Vapor separation system and method

Abstract

A vapor separation system includes a cooler having an inlet configured to receive an air-oil-water mixture and an outlet configured to discharge separated oil and water in two different phases of a substance. The first sensor is located at the outlet of the cooler. A controller is communicatively coupled to the cooler, where the controller is configured to receive temperature feedback from the first sensor, and to increase or decrease, with the cooler and based on the temperature feedback, an amount of cooling the oil-water mixture to the separation temperature, the separation temperature is configured to liquefy at least a portion of the oil in the air-oil-water mixture while maintaining at least a portion of the water in the air-oil-water mixture in a vaporized state.

Description

Background Art

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to power generation systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for separating a mixture of at least two fluids having similar specific gravities while each having a unique vapor pressure.

[0002] Many known power plants use different turbine systems to generate electricity. Some of these turbine systems can be selectively enabled and disabled based on power demand at any given time, while other turbine systems are used as basic generators to keep grid demand going. For example, a peaking turbine system can be inactive during lower power usage times, and then enabled during high power usage times to increase the power generated by other turbine systems in the power plant or those coupled to the grid. In turbine power generation systems, lubricants such as synthetic lubricants are beneficial for moving the rotating mechanical parts of the turbine, and also extract heat and cool the rotating elements. Water can be injected into the turbine to control exhaust emissions. In addition, in order to increase power generation, water can be injected in the "sprint" power mode to increase the mass of the working fluid, and therefore increase the power output of the open system according to the first law of thermodynamics. In some cases, during operation, synthetic lubricants and water may be mixed together. At least some known fluid separators separate mixtures based on the different specific gravities of the component parts of the mixture. However, in the case where the specific gravities of the material parts of the mixture are similar, it may be challenging to separate the mixture into its material parts using such separators. Other known methods of separating fluid-fluid mixtures into their material parts, such as methods based on viscosity or emulsions or surface tension, are also known. Each of these known methods increases the complexity of the process and may not provide for rapid separation due to the time required to perform the process.

[0003] It would therefore be desirable to produce a separation system that can be reliably used with mixtures comprising material portions of similar specific gravity and that does not adversely affect normal turbine operation. Summary of the invention

[0004] In one aspect, a vapor separation system includes a cooler having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being oriented to receive an air-oil-water vapor / mist mixture and the outlet being oriented to discharge liquid oil and vapor water from the cooler. A first sensor is located at the outlet of the cooler. A controller is communicatively coupled to the cooler, wherein the controller is configured to receive temperature feedback from the first sensor and to cool the air-oil-water mixture to a separation temperature using the cooler and based on the temperature feedback, the separation temperature liquefies at least a portion of the oil in the air-oil-water mixture while maintaining at least a portion of the water in the air-oil-water mixture in a vaporized state by virtue of a vapor pressure difference between the two substances.

[0005] In another aspect, a gas turbine assembly including a lubrication system and a mist / steam separation system is provided. The steam separation system includes a cooler having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being oriented to receive an air-oil-water vapor mixture and the outlet being oriented to discharge liquid oil and water vapor. During operation, heat from the gas turbine generates an air-oil-water vapor / mist mixture. A first sensor is located at the outlet of the cooler. A controller is communicatively coupled to the cooler, wherein the controller receives temperature feedback from the first sensor, and utilizes the cooler and based on the temperature feedback to cool the air-oil-water mixture to a separation temperature, the separation temperature relying on a vapor pressure difference between the two substances, causing at least a portion of the oil in the oil-water mixture to liquefy while maintaining at least a portion of the water in the air-oil-water mixture in a vaporized state.

[0006] On the other hand, a steam separation method includes: guiding an air-oil-water mixture toward an inlet of a cooler with a channel; monitoring the temperature at the outlet of the cooler with a first sensor; receiving temperature feedback from the first sensor; and cooling the air-oil-water mixture to a separation temperature with the cooler and based on the temperature feedback, the separation temperature being configured to liquefy at least a portion of the oil in the entering oil-water mixture and being configured to maintain at least a portion of the water in the oil-water mixture in a vaporized state to be discharged from the system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary gas turbine assembly.

