Steam generation system for thermal and related power applications using stoichiometric oxyhydrogen fuel stock

Abstract

The invention in the preferred embodiment represents a method of powering any application requiring a motive body of steam in order to produce power, using stoichiometric oxyhydrogen combustion to vaporize a requisite flow of water. The steam-generation process produces water as the sole product of combustion. Applications include providing motive steam for thermal power generation systems within the electric power industry, electric-power generation systems within the railroad locomotive industry, and turbine-driven propulsion systems both water- and aeronautical-based.

1 . I claim a system for the generation of steam utilizing a high-pressure steam boiler unit, such unit consistent with the background art with respect to the construction materials and methods with and by which it has been manufactured, those materials and methods consistent with AMSE B31.1 Code standards, or other applicable national or international standards for the construction of high-pressure steam boiler units, wherein the improvement is characterized by the oxidative combustion of stoichiometric oxyhydrogen fuel-stock generates a quantity of exothermic heat energy sufficient to vaporize a quantity of system-water sufficient to generate a motive body of steam sufficient to power a target steam-powered application, be that application the driving of an otherwise conventional steam-turbine in operative communication with an electricity generator set; or be that application the powering of another type of non-turbine-driven type of steam-engine designed for the purpose of generating motive or other power; or be that application the driving of a turbojet or turboprop engine for the purpose of generating Newtonian reactive propulsion in order to impart linear motion to water-based craft, or to aeronautical craft; and,
 now referring to  FIG. 1 , wherein the improvement is characterized by a power head component (N) attached to the most proximal portion of the boiler unit (O) by way of a pair of matching flanges (S), one comprising the proximal end of the cylindrical boiler portion of the boiler unit, and the other comprising the distal end of the power head unit, the size and construction of said flanges themselves, as well as the methods by which they are welded into place, and the methods and materials by which they are attached to one another, being appropriate to the temperature and pressure conditions of the steam motive flow body therein contained, thereby being also consistent with the background art pertaining to the containment and transport of a motive body of steam in accordance with AMSE B31.1 Code standards, or other applicable national or international standards; and,   wherein the improvement is further characterized by the power head component serving the multiple functions of receiving the ported flow of hydrogen fuel-stock component gas from the hydrogen gas storage system (A) having first passed through a pressurizing pump (E) in order to condition pressure condition of the flow of hydrogen gas fuel-stock within its distribution system en route to the hydrogen gas fuel-stock receiving point (R) located on the exterior surface of the power head unit; and of receiving the ported flow of oxygen fuel-stock component gas from the oxygen gas storage system (F) having first passed through a pressurizing pump (I) in order to condition the pressure condition of the flow of oxygen gas fuel-stock within its distribution system en route to multiple oxygen gas fuel-stock receiving points (Q) located on the exterior surface of the power head unit;   and of receiving the ported flow of water from the water storage system (C) having first passed through a pressurizing pump (D) in order to condition the pressure condition of the flow of water within its distribution system en route to multiple water-flow receiving points (P) located on the exterior surface of the power head unit;   and, now referring to  FIG. 2 , wherein the oxygen gas fuel-stock receiving ports (B) and the hydrogen gas fuel-stock receiving port (A) have received the ported flows of gas fuel-stocks as previously described, the improvement is further characterized by the power head component serving the additional functions of providing for the homogeneous mixing of the of the hydrogen fuel-stock component gas flow, and of the oxygen fuel-stock component gas flow by the use of a high-volume gas-flow-nozzle of a type consistent with the background art as it pertains to the science of gas-flow nozzle technology, one such nozzle being located at the terminal end of each component gas-flow port (A) and (B) within the interior surface of the power head unit, such that each ported gas-flow component is directed by said nozzle towards a center-point within the boiler unit located at the point of glow-plug-mediated combustion, represented in  FIG. 1 , at the distal end of ignition glow-plug (L), at which point the gas fuel-stock components combine to achieve a homogeneous mixture, thereby facilitating optimum fuel-stock combustion dynamics within the boiler unit of the system;   and, now referring to  FIG. 2 , of providing for the dispersal of multiple component water-streams into nebulized fog-mist bodies of water flow by the use of a high-flow fog-head water nozzle of a type consistent with the background art as it pertains to fire-fighting equipment technology, one such nozzle being located at the terminal end of each water-flow port (C) within the interior surface of the power head unit, such that each ported water-flow component is dispersed by said nozzle into a nebulized fog within the boiler unit in a generally omnidirectional manner, thereby facilitating optimum vaporization of the invention's primary water-flow, within the boiler unit of the system;   and of providing a port (F) through which an ignition glow-plug of a type consistent with the background art as it pertains to diesel engine glow-plug ignition technology, further characterized by custom manufacture according to the length required to terminate at the desired point of combustion, is mounted in order to mediate ignition of the stoichiometric oxyhydrogen fuel-mixture within the interior of the boiler unit in order to initiate fuel-stock combustion during a cold-start process, said ignition glow-plug being electrically activated by its connection via an electric power cable to an power-switching device of a type and rating consistent with the background art as it pertains to electric switching technology, and represented in  FIG. 1 , at (J), itself connected via an electric power cable to a power source of suitable direct-current voltage and amperage consistent with the background art as it pertains to DC voltage power supply technology, and represented in  FIG. 1 , at (K); and,   now again referring to  FIG. 1 , the improvement is further characterized by having multiple independent flow-control systems, comprised of a flow-control system (G) by which