Having Oxidizer Cooling Means Patents (Class 60/728)
  • Publication number: 20090282836
    Abstract: Contemplated configurations and methods use first and second precoolers, preferably in alternating operation, to provide a combustion turbine with air at a temperature of 50° F., and more typically less than 32° F. and most typically less than 0° F. In such configurations and methods it is generally preferred that a heat transfer fluid circuit provides both, heated and cooled heat transfer fluid to thereby allow cooling and deicing of the precoolers. Most preferably, refrigeration is provided from an LNG regasification unit to form the cooled heat transfer fluid while heat from a power cycle (e.g., from surface condenser) is used to form the heated heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: FLUOR TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Publication number: 20090241507
    Abstract: A ground based power generation system contains at least two compressor stages, a combustion stage and a turbine stage. An intercooler is positioned between the two compressor stages and a regenerator is positioned between the compressor stages and the combustion stage. The combustion stage contains at least one of a pulse detonation combustor and constant volume combustor. Downstream of the combustion stage is the turbine stage. Heat for the regenerator is supplied from the turbine stage. Further, a bypass flow device is included which re-directs flow upstream of the combustion stage to downstream of the combustion stage and upstream of the turbine stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Venkat Eswarlu Tangirala, Adam Rasheed, Narendra Digamber Joshi, Anthony John Dean
  • Patent number: 7568336
    Abstract: An aeroengine includes a primary air circuit; a high-pressure compressor fed by the primary air; and a secondary air circuit. The engine further includes at least one heat exchanger mounted in the primary air circuit upstream from the high-pressure compressor, the heat exchanger including a cold secondary circuit and a hot primary circuit, the hot primary circuit being fed with air from the primary air circuit and the cold secondary circuit being fed with air from the secondary air circuit. The cold circuit of the heat exchanger is fed by pipes that open out into the secondary air circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Michel Gilbert Roland Brault, Stephane Rousselin, Nicolas Jerome Jean Tantot, Roxane Carmelle Jeanne Yvonne Touret
  • Patent number: 7562532
    Abstract: A gas turbine group comprises a device, arranged in a suction-intake duct, for cooling a suction-intake airflow. The device is, for example, a device for injecting a liquid mass flow. The cooling device is activated automatically when a first limit temperature of the ambient air is overshot and is deactivated automatically when a second limit temperature is undershot. Stability of the automatic algorithm can be improved in that the second limit temperature can lie by a specific amount below the first limit temperature. In one embodiment, the limit temperatures are predetermined as a function of the position of an adjustable initial guide blade cascade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Carlos Enrique Diaz, Jürgen Gerhard Hoffmann, Andreas Ullrich
  • Publication number: 20090049836
    Abstract: An improvement to the air compressor of a combustion turbine system is disclosed, which makes the air compression more energy efficient plus have higher capacity on warm days. The same equipment with minimal modification is used to prevent inlet air icing conditions on cold days. Referring to FIG. 1, inlet air conditioner 3 supplies conditioned (chilled or heated) air to the combustion turbine, and heat recovery unit 1 supplies turbine exhaust heat to ammonia absorption refrigeration unit 2. Control valves 5, 6, 7, and 8 selectively supply either chilling refrigerant liquid or heating vapor to conditioning coil 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Donald Charles Erickson, Gopalakrishnan Anand
  • Patent number: 7472550
    Abstract: A turbine engine system and a method for using the turbine engine system that includes at least one low-pressure compressor, at least one high-pressure compressor, at least one low-pressure turbine, and at least one high-pressure turbine. In addition, the turbine engine system includes an absorption refrigeration system that is used to pre-cool an air-gas mixture before it enters the high-pressure compressor. As such, the pre-cooled mixture is easier to compress, thereby increasing the thermal efficiency of the turbine engine. Additionally, the exhaust heat from the air-gas mixture that is pre-cooled may be used to drive the absorption refrigeration system. Lastly, water, may be extracted from the evaporator of the absorption refrigeration cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Lear, Jr., Sherif A. Sherif
  • Publication number: 20080276617
    Abstract: Contemplated plants integrate regeneration of a freeze point depressant with LNG regasification and a power cycle. Most preferably, the plant is a combined cycle plant in which heat for reboiling the regenerator is provided by the steam cycle, and in which LNG refrigeration content is used to condense steam from the regenerator and to further subcool intake air for a combustion turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 7444819
