High pressure oxy-fired combustion system

Abstract

A combustion system, and method. A combustor oxy-fired at high pressure delivers flue gas at pressure to a condensing means, such as a condensing heat exchanger, to produce a high temperature condensate for delivering thermal energy to an industrial process system, particularly for power generation, including a Brayton cycle, a Rankine cycle, or a binary fluid cycle system such as a Kalina cycle, and in particular as a bottoming cycle for an organic Rankine cycle. The combustor can concurrently provide direct heat to a secondary system, including a Brayton cycle system, a Rankine cycle system, and a binary fluid cycle system such as a Kalina cycle, without requiring significant modifications to the secondary system. The system and method provide for efficient and advantageous use of the higher temperature condensate produced.

1 . A combustion system for operational connection to an industrial process system, the combustion system comprising
 (a) a combustor constructed and arranged to be selectively operable at a selected operational pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure, and comprising
 (i) a combustor wall comprising a combustion chamber; 
 (ii) a burner; 
 (iii) at least a first fuel inlet constructed and arranged to deliver a first fuel to the burner at a delivery pressure exceeding the selected operational pressure; 
 (iv) at least one oxidant inlet constructed and arranged to deliver a supply of oxygen having a purity of at least 22% to the burner at a delivery pressure exceeding the selected operational pressure; 
 (v) an outlet region having a flue gas outlet; 
   (b) a flue gas delivery means, constructed and arranged to be operatively connected to the flue gas outlet, to receive a supply of flue gas therefrom at a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure and to deliver at least part of the supply of flue gas to a heat removal means comprising
 (i) at least one condensing means to produce condensate from the supply of flue gas; and 
 (ii) a heat delivery means to deliver heat from the condensate to the industrial process system. 
   
     
     
         2 . A combustion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the condensing means and the heat delivery means comprise at least one condensing heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . A combustion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fuel inlet is constructed and arranged to deliver a first fuel selected from at least one of a solid fuel, a liquid fuel, a gaseous fuel, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . A combustion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one oxidant inlet is constructed and arranged to deliver a supply of oxygen having a purity of at least 80%. 
     
     
         5 . A combustion system according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one oxidant inlet is constructed and arranged to deliver a supply of oxygen having a purity of at least 95%. 
     
     
         6 . A combustion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the flue gas delivery means comprises a flue gas recirculation outlet and the combustor further comprises at least one flue gas recirculation inlet, and the flue gas recirculation outlet is constructed and arranged to selectively deliver a supply of part of the flue gas to selective ones of the at least one flue gas recirculation inlet. 
     
     
         7 . A combustion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the industrial process system is a power generation system. 
     
     
         8 . A combustion system according to  claim 7 , wherein the industrial process system is an electric power generation system. 
     
     
         9 . A combustion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the combustion system is constructed and arranged to be operationally connected to and deliver the heat from the condensate to a low temperature power cycle system. 
     
     
         10 . A combustion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the combustion system is constructed and arranged to be operationally connected to and deliver the heat from the condensate to a system selected from a Brayton cycle system, a Rankine cycle system, and a binary fluid cycle system. 
     
     
         11 . A combustion system according to  claim 10 , wherein the combustion system is constructed and arranged to be operationally connected to and deliver the heat from the condensate to an organic Rankine cycle system. 
     
     
         12 . A combustion system according to  claim 10 , wherein the combustion system comprises a binary fluid cycle system and is a Kalina cycle. 
     
     
         13 . A combustion system according to  claim 9 , wherein the combustor is further constructed and arranged to be operationally connected to and deliver direct heat to a secondary system. 
     
     
         14 . A combustion system according to  claim 13 , wherein the secondary system is selected from an engine, a secondary industrial process system and a secondary power system. 
     
     
         15 . A combustion system according to  claim 13 , wherein the secondary system is selected from a Brayton cycle system, a Rankine cycle system, and a binary fluid cycle system. 
     
     
         16 . A combustion system according to  claim 15 , wherein the secondary system comprises a binary fluid cycle system and is a Kalina cycle. 
     
     
         17 . A combustion system according to  claim 14 , wherein the secondary system is a secondary industrial process system comprising a Rankine cycle system having a flow path for a flow of working fluid, the flow path being constructed and arranged to deliver the flow through a low pressure turbine, and thereafter to deliver at least part of the flow selectively to an evaporator in the organic Rankine cycle system. 
     
     
         18 . A method of providing heat energy to an industrial process system, the method comprising the steps of
 (a) providing a combustion system according to  claim 1  and selecting an operational pressure;   (b) connecting the flue gas delivery means to the heat removal means, and connecting the heat removal means to the industrial process system;   (c) delivering a supply of the first fuel to at least the first fuel inlet at a delivery pressure exceeding the selected operational pressure;   (d) delivering a supply of oxygen having a purity of at least 22% to the burner at a delivery pressure exceeding the selected operational pressure;   (e) operating the combustor at the selected operational pressure to generate a supply of flue gas, and delivering at least part of the supply of flue gas to the heat removal means;   (f) producing condensate from the supply of flue gas, and delivering heat from the condensate to the industrial process system.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein step (d) comprises delivering a supply of oxygen having a purity of at least 80%. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein step (d) comprises delivering a supply of oxygen having a purity of at least 95%. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein step (b) comprises providing the flue gas delivery means with a flue gas recirculation outlet and step (e) further comprises delivering at least a part of the supply of flue gas through the recirculation outlet and into the combustor. 
     
     
         22 . A method of providing heat energy to an industrial process system, the method comprising the steps of
 (a) providing a combustion system according to  claim 13  and selecting an operational pressure;   (b) connecting the flue gas delivery means to the heat removal means, and connecting the heat removal means to the industrial process system;   (c) connecting the combustor to the secondary system;   (d) delivering a supply of the first fuel to at least the first fuel inlet at a delivery pressure exceeding the selected operational pressure;   (e) delivering a supply of oxygen having a purity of at least 22% to the burner at a delivery pressure exceeding the selected operational pressure;   (f) operating the combustor at the selected operational pressure to produce heat energy and generate a supply of flue gas;   (g) delivering heat energy to the secondary system and delivering at least part of the supply of flue gas to the heat removal means;   (h) producing condensate from the supply of flue gas, and delivering heat from the condensate to the industrial process system.   
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein step (e) comprises delivering a supply of oxygen having a purity of at least 80%. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein step (e) comprises delivering a supply of oxygen having a purity of at least 95%. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein step (b) comprises providing the flue gas delivery means with a flue gas recirculation outlet and step (g) further comprises delivering at least a part of the supply of flue gas through the recirculation outlet and into the combustor.