Combined water-wash and wet-compression system for a gas turbine compressor and related method

A combined water-wash and wet-compression system for a gas turbine system comprising:

• a compressor having an inlet defining a flow direction;
• a plurality of arrays of dual-function nozzles, each array having a water manifold for supplying water to the dual-function nozzles in the respective array, each dual-function nozzle comprising an ultrasonic transducer adapted to selectively produce for introduction into the compressor in a non-atomizing mode, droplets sufficiently large to impinge on components of the compressor and thereby clean said components, and, in an atomizing mode, droplets sufficiently small to bypass said components and thereby intercool said compressor.

A gas turbine system comprising a compressor, a turbine, a generator, and a combined water-wash and wet-compression system for the compressor, said combined water-wash and wet-compression comprising:

• an inlet for the compressor, said inlet defining a flow direction;
• a plurality of annular arrays of dual-function nozzles, each array connected to a water manifold and an air manifold for supplying water and air, respectively, to the dual-function nozzles in the respective array, each dual-function nozzle adapted to selectively produce for introduction into the compressor in a non-atomizing mode, droplets sufficiently large to impinge on components of the compressor and thereby clean said components, and, in an atomizing mode, droplets sufficiently small to bypass said components and thereby intercool said compressor.