1. A second stage regulator for use with a pressurized air source and a first stage regulator, the second stage regulator comprising:
a base having a housing, a first exhaust valve and a first interface;
a second exhaust valve having a second interface;
wherein the second exhaust valve is adapted to be removably coupled to the base in a manner that positions the second exhaust valve in series with the first exhaust valve, and the second interface detachably engages the first interface.
2. The second stage regulator of claim 1 wherein a user may optionally operate the base without the second exhaust valve.
3. The second stage regulator of claim 2 wherein the first exhaust valve includes a flapper valve and an open support member.
4. The second stage regulator of claim 3 wherein the open support member is an exhaust spider having a hub and spoke configuration adapted to support the flapper valve while allowing exhaled gas to pass through the exhaust spider.
5. The second stage regulator of claim 1 wherein the secondary exhaust valve includes a flapper valve and an open support member.
6. The second stage regulator of claim 5 wherein the open support member is an exhaust spider having a hub and spoke configuration adapted to support the flapper valve while allowing exhaled gas to pass through the exhaust spider.
7. The second stage regulator of claim 5 wherein the second exhaust valve further includes a body defining an exhaust chamber having a first end and a second opposite end.
8. The second stage regulator of claim 7 wherein the second interface is located at the first end of the exhaust chamber and the open support member is coupled to the second end of the exhaust chamber.
9. The second stage regulator of claim 8 wherein the body defining the exhaust chamber is dimensioned so that the second exhaust valve does not restrict the operation of the first exhaust valve.
10. The second stage regulator of claim 9 wherein the exhaust chamber is substantially a dry chamber including at least one seal positioned near the second interface.
11. The second stage regulator of claim 1 wherein the base further includes a body defining an exhaust chamber having a first end and a second opposite end.
12. The second stage regulator of claim 11 wherein the first end of the exhaust chamber is coupled near the first exhaust valve and the first interface is located at the second end of the exhaust chamber for coupling to the second exhaust valve.
13. The second stage regulator of claim 12 wherein the body defining the exhaust chamber is dimensioned so that the second exhaust valve does not restrict the operation of the first exhaust valve.
14. The second stage regulator of claim 13 wherein the exhaust chamber is substantially a dry chamber including at least one seal positioned near the first interface.
15. A second stage module for use with a second stage regulator having a first exhaust valve, the second stage module comprising:
a housing;
a second exhaust valve coupled to the housing and configured to operate between a closed position and an open position for releasing gas to the environment; and
an interface on the housing configured to releasably couple the housing to the second stage regulator.
16. The second stage module of claim 15 wherein the body has an interior defining an exhaust chamber.
17. The second stage module of claim 16 wherein the exhaust valve includes a flapper valve and an open support member.
18. The second stage module of claim 17 wherein the open support member is an exhaust spider having a hub and spoke configuration adapted to support the flapper valve while allowing exhaled gas to pass through the exhaust spider.
19. A method of providing a second stage regulator that is adapted for use in both warm and cold water conditions, the method comprising:
providing a second stage regulator base module and a second exhaust valve module, wherein the second stage regulator base module includes a first exhaust valve and the second exhaust valve module includes a second exhaust valve;
removably coupling the second exhaust valve module to the second stage regulator base module; and
configuring the second stage regulator base module to be functional without having the second exhaust valve module coupled to the second stage regulator base module.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the second exhaust valve module is removably coupled in series with the first exhaust valve of the second stage regulator base module.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the second stage regulator may be configured to be used without the second exhaust valve module in warm water conditions, and is adaptable to be used with the second stage exhaust valve module in cold water conditions.
22. A modular second stage regulator system adapted for use in both a warm ambient environment and a cold ambient environment, the system comprising:
a second stage regulator base module including:
a housing having an interior defining a regulator chamber; the regulator chamber communicating with a pressurized gas source, the ambient environment and the respiratory system of a user;
a valve assembly for delivering air from the pressurized air source to the user at a breathable pressure;
a first exhaust valve separating the regulator chamber from the ambient environment; and
a first module interface; and
a second exhaust valve module including:
a body defining an exhaust chamber having a first end and a second opposite end;
a second exhaust valve coupled to the second end of the exhaust chamber; and
a second module interface for mating with the first module interface of the second stage regulator base module to provide releasable coupling of the second exhaust valve in series with the first exhaust valve.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A combined cycle power plant comprising:
a gas turbine having an inlet and an exhaust;
a steam turbine;
a heat recovery steam generator connected downstream to the gas turbine and configured and arranged to deliver steam to the steam turbine;
an exhaust gas recycling line which returns some of the exhaust gases, which flow from the gas turbine exhaust through the heat recovery steam generator, to the gas turbine inlet;
a CO2 separating plant having a CO2 outlet and having a inlet in fluid communication with the gas turbine exhaust, the CO2 separating plant configured and arranged to separate CO2 from a non-returned part of the gas turbine exhaust gases and delivers said CO2 to the CO2 outlet; and
a supplementary firing device associated with the heat recovery steam generator, the supplementary firing device configured and arranged to combust a carbonaceous fuel to produce additional exhaust gases with CO2 content, and to transmit the additional exhaust gases through the heat recovery steam generator.
2. The combined cycle power plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supplementary firing device is integrated in the heat recovery steam generator.
3. The combined cycle power plant as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a first heat exchanger configured and arranged to exchange heat with exhaust gases after discharging from the heat recovery steam generator and before distribution to the exhaust gas recycling line and to the CO2 separating plant.
4. The combined cycle power plant as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:
an exhaust gas bypass branching off between the heat recovery steam generator and the first heat exchanger.
5. The combined cycle power plant as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:
a second heat exchanger arranged in the exhaust gas recycling line.
6. The combined cycle power plant as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a compressor for the exhaust gases arranged upstream of the CO2 separating plant.
7. The combined cycle power plant as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a steam extraction line configured and arranged to guide steam from the steam turbine or from the heat recovery steam generator to the CO2 separating plant.
8. The combined cycle power plant as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a first adjusting device, in the exhaust gas recycling line, configured and arranged to adjust the recirculation rate.
9. The combined cycle power plant as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first adjusting device comprises a control valve.
10. The combined cycle power plant as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:
a device configured and arranged to control the supplementary firing device.
11. A method for operating a combined cycle power plant, the method comprising:
providing a combined cycle power plant as claimed in claim 1; and
maintaining constant the portion of the returned exhaust gases, the output of the supplementary firing device, or both.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein maintaining comprises maintaining the portion of the returned exhaust gases at zero.
13. A method for operating a combined cycle power plant, the method comprising:
providing a combined cycle power plant as claimed in claim 1; and
varying the portion of the returned exhaust gases, the output of the supplementary firing device, or both.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein varying comprises varying the portion of the returned exhaust gases, the output of the supplementary firing, or both, oppositely.
15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein, for temporary increase of the output of the combined cycle power plant, varying comprises:
reducing the portion of the returned exhaust gases; or
increasing the output of the supplementary firing device; or
both.