Gas turbine engine modular cooling and heating apparatus

• US 6,422,018 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lloyd B. Tisdale, Paul T. Tisdale Jr, Robert L. Hauck
• Original Assignee: Lloyd B. Tisdale, Paul T. Tisdale Jr, Robert L. Hauck
• Inventors: Hauck, Robert L., Tisdale, Paul T. Jr., Tisdale, Lloyd B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casaregola, Louis J.
• Application Number:
  US09/640,836
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 607/28, 622/591, 623/96
• US Class Current: 60/728
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/04 Air intakes for gas-turbine plants or jet-propulsion plants
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/143 before or between the compressor stages
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/232 characterized by the cooling medium
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

The present invention comprises a modular unit in which all of the components necessary for conditioning the intake air for a combustion gas turbine are contained. The compressors, evaporators condensers and related pumps and control equipment are contained within a weather proof enclosure having sound insulation installed in the walls. The intake air conditioning system includes three loops, a compressed refrigerant loop, a chilled water loop and a condenser cooling water loop with an optional heating loop. The modular unit provides a three loop cooling system for easy connection to both a combustion gas turbine air inlet and to a cooling water tower. The loops comprise a refrigerant loop, a cooling water loop and a chilled water loop and in one embodiment a heating loop to heat the air going to the turbine.

Claims

1. A modular combustion gas turbine intake air conditioner comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a first refrigerant compressor mounted on said base, said refrigerant compressor having a refrigerant compressor suction and a refrigerant compressor discharge;

(c) a first refrigerant compressor driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said refrigerant compressor;

(d) a refrigerant condenser mounted on said base for indirect heat exchange between cooling water and refrigerant, said refrigerant condenser having a refrigerant inlet connected to said first refrigerant compressor discharge by a conduit, a refrigerant outlet, a condenser cooling water inlet and a condenser cooling water outlet;

(e) a conduit connected to said condenser cooling water outlet connecting to a cooling water return conduit;

(f) a first cooling water pump mounted on said base, said first cooling water pump having a first cooling water pump suction and a first cooling water pump discharge;

(g) a first cooling water pump driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said first cooling water pump;

(h) a conduit connected to said first cooling water pump suction for connection to a cooling water source;

(I) a conduit connecting said first cooling water pump discharge and said condenser cooling water inlet;

(j) a refrigerant evaporator mounted on said base for indirect heat exchange between refrigerant and chilled liquid, said refrigerant evaporator having a refrigerant inlet, a refrigerant outlet, a chilled liquid inlet and a chilled liquid outlet;

(k) a conduit from said chilled liquid outlet to a heat exchanger located in the air intake of a combustion gas turbine,

(l) a conduit connecting said refrigerant inlet to said refrigerant condenser outlet;

(m) a conduit connecting said refrigerant outlet to said first refrigerant compressor suction;

(n) a first chilled liquid pump mounted on said base, said first chilled liquid pump having a first chilled liquid pump suction and a first chilled liquid pump discharge;

(o) a first chilled liquid pump driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said first chilled liquid pump;

(p) a conduit connecting said first chilled liquid pump discharge to said chilled liquid inlet; and

(q) a conduit connected to said first chilled liquid pump suction from said heat exchanger located in the air intake of a combustion gas turbine.

2. The modular combustion gas turbine intake air conditioner according to claim 1 further comprising a housing mounted on said base and enclosing said first refrigerant compressor, said first refrigerant compressor driver, said refrigerant condenser, said first cooling water pump, said first cooling water pump driver, said refrigerant evaporator, said first chilled liquid pump, said first chilled liquid pump driver and all of said conduits.

3. The modular combustion gas turbine intake air conditioner according to claim 1 further comprising a second cooling water pump mounted on said base and connected in parallel with said first cooling water pump, a second cooling water pump driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said second cooling water pump, a second refrigerant compressor mounted on said base and connected in parallel with said first refrigerant compressor, a second refrigerant compressor driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said second refrigerant compressor, a second chilled liquid pump mounted on said base and connected in parallel with said first chilled liquid pump, and a second chilled liquid pump driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said second chilled liquid pump.

