Power plant

Claim 2

A power plant system comprising: compressor means adapted to take in and compress air; energy absorption means for taking in energy in the form of hot air, for using a portion of the energy, and for discharging the remainder; a primary combustor having a first inlet for receiving exhaust air from said energy absorption means, a second inlet for receiving fuel, and an outlet for discharge of products of combustion; a secondary combustor having a first inlet for receiving at least a portion of the products of combustion from said primary combustor, a second inlet for receiving a portion of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor, and an outlet for discharge of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor; first conduit means for conveying a portion of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor from said secondary combustor outlet to said second inlet of said secondary combustor; and an air heat exchanger within said secondary combustor, said heat exchanger including an inlet for receiving compressed air from said compressor means, heat exchange surface means for conveying heat from the products of combustion within said secondary combustor to the compressed air, and an outlet to direct the compressed, hot air out of said secondary combustor for passage to said energy absorption means.

Claim 3

The power plant of claim 1 wherein said secondary combustor is in series with and arranged to receive all of the products of combustion from said primary combustor.

Claim 4

The power plant system of claim 1 further comprising: a boiler having inlet means for receiving hot gases which include exhaust air from said energy absorption means and the products of combustion of said secondary combustor, outlet means for discharging the hot gases, and steam generation means for conveying heat from the hot gases to water within said boiler and thereby generate steam; and a steam turbine which receives the steam from said boiler.

Claim 5

The power plant of claim 2 wherein said first conduit means includes means for conveying a portion of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor from said secondary combustor outlet directly to said second inlet of said secondary combustor.

Claim 6

The power plant of claim 3 wherein said steam turbine is drivingly connected to said compressor means.

Claim 7

An indirect gas turbine power plant comprising: a gas turbine including a compressor section and a turbine section; primary combustor means for initiating combustion, having a first inlet for receiving exhaust air from said turbine section, a second inlet for receiving fuel, and an outlet for discharge of products of combustion; secondary combustor means for continuing the combustion of primary combustor products of combustion, having a first inlet for receiving at least a portion of the products of combustion from said primary combustor means, a second inlet for receiving a portion of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor means, and an outlet for discharge of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor means; first conduit means for conveying a portion of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor means from said secondary combustor outlet to said second inlet of said secondary combustor means; and an air heat exchanger within said secondary combustor means, including an inlet for receiving compressed air from said compressor section, heat exchange surface means for conveying heat from the products of combustion within said secondary combustor means of the compressed air, and an outlet to direct the compressed, hot air out of said secondary combustor means for passage of said turbine section.

Claim 8

An indirect gas turbine power plant comprising: a gas turbine including a compressor section and a turbine section; primary combustor means for initiating combustion, having a first inlet for receiving exhaust air from said turbine section, a second inlet for receiving fuel, and an outlet for discharge of products of combustion; secondary combustor means for continuing the combustion of primary combustor products of combustion, having a first inlet for receiving at least a portion of the products of combustion from said primary combustor means, a second inlet for receiving a portion of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor means, and an outlet for discharge of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor means; first conduit means for conveying a portion of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor means from said secondary combustor outlet to said second inlet of said secondary combustor means; and an air heat exchanger within said secondary combustor means, including an inlet for receiving compressed air from said compressor section, heat exchange surface means for conveying heat from the products of combustion within said secondary combustor means of the compressed air, and an outlet to direct the compressed, hot air out of said secondary combustor means for passage of said turbine section.

Claim 9

The power plant of claim 6 wherein said secondary combustor means is in series with and arranged to receive all of the products of combustion from said primary combustor means.

Claim 10

The power plant of claim 6 further comprising: a boiler having inlet means for receiving hot gases which include exhaust air from said turbine section and the products of combustion of said secondary combustor means, outlet means for discharging the hot gases, and steam generation means for conveying heat from the hot gases to water within said boiler and thereby generate steam; a steam turbine which receives the steam from said boiler; and electrical generation means driven by said steam turbine.

Claim 11

The power plant of claim 8 wherein said first conduit means includes means for conveying the secondary combustor products of combustion from said secondary combustor means to said boiler, and for conveying a portion of the hot gases discharged from said boiler, to said second inlet of said second combustor means.

Claim 12

The power plant of claim 8 wherein said first conduit means includes means for conveying a portion of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor from said secondary combustor outlet directly to said second inlet of said secondary combustor.

Claim 13

The power plant of claim 10 further comprising second conduit means for conveying a portion of the exhaust air from said turbine section to said primary combustor first inlet, and for conveying the remainder of the exhaust air from said turbine section to said boiler inlet means.

