US 2020/0256248 A1 · WIND FUNNEL AND GAS COMBUSTION TURBINE SYSTEMS INCLUDING COMPRESSION SECTIONS

Abstract

Wind funnel and gas combustion turbine systems are disclosed. Air travels through a wind funnel where it is compressed, and then flows into a compression section of a gas combustion turbine that is fueled by a hydrocarbon fuel source such as natural gas. Compressed air from the wind funnel may enter the compression section at selected locations. The compression section may have a front relatively low compression section and a downstream relatively higher compression section, and the compressed air from the wind funnel may be selectively delivered to one or both of the lower and higher compression sections. In addition, ambient air may be introduced into the lower compression section. During periods when compressed air from the wind funnel is delivered to the downstream higher compression section, the front lower compression section may be decoupled from the downstream section.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A wind funnel and gas combustion turbine system comprising:

a wind funnel comprising an inlet opening having a cross-sectional area and an outlet opening having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the inlet opening, wherein the wind funnel is inwardly tapered between the inlet opening and the outlet opening;
and
a stationary gas combustion turbine in flow communication with the wind funnel, wherein the wind funnel is structured and arranged to receive air from a wind source through the inlet opening and to discharge compressed air from the outlet opening for delivery to a compression section of the gas combustion turbine, and wherein the compressed air from the wind funnel is introduced into the compression section of the gas combustion turbine downstream from a first row of rotatable blades attached to a rotatable turbine shaft in the compression section.

A wind funnel and gas combustion turbine system comprising:

a wind funnel comprising an inlet opening having a cross-sectional area and an outlet opening having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the inlet opening, wherein the wind funnel is inwardly tapered between the inlet opening and the outlet opening;
and
a stationary gas combustion turbine in flow communication with the wind funnel, wherein the wind funnel is structured and arranged to receive air from a wind source through the inlet opening and to discharge compressed air from the outlet opening for delivery to a compression section of the gas combustion turbine, and wherein the gas compression section comprises a first compression section including an output shaft, a second compression section including an input shaft, and a turbine coupling mechanism structured and arranged to selectively engage and disengage the output and input shafts to thereby engage and disengage the first and second compression sections from each other.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wind funnel and gas combustion turbine systems including compression sections

Life of this patent

Wind funnel and gas combustion turbine systems including compression sections

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27