[0008] Figure 2 It is available with Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an exemplary mixed liquid separation system for use with a gas turbine assembly is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] Embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods for separating a mixture of at least two fluids having similar specific gravities but different vapor pressures, or generally different specific gravities and different vapor pressures. Additionally, the temperature at which oil vapor is efficiently separated from air may be different from the temperature at which the water vapor condenses into a liquid. Specifically, embodiments described herein disclose systems and methods for controlling the cooling of a mixture of water and oil in an air / oil separator. Controlling the cooling of the mixture enables condensation of one of the substances in the mixture to facilitate efficient separation of the mixture into its liquid and gaseous portions.

[0010] Because water and the types of synthetic oils typically used for turbine lubrication have similar densities, other separation methods such as gravity separation and / or centrifugal separation may generally be ineffective for separating such mixtures. Therefore, the embodiments described herein use: 1) a method for determining cooler performance based on sensor data to predict cooling at different ambient temperatures; 2) a regulation system such as a variable frequency speed control unit, a variable damper, an on / off control, to selectively start and / or stop the cooler motor and / or operate the motor at different speeds; and 3) a control system that is capable of controlling the cooler outlet temperature based on the above performance prediction results and is capable of determining the optimal temperature that is conducive to cooling the mixture by considering various environmental constraints (e.g., ambient temperature and / or altitude and its effect on the vapor point of water).

[0011] Unless otherwise indicated, approximate language as used herein, such as "substantially", "substantially" and "about" indicate that as will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, the terms so modified may apply only to approximate degrees, rather than absolute or perfect degrees. Therefore, the values ​​modified by one or more terms (such as "about", "approximately" and "substantially") are not limited to the specified precise values. In at least some cases, approximate language may correspond to the precision of the instrument used to measure the value. In addition, unless otherwise indicated, the terms "first", "second", etc. are used only as tags in this article, and are not intended to impose order, position or hierarchical requirements on the items to which these terms are related. In addition, for example, a reference to a "second" item does not require or exclude the existence of, for example, a "first" or lower numbered item or a "third" or higher numbered item.

[0012] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary gas turbine assembly 100. In the exemplary embodiment, the gas turbine assembly 100 includes an inlet duct 102, a compressor inlet guide vane stage 104, a compressor 106, a combustor 108, and a turbine section 110 that are connected in series and in an axial flow relationship. Intake air 112 is channeled through the duct 102 and through the inlet guide vane stage 104, and then directed to the compressor 106. The compressor 106 compresses the intake air 112 and discharges the compressed air 114 toward the combustor 108. A fuel injection system 116 provides fuel 118 to the combustor 108, and the resulting fuel-air mixture is ignited within the combustor 108. Combustion gases 120 are discharged from the combustor 108 and directed to the turbine section 110, where the mass and thermal energy of the combustion gases 120 are converted into work. A portion of the work is used to drive the compressor 106, and the remaining work is used to drive the generator 122 to produce electricity.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the gas turbine assembly 100 includes a water injection system 124 and a tank 126. The water injection system 124 is coupled in fluid communication with the compressor 106 or the inlet duct 102 to selectively provide a flow of water 128 to the compressor 106 based on the operating conditions of the gas turbine assembly 100. For example, the water 128 can be discharged to the main flow path 130 of the gas turbine assembly 100, such as injected into the compressor 106, for controlling emissions and / or for increasing power when the gas turbine assembly 100 is operating in a sprint / burst (peak firing) mode. The gas turbine assembly 100 also includes a lubrication system 132, which is used to lubricate the rotating components of the gas turbine assembly 100. The lubrication system 132 includes a tank 126 in fluid communication with the compressor 106 and the turbine 110. The tank 126 is used to store a lubrication fluid 134 such as a synthetic lubricating oil therein. In one embodiment, the specific gravity of the synthetic lubricating oil can be in the range of about 0.83 to about 1.05. In operation, lubrication fluid 134 is channeled between tank 126 and compressor 106 and / or turbine 110. The lubrication system also includes an air / oil mist collection system that forwards the mixture to a separation system.