4. The modular combustion gas turbine intake air conditioner according to claim 1 further comprising:

(r) a thermal oil pump mounted on said base, said thermal oil pump having a thermal oil pump suction and a thermal oil pump discharge;

(s) an ethylene glycol circulation loop connected to said chilled liquid pump suction and said chilled liquid pump discharge;

(t) a thermal oil return conduit mounted on said base connected to said thermal oil pump discharge and having an outlet for connection to a heat exchanger inlet mounted within a combustion gas turbine exhaust;

(u) a thermal oil suction conduit mounted on said base and connected to said thermal oil pump suction for connection to a heat exchanger outlet mounted within a combustion gas turbine exhaust; and

(v) an ethylene glycol/thermal oil heat exchanger mounted on said base and connected in said glycol loop and connected to said thermal oil suction conduit to indirectly exchange heat between thermal oil and ethylene glycol.

6. The modular combustion gas turbine intake air conditioner according to claim 1 wherein said chilled liquid is chilled water.

5. A modular combustion gas turbine intake air conditioner comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) two refrigerant compressors mounted on said base in parallel, each of said refrigerant compressors having a refrigerant compressor suction and a refrigerant compressor discharge;

(c) two refrigerant compressor drivers mounted on said base, one each of said compressor drivers mechanically connected to one of said refrigerant compressors;

(d) a refrigerant condenser mounted on said base for indirect heat exchange between cooling water and refrigerant, said refrigerant condenser having a refrigerant inlet connected to said first refrigerant compressor discharge by a conduit, a refrigerant outlet, a condenser cooling water inlet and a condenser cooling water outlet;

(e) a conduit connected to said condenser cooling water outlet for connection to a cooling water return conduit;

(f) two cooling water pumps mounted on said base in parallel, each of said cooling water pumps having a cooling water pump suction and a cooling water pump discharge;

(g) two cooling water pump drivers mounted on said base, one each of said cooling water pump drivers mechanically connected to one of said cooling water pumps;

(h) a conduit connected to said cooling water pump suctions for connection to a cooling water source;

(i) a conduit connecting said cooling water pump discharges and said condenser cooling water inlet;

(j) a refrigerant evaporator mounted on said base for indirect heat exchange between refrigerant and chilled water, said refrigerant evaporator having a refrigerant inlet, a refrigerant outlet, a chilled water inlet and a chilled water outlet;

(k) a conduit connecting said refrigerant inlet to said refrigerant condenser outlet;

(l) a conduit connecting said refrigerant outlet to said refrigerant compressor suctions;

(m) two chilled water pumps mounted on said base in parallel, each of said chilled water pumps having a chilled water pump suction and a chilled water pump discharge;

(n) two chilled water pump drivers mounted on said base, one each of said drivers mechanically connected to one of said chilled water pumps;

(o) a conduit connecting said chilled water pump discharges to said chilled water inlet;

(p) a conduit connected to said chilled water pump suctions for connection to a heat exchanger located in the air intake of a combustion gas turbine;

(q) a thermal oil pump mounted on said base, said thermal oil pump having a thermal oil pump suction and a thermal oil pump discharge;

(r) an ethylene glycol circulation loop connected to said chilled water pump suction and said chilled water pump discharge;

(s) a thermal oil return conduit mounted on said base connected to said thermal oil pump discharge and having an outlet for connection to a heat exchanger inlet mounted within a combustion gas turbine exhaust;

(t) a thermal oil suction conduit mounted on said base and connected to said thermal oil pump suction for connection to a heat exchanger outlet mounted within a combustion gas turbine exhaust; and

(u) an ethylene glycol/thermal oil heat exchanger mounted on said base and connected in said glycol loop and connected to said thermal oil suction conduit to indirectly exchange heat between thermal oil and ethylene glycol.

