US 12,301,001 B2
Power plant for generating electric power for an electric grid comprising an electrolyzer powered by the electric grid
Marco Giancotti, Florence (IT); and Tiziano Pellegrini, Florence (IT)
Assigned to Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie-S.R.L., Florence (IT)
Appl. No. 18/547,238
Filed by NUOVO PIGNONE TECNOLOGIE-S.r.l., Florence (IT)
PCT Filed Feb. 24, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/025063
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 21, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/179753, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 1, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 102021000004421 (IT), filed on Feb. 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0055943 A1, Feb. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. H02J 15/00 (2006.01); F02C 3/20 (2006.01); F02C 6/00 (2006.01); H02J 3/32 (2006.01); H02J 3/38 (2006.01); C25B 1/04 (2021.01); C25B 9/67 (2021.01); C25B 15/02 (2021.01); C25B 15/08 (2006.01); F01D 15/10 (2006.01); F01K 27/02 (2006.01); H02K 7/18 (2006.01)
CPC H02J 15/008 (2020.01) [F02C 3/20 (2013.01); F02C 6/00 (2013.01); H02J 3/32 (2013.01); H02J 3/381 (2013.01); C25B 1/04 (2013.01); C25B 9/67 (2021.01); C25B 15/02 (2013.01); C25B 15/081 (2021.01); F01D 15/10 (2013.01); F01K 27/02 (2013.01); F05D 2220/76 (2013.01); H02K 7/1823 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A power plant configured to generate electric power to be provided to an electric grid, the power plant comprising:
a gas turbine comprising a first rotary shaft and configured to burn a primary fuel, the gas turbine having an exhaust outlet;
a first electric power generator coupled to the first rotary shaft, the first electric power generator comprising a first electric power output;
a steam turbine comprising a second rotary shaft, the steam turbine having a steam inlet;
a second electric power generator coupled to the second rotary shaft, the second electric power generator comprising a second electric power output;
a steam generator coupled to the exhaust outlet and arranged to feed steam to the steam inlet;
a first electrolyzer comprising a first electric power input;
a tank for storing hydrogen to be produced at least by the first electrolyzer and to be burned by the gas turbine;
a first heat exchanger for heating a water flow and producing a heated water flow; and
a second heat exchanger for cooling a hydrogen flow produced at least by the first electrolyzer and producing a cooled hydrogen flow,
wherein the first electric power output of the first electric power generator is arranged to be coupled to the electric grid,
wherein the second electric power output of the second electric power generator is arranged to be coupled to the electric grid,
wherein the first electric power input of the first electrolyzer is arranged to be selectively coupled to the electric grid,
wherein the tank is fluidly coupled to the gas turbine for selectively burning hydrogen as a secondary fuel,
wherein the second heat exchanger is arranged to heat a water flow and producing a heated water flow using heat removed from the hydrogen flow
wherein the power plant is arranged to feed the cooled hydrogen flow to the gas turbine,
wherein the power plant is arranged to feed the heated water flow at least to the first electrolyzer, and
wherein the heated water flow produced by the second heat exchanger is fed to the first heat exchanger.