Process for retrofitting an industrial gas turbine engine for increased power and efficiency

Abstract

A process for retrofitting an industrial gas turbine engine of a power plant where an old industrial engine with a high spool has a new low spool with a low pressure turbine that drives a low pressure compressor using exhaust gas from the high pressure turbine, and where the new low pressure compressor delivers compressed air through a new compressed air line to the high pressure compressor through a new inlet added to the high pressure compressor. The old electric generator is replaced with a new generator having around twice the electrical power production. One or more stages of vanes and blades are removed from the high pressure compressor to optimally match a pressure ratio split. Closed loop cooling of one or more new stages of vanes and blades in the high pressure turbine is added and the spent cooling air is discharged into the combustor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit to U.S. Provisional Application 62 / 299,248 filed on Feb. 24, 2016 and entitled PROCESS FOR RETROFITTING AN INDUSTRIAL GAS TURBINE ENGINE FOR INCREASED POWER AND EFFICIENCY.GOVERNMENT LICENSE RIGHTS[0002]This invention was made with Government support under contract number DE-FE0023975 awarded by Department of Energy. The Government has certain rights in the invention.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to a power plant with an industrial gas turbine engine, and more specifically to a process for retrofitting an industrial gas turbine engine for increased power and efficiency.Description of the Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98[0004]Single shaft gas turbine engines are limited in power and efficiency when pressure ratios and firing temperatures are raised to the point where the last turbine stage is loaded to ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention involves the retrofitting of existing single shaft turbine engines with a low speed turbine and a low speed compressor that are connected in front of the existing compressor. This results in the coupling of the existing turbine (now deemed the high pressure turbine) with the low speed turbine. The cooling systems of the engine are also enhanced to increase the power rating and efficiency of the gas turbine. This results in more powerful and efficient engines.

Problems solved by technology

Single shaft gas turbine engines are limited in power and efficiency when pressure ratios and firing temperatures are raised to the point where the last turbine stage is loaded to where Mach numbers reach the maximum aerodynamic capability.

In these cases, the engine has limited capability to be upgraded for either power or efficiency.

This also has limitations in total flow and is limited in the maximum pressure ratio that the unit could sustain.

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