Demonstration of a Dynamic Clearance Seal in a Rotating Steam Test Facility

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Messenger ◽  
Richard Williams ◽  
Grant Ingram ◽  
Simon Hogg ◽  
Philip Reggentin
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Load Condition ◽  
Rotating Machinery ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Design System ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
High Temperature Steam

Abstract This paper reports on the latest phase of the development of a new rotating machinery sealing technology, which was a successful seal test in a high temperature steam test facility at TU Brauschweig in Germany. The “Aerostatic Seal” is a dynamic clearance seal that is capable of maintaining very small clearances with a rotor and has the potential for a wide range of rotating machinery applications. It has been developed in recent years at Durham University, UK, in collaboration with a major OEM, with a focus on steam turbine sealing, and has previously been reported on in a number of ASME Turbo Expo papers. Previous work has reported on the design tool, and two air test facilities; testing in steam addressed the effect of high temperature components and the working fluid, and was an opportunity to verify the design system. The seal is a development of a retractable gland seal and so in a low load condition it is retracted from the rotor with a large rotor clearance and then when the pressure ratio is sufficient moves to an operational small clearance. At its operational clearance the seal is capable of moving with rotor vibrations which means the design clearance can be smaller than any expected rotor movement. The benefits include a significant reduction in leakage when compared to conventional sealing technologies and also the ability to react to large transients or thermal growths caused by rapid changes in machine loads and speeds. The seal is shown to operate well in this environment and this work moves the technology closer to deployment in industry.

Performance Results With ALSTOM’s Circulating Moving Bed Combuster™

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen Jukkola ◽  
Armand Levasseur ◽  
Dave Turek ◽  
Bard Teigen ◽  
Suresh Jain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ◽  
Combustion System ◽  
Moving Bed ◽  
Program Cost ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Institute Of Technology ◽  
Performance Results

ALSTOM is developing and testing a new and more efficient coal combustion technology, including a new type of steam generator known as a “circulating moving bed (CMBTM) combustion system combustor.” The CMBTM combustion system technology involves a novel method of solid fuel combustion and heat transfer. In this design, a heat exchanger will heat the energy cycle working fluid, steam or air, to the high temperature levels required for advanced power generation systems. This will produce a step change in both performance and capital costs relative to today’s pulverized coal and fluid bed boiler designs. In addition to high temperature Rankine cycles, the CMBTM combustion system is an enabling technology for hydrogen production and CO2 capture from combustion systems utilizing innovative chemical looping airblown gasification and syngas decarbonization. ALSTOM’s 3MWth Multi-Use Combustion Test Facility has been modified to allow operation in CMBTM combustion system mode. This paper summarizes the results of this program, which includes performance results from pilot plant testing. Participants include the U.S. DOE, ALSTOM, the University of Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The total program cost is $2,485,468 with the DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) providing 60% of the funding under Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FC26-01NT41223.

Computation of Thermodynamic Properties of Carbon Dioxide in the Range 0–750 Deg C

1970 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Angelino ◽  
E. Macchi
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Thermal Properties ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Thermodynamic Properties ◽  
Thermodynamic Functions ◽  
Critical Region ◽  
Density Measurement ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Power Cycles ◽  
Wide Range

The computation of power cycles employing carbon dioxide as working fluid and extending down to the critical region requires the knowledge of the thermodynamic properties of CO2 within a wide range of pressures and temperatures. Available data are recognized to be insufficient or insufficiently accurate chiefly in the vicinity of the critical dome. Newly published density and specific heat measurements are employed to compute thermodynamic functions at temperatures between 0 and 50 deg C, where the need of better data is more urgent. Methods for the computation of thermal properties from density measurement in the low and in the high temperature range are presented and discussed. Results are reported of the computation of entropy and enthalpy of CO2 in the range 150–750 deg C and 40–600 atm. The probable precision of the tables is inferred from an error analysis based on the generation, by means of a computer program of a set of pseudoexperimental points which, treated as actual measurements, yield useful information about the accuracy of the calculation procedure.

Off-Nominal Component Performance in a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Brayton Cycle

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Clementoni ◽  
Timothy L. Cox ◽  
Martha A. King
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Design System ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Brayton Cycle ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Primary Driver ◽  
Atomic Power Laboratory ◽  
Supercritical Carbon

Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation (BMPC) is testing a supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) Brayton system at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory. The Integrated System Test (IST) is a simple recuperated closed Brayton cycle with a variable-speed turbine-driven compressor and a constant-speed turbine-driven generator using S-CO2 as the working fluid designed to output 100 kWe. The main focus of the IST is to demonstrate operational, control, and performance characteristics of an S-CO2 Brayton power cycle over a wide range of conditions. Therefore, the IST was designed to operate in a configuration and at conditions that support demonstrating the controllability of the closed S-CO2 Brayton cycle. Operating at high system efficiency and meeting a specified efficiency target are not requirements of the IST. However, efficiency is a primary driver for many commercial applications of S-CO2 power cycles. This paper uses operational data to evaluate component off-nominal performance and predict that design system operation would be achievable.

