Having Oxidizer Cooling Means Patents (Class 60/728)
  • Publication number: 20040050069
    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: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Willems, Weston G. Frost
  • Publication number: 20040050055
    Abstract: A power augmenting spray nozzle assembly for directing a fine liquid spray into an air inlet of a gas turbine. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle body, and an orifice member supported within the body and having an upstream whirl chamber and a downstream discharge orifice for directing liquid into a predetermined conical spray pattern. The orifice member is made of a corundum, preferably a synthetic ruby or sapphire material, having surfaces of a hardness of 9 MOHS such that the discharge orifice is effective for discharging a fine liquid spray with substantially uniform, fine liquid particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: Spraying Systems, Co.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Vidusek, Matthew J. Roman
  • Patent number: 6705073
    Abstract: A gas turbine plant includes at least one compressor compressing intake air, at least one component for heat supply heating the intake air compressed by the compressor, at least one gas turbine using as a working medium the hot air from the component for heat supply, and at least one generator coupled to the gas turbine. A cooling device is provided which permits the cooling of at least a portion of the intake air and/or a portion of partially compressed intake air within the at least one compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Jost Braun, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20040045294
    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: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tadashi Kobayashi, Takanari Okamura, Shokou Ito, Takashi Sasaki, Akinori Koga
  • Publication number: 20040031269
    Abstract: In a method and a device for intermediate cooling during compression in a gas turbine system, the gas turbine system comprises 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: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Jansohn, Alexander Ni, Sasha Savic
  • Publication number: 20040011046
    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: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: Tom L. Pierson
  • Patent number: 6672072
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine cooling system for providing cooling air to engine components includes a core engine and, in downstream serial flow relationship, a high pressure compressor, a combustor, and high pressure turbine. A first flowing system is used for flowing a portion of the pressurized air to a heat exchanger to cool the pressurized air and provide the cooling air and a second flowing system is used for flowing a first portion of the cooling air to a compressor impeller operably connected to a compressor disk of the high pressure compressor for boosting pressure of the first portion of the cooling air. A second portion of the cooling air is supplied to turbine cooling. The heat exchanger may be a fuel to air heat exchanger for cooling the portion of the pressurized air from the first flowing means with fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Rollin G. Giffin, III
  • Patent number: 6672069
    Abstract: A method in which an air mass flow supplied to a compressor in a power plant is divided in a flow divider into a small partial flow and into a larger partial flow. The smaller partial flow is supplied to an ejector via an air cooler and a booster. The larger partial flow is supplied to the suction line of said ejector. Both partial flows are combined in the ejector. The mass flow which is combined at the outlet of the ejector can be used as pressurized air in various components of a power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Franz Stuhlmüller, Thomas Weber
  • Patent number: 6672062
    Abstract: A supercharger arrangement, having a first rotor assembly, including a first compressor with a first compressor inlet and a first compressor outlet, and a second compressor with a second compressor inlet and a second compressor outlet. The supercharger arrangement also having a second rotor assembly, including a third compressor with a third compressor inlet and a third compressor outlet, and a fourth compressor with a fourth compressor inlet and a fourth compressor outlet; and a first inter-stage conduit that communicates the first compressor outlet with the fourth compressor inlet so that flow from the first compressor feeds into the fourth compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Bradley J. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 6651443
    Abstract: The heated exhaust gases of a fueled turbine are used to heat a high-temperature-resistant heat transfer liquid, which is used first to generate steam, and then as a heat source for an absorption chiller, and then to heat hot water, thereby maximizing heat transfer from the exhaust gases. Steam is used to drive a steam turbine, and another absorption chiller is connected selectively to use the exhaust steam from the turbine as a heat source to produce refrigeration. Chilled water from the chiller(s) can be used for space cooling in buildings, and/or to cool the fueled turbine inlet air in hot weather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Milton Meckler
  • Patent number: 6637185
