Heat extraction system for cooling power transformer

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for improving efficiency of power transformers by capturing heat energy that is produced by air breathing heat engine (ABHE) or a feed water heater to produce chillant. The systems of the present invention may be used with step-down or step-up power transformers. A heat energy dissipation device is in communication with the transformer and may recover heat energy from the ABHE and transformer. A refrigeration system is coupled to the dissipation device to use recovered heat energy to produce chillant which is supplied to the transformer and ABHE. The system may also include a gas compressor and post-compression and pre-compression heat exchangers; steam turbine engines, and power generators.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for improving efficiency of air breathing heat engines (ABHE) and power transformers comprising: 
 a power transformer;    a heat energy dissipation device in communication with said power transformer and adapted to recover heat energy from the ABHE and said power transformer; and    a refrigeration system operably coupled to said dissipation device using recovered heat energy to produce a chillant, said refrigeration system supplying the chillant to said power transformer and the ABHE.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said dissipation device includes a transformer heat exchanger.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said transformer heat exchanger includes a liquid to liquid heat exchanger.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said transformer heat exchanger includes a liquid to gas heat exchanger.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said refrigeration system includes an absorption chiller, said chiller employing the recovered heat energy to energize a staged process of concentration, condensation, evaporation and absorption to produce the chillant for cooling said power transformer.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a gas compressor having a gas compression area; and  
 a post-compression heat exchanger disposed within said gas compressor, and operably associated with said gas compression area to recover heat energy released when compressed gas is produced by said gas compressor, said post-compression heat exchanger operably coupled with said refrigeration system, said refrigeration system using the recovered heat energy to produce the chillant.  
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 a pre-compression heat exchanger for cooling pre-compression gas operably coupled with said refrigeration system, said pre-compression heat exchanger utilizing the chillant produced by said refrigeration system for cooling pre-compression gas simultaneously with compression of gas in said gas compressor.  
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said refrigeration system includes an absorption chiller, said chiller employing the recovered heat energy to energize a staged process of concentration, condensation, evaporation and absorption to produce the chillant.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 an air breathing heat engine operably coupled to said gas compressor, said air breathing heat engine using the condensed gas from said gas compressor in a combustion to produce heat energy;  
 a post-combustion heat exchanger operably coupled to said air breathing heat engine and arranged to recover the heat energy produced by said air breathing heat engine, said refrigeration system operably coupled with said post-combustion heat exchanger, said refrigeration system using the recovered heat energy for producing the chillant.  
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said air breathing heat engine includes a shaft, and a power generator drivingly connected to said shaft to actuate said power generator.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said refrigeration system includes an absorption chiller, said chiller employing the recovered heat energy to energize a staged process of concentration, condensation, evaporation and absorption to provide the chillant.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a steam turbine generating heat energy, said steam turbine connected to and in communication with said refrigeration system, enabling the heat energy to be used by said refrigeration system for producing the chillant.  
     
     
         13 . A system for improving a power transformer efficiency which is impacted by heat losses, said system comprising: 
 a power transformer;    a transformer heat exchanger for dissipating heat energy operably coupled with said power transformer;    a heat generating component generating additional heat energy;    a second heat exchanger for recovering additional heat energy operably coupled with said heat generating component; and    a refrigeration system operably coupled with said transformer heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger, said refrigeration system utilizing the heat energy in a process for producing a chillant, the chillant used for cooling said power transformer.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said heat generating component is at least one of a gas compressor, an air breathing heat engine (ABHE), and a steam turbine.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said refrigeration system includes an absorption chiller, said chiller employing the heat energy to energize a staged process of concentration, condensation, evaporation and absorption to provide the chillant.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said transformer heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger includes a liquid to liquid heat exchanger.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said transformer heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger includes a liquid to gas heat exchanger.  
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling the internal temperature of a power transformer comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a power transformer unit, a heat exchanger operably coupled with the power transformer, and a refrigeration system operably coupled with the heat exchanger;    (b) dissipating heat energy produced by the power transformer in the heat exchanger;    (c) transferring the heat energy to the refrigeration system;    (d) producing chillant in the refrigeration system using the heat energy; and    (e) transferring the chillant to the power transformer for cooling the power transformer.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the steps of: 
 (f) providing a heat generating component, and a second heat exchanger for recovering additional heat energy produced by the heat generating component;  
 (g) recovering the additional heat energy in the second heat exchanger;  
 (h) transferring the additional heat energy to the refrigeration system;  
 (i) producing additional chillant in the refrigeration system using additional heat energy; and  
 (j) transferring the additional chillant to the power transformer for cooling the power transformer.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of: 
 (k) transferring the additional chillant to the heat generating component for cooling within the heat generating component.  
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the heat generating component of said (k) transferring step includes at least one of a gas compressor, an air breathing heat engine (ABHE) and a steam turbine.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the refrigeration system of said (a) providing step includes an absorption chiller, the chiller employing the recovered heat energy to energize a staged process of concentration, condensation, evaporation and absorption to provide the chillant.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the refrigeration system of said (a) providing step includes an absorption chiller, said chiller employing the recovered heat energy and additional heat energy to energize a staged process of concentration, condensation, evaporation and absorption to provide the chillant.