Oxy-Fuel Gas Turbine, Gas Generator and Reheat Combustor Technology Development and Demonstration

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Anderson ◽  
Fermin Viteri ◽  
Rebecca Hollis ◽  
Ashley Keating ◽  
Jonathan Shipper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
2Nd Generation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
And Performance

Future fossil-fueled power generation systems will require carbon capture and sequestration to comply with government green house gas regulations. The three prime candidate technologies that capture carbon dioxide (CO2) are pre-combustion, post-combustion and oxy-fuel combustion techniques. Clean Energy Systems, Inc. (CES) has recently demonstrated oxy-fuel technology applicable to gas turbines, gas generators, and reheat combustors at their 50MWth research test facility located near Bakersfield, California. CES, in conjunction with Siemens Energy, Inc. and Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc. (FTT) have been working to develop and demonstrate turbomachinery systems that accommodate the inherent characteristics of oxy-fuel (O-F) working fluids. The team adopted an aggressive, but economical development approach to advance turbine technology towards early product realization; goals include incremental advances in power plant output and efficiency while minimizing capital costs and cost of electricity [1]. Proof-of-concept testing was completed via a 20MWth oxy-fuel combustor at CES’s Kimberlina prototype power plant. Operability and performance limits were explored by burning a variety of fuels, including natural gas and (simulated) synthesis gas, over a wide range of conditions to generate a steam/CO2 working fluid that was used to drive a turbo-generator. Successful demonstration led to the development of first generation zero-emission power plants (ZEPP). Fabrication and preliminary testing of 1st generation ZEPP equipment has been completed at Kimberlina power plant (KPP) including two main system components, a large combustor (170MWth) and a modified aeroderivative turbine (GE J79 turbine). Also, a reheat combustion system is being designed to improve plant efficiency. This will incorporate the combustion cans from the J79 engine, modified to accept the system’s steam/CO2 working fluid. A single-can reheat combustor has been designed and tested to verify the viability and performance of an O-F reheater can. After several successful tests of the 1st generation equipment, development started on 2nd generation power plant systems. In this program, a Siemens SGT-900 gas turbine engine will be modified and utilized in a 200MWe power plant. Like the 1st generation system, the expander section of the engine will be used as an advanced intermediate pressure turbine and the can-annular combustor will be modified into a O-F reheat combustor. Design studies are being performed to define the modifications necessary to adapt the hardware to the thermal and structural demands of a steam/CO2 drive gas including testing to characterize the materials behavior when exposed to the deleterious working environment. The results and challenges of 1st and 2nd generation oxy-fuel power plant system development are presented.

The STEP 10 MWe sCO2 Pilot Demonstration Status Update

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Marion ◽  
Brian Lariviere ◽  
Aaron McClung ◽  
Jason Mortzheim ◽  
Robin Ames
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Supercritical Co2 ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
San Antonio ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Power Cycles ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract A team led by Gas Technology Institute (GTI®), Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) and General Electric Global Research (GE-GR), along with the University of Wisconsin and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), is actively executing a project called “STEP” [Supercritical Transformational Electric Power project], to design, construct, commission, and operate an integrated and reconfigurable 10 MWe sCO2 [supercritical CO2] Pilot Plant Test Facility. The $122* million project is funded $84 million by the US DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL Award Number DE-FE0028979) and $38* million by the team members, component suppliers and others interested in sCO2 technology. The facility is currently under construction and is located at SwRI’s San Antonio, Texas, USA campus. This project is a significant step toward sCO2 cycle based power generation commercialization and is informing the performance, operability, and scale-up to commercial plants. Significant progress has been made. The design phase is complete (Phase 1) and included procurements of long-lead time deliver components. Now well into Phase 2, most major equipment is in fabrication and several completed and delivered. These efforts have already provided valuable project learnings for technology commercialization. A ground-breaking was held in October of 2018 and now civil work and the construction of a dedicated 25,000 ft2 building has progressed and is largely completed at the San Antonio, TX, USA project site. Supercritical CO2 (sCO2) power cycles are Brayton cycles that utilize supercritical CO2 working fluid to convert heat to power. They offer the potential for higher system efficiencies than other energy conversion technologies such as steam Rankine or Organic Rankine cycles this especially when operating at elevated temperatures. sCO2 power cycles are being considered for a wide range of applications including fossil-fired systems, waste heat recovery, concentrated solar power, and nuclear power generation. By the end of this 6-year STEP pilot demo project, the operability of the sCO2 power cycle will be demonstrated and documented starting with facility commissioning as a simple closed recuperated cycle configuration initially operating at a 500°C (932°F) turbine inlet temperature and progressing to a recompression closed Brayton cycle technology (RCBC) configuration operating at 715°C (1319 °F).

