Integration of IGCC plant with superconducting power island

Abstract

A cooling system for high temperature superconductor equipment comprising a cryocooler in heat exchange relationship with the high temperature superconductor equipment, and an air separation unit in heat exchange relationship with the cryocooler, the system arranged such that heat from the high temperature superconductor equipment is rejected to said air separation unit via the cryocooler.

1 . A cooling system for high temperature superconductor equipment comprising a cryocooler in heat exchange relationship with the high temperature superconductor equipment; and an air separation unit in heat exchange relationship with said cryocooler, said system arranged such that heat from said high temperature superconductor equipment is transferred to said air separation unit via said cryocooler.  
   
   
       2 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein said cryocooler includes a first heat exchanger and wherein a cryogenic fluid utilized in said air separation unit passes in heat exchange relationship with gaseous fluid from said high temperature superconductor equipment in said first heat exchanger.  
   
   
       3 . The cooling system of  claim 2 , wherein said air separation unit includes a second heat exchanger, and wherein said cryogenic fluid passes in heat exchange relationship with said gaseous fluid in said second heat exchanger.  
   
   
       4 . The cooling system of  claim 2 , wherein said gaseous fluid is compressed in a compressor upstream of said first heat exchanger and expanded in an expansion turbine downstream of said fuel heat exchanger.  
   
   
       5 . The cooling system of  claim 1  in combination with an integrated gasification combined cycle power plant, and wherein said air separation unit is arranged to supply oxygen to said integrated gasification combined cycle power plant.  
   
   
       6 . The cooling system of  claim 1  wherein said cryocooler operates in a Reverse Brayton cooling cycle.  
   
   
       7 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein a first, closed cooling circuit loop extends between said high temperature superconductor equipment and said first heat exchanger; a second closed cooling circuit loop extends between said first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger in said air separation unit, and a third closed cooling circuit loop extends between said second heat exchanger and said air separation unit.  
   
   
       8 . The cooling system of  claim 7  wherein said first closed cooling circuit loop circulates a cooling fluid from a group comprising gaseous helium, liquid or gaseous neon and liquid or gaseous nitrogen.  
   
   
       9 . The cooling system of  claim 8  wherein said second closed cooling circuit circulates liquid or gaseous nitrogen.  
   
   
       10 . The cooling system of  claim 9  wherein said third cooling circuit circulates liquid or gaseous nitrogen, or liquid air.  
   
   
       11 . The cooling system of  claim 1  wherein said cryocooler operates in a Gifford-McMahon-cooling cycle.  
   
   
       12 . The cooling system of  claim 11  wherein cryogenic cooling fluid from said air separation unit is connected in parallel to first and second heat exchangers, said first heat exchanger also receiving coolant from said high temperature superconductor equipment and said second heat exchanger also receiving coolant from said cryocooler.  
   
   
       13 . The cooling system of  claim 12  including a third counterflow heat exchanger arranged to receive said coolant from said high temperature superconductor equipment upstream of said first heat exchanger, with a compressor between said first and third heat exchangers.  
   
   
       14 . The cooling system of  claim 13  wherein said coolant from said high temperature superconductor equipment flows back through said third counterflow heat exchanger downstream of said first heat exchanger.  
   
   
       15 . The cooling system of  claim 1  wherein cryogenic fluid cooled in said air separation unit is passed through said cyrocooler and directly to said high temperature superconductor equipment and returned to the air separation unit.  
   
   
       16 . The cooling system of  claim 15  wherein said cyrocooler includes a pump and flow controller for supplying the cryogenic fluid to the high temperature superconductor equipment.  
   
   
       17 . A cooling system for high temperature superconductor equipment comprising a cryocooler in heat exchange relationship with the high temperature superconductor equipment; and an air separation unit in heat exchange relationship with said cryocooler, said system arranged such that heat from said high temperature superconductor equipment is transferred to said air separation unit via said cryocooler; 
 wherein said cryocooler includes a first heat exchanger and wherein a cryogenic fluid utilized in said air separation unit passes in heat exchange relationship with gaseous helium or neon from said high temperature superconductor equipment in said first heat exchanger;    wherein said air separation unit includes a second heat exchanger, and wherein said cryogenic fluid passes in heat exchange relationship with said gaseous helium or neon in said second heat exchanger; and further    wherein said gaseous helium or neon is compressed in a compressor upstream of said first heat exchanger and expanded in an expansion turbine downstream of said first heat exchanger.    
   
   
       18 . A method of cooling high temperature superconductor equipment comprising: 
 (a) integrating cooling hardware of the high temperature superconductor equipment with an air separation unit of an integrated gasification combined-cycle power plant; and    (b) transferring heat from the high temperature superconductor equipment to fluid in the air separation unit.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said cooling hardware comprises a cryocooler and wherein (b) is carried out with said cryocooler operably connected between said high temperature superconductor equipment and said air separation unit.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein fluid in said air separation unit is between 63° and 90° K.