# US 2021/0277825 A1 · Methods of Modifying Existing Gas Turbine Engine Design to Create a Combined Storage Engine and Simple Cycle Peaker Product > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0277825 A1 - Document ID: US20210277825A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/191,450 - Filed: 2021-03-03 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-09 - Assignees: T-Phase Engine LLC - Applicants: T-Phase Engine LLC - Inventors: Robert J. Kraft; Joshua J. Kraft - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210277825A1 ## CPC - F02C 6/16: for storing compressed air - F01D 15/10: Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators - F05D 2230/80: Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods - F05D 2240/40: Use of a multiplicity of similar components - F05D 2240/52: Axial thrust bearings - F05D 2260/42: Storage of energy - Y02E 60/16: Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A method of modifying an existing gas turbine to create a storage engine, the gas turbine having a combustor, a compressor section, and a turbine section, the method comprising modifying the compressor section of the gas turbine to form the storage engine such that air supplied to the combustor of the storage engine is heated by exhaust of the storage engine and is supplied from a remote source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of modifying an existing gas turbine to create a storage engine, the gas turbine having a combustor, a compressor section, and a turbine section, the method comprising modifying the compressor section of the gas turbine to form the storage engine such that air supplied to the combustor of the storage engine is heated by exhaust of the storage engine and is supplied from a remote source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 where the remote source of air is a compressed air storage tank. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 where the remote source of air is a combination of a compressed air storage tank and low pressure compressors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 where the remote source of air includes low pressure compressors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where modifying the compressor section includes removing rotating blades of the compressor and introducing an increased capacity thrust bearing on a shaft line. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 where compressor stators are not modified. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 where compressor stators are modified and airfoil stators are replaced with struts. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 where a compressor stator airfoil and an inner diameter portion are completely removed, leaving just the outer diameter flowpath. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 where compressor rotating airfoil platforms are extended both forward and aft to create an inner diameter flowpath. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where modifying the compressor section includes removing compressor rotating blades and introducing thrust disk on the shaft line. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 where compressor stators are not modified. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 where compressor stators are modified and airfoil stators are replaced with struts. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 where a compressor stator airfoil and an inner diameter portion are completely removed, leaving just the outer diameter flowpath. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 where the compressor rotating airfoil platforms are extended both forward and aft to create the inner diameter flowpath. ### Claim 15 A method of modifying an existing gas turbine to create a storage engine, the gas turbine having a combustor, a compressor section, and a turbine section, the method comprising modifying the compressor section of the gas turbine to form the storage engine such that air supplied to the combustor of the storage engine is heated by exhaust of the storage engine and is supplied from a remote source and a cooling air supply for later stages in the turbine section is supplied from air that is from the remote source and is heated by the exhaust of the storage engine to a temperature lower than the temperature of air being introduced into the combustor of the storage engine. ### Claim 16 A method of modifying an existing gas turbine to create a storage engine, the storage engine having at least a substantially unmodified gas turbine combustor and turbine section and a modified compressor section such that air supplied to the combustor of the storage engine is heated by exhaust of the storage engine and is supplied from a remote source and the cooling air supply for later stages in the turbine section is supplied from air that is from the remote source and heated by the exhaust of the storage engine to the same temperature as the temperature of the air being introduced into the combustor of the storage engine, but then blended with cooler air from the remote source to form a supply of cooling air the later stages of the turbine section that is cooler than the air entering the storage engine's combustion section. ### Claim 17 A method comprising modifying an existing gas turbine to create a storage engine, the storage engine having a substantially unmodified gas turbine combustor and turbine section and a modified compressor section such that air supplied to the combustor of the storage engine is heated by exhaust of the storage engine and is supplied from a combination of stored air in a tank and a fueled engine driven compressor such that when the storage engine is not in operation, the fueled engine driven compressor can be run independently of the storage engine and be used to pre-heat the storage engine to reduce start up time. ### Claim 18 A method comprising modifying an existing gas turbine to create a storage engine, the storage engine having a substantially unmodified gas turbine combustor and turbine section and a modified compressor section such that air supplied to the combustor of the storage engine is heated by exhaust of the storage engine and is supplied from a combination of stored air in a tank and electric driven compressors and fuel driven compressors such that the fueled engine driven compressor can be run independently of the storage engine to generate power. ### Claim 19 A method comprising modifying an existing gas turbine to create a storage engine, the storage engine having a substantially unmodified gas turbine combustor and turbine section and a modified compressor section such that air supplied to the combustor of the storage engine is heated by exhaust of the storage engine and is supplied from a combination of stored air in a tank and real time running low pressure compressors, the method further comprising injecting water generated during an intercooling processor of the compressor into the storage engine when the storage engine is operational to generate additional power from the storage engine.