APPARATUS FOR FILTERING GAS TURBINE INLET AIR

• US 20090229468A1
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BHA Group Incorporated (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rogers, Bradley S., Roberts, James Easel, Janawitz, Jamison W., Eckhoff, Thomas Shannon
• Granted Patent: US 7,695,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 96/55
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0032 using electrostatic forces to remove particles, e.g. electret filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/02 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, having hollow filters made of flexible material
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/50 Means for discharging electrostatic potential
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/04 Ionising electrode being a wire
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/017 Combinations of electrostatic separation with other processes, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/12 characterised by separation of ionising and collecting stations
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/41 Ionising-electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/052 with dust-separation devices

Abstract

An inlet air filtration system for a gas turbine includes, in an exemplary embodiment, an air plenum, and a plurality of filter elements mounted inside the air plenum, with each filter element including a support structure. The inlet air filtration system also includes a plurality of electrodes positioned proximate the plurality of filter elements, where the electrodes are coupled to a power source which supplies a voltage to the electrodes. The voltage is sufficient to establish an electrostatic field between the electrodes and the filter elements, and at the same time, the voltage is sufficient to produce a corona discharge from the electrodes.

Claims

1. An inlet air filtration system, said inlet air filtration system comprising:

an air plenum;

a plurality of filter elements mounted inside said air plenum, each said filter element comprising a support structure; and

a plurality of electrodes positioned proximate said plurality of filter elements, each said electrodes coupled to a power source which supplies a voltage to said electrodes, said voltage sufficient to establish an electrostatic field between said electrodes and said filter elements, and said voltage sufficient to produce a corona discharge from said electrodes.

2. An inlet air filtration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said voltage is about 15 kV to about 50 kV.

3. An inlet air filtration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said voltage is about 30 kV to about 35 kV.

4. An inlet air filtration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein an amount of current applied to said filter elements is about 4.0 μ

A/ft² to about 15 μ

A/ft².

5. An inlet air filtration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein an amount of current applied to said filter elements is about 6.0 μ

A/ft² to about 10 μ

A/ft².

6. An inlet air filtration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of filter elements comprise a plurality of bag filter elements.

7. An inlet air filtration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of filter elements comprise a plurality of tube filter elements.

8. An inlet air filtration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of electrodes are positioned substantially parallel to and interspersed among said plurality of filter elements.

9. An inlet air filtration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of electrodes are positioned substantially perpendicular to and upstream from said plurality of filter elements.

10. A gas turbine apparatus, said gas turbine apparatus comprising:

a compressor;

an air inlet coupled to said compressor;

a combustor coupled to said compressor;

a turbine coupled to said combustor;

an exhaust duct coupled to said turbine;

an air plenum coupled to said air inlet; and

an air filtration system positioned in said air plenum, said air filtration system comprising;

a plurality of filter elements mounted inside said air plenum, each said filter element comprising a support structure; and

a plurality of electrodes positioned proximate said plurality of filter elements, each said electrodes coupled to a power source which supplies a voltage to said electrodes, said voltage sufficient to establish an electrostatic field between said electrodes and said filter elements, and said voltage sufficient to produce a corona discharge from said electrodes.

11. A gas turbine apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said voltage is about 15 kV to about 50 kV.

12. A gas turbine apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said voltage is about 30 kV to about 35 kV.

13. A gas turbine apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein an amount of current applied to said filter elements is about 4.0 μ

A/ft² to about 15 μ

A/ft².

14. A gas turbine apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein an amount of current applied to said filter elements is about 6.0 μ

A/ft² to about 10 μ

A/ft².

15. A gas turbine apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said plurality of filter elements comprise a plurality of bag filter elements.

16. A gas turbine apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said plurality of filter elements comprise a plurality of tube filter elements.

17. A gas turbine apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said plurality of electrodes are positioned substantially parallel to and interspersed among said plurality of filter elements.

18. A gas turbine apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said plurality of electrodes are positioned substantially perpendicular to and upstream from said plurality of filter elements.