Steam injection in gas turbines having fixed geometry components

Claim 2

In a gas turbine power plant wherein the turbine is mechanically connected to and drives a compressor; said compressor supplies compressed air to a combustor in flow communication therewith; steam injecting means including steam generating means is in flow communication with said combustor and generates and supplies steam thereto; means in flow communication with said combustor supplies fuel thereto for combustion thereof with air in said combustor for the generation of hot gases, and said combustor supplies the hot gases generated therein to said turbine being in flow communication therewith, the combination with said steam generating means of means to automatically control the generation of steam for admission to said combustor, said control means comprising: a. means in flow communication with said compressor for generating a control signal and b. means connected to said control signal generating means and responsive to said control signal for adjusting the rate of heat energy input to said steam generating means.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said steam generating means is in flow communication with the exhaust system of said turbine and said adjusting means determines the flow of exhaust gas thereto.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 wherein said steam generating means comprises a first steam generator in flow communication with the exhaust system of said turbine and a second steam generator in series with said first steam generator, said first steam generator alone having the exhaust gas input thereto adjustable by said adjusting means.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 wherein the means for generating a control signal comprises: a. electrical signal comparing means having first and second inputs and having an output, said output being electrically connected to said adjusting means, b. means electrically connected to said first input of said comparing means and in flow communication with the compressor discharge for sensing the compressor discharge pressure and generating a pressure-response signal quantitatively related thereto and c. means electrically connected to said second input of said comparing means for applying a bias signal thereto, said comparing meanS supplying a control signal to said adjusting means via said output when the relationship between said bias signal and said pressure-response signal deviates from some predetermined value.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 4 wherein said means for applying a bias signal is a fixed voltage source.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 4 wherein said means for applying a bias signal includes a voltage generator and a temperature sensor having an electrical signal output quantitatively related to the temperature sensed, said temperature sensor being located adjacent the inlet to said compressor and being electrically connected to said voltage generator, said voltage generator being electrically connected to said second input and the bias signal generated thereby being quantitatively related to the signal from said temperature sensor.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 4 wherein the means for applying a bias signal includes a temperature sensor having an electrical signal output quantitatively related to the temperature sensed; first and second voltage generators electrically connected at their respective inputs to said temperature sensor; a humidity sensor having an electrical signal output quantitatively related to the relative humidity sensed; a voltage multiplier having separate inputs electrically connected to the outputs of said second voltage generator and said humidity sensor, respectively; and the outputs of said first voltage generator and said voltage multiplier being electrically connected to a summing junction, the bias signal output of said summing junction being electrically connected to said comparing means and said temperature sensor and said humidity sensor being located adjacent the inlet to said compressor.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 4 wherein the means for sensing and generating a pressure-response signal is a pressure transducer.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 1 wherein said adjusting means is a flow bypass having powered actuating means, said flow bypass being in flow communication with said steam generating means.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 2 wherein said adjusting means is a flow bypass having powered actuating means, said flow bypass being in flow communication with the outlet of said turbine, with said steam generating means and with mixing means located downstream in the turbine exhaust system.

Claim 12

In a gas turbine power plant wherein the turbine is mechanically connected to and drives a compressor; said compressor supplies compressed air to a combustor in flow communication therewith; steam injecting means including steam generating means is in flow communication with said combustor and generates and supplies steam thereto; means in flow communication with said combustor supplies fuel thereto for combustion thereof with air in said combustor for the generation of hot gases, and said combustor supplies the hot gases generated therein to said turbine being in flow communication therewith, the combination with said steam generating means of means to automatically control steam flow to said combustor, said control means comprising: a. means in flow communication with said compressor for generating a control signal and b. means for adjusting the admission of steam to said combustor, said adjusting means being in flow communication with both said steam injecting means and said combustor and being automatically responsive to said control signal.

