Method and installation for energy production by means of a gas turbine associated with an air separation unit

Abstract

The invention concerns a method in which oxygen and/or nitrogen is extracted from an air separation unit. The oxygen that is extracted is directed toward a gasifier, and the nitrogen that is extracted is directed toward a gas turbine. At least one parameter related to each gas stream is controlled by acting upon a compressor located within this gas stream's path, and by assigning to that gas stream a parameter, which is related to a variable setpoint value, which represents the load of the gas turbine.

1 . A method for producing energy using a gas turbine associated with an air separation unit, comprising: 
 a) admitting air into said air separation unit;    b) extracting at least one of an oxygen stream or a nitrogen stream from said air separation unit;    c) compressing said oxygen stream with a first compressor, said first compressor being located downstream of said air separation unit;    d) compressing said nitrogen stream with a second compressor, said second compressor being located downstream of said air separation unit;    e) directing said oxygen stream toward a gasifier,    f) directing said nitrogen stream toward a combustion chamber of said gas turbine;    g) controlling at least one parameter associated with at least one of said oxygen stream or said nitrogen stream with said first compressor or said second compressor; and    h) assigning a first variable setpoint value that varies as a function of a value representative of the load on the gas turbine to said at least one parameter.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one parameter is flow rate.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein as said oxygen stream is admitted, carbon-containing products are simultaneously admitted, into said gasifier, and said value representative of the load on the turbine is the flow rate of said carbon-containing products.  
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said nitrogen stream is admitted into said combustion chamber, and wherein said value representative of the load on the turbine is the flow rate of fuel gas admitted into said combustion chamber.  
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one parameter is pressure.  
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said value representative of the load on the turbine is a specific pressure value on the intake side of said gas turbine.  
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said pressure value on said intake side of said gas turbine is measured in a delivery circuit running between a compressor coupled to said turbine and the combustion chamber.  
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said nitrogen stream has a first setpoint value equal to said pressure increased by a first safety value.  
   
   
       9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said first safety value is between 0.1 and 10 bar.  
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said first safety value is between 0.3 and 2 bar.  
   
   
       11 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said oxygen stream has a second setpoint value equal to said pressure increased by a second safety value.  
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said second safety value is between 2 and 20 bar.  
   
   
       13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said second safety value is between 3 and 10 bar.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for producing energy using a gas turbine associated with an air separation unit, comprising: 
 a) means for extracting at least one of an oxygen stream or a nitrogen stream from said air separation unit;    b) a first compression means for compressing said oxygen stream, wherein said first compression means is located downstream of said air separation unit;    c) a second compression means for compressing said nitrogen stream, wherein said second compression means is located downstream of said air separation unit;    d) means for conveying said nitrogen stream toward a combustion chamber of said gas turbine;    e) means for conveying said oxygen stream toward a gasifier; and    f) control means for controlling at least one parameter associated with at least one of said oxygen or nitrogen streams, wherein said control means acts directly on said first compression means or said second compression means, wherein said control means comprises acting upon said first or said second compressor directly by altering the compressor vanes, and wherein said control means has a variable setpoint value that varies as a function of a value representative of the load on said turbine.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said control means controls a flow rate.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said control means controls the flow rate of said oxygen stream flowing along a line emerging into a gasifier feeding the combustion chamber, said gasifier also being placed in communication with a fuel line for conveying carbon-containing products, and wherein said fuel line contains a control means for controlling the flow rate of said carbon-containing products while simultaneously controlling the means for controlling the oxygen stream flow rate.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said control means controls the flow rate of said nitrogen stream flowing along a pipe opening into the combustion chamber, said combustion chamber also being placed in communication with a fuel line for conveying fuel gas, and wherein said fuel line contains a means for controlling the flow rate of said fuel gas while simultaneously controlling the nitrogen stream flow rate.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said control means controls the pressure of said at least one of said oxygen or nitrogen streams.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein measurement means are provided for measuring the pressure on the inlet side of the gas turbine.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said measuring means is in a delivery circuit between a compressor coupled to said turbine and said combustion chamber, and wherein said measurement means controls said control means.  
   
   
       21 . A method for producing energy using a gas turbine associated with an air separation unit, comprising: 
 a) admitting air into said air separation unit;    b) extracting at least one of an oxygen stream or a nitrogen stream from said air separation unit;    c) compressing said oxygen stream with a first compressor, said first compressor being located downstream of said air separation unit;    d) compressing said nitrogen stream with a second compressor, said second compressor being located downstream of said air separation unit;    e) directing said oxygen stream toward a gasifier,    f) directing said nitrogen stream toward a combustion chamber of said gas turbine;    g) controlling at least one parameter associated with at least one of said oxygen stream or said nitrogen stream with said first compressor or said second compressor, wherein said control comprises acting upon said first or said second compressor directly by altering the compressor speed; and    h) assigning a first variable setpoint value that varies as a function of a value representative of the load on the gas turbine to said at least one parameter.    
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for producing energy using a gas turbine associated with an air separation unit, comprising: 
 a) means for extracting at least one of an oxygen stream or a nitrogen stream from said air separation unit;    b) a first compression means for compressing said oxygen stream, wherein said first compression means is located downstream of said air separation unit;    c) a second compression means for compressing said nitrogen stream, wherein said second compression means is located downstream of said air separation unit;    d) means for conveying said nitrogen stream toward a combustion chamber of said gas turbine;    e) means for conveying said oxygen stream toward a gasifier; and    f) control means for controlling at least one parameter associated with at least one of said oxygen or nitrogen streams, wherein said control means acts directly on said first compression means or said second compression means, wherein said control means comprises acting upon said first or said second compressor directly by altering the compressor speed, and wherein said control means has a variable setpoint value that varies as a function of a value representative of the load on said turbine.