Managing leaks in a gas turbine system

• US 20090100821A1
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ReductoNox Corp.
• Original Assignee: Ener-Core Power, Inc. (Ener-Core, Inc.)
• Inventors: Prabhu, Edan
• Granted Patent: US 8,393,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/39.94
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 3/14 characterised by the arrangement of the combustion chamber in the plant combustion chambers per se F23R; F02C3/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/2365 comprising an air supply system for the atomisation of fuel

Abstract

A mixture of air and fuel is compressed in a compressor of a gas turbine system. The gas turbine system includes components that define one or more fuel leak locations, and leaked fuel is directed from the one or more leak locations to a reaction chamber of the gas turbine system. At least a portion of the leaked fuel is oxidized in the reaction chamber. The energy released by oxidation of the leaked fuel can be converted to mechanical motion.

Claims

1. A method for managing leaks containing fuel in a gas turbine system, the method comprising:

receiving a compressed air and fuel mixture at a plurality of junctions between components of the gas turbine system;

directing air and fuel mixture leaked from the plurality of junctions to a reaction chamber of the gas turbine system; and

oxidizing at least a portion of the leaked air and fuel mixture in the reaction chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting energy released by oxidation of the leaked air and fuel mixture into mechanical motion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein directing air and fuel mixture leaked from the plurality of junctions to a reaction chamber of the gas turbine system comprises directing the leaked air and fuel mixture into a second reaction chamber located downstream of a first reaction chamber of the gas turbine system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the leaked air and fuel mixture is leaked from at least one of the plurality of junctions to downstream of a primary reaction chamber of the gas turbine system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein directing air and fuel mixture leaked from the plurality of junctions to the reaction chamber of the gas turbine system comprises directing the leaked air and fuel mixture into an inlet of a compressor of the gas turbine system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein oxidizing at least a portion of the leaked air and fuel mixture in the reaction chamber comprises raising a temperature of the air and fuel mixture to a temperature at or above an auto-ignition temperature of the fuel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein directing air and fuel mixture leaked from the plurality of junctions to the reaction chamber of the gas turbine system comprises:

collecting the leaked air and fuel mixture in an envelope; and

directing the collected air and fuel mixture into an inlet of a compressor of the gas turbine system.

8. A method for managing leaked fuel in a gas turbine system, the method comprising:

receiving a compressed air and fuel mixture at a leak location of a gas turbine system, the leak location allowing the air and fuel mixture to leak from upstream of a primary reaction chamber of the gas turbine system to downstream of the primary reaction chamber;

directing air and fuel mixture leaked from the leak location to a secondary reaction chamber of the gas turbine system; and

oxidizing at least a portion of the leaked air and fuel mixture in the secondary reaction chamber.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising converting energy release by oxidization of the leaked air and fuel mixture into mechanical motion.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary reaction chamber is downstream of the primary reaction chamber.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein directing air and fuel mixture leaked from the leak location to a secondary reaction chamber of the gas turbine system comprises directing the leaked air and fuel mixture to flow into a compressor of the gas turbine system.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein oxidizing at least a portion of the leaked air and fuel mixture in the secondary reaction chamber comprises raising a temperature of the air and fuel mixture to a temperature at or above an auto-ignition temperature of the fuel.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein directing air and fuel mixture leaked from the leak location to a secondary reaction chamber of the gas turbine system comprises:

collecting leaked air and fuel mixture in a leak collection envelope; and

directing the collected air and fuel mixture into a compressor of the gas turbine system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the leak collection envelope surrounds a fuel production source emitting fuel and captures the emitted fuel.

15. A system comprising:

a plurality of components defining a primary flow path through a gas turbine system, the components comprising;

an air and fuel mixer;

a compressor coupled to the mixer and adapted to compress an air and fuel mixture received from the mixer; and

a first reaction chamber coupled to the compressor and adapted to receive the mixture and oxidize at least a portion of the mixture; and

a leak path that leaks air and fuel mixture from the primary flow path upstream of the first reaction chamber to downstream of the first reaction chamber; and

a second reaction chamber downstream of the first reaction chamber that receives and oxidizes at least a portion of the leaked air and fuel mixture.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first reaction chamber comprises a primary reaction chamber and the second reaction chamber comprises a secondary reaction chamber adapted to oxidize fuel substantially to completion.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the second reaction chamber oxidizes at least a portion of the leaked air and fuel mixture by raising a temperature of the air and fuel mixture to a temperature at or above an auto-ignition temperature of the fuel.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a leak collection envelope that collects air and fuel mixture leaked from the leak path and directs the leaked air and fuel mixture into an inlet of the compressor.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the envelope encapsulates the air and fuel mixer, the compressor and the first reaction chamber.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the envelope encapsulates a fuel source that emits fuel.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the fuel source comprises at least one of manure, municipal waste, wetlands, or livestock.