7. A modular combustion gas turbine intake air conditioner comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a first refrigerant compressor mounted on said base, said refrigerant compressor having a refrigerant compressor suction and a refrigerant compressor discharge;

(c) a first refrigerant compressor driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said refrigerant compressor;

(d) a refrigerant condenser mounted on said base for indirect heat exchange between cooling water and refrigerant, said refrigerant condenser having a refrigerant inlet connected to said first refrigerant compressor discharge by a conduit, a refrigerant outlet, a condenser cooling water inlet and a condenser cooling water outlet;

(e) a conduit connected to said condenser cooling water outlet connecting to a cooling water return conduit;

(f) a first cooling water pump mounted on said base, said first cooling water pump having a first cooling water pump suction and a first cooling water pump discharge;

(g) a first cooling water pump driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said first cooling water pump;

(h) a conduit connected to said first cooling water pump suction for connection to a cooling water source;

(I) a conduit connecting said first cooling water pump discharge and said condenser cooling water inlet;

(j) a refrigerant evaporator mounted on said base for indirect heat exchange between refrigerant and chilled water, said refrigerant evaporator having a refrigerant inlet, a refrigerant outlet, a chilled water inlet and a chilled water outlet;

(k) a conduit connecting said refrigerant inlet to said refrigerant condenser outlet;

(l) a conduit connecting said refrigerant outlet to said first refrigerant compressor suction;

(m) a first chilled water pump mounted on said base, said first chilled water pump having a first chilled water pump suction and a first chilled water pump discharge;

(n) a first chilled water pump driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said first chilled water pump;

(o) a conduit connecting said first chilled water pump discharge to said chilled water inlet;

(p) a conduit connected to said first chilled water pump suction for connection to a said heat exchanger located in the air intake of a combustion gas turbine; and

further comprising a second cooling water pump mounted on said base and connected in parallel with said first cooling water pump, a second cooling water pump driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said second cooling water pump, a second refrigerant compressor mounted on said base and connected in parallel with said first refrigerant compressor, a second refrigerant compressor driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said second refrigerant compressor, a second chilled water pump mounted on said base and connected in parallel with said first chilled water pump, and a second chilled water pump driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said second chilled water pump.

8. A modular combustion gas turbine intake air conditioner comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a first refrigerant compressor mounted on said base, said refrigerant compressor having a refrigerant compressor suction and a refrigerant compressor discharge;

(c) a first refrigerant compressor driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said refrigerant compressor;

(d) a refrigerant condenser mounted on said base for indirect heat exchange between cooling water and refrigerant, said refrigerant condenser having a refrigerant inlet connected to said first refrigerant compressor discharge by a conduit, a refrigerant outlet, a condenser cooling water inlet and a condenser cooling water outlet;

(e) a conduit connected to said condenser cooling water outlet connecting to a cooling water return conduit;

(f) a first cooling water pump mounted on said base, said first cooling water pump having a first cooling water pump suction and a first cooling water pump discharge;

(g) a first cooling water pump driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said first cooling water pump;

(h) a conduit connected to said first cooling water pump suction for connection to a cooling water source;

(I) a conduit connecting said first cooling water pump discharge and said condenser cooling water inlet;

(j) a refrigerant evaporator mounted on said base for indirect heat exchange between refrigerant and chilled water, said refrigerant evaporator having a refrigerant inlet, a refrigerant outlet, a chilled water inlet and a chilled water outlet;

(k) a conduit connecting said refrigerant inlet to said refrigerant condenser outlet;

(l) a conduit connecting said refrigerant outlet to said first refrigerant compressor suction;

(m) a first chilled water pump mounted on said base, said first chilled water pump having a first chilled water pump suction and a first chilled water pump discharge;

(n) a first chilled water pump driver mounted on said base and mechanically connected to said first chilled water pump;

(o) a conduit connecting said first chilled water pump discharge to said chilled water inlet;

(p) a conduit connected to said first chilled water pump suction for connection to a heat exchanger located in the air intake of a combustion gas turbine,

(q) a thermal oil pump mounted on said base, said thermal oil pump having a thermal oil pump suction and a thermal oil pump discharge;

(r) an ethylene glycol circulation loop connected to said chilled water pump suction and said chilled water pump discharge;

(s) a thermal oil return conduit mounted on said base connected to said thermal oil pump discharge and having an outlet for connection to a heat exchanger inlet mounted within a combustion gas turbine exhaust;

(t) a thermal oil suction conduit mounted on said base and connected to said thermal oil pump suction for connection to a heat exchanger outlet mounted within a combustion gas turbine exhaust; and

(u) an ethylene glycol/thermal oil heat exchanger mounted on said base and connected in said glycol loop and connected to said thermal oil suction conduit to indirectly exchange heat between thermal oil and ethylene glycol.