    Abstract: A gas turbine installation is provided in which turbine cooling air can be humidified with water while suppressing deterioration of the reliability of turbine blades. The gas turbine installation comprises a compressor for compressing air, a combustor for burning compressed air and fuel, a turbine driven by combustion gas, and a humidifier for humidifying the compressed air extracted from an intermediate stage or a discharge section of the compressor. The compressed air humidified by the humidifier is used as turbine cooling air. The humidifier includes a water distributor for adjusting an amount of water added to the compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Shibata, Shinya Marushima, Nobuaki Kizuka, Hidefumi Araki, Shigeo Hanamiya
  • Patent number: 7367178
    Abstract: A gas turbine system comprises a compressor for compressing air, a combustor for burning the air compressed by the compressor and fuel, a turbine driven by combustion gases produced from the combustor, and a spraying apparatus for adding water to working air at least upstream or in an intermediate stage of the compressor. A rotationally symmetric groove or projection is formed in an inner wall surface defining a channel through which the working air added with the water flows, or in a channel-defining surface of a rotor or a casing of the gas turbine. A larger amount of water can be supplied to the compressor while improving the reliability of the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takanori Shibata
  • Patent number: 7343746
    Abstract: A method for cooling inlet air to a gas turbine is provided. For example, a method is described including passing inlet air through a cooling coil that includes an opening for receiving the inlet air and that is operably connected to a gas turbine power plant. The gas turbine power plant may include at least one gas turbine, and at least one gas turbine inlet which receives the inlet air. The method may further include passing circulating water through a water chiller at a first flow rate to reduce the temperature of the circulating water, the water chiller including a conduit through which the circulating water is capable of passing and passing the circulating water having the first flow rate through the cooling coil in an amount sufficient to lower the temperature of the inlet air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: TAS, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tom L. Pierson
  • Publication number: 20080047276
    Abstract: A combustion turbine is disclosed having a single shaft compressor that includes a low pressure side and a high pressure side. The compressor operation is optimized by inter-cooling within the compressor. In particular, a compressed fluid is extracted from a selected stage and the extracted fluid is cooled and returned to a selected stage within the compressor. The compressor inter-cooling improves engine performance and cycle performance, as measured by an increase in power or a decrease in heat rate for the same power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Joan M. Baer, Nathan R. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 7310950
    Abstract: A power generating system (20) includes a generator (22) and a combustion turbine (24) for driving the generator (22). The combustion turbine (24) may have a combustion turbine air inlet (30) for receiving an inlet airflow (25). The power generating system (20) may include an evaporative water cooler (26) or fogging evaporative system (26?) for cooling inlet airflow (25), and an inlet airflow temperature sensor (28) proximate or within the combustion turbine air inlet (30). The inlet airflow temperature sensor (28) may sense a drybulb temperature of the inlet airflow (25) proximate the air inlet (30). A controller (47?) is provided for controlling the cooling of inlet airflow (25) across transient load conditions of the power generating system (20?). This control may be based upon the sensed drybulb temperature used to calculate an approach temperature with respect to the inlet airflow (25?) that is compared to an approach temperature setpoint based on load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: Francisco Dovali-Solis, Daniel E. Willems, Dan W. Kozachuk
  • Patent number: 7305832
    Abstract: A work extraction arrangement (10) comprises a cooling assembly (12) for cooling a gas to provide a working fluid capable of doing work. The arrangement (10) further includes storage means (14) for storing the working fluid and a turbine assembly (18) for extracting work from the working fluid. A fluid delivery assembly (16) is also provided to deliver the working fluid to the turbine assembly (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Paul Fletcher, James I Oswald
  • Patent number: 7299619
    Abstract: A gas turbine cycle that utilizes the vaporization of liquefied natural gas as a source of inlet air chilling for a gas turbine. The cycle uses regeneration for preheating of combustor air and offers the potential of gas turbine cycle efficiencies in excess of 60%. The systems and methods permit the vaporization of LNG using ambient air, with the resulting super cooled air being easier to compress and/or having fewer contaminants therein. As the air is easier to compress, less energy is needed to operate the compressor, thereby increasing the efficiency of the system. A portion of the vaporized natural gas may be used as the combustion fuel for the gas turbine system, thereby permitting multiple turbines to be operated using a single topping cycle. In alternative embodiments, the vaporization of the LNG may be used as part of a bottoming cycle to increase the efficiencies of the gas turbine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Briesch, Gerald J. Feller
