System and method for heating a fuel using a solar heating system

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention may take the form of a system and method that may use at least one solar heating system to heat the fuel consumed by a turbomachine. An embodiment of the present invention may incorporate concentrated solar power (CSP). Generally, CSP systems incorporate a plurality of lenses, mirrors, or combinations thereof and a tracking system to focus a large area of sunlight forming a small concentrated beam of light. The concentrated light may then be used as a heat source. In an embodiment of the present invention, the heat source may be used to partially or completely heat the fuel consumed by a turbomachine. CSP systems may take the form of a solar trough system, a parabolic dish system, a solar power tower system, or the like.

1 . A system for increasing a temperature of a fuel, the system comprising:
 a turbomachine comprising a combustion system for combusting a fuel; and   at least one solar heating system configured for heating the fuel, wherein the solar device is integrated with a fuel supply system located upstream of the combustion system;   wherein the at least one solar heating system heats the fuel from a first temperature to a second temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one solar heating system is integrated with the fuel supply system and comprises at least one of: a parabolic trough system, a solar tower system, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fuel gas heater for assisting the at least one solar heating system with heating the fuel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature of the fuel is up to about 150 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second temperature of the fuel is up to about 700 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one condensate heating system for heating a condensate of a HRSG. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one condensate heating system comprises at least one of: a parabolic trough system, a solar tower system, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one solar heating system heats the fuel and heats a condensate of a HRSG. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one solar heating system utilizes a convection system of heating. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one solar heating system provides up to about 8 megawatts of solar power. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an efficiency of the at least one solar heating system is up to about 85% efficient. 
     
     
         12 . A method of increasing a temperature of a fuel, the method comprising:
 providing a turbomachine, wherein the turbomachine comprises a combustion system for combusting a fuel;   providing at least one solar heating system configured for heating the fuel, wherein the at least one solar heating system is integrated with a fuel supply system; and   utilizing the at least one solar heating system to heat the fuel from a first temperature to a second temperature.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one solar heating system is integrated with the fuel supply system and comprises at least one of: a parabolic trough system, a solar tower system, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising providing a fuel gas heater for performing the step of assisting the at least one solar heating system with heating the fuel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising increasing the first temperature to up to about 150 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising increasing the second temperature of the fuel to up to about 700 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising utilizing at least one condensate heating system to heat a condensate of a HRSG. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one condensate heating system comprises at least one of: a parabolic trough system, a solar tower system, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one solar heating system performs the steps of heating the fuel and heating a condensate entering a HRSG. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one solar heating system performs the step of utilizing a convection system of heating to increase a temperature of the fuel.