High efficiency power generation system and system upgrades

Abstract

A power generation system includes an inert gas power source, a thermal/electrical power converter and a power plant. The thermal/electrical power converter includes a compressor with an output coupled to an input of the inert gas power source. The power plant has an input coupled in series with an output of the thermal/electrical power converter. The thermal/electrical power converter and the power plant are configured to serially convert thermal power produced at an output of the inert gas power source into electricity. The thermal/electrical power converter includes an inert gas reservoir tank coupled to an input of the compressor via a reservoir tank control valve and to the output of the compressor via another reservoir tank control valve. The reservoir tank control valve and the another reservoir tank control valve are configured to regulate a temperature of the output of the thermal/electrical power converter.

1 . A thermal/electrical power converter, comprising:
 a gas turbine with an input coupled to an output of a power source;   a compressor, mechanically coupled to said gas turbine, including an output coupled to an input of said power source;   a generator mechanically coupled to said gas turbine;   a heat exchanger with an input coupled to an output of said gas turbine and an output coupled to an input of said compressor; and   a reservoir tank coupled to said input of said compressor via a reservoir tank control valve and said output of said compressor via another reservoir tank control valve.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal/electrical power converter as recited in  claim 1  wherein said input of said gas turbine and said output of said compressor are coupled to said power source via a counterflow heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal/electrical power converter as recited in  claim 2  wherein said power source is an inert gas power source that is configured to provide a first inert gas to an input of said counterflow heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy to a second inert gas at an output of said counterflow heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal/electrical power converter as recited in  claim 3  wherein said first inert gas is helium and said second inert gas is argon or a mixture of argon and helium. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal/electrical power converter as recited in  claim 3  wherein a circulating pump is configured to circulate said first inert gas between said inert gas power source and said counterflow heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal/electrical power converter as recited in  claim 5  wherein a filter is coupled between another output of said counterflow heat exchanger and an input of said circulating pump. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal/electrical power converter as recited in  claim 3  wherein another inert gas reservoir tank is coupled to said inert gas power source. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal/electrical power converter as recited in  claim 1  wherein another output of said heat exchanger is coupled to a power plant. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal/electrical power converter as recited in  claim 1  wherein said thermal/electrical power converter is thermally coupled in series and electrically coupled in parallel with a power plant. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal/electrical power converter as recited in  claim 1  wherein said power source comprises fossil fuel. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 coupling an input of a gas turbine to an output of a power source;   mechanically coupling a compressor to said gas turbine and coupling an output of said compressor to an input of said power source;   mechanically coupling a generator to said gas turbine;   coupling an input of a heat exchanger to an output of said gas turbine and coupling an output of said heat exchanger to an input of said compressor; and   coupling a reservoir tank to said input of said compressor via a reservoir tank control valve and to said output of said compressor via another reservoir tank control valve.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said input of said gas turbine and said output of said compressor are coupled to said power source via a counterflow heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein said power source is an inert gas power source that is configured to provide a first inert gas to an input of said counterflow heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy to a second inert gas at an output of said counterflow heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13  wherein said first inert gas is helium and said second inert gas is argon or a mixture of argon and helium. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 13  wherein a circulating pump is configured to circulate said first inert gas between said inert gas power source and said counterflow heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15  further comprising coupling a filter between another output of said counterflow heat exchanger and an input of said circulating pump. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 13  further comprising coupling another inert gas reservoir tank to said inert gas power source. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 11  further comprising coupling another output of said heat exchanger to a power plant. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said heat exchanger is thermally coupled in series with a power plant. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said power source comprises fossil fuel.