Claim 13

In a gas turbine power plant wherein the turbine is mechanically connected to and drives a compressor; said compressor supplies compressed air to a combustor in flow communication therewith; steam injecting means including steam generating means is in flow communication with said combustor and generates and supplies steam thereto; means in flow communication with said combustor supplies fuel thereto for combustion thereof with air in said combustor for the generation of hot gases, and said combustor supplies the hot gases generated therein to said turbine being in flow communication therewith, the combination with said steam generating means of means to automatically control steam flow to said combustor, said control means comprising: a. means in flow communication with said compressor for generating a control signal and b. means for adjusting the admission of steam to said combustor, said adjusting means being in flow communication with both said steam injecting means and said combustor and being automatically responsive to said control signal.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 11 wherein said steam generating means is in flow communication with the exhaust system of said turbine.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 11 wherein the means for generating a control signal comprises: a. electrical signal comparing means having first and second inputs and having an output, said output being electrically connected to said adjusting means, b. means electrically connected to said first input of said comparing means and in flow communication with the compressor discharge for sensing the compressor discharge pressure and generating a pressure-respOnse signal quantitatively related thereto and c. means electrically connected to said second input of said comparing means for applying a bias signal thereto, said comparing means supplying a control signal to said adjusting means via said output when the relationship between said bias signal and said pressure-response signal deviates from some pre-determined value.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 13 wherein said means for applying a bias signal is a fixed voltage source.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 13 wherein said means for applying a control bias signal includes a voltage generator and a temperature sensor having an electrical signal output quantitatively related to the temperature sensed, said temperature sensor being located adjacent the inlet to said compressor and being electrically connected to said voltage generator, said voltage generator being electrically connected to said second input and the bias signal generated thereby being quantitatively related to the signal from said temperature sensor.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 13 wherein the means for applying a bias signal includes a temperature sensor having an electrical signal output quantitatively related to the temperature sensed; first and second voltage generators electrically connected at their respective inputs to said temperature sensor; a humidity sensor having an electrical signal output quantitatively related to the relative humidity sensed, a voltage multiplier having separate inputs electrically connected to the outputs of said second voltage generator and said humidity sensor, respectively; and the outputs of said first voltage generator and said voltage multiplier being electrically connected to a summing junction, the output of said summing junction being electrically connected to said comparing means and said temperature sensor and said humidity sensor being located adjacent the inlet to said compressor.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 13 wherein the means for sensing and generating a pressure-response signal is a pressure transducer.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 11 wherein said adjusting means is a flow by-pass having powered actuating means.

Claim 21

In a gas turbine power plant wherein a liquid-cooled turbine is mechanically connected to and drives a compressor; said compressor supplies compressed air to a combustor in flow communication therewith; steam injecting means including steam generating means is in flow communication with said combustor and supplies steam thereto; means in flow communication with said combustor supplies fuel thereto for combustion thereof with air in said combustor for the generation of hot gases and said combustor supplies the hot gases generated therein to said turbine being in flow communication therewith, the combination with said steam injecting means of: a. first steam generating means in flow communication with the exhaust system of said turbine, b. second steam generating means in series with said first steam generating means; said second steam generating means being in heat exchange relationship with the cooling circuit of said turbine, c. means in flow communication with said compressor for generating a control signal and d. means connected to said control signal generating means and responsive to said control signal for adjusting the flow of exhaust gas to said first steam generating means.

Claim 22

In a gas turbine power plant wherein a liquid-cooled turbine is mechanically connected to and drives a compressor; said compressor supplies compressed air to a combustor in flow communication therewith; steam injecting means including steam generating means is in flow communication with said combustor and supplies steam thereto; means in flow communication with said combustor supplies fuel thereto for combustion thereof with air in said combustor for the generation of hot gases and said combustor supplies the hot gases generated therein to said turbine being in flow communication therewith, the combination with said steam injecting means of: a. first steam generating means in flow communication with the exhaust system of said turbine, b. second steam generating means in series with said first steam generating means; said second steam generating means being in heat exchange relationship with the cooling circuit of said turbine, c. means in flow communication with said compressor for generating a control signal and d. means connected to said control signal generating means and responsive to said control signal for adjusting the flow of exhaust gas to said first steam generating means.