The STEP 10 MWe sCO2 Pilot Plant Demonstration

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Marion ◽  
Mike Kutin ◽  
Aaron McClung ◽  
Jason Mortzheim ◽  
Robin Ames
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Supercritical Co2 ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
Power Cycles ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract A team led by Gas Technology Institute (GTI), Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) and General Electric Global Research (GE-GR), along with the University of Wisconsin and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), is actively executing a project called “STEP” [Supercritical Transformational Electric Power project], to design, construct, commission, and operate an integrated and reconfigurable 10 MWe sCO2 [supercritical CO2] Pilot Plant Test Facility located at SwRI’s San Antonio, Texas campus. The $119 million project is funded $84 million by the US DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL Award Number DE-FE0028979) and $35 million cost share by the team, component suppliers and others interested in sCO2 technology. This project is a significant step toward sCO2 cycle based power generation commercialization and will inform the performance, operability, and scale-up to commercial facilities. Supercritical CO2 (sCO2) power cycles are Brayton cycles that utilize supercritical CO2 working fluid to convert heat into power. They offer the potential for higher system efficiencies than other energy conversion technologies such as steam Rankine or organic Rankine cycles, especially when operating at elevated temperatures. sCO2 power cycles are being considered for a wide range of applications including fossil-fired systems, waste heat recovery, concentrated solar power, and nuclear. The pilot plant design, procurement, fabrication, and construction are ongoing at the time of this publication. By the end of this 6-year project, the operability of the sCO2 power cycle will be demonstrated and documented starting with facility commissioning as a simple closed recuperated cycle configuration initially operating at a 500°C (932°F) turbine inlet temperature and progressing to a recompression closed Brayton cycle technology (RCBC) configuration operating at 715°C (1319 °F).

Off-Nominal Component Performance in a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Brayton Cycle

2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Clementoni ◽  
Timothy L. Cox ◽  
Martha A. King
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Design System ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Brayton Cycle ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Primary Driver ◽  
Atomic Power Laboratory ◽  
Supercritical Carbon

Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation (BMPC) is testing a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) Brayton system at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory. The integrated system test (IST) is a simple recuperated closed Brayton cycle with a variable-speed turbine-driven compressor and a constant-speed turbine-driven generator using sCO2 as the working fluid designed to output 100 kWe. The main focus of the IST is to demonstrate operational, control, and performance characteristics of an sCO2 Brayton power cycle over a wide range of conditions. Therefore, the IST was designed to operate in a configuration and at conditions that support demonstrating the controllability of the closed sCO2 Brayton cycle. Operating at high system efficiency and meeting a specified efficiency target are not requirements of the IST. However, efficiency is a primary driver for many commercial applications of sCO2 power cycles. This paper uses operational data to evaluate component off-nominal performance and predict that design system operation would be achievable.

Active Magnetic Bearings for Gas Turbomachinery in Closed-Cycle Power Plant Systems

1988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin F. McDonald
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Rotating Machinery ◽  
Magnetic Bearings ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Active Magnetic Bearings ◽  
Closed Cycle

Bearing lubrication systems in closed-loop plants using gas (air or helium) as the working fluid (e.g., gas turbine, gas-cooled nuclear reactor, gas compressor, etc.) are very demanding since liquid lubricant ingress could contaminate the circuit, unlike open-cycle systems where the products would be expelled in the exhaust. Oil-lubricated bearings, the tribology mainstay in the power plant field, are reliable, but in the event of a failure in the seal or buffer system, the impact of oil ingress (e.g., saturation of insulation, coking on high-temperature surfaces, or in the extreme case, conflagration of equipment) can be costly and result in extended plant downtime. The emergence in the early 1980s of a new tribology technology, namely a system in which the turbomachine rotor is levitated by a magnetic field, and positively sensed and controlled in real-time by an electronic system, now offers the designer an additional option. While an active magnetic system has many advantages, its foremost are (1) potential for very high reliability, (2) obviates the possibility of closed circuit contamination by lubricant ingress, (3) system simplicity, (4) ease of operation, and (5) ease of critical speed problems. It is projected that utilization of “electronic chips instead of liquid films” will have a significant impact on the design of high-speed rotating machinery across the full spectrum of applications. This paper outlines the emergence of active magnetic bearings in rotating machinery for closed-cycle gas turbines, and in helium circulators for future high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear power plants. The paper highlights the existing industrial technology base that will make possible the deployment of active magnetic bearings in rotating machinery for the next generation of power plants that utilize closed-loop circuits.

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