Method and apparatus for achieving power augmentation in gas turbines via wet compression

A method for augmenting the net output of an industrial gas turbine characterized in operation by periods of continuous use exceeding about 4 hours in length in driving a generator or compressor, the industrial gas turbine having an axial-flow multistage compressor having an inlet for acquiring a working fluid comprising air, said axial-flow multistage compressor having a housing, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing liquid water comprising liquid droplets to the working fluid acquired by the axial-flow compressor to reduce the temperature increase of the working fluid caused by compression to achieve an increase in the net output of the industrial gas turbine available to drive said generator or compressor as measured against the net output of the industrial gas turbine under comparable conditions but without liquid water provided,
• said method including the further step of insuring a sufficiently uniform distribution of liquid water in the working fluid to limit angular deformation of the housing to a generally predetermined acceptable limit that prevents damage to the axial-flow multistage compressor.

A method for augmenting the net output of an industrial gas turbine characterized in operation by periods of continuous use exceeding about 4 hours in length in driving a generator or compressor, the industrial gas turbine having an axial-flow multistage compressor having an inlet for acquiring a working fluid comprising air, said axial-flow multistage compressor having a housing, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing liquid water comprising liquid droplets to the working fluid acquired by the axial-flow compressor to reduce the temperature increase of the working fluid caused by compression to achieve an increase in the net output of the industrial gas turbine available to drive said generator or compressor as measured against the net output of the industrial gas turbine under comparable conditions but without liquid water provided,
• said method including the further step of measuring angular deformation in the housing which is related to the providing of liquid water to the working fluid.

A method for augmenting the net output of a gas turbine having an axial flow multistage compressor for acquiring and compressing a working fluid comprising air, the method comprising the steps of:

• adding increasing amounts of liquid water comprising liquid droplets to the working fluid acquired by the compressor, with the mass flow rate of the liquid droplets being increased over time to avoid destructive thermal stresses within the gas turbine which are related to the providing of increased amounts of liquid water to the working fluid, and thereafter, after achieving a desired mass flow rate,
• providing liquid water comprising liquid droplets to the working fluid acquired by the compressor at a substantially constant mass flow rate over a period of continuous operation exceeding about 4 hours to augment the net output of the gas turbine by wet compression.

Apparatus comprising a gas turbine having an axial-flow multistage compressor having an inlet for acquiring a working fluid comprising air, the apparatus further comprising:

• means for providing liquid water particles to the working fluid acquired by the compressor, and
• means for providing heat and humidity to the working fluid acquired by the compressor to allow liquid water to be provided to the working fluid during periods when the temperature of the working fluid would otherwise drop to a level which would allow detrimental ice formation to occur in the inlet.

Apparatus comprising an industrial gas turbine having an axial-flow multistage compressor having an inlet for acquiring a working fluid comprising air, the apparatus further comprising:

• means for providing liquid water particles to the working fluid acquired by the compressor, and
• means for controlling angular distortion of the housing which is related to the providing of liquid water to the working fluid to a generally predetermined acceptable limit that prevents damage to the axial-flow multistage compressor.