U.S. patent application number 14/235228 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-12 for turbo-compressor train with rolling bearings and related assembly method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Nuovo Pignone S.p.A. The applicant listed for this patent is Massimo Camatti, Giacomo Landi, Lorenzo Naldi, Guido Peano. Invention is credited to Massimo Camatti, Giacomo Landi, Lorenzo Naldi, Guido Peano.
Application Number | 20140157750 14/235228 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44675665 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140157750 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Landi; Giacomo ; et
al. |
June 12, 2014 |
TURBO-COMPRESSOR TRAIN WITH ROLLING BEARINGS AND RELATED ASSEMBLY
METHOD
Abstract
A turbo-compressor train and a method for assembling a
turbo-compressor train. The train includes a gas turbine engine
configured to transform thermal energy into mechanical energy; a
centrifugal compressor having a shaft connected to a shaft of the
gas turbine engine; and a single lube pump configured to provide
synthetic oil to the gas turbine engine and the centrifugal
compressor. The gas turbine engine, the centrifugal compressor and
the single lube pump each has only rolling bearings.
Inventors: |
Landi; Giacomo; (Sandvika,
NO) ; Camatti; Massimo; (Florence, IT) ;
Peano; Guido; (Florence, IT) ; Naldi; Lorenzo;
(Florence, IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Landi; Giacomo
Camatti; Massimo
Peano; Guido
Naldi; Lorenzo |
Sandvika
Florence
Florence
Florence |
|
NO
IT
IT
IT |
|
|
Assignee: |
Nuovo Pignone S.p.A
Florence
IT
|
Family ID: |
44675665 |
Appl. No.: |
14/235228 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
July 25, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2012/064615 |
371 Date: |
January 27, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
60/39.08 ;
415/122.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01D 25/20 20130101;
F01D 25/18 20130101; F02C 7/32 20130101; F05D 2260/40 20130101;
F02C 7/36 20130101; Y02T 50/60 20130101; Y02T 50/671 20130101; F01D
25/16 20130101; F02C 6/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
60/39.08 ;
415/122.1 |
International
Class: |
F01D 25/20 20060101
F01D025/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 28, 2011 |
IT |
CO2011A000031 |
Claims
1. A turbo-compressor train, the train comprising: a gas turbine
configured to transform thermal energy into mechanical energy; a
centrifugal compressor comprising a shaft connected to a shaft of
the gas turbine; and a single lube pump configured to provide
synthetic oil to the gas turbine, and the centrifugal compressor,
wherein the gas turbine, the centrifugal compressor and the single
lube pump each has only rolling bearings.
2. The turbo-compressor train of claim 1, wherein the gas turbine
comprises: a compressor configured to compress air; a combustion
chamber configured to receive the compressed air from the
compressor and to ignite the compressed air after mixing it with
fuel; and an expander configured to receive hot gases from the
combustion chamber and to transform the thermal energy of the hot
gases into rotational motion.
3. The turbo-compressor train of claim 1, further comprising: an
auxiliary gearbox connecting a shaft of the gas turbine to a shaft
of the lube pump and the auxiliary gearbox is configured to work
with synthetic oil, or a power source configured to provide energy
to activate the lube pump.
4. The turbo-compressor train of claim 1, further comprising:
piping connecting the lube pump to the gas turbine and the
centrifugal compressor for distributing the synthetic oil.
5. The train turbo-compressor of claim 1, wherein no mineral oil is
used in any component of the train.
6. The turbo-compressor train of claim 1, wherein the gas turbine
comprises an axial expander.
7. The turbo-compressor train of claim 1, further comprising: a
gearbox configured to mechanically connect a shaft of the gas
turbine and a shaft of the centrifugal compressor.
8. The turbo-compressor train of claim 1, further comprising: an
auxiliary gearbox connecting a shaft of the gas turbine to a shaft
of the lube pump and the auxiliary gearbox is configured to work
with synthetic oil; piping connecting the lube pump to the gas
turbine and the centrifugal compressor for distributing the
synthetic oil; and a gearbox configured to mechanically connect a
shaft of the gas turbine and a shaft of the centrifugal compressor,
wherein the gas turbine further comprises: a compressor configured
to compress air; a combustion chamber configured to receive the
compressed air from the compressor, to mix the compressed air with
fuel, and to ignite the compressed air mixed with fuel; and an
expander configured to receive hot gases from the combustion
chamber and to transform the thermal energy of the hot gases into
rotational motion.
9. A turbo-compressor train, the train comprising: a gas turbine
configured to transform thermal energy into mechanical energy; a
generator comprising a shaft connected to a shaft of the gas
turbine; and a single lube pump configured to provide synthetic oil
to the gas turbine, and the generator, wherein the gas turbine, the
generator and the single lube pump each has only rolling
bearings.
