GB2592585A

GB2592585A - Power generating boiler

Info

Publication number: GB2592585A
Application number: GB2002937.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gora Pawel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-03-01
Filing date: 2020-03-01
Publication date: 2021-09-08
Also published as: GB202002937D0

Abstract

Power generating boiler comprised of a heat exchanger 3, turbine 1 and generator 2, wherein the turbine and heat exchanger are in fluid communication, and contain water or refrigerant, wherein produced vapour might be either condensed or vented, where the circulation of fluid heated by the heat exchanger powers the turbine 1.

Description

Power Generating Boiler This invention relates to Power Generating Boiler

Background of the Invention

The majority of heat generated by todays modern manufacturing industries is inadvertently lost and wasted during the manufacturing process -the generation of power by modern day steam cycle plants, such as coal and nuclear power plants, leaves a massive typical loss of about two thirds of the available energy of the fuel source due to the intrinsic limitations of converting heat into mechanical energy.

Many types of manufacturing industries using vast amounts of heat during their manufacturing processes are showing similar levels of heat wastage, with the glass and ironworks industries wasting around one third of the heat generated during their respective production processes. This wasted heat is generally discharged directly into the atmosphere and calculated as loss associated with production. Heat wastage can also be seen during the cooling process of manufactured products, which further adds to the calculated loss. For the mining industry, ventilating and cooling the underground infrastructure of a mine may consume up to a third of the energy that it uses; this ventilation process only encompasses the removal of heat from the virgin rock found deep within the mine and subsequently discharging it into the atmosphere. The waste heat generated from these industrial processes is not only a massive loss of potentially useful energy, but also contributes to the negative effects seen by today's varying climate, which is a result of both CO2 and heat pollution. The present invention aims to overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the problems set out above.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates particularly to apparatus for a power generating boiler system, which can absorb low temperature heat to generate electricity by combining the principles of liquid expansion during the boiling process with that of hydro-electric power generation; it provides a system suitable for absorbing the wasted heat produced by various industrial processes and converting it into electricity. It is mainly compromised of a heat exchanger, turbine and generator units.

The present invention not only aids in allowing industrial processes that discharge heat to become more efficient, but also contributes to reducing the amount of heat and carbon dioxide pollution produced from entering the atmosphere, therefore helping to reduce the negative effects of climate change and global warming.

In the first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for a power generating boiler, comprimised of a heat exchanger unit, turbine and generator. The turbine and heat exchanger unit are combined together and the turbine and heat exchanger are in fluid communication to each other in order to allow the working medium (water or refrigerant) to travel cyclically around the system; wherein the water or refrigerant within the heat exchanger unit is arranged to absorb heat from an external heat source using the surface area of the heat exchanger unit; wherein the produced vapour might be eighter vented or directed to another heat exchenger as a heat supply to another stage of power generation or rejected from the system; wherein the turbine is also mechanically coupled to the generator; and wherein the heat exchanger unit and the turbine are arranged so that in use, the water or refrigerant is dropped onto the turbine using the force of gravity to drive the generator for the production of electricity. This way, supplied heat is converted into electricity, whereby the apparatus comprises a combination of boiling process of liquid with hydro-electric power generation.

Height of the heat exchanger combined with the amount of heat supplied is used to expand boiling liquid and elevate its level to achieve the required pressure head. The mass to volume ratio difference between the boiling liquid and non boiling liquid is also used to create pressure difference on both sides of the turbine.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a schematic view of the power generating boiler system with central turbine build into the heat exchanger and open vent.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the power generating boiler system with central turbine build into the heat exchanger and condensing jacket.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the power generating boiler system with central turbine build into the heat exchanger as viewed from the top.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the power generating boiler system with turbine external to heat exchanger and open vent.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the power generating boiler system with turbine external to heat exchanger and condensing jacket.

Detailed Description

With reference to Figure 1, apparatus for a power generating boiler system comprises a heat exchanger unit 3, turbine 1 and generator 2 which are used to absorb heat supplied to the heat exchanger, and generate electricity. The power generating boiler system is a hybridisation of a steam power generation loop and a hydro-electric generator.

A conventional steam power loop utilises water wapour within a boiler to absorb heat energy of burning fuel. Absorption of the heat causes the water to evaporate, expand and travel through the turbine, where it gives away part of its energy to a condenser unit. The stem is cooled down within the condenser unit, and condenses back into liquid form where it is pumped back into the boiler unit and the cycle repeats again.

For a conventional hydro-electric generator, potential kinetic energy is stored in water by elevating the water above a turbine coupled to a generator. The elevated water is then dropped onto the turbine which, due to the mass flow rate of the water and its differential pressure with respect to the turbine, causes the turbine to turn and therefore also causes the generator to generate electricity.

The turbine unit 1 is built into the bottom of heat exchanger unit 3. The supports are used to elevate the apparatus and make space for generator 2 coupled into the turbine 1. Insulated turbine inlet pipe 12 runs along the heat exchanger 3 from top to bottom, allowing flow of working medium from liquid-vapour separator chamber 11, located on top of the heat exchanger, into the turbine 1. Turbine inlet pipe 12 might be built into the heat exchanger 3, or be located by the side of it depending on desired arrangement on the number of heat exchanger 3s supplying working medium to the turbine 1. Heat source inlet 6 and outlet 7 allow the heat source to flow through the heat exchanger 3.

