Hybrid biomass process with reheat cycle

Abstract

Methods and systems for the generation of electrical energy through the combination of steam flows produced from different fuel sources. Steam produced from processing of a biomass fuel source is combined with steam produced from the processing of natural gas or fossil fuel and routed through a steam turbine generator to produce electrical energy. The steam is preferably reheated after partial processing in the steam turbine generator and then recirculated for further processing in the steam turbine generators. Following extraction of all available energy from the steam, the steam is condensed to water, the feedwater is then reheated and pumped to the boilers of both energy sources for conversion into steam.

1 . A method for generating electrical power comprising:
 processing a first energy source in a first boiler to produce a first steam flow;   processing a biomass fuel source in a biomass boiler to produce a second steam flow, wherein the biomass fuel source is different than the first energy source;   combining the first steam flow and the second steam flow;   routing the combined steam flow through a steam turbine generator;   recirculating a first portion of an output of the steam turbine generator for reheating in the biomass boiler;   reheating the first portion of the output in the biomass boiler to generate a first reheated steam; and   delivering the first reheated steam to the steam turbine generator.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the steam turbine generator comprises two or more sections and the first portion of the output is obtained from a first section of the steam turbine generator and the reheated steam is delivered to a second section of the steam turbine generator. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 recirculating a second output of the steam turbine generator for reheating in the first boiler to generate a second reheated steam; and 
 delivering the second reheated steam to the steam turbine generator. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 collecting water at a condenser; 
 heating the water; and 
 using the heated water for the processing of the first energy source and the biomass fuel source. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first energy source is selected from group consisting of natural gas, fossil fuel, coal, and solid fuel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the biomass fuel source is selected from one or more of the group of green tree chips, forest residues, yard clippings, wood chips, urban waste wood, construction and demolition waste wood, sugar cane fiber, tires, municipal solid waste, refuse derived fuels, and agricultural waste. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the steam turbine generator is a utility grade steam turbine generator. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first boiler is a heat recovery steam generator. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first boiler is a coal boiler. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first boiler is a solid fueled boiler. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first boiler is a fossil fuel boiler. 
     
     
         12 . A method for generating electrical power comprising:
 processing a first energy source in a first boiler to produce a first steam flow;   processing a biomass fuel source to produce a second steam flow;   combining the first steam flow and the second steam flow;   routing the combined steam flow through a steam turbine generator;   recirculating a first portion of the output of the steam turbine generator for reheating in the biomass boiler to generate a first reheated steam; and   delivering the first reheated steam to the steam turbine generator;   collecting water at a condenser;   heating the water; and   delivering the heated water as feed water for the processing in the first energy source and the biomass fuel source.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 recirculating a second output of the steam turbine generator for reheating in the first boiler to generate a second reheated steam; and 
 delivering the second reheated steam to the steam turbine generator. 
 
     
     
         14 . A system for generating electricity comprising:
 a first component for producing a first steam flow from a first energy source;   a second component for producing a second steam flow from a biomass fuel source, wherein the biomass fuel source is different than the first energy source;   a steam line which combines the first and second steam flows; and   a steam turbine generator which extracts energy from the combined steam flow;   a reheat steam line loop for reheating a first portion of an output in the biomass boiler to generate reheated steam, wherein the first portion of the output is received from a first section of the steam turbine generator and the reheated steam is delivered to a second section of the steam turbine generator.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a second reheat steam line loop for reheating a second portion of the output in the first component to generate a second reheated steam, wherein the second reheated steam is delivered to the second section of the steam turbine generator. 
 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a condenser. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the first energy source is selected from the group consisting of natural gas, fossil fuel, coal, and solid fuel. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the biomass fuel source is selected from one or more of the group of green tree chips, forest residues, yard clippings, wood chips, urban waste wood, construction and demolition waste wood, sugar cane fiber, tires, municipal solid waste, refuse derived fuels, and agricultural waste. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the steam turbine generator is a utility grade steam turbine generator.