  • Patent number: 7296413
    Abstract: A power generating system having a liquid natural gas (LNG) vaporization circuit and an energy generating circuit. The LNG vaporization circuit includes a heat exchange assembly and a heating tower connected to the heat exchange assembly. The LNG vaporization circuit also includes a LNG vessel connected to the heat exchange assembly. The energy generating circuit includes a gas turbine connected to the heating tower along with a first electrical generator connect to the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Marley Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn S. Brenneke, Jason Stratman, Ohler L. Kinney, Jr., Eldon F. Mockry, Gregory P. Hentschel, Darrin Ray Clubine, Jidong Yang
  • Publication number: 20070245738
    Abstract: In certain circumstances recovery of a fluid flow presented through a heat exchanger into another flow can create problems with respect to drag and loss of thrust. In gas turbine engines heat exchangers are utilized for providing cooling of other flows such as in relation to compressor air taken from the core of the engine and utilized for cabin ventilation and de-icing functions. By providing an outlet valve through an outlet duct in a wall of a housing the exhaust fluid flow from the heat exchanger can be returned to the by-pass flow with reduced drag effects whilst recovering thrust. The valve may take the form of a flap displaceable into the by-pass flow before an exit plan to create a reduction in static pressure drawing fluid flow through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Richard G. Stretton, Martyn Richards
  • Publication number: 20070245739
    Abstract: Within a turbine engine a heat exchanger may be provided to cool compressor air flows to be utilized for cabin ventilation or other functions. A fluid flow acting as a coolant for the heat exchanger is generally drawn from the by-pass duct of the engine and a dedicated outlet duct is provided such that the exhausted fluid flow from the heat exchanger is delivered along the conduit duct to a low pressure region. In such circumstances, an appropriate pressure differential across the heat exchanger is maintained for operational efficiency when required, whilst the exhausted fluid flow is isolated and does not compromise the usual engine ventilation vent exit area sizing. Over-sized ventilation vents would create an aerodynamic step and therefore drag upon the thrust of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Richard G. Stretton, Pawel R. Zakrzewski
  • Patent number: 7284377
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine includes channeling compressed airflow discharged from a first compressor through an intercooler having a cooling medium flowing therethrough, channeling a working fluid through the intercooler to facilitate increasing an operating temperature of the working fluid, and channeling the discharged working fluid to a combustor to facilitate increasing an operating efficiency of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Narendra Digamber Joshi, Timothy James Held, David Paul Wolf, Michael Joseph Reale
  • Patent number: 7272933
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine, including a first compressor, a second compressor, and a turbine, coupled together in serial flow arrangement. The method includes channeling compressed airflow discharged from the first compressor through an intercooler having a cooling medium flowing therethrough, operating the intercooler such that condensate is formed in the intercooler from the compressed airflow, and channeling the condensate to an inlet of the first or second compressor to facilitate reducing an operating temperature of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Reale, Narendra Digamber Joshi, David Paul Wolf
  • Patent number: 7269955
    Abstract: A method of operating a gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes at least one engine casing and at least one rotor assembly. The method includes directing airflow through a supply pipe and into a heat exchanger, lowering the temperature of the airflow in the heat exchanger, and directing the cooled airflow into the engine casing to cool the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Albers, Rafael Ruiz, Marcia Boyle, Christopher Charles Glynn
  • Patent number: 7269954
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine installation (1) includes sucking in a gaseous medium (2) by the compressor (3) and compressed in the compressor space, a liquid medium (10) being injected into the gaseous medium (2), so that a two-phase flow comprising a gaseous phase and a liquid phase is formed at least in a subregion of the compressor (3). The gaseous medium (2) is then burnt with fuel (5) in a combustion chamber (6) to form hot gases (7), and the hot gases (7) are expanded in a turbine (8), the hot components of the gas turbine installation (1) being cooled by cooling air (14) of a cooling air system. A measurement is carried out to determine whether a liquid phase is present in a region of the compressor (3) and/or of the cooling air system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Carlos Jimenez Haertel, Sasha Savic, Hanspeter Zinn
  • Patent number: 7266946