10. A method for assembling a turbo-compressor train, the method
comprising: mechanically connecting a gas turbine to a centrifugal
compressor; mechanically or electrically connecting a lube pump to
the gas turbine, wherein the lube pump is configured to pump
synthetic oil; and providing each of the gas turbine, the
centrifugal compressor, and the lube pump only with rolling
bearings.
11. The turbo-compressor train of claim 9, wherein the gas turbine
comprises: a compressor configured to compress air; a combustion
chamber configured to receive the compressed air from the
compressor and to ignite the compressed air after mixing it with
fuel; and an expander configured to receive hot gases from the
combustion chamber and to transform the thermal energy of the hot
gases into rotational motion.
12. The turbo-compressor train of claim 9, further comprising: an
auxiliary gearbox connecting a shaft of the gas turbine to a shaft
of the lube pump and the auxiliary gearbox is configured to work
with synthetic oil, or a power source configured to provide energy
to activate the lube pump.
13. The turbo-compressor train of claim 9, further comprising:
piping connecting the lube pump to the gas turbine and the
generator for distributing the synthetic oil.
14. The train turbo-compressor of claim 9, wherein no mineral oil
is used in any component of the train.
15. The turbo-compressor train of claim 9, wherein the gas turbine
comprises an axial expander.
16. The turbo-compressor train of claim 9, further comprising: a
gearbox configured to mechanically connect a shaft of the gas
turbine and a shaft of the generator.
17. The turbo-compressor train of claim 9, further comprising: an
auxiliary gearbox connecting a shaft of the gas turbine to a shaft
of the lube pump and the auxiliary gearbox is configured to work
with synthetic oil; piping connecting the lube pump to the gas
turbine and the generator for distributing the synthetic oil; and a
gearbox configured to mechanically connect a shaft of the gas
turbine and a shaft of the generator, wherein the gas turbine
further comprises: a compressor configured to compress air; a
combustion chamber configured to receive the compressed air from
the compressor, to mix the compressed air with fuel, and to ignite
the compressed air mixed with fuel; and an expander configured to
receive hot gases from the combustion chamber and to transform the
thermal energy of the hot gases into rotational motion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein generally
relate to methods and systems and, more particularly, to mechanisms
and techniques for providing an entire turbo-compressor train with
a single lube pump and/or with a single lubrication oil medium.
[0002] Gas turbines are used in many sectors of the industry, from
military to power generation. They are used mainly to produce
electrical energy. However, some gas turbines are used to propel
various vehicles, airplanes, ships, etc. In the oil and gas field,
the gas turbines are used to drive compressors, pumps and/or
generators. As shown in FIG. 1, a gas turbine 12 may be connected
to a compressor or generator 14 and to an auxiliary equipment 16. A
gear box 18 or other equipment may be provided between the gas
turbine 12 and the compressor or generator 14. All these elements
form a turbo-compressor train 10.
[0003] The gas turbine 12 may include a compressor 20 that is
configured to receive a gas (e.g., air) at an input 22 and to
provide the gas compressed to a predetermined pressure at an outlet
24. The compressed gas is then input to a combustor 26 where it is
mixed with a fuel provided from a line 28. The mixture of gas and
fuel is ignited and the hot gases at high pressure are provided to
an input 30 of an expander 32. The exhaust gases are then released
at output 34 of the expander 32.
[0004] The expansion of the hot gases through the expander 32
determines a rotation of a rotoric part (not shown) which is
coupled, through the gear box 18 to a shaft of the compressor 14.
Thus, the compressor 14 is driven by the expander 32. One or more
of the components of the turbo-compressor train 10 involves heavy
rotoric parts (e.g., shaft, impeller, etc.) that rotate at a high
speed. In order to promote the rotational motion of these
components and to minimize the friction, various bearing units are
provided in the train. A few arrangements are discussed next.
[0005] FIGS. 2A-C show the train 10 of FIG. 1 in which some
elements have rolling bearings and the remaining elements have
hydro-dynamic bearings. Those elements having the rolling bearings
are identified with A and those having the hydro-dynamic bearings
are identified with B. Further, it is noted that the rolling
bearings need to use synthetic oil while the hydro-dynamic bearings
need to use mineral oil. Thus, the arrangements shown in FIGS. 2A
and 2B need two lube pumps, one for each type of bearings while the
arrangement shown in FIG. 2C uses one lube pump and the mineral
oil. These arrangements have a higher weight and maintenance cost
due to the dual lube pump, they have a large footprint and require
higher plant complexity. A disadvantage of the configuration shown
in FIG. 2C is the higher lube oil consumption needed for
hydrodynamic bearings.
