# US 8,465,573 B2 · System and method for conditioning air flow to a gas turbine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,573 B2 - Document ID: US8465573B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/253,273 - Filed: 2011-10-05 - Published: 2013-04-11 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-05 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: Michael Adelbert Sullivan; Huong Van Vu; Bhalchandra Arun Desai; Eric M. Lafontaine; Mark Andrew Cournoyer - Inventors: Michael Adelbert Sullivan; Huong Van Vu; Bhalchandra Arun Desai; Eric M. Lafontaine; Mark Andrew Cournoyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465573B2 ## CPC - F02C 7/05: having provisions for obviating the penetration of damaging objects or particles - F02C 7/143: before or between the compressor stages - F28F 13/14: by endowing the walls of conduits with zones of different degrees of conduction of heat - F05D 2250/70: Shape - F05D 2250/71: curved - F05D 2300/522: Density - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A system for conditioning air flow to a gas turbine includes a filter housing and a conditioning media inside the filter housing to adjust the temperature of the air flowing through the filter housing. At least one of a depth or a density of the conditioning media varies across the filter housing. A method for conditioning air flow to a gas turbine includes flowing air through a filter housing connected to the gas turbine and flowing the air across a conditioning media in the filter housing. The method further includes conditioning the air flow to reduce the temperature difference of the air exiting the filter housing across a dimension of the filter housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for conditioning air flow to a gas turbine, comprising: a. a filter housing that defines a cross-section for air flow; b. a conditioning media inside the filter housing that extends radially across the cross-section to adjust the temperature of the air flowing through the filter housing; c. a depth of the conditioning media; d. a density of the conditioning media; e. wherein at least one of the depth or the density of the conditioning media varies across the cross-section of the filter housing to reduce a temperature difference of the air flow across the cross-section of the filter housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein the depth of the conditioning media increases substantially linearly across the cross-section of the filter housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein the depth of the conditioning media increases greater than substantially linearly across the cross-section of the filter housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein the depth of the conditioning media increases in step changes across the cross-section of the filter housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein the density of the conditioning media increases substantially linearly across the cross-section of the filter housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein the density of the conditioning media increases in step changes across the cross-section of the filter housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, further comprising a transition piece connected to the filter housing downstream from the conditioning media, wherein at least one of the depth or the density of the conditioning media increases proximate to the transition piece. ### Claim 8 A system for conditioning air flow to a gas turbine, comprising: a. a filter housing that defines a path for air flow to the gas turbine; b. an inlet to the filter housing, wherein the inlet defines a first cross-section for air flow into the filter housing; c. an outlet to the filter housing downstream from the inlet, wherein the outlet defines a second cross-section for air flow out of the filter housing, wherein the second cross-section is smaller than the first cross-section; d. a conditioning media that extends radially across the filter housing between the inlet and the outlet to adjust the temperature of the air flowing from the inlet to the outlet; e. a depth of the conditioning media; f. a density of the conditioning media; g. wherein at least one of the depth or the density of the conditioning media varies across the filter housing to reduce a temperature difference of the air flow across the second cross-section of the filter housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system as in claim 8, wherein the depth of the conditioning media increases substantially linearly across the filter housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system as in claim 8, wherein the depth of the conditioning media increases greater than substantially linearly across the filter housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system as in claim 8, wherein the depth of the conditioning media increases in step changes across the filter housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system as in claim 8, wherein the density of the conditioning media increases substantially linearly across the filter housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system as in claim 8, wherein the density of the conditioning media increases in step changes across the filter housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system as in claim 8, further comprising a transition piece connected to the outlet downstream from the conditioning media, wherein at least one of the depth or the density of the conditioning media increases proximate to the transition piece. ### Claim 15 A method for conditioning air flow to a gas turbine, comprising: a. flowing air through a filter housing connected to the gas turbine; and b. flowing the air across at least one of a varying depth or a varying density of a conditioning media in the filter housing; c. conditioning the air flow to reduce the temperature difference of the air exiting the filter housing across a dimension of the filter housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as in claim 15, further comprising producing a desired temperature profile of the air flow to the gas turbine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method as in claim 15, further comprising increasing the depth of the conditioning media across the filter housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method as in claim 15, further comprising increasing the depth of the conditioning media substantially linearly across the filter housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method as in claim 15, further comprising increasing the density of the conditioning media across the filter housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method as in claim 15, further comprising increasing the density of the conditioning media substantially linearly across the filter housing.