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gas turbine power generating system capable of achieving a high output power and a high power generating efficiency under conditions with a small amount of supplied water and less change in design of a gas turbine. A fine water droplet spraying apparatus (11) is disposed in a suction air chamber (22) on the upstream side of an air compressor (2), and a moisture adding apparatus (7) for adding moisture to high pressure air supplied from the compressor (2) is included. A regenerator (5) for heating the air to which moisture has been added by using gas turbine exhaust gas as a heat source is also provided. With this configuration, there can be obtain an effect of reducing a power for the compressor (2) and an effect of increasing the output power due to addition of moisture to air (20) for combustion. Further, since the amount of fuel used is reduced by adopting a regenerating cycle, the power generating efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Hatamiya, Masahiko Yamagishi, Osamu Yokomizo, Yoshiki Noguchi, Moriaki Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 6637208
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including in-line intercooling wherein compressor intercooling is achieved without removing the compressor main flow airstream from the compressor flowpath is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a gas turbine engine suitable for use in connection with in-line intercooling includes a low pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, and a combustor. The engine also includes a high pressure turbine, a low pressure turbine, and a power turbine. For intercooling, fins are located in an exterior surface of the compressor struts in the compressor flowpath between the outlet of the low pressure compressor and the inlet of the high pressure compressor. Coolant flowpaths are provided in the compressor struts, and such flowpaths are in flow communication with a heat exchanger. In operation, air flows through the low pressure compressor, and compressed air is supplied from the low pressure compressor to the high pressure compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Horner
  • Publication number: 20030182941
    Abstract: Liquid fuel for a power plant is vaporized against a heat-exchange fluid, cooling the fluid. A re-circulation circuit enables cooled fluid to be re-directed back for further cooling, when desired. The cooled fluid is used to cool the inlet air for a combustion turbine. Some of the cooled fluid is periodically directing to the bottom of a stratified tank, from which it can be drawn during times when the need for or value of cooling the inlet air is higher. The fluid is warmed as it cools the inlet air, and may be returned for use in vaporizing additional fuel, or returned to the top of the stratified tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: John Stephen Andrepont, Per A Duus, Robert J Golueke
  • Patent number: 6615585
    Abstract: In an intake-air refrigeration system of intake-air cooling type gas turbine power equipment, heat discharged to the atmosphere heretofore is recovered for further utilization. A refrigerant vapor discharged from and evaporator (05) of the refrigeration system is compressed by a refrigerant compressor (02) to be transformed to pressurized refrigerant vapor. Heat carried by the pressurized refrigerant vapor is supplied to a heat utilization system (80) to be recovered therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20030163982
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gas turbine power generating system capable of achieving a high output power and a high power generating efficiency under conditions with a small amount of supplied water and less change in design of a gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Hatamiya, Masahiko Yamagishi, Osamu Yokomizo, Yoshiki Noguchi, Moriaki Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 6588196
    Abstract: As the development of gas and steam turbine systems has progressed, the steam turbine section, in particular, has become highly sophisticated and complex by being configured as a three-pressure system. In order to make a gas and steam turbine system of economic interest for medium and low power levels as well, and with high efficiencies, the steam turbine section is configured as a two-pressure system, and the combustion air for the system is compressed in at least two stages. In the process, the combustion air is cooled after at least one compression stage, and is heated at least after the last stage of the two stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Siegfried Bähr, Sergej Reissig
  • Publication number: 20030121268
    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: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Donald C. Erickson
  • Patent number: 6584793
    Abstract: A cogeneration system in which cold is generated by recovering exhaust heat of a gas turbine for driving a generator to drive a refrigerating machine, and the cold is used for cooling intake air for the gas turbine and as a cold heat source for an air conditioner, wherein there are provided a thermal storage tank for storing the cold generated by the refrigerating machine and an electric energy storage equipment for storing electric energy generated by the generator; and cooling of the intake air for the gas turbine, thermal storage, and electric energy storage are controlled in relation to the load of the air conditioner and the electric power load of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Fukushima, Tadakatsu Nakajima, Masaaki Ito
  • Publication number: 20030101728
    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: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Harumi Wakana, Koichi Chino, Osamu Yokomizo
  • Patent number: 6560966