Claim 23

The combination of claim 19 wherein the means for generating a control signal comprises: a. electrical signal comparing means having first and second inputs and having an output, said output being electrically connected to said adjusting means, b. means electrically connected to said first input of said comparing means and in flow communication with the compressor discharge for sensing the compressor discharge pressure and generating a pressure-response signal quantitatively related thereto and c. means electrically connected to said second input of said comparing means for applying a bias signal thereto, said comparIng means supplying a control signal to said adjusting means via said output when the relationship between said bias signal and said pressure-response signal deviates from some predetermined value.

Claim 24

The combination of claim 20 wherein said means for applying a bias signal is a fixed voltage source.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 20 wherein said means for applying a bias signal includes a voltage generator and a temperature sensor having an electrical signal output quantitatively related to the temperature sensed, said temperature sensor being located adjacent the inlet to said compressor and being electrically connected to said voltage generator, said voltage generator being electrically connected to said second input and the bias signal generated thereby being quantitatively related to the signal from said temperature sensor.

Claim 26

The combination of claim 20 wherein the means for applying a bias signal includes a temperature sensor having an electrical signal output quantitatively related to the temperature sensed; first and second voltage generators electrically connected at their respective inputs to said temperature sensor; a humidity sensor having an electrical signal output quantitatively related to the relative humidity sensed; a voltage multiplier having separate inputs electrically connected to the outputs of said second voltage generator and said humidity sensor, respectively; and the outputs of said first voltage generator and said voltage multiplier being electrically connected to a summing junction, the bias signal output of said summing junction being electrically connected to said comparing means and said temperature sensor and said humidity sensor being located adjacent the inlet to said compressor.

Claim 27

The combination of claim 20 wherein the means for sensing and generating a pressure-response signal is a pressure transducer.

Claim 28

The combination of claim 19 wherein said adjusting means is a flow bypass having powered actuating means, said flow bypass being in flow communication with said steam generating means.

Claim 29

The combination of claim 19 wherein said adjusting means is a flow bypass having powered actuating means, said flow bypass being in flow communication with the outlet of said turbine, with said steam generating means and with mixing means located downstream in the turbine exhaust system.

Claim 30

In the operation of a gas turbine power plant in the steam injection mode wherein the following steps are performed: generating steam from liquid water; compressing atmospheric air to superatmospheric pressure; passing the compressed air to a combustion zone, where fuel is introduced and continuous combustion occurs; passing the generated steam to said combustion zone, and passing hot gases continuously from said combustion zone through an expansion zone where mechanical energy is abstracted in substantially greater amount than the mechanical energy absorbed in the compression step, the combination with said series of step of: a. automatically controlling the flow of steam to said combustion zone by means of a control signal, said control signal resulting from the interrelation of a bias signal and a signal quantitatively comparable to the compressor pressure ratio.

Claim 31

In the operation of a gas turbine power plant in the steam injection mode wherein the following steps are performed: generating steam from liquid water; compressing atmospheric air to superatmospheric pressure; passing the compressed air to a combustion zone, where fuel is introduced and continuous combustion occurs; passing the generated steam to said combustion zone, and passing hot gases continuously from said combustion zone through an expansion zone where mechanical energy is abstracted in substantially greater amount than the mechanical energy absorbed in the compression step, the combination with said series of step of: a. automatically controlling the flow of steam to said combustion zone by means of a control signal, said control signal resulting from the interrelation of a bias signal and a signal quantitatively comparable to the compressor pressure ratio.

Claim 32

The steps of operation of a gas turbine power plant as recited in claim 27 wherein the bias signal is a constant voltage signal.

Claim 33

The steps of operation of a gas turbine power plant as recited in claim 27 wherein the bias signal is quantitatively related to the ambient temperature.

Claim 34

The steps of operation of a gas turbine power plant as recited in claim 27 wherein the bias signal is quantitatively related both to the ambient temperature and to the ambient humidity.