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EP-4735743-A1 - GAS TURBINE ENGINES AND METHODS OF HEATING COMPRESSOR WORKING FLUID

EP4735743A1EP 4735743 A1EP4735743 A1EP 4735743A1EP-4735743-A1

Abstract

An integration system for use with a turbine, the integration system including an inlet bleed heat (IBH) system, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, and a controller.

Inventors

  • SAMMAK, MAJED
  • HAYES, PAUL
  • MERCHANT, LAXMIKANT
  • GUNASEKARAN, Ravikumar
  • KRISHNAN, Jeevankumar

Assignees

  • GE Vernova Technology GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20230816

Claims (20)

  1. 1. An integration system for use with a turbine, the integration system comprising: an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system including a EGR flow control device for channeling flow extracted from a turbine exhaust to an EGR return location upstream from a compressor inlet; an inlet bleed heat (IBH) system including a IBH flow control device for channeling flow extracted downstream from a compressor outlet to a IBH return location upstream from the compressor inlet; and a controller communicatively coupled to the EGR flow control device and to the IBH flow control device, wherein the controller variably adjusts a relative flow rates of the EGR system and the IBH system.
  2. 2. The integration system in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the EGR flow control device is at least one of a pump, blower, or ejector.
  3. 3. The integration system in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the IBH flow control device is a control valve.
  4. 4. The integration system in accordance with Claim 1 , wherein the IBH is reintroduced at the IBH return location through an IBH manifold.
  5. 5. The integration system in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the integration system further comprises a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature upstream from the compressor inlet.
  6. 6. The integration system in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine an icing event using data received from at least a temperature sensor.
  7. 7. The integration system in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the integration system further includes a pressure sensor configured to detect operating pressure downstream from the compressor outlet.
  8. 8. The integration system in accordance with Claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a potential compressor surge event based on data received from a pressure sensor.
  9. 9. A power generation system comprising: a compressor for compressing a working fluid; a combustor; and an integration system for use with a turbine, the integration system comprising: an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) sy stem including an EGR flow control device for use in channeling flow extracted from an exhaust of the combustor to an EGR return location upstream from an inlet of the compressor; an inlet bleed heat (IBH) system including a IBH flow control device for use in channeling flow extracted downstream from an outlet of the compressor to a IBH return location upstream from the inlet of the compressor; and a controller communicatively coupled to the EGR flow control device and the IBH flow control device, wherein the controller selectively adjusts a relative flow rates of the EGR system and the IBH system.
  10. 10. The power generation system in accordance with Claim 9, wherein the EGR flow control device is at least one of a pump, a blower, or an ejector.
  11. 1 1 . The power generation system in accordance with Claim 9, wherein the IBH flow control device is a control valve.
  12. 12. The power generation system in accordance with Claim 9, wherein the IBH is reintroduced at the IBH return location through an IBH manifold.
  13. 13. The power generation system in accordance with Claim 9, wherein the integration system further comprises a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature upstream from the compressor inlet.
  14. 14. The power generation system in accordance with Claim 9, wherein the integration system further includes a pressure sensor configured to detect operating pressure downstream from the compressor outlet.
  15. 15. The power generation system in accordance with Claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to determine a potential compressor surge event based on data received from a pressure sensor.
  16. 16. A method of using an integration system for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising: receiving sensor data from a plurality of sensors coupled at various locations within the integration system; determining a current operating condition based on received sensor data; and adjusting at least one of a flow parameter of an EGR system, and a flow parameter of an IBH system to facilitate improving an operating efficiency of the gas turbine engine.
  17. 17. The method in accordance with Claim 16, wherein adjusting at least one of a flow parameter of an EGR system further comprises transmitting a signal to a EGR flow control device indicative of a flow rate.
  18. 18. The method in accordance with Claim 16, wherein receiving sensor data further comprising receiving temperature data from a temperature sensor located upstream from a compressor.
  19. 19. The method in accordance with Claim 16, wherein receiving sensor data further comprising receiving pressure data from a pressure sensor located downstream from a compressor.
  20. 20. The method in accordance with Claim 16, wherein adjusting at least one of a flow parameter of an EGR system further comprises: heating working fluid upstream from a compressor; and adjusting a flow parameter of the IBH system to prevent compressor surge.

Description

GAS TURBINE ENGINES AND METHODS OF HEATING COMPRESSOR WORKING FLUID BACKGROUND [1] The field of the disclosure relates generally to turbine engine assemblies and more particularly, to methods and systems for heating compressor inlet air to facilitate improved gas turbine engine efficiency. [2] Gas turbines are widely used in a variety of commercial operations, such as power generation operations. Known gas turbines generally include a compressor, one or more combustors, and a turbine. Conventionally, the compressor compresses a working fluid, e.g., air, and discharges the compressed working fluid to the combustors. Fuel is injected into the flow of compressed working fluid and the mixture is ignited to produce combustion gases having a relatively high temperature, pressure, and velocity. The combustion gases exit the combustors and flow to the turbine where they expand to produce work which may be converted into electrical and/or mechanical power. [3] Working fluid entering an inlet, e.g., an inlet transition duct or a filter housing, of a compressor may be heated to prevent icing when operating in lower temperature environments, for example. Inlet working fluid may also be heated to improve the part or partial load efficiency of the gas turbine. In some gas turbines, compressed working fluid may be extracted from an extraction location near an outlet of the compressor and recirculated to heat the inlet working fluid using a system that is conventionally referred to as an inlet bleed heat system. However, known inlet bleed heat systems reduce the overall operating efficiency of the associated gas turbine engine as at least some of the compressed working fluid that would otherwise be routed to doing work in the turbine is extracted and recirculated to the inlet. [4] Accordingly, a need exists for systems and methods that more efficiently heat inlet working fluid prior to entering the compressor inlet in a manner that facilitates reducing the overall losses in turbine efficiency. SUMMARY [5] In one aspect, an integration system for use with a turbine is provided. The integration system includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system including a EGR flow control device for channeling flow extracted from a turbine exhaust to an EGR return location upstream from a compressor inlet and an inlet bleed heat (IBH) system including a IBH flow control device for channeling flow extracted downstream from a compressor outlet to a IBH return location upstream from the compressor inlet. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the EGR flow control device and to the IBH flow control device, wherein the controller variably adjusts a relative flow rates of the EGR system and the IBH system. [6] In another aspect, a power generation system is provided. The power generation system includes a compressor for compressing working fluid, a combustor, and an integration system. The integration system includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system including a EGR flow control device for channeling flow extracted from a turbine exhaust to an EGR return location upstream from a compressor inlet and an inlet bleed heat (IBH) system including a IBH flow control device for channeling flow extracted downstream from a compressor outlet to a IBH return location upstream from the compressor inlet. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the EGR flow control device and to the IBH flow control device, wherein the controller variably adjusts a relative flow rates of the EGR system and the IBH system. [7] In yet another aspect, a method of using an integration system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes receiving sensor data from a plurality of sensors coupled at various locations within the integration system, determining a current operating condition based on received sensor data, and adjusting at least one of a flow parameter of an EGR system, and a flow parameter of an IBH system to facilitate improving an operating efficiency of the gas turbine engine. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [8] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: [9] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary power generation system including a gas turbine engine and an integrated efficiency (IE) system. [10] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary integrated efficiency system including an inlet bleed heat (IBH) system that may be used with the power generation system shown in FIG. 1, for example. [11] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of another exemplary integrated efficiency system that may be used with the power generation system shown in FIG. 1, for example, and including the IBH system and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system.