the flow of water between the water supply system (C) and the power head unit (N) is regulated, and a flow-control system (H) by which the flow of hydrogen gas fuel-stock between the hydrogen fuel-stock supply system (A) and the power head unit (N) is regulated, and a flow-control system (I) by which the flow of oxygen gas fuel-stock between the oxygen fuel-stock supply system (B) and the power head unit (N) is regulated, and whereby each dedicated flow-control system consists of one or a plurality of valves consistent with the background art as it pertains to fluid flow valve technology within the field of industrial process engineering, thereby regulating the flow of each of the three components into the interior of the boiler unit, in order to adjust the ratios between the various components involved in the process of generating steam motive flow, thereby achieving optimum conditions of temperature and pressure at the steam inlet of the target application; and,   whereby the system when operated manually, or in manual mode, the improvement is further characterized by each flow-control regulating valve being opened and/or closed manually by a skilled human system operator in order to effect changes in the flow-rates of hydrogen fuel-stock component gas, oxygen fuel-stock component gas, and system-water, as required to maintain steam motive flow temperature and pressure conditions at the steam inlet of the target application; or   now again referring to  FIG. 1 , whereby the system when operated automatically, or in automatic mode, the improvement is further characterized by each flow-control regulating valve being opened and/or closed automatically by the system management computer system operating a dedicated process-control software program (M) consistent with the background art pertaining to automated process management computer systems, such that the computer issues electronic-signal commands to actuate servo-controlled automated valves consistent with the background art pertaining to the automated valve industry, said valves located within the flow-control systems (G), (H), and (I) and specific to the component flow regulated by each flow-control system, in order to effect changes in the flow-rates of hydrogen fuel-stock component gas, oxygen fuel-stock component gas, and system-water, as required to maintain steam motive flow temperature and pressure conditions at the steam inlet of the target application; and,   further including a steam path comprised of a series of connected steam pipes consistent with the background art pertaining to the containment and transport of a motive body of steam within a thermal power generation system, of a size appropriate to the manufacturer's recommendation for steam motive body temperature and pressure conditions at the steam inlet of the target application, the purpose of which is to port the generated steam motive body from the boiler unit of the invention to the target application; and   further including the installation of one or a plurality of temperature-sensing devices consistent with the background art pertaining to the measurement of temperature within a motive body of steam, at one or more points into the interior of the steam path piping system of the invention, and/or at one or more points into the interior of the existing steam path piping system of an otherwise conventional thermal power generation system, and at minimum into the interior of the steam path piping system at a point immediately proximal to the steam inlet of the target application, for the purpose of providing data reflecting steam motive body temperature conditions at the point or points of measurement, so that component flows may be properly regulated in order to achieve optimum temperature conditions at the steam inlet of the target application when the invention is to be operated in manual mode; and,   now referring to  FIG. 1 , further including the installation of one or a plurality of digital temperature sensing/sending devices (TS) consistent with the background art pertaining to electronic temperature measurement and the transmission of digital temperature data from within a motive body of steam to an automated process control system, at one or more points into the interior of the steam path piping system of the invention, and/or at one or more points into the interior of the existing steam path piping system of an otherwise conventional thermal power generation system, and at minimum into the interior of the steam path piping system at a point immediately proximal to the steam inlet of the target application, for the purpose of providing data reflecting steam motive body temperature conditions at the point or points of measurement to a system management computer system operating a dedicated process-control software program, so that component flows may be properly regulated in order to achieve optimum temperature conditions at the steam inlet of the target application when the invention is to be operated in automatic mode; and,   further including the installation of one or a plurality of pressure-sensing devices (PS) consistent with the background art pertaining to the measurement of pressure within a motive body of steam, at one or more points into the interior of the steam path piping system of the invention, and/or at one or more points into the interior of the existing steam path piping system of an otherwise conventional thermal power generation system, and at minimum into the interior of the steam path piping system at a point immediately proximal to the steam inlet of the target application, for the purpose of providing data reflecting steam motive body pressure conditions at the point or points of measurement, so that component flows may be properly regulated in order to achieve optimum pressure conditions at the steam inlet of the target application when the invention is to be operated in manual mode; and   now referring to  FIG. 1 , further including the installation of one or a plurality of digital pressure sensing/sending devices (PS) consistent with the background art pertaining to electronic pressure measurement and the transmission of digital temperature data from within a motive body of steam to an automated process control system, at one or more points into the interior of the steam path piping system of the invention, and/or at one or more points into the interior of the existing steam path piping system of an otherwise conventional thermal power generation system, and at minimum into the interior of the steam path piping system at a point immediately proximal to the steam inlet of the target application, for the purpose of providing data reflecting steam motive body pressure conditions at the point or points of measurement to a system management computer system operating a dedicated process-control software program, so that component flows may be properly regulated in order to achieve optimum pressure conditions at the steam inlet of the target application when the invention is to be operated in automatic mode.   
     
