Inlet bleed heat and power augmentation for a gas turbine engine

A gas turbine engine comprising:

• an air inlet;
• a compressor in fluid communication with the inlet, the compressor for compressing air from the inlet;
• a compressor discharge plenum;
• at least one combustor for generating hot combustion gases in fluid communication with the compressor discharge plenum;
• a turbine in fluid communication with the at least one combustor, the turbine for converting the hot combustion gases into mechanical work to drive the compressor and an electrical generator, which are coupled to the turbine by a shaft;
• a bi-directional flowing pipe system comprising:
• a manifold having a plurality of feed pipes in fluid communication therewith, the feed pipes also in fluid communication with the compressor discharge plenum;
• a supply pipe in fluid communication with the manifold;
• a steam pipe coupled to the supply pipe and in fluid communication with a steam source, the steam pipe having a steam isolation valve and a steam control valve;
• and,
• an inlet pipe coupled to the supply pipe and in fluid communication with the inlet, the inlet pipe having an inlet bleed heat isolation valve and an inlet bleed heat control valve.

A method of providing heated compressed air to a gas turbine engine inlet comprising:

• providing a gas turbine engine comprising a compressor for compressing air, at least one combustor for generating hot combustion gases, and a turbine coupled to the compressor for converting the energy from the combustor into work;
• providing a piping system comprising a manifold, a supply pipe coupled to the manifold, a steam pipe coupled to the supply pipe, the steam pipe having a steam isolation valve and a steam control valve, and an inlet pipe coupled to the supply pipe, the inlet pipe having an inlet bleed heat isolation valve and an inlet bleed heat control valve;
• providing a steam source to the gas turbine engine;
• closing a control valve and isolation valve in a steam pipe;
• opening a control valve and isolation valve in an inlet pipe such that heated compressed air from the compressor discharge plenum flows through the feed tubes to the manifold, the supply pipe, and the inlet pipe to the inlet;
• mixing the heated compressed air received from the compressor discharge plenum with external air drawn into the inlet;
• and
• directing the air mixture through the inlet and into the compressor.

A method of providing power augmentation to a gas turbine engine comprising:

• providing a gas turbine engine comprising a compressor for compressing air, at least one combustor for generating hot combustion gases, and a turbine coupled to the compressor for converting the energy from the combustor into work;
• providing a piping system comprising a manifold, a supply pipe coupled to the manifold, a steam pipe coupled to the supply pipe, the steam pipe having a steam isolation valve and a steam control valve, and an inlet pipe coupled to the supply pipe, the inlet pipe having an inlet bleed heat isolation valve and an inlet bleed heat control valve;
• providing a steam source to the gas turbine engine;
• closing the control valve and isolation valve in the inlet pipe;
• opening the control valve and isolation valve in the steam pipe such that steam from the steam source flows from the steam source through the steam pipe to a supply pipe, to a manifold, and through a plurality of feed tubes to a compressor discharge plenum;
• mixing the steam and air from the compressor in the compressor discharge plenum;
• flowing the steam and air from the compressor discharge plenum through the at least one combustor so as to provide additional working fluid at a lower reaction temperature, thereby increasing the engine output.