    Abstract: In a method for operating a gas turbo group, partial streams of compressed air are cooled in cooling air coolers and are used as cooling air for thermally highly stressed components of the gas turbo group. The cooling air coolers are constructed as steam generators. Steam generated in the cooling air coolers is fed in part to the gas turbo group and is expanded there while providing usable power, while another part of the steam is fed into the cooling system, where the steam displaces air, which air then becomes available again to the gas turbine process. In this way, the steam generated with the help of heat removed from the cooling air is re-used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Mircea Fetescu, Erhard Liebig, Jean-Pierre Rickli, Franz Stirnimann
  • Publication number: 20030074901
    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: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Alphonse H. Bellac, Ronald Destefanis
  • Patent number: 6539723
    Abstract: Apparatus for generating power includes a gas turbine unit having a compressor for compressing ambient air and producing compressed air, a combustion chamber to which the compressed air is supplied, a source of relatively high grade fuel for burning in the combustion chamber and producing combustion gases, and a gas turbine connected to generator and to the compressor for expanding the combustion gases and producing exhaust gases. The apparatus further includes a combustor that burns relatively low grade fuel, and produces combustion products, and an indirect contact heat exchanger responsive to the combustion products for heating the compressed air before the latter is applied to the combustion chamber, and for producing cooled combustion products. In addition, an energy converter is provided having an organic working fluid responsive to the exhaust gases for converting heat in the exhaust gases to electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Benjamin Doron, Joseph Sinai
  • Publication number: 20030056513
    Abstract: A gas turbine plant comprises an air compressor, gas turbine 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: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tadashi Kobayashi, Takanari Okamura, Shokou Ito, Takashi Sasaki, Akinori Koga
  • Publication number: 20030051496
    Abstract: A cogeneration system in which cold is generated by recovering exhaust heat of a gas turbine for driving a generator to drive a refrigerating machine, and the cold is used for cooling intake air for the gas turbine and as a cold heat source for an air conditioner, wherein there are provided a thermal storage tank for storing the cold generated by the refrigerating machine and an electric energy storage equipment for storing electric energy generated by the generator; and cooling of the intake air for the gas turbine, thermal storage, and electric energy storage are controlled in relation to the load of the air conditioner and the electric power load of the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Toshihiko Fukushima, Tadakatsu Nakajima, Masaaki Ito
  • Publication number: 20030029158
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including in-line intercooling wherein compressor intercooling is achieved without removing the compressor main flow airstream from the compressor flowpath is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a gas turbine engine suitable for use in connection with in-line intercooling includes a low pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, and a combustor. The engine also includes a high pressure turbine, a low pressure turbine, and a power turbine. For intercooling, fins are located in an exterior surface of the compressor struts in the compressor flowpath between the outlet of the low pressure compressor and the inlet of the high pressure compressor. Coolant flowpaths are provided in the compressor struts, and such flowpaths are in flow communication with a heat exchanger. In operation, air flows through the low pressure compressor, and compressed air is supplied from the low pressure compressor to the high pressure compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventor: Michael W. Horner
  • Publication number: 20030029157
    Abstract: A gas turbine, a combined cycle plant and compressor by which both augmentation of the power output and augmentation of the thermal efficiency can be realized by injecting liquid droplets into inlet air introduced into an entrance of a compressor with simple equipment which is suitable for practical use. The gas turbine includes a compressor for taking in and compressing gas, a combustor in which fuel is combusted with the gas discharged from the compressor, and a turbine driven by the combusted gas of the combustor. The gas turbine further includes a liquid droplet injection device provided on the upstream side of the compressor for injecting liquid droplets into inlet air to be supplied into the entrance of the compressor to lower the temperature of the inlet air to be introduced into the compressor so that the injected liquid droplets may be evaporated while flowing through the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Motoaki Utamura
  • Patent number: 6516603
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is energized by a controlled supply of fuel thereto for operation under regulated conditions increasing efficiency and power output per unit mass of air under pressurized flow from a compressor to which the air is supplied with water droplets at a ratio predetermined to reduce operational temperature within the turbine engine. Operational conditions are also regulated by angular adjustment of the stator blades in the turbine stages of the gas turbine engine through which the pressurized flow of combustion products is conducted, so as to maintain a maximum inlet temperature arranged to maximize part-load efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Herman B. Urbach, Philip Levine
  • Patent number: 6484506
    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: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: York Research Corp.