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying inlet gas 29 and fuel 17 to a gas turbine engine 10, the apparatus comprising: a heat exchanger 28 for transferring thermal energy from the inlet gas 29 to a fuel 17 for the gas turbine engine 10, the heat exchanger 28 comprising a first input for receiving fuel 17, a second input for receiving inlet gas 29, a first output for providing inlet gas 31 after heat exchange to the gas turbine engine 10 and a second output for providing fuel 33 after heat exchange to the gas turbine engine 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Paul Fletcher, James I Oswald
  • Patent number: 7254950
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine, including a first compressor, a second compressor, a combustor and a turbine, coupled together in serial flow arrangement, and an intercooler coupled between the first compressor and the second compressor, the intercooler including a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. The method includes channeling compressed airflow from the first compressor to the first heat exchanger, extracting energy from the compressed airflow using a first working fluid flowing through the first heat exchanger to facilitate reducing an operating temperature of the compressed airflow and to facilitate increasing an operating temperature of the first working fluid, and channeling the first working fluid to a process heat exchanger, and channel the compressed airflow form the first heat exchanger to the second compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Narendra Joshi, Michael Reale, James K. Prochaska, Joseph D. Peters
  • Patent number: 7251942
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit (APU) includes a compressor, a turbine, a combustor, and a starter-generator unit all integrated within a single containment housing. The turbine has an output shaft on which the compressor is mounted, and the starter-generator unit is coupled to the turbine output shaft without any intervening gears. The rotating components are all rotationally supported within the containment housing using bearings that do not receive a flow of lubricating fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin S. Dittmar, David H. Edmonds, Bjoern Schenk, Yogendra Y. Sheoran
  • Patent number: 7237386
    Abstract: A process is provided for the control of the amount of cooling air of a gas turbine set. Suitable means are provided in the cooling system to enable the amount of cooling air to be varied. The control of this means takes place in dependence on an operating parameter (X). This operating parameter is made dependent on the fuel type used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Jürgen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, René Wälchli
  • Patent number: 7228682
    Abstract: The system for augmented electric power generation with distilled water output employs a combined cycle gas turbine power generation system for electrical power generation. A multistage evaporator uses steam drawn from the steam turbine as a heating medium to power the multistage evaporator for the production of distilled water. Residual steam output from the multistage evaporator is used as an energy source for an absorption refrigeration unit. The absorption refrigeration unit simultaneously preheats wastewater supplied to the multistage evaporator and provides chilled water to cool intake air for the combined cycle gas turbine power generation system. Thus, the system's efficiency is increased because the preheating of the wastewater supply to the multistage evaporator improves efficiency of the distillation process, while cooling of the gas turbine intake air increases power generated by the gas turbine, increasing both power and steam output from the combined cycle gas turbine power generation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Inventor: Yefim Kashler
  • Patent number: 7143581
    Abstract: A gas turbine plant comprises an air compressor, gas turbine including at least one high temperature section, a driven equipment, which are operatively connected in series, a gas turbine combustor arranged between the air compressor and the gas turbine, a fuel system disposed for supplying a fuel to the gas turbine combustor, and a heat exchange section for heating the fuel from the fuel by means of a high pressure air as a heating medium fed from the air compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tadashi Kobayashi, Takanari Okamura, Shokou Ito, Takashi Sasaki, Akinori Koga
  • Patent number: 7121078
    Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine assembly. The method comprises providing at least one propelling gas turbine engine that includes a core engine including at least one turbine. The method also comprises coupling an auxiliary engine to the propelling gas turbine engine such that during operation of the propelling gas turbine engine, at least a portion of the airflow entering the propelling gas turbine engine is extracted from the propelling gas turbine engine upstream from the core engine turbine, and channeled to the auxiliary engine for generating power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John B. Turco, Gary Craig Wollenweber
  • Patent number: 7111462
    Abstract: Systems and methods for supplementing a power system to achieve consistent operation at varying altitudes are disclosed herein. A hybrid power system comprising a single power source driving multiple generators may implement a power recovery turbine to drive a supercharger compressor, which may provide compressed air at increased altitudes. The supplemental power system disclosed herein provides necessary shaft horsepower at high altitudes to drive a generator and produce cooling air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Steward-Davis International, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley W. Epstein
