Patent ID: 6820422
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: F01K,F28D

Abstract:
A method for retrofitting a power plant that reduces the consumption of fossil fuel using compressed heated air comprising the steps of:a. retrofitting the power plant by adding at least three heat exchangers, a vessel, a pump, and control system, to the power plant wherein a first heat exchanger receives compressed heated air from a power source and produces heated heat exchange fluid; b. supplying heated heat exchange fluid to a second heat exchanger that heats a hydrocarbon flow for the power plant that drives a turbine coupled to a generator and produces power and additional hot exhaust gases; c. pumping a heat exchange fluid through a first heat exchanger around a first set of tubes containing the compressed heated air in the first set of tubes forming heated heat exchange fluid; d. removing compressed cooled air from the first set of tubes in the first heat exchanger; e. removing the heated heat exchange fluid from the first heat exchanger, splitting the heated heat exchange fluid and transmitting a first portion to a second heat exchanger, a second portion to a third heat exchanger, and a third portion to a vessel; f. injecting a hydrocarbon flow into a second set of tubes in the second heat exchanger and flowing the heated heat exchange fluid into the second heat exchanger around the second set of tubes transferring heat from the heated heat exchange fluid to the hydrocarbon flow forming a heated hydrocarbon flow and a cooled heat exchange fluid, and wherein the second heat exchanger increases the hydrocarbon flow temperature between 50% and 900%, then discharging the heated hydrocarbon flow to a hydrocarbon flow outlet, and flowing the cooled heat exchange fluid to the vessel; g. cooling the second portion of the heat exchange fluid in the third heat exchanger and then flowing the cooled heat exchange fluid to the vessel; h. using the vessel to accommodate thermal expansion of the fluid from the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger, or combinations of the first, second and third heat exchangers; and i. pumping the cooled heat exchange fluid from the vessel to the first heat exchanger.