Utilizing inlet bleed heat to improve mixing and engine turndown

A method of providing increased turndown capability to a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:

• directing a supply of compressed air from a compressed air source into a supply conduit where a portion of the supply conduit is positioned within an inlet of the gas turbine engine;
• distributing the supply of compressed air from the supply conduit to a plurality of feed tubes;
• and,
• injecting the supply of compressed air from each of the feed tubes, through a plurality of injection orifices, into a flow of inlet air, the injection orifices positioned generally normal to the flow of inlet air such that the supply of compressed air, upon injection, initially travels in a direction generally opposite to the flow of inlet air, then turns and travels in a direction generally with the flow of inlet air, such that the supply of compressed air travels around each of the feed tubes.

A gas turbine engine comprising:

• a compressor;
• one or more combustion systems in fluid communication with the compressor;
• a turbine coupled to the compressor and in fluid communication with the one or more combustion systems;
• and,
• one or more inlets in fluid communication with the compressor, the one or more inlets comprising:
• a housing;
• a plurality of generally axially extending baffles;
• a supply conduit extending generally longitudinally across the housing;
• a plurality of feed tubes having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of injection orifices, with the first end of the feed tubes coupled to the supply conduit and extending in a generally perpendicular direction from the supply conduit;
• and,
• a guide tube oriented generally parallel to the supply conduit, the guide tube having a plurality of openings for receiving the second end of the plurality of feed tubes;
• wherein the supply conduit, the plurality of feed tubes, and the guide tube are positioned adjacent to the plurality of generally axially extending baffles and the plurality of injection orifices are oriented in a direction generally towards a flow of air passing through the one or more inlets.