External blower motor and starting motor for a combustion turbine system

Abstract

A combustion turbine system of this invention includes a compressor, a combustor, a turbine section, an external blower, an electrical generator and a prime mover for powering the blower and the compressor. The compressor produces a compressed air that mixes with fuel in the combustor to produce a hot gas. This hot gas is sent through the turbine section of the combustion turbine system to drive a rotor. The electrical generator may be coupled to the rotor, so that rotation of the rotor causes operation of the electrical generator. The rotor may also be coupled to the compressor, so that the rotation of the rotor also drives the compressor. The blower of this invention is external to the generator and provides a cooling medium for the electrical generator. The prime mover is coupled to the external blower so that it can power the blower and provide the cooling medium for the electrical generator. In addition, the prime mover is selectively connectable to the rotor, so that it can turn the rotor. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the prime mover is an electrical motor. The prime mover can turn the rotor when the combustion turbine is not producing sufficient hot gas to turn the rotor, for example when the combustion turbine is being started. After the combustion turbine has been started and provides a sufficient amount of hot gas to drive the compressor, the prime mover for the rotor is no longer needed and can be disconnected from the rotor and the turbine section can act as the prime mover for the rotor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.