U.S. patent application number 13/571428 was filed with the patent office on 2014-02-13 for air supply and conditioning system for a turbine system and method of supplying air.
This patent application is currently assigned to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. The applicant listed for this patent is Venkateswara Rao Akana, Indrajit Mazumder, Laxmikant Merchant, Rajarshi Saha. Invention is credited to Venkateswara Rao Akana, Indrajit Mazumder, Laxmikant Merchant, Rajarshi Saha.
Application Number | 20140044517 13/571428 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50066279 |
Filed Date | 2014-02-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140044517 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Saha; Rajarshi ; et
al. |
February 13, 2014 |
AIR SUPPLY AND CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR A TURBINE SYSTEM AND METHOD
OF SUPPLYING AIR
Abstract
An air supply and conditioning system for a turbine system
includes an atomizing air system comprising at least one
conditioning component configured to receive a compressor discharge
air supply at an inlet at a first temperature and a first pressure,
wherein the at least one conditioning component conditions the
compressor discharge air supply to a second temperature and a
second pressure at an outlet. Also included is an air processing
unit configured to receive the compressor discharge air supply from
the outlet of the atomizing air system, wherein the air processing
unit further conditions the compressor discharge air supply to a
third temperature and a third pressure. Further included is a
filter housing having at least one filter for filtering a main
inlet airstream, wherein the compressor discharge air supply is
provided from the air processing unit to the at least one
filter.
Inventors: |
Saha; Rajarshi; (Bangalore,
IN) ; Akana; Venkateswara Rao; (Bangalore, IN)
; Mazumder; Indrajit; (Bangalore, IN) ; Merchant;
Laxmikant; (Bangalore, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Saha; Rajarshi
Akana; Venkateswara Rao
Mazumder; Indrajit
Merchant; Laxmikant |
Bangalore
Bangalore
Bangalore
Bangalore |
|
IN
IN
IN
IN |
|
|
Assignee: |
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Schenectady
NY
|
Family ID: |
50066279 |
Appl. No.: |
13/571428 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/1 ;
415/116 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 20/18 20130101;
Y02E 20/16 20130101; F02C 7/052 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/1 ;
415/116 |
International
Class: |
F01D 25/12 20060101
F01D025/12; F01D 25/24 20060101 F01D025/24 |
Claims
1. An air supply and conditioning system for a turbine system
comprising: an atomizing air system comprising at least one
conditioning component configured to receive a compressor air
supply at an inlet at a first temperature and a first pressure,
wherein the at least one conditioning component conditions the
compressor air supply to a second temperature and a second pressure
at an outlet; an air processing unit configured to receive the
compressor air supply from the outlet of the atomizing air system,
wherein the air processing unit further conditions the compressor
air supply to a third temperature and a third pressure; and a
filter housing having at least one filter for filtering a main
inlet airstream, wherein the compressor air supply is provided from
the air processing unit to the at least one filter.
2. The air supply and conditioning system of claim 1, further
comprising an air ejector disposed proximate an inlet of the air
processing unit.
3. The air supply and conditioning system of claim 2, wherein the
air ejector is configured to receive the compressor air supply and
a low pressure airstream from the filter housing.
4. The air supply and conditioning system of claim 1, further
comprising a heat exchanger disposed proximate an inlet of the air
processing unit for cooling the compressor air supply.
5. The air supply and conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the
at least one conditioning component comprises at least one of an
atomizing air cooler, a moisture separator and a filter.
6. The air supply and conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the
air processing unit comprises at least one of a water separator and
an air drying component.
7. The air supply and conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the
first temperature is about 800.degree. F. (427.degree. C.) and the
first pressure is about 250 psia.
8. The air supply and conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the
second temperature is about 225.degree. F. (107.degree. C.) and the
second pressure is about 250 psia.
9. The air supply and conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the
third temperature is about 145.degree. F. (63.degree. C.) and the
third pressure is about 120 psia.
10. An air supply and conditioning system for an integrated
gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant comprising: at least one
cooling component configured to receive an air supply from a gas
turbine component at a first temperature and a first pressure; an
air supply junction for diverting the air supply at a second
temperature and a second pressure to a first path leading to an air
separation unit and a second path; and a filter housing having at
least one filter for filtering a main inlet airstream, wherein the
air supply is provided along the second path to the at least one
filter.
11. The air supply and conditioning system of claim 10, wherein the
at least one cooling component comprises at least one of a heat
exchanger and a trip cooler.