[0014] When the water injection system 124 is in use, the water 128 may be mixed with the air / oil mist 136 in the turbine bearings as desired. During normal turbine operation, the fluid mixture is heated by the turbine to a temperature above the steam point of the water. The mixture is then channeled to the air / oil separation system 138 (e.g., Figure 2136 ). Through appropriate control and operation, the mist separation system 138 can be used to separate the air-oil-water mixture 136 into its material parts. In some embodiments, the specific gravity of the lubricating fluid 134 is approximately equal to or similar to the specific gravity of water. In addition, the vapor pressure of the lubricating fluid 134 is generally lower than that of water. Therefore, as will be described in more detail below, the vapor separation system 138 facilitates controlling the cooling of the oil-water vapor mixture 136 to facilitate its separation into its material parts in two different phases.

[0015] Figure 2 is for a gas turbine assembly 100 (shown in Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a steam separation system 138 of FIG. 1 . In an exemplary embodiment, the steam separation system 138 includes a first separation tank 140 that receives the oil-water mixture 136 from the turbine bearing. A cooler 142 is located downstream of the first separation tank 140, and a second separator tank 144 is located downstream of the cooler 142.

[0016] As will be described in more detail below, the oil-water mixture 136 is channeled toward a cooler 142 in a vaporized state. The cooler 142 is operable to cool the oil-water vapor mixture 136 to a separation temperature that liquefies at least a portion of the oil in the oil-water mixture 136 while maintaining at least a portion of the water in the oil-water mixture in a vaporized state. The oil-water mixture 136 is then channeled toward a second separator tank 144. The tank 144 includes a discharge port 146 for discharging vaporized water displaced by forced air or natural escape, which is separated from the at least partially liquefied oil of the oil-water mixture 136 in a first product stream 148 of the separator tank 144. Thus, a first liquefied product stream 150 having a reduced water content can be discharged from the separator tank 144 and returned to the tank 126 for further use, for example, in operating the gas turbine assembly 100 (shown in FIG. 1 ). Figure 1 Alternatively, at least partially liquefied oil of the oil-water mixture 136 may be discharged from the first separator tank 140 and returned to the tank 126 for use in operating the gas turbine assembly 100 .

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the cooler 142 includes a heat exchanger 154 having an inlet 174 and an outlet 158, the inlet receiving the oil-water vapor mixture 136 from the first separator tank 140, and the outlet discharging the first product stream from the cooler 142. The heat exchanger 154 includes a fan 160, which guides an air flow (not shown) through the heat exchanger 154 with a channel to facilitate heat transfer between the air flow and the oil-water mixture 136 guided through the heat exchanger by the channel. Specifically, heat is transferred from the oil-water mixture 136 to the air flow to reduce the temperature of the oil-water mixture 136 to the separation temperature. The separation temperature can be any temperature that enables at least a portion of the oil to be liquefied while maintaining at least a portion of the water in a vaporized state. In other words, the cooler 142 cools the oil to facilitate separation, but does not cool it to a temperature that causes water condensation. In some embodiments, the separation temperature is limited to a range between about 212°F and about 250°F. In alternative embodiments, a cooler other than an air-cooled heat exchanger may be used to cool the oil-water mixture 136 .

[0018] Control the cooler heat extraction performance to maintain the oil-water mixture 136 at the desired separation temperature. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the cooler 142 includes a motor 162 coupled to a fan 160, and a controller 164 coupled to the motor 162. In one embodiment, the controller 164 is a variable frequency controller that can dynamically adjust the operation of the cooler 142 to facilitate maintaining the air-oil-water mixture 136 at the separation temperature. That is, the controller 164 can change the operating speed of the motor 162, and the fan 160 rotates to adjust the amount of cooling air flow directed toward the air-oil-water mixture 136. In an alternative embodiment, the controller 164 selectively starts and stops the operation of the cooler 142 to maintain the oil-water mixture 136 at the separation temperature. In another alternative embodiment, the cooler 142 can have a fixed specific performance, and the flow rate of the oil-water vapor mixture is variable or controlled by changing the flow rate or temperature of the heat extraction fluid. Chiller 142 may be located in any heat exchange device that enables system 138 to function as described herein, and may be used with fixed or variable controller capabilities, or with variable module sizes, to facilitate achieving similar results.

