Intercooled gas turbine with closed combined power cycle
AssigneeRolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
InventorsJames C. Loebig, Robert Manning
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A turbine engine includes a fan that provides an air flow to the turbine engine as compressor intake air and as compressor bypass air, a first stage compressor positioned to receive the compressor intake air and output a first stage compressed air, and a boiler positioned to cool the first stage compressed air using a fluid. A second stage compressor is positioned to receive the cooled first stage compressed air. A pump is configured to pump the fluid as a liquid into the boiler, extract energy from the first stage compressed air, and cause the cooling of the first stage compressed air.
Claims19
A method of operating a turbine engine comprising:
- providing air to the turbine engine as compressor intake air and as compressor bypass air;
- passing the compressor intake air through a first stage compressor to generate first stage compressed air;
- passing the first stage compressed air into a boiler;
- heating a coolant by passing the coolant as a liquid into the boiler to extract energy from the first stage compressed air;
- and
- passing the first stage compressed air from the boiler into a second stage compressor;
- pumping the coolant through the boiler to a heat exchanger that is heated from an exhaust stream of the turbine engine, the coolant flowing from the heat exchanger to a closed cycle turbine to cause the closed cycle turbine to rotate;
- and
- extracting energy from the rotating closed cycle turbine as auxiliary energy.
A method of manufacturing a turbine engine comprising:
- assembling a fan to provide an air flow to the turbine engine as compressor intake air and as compressor bypass air;
- positioning a first stage compressor to receive the compressor intake air and output a first stage compressed air;
- positioning a boiler to cool the first stage compressed air using a fluid;
- positioning a second stage compressor to receive the first stage compressed air from the boiler;
- configuring a pump to pump the fluid as a liquid into the boiler, such that energy is extracted from the first stage compressed air in the boiler, causing the cooling of the first stage compressed air therein;
- positioning a heat exchanger within an exhaust stream of the turbine engine;
- configuring the heat exchanger to receive the fluid from the boiler and heat the fluid with the exhaust stream prior to entering a closed cycle turbine;
- and
- configuring the closed cycle turbine to receive the fluid from the heat exchanger as one of a single-phase and a two-phase fluid, and extract auxiliary energy therefrom.
A turbine engine comprising:
- a fan that provides an air flow to the turbine engine as compressor intake air and as compressor bypass air;
- a first stage compressor positioned to receive the compressor intake air and output a first stage compressed air;
- a boiler positioned to cool the first stage compressed air using a fluid;
- a second stage compressor positioned to receive the cooled first stage compressed air;
- a pump configured to pump the fluid as a liquid into the boiler, such that the fluid in the boiler extracts energy from the first stage compressed air and causes the cooling of the first stage compressed air;
- a closed cycle turbine configured to receive the fluid from the boiler and extract auxiliary energy therefrom;
- and
- a heat exchanger positioned within an exhaust stream emitted from a turbine assembly, and positioned to receive the fluid from the boiler and heat the fluid with the exhaust stream prior to entering the closed cycle turbine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.