12. The air supply and conditioning system of claim 10, wherein the
first temperature is about 800.degree. F. (427.degree. C.).
13. The air supply and conditioning system of claim 10, wherein the
first pressure is about 250 psia.
14. The air supply and conditioning system of claim 10, wherein the
second temperature is about 110.degree. F. (43.degree. C.).
15. The air supply and conditioning system of claim 10, wherein the
second pressure is about 120 psia.
16. A method of supplying air to a filter housing of a turbine
system comprising: providing an air supply at a first temperature
and a first pressure from a gas turbine component to an atomizing
air system; cooling and lowering the pressure of the air supply
during passage of the air supply through at least one air
conditioning component of the atomizing air system; directing the
air supply from an outlet of the atomizing air system to an air
processing unit; cooling and lowering the pressure of the air
supply during passage of the air supply through at least one
cooling component of the air processing unit; and supplying the air
supply to at least one filter disposed within the filter
housing.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising directing a low
pressure airstream from the filter housing to an inlet of the air
processing unit.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: injecting the air
supply into an air ejector as a motive fluid; and injecting the low
pressure airstream into the air ejector as a suction fluid.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the air supply is at a second
temperature upon supplying to the at least one filter.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first temperature is about
800.degree. F. (427.degree. C.) and the second temperature is about
110.degree. F. (43.degree. C.).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to turbine
systems, and more particularly to an air supply and conditioning
system for turbine systems, as well as a method of supplying air
within such turbine systems.
[0002] Turbine systems often include an air processing unit (APU)
that provides an air supply for pulsing self-cleaning filters
within a filter housing and also that provides an air supply to one
or more valves as instrument air. The air supplied to the APU
typically is extracted directly from a compressor discharge casing,
where the air is relatively hot and requires substantial cooling
and lowering of pressure prior to injection into the filter
housing. Various devices within the APU are present to perform such
cooling and pressure lowering of the air supply, with one such
device including a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is rather
costly from both a part and installation cost perspective, as well
as a drain on an auxiliary power system for operation of the heat
exchanger.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0003] According to one aspect of the invention, an air supply and
conditioning system for a turbine system includes an atomizing air
system comprising at least one conditioning component configured to
receive a compressor discharge air supply at an inlet at a first
temperature and a first pressure, wherein at least one conditioning
component conditions the compressor discharge air supply to a
second temperature and a second pressure at an outlet. Also
included is an air processing unit configured to receive the
compressor discharge air supply from the outlet of the atomizing
air system, wherein the air processing unit further conditions the
compressor discharge air supply to a third temperature and a third
pressure. Further included is a filter housing having at least one
filter for filtering a main inlet airstream, wherein the compressor
discharge air supply is provided from the air processing unit to at
least one filter.
[0004] According to another aspect of the invention, an air supply
and conditioning system for an integrated gasification combined
cycle (IGCC) plant includes at least one cooling component
configured to receive an air supply from a gas turbine component at
a first temperature and a first pressure. Also included is an air
supply junction for diverting the air supply at a second
temperature and a second pressure to a first path leading to an air
separation unit and a second path. Further included is a filter
housing having at least one filter for filtering a main inlet
airstream, wherein the air supply is provided along the second path
to the at least one filter.
[0005] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method
of supplying air to a filter housing of a turbine system is
provided. The method includes providing an air supply at a first
temperature and a first pressure from a gas turbine component to an
atomizing air system. Also included is cooling and lowering the
pressure of the air supply during passage of the air supply through
at least one air conditioning component of the atomizing air
system. Further included is directing the air supply from an outlet
of the atomizing air system to an air processing unit. Yet further
included is cooling and lowering the pressure of the air supply
during passage of the air supply through at least one cooling
component of the air processing unit. Also included is supplying
the air supply to at least one filter disposed within the filter
housing.
[0006] These and other advantages and features will become more
apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with
the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0007] The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is
particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at
the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other
features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an air supply and
conditioning system for a turbine system according to a first
embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the air supply and
conditioning system for a turbine system according to a second
embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the air supply and
conditioning system according to a third embodiment; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of supplying
air to a filter housing of a turbine system.
[0012] The detailed description explains embodiments of the
invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example
with reference to the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, a turbine system is schematically
illustrated with reference numeral 10. The turbine system 10
includes a compressor 12, a combustor 14, a turbine 16, a shaft 18
and a fuel nozzle 20. The compressor 12 and the turbine 16 are
coupled by the shaft 18. The shaft 18 may be a single shaft or a
plurality of shaft segments coupled together to form the shaft 18.
