US 7,966,802 B2 · Methods and apparatus for operating gas turbine engine systems

Abstract

Methods and systems for operating a gas turbine engine system are provided. The system includes a fuel control system. The fuel control system includes a plurality of sensors positioned about the gas turbine engine system and configured to measure at least one parameter associated with the sensor, and a processor programmed to receive a signal from at least one of the plurality of sensors indicative of a composition of the fuel. The processor is further programmed to determine the physical properties of a fuel at an inlet to the flow control devices using a flow model and the at least one signal, determine a corresponding correction to a gas fuel flow gain using the determined physical properties, and automatically control fuel delivery as well as fuel split between the fuel injection points on the combustor using the adjusted flow gain to facilitate permitting a relatively large variation in the fuel composition for use in the gas turbine engine.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A gas turbine engine system comprising:

an electrical generator configured to provide electrical energy to a load;
a gas turbine engine comprising at least one combustor including a plurality of fuel injection points configured to receive a flow of fuel from a plurality of corresponding flow control devices;
and
a fuel control system comprising:
a plurality of sensors positioned about the gas turbine engine system and configured to measure at least one parameter associated with the sensor;
and
a processor programmed to:
receive a signal from at least one of the plurality of sensors indicative of a composition of the fuel;
using the at least one fuel composition signal and a flow model that represents a water vapor content of the fuel to determine the physical properties of a fuel at an inlet to the flow control devices;
determine a corresponding correction to a gas fuel flow gain using the determined physical properties;
and
automatically control fuel delivery and fuel split between the fuel injection points on the combustor using the determined flow gain to facilitate permitting a relatively large variation in the fuel composition for use in the gas turbine engine.

9 more elements

A fuel control system comprising:

a fuel inlet configured to admit a flow of fuel into the fuel control system;
a fuel moisturizer coupled in flow communication with said fuel inlet through a first pipe component;
at least one flow control device configured to modulate flow to one or more injection points in a fuel control system load, said at least one flow control device coupled in flow communication with said fuel moisturizer through a second pipe component;
a plurality of sensors positioned about the fuel control system and configured to measure at least one parameter associated with the sensor;
and
a processor programmed to:
receive a signal from at least one of the plurality of sensors indicative of a composition of the fuel;
using the at least one fuel composition signal and a flow model that represents the water vapor content of the fuel to determine the physical properties of the fuel at an inlet to the flow control devices;
determine a corresponding correction to a gas fuel flow gain using the determined physical properties;
and
automatically control fuel delivery and fuel split between the fuel injection points on the combustor using the determined flow gain to facilitate permitting a relatively large variation in the fuel composition for use in the gas turbine engine.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods and apparatus for operating gas turbine engine systems

Life of this patent

Methods and apparatus for operating gas turbine engine systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20