Gas turbine inlet system and method

A method of controlling the inlet pressure drop through an inlet system for a gas turbomachine, the method comprising:

• establishing an operating mode for the gas turbomachine;
• and
• adjusting a throttling system provided in a duct member of the inlet system to control the inlet pressure to the gas turbomachine based on the operating mode;
• wherein adjusting the throttling system includes selectively shifting a plurality of louvers arranged in the duct member between a first, low pressure drop position, and a second, high pressure drop position,
• wherein adjusting the throttling system includes selectively shifting a restrictor member arranged in the duct member between a first, low pressure drop position, and a second, high pressure drop position;
• and
• wherein adjusting the throttling system includes selectively inflating a flow restriction device arranged in the duct member between a first, low pressure drop position, and a second, high pressure drop position.

A gas turbomachine comprising:

• a compressor portion having a compressor inlet;
• a turbine portion mechanically coupled to the compressor portion;
• a combustor assembly fluidically connected to the compressor portion and the turbine portion;
• and
• an inlet system fluidically connected to the compressor inlet, the inlet system comprising:
• a duct member having an inlet portion fluidically coupled to an outlet portion through an intermediate portion, the inlet portion, outlet portion, and intermediate portion defining a fluid flow zone, the duct member being separate from the gas turbomachine and connected to the gas turbomachine at the compressor;
• and
• at least one throttling system arranged in the duct member at one of the inlet portion, outlet portion, and intermediate portion, the at least one throttling system being configured and disposed to selectively establish a pressure drop through the fluid flow zone, and one of the at least one throttling system includes an inflatable diaphragm.

A gas turbomachine inlet system, the gas turbomachine inlet system comprising a gas turbomachine that comprises a compressor, a turbine and a combustor, the gas turbomachine inlet system comprising:

• a duct member having an inlet portion fluidically coupled to an outlet portion through an intermediate portion, the inlet portion, outlet portion and intermediate portion defining a fluid flow zone, the duct member being separate from the gas turbomachine and connected to the gas turbomachine at the compressor;
• and
• a throttling system arranged in the duct member at one of the inlet portion, outlet portion, and intermediate portion, the throttling system being configured and disposed to selectively establish a pressure drop through the fluid flow zone;
• wherein the throttling system includes a plurality of louvers arranged at the inlet portion of the duct member, the plurality of louvers each of the plurality of louvers includes a center pivot defining a pivot axis and being configured to be selectively shiftable between a first, low pressure drop position that provides a substantially unrestricted inlet zone of the duct member and a second, high pressure drop position that provides a substantially restricted inlet zone of the duct member;
• wherein the throttling system includes a plurality of louvers arranged at the intermediate portion of the duct member, the plurality of louvers being configured to be selectively shiftable between a first, low pressure drop position that provides a substantially unrestricted flow path through the intermediate portion and a second, high pressure drop position that provides a substantially restricted flow path through the intermediate portion;
• wherein the throttling system includes a restrictor member mounted along the intermediate portion of the duct member, the restrictor member being configured and disposed to be selectively shiftable between a first, low pressure drop position and a second, high pressure drop position;
• wherein the throttling system includes a flow restriction device positioned at the outlet portion of the duct member, the flow restriction device being configured and disposed to move between a first, low pressure drop position that provides a substantially unrestricted outlet zone of the duct member and a second, high pressure drop position that provides a substantially restricted outlet zone of the duct member, the flow restriction device extends about an inner perimeter of the outlet portion of the duct member and the flow restriction device comprises an inflatable diaphragm.