Loading patent…
AssigneeCarolina Power & Light Company
InventorsThomas L. Davis, John P. Shell, Todd W. Beadle, Keith S. McAllister, Alexander O. Hobbs
Estimating the term…
The operational capacity and efficiency of a combustion turbine is increased by treating the turbine inlet air to increase its density. The inlet air treatment is achieved in a columnar tower with the inlet air being drawn in at the top of the tower. Treatment water is injected into the tower at a downward velocity greater than that of the inlet air to establish a vertically descending, two-phase co-current flow of inlet air and treatment water. The system utilizes the natural phenomenon of drag-induced pressure boost to the air achieved by the difference in the relative velocities of the inlet air and the treatment water in the co-current flow. By utilizing a cold treatment water, for example at 32.degree.-40.degree. F., the tower creates a direct contact heat transfer situation that cools the inlet air, thereby further increasing its density. The invention serves to increase the operational capacity and efficiency of existing or new peaking combustion turbines at a cost per kW that is substantially less than that of installing new peaking combustion turbine capacity, while also permitting enhanced load following capabilities for the electric utility's control center.
A method of increasing the operational capacity and efficiency of a combustion turbine system having a compressor, combustor and turbine generator by treatment of the inlet air prior to its introduction into the compressor, said method comprising the steps of:
A method of increasing the operational capacity and efficiency of a peaking gas turbine system having a compressor, combustor and turbine generator operating in ambient weather conditions over about 80.degree. F. by both cooling and compressing the inlet air to increase its density prior to its introduction into the compressor, said method comprising the steps of:
A method of increasing the operational capacity and efficiency of a combustion turbine system having a compressor, combustor and turbine generator by both cooling and compressing the inlet air to increase its density prior to its introduction into the compressor, said method being characterized by the utilization of multiple operational parameters that may be controlled and adjusted to achieve the desired increase in inlet air density, said method comprising the steps of:
A method of enhancing the load following capabilities of an electric utility having a base load generating capacity and also having peaking combustion turbine systems available for rapid deployment to modulate the utility's power generation level to match the level required by a power pool or like arrangement, said method comprising the step of expanding the operational capacity and associated turn down ratio of the peaking combustion turbine systems by providing the utility's control center with the capability to increase the density of the inlet air to the compressors of the systems through cooling and compression of the inlet air in amounts and at times determined necessary by the control center, said expanding of the operational capacity and associated turn down ratio being achieved at selected times by treating the turbine inlet air prior to its introduction into the compressor of the turbine system, the method of treating the inlet air comprising the steps of (I) establishing a vertically descending flow of inlet air;
A tower structure for use in providing a pressure boost to the inlet air for the compressor of a combustion turbine system, said tower structure comprising:
An inlet air treatment system for increasing the operational capacity and efficiency of a combustion turbine system having a compressor, combustor and turbine generator by treatment of the inlet air to increase its density prior to its introduction into the compressor said inlet air treatment system comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.