Method and apparatus for operating an intercooler for a gas turbine engine
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a gas turbine engine, said method comprising:
- channeling compressed airflow discharged from a first compressor through an intercooler having a cooling medium flowing therethrough, wherein the first compressor is coupled to a first turbine via a first shaft;
channeling the compressed airflow discharged from the intercooler into a second compressor, wherein the second compressor is coupled to a second turbine via a second shaft;
channeling water through the intercooler to facilitate increasing an operating temperature of the water; and
channeling the discharged water directly from the intercooler in its entirety into a combustor to facilitate increasing a thermal efficiency of the gas turbine engine and to facilitate reducing nitrogen oxide emissions and channeling fuel through the intercooler to facilitate increasing an operating temperature of the fuel.
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Abstract
A method for operating a gas turbine engine includes channeling compressed airflow discharged from a first compressor through an intercooler having a cooling medium flowing therethrough, channeling a working fluid through the intercooler to facilitate increasing an operating temperature of the working fluid, and channeling the discharged working fluid to a combustor to facilitate increasing an operating efficiency of the gas turbine engine.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for operating a gas turbine engine, said method comprising:
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channeling compressed airflow discharged from a first compressor through an intercooler having a cooling medium flowing therethrough, wherein the first compressor is coupled to a first turbine via a first shaft; channeling the compressed airflow discharged from the intercooler into a second compressor, wherein the second compressor is coupled to a second turbine via a second shaft; channeling water through the intercooler to facilitate increasing an operating temperature of the water; and channeling the discharged water directly from the intercooler in its entirety into a combustor to facilitate increasing a thermal efficiency of the gas turbine engine and to facilitate reducing nitrogen oxide emissions and channeling fuel through the intercooler to facilitate increasing an operating temperature of the fuel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An intercooler system for a gas turbine engine that includes at least a first compressor, a second compressor, a combustor, and a turbine, said intercooler system comprising:
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an intercooler coupled downstream from the first compressor such that compressed air discharged from the first compressor is routed therethrough, wherein the first compressor is coupled to a first turbine via a first shaft, said intercooler coupled upstream from the second compressor and wherein the second compressor is coupled to a second turbine via a second shaft; and a heating system in flow communication with said intercooler, said heating system configured to; channeling water through said intercooler to facilitate increasing an operating temperature of the water; channel the discharged water directly from the intercooler in its entirety into said combustor to facilitate increasing a thermal efficiency of said gas turbine engine and to facilitate reducing nitrogen oxide emissions; and said heating system is further configured to channel fuel through said intercooler to facilitate increasing an operating temperature of the fuel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A gas turbine engine comprising:
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a first compressor; a first turbine; a first shaft coupled between said first compressor and said first turbine; a second compressor downstream from said first compressor; a second turbine; a second shaft coupled between said second compressor and said second turbine; a combustor downstream from said second compressor; said second turbine coupled in flow communication with said combustor; and an intercooler system comprising; an intercooler coupled downstream from the first compressor such that compressed air discharged from the first compressor is routed therethrough; and a heating system in flow communication with said intercooler, said heating system configured to; channel water through said intercooler to facilitate increasing an operating temperature of the water; channel the discharged water directly from the intercooler in its entirety into said combustor to facilitate increasing a thermal efficiency of said gas turbine engine and to facilitate reducing nitrogen oxide emission; and said heating system is further configured to channel fuel through said intercooler to facilitate increasing an operating temperature of the fuel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification