01K11/02 Primary

  the engines being turbines · CPC title

• F05D2220/60

  making use of surplus or waste energy · CPC title

• F01K7/44

  Use of steam for feed-water heating and another purpose · CPC title