Claim 14

The power plant of claim 6 wherein said first conduit means includes means for receiving other exhaust gases and for directing such gases, along with the secondary combustor products of combustion, into said secondary combustor means.

Claim 15

An indirect gas turbine power plant comprising: a gas turbine having a compressor section adapted to take in and compress air, and to discharge the compressed air, and a turbine section adapted to take in the compressed air, absorb energy therefrom, and discharge exhaust air; first electric generation means drivingly connected to said gas turbine; a primary combustor adapted to burn particulate fuel, said primary combustor having a first inlet for receiving a portion of the exhaust air from said turbine section, a second inlet for receiving air from the atmosphere, the atmospheric air and the exhaust air combining to form combustion air for said primary combustor, a third inlet for receiving the particulate fuel, and an outlet for discharging products of combustion including partially burned fuel; a secondary combustor having a first inlet for receiving the products of combustion from said primary combustor, a second inlet for receiving products of combustion of said secondary combustor, and an outlet for discharging the products of combustion; first conduit means for conveying a portion of the products of combustion from said secondary combustor outlet directly back to said secondary combustor second inlet; an air heat exchanger within said secondary combustor, said air heat exchanger including an inlet for receiving the compressed air from said compressor section, heat exchange surface means adapted to convey heat from the products of combustion within said secondary combustor to the compressed air, and an outlet to direct the compressed, hot air out of said secondary combustor for passage to said turbine section; a boiler having a combustion air inlet for receiving hot gases which include the remainder of the exhaust air from said turbine section and the products of combustion of said secondary combustor, outlet means for discharging the hot gases, and steam generation means for conveying heat from the hot gases to water within said boiler and thereby generate steam; a steam turbine which receives the steam from said boiler; and second electrical generation means drivingly connected to said steam turbine.

Claim 16

An indirect gas turbine power plant comprising: a gas turbine having a compressor section adapted to take in and compress air, and to discharge the compressed air, and a turbine section adapted to take in the compressed air, absorb energy therefrom, and discharge exhaust air; first electric generation means drivingly connected to said gas turbine; a primary combustor adapted to burn particulate fuel, said primary combustor having a first inlet for receiving a portion of the exhaust air from said turbine section, a second inlet for receiving air from the atmosphere, the atmospheric air and the exhaust air combining to form combustion air for said primary combustor, a third inlet for receiving the particulate fuel, and an outlet for discharging products of combustion including partially burned fuel; a secondary combustor having a first inlet for receiving the products of combustion from said primary combustor, a second inlet for receiving products of combustion of said secondary combustor, and an outlet for discharging the products of combustion; first conduit means for conveying a portion of the products of combustion from said secondary combustor outlet directly back to said secondary combustor second inlet; an air heat exchanger within said secondary combustor, said air heat exchanger including an inlet for receiving the compressed air from said compressor section, heat exchange surface means adapted to convey heat from the products of combustion within said secondary combustor to the compressed air, and an outlet to direct the compressed, hot air out of said secondary combustor for passage to said turbine section; a boiler having a combustion air inlet for receiving hot gases which include the remainder of the exhaust air from said turbine section and the products of combustion of said secondary combustor, outlet means for discharging the hot gases, and steam generation means for conveying heat from the hot gases to water within said boiler and thereby generate steam; a steam turbine which receives the steam from said boiler; and second electrical generation means drivingly connected to said steam turbine.

Claim 17

A power plant comprising: a gas turbine having a compressor section adapted to take in and compress air, and to discharge the compressed air, and a turbine section adapted to take in the compressed air, absorb energy therefrom, and discharge exhaust air; first electric generation means drivingly connected to said gas turbine; primary combustor means for initiating the combustion of said particulate fuel, said primary combustor means having a first inlet for receiving a portion of the exhaust air from said turbine section, a second inlet for receiving air from the atmosphere, the atmospheric air and the exhaust air combining to form combustion air for said primary combustor means, a third inlet for receiving the particulate fuel, and an outlet for discharging products of combustion; secondary combustor means for continuing the combustion of primary combustor products of combustion, having a first inlet for receiving the products of combustion from said primary combustor means, a second inlet, and an outlet for discharging the products of combustion; an air heat exchanger within said secondary combustor means, said air heat exchanger including an inlet for receiving the compressed air from said compressor section, heat exchange surface means adapted to convey heat from the products of combustion within said secondary combustor means to the compressed air, and an outlet to direct the compressed, hot air out of said secondary combustor means for passage to said turbine section; a boiler having a combustion air inlet for receiving hot gases which include the remainder of the exhaust air from said turbine section and the products of combustion from said secondary combustor means, outlet means for discharging the hot gases, and steam generation means for conveying heat from the hot gases to water within said boiler and thereby generate steam; a steam turbine which receives the steam from said boiler; electric generation means driven by said steam turbine; and conduit means for directing a portion of the hot gases from said boiler outlet means to said secondary combustor second inlet.

