System and method for using a chilled fluid to cool an electromechanical machine

Abstract

A system includes an air separation unit configured to generate a chilled fluid. The system also includes an electromechanical machine configured to be cooled via heat exchange with the chilled fluid.

1 . A system, comprising:
 an air separation unit configured to generate a chilled fluid; and   an electromechanical machine, wherein the electromechanical machine is configured to be cooled via heat exchange with the chilled fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the air separation unit is configured to generate nitrogen as the chilled fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant comprising the air separation unit and the electromechanical machine. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical machine comprises a generator, wherein the generator comprises a rotor and a stator. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the rotor and the stator are configured to be cooled via heat exchange with the chilled fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a heat exchanger configured to receive the chilled fluid, cool a heat transfer fluid via heat exchange with the chilled fluid, and circulate the heat transfer fluid through the electromechanical machine. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the heat exchanger is disposed in the air separation unit, or the electromechanical machine, or any combination thereof 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the air separation unit comprises a chilled fluid reservoir configured to store the chilled fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a controller configured to maintain a temperature of the electromechanical machine below a threshold temperature. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 a electromechanical machine temperature controller configured to control a heat exchange system to maintain a temperature of an electromechanical machine below a threshold temperature, wherein the heat exchange system comprises a chilled fluid circuit configured to remove heat from the electromechanical machine via heat exchange with a heat transfer fluid and a chilled fluid, and the chilled fluid is generated by an air separation unit fluidly coupled to the heat exchange system.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , comprising the electromechanical machine, wherein the electromechanical machine comprises a generator, the generator comprises a rotor and a stator, and the electromechanical machine temperature controller is configured to control the heat exchange system to remove heat from the rotor and the stator via heat exchange. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , comprising the air separation unit, wherein the air separation unit comprises a heat exchanger and the electromechanical machine temperature controller is configured to control a first flow of the chilled fluid and a second flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , comprising an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant comprising the air separation unit, the electromechanical machine, and the heat exchange system. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , comprising a gas turbine, wherein the electromechanical machine controller is configured to direct a first flow of the chilled fluid into the gas turbine as a diluent. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 generating a chilled fluid using an air separation unit;   removing heat from an electromechanical machine via heat exchange with the chilled fluid; and   controlling the heat exchange to maintain a temperature of the electromechanical machine below a threshold temperature.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein removing heat comprises cooling a heat transfer fluid configured to exchange heat with the chilled fluid and the electromechanical machine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the electromechanical machine comprises a generator, wherein the generator comprises a rotor and a stator, and controlling the heat exchange comprises directing the heat transfer fluid to come in contact with the rotor, the stator, or both. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising circulating the chilled fluid through a heat exchange system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising using the chilled fluid as a diluent in a gas turbine. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising moderating a temperature of the chilled fluid with a gas, wherein the gas is warmer than the chilled fluid.