Reconfigurable hybrid solar gas turbine system operating in a semi-open cycle

A reconfigurable hybrid solar gas turbine system comprising:

• a turbocharger (TC) comprising a TC compressor (C1) and a TC turbine (T1) which are connected by a first turboshaft aligned along a first axis (X1);
• a gas turbine engine comprising an engine compressor (C2) and an engine turbine (T2) which are connected by a second turboshaft aligned along a second axis (X2);
• and
• a solar energy module comprising a solar collector (SC1);
• wherein
• the gas turbine engine further comprises a burner (B1), a mixer (M1), an engine generator (G2) and a flow control valve;
• and
• the system operates in a semi-open cycle, in which
• the TC receives inlet air from an ambient environment and emits exhaust gas to the ambient environment;
• the burner (B1) receives a pressurized air mass flow from the TC and an input fuel mass flow;
• the burner (B1) is in fluid communication with the mixer (M1) and with the flow control valve;
• the mixer combines a first flow of hot gas from the burner (B1) and a second flow of hot gas heated by solar energy collected by the solar collector (SC1) to form a combined gas flow;
• the engine turbine (T2) receives the combined gas flow from the mixer, and engine generator (G2) produces electrical power;
• the flow control valve is in fluid communication with the solar energy module;
• and
• a position of the flow control valve determines a mass flow mixing ratio between the first and second flows of hot gas thereby reconfiguring the system in response to fluctuations in a solar irradiance received by the solar collector (SC1).