    Inventors: Alphonse H. Bellac, Ronald Destefanis
  • Patent number: 6470686
    Abstract: In a gas turbine power plant system having an air chiller for lowering the temperature of inlet air, a compressor for compressing the inlet air, a combustor for combusting the compressed air and fuel and a power turbine for providing useful power, a method and apparatus for chilling water delivered to the air chiller is provided, having a thermal water storage tank for storing chilling water, the tank having a bottom portion and a top portion, and a bottom inlet and a bottom outlet and a top inlet and a top outlet. A charge cycle is provided wherein the tank is filled with chilled water, and a discharge cycle is provided wherein the chilled water is fed to the air chiller, thereby chilling the inlet air to the power turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Inventor: Tom L. Pierson
  • Patent number: 6457315
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing the power output and operational efficiency of a combustion turbine system using a combined refrigerant substantially comprising a first refrigerant and a second refrigerant, whereby the combined refrigerant exhibits a total pressure substantially greater than each respective first and second refrigerant at a temperature inside an evaporative chiller. In a preferred embodiment, the combined refrigerant cools turbine inlet air through the exchange of heat from the inlet air, in an air chiller, with a coolant which is cooled by the combined refrigerant in the evaporative chiller. The combined refrigerant, after it is used to cool the coolant in the evaporative chiller, is separated through the use of a liquid absorbent which absorbs the second refrigerant to form a solution pair. The non-absorbed first refrigerant is compressed, condensed and then recirculated to eventually join the second refrigerant which is desorbed from the solution pair in a regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: IPSI, LLC
    Inventors: Rong-Jwyn Lee, Jong Juh Chen, Jame Yao, Douglas G. Elliot, Pallav Jain
  • Patent number: 6453659
    Abstract: A device for compressing a gaseous medium such as those used in energy generating systems or gas separation systems, including a compressor unit provided with a medium inlet, an outlet for the compressed medium and with means for the atomising of a liquid evaporation agent in the medium, wherein the atomising means include at least one flash swirl atomisation unit, arranged and mounted such that the atomised evaporation agent fragmentises by means of the formation of gas in the atomised evaporation agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: N. V. Kema
    Inventors: Jacobus Van Liere, Cornelis Adrianus Antonius Van Paassen
  • Patent number: 6442942
    Abstract: A supercharging system for gas turbine power plants. The system includes a supercharging fan and means for limiting turbine power output to prevent overload of the generator at lower ambient temperatures. Possible means for limiting power output include burner control, inlet temperature control, control of supercharging fan pressure, and other options. Supercharging fan pressure can be controlled by staging fans, variable-speed drives, variable-pitch blades, and other options. The invention permits the supercharging system to be retrofit on existing turbines without replacing the generator and associated auxiliary equipment. A novel high-pressure duct design (particularly for use between the supercharging fan and the gas turbine) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Enhanced Turbine Output Holding, LLC
    Inventor: William L. Kopko
  • Publication number: 20020112465
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for injecting water into a turbine engine are described. In one embodiment, water injection apparatus is provided for injecting water into the gas flow through the engine, e.g., at a high pressure and/or low pressure compressor inlet. The water injection apparatus includes a plurality of nozzles arranged so that water injected into the gas flow by the nozzles results in substantially uniformly reducing the temperature of the gas flow at the high pressure compressor outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Stephen R. Payling, Robert P. Coleman, Curtis L. Brown
  • Patent number: 6430931
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including in-line intercooling wherein compressor intercooling is achieved without removing the compressor main flow airstream from the compressor flowpath is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a gas turbine engine suitable for use in connection with in-line intercooling includes a low pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, and a combustor. The engine also includes a high pressure turbine, a low pressure turbine, and a power turbine. For intercooling, fins are located in an exterior surface of the compressor struts in the compressor flowpath between the outlet of the low pressure compressor and the inlet of the high pressure compressor. Coolant flowpaths are provided in the compressor struts, and such flowpaths are in flow communication with a heat exchanger. In operation, air flows through the low pressure compressor, and compressed air is supplied from the low pressure compressor to the high pressure compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Horner
  • Patent number: 6422018
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a modular unit in which all of the components necessary for conditioning the intake air for a combustion gas turbine are contained. The compressors, evaporators condensers and related pumps and control equipment are contained within a weather proof enclosure having sound insulation installed in the walls. The intake air conditioning system includes three loops, a compressed refrigerant loop, a chilled water loop and a condenser cooling water loop with an optional heating loop. The modular unit provides a three loop cooling system for easy connection to both a combustion gas turbine air inlet and to a cooling water tower. The loops comprise a refrigerant loop, a cooling water loop and a chilled water loop and in one embodiment a heating loop to heat the air going to the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventors: Lloyd B. Tisdale, Robert L. Hauck, Paul T. Tisdale, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6422019