     
         2 . Now referring to  FIG. 3 , I claim the system according to  claim 1 , wherein the improvement is characterized by a modification to the power head unit, such that the invention can be adapted to service the steam generation requirements of the secondary stages of a multi-stage reheat-type thermal power generation system, by altering the construction of the power head unit thereby integrating one or a plurality of additional ports (F) through the power head unit and into the interior of the boiler unit of the invention, into which the pressurized output of a steam motive body re-pressurizing pump consistent with the background art pertaining to the re-pressurization of the post-turbine steam discharge from an individual turbine-stage comprising a single-stage component operative within a multi-stage reheat-type thermal power generation system, the output of the re-pressurizing pump thereby providing a foundation body of steam, to which the invention contributes additional steam-generation in order to create a motive body of steam consistent with the manufacturer's recommended steam conditions at the steam inlet of the target turbine stage. 
     
     
         3 . I claim the system according to  claim 1 , further characterized by the deployment of the invention as the primary source of steam generation within a typical Rankine-cycle thermal power generation system, consistent with the background art with respect to Rankine-cycle thermal power generation systems, wherein the invention contributes the products of combustion to the motive body of steam which is then transported to the target steam inlet within said Rankine-cycle power generation system, such that post-cycle condensate recovered from the turbine system includes that water generated by the invention in the process of stoichiometric oxyhydrogen combustion. 
     
     
         4 . I claim the system according to  claim 1 , further characterized by the use of one or a plurality of commercial electrolyser units consistent with the background art as it pertains to the design and construction of hydrogen- and oxygen-generating electrolyser technology, in order to generate hydrogen gas fuel-stock and oxygen gas fuel-stock components from water supplied by the water supply system component of a typical Rankine-cycle thermal power generation system consistent with the background art with respect to Rankine-cycle thermal power generation systems, and using renewable-sourced electric to operate said commercial electrolyser units, such that the fuel-stock components used by the invention in generating steam are derived from renewable energy sources; and,
 wherein the system is further characterized by the invention comprising the sole source of steam generation within a typical Rankine-cycle thermal power generation system, consistent with the background art with respect to Rankine-cycle thermal power generation systems, such that the electric energy power load produced by the system is generated by fuel-stock component gases which have been generated entirely from renewable energy sources, thereby qualifying said electric energy power load as having been generated entirely from renewable sources.   
     
