Gas turbine heat recovery system and method
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorPeter Feher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas turbine system includes a gas turbine and a water circuit. The water circuit includes a supply line fluidly coupling the low pressure economizer to a low pressure water supply. A connection line fluidly couples the low pressure evaporator to the low pressure economizer. A bypass supply line extends between the connection line and a heat exchanger. A bypass return line extends from the heat exchanger and includes a first return branch and a second return branch. The first return branch extends to the supply line. The second return branch extends to the connection line. At least one first diverter valve disposed on the bypass return line. The at least one first diverter valve operable to direct the flow of water towards one or both of the supply line and the connection line.
Claims20
A method of operating a gas turbine system, the gas turbine system including a gas turbine and a water circuit in thermal communication with the gas turbine, the gas turbine having an inlet section, a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section, the exhaust section configured to receive a flow of exhaust gases from the turbine section, the method comprising:
- receiving, via a supply line, a flow of water to a low pressure economizer, the low pressure economizer disposed at least partially within the exhaust section of the gas turbine system;
- conveying, via a connection line, a first portion of the flow of water from the low pressure economizer to a low pressure evaporator, the low pressure evaporator disposed at least partially within the exhaust section upstream of the low pressure economizer with respect to the flow of exhaust gases;
- conveying, via a bypass supply line, a second portion of the flow of water to a heat exchanger in thermal communication with one or more fluids of the gas turbine;
- delivering, via a bypass return line, the second portion of the flow of water to at least one first diverter valve;
- and
- directing, via the at least one first diverter valve, the second portion of the flow of water to one or both of a first return branch of the bypass return line and a second return branch of the bypass return line, the first return branch extending between the at least one first diverter valve and the supply line, the second return branch extending between the at least one first diverter valve and the connection line.
A gas turbine system comprising:
- a gas turbine having an inlet section, a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section, the exhaust section configured to receive a flow of exhaust gases from the turbine section;
- a low pressure economizer disposed at least partially within the exhaust section;
- a low pressure evaporator disposed at least partially within the exhaust section upstream of the low pressure economizer with respect to the flow of exhaust gases;
- and
- a water circuit in thermal communication with the gas turbine at least partially via the low pressure economizer and the low pressure evaporator, the water circuit comprising:
- a supply line fluidly coupling the low pressure economizer to a low pressure water supply, wherein the water circuit receives a flow of water from the low pressure water supply via the supply line;
- a connection line fluidly coupling the low pressure evaporator to the low pressure economizer;
- a bypass supply line extending between the connection line and a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger in thermal communication with one or more fluids of the gas turbine;
- a bypass return line extending from the heat exchanger and including a first return branch and a second return branch, the first return branch extending to the supply line, the second return branch extending to the connection line;
- and
- at least one first diverter valve disposed on the bypass return line, the at least one first diverter valve operable to direct the flow of water towards one or both of the supply line and the connection line.
A combined cycle power plant (CCPP) comprising:
- a gas turbine, at least one steam turbine, and a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) thermally coupling the gas turbine and the at least one steam turbine, the gas turbine having an inlet section, a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section, the exhaust section configured to receive a flow of exhaust gases from the turbine section, the HRSG comprising:
- a low pressure economizer disposed within the exhaust section;
- a low pressure evaporator disposed within the exhaust section upstream of the low pressure economizer with respect to the flow of exhaust gases;
- and
- a water circuit in thermal communication with the gas turbine at least partially via the low pressure economizer and the low pressure evaporator, the water circuit comprising:
- a supply line fluidly coupling the low pressure economizer to a low pressure water supply, wherein the water circuit receives a flow of water from the low pressure water supply via the supply line;
- a connection line fluidly coupling the low pressure evaporator to the low pressure economizer;
- a bypass supply line extending between the connection line and a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger in thermal communication with one or more fluids of the gas turbine;
- a bypass return line extending from the heat exchanger and including a first return branch and a second return branch, the first return branch extending to the supply line, the second return branch extending to the connection line;
- and
- at least one first diverter valve disposed on the bypass return line, the at least one first diverter valve operable to direct the flow of water towards one or both of the supply line and the connection line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.