Apparatus and methods of generating electrical power from a reservoir

Abstract

A method of generating electrical power utilizing a gas distribution network comprised of a high pressure gas reservoir and a low pressure delivery pipeline includes the step of directing at least a portion of the high pressure gas within the reservoir through a satellite assembly to generate electrical power. The satellite assembly includes an expander and shaft, an electrical generator operatively associated with the shaft and control members for predeterminely controlling the temperature, the pressure drop and the flow of the compressed gas entering the expander from the high pressure reservoir to the low pressure reservoir.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of generating electrical power utilizing a gas distribution network comprised of a high pressure gas reservoir and a low pressure delivery pipeline includes the step of directing at least a portion of the high pressure gas within the reservoir through a satellite assembly to generate electrical power.  
     
     
         2 . The method of generating electrical power in accordance with    claim 1   , wherein said satellite assembly includes an expander and shaft member.  
     
     
         3 . The method of generating electrical power in accordance with    claim 2   , wherein said satellite assembly further includes a generator operatively coupled to said shaft to be driven thereby.  
     
     
         4 . The method of generating electrical power in accordance with    claim 3   , wherein said satellite assembly further includes control means for predeterminely controlling the stored pressure of the gas entering said expander and shaft member to generate electrical power.  
     
     
         5 . The method of generating electrical power in accordance with    claim 4   , wherein said control means includes a throttle valve member operatively connected between said high pressure gas reservoir and said low pressure delivery pipeline.  
     
     
         6 . The method of generating electrical power in accordance with    claim 4   , wherein said control means includes a throttle valve member operatively connected between said high pressure gas reservoir and said expander and shaft member.  
     
     
         7 . The method of generating electrical power in accordance with    claim 1   , wherein the capacity of said satellite assembly is 1000 megawatts or less.  
     
     
         8 . The method of generating electrical power in accordance with    claim 1   , wherein the capacity of said satellite assembly is between about 1 to 10 megawatts.  
     
     
         9 . The method of generating electrical power in accordance with    claim 4   , further including the step of positioning a cooler member in the line exiting said expander to provide refrigeration or district cooling.  
     
     
         10 . A satellite assembly for generating electrical power within a gas distribution network having a first reservoir of gas at a pressure greater than gas within a second delivery pipeline, including in combination an expander and shaft, an electrical generator operatively associated with said shaft, and control means for predeterminely controlling the temperature and pressure drop and flow of the compressed gas entering the expander from the first reservoir to said second reservoir.  
     
     
         11 . The satellite assembly in accordance with    claim 10   , wherein said control means includes a throttle valve member operatively connected between the first reservoir and the second delivery pipeline.  
     
     
         12 . The satellite assembly in accordance with    claim 10   , wherein said control means includes a throttle valve member operatively connected between the first reservoir and said expander and shaft.  
     
     
         13 . The satellite assembly in accordance with    claim 10   , wherein the capacity of said satellite assembly is 1000 megawatts or less.  
     
     
         14 . The satellite assembly in accordance with    claim 10   , wherein the capacity of said satellite assembly is between about 1 to 10 megawatts.  
     
     
         15 . The satellite assembly in accordance with    claim 12   , wherein said control means further includes a pressure measurement and control member to measure the pressure of the gas exiting the first reservoir.  
     
     
         16 . The satellite assembly in accordance with    claim 10   , wherein the pressure of the gas exiting said expander is at least 15 psi.  
     
     
         17 . The satellite assembly in accordance with    claim 10   , wherein said control means includes a pressure reducing valve operatively connected to an input of high pressure intermediate to the expander of said satellite assembly.  
     
     
         18 . The satellite assembly in accordance with    claim 17   , wherein said control means distributes the operation of the pressure reducing valve and the control valve at the high pressure inlet of said expander.  
     
     
         19 . The satellite assembly in accordance with    claim 17   , wherein the control valve of said expander is connected between the exit of the expander and the low pressure line.  
     
     
         20 . The satellite assembly in accordance with    claim 10   , wherein said control means includes a throttle valve member operatively connected between said expander and shaft and the secondary delivery pipelines.  
     
     
         21 . The satellite assembly in accordance with    claim 10   , wherein said gas is air and wherein the satellite assembly includes at least one burner at the input to said expander.  
     
     
         22 . The satellite assembly in accordance with    claim 21   , wherein said sources of compressed air and compress gas are provided either by the gas distribution network or by a separate source.