[0019] The operation of the motor 162 is controlled based on feedback received by the controller 164 from one or more sensors within the steam separation system 138. For example, the steam separation system 138 may include a first sensor 166 at the outlet 158 ​​of the cooler 142, a second sensor 168 at the tank 126, and / or a third sensor 170 at the tank 126. The first sensor 166 monitors the temperature of the oil-water mixture 136 discharged from the outlet 158 ​​(i.e., the separation temperature). Therefore, the operation of the motor 162 can be controlled to maintain the oil-water mixture 136 within a desired temperature range, as described above. The second sensor 168 monitors the water content in the oil tank 126. The third sensor 170 monitors the volume of liquid within the tank 126, such as relative to at least one volume capacity threshold. Feedback from any of the sensors 166, 168, and / or 170 can be used by the controller 164 to verify that separation of the oil-water mixture 136 has occurred while maintaining the economic efficiency of the gas turbine assembly 100 and the separator performance.

[0020] In an alternative embodiment, the air-oil-water vapor mixture may be cooled to facilitate efficient separation of the oil mist from the air while maintaining the temperature of the effluent above the water condensation temperature.

[0021] The embodiments described herein relate to power generation sites that employ evaporative cooling and compressor spray intercooling (sprint) during operation in which the ambient humidity is high. In at least some known systems, the lubricating oil may be contaminated with undesirable water, which may potentially cause the turbine lubricating oil supply filter to become blocked, resulting in the triggering of a high pressure differential alarm and potentially resulting in frequent filter changes or causing premature oxidation of the oil or causing rust problems or inefficiencies in extracting heat from the gas turbine 100. The system described herein addresses this issue by controlling the performance of the cooler, such as by varying the motor speed via a variable frequency speed controller (VFD) so that water can evaporate during the recovery of the oil to the gas turbine. This reduces maintenance on the lubrication system and can help reduce the cooler motor load because the VFD will be controlled based on the ambient temperature and the outlet oil temperature.

[0022] The above description is intended to be exemplary only, and those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosed invention. In view of the review of this disclosure, modifications falling within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and such modifications are intended to fall within the appended claims.

[0023] Exemplary embodiments of the steam separation system are described in detail above. The systems and methods described herein are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather the steps of the methods can be utilized independently and separately from other steps described herein. For example, the methods described herein are not limited to being practiced with the separation of a mixture present in a gas turbine assembly as described herein. Rather, the exemplary embodiments can be implemented and utilized in conjunction with any application in which it is desired to separate a mixture into its material parts, whether the mixture is in the form of a vapor or a liquid and is heated to achieve the separation methods mentioned herein.

[0024] Although specific features of various embodiments of the present invention may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. In addition, reference to "one embodiment" in the above description is not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also include the described features. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, any feature of a drawing may be referenced and / or claimed in conjunction with any feature of any other drawing.

[0025] Further aspects of the invention are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses:

[0026] 1. A steam separation system, the steam separation system comprising a cooler, the cooler comprising an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being oriented to receive an air-oil-water steam mixture, the outlet being oriented to discharge oil and water in different phases of matter from the cooler; a first sensor, the first sensor being located at the outlet of the cooler; and a controller, the controller being communicatively coupled to the cooler, wherein the controller is configured to: receive temperature feedback from the first sensor; and cool the oil-water mixture to a separation temperature using the cooler and based on the temperature feedback, the separation temperature liquefying at least a portion of the oil in the air-oil-water mixture while maintaining at least a portion of the water in the air-oil-water mixture in a vaporized state.

[0027] 2. A system according to the preceding clause, further comprising a second separator tank located downstream of the cooler, the second separator tank being used to receive the air-oil-water mixture and condensed liquid from the cooler, wherein the separator tank comprises an outlet for discharging vaporized water and air separated from the liquefied oil.

[0028] 3. A system according to any preceding clause, further comprising a reflux drum located downstream of the second separator, the reflux drum being adapted to receive the liquefied product stream discharged from the separator drum.

[0029] 4. A system according to any of the preceding clauses, further comprising at least one of: a second sensor configured to monitor the water content of the liquefied product stream; and a third sensor configured to monitor the volume of liquid in the reflux tank, wherein the controller is configured to cool the air-oil-water mixture based on at least one of the water content feedback received from the second sensor or the volume feedback or the oil-water content feedback received from the third sensor or any additional sensor to indicate the performance of the separation system.

[0030] 5. A system according to any preceding clause, wherein the controller is a variable frequency unit configured to dynamically adjust the operation of the chiller to maintain the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature.

[0031] 6. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate and deactivate operation of the cooler to facilitate maintaining the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature.

