Power plant and control method
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorKarl Dean Minto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Ambient air is compressed into a compressed ambient gas flow with a main air compressor. The compressed ambient gas flow having a compressed ambient gas flow rate is delivered to a turbine combustor and mixed with a fuel stream having a fuel stream flow rate and a portion of a recirculated gas flow to form a combustible mixture. The combustible mixture is burned and forms the recirculated gas flow that drives a turbine. The recirculated gas flow is recirculated from the turbine to the turbine compressor using a recirculation loop. At least one emission level is measured by at least a first emission sensor in the recirculated gas flow and at least a first control signal is generated. The fuel stream flow rate is adjusted based on the at least a first control signal to achieve substantially stoichiometric combustion.
Claims20
A method for controlling a stoichiometric exhaust gas recirculation power plant arrangement, comprising the steps of:
- compressing ambient air into a compressed ambient gas flow with at least one main air compressor;
- delivering at least a first portion of the compressed ambient gas flow, with a compressed ambient gas flow rate, to a turbine combustor that is fluidly connected to the at least one main air compressor via a turbine compressor bypass conduit;
- delivering a fuel stream, having a fuel stream flow rate, to the turbine combustor for mixing with the at least a first portion of the compressed ambient gas flow and with at least a first portion of a recirculated gas flow to form a combustible mixture;
- burning the combustible mixture in the turbine combustor and thereby forming the recirculated gas flow and driving a turbine connected to a turbine compressor via a turbine shaft;
- recirculating the recirculated gas flow from the turbine to the turbine compressor using a recirculation loop;
- measuring at least one emission level by at least a first emission sensor in the recirculated gas flow;
- using the at least one emission level measured by the at least a first emission sensor to generate at least a first control signal;
- and
- adjusting the fuel stream flow rate based on the at least a first control signal to achieve substantially stoichiometric combustion.
A method for controlling at least one master train of a stoichiometric exhaust gas recirculation power plant arrangement, comprising the steps of:
- compressing ambient air into a compressed ambient gas flow with at least one main air compressor;
- delivering at least a first portion of the compressed ambient gas flow, with a master compressed ambient gas flow rate, to a master turbine combustor that is fluidly connected to the at least one main air compressor via a master turbine compressor bypass conduit;
- delivering a master fuel stream, having a master fuel stream flow rate, to the master turbine combustor for mixing with the at least a first portion of the compressed ambient gas flow and with at least a first portion of a master recirculated gas flow to form a master combustible mixture;
- burning the master combustible mixture in the master turbine combustor and thereby forming the master recirculated gas flow and driving a master turbine connected to a master turbine compressor via a master turbine shaft;
- recirculating the master recirculated gas flow from the master turbine to the master turbine compressor using a master recirculation loop;
- measuring at least one master emission level by at least a first master emission sensor in the master recirculated gas flow;
- using the at least one master emission level measured by the at least a first master emission sensor to generate at least a first master control signal;
- and
- adjusting the master fuel stream flow rate based on the at least a first master control signal to achieve substantially stoichiometric combustion.
A stoichiometric exhaust gas recirculation power plant arrangement, comprising:
- at least one main air compressor for compressing ambient air into a compressed ambient gas flow;
- and
- one or more gas turbine assemblies, each comprising:
- a turbine compressor bypass conduit;
- a turbine combustor, fluidly connected to the at least one main air compressor via the turbine compressor bypass conduit, for mixing at least a first portion of the compressed ambient gas flow, having a compressed ambient gas flow rate, with at least a first portion of a recirculated gas flow and a fuel stream, having a fuel stream flow rate, to form a combustible mixture and for burning the combustible mixture and forming the recirculated gas flow;
- a turbine connected to the turbine combustor and to a turbine shaft, and being arranged to be driven by the recirculated gas flow from the turbine combustor;
- a turbine compressor, fluidly connected to the turbine combustor, and connected to the turbine shaft and being arranged to be driven thereby;
- a recirculation loop for recirculating the recirculated gas flow from the turbine to the turbine compressor;
- and
- a controller, configured to adjust the fuel stream flow rate to achieve substantially stoichiometric combustion, using at least a first control signal generated by a first emission sensor measuring at least one emission level in the recirculated gas flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.