  • Patent number: 7104071
    Abstract: A gas turbine group is provided with at least one cooling apparatus for cooling the working medium before and/or during the compression. The cooling power of the cooling apparatus can be adjusted by suitable means. A controller controls the cooling power of the cooling apparatus as a function of a control deviation in the useful power of the gas turbine group. The cooling controller interacts with other controllers of the gas turbine group in such a way that the gas turbine group is itself always operated at least close to its full load operating state. In this context, it is preferable for the inlet guide vane row of the compressor to be maximally open, and for the hot-gas temperature on entry into the turbines to be controlled so that it is constantly at an upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Jost Braun, Jürgen Hoffmann, Uwe Möller
  • Patent number: 7089744
    Abstract: Systems and methods for supplementing a power system to achieve consistent operation at varying altitudes are disclosed herein. A hybrid power system comprising a single power source driving multiple generators may implement a power recovery turbine to drive a supercharger compressor, which may provide compressed air at increased altitudes. The supplemental power system disclosed herein provides necessary shaft horsepower at high altitudes to drive a generator and produce cooling air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Steward Davis International, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley W. Epstein
  • Patent number: 7007484
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine including a compressor, combustor, and turbine is provided that includes channeling compressed airflow from the compressor to a heat exchanger having a working fluid circulating within, channeling the working fluid from the heat exchanger to a chiller, extracting energy from the working fluid to power the chiller, and directing airflow entering the gas turbine engine through the inlet chiller such that the temperature of the airflow is reduced prior to the airflow entering the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James William Stegmaier, Narendra Joshi
  • Patent number: 7000404
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of supplying cooling air to the hot portions of a turbojet that comprises, from upstream to downstream: a compressor; a diffuser; a combustion chamber; a distributor; and a turbine driving said compressor, in which method a flow of air is bled from the flow of air delivered by the compressor, the bled-off flow is cooled in a heat exchanger situated radially outside the combustion chamber, and is then directed radially inwards via the stationary blades of the distributor and used for cooling the moving wheel of the turbine, the method wherein the flow of cooling air is bled from the zone of the end of the combustion chamber that surrounds the diffuser, and wherein the stationary blades of the distributor are also cooled by a second flow of air bled from the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Snecma Moteurs
    Inventors: Laurent Palmisano, Laurent Jablonski
  • Patent number: 6966745
    Abstract: In a method and a device for intermediate cooling during compression in a gas turbine system, the gas turbine system includes at least one first (1) and one second compressor (2), a combustion chamber (3), and a turbine (4). At least one intermediate cooler (9) is located between the first (1) and second compressor (2). The intermediate cooling takes place at least in part or for the most part isentropically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Jansohn, Alexander Ni, Sasha Savic
  • Patent number: 6962056
    Abstract: An organic rankine cycle system is combined with a vapor compression cycle system with the turbine generator of the organic rankine cycle generating the power necessary to operate the motor of the refrigerant compressor. The vapor compression cycle is applied with its evaporator cooling the inlet air into a gas turbine, and the organic rankine cycle is applied to receive heat from a gas turbine exhaust to heat its boiler within one embodiment, a common condenser is used for the organic rankine cycle and the vapor compression cycle, with a common refrigerant, R-245a being circulated within both systems. In another embodiment, the turbine driven generator has a common shaft connected to the compressor to thereby eliminate the need for a separate motor to drive the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Joost J. Brasz, Bruce P. Biederman
  • Patent number: 6941759
    Abstract: Combustion turbine power plants and methods of operating the same are provided in which air is cooled using solar energy and supplied to an air inlet of the power plant to support combustion. Also, combustion turbine power plants and methods of operating the same are provided in which steam is produced using solar energy and injected into a turbine of the power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Jasper Energy Development LLC
    Inventors: Alphonse H. Bellac, Ronald Destefanis
  • Patent number: 6938405
