Abstract: A gas turbine engine having an improved air delivery system that includes features for pressurizing and/or cooling various components of the engine while minimizing the impact to the cycle efficiency of the engine, reducing the weight of the engine, and reducing the specific fuel consumption of the engine is provided.

Abstract: A system includes a turbine with an expansion section configured to expand an exhaust flow in a downstream direction, such that the expansion section includes a plurality of stages and a diffuser section coupled downstream of the expansion section. The diffuser section receives the exhaust flow along an exhaust path and an energizing flow along a wall, and the diffuser section includes the wall comprising an inner surface, so the wall is disposed about the exhaust path, and an energizing port disposed in the wall at or downstream of a last stage of the plurality of stages of the expansion section. The energizing port is configured to direct the energizing flow along the inner surface of the wall to energize a boundary layer along the wall, and a first pressure of the energizing flow is greater than a second pressure of the exhaust flow at the energizing port.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine having an improved air delivery system that includes features for pressurizing and/or cooling various components of the engine while minimizing the impact to the cycle efficiency of the engine, reducing the weight of the engine, and reducing the specific fuel consumption of the engine is provided.

Abstract: The gas turbine system comprises an aeroderivative gas turbine engine and a load having a shaft line drivingly coupled to the gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine comprises a high-pressure turbine section and a high-pressure compressor section, drivingly coupled to one another by a first turbine shaft. The gas turbine engine further comprises an intermediate-pressure turbine section and a low-pressure compressor section, drivingly coupled to one another by a second turbine shaft, coaxial to the first turbine shaft (91). Furthermore, a combustor section is provided, fluidly coupled to the high-pressure compressor section and to the high-pressure turbine section. A free power turbine, supported by a third turbine shaft which is mechanically uncoupled from the first turbine shaft and the second turbine shaft, and is directly coupled to the shaft line, such that the shaft line and the third turbine shaft rotate at the same rotational speed.

Abstract: A system includes a turbine with an expansion section configured to expand an exhaust flow in a downstream direction, such that the expansion section includes a plurality of stages and a diffuser section coupled downstream of the expansion section. The diffuser section receives the exhaust flow along an exhaust path and an energizing flow along a wall, and the diffuser section includes the wall comprising an inner surface, so the wall is disposed about the exhaust path, and an energizing port disposed in the wall at or downstream of a last stage of the plurality of stages of the expansion section. The energizing port is configured to direct the energizing flow along the inner surface of the wall to energize a boundary layer along the wall, and a first pressure of the energizing flow is greater than a second pressure of the exhaust flow at the energizing port.

Abstract: A method is provided of reducing lockout time of a gas turbine engine which includes: an inlet, a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, and an exhaust duct, where the compressor and the turbine are carried on a turbomachinery rotor and each include an array of blades mounted for rotation inside a casing of the engine. The method includes: operating the engine at a first power output; shutting down operation of the engine without substantially reducing the power output beforehand, wherein thermomechanical changes occur in the engine subsequent to shutdown that tend to reduce a radial clearance between at least one of the blades and the casing; and subsequent to shutting down the engine, (1) heating the casing and/or (2) pumping an airflow of ambient air into the inlet and through the casing, past the rotor, and out the exhaust duct, so as to reverse at least partially the thermomechanical changes.

Abstract: A method is provided of reducing lockout time of a gas turbine engine which includes: an inlet, a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, and an exhaust duct, where the compressor and the turbine are carried on a turbomachinery rotor and each include an array of blades mounted for rotation inside a casing of the engine. The method includes: operating the engine at a first power output; shutting down operation of the engine without substantially reducing the power output beforehand, wherein thermomechanical changes occur in the engine subsequent to shutdown that tend to reduce a radial clearance between at least one of the blades and the casing; and subsequent to shutting down the engine, (1) heating the casing and/or (2) pumping an airflow of ambient air into the inlet and through the casing, past the rotor, and out the exhaust duct, so as to reverse at least partially the thermomechanical changes.