[0032] 7. A system according to any preceding clause, wherein the controller is configured to selectively start and stop operation of the chiller, secondary heat extraction fluid mass flow rate, temperature, or add or remove additional heat exchangers to facilitate maintaining the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature.

[0033] 9. A gas turbine assembly, the gas turbine assembly comprising: a lubrication system; a turbine that draws an air-oil mixture from its bearings; and a steam separation system, the steam separation system comprising: a cooler that includes an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being oriented to receive the air-oil-water mixture from the lubrication system, the outlet being oriented to discharge separated oil and water in two different phases of matter; a first sensor, the first sensor being located at the outlet of the cooler; and a controller that is communicatively coupled to the cooler, wherein the controller is configured to: receive temperature feedback from the first sensor; and cool the air-oil-water mixture to a separation temperature using the cooler and based on the temperature feedback, so as to liquefy at least a portion of the oil in the air-oil-water mixture,

[0034] At the same time, at least a portion of the water in the air-oil-water mixture is maintained in a vaporized state.

[0035] 10. The assembly according to the preceding clause, further comprising a water injection system configured to discharge water towards a main flow path of the gas turbine engine, wherein oil from the lubrication system and water from the water injection system form an air-oil-water mixture.

[0036] 11. An assembly according to any preceding clause, further comprising a separator tank located downstream of the cooler, the separator tank being used to receive the air-oil-water mixture discharged from the cooler, wherein the separator tank includes a discharge port configured to discharge vaporized water separated from the liquefied oil with or without liquefied water residue.

[0037] 12. An assembly according to any preceding clause, further comprising a reflux drum located downstream of the separator drum, the reflux drum being adapted to receive a liquefied product stream discharged from the separator drum.

[0038] 13. A component according to any of the preceding clauses, further comprising at least one of: a second sensor configured to monitor the water content of the liquefied product stream; and a third sensor configured to monitor the volume of liquid in the reflux tank, wherein the controller is configured to increase or decrease cooling of the air-oil-water mixture based on at least one of water content feedback received from the second sensor or volume feedback received from the third sensor.

[0039] 14. An assembly according to any preceding clause, wherein the controller is a variable frequency unit configured to dynamically adjust the operation of the chiller to maintain the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature.

[0040] 15. An assembly according to any preceding clause, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate and deactivate operation of the cooler to maintain the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature.

[0041] 16. A steam separation method, the steam separation method comprising: guiding an air-oil-water mixture toward an inlet of a cooler using a channel; monitoring the temperature at the outlet of the cooler using a first sensor; receiving temperature feedback from the first sensor; and cooling the air-oil-water mixture to a separation temperature using the cooler and based on the temperature feedback, so that at least a portion of the oil in the air-oil-water mixture is liquefied while maintaining at least a portion of the water in the air-oil-water mixture in a vaporized state.

[0042] 17. The method of the preceding clause, wherein channeling the air-oil-water mixture comprises channeling the air-oil-water mixture containing oil having a specific gravity within 10% or 20% of the specific gravity of water.

[0043] 18. A method according to any preceding clause, further comprising forming an air-oil-water mixture from oil and water exhausted from a gas turbine engine at an elevated temperature.

[0044] 19. The method of any preceding clause, further comprising: channeling the air-oil-water mixture from the cooler to a separator tank; and discharging vaporized water separated from the liquefied oil from the separator tank.

[0045] 20. A method according to any of the preceding clauses, the method further comprising at least one of: dynamically adjusting the operation of a cooler using a variable frequency unit to maintain the air-oil-water mixture at a separation temperature; selectively starting and stopping the operation of the cooler to maintain the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature; and selectively changing the number of modular operations of the cooler and at least one of the heat extraction fluid flow rate or temperature of the fluid to facilitate maintaining the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature.

[0046] While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A steam separation system, comprising: a cooler comprising an inlet oriented to receive an air-oil-water vapor mixture and an outlet oriented to discharge the oil and water in different phases of matter from the cooler; a first sensor, the first sensor being located at the outlet of the cooler; and a controller communicatively coupled to the cooler, wherein the controller is configured to: receiving temperature feedback from the first sensor; and The oil-water mixture is cooled using the cooler and based on the temperature feedback to a separation temperature that liquefies at least a portion of the oil in the air-oil-water mixture while maintaining at least a portion of the water in the air-oil-water mixture in a vaporized state.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second separator tank located downstream of the cooler, the second separator tank being configured to receive the air-oil-water mixture and condensed liquid from the cooler, wherein: The separator tank includes a discharge port for discharging vaporized water and air separated from the liquefied oil.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a reflux drum located downstream of the second separator, the reflux drum being configured to receive the liquefied product stream discharged from the separator drum.

