Turbomachine assembly for recovering waste heat and method of using same

Abstract

A turbomachine assembly for recovering waste heat generally has a compressor section that is configured to generate a compressed fluid flow and to channel the compressed fluid flow within the turbomachine assembly. A turbine section is coupled to the compressor section via a rotating member such that portions of the rotating member are located within the compressor section and the turbine section, respectively. The turbine section is in flow communication with the compressor section such that the compressed fluid flow is received by the turbine section. At least one heat exchanger is positioned at least partly within the turbine section where the heat exchanger receives waste heat energy. The heat exchanger transfers energy from the waste heat into the compressed fluid flow to increase at least one parameter of the compressed fluid flow contributing to the generation of a power output.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A turbomachine assembly for recovering waste heat, said turbomachine assembly comprising:
 a compressor section configured to generate a compressed fluid flow and to channel the compressed fluid flow within said turbomachine assembly;   a turbine section coupled to said compressor section via a rotating member such that a first portion of the rotating member is positioned within said compressor section and a second portion of the rotating member is positioned within said turbine section, wherein said turbine section is in flow communication with said compressor section such that the compressed fluid flow is received by said turbine section; and   at least one heat exchanger positioned at least partly within said turbine section, wherein said at least one heat exchanger is configured to receive waste heat and to transfer energy from the waste heat into the compressed fluid flow so as to increase at least one parameter of the compressed fluid flow contributing to the generation of a power output.   
     
     
         2 . A turbomachine assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said at least one heat exchanger is configured to receive the waste heat from said turbine section. 
     
     
         3 . A turbomachine assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said at least one heat exchanger is configured to receive the waste heat from a machine that is coupled to said turbine section. 
     
     
         4 . A turbomachine assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising at least one burner positioned within said turbine section, wherein said at least one burner is configured to provide additional heat to the compressed fluid flow combined with the waste heat. 
     
     
         5 . A turbomachine assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said turbine section further comprises a rotor comprising an annular base portion that is configured to substantially circumscribe at least a portion of the second end portion of the rotating member, said rotor further comprises a plurality blades extending radially outwardly from a surface of said base portion. 
     
     
         6 . A turbomachine assembly in accordance with  claim 5 , further comprising at least one nozzle ring positioned within said turbine section, wherein said at least one nozzle ring is configured to channel the compressed fluid flow combined with the waste heat over said rotor to facilitate rotating the rotating member. 
     
     
         7 . A turbomachine assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a center section positioned between said compressor section and said turbine section, wherein said center section includes at least one conduit that is configured to channel the compressed fluid flow from said compressor section to said turbine section. 
     
     
         8 . A power system comprising:
 a load apparatus comprising a load configured to convert mechanical rotational energy to electrical energy for a power output; and   a turbomachine assembly coupled to said load apparatus, said turbomachine assembly comprises:
 a compressor section configured to generate a compressed fluid flow and to channel the compressed fluid flow within said turbomachine assembly; 
 a turbine section coupled to said compressor section via a rotating member such that a first portion of the rotating member is positioned within said compressor section and a second portion of the rotating member is positioned within said turbine section, wherein said turbine section is in flow communication with said compressor section such that the compressed fluid flow is received by said turbine section; and 
 at least one heat exchanger positioned at least partly within said turbine section, wherein said at least one heat exchanger is configured to receive waste heat and to transfer energy from the waste heat into the compressed fluid flow so as to increase at least one parameter of the compressed fluid flow contributing to the generation of the power output. 
   
     
     
         9 . A power system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said at least one heat exchanger is configured to receive the waste heat from said turbine section. 
     
     
         10 . A power system in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising at least one machine coupled to said turbomachine assembly, wherein said at least one heat exchanger is configured to receive the waste heat from said at least one machine. 
     
     
         11 . A power system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein said at least one machine comprises at least one gas turbine engine, said at least one heat exchanger is configured to receive the waste heat from exhaust gases generated by said at least one gas turbine engine. 
     
     
         12 . A power system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said turbomachine assembly further comprises at least one burner positioned within said turbine section, wherein said at least one burner is configured to provide additional heat to the compressed fluid flow combined with the waste heat. 
     
     
         13 . A power system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said turbine section further comprises a rotor comprising an annular base portion that is configured to substantially circumscribe at least a portion of the second end portion of the rotating member, said rotor further comprises a plurality blades extending radially outwardly from a surface of said base portion. 
     
     
         14 . A power system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said turbomachine assembly further comprises at least one nozzle ring positioned within said turbine section, wherein said at least one nozzle ring is configured to channel the compressed fluid flow combined with the waste heat over said rotor to facilitate rotating the rotating member. 
     
     
         15 . A power system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said turbomachine assembly further comprises a center section positioned between said compressor section and said turbine section, wherein said center section includes at least one conduit that is configured to channel the compressed fluid flow from said compressor section to said turbine section. 
     
     
         16 . A method of using a turbomachine assembly for recovering waste heat, said method comprising:
 providing a compressor section that is configured to generate a compressed fluid flow;   coupling a turbine section to the compressor section via a rotating member such that a first portion of the rotating member is positioned within the compressor section and a second portion of the rotating member is positioned within the turbine section, wherein the turbine section is in flow communication with the compressor section;   positioning at least one heat exchanger at least partly within the turbine section;   channeling the compressed fluid flow from the compressor section to the turbine section;   using the at least one heat exchanger to receive waste heat; and   transferring energy from the waste heat, via the at least one heat exchanger, into the compressed fluid flow to increase at least one parameter of the compressed fluid flow contributing to generation of a power output.   
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein using the at least one heat exchanger to receive waste heat further comprises using the at least one heat exchanger to receive waste heat from the turbine section. 
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein using the at least one heat exchanger to receive waste heat further comprises using the at least one heat exchanger to receive waste heat from a machine that is coupled to the turbine section. 
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising providing additional heat to the compressed fluid flow combined with the waste heat via at least one burner that is positioned within the turbine section. 
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising channeling the compressed fluid flow combined with the waste heat over at least one component within the turbine section via at least one nozzle ring positioned within the turbine section.