     
         5 . I claim the system according to  claim 1 , further characterized by the integration of the invention into an otherwise thermal power generation system consistent with the background art as it pertains to thermal power generation technology, as an auxiliary component system in parallel with, or tangential to the steam path of said thermal power generation system, distal to the conventional steam-generation boiler component of said thermal power generation system, and proximal to the steam inlet of the target turbine application, in order to modify an otherwise conventional thermal power generation system for the purpose of generating a motive body of steam with the invention such that said thermal power generation system may be operated in order to produce electric energy power load for commercial consumption during that period of time required by said conventional steam-generation boiler component to achieve optimum temperature and pressure conditions at the steam inlet of the target turbine, until such time as said conventional steam-generation boiler component has generated sufficient steam motive flow, thereby rendering said conventional steam-generation boiler component capable of operating the thermal power generation system independently; and,
 thereby enabling an otherwise conventional thermal power generation system to achieve start-up times consistent with those achieved by the invention in the preferred embodiment, and enabling said system to participate in the ancillary services market sector of the power generation industry of which said system is a contributory entity.   
     
     
         6 . I claim the system according to  claim 1 , further characterized by the integration of the invention into the electric motive power system of a railroad locomotive of a type and design consistent with the background art as it pertains to diesel-powered electric railroad locomotion technology, modified such that the diesel engine, or engines providing power to one or a plurality of electric power generators that provide electric energy power load to the electric motors that provide motive power to said railroad locomotive, be replaced by the invention; and,
 whereby the steam generated by the invention powers a steam-turbine generator set of a size and power-output rating consistent the power-supply requirements of said railroad locomotive, such said railroad locomotive is powered by the combustion of stoichiometric oxyhydrogen fuel-stock, consistent with the invention in the preferred embodiment, rather than by the combustion of diesel fuel; and,   whereby hydrogen gas fuel-stock, oxygen gas fuel-stock, and system-water are stored in bulk tank cars within the cargo manifest of the train being pulled by said railroad locomotive, such that those three components required for the operation of the invention are transported as mobile fuel supply by said railroad locomotive.   
     
     
         7 . I claim the system according to  claim 1 , further characterized by the integration of the invention into a turbine-driven propeller system consistent with the background art with respect to turbine-driven propeller systems used in aviation applications, modified such that the invention provides a motive body of steam in order to power a turbine in operative communication with a propeller shaft, said propeller shaft in operative communication with an aeronautical propeller system of a type designed for aviation propulsion applications, said propeller system consistent with the background art as it pertains to turbine-powered aviation propeller technology, for the purpose of imparting motive inertia to an aircraft. 
     
     
         8 . I claim the system according to  claim 1 , further characterized by the integration of the invention into a turbine-driven propeller-propulsion system consistent with the background art with respect to turbine-driven propeller systems used in aviation applications, modified such that the invention provides a motive body of steam in order to power the turbine in operative communication with a gear-box capable of reducing the number of revolutions of the drive system, thereby reducing revolutions and increasing torque, said gear-box in operative communication with a propeller shaft, said propeller shaft in operative communication with a propeller of a type designed for marine propulsion, said propeller consistent with the background art as it pertains to marine propeller technology, for the purpose of imparting motive inertia to a craft operating on or under the water. 
     
     
         9 . I claim the system according to  claim 1 , further characterized by the integration of the invention into a turbine-driven fan-propulsion system consistent with the background art with respect to turbofan aviation propulsion technology, modified such that the system could be driven using the invention to provide a motive body of steam in order to power that turbine in operative communication with the fan-propulsion system for the purpose of imparting Newtonian reactive motive inertia to an aircraft.