    Abstract: The mister includes a plurality of manifolds extending between opposite sides of a duct. Each manifold carries a plurality of nozzles at laterally spaced positions along the length of the manifold. The manifolds are spaced one behind the other in the direction of air flow in the duct and the pipes connecting the nozzles of the intermediate and upstream manifolds bypass the downstream manifolds to provide the nozzles in a common plane perpendicular to the direction of air flow in the duct. This arrangement affords a uniformity of spray and, hence, a uniformity of humidified air to the inlet of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William George Carberg, Richard Robert Trewin
  • Patent number: 6923003
    Abstract: A power generating apparatus 20? includes an electrical generator 22? and a combustion turbine 24? for driving the electrical generator. The combustion turbine 24? may have a combustion turbine air inlet 30? for receiving an inlet air flow 25?. The power generating apparatus 20? may also include an evaporative water cooler 26? for evaporating water into the inlet air flow 25? to cool the inlet air flow, and an inlet air flow temperature sensor 28? between the evaporative water cooler and the combustion turbine air inlet 30?. The inlet air flow temperature sensor 28? may include a hollow body 32? connected in fluid communication with the inlet air flow 25?, and a temperature sensing device 34? carried by the hollow body. The hollow body 32? may include interior portions to reduce water accumulation on the temperature sensing device 34? so that the temperature sensing device senses a drybulb temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Willems, Weston G. Frost
  • Patent number: 6920759
    Abstract: An energy storage gas-turbine electric power generating system includes a liquid air storage tank for storing liquid air, a vaporizing facility for vaporizing the liquid air stored in the liquid air storage tank, a combustor for generating a combusted gas by combusting the air vaporized by the vaporizing facility and a fuel, a gas turbine driven by the combusted gas generated in the combustor, and a gas-turbine generator connected to the gas turbine for generating electric power. The system further includes a pressurizing unit for pressurizing the liquid air stored in the liquid air storage tank up to a pressure higher than a pressure of air supplied to the combustor to supply the liquid air to the vaporizing facility, an expansion turbine driven by expanding the air vaporized by the vaporizing facility and an expansion-turbine generator connected to the expansion turbine for generating electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Harumi Wakana, Koichi Chino, Osamu Yokomizo
  • Patent number: 6892523
    Abstract: In a cooling-air cooler for a gas-turbine plant of a power plant, in which cooling-air cooler first means for spraying water into the cooling-air flow and second means for generating steam are arranged in a pressure vessel, through which the cooling air flows, between a cooling-air inlet and a cooling-air outlet in the cooling-air flow, simplified operation is achieved in that a water separator is provided on the cooling-air side in the direction of flow downstream of the first means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Mircea Fetescu, Erhard Liebig
  • Patent number: 6892522
    Abstract: An organic rankine cycle system is combined with a vapor compression cycle system with the turbine generator of the organic rankine cycle generating the power necessary to operate the motor of the refrigerant compressor. The vapor compression cycle is applied with its evaporator cooling the inlet air into a gas turbine, and the organic rankine cycle is applied to receive heat from a gas turbine exhaust to heat its boiler within one embodiment, a common condenser is used for the organic rankine cycle and the vapor compression cycle, with a common refrigerant, R-245a being circulated within both systems. In another embodiment, the turbine driven generator has a common shaft connected to the compressor to thereby eliminate the need for a separate motor to drive the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Joost J. Brasz, Bruce P. Biederman
  • Patent number: 6886345
    Abstract: An evaporative cooling system for applying an electrical charge to a plurality of droplets in an intake airstream of a turbine engine to increase the propensity of the droplets to evaporate before the droplets reach the compressor. The evaporative cooling system may include one or more fluid emitting devices for producing a plurality of droplets and may include one or more electrodes for applying an electrical charge to the plurality of droplets. The evaporative cooling system may also apply an electrical charge to one or more baffles positioned downstream of the fluid emitting devices and upstream from the compressor to collect droplets that have not evaporated before the droplets reach the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventor: Paul David Ritland
  • Publication number: 20040244380
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine including a compressor, combustor, and turbine is provided that includes channeling compressed airflow from the compressor to a heat exchanger having a working fluid circulating within, channeling the working fluid from the heat exchanger to a chiller, extracting energy from the working fluid to power the chiller, and directing airflow entering the gas turbine engine through the inlet chiller such that the temperature of the airflow is reduced prior to the airflow entering the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: James William Stegmaier, Narendra Joshi