For apparatus using water as a working medium vent 15 is provided on top of liquid-vapour separation chamber 11 and water top up inlet pipe 16 with valve. For apparatus using water or refrigerant as working medium, jacket condenser 8 with coolant inlet 9 and coolant outlet 10 is used.

Heat from the heat source is presented to the heat exchanger unit 3 in form of gas or liquid pumped through heat exchanger inlet 6 and outlet 7. Cool working medium, contained within the heat exchanger unit 3, absorbs the heat presented to the heat exchnager unit 3. The cool liquid working medium begins to heat up as more of the heat is absorbed, and subsequently begins to boil, whereby part of the working medium changes state from a liquid into a vapour. The now boiling working medium exists in the heat exchanger unit 3 in form of liquid and vapour mixture. Formation of vapour bubbles in the liquid makes the working medium expand and change the mass to volume ratio. As the evaporating working medium expands, it becomes lighter and travels up the heat exchanger tube 4 until it reaches the liquid-vapour separation chamber 11, where the lighter vapour separates from the liquid and the liquid fraction overflows into the turbine inlet pipe 12. The mass flow of the working medium is driven by the expansion of liquid caused by the boiling process, which takes place in the heat exchanger unit 3, and subsequent vapour separation process taking place in separation chamber 11. As the evaporating liquid expands a few hundred times while turning into a vapour, less than one percent of liquid needs to be evaporated in order to double the volume of the mixture and half its weight.

The separation chamber is a sufficiently large space in the top part of the heat exchanger unit 3, which is able to hold produced vapours in the power generating boiler. Depending on the type of used working medium, the vapours might be liquified or removed from the system. For working medium such as water it might appear to be simpler and more cost effective to remove excess vapour through vent 15 and replenish lost water by top up pipe 16, as shown on Figure 1 drawing. For working medium such as refrigerant, it might appear to be more cost effective to cool down and liquify the produced vapours and return to circulation as shown on Figure 2 drawing. Condensation of the refrigerant vapours occurs as said vapours come into contact with the cooler surface of the jacket condenser 8. Jacket condenser 8 is being kept cooler than the power generating boiler working medium vapours by coolant being circulated through said jacket condenser 8 through coolant inlet 9 and coolant outlet 10. Heat retrived by coolant can now be disposed of or used for another stage of power generation.

In the separation chamber 11, the vaporised working medium begins to cool down. The working medium continues to cool down, until it finally condenses, becoming liquidised working medium again. The now cool, liquidised working medium exits the separation chamber 11 by running down the separation chamber's 11 walls until it reached the bottom of the separation chamber 11 and then continues to travel towards the turbine inlet pipe 12.

Separation of liquid and vapours changes the mass to volume ratio of the working medium and said working medium becomes heavier than the liquid-vapour mixture. Once the liquid working medium releases all vapour bubbles into the separation chamber it gets pulled down by gravity towards the turbine inlet pipe 12. Thermal insulation 13 of the turbine inlet pipe prevents the heat transfer so that the working medium does not boil in said pipe and instead stays in its liquid state. The now heavier working medium runs down the turbine inlet pipe 12 towards the turbine 1.

The mass to volume ratio difference between the working medium in heat exchanger tubes 4 and the working medium in insulated turbine inlet pipe 12 generates pressure difference between the inlet and discharge side of the turbine. The pressure of working medium in turbine inlet pipe 12 is higher than in the turbine discharge. This makes the working medium flow through the turbine.

When the liquid-vapour mix turns back into a liquid, within separation chamber 11, its associated pressure head significantly increases, whereby pressure head describes the pressure of a liquid as a result of the liquid being above a geodetic datum. Therefore, the pressure head of the working medium corresponds to the height of the fluid column in which it is travelling, which, in this case, is the height of the turbine inlet pipe 12 relative to the turbine 1. This increased pressure head of the now liquid working medium is because liquid working medium is considerably heavier than when in it is in a liquid-vapour mix state; the liquid working medium remains saturated when exiting the separation chamber 11 but becomes sub-cooled as it moves towards the turbine 1 due to the increase in pressure and constant temperature.

The head pressure and mass flow of the liquid working medium causes the turbine 1 to turn, driving the generator 2. The working medium reduces in pressure as it makes contact with and passes over the turbine 1; excess energy, in the form of heat, is transferred from the working medium to the turbine 1, causing the working medium to further become increasingly sub-cooled. As turbine 1 is turned, generator 2 begins to generate electricity, therefore converting the kinetic energy of the working medium to electrical energy. The sub-cooled working medium exits turbine 1 and re-enters the heat exchanger unit 3 via tube 4 where it is ready to absorb heat from the heat source, which replaces the energy previously lost from the working medium to the turbine, ready to begin the cycle again.

