Air turbine cycle
AssigneeGeneral Electic Company
InventorsEdgar D. Alderson, William M. Farrell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The use of hot gas generators which produce corrosive or abrasive products of combustion have precluded the use of gas turbines in a direct flow path of the combustion products. It is preferable to utilize non-contact gas to gas heat exchangers in order to transfer heat from a hot gas stream to a working fluid. A first heat exchanger connected to a gas furnace is used to raise the temperature of an air turbine inlet gas. A second heat exchanger is used to raise the temperature (prewarm) of compressor discharge air to the air turbine air inlet, the second heat exchanger connected to the air turbine exhaust. A third heat exchanger preheats the air input into a furnace.
Claims1
An air turbine cycle comprising:
- an air turbine having an inlet and an exhaust;
- at least two main compressors for supplying air to the air turbine inlet;
- the air turbine drivingly connected, in tandem, to the main compressors;
- an intercooler connected between the at least two main compressors;
- means for generating a hot exhaust gas stream;
- a first heat exchanger for heating the air supply to the air turbine inlet;
- the first heat exchanger connected to the means for generating a hot exhaust gas stream and the air supply whereby hot air is supplied to the air turbine;
- a second heat exchanger for preheating the air supply to the air turbine inlet;
- the second heat exchanger connected to the air turbine exhaust for passing hot turbine exhaust in heat exchange relationship with the air supply;
- a third heat exchanger for preheating a second air supply connected to the means for generating a hot exhaust gas stream;
- the third heat exchanger connected to the hot exhaust gas outlet of the first heat exchanger;
- and,
- a boost compressor for supplying the second air supply connected to the means for generating a hot exhaust gas stream;
- the air turbine drivingly connected to the boost compressor and the main air compressors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.