    Abstract: The power produced by a gas turbine system is augmented by a direct contact heat exchanger for contacting and cooling humid ambient air with cooler water for producing cooled ambient air and warmed water, and a precompressor device for compressing said cooled ambient air to produce pressurized air that is warmer than ambient air and has a lower relative humidity. An evaporative cooler, which is supplied with the warmed water, is provided for cooling said pressurized air to produce cooled pressurized air at about ambient air temperature and relative humidity, which is supplied to the main compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Yoel Gilon, Joseph Sinai, Uriel Fisher, Shlomo Bugdagzad
  • Publication number: 20020083712
    Abstract: A water-injection control system is disclosed for a water supersaturation system installed in a gas turbine air intake system for augmenting gas turbine power output during operation at high ambient-air temperature, while maintaining the water content in the intake air within limits acceptable to the gas turbine as indicated by measured gas turbine operating parameters. The control system starts, stops, modulates, and limits water supplied to the supersaturating system based on the humidity or dew-point temperature of the ambient air, dry-bulb temperature of the ambient air, compressor inlet air flow, and gas turbine parameters indicating operation at or near maximum output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Leroy Omar Tomlinson, Richard Robert Trewin
  • Patent number: 6412291
    Abstract: The efficiency and capacity of an air compressor (10) (FIG. 1) are increased by pre-cooling the inlet air to below the dew point in air chiller (11), and then injecting the resulting condensate into the chilled air in the form of fog-sized droplets in a fogger (16). The advantages extend to combustion engines, and especially to regenerative combustion turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventor: Donald C. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20020078689
    Abstract: An improved turbine engine topology, wherein the improvement comprises a repositioning, with respect to a conventional intercooled regenerative turbine engine topology, of exhaust gas output from a low pressure turbine stage to a regenerator, to an exhaust gas output from a high pressure turbine stage to the regenerator. The engine topology may additionally employ, as an intermediate stage between the high pressure turbine and the low pressure turbine, a feedback control system, whereby the exhaust gas output from the high pressure turbine stage to the regenerator flows through the feedback control. The engine topology may advantageously also employ an additional cooler and an additional exhaust gas output in the feedback control, whereby exhaust gas flows from the feedback control through the additional cooler to a high pressure compressor stage, or the exhaust gas can flow from the feedback control through a bottoming cycle to the high pressure compressor stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Richard R. Coleman, Thelma Coleman
  • Patent number: 6408609
    Abstract: Output power and efficiency of combustion turbines, in particular, and combustion engines, in general, are improved by providing cooled intake air to the combustion device. The cooled air is obtained using a thermal energy storage system that has a stratified chilled fluid storage tank. A local or remote chiller plant, possibly already present for use in a thermal energy distribution system, provides the chilled fluid, which can be an aqueous solution of sodium chloride or calcium chloride or both, during off-peak operating times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company
    Inventor: John S. Andrepont
  • Publication number: 20020066265
    Abstract: In an intake-air refrigeration system of intake-air cooling type gas turbine power equipment, heat discharged to the atmosphere heretofore is recovered for further utilization. A refrigerant vapor discharged from and evaporator (05) of the refrigeration system is compressed by a refrigerant compressor (02) to be transformed to pressurized refrigerant vapor. Heat carried by the pressurized refrigerant vapor is supplied to a heat utilization system (80) to be recovered therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tadashi Tsuji
  • Patent number: 6397578
    Abstract: A gas turbine power plant has no intercooler for compressed air and comprises a compressor, a combustor for burning fuel with compressed air from the compressor to produce combustion gas, a turbine driven by the combustion gas, a generator driven by the turbine to generate electric power, a regenerative heat exchanger which heats the compressed air with the heat of exhaust gas of the turbine and has a water spray arranged therein for spraying water droplets onto the compressed air therein, and a spray device directly communicating with the compressor for spraying water onto compressed air of high temperature from the compressor to humidify the compressed air, the compressed air being led to the regenerative heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Moriaki Tsukamoto, Yoshiki Noguchi, Shigeo Hatamiya
  • Patent number: 6393826