The power generating boiler uses the force of gravity to drop the working medium onto turbine 1 in order to drive the generator 2 to produce electricity. Working medium circulation throughout the system is ensured by utilising the heat input 6 to vaporise small parts of the working medium and change its mass to volume ratio, within the heat exchanger unit 3, whereby the working medium is then able to overcome the force of gravity as it subsequently travels up the heat exchanger tube 4 and into the separation chamber 11.

Depending on application and the working medium used the power generating boiler system can be built in four main embodiments.

With reference to Figure 1, the power generating boiler system has open vent 15, and the turbine 1 is built into the heat exchanger 3. This embodiment is designed to be used with water as a working medium, wherein the generated vapour is vented to the atmosphere and the heat exchanger 3 with build in turbine 1 works as a single unit.

With reference to Figure 2, in another embodiment, the power generating boiler system has closed separation chamber 11 with condensing jacket 8, and the turbine 1 is built into the heat exchanger 3. This embodiment is designed to be used with refrigeration gas as a working medium, wherein the generated vapour is condensed inside and works in a closed loop and the heat exchanger 3 with built in turbine 1 works as a single unit.

With reference to Figure 3, it shows a top view of the heat exchanger with a centrally located turbine.

With reference to Figure 4, in another embodiment, the power generating boiler system has open vent 15 and the turbine 1 is positioned by the side of the heat exchanger 3. This embodiment is designed to be used with water as a working medium, wherein the generated vapour is vented into the atmosphere and the boiler unit can be coupled with several heat exchangers, processing heat from various imputs.

With reference to Figure 5, in another embodiment, the power generating boiler system has closed separation chamber 11 with condensing jacket 8, and the turbine 1 is positioned by the side of heat exchanger 3. This embodiment is designed to be used with refrigeration gas as a working medium, wherein the generated vapour is condensed inside and works in a closed loop, and the boiler unit can be coupled with several heat exchangers, processing heat from various imputs.

By introducing the power generating boiler system to industries, such as manufacturing industries, that inadvertently generate unwanted waste heat during the various industrial processes pertaining to that industry, manufacturing processes in particular, this unwanted, wasted heat, which is often disposed of to the atmosphere, can be used to generate power. Therefore, not only can the efficiency of existing power plants be increased, by implementing the power generating boiler system in the manner described above, but the power demand of such power plants and industrial systems can also be reduced.

The power generating boiler system can be coupled with existing industry infrastructure, to allow power generation, by placing the system in between the wasted, excess heat source and cooling tower -the system may also replace the cooling tower entirely. The excessive wasted heat from that particular industrial infrastructure process may be channeled to heat input 6, and then to the heat exchanger unit 3; whereby the heat inlet 6 would boil the working medium contained within the heat exchanger unit 3; whereby the boiling working medium would turm to liquid in the elevated separation chamber 11; and whereby the liquified working medium would be gravitationally fed to the turbine 1 in order to drive the generator 2 to subsequently generate electricity.

The power generating boiler system may be combined with various types of power generation or heat sources to generate additional power. Excess heat from solar panels may be used to provide additional heat source to the heat exchanger unit 3. The wasted heat generated by skyscraper boilers and cooling systems may have other potential uses as an additional heat source to the heat exchanger unit 3. The power generating boiler system may use the heat from warm water streams found in the ocean to generate power in polar and subpolar regions of the world. Virgin rocks in mines have a high intrinsic temperature, especially in substantially deep mines, and consequently emanate heat. The excess heat given off by the virgin rock, in a deep mine, is suitable for use as a heat source for the heat exchanger units 3 of the power generating boiler system.

The present invention may be used in conjunction with or to replace conventional power generation plants as the process of generating electricity by heating water to produce steam is highly inefficient. Here, instead of evaporating the whole mass of water to produce steam, only a small percentage of working medium is evaporised to generate desired mass flow across the turbine. Additionally, it may be possible to use geothermal energies of low temperature hot water sources as the heat input to the power generating boiler system -only a small differential temperature is required to generate mass working medium flow, and underground hot water may be suitable as the heat source for this application in order to convert the geothermal energies of the low temperature, underground hot water into electricity.

Claims

Claims Power Generating Boiler 1. Apparatus for power generating boiler comprising: a heat exchanger unit, a separation chamber, a turbine, a generator, an insulated turbine inlet pipe, wherein the turbine, heat exchanger unit and turbine inlet pipe are in fluid communication to each other, and are arranged to contain water or refrigerant such that they allow the water or refrigerant to travel cyclically around the apparatus, wherein the water or refrigerant within the heat exchanher unit is arranged to absorb heat from an external heat source using the surface area of the heat exchanger unit, wherein the separation chamber is located above the heat exchanger unit, wherein the heat exchanger unit, turbine, turbine inlet pipe and separation chamber are arranged so that in use, the water or refrigerant is dropped onto the turbine using the force of gravity to drive the generator for the production of electricity.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thermal energy is used to generate mechanical head of working medium above the turbine inlet and wherein the turbine movement is achieved by using the supplied heat to change the mass to volume ratio of water or refrigerant on each side of said turbine.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 and 2, wherein the fluid communication is achieved using insulated material to allow the refrigerant to travel cyclically around the apparatus.