Claim 18

A power plant comprising: a gas turbine having a compressor section adapted to take in and compress air, and to discharge the compressed air, and a turbine section adapted to take in the compressed air, absorb energy therefrom, and discharge exhaust air; first electric generation means drivingly connected to said gas turbine; primary combustor means for initiating the combustion of said particulate fuel, said primary combustor means having a first inlet for receiving a portion of the exhaust air from said turbine section, a second inlet for receiving air from the atmosphere, the atmospheric air and the exhaust air combining to form combustion air for said primary combustor means, a third inlet for receiving the particulate fuel, and an outlet for discharging products of combustion; secondary combustor means for continuing the combustion of primary combustor products of combustion, having a first inlet for receiving the products of combustion from said primary combustor means, a second inlet, and an outlet for discharging the products of combustion; an air heat exchanger within said secondary combustor means, said air heat exchanger including an inlet for receiving the compressed air from said compressor section, heat exchange surface means adapted to convey heat from the products of combustion within said secondary combustor means to the compressed air, and an outlet to direct the compressed, hot air out of said secondary combustor means for passage to said turbine section; a boiler having a combustion air inlet for receiving hot gases which include the remainder of the exhaust air from said turbine section and the products of combustion from said secondary combustor means, outlet means for discharging the hot gases, and steam generation means for conveying heat from the hot gases to water within said boiler and thereby generate steam; a steam turbine which receives the steam from said boiler; electric generation means driven by said steam turbine; and conduit means for directing a portion of the hot gases from said boiler outlet means to said secondary combustor second inlet.

Claim 19

A power plant system comprising: compressor means adapted to take in and compress air; energy absorption means for taking in energy in the form of hot air for using a portion of the energy, and for discharging the remainder; primary combustor means for initiating combustion, having a first inlet for receiving exhaust air from said energy absorption means, a second inlet for receiving fuel, and an outlet for discharge of products of combustion; secondary combustor means for continuing the combustion of primary combustor products of combustion, having a first inlet for receiving at least a portion of the products of combustion from said primary combustor means, a second inlet for receiving a portion of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor means, and an outlet for discharge of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor means; first conduit means for conveying a portion of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor means from said secondary combustor outlet of said second inlet of said secondary combustor means; and an air heat exchanger within said secondary combustor means disposed downstream of said first and second secondary combustor inlets, said heat exchanger including an inlet for receiving compressed air from said compressor means, heat exchange surface means for conveying heat from the products of combustion within said secondary combustor means to the compressed air, and an outlet to direct the compressed, hot air out of said secondary combustor means for passage to said energy absorption means.

Claim 20

A power plant system comprising: compressor means adapted to take in and compress air; energy absorption means for taking in energy in the form of hot air for using a portion of the energy, and for discharging the remainder; primary combustor means for initiating combustion, having a first inlet for receiving exhaust air from said energy absorption means, a second inlet for receiving fuel, and an outlet for discharge of products of combustion; secondary combustor means for continuing the combustion of primary combustor products of combustion, having a first inlet for receiving at least a portion of the products of combustion from said primary combustor means, a second inlet for receiving a portion of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor means, and an outlet for discharge of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor means; first conduit means for conveying a portion of the products of combustion of said secondary combustor means from said secondary combustor outlet of said second inlet of said secondary combustor means; and an air heat exchanger within said secondary combustor means disposed downstream of said first and second secondary combustor inlets, said heat exchanger including an inlet for receiving compressed air from said compressor means, heat exchange surface means for conveying heat from the products of combustion within said secondary combustor means to the compressed air, and an outlet to direct the compressed, hot air out of said secondary combustor means for passage to said energy absorption means.

Claim 21

The power plant of claim 15 wherein said secondary combustor means is in series with and arranged to receive all of the products of combustion from said primary combustor.

Claim 22

The power plant system of claim 15 further comprising: a boiler having inlet means for receiving hot gases which include exhaust air from said energy absorption means and products of combustion of said secondary combustor means, outlet means for discharging the hot gases, and steam generation means for conveying heat from the hot gases to water within said boiler and thereby generate steam; and a steam turbine which receives the steam from said boiler.

Claim 23

The power plant of claim 17 wherein said first conduit means includes means for conveying the secondary combustor products of combustion from said secondary combustor to said boiler, and for conveying a portion of the hot gases discharged from said boiler, to said second inlet of said secondary combustor.

Claim 24

The power plant of claim 17 wherein said steam turbine is drivingly connected to said compressor means.