US4949544A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Series intercooler
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1988-12-06
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Granted: 1990-08-21
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Expires: 2008-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A gas turbine engine having a series intercooler positioned between a first and a second compressor. The intercooler has a first fuel heating system which has a heated fuel outlet and the heated fuel outlet is coupled to a combuston region of the engine. The intercooler also has a second feedwater intercooler stage which heats feedwater and the heated feedwater is input into a turbine exhaust heat exchanger. At least one turbine is positioned downstream of the combustor region and the turbine exhaust heat exchanger is downstream of the turbine. The intercooler may also include the first fuel heating system having the heated fuel outlet coupled to the combustor region and a second intercooler stage having a water input port.
Inventors
- 👤 William R. Hines
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:10
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K23/00; F01K23/02; F01K23/06; F01K23/10; F01K21/00; F01K21/04; F01K21/047; F02; F02C; F02C7/00; F02C7/12; F02C7/14; F02C7/141; F02C7/143; F02C7/22; F02C7/224; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A turbine engine comprising: a first compressor for producing a downstream flow; an intercooler positioned downstream of said first compressor, said intercooler having a first fuel heating system having a heated fuel outlet, a second intercooler stage having a feedwater input port and a feedwater output port, said feedwater input port being coupled to a means for supplying water; a second compressor positioned downstream of said intercooler; a combustor region positioned downstream of said second compressor, said combustor region being coupled to said fuel outlet; a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor region; and a turbine exhaust heat exchanger downstream of said turbine, said heat exchanger being coupled to said feedwater output port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A turbine engine comprising: a first compressor for producing a downstream flow; an intercooler positioned downstream of said first compressor, said intercooler having a first fuel heating system having a heated fuel outlet, a second intercooler stage having a feedwater input port and a feedwater output port, said feedwater input port being coupled to a means for supplying water; a second compressor positioned downstream of said intercooler; a combustor region positioned downstream of said second compressor, said combustor region being coupled to said fuel outlet; a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor region; and a turbine exhaust heat exchanger downstream of said turbine, said heat exchanger being coupled to said feedwater output port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The engine of claim 1 wherein said fuel heating system comprises a first intercooler stage having first stage input and output ports, said input port being coupled to a means for supplying water and said output port is coupled to a fuel heater, said fuel heater having a fuel inlet and said fuel outlet, said fuel inlet is coupled to a means for supplying fuel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The engine of claim 2, wherein said first intercooler stage is adjacent said first compressor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The engine of claim 1, wherein said turbine exhaust heat exchanger is a boiler and said boiler has a steam output which is coupled to said engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The engine of claim 1, further comprising a third intercooler stage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The engine of claim 5, wherein said third intercooler stage is a variable effectivity heat exchanger.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The engine of claim 6, further comprising a third intercooler stage having third stage input and output ports which are coupled to a water cooler.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The engine of claim 6, wherein said third intercooler stage is coupled to a humidity sensor which controls the effectivity of said third intercooler stage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The engine of claim 8, wherein said humidity sensor is positioned between the intercooler and the second compressor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The engine of claim 8, wherein said third intercooler stage is coupled to at least one pump for controlling water flow and said pump is coupled to said humidity sensor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The engine of claim 8, further comprising a third intercooler stage having third stage input and output ports which are coupled to a water cooler wherein said third intercooler stage is coupled to at least one valve for redirecting a portion of water to bypass said water cooler and said valve is coupled to said humidity sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The engine of claim 5, wherein said third intercooler stage is an evaporative cooler.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The engine of claim 12, wherein said intercooler further comprises an evaporative cooler water stage having evaporative stage input and output ports wherein the evaporative stage output is coupled to said input port of said evaporative cooler.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The engine of claim 12, wherein an accelerator is positioned prior to said evaporative cooler.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The engine of claim 12, wherein said evaporative cooler is coupled to a humidity sensor for controlling the amount of water injected into said evaporative cooler.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
80 words
A turbine engine comprising: a first compressor for producing a downstream flow; an intercooler positioned downstream of said first compressor, said intercooler having a first fuel heating system having a heated fuel outlet, and also having a second intercooler stage having a water input port; a second compressor positioned downstream of said intercooler; a combustor region positioned downstream of said second compressor, said combustor region being coupled to said fuel outlet; and a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
A turbine engine comprising: a first compressor for producing a downstream flow; an intercooler positioned downstream of said first compressor, said intercooler having a first fuel heating system having a heated fuel outlet, and also having a second intercooler stage having a water input port; a second compressor positioned downstream of said intercooler; a combustor region positioned downstream of said second compressor, said combustor region being coupled to said fuel outlet; and a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
The engine of claim 16 wherein said fuel heating system comprises a first intercooler stage having first stage input and output ports, said input port being coupled to a means for supplying water and said output port is coupled to a fuel heater, said fuel heater having a fuel inlet and said fuel outlet, said fuel inlet is coupled to a means for supplying fuel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The engine of claim 17, wherein said first intercooler stage is adjacent said first compressor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The engine of claim 16, wherein said second intercooler stage is a variable effectivity heat exchanger.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The engine of claim 19, wherein said second intercooler stage also has an output port and said input and output ports are coupled to a water cooler.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The engine of claim 19, wherein said second intercooler stage is coupled to a humidity sensor which controls the effectivity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The engine of claim 21, wherein said humidity sensor is positioned between the intercooler and the second compressor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The engine of claim 21, wherein said second intercooler stage is coupled to at least one pump for controlling water flow and said pump is coupled to said humidity sensor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The engine of claim 21, wherein said second intercooler stage is coupled to at least one valve for redirecting a portion of water to bypass said water cooler and said valve is coupled to said humidity sensor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The engine of claim 16, wherein said second intercooler stage is an evaporative cooler.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The engine of claim 25, wherein said intercooler further comprises an evaporative cooler water stage having evaporative stage input and output ports wherein the evaporative stage output is coupled to said input port of said evaporative cooler.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The engine of claim 25, wherein an accelerator is positioned prior to said evaporative cooler.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The engine of claim 25, wherein said evaporative cooler is coupled to a humidity sensor for controlling the amount of water injected into said evaporative cooler.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The engine of claim 16, wherein said intercooler further comprises a feedwater intercooler third stage having feedwater input and output ports and said feedwater output port is coupled to a turbine exhaust heat exchanger.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-20 | 1994-02-19 | 1994-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-20 | 1998-02-19 | 1998-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-20 | 2002-02-19 | 2002-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |