Gas turbine engine system with water injection
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsHerman B. Urbach, Philip Levine
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas turbine engine is energized by a controlled supply of fuel thereto for operation under regulated conditions increasing efficiency and power output per unit mass of air under pressurized flow from a compressor to which the air is supplied with water droplets at a ratio predetermined to reduce operational temperature within the turbine engine. Operational conditions are also regulated by angular adjustment of the stator blades in the turbine stages of the gas turbine engine through which the pressurized flow of combustion products is conducted, so as to maintain a maximum inlet temperature arranged to maximize part-load efficiency.
Claims8
In a gas turbine engine to which pressurized water and air is supplied by a compressor from an inlet, said turbine engine including turbine stages within which rotor and stator blades are located and to which the pressurized water and air is fed from the compressor through a combustor, the improvement residing in:
- regulational means for introduction of the water in droplet form into the air supplied to the compressor to reduce temperature therein and increase mass flow within the turbine engine;
- and means for angularly adjusting said stator blades within the turbine engine to control inflow of the water and the air from the inlet and optimize operational efficiency of the turbine engine by maximizing inlet temperature while the water is introduced to the compressor by the regulational means.
In combination with a gas turbine engine within which pressurized gas is expanded supplied thereto by a compressor and a combustor from an air inlet and a source of fuel, said turbine engine including a chamber within which rotor and stator blades are located and to which the pressurized gas is fed from the combustor, the improvement residing in:
- controller means connected to the source of fuel and the combustor for regulated supply of the fuel to energize the turbine engine with a predetermined ratio of water mixed with the air being pressurized in the compressor;
- regulational means for introducing the water in droplet form to the compressor;
- and means for angularly adjusting said stator blades within the chamber of the turbine engine, for maintaining maximum inlet temperature to optimize operational efficiency of the turbine engine while receiving the water and the air at said predetermined ratio.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.