[0006] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide systems and
methods that avoid the afore-described problems and drawbacks.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one exemplary embodiment, there is a
turbo-compressor train that includes a gas turbine configured to
transform thermal energy into mechanical energy; a centrifugal
compressor having a shaft connected to a shaft of the gas turbine;
and a single lube pump configured to provide synthetic oil to the
gas turbine, and the centrifugal compressor. The gas turbine, the
centrifugal compressor and the single lube pump each has only
rolling bearings.
[0008] According to another exemplary embodiment, there is a
turbo-compressor train that includes a gas turbine configured to
transform thermal energy into mechanical energy; a generator having
a shaft connected to a shaft of the gas turbine; and a single lube
pump configured to provide synthetic oil to the gas turbine, and
the generator. The gas turbine, the generator and the single lube
pump each has only rolling bearings.
[0009] According to still another exemplary embodiment, there is a
method for assembling a turbo-compressor train. The method includes
mechanically connecting a gas turbine to a centrifugal compressor;
mechanically or electrically connecting a lube pump to the gas
turbine; and providing each of the gas turbine, the centrifugal
compressor and the lube pump only with rolling bearings and the
lube pump is configured to pump synthetic oil.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate one or more
embodiments and, together with the description, explain these
embodiments. In the drawings:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional
turbo-compressor train;
[0012] FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are schematic diagrams of conventional
turbo-compressor trains having two lube pumps or being supplied
only with mineral oil;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a rolling bearing according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a hydro-dynamic bearing
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a turbo-compressor train
having a single lube pump according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a turbo-compressor train
having a single lube pump electrically connected to the train
according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a centrifugal compressor
according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of another turbo-compressor
train having a single lube pump according to an exemplary
embodiment; and
[0019] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method for assembling a
turbo-compressor train with a single lube pump according to an
exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE
INVENTION
[0020] The following description of the exemplary embodiments
refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in
different drawings identify the same or similar elements. The
following detailed description does not limit the invention.
Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended
claims. The following embodiments are discussed, for simplicity,
with regard to the terminology and structure of a gas turbine
system connected to a compressor or generator. However, the
embodiments to be discussed next are not limited to these systems,
but may be applied to other systems that have plural machines
connected to each other and each machine has its own bearing
system.
[0021] Reference throughout the specification to "one embodiment"
or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is
included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter
disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment"
or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout the
specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.
Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may
be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
[0022] According to an exemplary embodiment, the components of an
entire turbo-compressor train are provided with rolling bearings.
Thus, no component has hydro-dynamic bearings, which is different
from the traditional trains in which the compressors have
hydro-dynamic bearings. In this regard, it is noted that
traditional centrifugal compressors do not have rolling bearings
because for this solution it is more complex to compensate the
axial thrust. Moreover, the dynamic behavior of the compressor with
rolling bearings is negatively influenced by the high stiffness,
while the solution with hydrodynamic bearings is much more damped.
In this exemplary embodiment, a single lube pump is used for all
the components, which results in a lower weight of the train, lower
machine cost, lower footprint, and higher reliability. By removing
the mineral lube oil pump for the hydro-dynamic bearings, depending
on the machine, up to 250 kW of energy may be saved. Therefore,
according to this exemplary embodiment, all the components of the
train use synthetic oil. The single lump pump may be part of the
train or may be an auxiliary component of the train. The lump pump
may be mechanically or electrically connected to the train.
[0023] Prior to discussing the arrangement of the novel train, a
brief description of a rolling bearing, hydro-dynamic bearing,
mineral oil and synthetic oil is believed to be in order. A generic
rolling bearing 50 is shown in FIG. 3. The rolling bearing 50
includes two races, an exterior race 52 and an interior race 54.
These two races guide rolling elements 56. The rolling elements 56
may be balls, as shown in the figure, or may have other shapes,
e.g., cylinders, etc. They may be tapered or not. A cage 58 may be
used for keeping the rolling elements at desired distances one from
the other. Other types of rolling bearings exist and are known in
the art.
[0024] The rolling bearing 50 shown in FIG. 3 is traditionally
lubed with synthetic oil or grease, depending on the application.
Synthetic oil is a lubricant that includes chemical compounds which
are artificially made (synthesized). The synthetic lubricants can
be manufactured using chemically modified petroleum components
rather than crude oil, but can also be synthesized from other raw
materials. Synthetic oil is used as a substitute for lubricant
refined from petroleum when operating in extreme temperature,
because it generally provides superior mechanical and chemical
properties than those found in traditional mineral oils.
[0025] A generic hydro-dynamic bearing 60 includes a ring 62 that
is configured to hold plural pads 64, each having a working surface
64a. The pads 64 are retained by a blocking plate 66 to prevent
them from sliding in a rotational direction A when a shaft (not
shown) rotates at high speeds inside the ring 62, in direction A.
Corresponding retention plates 68, for preventing axial
dislocation, retain the pads 64 in the proximity of the ring 62.