Additionally, an inlet filter assembly 22 ingests an airstream 24
that is filtered and routed to the compressor 12. The combustor 14
uses a combustible liquid and/or gas fuel, such as natural gas or a
hydrogen rich synthetic gas, to run the gas turbine system 10.
[0014] The inlet filter assembly 22 includes an entry portion 30
for the airstream 24, where the entry portion 30 typically
comprises one or more weather hoods or louvers. The entry portion
30 provides a path for the airstream 24 to enter an inlet filter
compartment 32 from ambient surroundings. An inlet duct 34 is
configured to contain and route the airstream to an inlet plenum
36. The inlet duct 34 comprises numerous sections that may vary in
orientation and geometric configuration. For example, a first duct
portion 38 is shown as having a relatively horizontal orientation
prior to redirection through an elbow 40 to a second duct portion
42 having a relatively vertical orientation. Various other
components may be disposed within either the first duct portion 38
or the second duct portion 42. Such components may include a
silencer 44 and/or an inlet bleed heat arrangement 46. The inlet
plenum 36 is configured to provide a relatively turbulent-free
region for immediate entry of the airstream 24 to the compressor
12. The airstream 24 is subjected to yet another redirection during
entry to the compressor 12 through the inlet plenum 36.
[0015] The inlet filter compartment 32 includes at least one, but
typically a plurality of filters that are self-cleaning. The
self-cleaning of the filters is facilitated by injection of an air
supply 50 along a line 60. The air supply 50 may also be
distributed along a line 62 to one or more valves 80 as instrument
air. The air supply 50 is conditioned prior to injection into the
inlet filter compartment 32, with the air supply 50 originating as
a compressor air supply 52. The compressor air supply 52 comprises
at least one of discharge air from the compressor 12 and/or air
extracted from an intermediate portion of the compressor 12.
[0016] Still referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of an air
supply and conditioning system 100 is illustrated. The compressor
air supply 52 is routed through interconnecting piping and passes
to an inlet 102 of an atomizing air system 104 that includes at
least one, but typically a plurality of conditioning components
that interact with the compressor air supply 52 to alter fluid
properties of the compressor air supply 52. Specifically, the
temperature and the pressure of the compressor air supply 52 are
lowered during passage through the atomizing air system 104. The
compressor air supply 52 enters the inlet 102 of the atomizing air
system 104 at a first temperature and a first pressure. The first
temperature is about 800.degree. F. (427.degree. C.) and the first
pressure is about 250 psia. Proximate the inlet 102 is a first heat
exchanger 106, such as an atomizing air cooler, which cools the
compressor air supply 52 to a second temperature of about
225.degree. F. (107.degree. C.), with the pressure maintaining at
approximately 250 psia. Prior to passage of the compressor air
supply 52 to an outlet 108 of the atomizing air system 104, the
compressor air supply 52 may pass through a moisture separator 110
to separate out any entrained moisture droplets in the compressor
air supply 52. Additionally, upstream of the outlet 108 may be
disposed an air filter 112. A junction 114 splits the flow of the
compressor air supply 52 between the outlet 108 and an atomizing
air compressor 116, which may supply one or more fuel nozzles 118
for supplying fuel to the combustor 14.
[0017] Once the compressor air supply 52 is routed through the
outlet 108 of the atomizing air system 104, interconnected piping
takes the compressor air supply 52 to an air processing unit (APU)
120 for conditioning therein. Disposed proximate an APU inlet 122
is an air ejector 124 configured to receive the compressor air
supply 52. Additionally, the air ejector 124 is in operable
communication with the inlet filter assembly 22 and imposes a
suction force on air within the inlet filter assembly 22 for
drawing a relatively low pressure airstream 126 (i.e., at or near
atmospheric pressure) from the inlet filter assembly 22. The
suction force imposed to draw the relatively low pressure airstream
126 from the inlet filter assembly 22 is generated by the geometric
effect of the air ejector 124 on the compressor air supply 52,
which has a relatively high pressure (i.e., motive fluid). Mixing
of the compressor air supply 52 and the relatively low pressure
airstream 126 results in the air supply 50 that is cooler than the
second temperature of the compressor air supply 52. Subsequent to
passing through the air ejector 124, the air supply 50 is passed
through one or more components that may include a water separator
130, a pressure regulating valve 132, and/or a heatless air dryer
134. At this point, the air supply 50 has been cooled to a third
temperature and a third pressure, with the third temperature being
about 145.degree. F. (63.degree. C.) and the third pressure being
about 120 psia. The third temperature and the third pressure of the
air supply 50 are suitable for passage to the plurality of
self-cleaning filters disposed within the inlet filter compartment
32, as illustrated.
