Method and apparatus for compressing gaseous fuel in a turbine engine

• US 6,381,944 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corp.
• Original Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corp.
• Inventors: Mackay, Robin
• Primary Examiner(s): Casaregola, Louis J.
• Application Number:
  US09/772,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20010017029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 60/390.6, 60/392.81, 60/394.65, 607/26, 607/28, 607/34, 415/44, 415/45, 415/155, 415/167
• US Class Current: 60/39.281
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 3/22 the fuel or oxidant being gaseous at standard temperature and pressure F02C3/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/2365 comprising an air supply system for the atomisation of fuel

Abstract

A gas turbine engine includes a rotatable impeller having a plurality of vanes with inlet and outlet ends. A plurality of diffuser channels are spaced apart radially beyond the outlet ends. A movable source of gaseous fuel is positioned adjacent the inlet ends of the vanes. The movable source of gaseous fuel is movable as a function of the rotational speed of the impeller, whereby the flow of gaseous fuel injected from the movable source is ejected from the outlet ends of the vanes into a selected one of the plurality of diffuser channels to facilitate combustion.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gas compressor having a plurality of compressed gas discharge outlets at the periphery of an impeller to discharge compressed gas through a selected gas discharge outlet at any of a plurality of selected speeds, the method comprising:

regulating compressor impeller rotation to a first selected speed;

controlling a gas source to provide gas to the impeller at a first selected inlet position for the impeller to compress the gas and to discharge the compressed gas to the selected discharge outlet;

regulating the impeller rotation from the first selected speed to a second selected speed;

selecting a second inlet position based upon the second selected speed and the selected discharge outlet; and

moving the gas source to provide gas to the impeller at the second selected inlet position for the impeller to compress the gas and to discharge the compressed gas to the selected discharge outlet.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a second inlet position comprises:

selecting a second inlet position that is angularly displaced from the first selected inlet position.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing air to the impeller inlet to compress the air together with the gas.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein selecting a second inlet position comprises:

selecting a second inlet position based upon a compressor discharge pressure.

5. A method of operating a gas compressor having a plurality of compressed gas discharge outlets at the periphery of an impeller to discharge compressed gas through a selected discharge outlet at any of a plurality of selected speeds, the method comprising:

operating the compressor at a selected speed;

supplying gas to the compressor at a selected inlet position to compress the gas and to deliver the compressed gas to the selected discharge outlet;

changing the speed of the compressor; and

changing the gas inlet position in response to the change in speed to deliver compressed gas to the selected discharge outlet.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing air to the compressor to compress the air together with the gas.

7. The method of claims 5 or 6, wherein changing the gas inlet position comprises:

changing the gas inlet position based upon a change in a compressor discharge pressure.

8. A method of operating a gas compressor at varying speeds to discharge compressed gas at a selected discharge position, the method comprising:

operating the,compressor at a selected speed;

supplying gas to the compressor at a selected inlet position to compress the gas and to deliver the compressed gas to the selected discharge position;

changing the speed of the compressor; and

changing the gas inlet position in response to the change in speed to deliver compressed gas to the selected discharge position.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing air to the compressor to compress the air together with the gas.

10. The method of claims 8 or 9, wherein changing the gas inlet position comprises:

changing the gas inlet position based upon a change in a compressor discharge pressure.