Operating coal fired energy systems. A method of operating a coal fired energy system comprises operating a coal fired steam generator comprising a coal feed system and a main air feed system to provide a coal-air mixture as a heating source for a boiler for generating steam. The method includes operating an auxiliary air compression system comprising a fueled engine coupled to a compressor for providing an auxiliary supply of compressed air to a soot blower of the coal-fired steam generator. The method comprises injecting the auxiliary supply of compressed air along walls of the boiler to remove soot and ash buildup from the boiler.

A hydraulic compressed air energy storage system includes air and liquid tanks, each of which includes interdependent volumes of liquid and air. Each tank includes dedicated passages through which incoming air may be fed, forcing outflow of liquid, or incoming liquid may be fed, forcing outflow of air. Compressed air tanks are connected to a first group of the air and liquid tanks. The system further includes a pump and a liquid turbine, the liquid turbine being electrically connected to a generator for generating electric power. During charging of the system, liquid is pumped through the first group of air and liquid tanks, and air is expelled from the first group of air and liquid tanks and compressed in the compressed air tanks. During discharging of the system, compressed air is released from the compressed air tanks, and said compressed air pumps liquid through the liquid turbine, thereby generating electricity.

Disclosed is a machine learning energy management system that regulates incoming energy sources into compressed air storage operations and energy generation. Compressed air is directed into a thermoregulation system that cycles storage tanks according to physical qualities. A boost impulse creates energy to initiate the electrical energy generation. The compressed air operations and energy generation leverage the heating and cooling of an external HVAC system to improve performance and conservation of the heating and cooling for an external building. The system combines real-time data, historical performance data, algorithm control, variable air pressure for demand-based generation, tank-to-tank thermal cycling, building air heat exchanger, and boost pulsation to achieve optimized system efficiency and responsiveness.

In an embodiment, a gas turbine system is provided. The gas turbine system may include a supplementary air system and a flow diffuser configured to receive compressed air from the supplementary air system. The gas turbine system further comprises a gas turbine compressor downstream the flow diffuser, a combustor downstream the gas turbine compressor, a turbine downstream the combustor, and a turbine haft. The turbine shaft comprises a thrust bearing and a clutch. When the gas turbine system is operating, the gas turbine compressor does not consume electricity.

In an embodiment, a gas turbine system is provided. The gas turbine system may include a supplementary air system and a flow diffuser configured to receive compressed air from the supplementary air system. The gas turbine system further comprises a gas turbine compressor downstream the flow diffuser, a combustor downstream the gas turbine compressor, a turbine downstream the combustor, and a turbine haft. The turbine shaft comprises a thrust bearing and a clutch. When the gas turbine system is operating, the gas turbine compressor does not consume electricity.

Methods and systems of operating a gas turbine engine in a low-power condition are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes supplying fuel to a combustor by supplying fuel to a first fuel manifold and a second fuel manifold of the gas turbine engine. The method also includes, while supplying fuel to the combustor by supplying fuel to the first fuel manifold: stopping supplying fuel to the second fuel manifold; and supplying pressurized air to the second fuel manifold to flush fuel in the second fuel manifold into the combustor and hinder coking in the second fuel manifold and associated fuel nozzles.

Methods and systems of operating a gas turbine engine in a low-power condition are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes supplying fuel to a combustor by supplying fuel to a first fuel manifold and a second fuel manifold of the gas turbine engine. The method also includes, while supplying fuel to the combustor by supplying fuel to the first fuel manifold: stopping supplying fuel to the second fuel manifold; and supplying pressurized air to the second fuel manifold to flush fuel in the second fuel manifold into the combustor and hinder coking in the second fuel manifold and associated fuel nozzles.

A system for using excess energy of a power generation system and an sCO2 (supercritical carbon dioxide) stream to store and generate power. An air separation unit uses the excess energy to cool and liquify ambient air into liquid nitrogen (L-N2) and liquid oxygen (L-O2). The L-O2 and L-N2 are stored until energy is desired. An L-O2 energy discharge path has an oxygen heat exchanger that vaporizes and heats the oxygen, a combustor that combusts the oxygen and fuel to produce exhaust, and a first turbine is driven by the exhaust to produce energy. An L-N2 energy discharge path has a nitrogen heat exchanger that vaporizes and heats the L-N2, thereby providing expanded nitrogen, and a second turbine is driven by the expanded nitrogen to produce energy. Heat for the heat exchangers on both discharge paths is provided by the sCO2 stream.

An energy storage apparatus that includes at least one inlet for incoming process gas, at least one outlet for expanded process gas and a plurality of energy storage sub-systems configured to be arranged in series with each other and with a compressed gas store. The first of the plurality of energy storage sub-systems includes a first compressor, a first expander, a first thermal store and a first heat transfer device associated with the first thermal store. The second of the plurality of energy storage sub-systems includes a second compressor, at least a second expander, a second thermal store and a second heat transfer device associated with the second thermal store.

An energy storage apparatus that includes at least one inlet for incoming process gas, at least one outlet for expanded process gas and a plurality of energy storage sub-systems configured to be arranged in series with each other and with a compressed gas store. The first of the plurality of energy storage sub-systems includes a first compressor, a first expander, a first thermal store and a first heat transfer device associated with the first thermal store. The second of the plurality of energy storage sub-systems includes a second compressor, at least a second expander, a second thermal store and a second heat transfer device associated with the second thermal store.