[0018] Referring now to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the air
supply and conditioning system 200 is illustrated. The second
embodiment of the air supply and conditioning system 200 is similar
in many respects to the arrangement and functionality of the first
embodiment of the air supply and conditioning system 100 described
above, such that similar reference numerals will be employed for
corresponding components and a duplicative description will be
omitted. Rather than employing the air ejector 124 for cooling of
the compressor air supply 52 subsequent to expelling of the
compressor air supply 52 from the outlet 108 of the atomizing air
system 104, a cooling heat exchanger 224 is employed to cool the
compressor air supply 52. The cooling heat exchanger 224 is
disposed proximate the APU inlet 122 and cools the compressor air
supply 52, thereby resulting in the air supply 50 that is
subsequently passed through various components of the APU 120
described above. A similar third temperature and pressure are
attained prior to injection of the air supply 50 to the
self-cleaning filters disposed within the inlet filter compartment
32. Use of the cooling heat exchanger 224 obviates the need for
suction of the relatively low pressure airstream 126 of the first
embodiment.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 3, a third embodiment of the air
supply and conditioning system 300 is illustrated. The third
embodiment of the air supply and conditioning system 300 is similar
in many respects to the arrangement and functionality of the
previously described embodiments, such that similar reference
numerals will be employed for corresponding components and a
duplicative description will be omitted, as was the case with
description of the second embodiment. The third embodiment of the
air supply and conditioning system 300 is to be employed with
integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) systems and removes
the need for use of the APU 120. An air supply 302 is extracted
from a portion of the turbine system 10 containing air having a
relatively high temperature and pressure. The air supply 302 may be
extracted from the compressor 12 at a first temperature of about
800.degree. F. (427.degree. C.) and a first pressure of about 250
psia. The air supply 302 is cooled by passage through at least one,
but typically a plurality of cooling components 304. The plurality
of cooling components 304 may include components such as a diluent
nitrogen extraction air heat exchanger, a fuel gas saturator
make-up heater and a trim cooler, for example. A tap off line
comprising a junction 306 takes the air supply 302 along a first
path 308 and a second path 310. The first path 308 leads to an air
separation unit (ASU), while the second path 310 leads to the
self-cleaning filters disposed within the inlet filter compartment
32. The air supply 302 has a second temperature and a second
pressure at the junction 306, with the second temperature being
about 110.degree. F. (43.degree. C.) and the second pressure being
about 220 psia. Routing of the air supply 302 to the inlet filter
compartment 32 through a pressure regulating valve 312 further
lowers the pressure to about 120 psia, thereby producing a
temperature and pressure suitable for injection into the inlet
filter compartment 32.
[0020] It is to be appreciated that all previously referenced
temperatures and pressures are merely illustrative and are not
intended to be limiting, as various turbine system platforms may
benefit from employment of the above-described embodiments. Varying
turbine system platforms will operate at distinct temperatures and
pressures as the exemplary embodiments described herein, however,
it is to be understood that the principles of the embodiments apply
to numerous turbine system platforms.
[0021] As illustrated in the flow diagram of FIG. 4, and with
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a method of supplying air to a filter
housing 400 of a turbine system 10 is also provided. The turbine
system 10 has been previously described and specific structural
components need not be described in further detail. The method of
supplying air to a filter housing 400 includes providing an air
supply at a first temperature and a first pressure from a gas
turbine component to an atomizing air system 402. The air supply
may be extracted from a compressor, for example. The air supply is
cooled and the pressure is lowered 404 during passage through at
least one air conditioning component of the atomizing air system.
The at least one air conditioning component of the atomizing air
system may include various components, such as an atomizing air
cooler, a moisture separator and/or a filter. The air supply is
directed 406 from an outlet of the atomizing air system to an air
processing unit (APU) for conditioning therein. The air supply is
further cooled and the pressure is lowered 408 during passage
through at least one cooling component of the APU. The at least one
cooling component may include an air ejector, a cooling heat
exchanger, a water separator, a pressure regulating valve and/or a
heatless air dryer. The air supply is then supplied 410 to at least
one filter disposed within the inlet filter compartment 32.
[0022] While the invention has been described in detail in
connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be
readily understood that the invention is not limited to such
disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to
incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or
equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are
commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention.
Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been
described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may
include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the
invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing
description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *