Work extraction arrangement

Abstract

A work extraction arrangement ( 10 ) comprises a cooling assembly ( 12 ) for cooling a gas to provide a working fluid capable of doing work. The arrangement ( 10 ) further includes storage means ( 14 ) for storing the working fluid and a turbine assembly ( 18 ) for extracting work from the working fluid. A fluid delivery assembly ( 16 ) is also provided to deliver the working fluid to the turbine assembly ( 18 ).

1 . A work extraction arrangement comprising a cooling assembly for cooling a gas to provide a working fluid capable of doing work, storage means for storing the working fluid, a turbine assembly for extracting work from the working fluid, and a fluid delivery assembly for delivering the working fluid to the turbine assembly.  
   
   
       2 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein the fluid delivery assembly comprises a pumping means.  
   
   
       3 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 2  wherein the fluid delivery assembly comprises a main compressor, whereby when the fluid delivered to the main compressor is in the form of a gas, the main compressor can compress the gas  
   
   
       4 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 3  wherein the main compressor comprises a compressor of a gas turbine engine.  
   
   
       5 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 2  wherein the pumping means comprises a pump, suitable for pumping at least partially liquefied gas.  
   
   
       6 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein the turbine assembly comprises at least one main turbine for extracting work from the working fluid, and a combustor for combusting the working fluid when the working fluid comprises a combustible gas.  
   
   
       7 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 6  wherein the combustor is arranged upstream of the main turbine assembly and the main turbine assembly is operable by the combustion products of the working fluid.  
   
   
       8 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein the work extraction arrangement comprises an electricity generator, driven by the turbine assembly.  
   
   
       9 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein the turbine assembly comprises a turbine assembly of a gas turbine engine.  
   
   
       10 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein the cooling assembly comprises a cooling cycle compressor for compressing the gas for cooling purposes.  
   
   
       11 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 10  wherein the cooling assembly comprises a heat extractor for extracting heat from the compressed gas.  
   
   
       12 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 10  wherein the heat extractor comprises a heat exchanger to exchange heat with the surroundings.  
   
   
       13 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein the cooling assembly comprises a cooling cycle turbine to extract work from the compressed gas thereby cooling the gas to provide said working fluid.  
   
   
       14 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein the working fluid provided by the cooling assembly is in liquid or gaseous form.  
   
   
       15 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein the work extraction arrangement comprises a heater for heating the working fluid downstream of the fluid delivery assembly.  
   
   
       16 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 15  wherein the working fluid heater comprises a heat exchanger, and is arranged to exchange heat with the surroundings.  
   
   
       17 . A work extraction arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein the work extraction arrangement further comprises a recuperating heat exchanger, whereby exhaust gases from the main turbine can exchange heat with gas to be delivered to the combustor.  
   
   
       18 . A method of extracting work from a gas, comprising cooling the gas to provide a working fluid capable of doing work, storing the working fluid, delivering the working fluid to a turbine assembly, whereby work can be extracted from the working fluid by the turbine assembly.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the working fluid is compressed during its delivery to the turbine assembly.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the working fluid is pumped during its delivery to the turbine assembly.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the turbine assembly comprises a main turbine and a combustor and the working fluid is combusted upstream of the main turbine and the main turbine is operable by the combustion products of the working fluid.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to claims  18  wherein the extraction of work from the working fluid involves driving an electricity generator to generate electricity.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the step of cooling the gas comprises compressing the gas for cooling purposes, extracting heat from the compressed gas and thereafter extracting preliminary work from the compressed gas thereby cooling the gas to provide said working fluid.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the step of extracting preliminary work from the compressed gas comprises driving a cooling cycle turbine with said compressed gas.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to any of  claim 1  wherein the working fluid is heated during its delivery to the turbine assembly.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the step of heating the working fluid comprises exchanging heat with the surroundings.