Steam-augmented gas turbine

A steam-augmented engine system, comprising:

• compression means for receiving ambient air and discharging a first compressed air flow mass;
• first combustion means for receiving said first compressed air flow mass, a predetermined quantity of fuel, a predetermined quantity of modified water and a first predetermined quantity of water-steam mass, and for generating a first combustion product therefrom;
• heat exchange means for producing said first predetermined quantity of water-steam mass and a second predetermined quantity of water-steam mass;
• first expansion means for receiving and expanding said first combustion product from said first combustion means to generate a first power output for powering said compression means and for discharging an expanded combustion product as a second power output;
• second combustion means for receiving said second power output, a predetermined quantity of fuel and said second predetermined quantity of water-steam mass from said heat exchange means, and for generating a second combustion product therefrom;
• second expansion means for receiving and expanding said second combustion product from said second combustion means to generate a third power output and for discharging an exhaust product, said exhaust product being discharged to said heat exchange means;
• regulating means for regulating said compressed air flow mass, said fuel, said modified water and said first predetermined quantity of water-steam mass introduced into said first combustion means and for regulating said second power output, said fuel and said second predetermined quantity of water-steam mass introduced into said second combustion means, said first and second combustion means operating along a predetermined power profile, such that said second combustion means produces a stoichiometric combustion at a predetermined point of said predetermined power profile;
• and
• water purifying means for receiving water, modifying said water to produce said modified water and for discharging a first portion of the modified water to said heat exchange means,
• wherein said water purifying means is coupled to said first combustion means for providing said modified water thereto, said modified water provided to said first combustion means being a second portion of said modified water produced by said water modifying means,
• a mass flow of said first expansion means being substantially constant from a Cheng point to a stoichiometric point of said predetermined power profile, said Cheng point being a point of maximum thermal efficiency.

A method of generating power, the method comprising the following steps:

• compressing air to produce a first compressed air flow mass;
• modifying water, including desalinating the water to produce a modified water and discharging a first portion of the modified water to heat exchange means;
• producing a first predetermined quantity of water-steam mass and a second predetermined quantity of water-steam mass in said heat exchange means;
• providing said first compressed air flow mass to a first combustion means along with a predetermined quantity of fuel, a predetermined quantity of said modified water and said first predetermined quantity of water-steam mass, and generating a first combustion product therefrom;
• expanding said first combustion product and discharging an expanded combustion product as a first power output;
• receiving in a second combustion means said first power output, a predetermined quantity of fuel and said second predetermined quantity of water-steam mass from said heat exchange means, and generating a second combustion product therefrom;
• expanding said second combustion product to generate a second power output and discharging an exhaust product to said heat exchange means;
• and
• controlling said first compressed air flow mass, said fuel, said modified water and said first predetermined quantity of water-steam mass introduced into said first combustion means and regulating said first power output, said fuel and said second predetermined water-steam mass introduced into said second combustion means such that said first and second combustion means operate along a predetermined power profile and such that said second combustion means produces a stoichiometric combustion at a predetermined point of said predetermined power profile, and
• wherein a mass flow of the second power output is substantially constant from a Cheng point to said predetermined point of said predetermined power profile.

An engine comprising:

• a high pressure combustor;
• a low pressure combustor;
• a first expansion means operatively connected between the said high pressure combustor and the said low pressure combustor;
• a second expansion means operatively connected to an output of the said low pressure combustor;
• flow sensor and valve means for distributing water and steam and air to said high pressure combustor and for distributing steam to said low pressure combustor means so that the mass flow of the water, steam and air in the high-pressure combustor is held constant over output power of the engine from the Cheng point to the stoichiometric point.