Ring 62, blocking plate 66 and retention plates 68 define a
predetermined volume in which pad 64 may pivot about a retaining
head (not shown). Mineral oil is provided on the working surface
64a so that an oil film forms between the rotating shaft (not
shown) and the pads 64.
[0026] The mineral oil is a liquid by-product of the distillation
of petroleum to produce gasoline and other petroleum based products
from crude oil. The mineral oil includes mainly alkanes (typically
15 to 40 carbons) and cyclic paraffins, related to petroleum jelly
(also known as "white petrolatum").
[0027] As discussed above, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
turbo-compressor train is configured to have only rolling bearings
and no hydro-dynamic bearings. Thus, when the compressor in the
turbo-compressor train is a centrifugal compressor, no
hydro-dynamic bearings are used. In this regard, it is noted that
the conventional centrifugal compressors do not use rolling
bearings but only hydro-dynamic bearings.
[0028] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a turbo-compressor
train 100 having all components provided with rolling bearings and
no hydro-dynamic bearings. The turbo-compressor train 100 includes
a compressor 102 fluidly connected to a combustion chamber 104 in
which fuel and air are mixed together and ignited. The hot gases
are provided to an expander 106 whose shaft is rotated by the
expansion of the hot gases. The expander 106 may be an axial
expander. A shaft 108 of the expander 106 may be connected to a
shaft 110 of a centrifugal compressor 112 and also to the
compressor 102. A shaft of the compressor 102 may be connected to
an auxiliary gear box 114 that is configured to transmit rotational
motion to a shaft of a pump 116. The pump 116 may be the lube pump
for the synthetic oil necessary to the rolling bearings of the
various components of the turbo-compressor train.
[0029] According to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6,
a train 200 includes all the components shown in FIG. 5 for the
train 100 except that the pump 216 is not part of the train.
Further, the pump 216 is not mechanically (rotational motion)
connected to the train. In this exemplary embodiment, the pump is
supplied with, for example, electrical power from a power source
218 (e.g., power grid or a power generator of the train). In this
regard, it is noted that all the embodiments discussed in this
application (e.g., FIGS. 5 and 8) may have the pump either
mechanically or electrically connected to the train. Further, the
pump may or may not be part of the train, depending on the
application.
[0030] According with an exemplary embodiment, the pump 116, the
auxiliary gearbox 114, the compressor 102, the expander 106, and
the centrifugal compressor 112 each has rolling bearings. Thus,
according to this exemplary embodiment, a single lube pump is used
and the only oil used is the synthetic oil. In one application, the
centrifugal compressor 112 may be replaced by a generator. In this
case, the generator has rolling bearings and not hydro-dynamic
bearings. Because the rolling bearings may not support enough axial
trust in comparison to the hydro-dynamic bearings, a dedicated
thrust balance system (developed by the assignee of this patent
application) may be necessary.
[0031] A generic centrifugal compressor 140 modified as discussed
above is shown in FIG. 7 and is defined by the fact that air intake
reaches along an X direction, at position 142, an impeller 144 and
exits along a Y direction at position 146 having increased the
speed of the air due to the centrifugal motion through the impeller
144. The impeller 144 is shown connected to the shaft 110, which is
supported by the rolling bearings 148 and 150.
[0032] Returning to FIG. 5, it is noted that piping 170 connects
the lube pump 116 to each of the components of the turbo-compressor
train for supplying the necessary synthetic oil. According to an
exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, a gearbox 180 may be
provided between the shaft 108 of the expander 106 and the shaft
110 of the centrifugal compressor or generator 112. In this case,
the gearbox 180 is configured to use synthetic oil and, if
necessary, rolling bearings.
[0033] According to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9,
a method for assembling a train as discussed above is described.
The method includes a step 900 of mechanically connecting a gas
turbine to a centrifugal compressor; a step 902 of mechanically or
electrically connecting a lube pump to the gas turbine; and a step
904 of providing each of the gas turbine, the centrifugal
compressor and the lube pump only with rolling bearings and the
lube pump is configured to pump synthetic oil.
[0034] The disclosed exemplary embodiments provide a
turbo-compressor and a method for providing rolling bearings to
each component of the turbo-compressor. It should be understood
that this description is not intended to limit the invention. On
the contrary, the exemplary embodiments are intended to cover
alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which are included in
the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims. Further, in the detailed description of the exemplary
embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a comprehensive understanding of the claimed invention.
However, one skilled in the art would understand that various
embodiments may be practiced without such specific details.
[0035] Although the features and elements of the present exemplary
embodiments are described in the embodiments in particular
combinations, each feature or element can be used alone without the
other features and elements of the embodiments or in various
combinations with or without other features and elements disclosed
herein.
[0036] This written description uses examples of the subject matter
disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the
same, including making and using any devices or systems and
performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the
subject matter is defined by the claims, and may include other
examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other
examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *