Distillation system temperature control system
Inventors
Dittmar, Kevin • Shepard, Eric • Maldonado, Jeffrey • Dunn, Matthew
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12736011-B1
Publication Date
2026-09-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A gas turbine engine system includes a gas turbine engine, a bypass duct, and a bypass control valve. The gas turbine engine includes at least a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section. The bypass duct has a bypass duct inlet that is disposed between the compressor section and the combustion section, and a bypass duct outlet that is disposed downstream of the turbine section. The bypass control valve is disposed on the bypass duct and is moveable to a commanded valve position, which is one of a closed position, in which compressed air from the compressor section does not flow through the bypass duct, and a plurality of open positions, in which compressed air discharged from the compressor section flows through the bypass duct and mixes with exhaust gas discharged from the turbine section to form the discharge gas that is supplied to the main chamber.
Core Innovation
The disclosed distillation system heats wastewater using discharge gas supplied by a gas turbine engine. A divider wall divides the tank into main and settling chambers, and a diffuser in the main chamber couples to the exhaust gas inlet port. A bypass duct receives compressed air from between the compressor and combustion sections and routes it downstream of the turbine section, where it mixes with turbine exhaust to form discharge gas supplied to the tank.
The temperature-control method senses the temperature of discharge gas supplied to the exhaust gas inlet port and uses the temperature signal to command the bypass control valve. The valve controls the amount of compressed air mixed with turbine exhaust and, in turn, the discharge-gas temperature. This configuration enables precise temperature control irrespective of tank water level or surrounding environmental conditions.
Claims Coverage
The two independent claims cover two inventive features: a distillation system with a bypass arrangement for forming discharge gas, and a method for controlling the temperature of that gas.
Distillation system with bypass-mixed discharge gas
The system includes a tank divided into main and settling chambers, a diffuser coupled to the exhaust gas inlet port, and a gas turbine engine system. A bypass duct and control valve allow compressed air from the compressor section to mix with turbine exhaust to form discharge gas supplied to the tank.
Temperature control using sensor-based valve commands
The method senses the temperature of discharge gas supplied to the exhaust gas inlet port and provides a temperature signal. A valve control commands the bypass control valve based at least in part on that signal, regulating the amount of compressed air mixed with turbine exhaust and the temperature of the discharge gas.
The independent claims cover the system structure that supplies bypass-mixed discharge gas to a distillation tank and the method that uses temperature sensing and valve commands to control that gas temperature.
Stated Advantages
The system enables precise temperature control irrespective of tank water level or surrounding environmental conditions.
Documented Applications
Heating wastewater in a distillation system using gas-turbine discharge gas.
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