4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising at least one of the following: a second sensor configured to monitor a water content of the liquefied product stream; and A third sensor is configured to monitor the volume of liquid in the reflux tank, wherein: The controller is configured to cool the air-oil-water mixture based on at least one of water content feedback received from the second sensor or volume feedback or oil-water content feedback received from the third sensor or any additional sensor to indicate performance of the separation system.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is a variable frequency unit configured to dynamically adjust operation of the cooler to maintain the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is configured to selectively activate and deactivate operation of the cooler to facilitate maintaining the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is configured to selectively activate and deactivate operation of the chiller, secondary heat extraction fluid mass flow rate, temperature, or add or remove additional heat exchangers to facilitate maintaining the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature.

8. A gas turbine assembly, comprising: Lubrication system; a turbine that extracts an air-oil mixture from its bearings at a temperature above the vapor point of water; and A steam separation system, the steam separation system comprising: a cooler including an inlet oriented to receive an air-oil-water mixture from the lubrication system and an outlet oriented to discharge the separated oil and water in two different phases of matter; a first sensor located at the outlet of the cooler; and a controller communicatively coupled to the cooler, wherein the controller is configured to: receiving temperature feedback from the first sensor; and The air-oil-water mixture is cooled to a separation temperature using the cooler and based on the temperature feedback, so that at least a portion of the oil in the air-oil-water mixture is liquefied while maintaining at least a portion of the water in the air-oil-water mixture in a vaporized state.

9. The assembly of claim 8, further comprising a water injection system configured to discharge water toward a combustion air flow path of the gas turbine engine, wherein: Oil from the lubrication system and water from the water injection system form the air-oil-water mixture.

10. The assembly of claim 8, further comprising a separator tank located downstream of the cooler, the separator tank being adapted to receive the air-oil-water mixture discharged from the cooler, wherein: The separator tank includes a discharge port configured to discharge vaporized water separated from the liquefied oil with or without liquefied water residue.

11. The assembly of claim 10, further comprising a reflux drum located downstream of the separator drum, the reflux drum being adapted to receive a liquefied product stream discharged from the separator drum.

12. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising at least one of: a second sensor configured to monitor a water content of the liquefied product stream; and A third sensor is configured to monitor the volume of liquid in the reflux tank, wherein: The controller is configured to increase or decrease cooling of the air-oil-water mixture based on at least one of water content feedback received from the second sensor or volume feedback received from the third sensor.

13. The assembly of claim 8, wherein: The controller is a variable frequency unit configured to dynamically adjust operation of the cooler to maintain the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature.

14. The assembly of claim 8, wherein: The controller is configured to selectively activate and deactivate operation of the cooler to maintain the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature.

15. A steam separation method, comprising: directing the air-oil-water mixture toward the inlet of the cooler using a channel; monitoring the temperature at the outlet of the cooler using a first sensor; receiving temperature feedback from the first sensor; as well as The air-oil-water mixture is cooled to a separation temperature using the cooler and based on the temperature feedback, so that at least a portion of the oil in the air-oil-water mixture is liquefied while maintaining at least a portion of the water in the air-oil-water mixture in a vaporized state.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein: Channeling the air-oil-water mixture includes channeling the air-oil-water mixture including oil having a specific gravity approximately equal to a specific gravity of water.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming the air-oil-water mixture from oil and water exhausted from a gas turbine engine at an elevated temperature.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: channeling the air-oil-water mixture from the cooler to a separator tank; and The vaporized water separated from the liquefied oil is discharged from the separator tank.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising at least one of the following: dynamically adjusting the operation of the cooler using a frequency conversion unit to maintain the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature; selectively starting and stopping operation of the cooler to maintain the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature; and At least one of a number of modular operations of the chillers and a heat extraction fluid flow rate or temperature of the fluid is selectively varied to facilitate maintaining the air-oil-water mixture at the separation temperature.

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