Power generating system

Abstract

A power generating system comprises a combustion arrangement in which combustion of fuel, and in particular sustainable or renewable fluid, is used to indirectly heat fluid, such as air to drive a turbine to generate power. The arrangement includes a combustion chamber at or near the top of which is a heat exchanger.

1 . A power generating system comprising a combustion chamber for combustion of solid fuel material, a heat exchanger associated with the combustion chamber through which fluid passes to be heated by combustion of the solid fuel material, and a turbine which is driven by the heated fluid to generate power, wherein the heat exchanger includes selectively removable baffles.  
     
     
         2 . A power generating system according to  claim 1 , in which the turbine is a gas turbine.  
     
     
         3 . A power generating system according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , in which the turbine comprises a micro turbine.  
     
     
         4 . A power generating system according to any preceding claim, in which the heat exchanger comprises a fluid inlet through which fluid is introduced into the heat exchanger.  
     
     
         5 . A power generating system according to  claim 4 , in which fluid introduced is partially pre-heated.  
     
     
         6 . A power generating system according to  claim 4  or  claim 5 , in which fluid introduced into the heat exchanger is under compression.  
     
     
         7 . A power generating system according to  claim 5  or  claim 6 , in which the fluid has been passed through a compressor which has pre-heated the fluid.  
     
     
         8 . A power generating system according to any of  claim 4  to  7 , in which fluid is introduced at a temperature in the range 150- 250° C.    
     
     
         9 . A power generating system according to  claim 8 , in which the fluid is introduced at a temperature of approximately 200° C.  
     
     
         10 . A power generating system according to preceding claim, in which the fluid is a gas.  
     
     
         11 . A power generating system according to  claim 10 , in which the fluid is atmospheric air.  
     
     
         12 . A power generating stem according to any preceding claim, in which the heat exchanger is located in an upper part of the combustion chamber.  
     
     
         13 . A power generating system according to any preceding claim, in which the heat exchanger is located at or near the top of the combustion chamber.  
     
     
         14 . A power generating system according to any preceding claim, in which the heat exchanger comprises a conduit through which fluid flows to be heated, the conduit defining a tortuous path to facilitate the heating of fluid therein.  
     
     
         15 . A power generating system according to  claim 14 , in which the heat exchanger keeps the fluid separate from combustion gates generated during combustion, whilst allowing the gases to pass around the outside of the conduit whereby to heat the fluid passing through the conduit.  
     
     
         16 . A power generating system according to  claim 14  or  claim 15 , in which the baffles divert combustion gases over the conduit to facilitate heat transfer.  
     
     
         17 . A power generating system according to any preceding claim, in which the heat exchanger comprises insulation material to further improve heat transfer.  
     
     
         18 . A power generating system according to  claim 17 , in which the insulation material lines the inside of a housing of the exchanger.  
     
     
         19 . A power generating system according to  claim 17  or  claim 18 , in which the material comprises ceramics material.  
     
     
         20 . A power generating system according to any preceding claim, in which the heat exchanger comprises materials able to resist high temperatures and retain strength and geometry at temperatures up to in the order of 1000° C. whilst providing good conduction of heat, such as exotic stainless steel or other suitable, conductive yet durable material.  
     
     
         21 . A power generating system according to any preceding claim, in which the heat exchanger is readily dismantled, at least in part, to facilitate cleaning thereof, in particular cleaning of the outside of the conduit for example to remove combustion by-products such as soot and other carbonaceous deposits.  
     
     
         22 . A power generating system according to any preceding claim, in which the heat exchanger is arranged to allow fluid passing therethrough to be heated to approximately 800-900° C., depending upon the material being combusted.  
     
     
         23 . A power generating system according to any preceding claim, in which the combustion chamber is arranged to accommodate combustion of a range of solid fuel materials, such as combustile waste, fossil fuels and wood.  
     
     
         24 . A power generating system according to  claim 23 , in which the chamber is arranged to accommodate combustion of sustainable and/or renewable fluid.  
     
     
         25 . A power generating system according to any preceding claim, in which heated fluid exits the heat exchanger to be introduced to the turbine to drive the turbine to generate electrical power.  
     
     
         26 . A power generating system according to any preceding claim, in which a conduit connects the heat exchanger to the turbine.  
     
     
         27 . A power generating system according to any preceding claim, in which the turbine is remote from the heat exchanger.  
     
     
         28 . A power generating system according to any preceding claim, in which means is provided to process generated power.  
     
     
         29 . A power generating system according to  claim 28 , in which the means comprises an inverter/rectifier means.  
     
     
         30 . A power generating system according to any preceding claim, in which means is provided to feed heated fluid which has driven the turbine back into the combustion chamber where any residual heat in the fluid will facilitate and enhance the efficiency of combustion.  
     
     
         31 . A power generating system according to any preceding claim, in which the system further comprises means to utilise waste gases from the combustion chamber, particularly to use the residual heat in the gases to heat for example an appliance, such as a radiator, before the gases are exhausted from the system.  
     
     
         32 . A method of generating power, the method comprising combusting solid fuel material in a combustion chamber to heat fluid passing through a heat exchanger associated with the combustion chamber and including selectively removable baffles, and using said heated fluid to drive a turbine to generate power.  
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 32 , which comprises the use of a system as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  31 .  
     
     
         34 . A power generating system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         35 . A method of generating power substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.