Gas turbine engine with water injection

• US 6,012,279 A
• Filed: 06/02/1997
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hines, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casaregola, Louis J.
• Application Number:
  US08/866,967
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 60/39.05, 60/39.181, 60/39.53, 60/728, 60/39.3, 60/39.58, 60/39.59
• US Class Current: 60/775
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/1435 by water injection

Abstract

Precompressor and pre-booster water spray injection apparatus and methods are described. In an exemplary embodiment, a gas turbine engine suitable for use in connection with water spray injection includes a low pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, and a combustor. The engine also includes a high pressure turbine, a low pressure turbine, and a power turbine. A water injection apparatus is provided for injecting water into an inlet of the high pressure compressor. The water spray injection apparatus is in flow communication with a water supply, and during engine operation, water is delivered from such supply through the injection apparatus to the inlet of the compressor.

Claims

1. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a high pressure compressor including an inlet;

a booster compressor located upstream of said high pressure compressor;

a passageway extending through said high pressure compressor and said booster compressor;

water injection apparatus positioned at said inlet of said high pressure compressor for injecting water into gas flowing through said passageway from an outlet of said booster compressor towards said high pressure compressor, said water injection apparatus comprising a first plurality of water injection nozzles, each said nozzle comprising a head and an elongate member extending from said head and into said passageway, said nozzles configured so that water flows therethrough and into said passageway; and

a heat exchanging intercooler in series flow relationship with said booster compressor and said compressor, said heat exchanging intercooler comprising an inlet coupled to said booster compressor outlet for receiving at least a portion of gas flowing from said booster compressor outlet, and an outlet coupled to said high pressure compressor inlet.

2. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a combustor located downstream of said high pressure compressor, and wherein water injected by said water injection apparatus reduces a temperature of gas at an outlet of said high pressure compressor and at an outlet of said combustor during operation of said engine.

3. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a heat exchanging intercooler in series flow relationship with said booster compressor and said compressor, said heat exchanging intercooler comprising an inlet coupled to said booster compressor outlet for receiving at least a portion of gas flowing from said booster compressor outlet, and an outlet coupled to said high pressure compressor inlet.

4. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 3 further comprising at least one waste heat recovery steam boiler located downstream of said power turbine.

11. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat exchanging intercooler further comprises a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, said combustor comprising a fuel inlet, said heat exchanging intercooler fuel outlet coupled to said fuel inlet of said combustor, wherein said heat exchanging intercooler delivers heated fuel to said combustor.

12. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 4 wherein said engine further comprises a heat exchanging intercooler in series flow relationship with said booster compressor, said heat exchanging intercooler comprising a feed water inlet and a feed water outlet, said waste heat recovery steam boiler comprising a feed water inlet, said heat exchanging intercooler feed water outlet coupled to said waste heat recovery steam boiler outlet, wherein said heat exchanging intercooler delivers heated feed water to said waste heat recovery steam boiler.

13. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said water injection apparatus further comprises a second plurality of water injection nozzles, each said second water injection nozzle comprising a second nozzle head, said second plurality of nozzles configured so that water flows therethrough and into said passageway.

5. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a booster compressor;

a passageway extending through said turbine engine and through said booster compressor;

water injection apparatus for injecting water into gas flowing through said passageway, said water injection apparatus comprising a first plurality of water injection nozzles, each said nozzle comprising a head and an elongate member extending from said head and into said passageway, said nozzles configured so that water flows therethrough and into said passageway;

a high pressure compressor located downstream of said booster compressor, said passageway extending through said high pressure compressor; and

a heat exchanging intercooler in series flow relationship with said booster compressor and said high pressure compressor, said heat exchanging intercooler comprising an inlet coupled to an outlet of said booster compressor for receiving at least a portion of gas flowing from said booster compressor outlet, and an outlet coupled to an inlet of said high pressure compressor.

6. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 5 further comprising a combustor located downstream of said high pressure compressor, and wherein water injected by said water injection apparatus reduces a temperature of gas at an outlet of said high pressure compressor and at an outlet of said combustor during operation of said engine.

7. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a high pressure turbine, a low pressure turbine and a power turbine located downstream of said combustor.

8. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 7 wherein said engine further comprises a high pressure compressor located downstream of said booster compressor, said passageway extending through said high pressure compressor.

14. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 5 wherein said water injection apparatus further comprises a second plurality of water injection nozzles, each said second water injection nozzle comprising a second nozzle head, said second plurality of nozzles configured so that water flows therethrough and into said passageway.

9. A method for operating a gas turbine engine including a high pressure compressor, a booster compressor upstream of the high pressure compressor, and water injection apparatus including a first plurality of water injection nozzles, each nozzle having a head connected to an elongate member and extending into a passageway, said method comprising the steps of:

injecting water into the engine at an inlet of the high pressure compressor through the nozzles and into the passageway; and

cooling the airflow from an outlet of the booster compressor using a heat exchanging intercooler and supplying the cool air to the inlet of the compressor.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein water is injected into the engine at both an inlet of the booster compressor and at an inlet of the high pressure compressor.