Gas turbine oil supply system and method for the operation of a bearing oil supply system for a gas turbine

• US 8,887,869 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Limited & Company KG (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Limited & Company KG (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Pisseloup, Arnaud
• Primary Examiner(s): LIU, HENRY Y
• Application Number:
  US12/314,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20100012434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,171 Days
• Field of Search: 184/6.11, 60/390.8
• US Class Current: 184/6.11
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/00 Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/28 for use in medical treatment or therapy
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/18 Lubricating arrangements of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/0215 Electrical pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/021 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/06 Arrangements of bearings bearings F16C; Lubricating of turbo machines F01D25/18; of machines or engines in general F01M

Abstract

A gas turbine oil supply system and a method for the operation of a bearing oil supply system for a gas turbine includes an oil tank 1 and a supply line 2 branching off from the oil tank 1. An electric oil pump 3 is arranged in the supply line 2. A first controllable valve 4, by which the oil flow can be recirculated into the oil tank 1 via a return line 5, is arranged downstream of the oil pump 3. If a temperature of the oil is below a predetermined value prior to turbine start-up, the oil is diverted from supplying the bearings and recirculated through the tank to heat the oil to a desired level.

Claims

1. A method for the operation of a bearing oil supply system for a gas turbine, comprising:

providing an electric oil pump in a supply line connected to an oil tank;

providing a first controllable valve downstream of the oil pump through which oil can be selectively directed to the bearings and to the oil tank via a return line;

determining an oil temperature in the oil tank;

comparing the determined oil temperature with a specified oil temperature at which the gas turbine can be safely started;

when the determined oil temperature is below the specified oil temperature, placing the oil supply system in a recirculation mode by activating the electric oil pump and also activating the first controllable valve to simultaneously divert oil from the bearings while recirculating the oil into the oil tank via the return line;

wherein, the electric oil pump is activated separately from rotation of the gas turbine such that the oil supply is recirculated while the gas turbine is not rotating;

wherein the placing the oil supply system in a recirculation mode by activating the electric oil pump and also activating the first controllable valve to simultaneously divert oil from the bearings while recirculating the oil into the oil tank via the return line is performed prior to starting the gas turbine and while the gas turbine is not rotating,

and also prior to starting the gas turbine and while the gas turbine is not rotating, recirculating the oil with the electric oil pump until the oil temperature has increased to the specified oil temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the recirculation mode, the first controllable valve is activated to completely divert all oil flow from the supply line to the return line.

3. The method of claim 2, and further comprising:

when the specified oil temperature is reached or exceeded, exiting the recirculation mode by activating the first controllable valve to block flow of oil into the return line and to supply oil to the bearings.

4. The method of claim 3, and further comprising:

providing a second controllable valve, by which the return line can be connected to a scavenge line from the bearings to recirculate the oil flow into the oil tank via the scavenge line; and

activating both the first and second controllable valves together in the recirculation mode to recirculate the oil flow from the return line into the oil tank via the scavenge line.

5. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

when the specified oil temperature is reached or exceeded, exiting the recirculation mode by activating the first controllable valve to block flow of oil into the return line and to supply oil to the bearings.

6. The method of claim 3, and further comprising:

providing a second controllable valve, by which the return line can be connected to a scavenge line from the bearings to recirculate the oil flow into the oil tank via the scavenge line; and

activating both the first and second controllable valves together in the recirculation mode to recirculate the oil flow from the return line into the oil tank via the scavenge line.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, in the recirculation mode, the first controllable valve is activated to completely divert all oil flow from the supply line to the return line.

8. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

providing a second controllable valve, by which the return line can be connected to a scavenge line from the bearings to recirculate the oil flow into the oil tank via the scavenge line; and

activating both the first and second controllable valves together in the recirculation mode to recirculate the oil flow from the return line into the oil tank via the scavenge line.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, in the recirculation mode, the first controllable valve is activated to completely divert all oil flow from the supply line to the return line.

10. The method of claim 9, and further comprising:

actively heating the oil with a heat source in the recirculation mode.

11. The method of claim 7, and further comprising:

actively heating the oil with a heat source in the recirculation mode.

12. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

actively heating the oil with a heat source in the recirculation mode.