    Abstract: A gas turbine has a cooling air system supplying air for cooling a high temperature part of the gas turbine and a spray air system supplying air for spraying fuel into a combustor and is formed so that a part of high-pressure air compressed by a gas turbine compressor is used as air of the cooling air system and spray air system, wherein a heat exchanger and a boost compressor are arranged downstream of the outlet of compressed air of the gas turbine compressor, and the boost compressor is composed of a parallel connection of a compressor driven by the turbine shaft and ae compressor driven by a driven source other than the turbine shaft, and pressurized air from the boost compressor is used as air for the cooling air system and the spray air system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Yamanaka, Satoshi Kondou, Masami Noda
  • Patent number: 6389799
    Abstract: A gas turbine installation includes an air compressor, a combustor for burning fuel together with air discharged from the compressor, and a turbine driven by combustion gas generated by the combustor. The installation includes a spraying apparatus disposed in a suction air chamber on the upstream side of the air compressor and a water adding apparatus for adding moisture to high pressure air supplied from the compressor and which is disposed between the air compressor and the combustor. A heat exchanger is provided between the water adding apparatus and the combustor for heating air prior to the air entering the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Hatamiya, Masahiko Yamagishi, Osamu Yokomizo, Yoshiki Noguchi, Moriaki Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20020050134
    Abstract: The power produced by a gas turbine system is augmented by a direct contact heat exchanger for contacting and cooling humid ambient air with cooler water for producing cooled ambient air and warmed water, and a precompressor device for compressing said cooled ambient air to produce pressurized air that is warmer than ambient air and has a lower relative humidity. An evaporative cooler, which is supplied with the warmed water, is provided for cooling said pressurized air to-produce cooled pressurized air at about ambient air temperature and relative humidity, which is supplied to the main compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Yoel Gilon, Joseph Sinai, Uriel Fisher, Shlomo Bugdagzad
  • Patent number: 6374591
    Abstract: A process and system which improves the capacity and efficiency of a power plant. A LNG supply system fuels the plant. Gasified LNG in a combustor mixes with the air from an air compressor to provide the hot combustion gas for a gas turbine. The expanding LNG is used to chill a heat exchange fluid, e.g. water, which heat exchange fluid cools and densifies the intake air for the air compressor. Subsequently, the heat exchange fluid is used in another heat exchange step and is then re-chilled and recycled to cool and densify the intake air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Tractebel LNG North America LLC
    Inventors: Paul C. Johnson, Edwin Toombs
  • Patent number: 6357236
    Abstract: A gas turbine, a combined cycle plant and compressor by which both augmentation of the power output and augmentation of the thermal efficiency can be realized by injecting liquid droplets into inlet air introduced into an entrance of a compressor with simple equipment which is suitable for practical use. The gas turbine includes a compressor for taking in and compressing gas, a combustor in which fuel is combusted with the gas discharged from the compressor, and a turbine driven by the combusted gas of the combustor. The gas turbine further includes a liquid droplet injection device provided on the upstream side of the compressor for injecting liquid droplets into inlet air to be supplied into the entrance of the compressor to lower the temperature of the inlet air to be introduced into the compressor so that the injected liquid droplets may be evaporated while flowing through the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Motoaki Utamura
  • Publication number: 20020017095
    Abstract: In a gas turbine power plant system having an air chiller for lowering the temperature of inlet air, a compressor for compressing the inlet air, a combustor for combusting the compressed air and fuel and a power turbine for providing useful power, a method and apparatus for chilling water delivered to the air chiller is provided, having a thermal water storage tank for storing chilling water, the tank having a bottom portion and a top portion, and a bottom inlet and a bottom outlet and a top inlet and a top outlet. A charge cycle is provided wherein the tank is filled with chilled water, and a discharge cycle is provided wherein the chilled water is fed to the air chiller, thereby chilling the inlet air to the power turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventor: Tom L. Pierson
  • Patent number: 6332321
    Abstract: The power produced by a gas turbine system is augmented by a direct contact heat exchanger for contacting and cooling humid ambient air with cooler water for producing cooled ambient air and warmed water, and a precompressor device for compressing said cooled ambient air to produce pressurized air that is warmer than ambient air and has a lower relative humidity. An evaporative cooler, which is supplied with the warmed water, is provided for cooling said pressurized air to produce cooled pressurized air at about ambient air temperature and relative humidity, which is supplied to the main compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Yoel Gilon, Joseph Sinai, Uriel Fisher, Shlomo Bugdagzad
  • Patent number: 6324867
    Abstract: A natural gas liquefaction system and process wherein excess refrigeration available in a typical natural gas liquefaction system is used to cool the inlet air to gas turbines in the system to thereby improve the overall efficiency of the system. A cooler is positioned in front of the air inlet of each gas turbine; and coolant (e.g. water) is flowed through each of the coolers to cool the ambient air as it flows into the gas turbines. The water, in turn, is cooled with propane taken from a refrigerant circuit in the system which, in turn, is used to initially cool the natural gas which is to be liquefied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Fanning, Brett L. Ryberg, Bruce K. Smith, Luan D. Phan