  • Patent number: 6775988
    Abstract: An inlet air flow temperature sensor 28 includes a hollow body 32 connected in fluid communication with an inlet air flow 25 a temperature sensing device 34 carried by the hollow body. The hollow body 32 includes interior portions that define a tortuous path of air flow P. The tortuous path of air flow 49 reduces water accumulation on the temperature sensing device 34. The inlet air flow temperature sensor 28 may be used to sense temperature of an inlet air flow 25 associated with an evaporatively cooled combustion turbine 24 that has a combustion turbine air inlet 30 to receive the inlet air flow 25. The evaporatively cooled combustion turbine may, in turn, be used to drive an electrical generator 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corproation
    Inventor: Daniel E. Willems
  • Patent number: 6769258
    Abstract: A method for cooling inlet air to a gas turbine is provided. For example, a method is described including passing inlet air through a cooling coil that includes an opening for receiving the inlet air and that is operably connected to a gas turbine power plant. The gas turbine power plant may include at least one gas turbine, and at least one gas turbine inlet which receives the inlet air. The method may further include passing circulating water through a water chiller at a first flow rate to reduce the temperature of the circulating water, the water chiller including a conduit through which the circulating water is capable of passing and passing the circulating water having the first flow rate through the cooling coil in an amount sufficient to lower the temperature of the inlet air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventor: Tom L. Pierson
  • Patent number: 6763662
    Abstract: An installation for generating energy comprises a compressor assembly for compressing air, having a low-pressure compressor, which is connected to a high-pressure compressor via a primary air path. Furthermore, a compressor turbine assembly is provided for the purpose of driving the low-pressure compressor and/or the high-pressure compressor. The installation also has a combustion device for burning a suitable mixture of compressed air and a fuel, and a power turbine with a rotatable shaft for releasing mechanical energy. An exhaust-gas pipe system is connected to the exhaust-gas outlet of the power turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignees: Turboconsult B.V., A.S.A. B.V.
    Inventor: Rudolf Hendriks
  • Patent number: 6745569
    Abstract: A power generation plant with a compressed air energy storage system comprises a means to reduce the pressure of air extracted from a compressed air storage cavern for the use in a combustion turbine. The means to reduce the air pressure comprises at least one expansion turbine and means to control the size of pressure reduction. Furthermore, the expansion turbine is arranged on a rotor shaft that drives a generator. The means for pressure redact, according to the invention, avoid power losses and provide an increased overall efficiency of the power generation plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Ralf Gerdes
  • Patent number: 6739119
    Abstract: An improvement to an energy conversion engine in which fuel is combusted with compressed air is disclosed. Referring to FIG. 3, the inlet air to compressor (30) is chilled in chiller (34) sufficiently to condense moisture. The moisture is pressurized and routed to at least one of chilled inlet fogger (312) and compressed air sprayer (314). Engine exhaust heats an absorption refrigeration unit once-through generator (316), which supplies the refrigeration to chiller (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Inventor: Donald C. Erickson
  • Patent number: 6718771
    Abstract: A generating plant with improved capacity at high ambient temperatures comprises a gas turbine (32) matched to a generator (26) for summer peaking conditions. The plant includes a system for limiting turbine output at lower ambient temperatures to ensure that the generator or other components are not overloaded. It also preferably includes an evaporative cooler (70) for gas turbine inlet air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Enhanced Turbine Output Holding LLC
    Inventor: William L. Kopko
  • Publication number: 20040060296
    Abstract: The invention provides a production process of a gas turbine capable of being applied to various cycles. A principal part of a gas turbine is set in advance based on roughly set conditions, and the number of stages of a compressor and the number of stages of a turbine, which can provide conditions suitable for a desired cycle, are set based on the set principal part. The compressor and the turbine each having the set number of stages and included in the principal part are combined with each other to construct the gas turbine. When the set number of stages of the compressor or the turbine differs among a plurality of desired cycles, a substantially disk-shaped member having an outer periphery, which forms an inner peripheral wall of a substantially annular flow passage of the compressor or the turbine, is assembled into the cycle having a smaller number of stages so that the bearing-to-bearing distance is kept constant in the gas turbine operated in the plurality of desired cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Tomomi Koganezawa, Takanori Shibata, Nobuhiro Seiki, Shinya Marushima, Shinichi Higuchi, Nobuaki Kizuka, Ryou Akiyama, Masami Noda