US 8,266,883 B2Granted

Power plant start-up method and method of venting the power plant

AssigneeGeneral Electric Company

InventorsNoémie Dion Ouellet, Daniel David Snook, Lisa Anne Wichmann, Samuel David Draper, Scott Allen Rittenhouse

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Abstract

Ambient air is compressed into a compressed ambient gas flow and delivered to a turbine combustor. At least one of an exhaust port, a bypass conduit, or an extraction conduit is opened to vent the power plant. A turbine shaft is rotated at an ignition speed and a fuel stream is delivered to the turbine combustor for mixing with the compressed ambient gas flow to form a combustible mixture. The combustible mixture is burned and forms a recirculated gas flow that drives the turbine. The recirculated gas flow is recirculated using the recirculation loop. The turbine is operated at a target operating speed and then reaches substantially stoichiometric combustion. At least a portion of the recirculated gas flow is extracted using an extraction conduit that is fluidly connected to the turbine compressor.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for starting-up 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;
providing an extraction conduit that is fluidly connected to a turbine compressor;
venting the power plant by opening a vent, wherein the vent comprises at least one of the extraction conduit or an exhaust port, wherein the exhaust port is fluidly connected to a recirculation loop
rotating a turbine shaft connecting a turbine to the turbine compressor at an ignition speed;
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 from the at least one main air compressor and with at least a first portion of a recirculated gas flow from the turbine compressor to form a combustible mixture;
burning the combustible mixture in the turbine combustor and thereby forming the recirculated gas flow and driving the turbine and the turbine compressor;
recirculating the recirculated gas flow from the turbine to the turbine compressor using the recirculation loop;
operating the turbine at a target operating speed, and, if necessary, accelerating the turbine to the target operating speed by adjusting the fuel stream flow rate and the compressed ambient gas flow rate;
adjusting the fuel stream flow rate and the compressed ambient gas flow rate to reach substantially stoichiometric combustion;
and
extracting at least a second portion of the recirculated gas flow using the extraction conduit.

9 more elements

A method for starting-up 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 the master turbine combustor that is fluidly connected to the at least one main air compressor;
providing a master extraction conduit that is fluidly connected to a master turbine compressor;
venting the at least one master train by opening a master vent, wherein the master vent comprises at least one of the master extraction conduit or a master exhaust port, wherein the master exhaust port is fluidly connected to a master recirculation loop
rotating a master turbine shaft connecting a master turbine to the master turbine compressor at an ignition speed;
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 from the at least one main air compressor and with at least a first portion of a master recirculated gas flow from the master turbine compressor 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 the master turbine and the master turbine compressor;
recirculating the master recirculated gas flow from the master turbine to the master turbine compressor using the master recirculation loop;
operating the master turbine at a master target operating speed, and, if necessary, accelerating the master turbine to the master target operating speed by adjusting the master fuel stream flow rate and the master compressed ambient gas flow rate;
adjusting the master fuel stream flow rate and the master compressed ambient gas flow rate to reach substantially stoichiometric combustion;
and
extracting at least a second portion of the master recirculated gas flow using the master extraction conduit.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/217,646Filed 25 Aug 2011
Published: US 2012/0023966 A12 Feb 2012
Granted: 18 Sep 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

F02C 7/277
Mechanical drives: the starter being a separate turbine
F01D 13/02
Combinations of two or more machines or engines: working-fluid interconnection of machines or engines
F01D 19/00
Starting of machines or engines
F02C 3/36
Gas-turbine plants characterised by the use of combustion products as the working fluid: open cycles