Apparatus and process for gas turbine air filtration and fuel vaporization

Abstract

To provide a gas turbine, operation of the gas turbine, and processing for filtering and cooling air to be fed to the gas turbine while also vaporizing at least a portion of fuel to be fed to the gas turbine.SOLUTION: Intake air can be passed through a filter house for filtration. While passing through the filter house, a liquid fuel can be passed through the filter house to vaporize or partially vaporize therein via heat exchange with the air passing through the filter house, which can also cool the air as it is passing through the filter house. Filtered cooled air can be output from the filter house so as to be fed to a gas turbine as an oxidant while the at least partially vaporized fuel can also be output from the filter house so as to be fed to the gas turbine for being combusted therein.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to gas turbines, the operation of gas turbines, and processes for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the gas turbine while also vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine. [Background technology]

[0002] Gas turbines can burn fuel to generate electricity or perform work. Examples of different types of gas turbines and gas turbine arrangements can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,592,178 and 6,752,620, U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2022 / 0268444 and 2013 / 0127163, and Chinese Patent Publication No. 114876641A. Summary of the Invention

[0003] We have determined that a gas turbine arrangement may be configured to utilize a fuel that may result in an inefficient use of energy to vaporize the fuel to supply to the gas turbine. For example, the fuel may be stored as a cryogenic liquid (e.g., liquid natural gas or liquid hydrogen) or a cold liquid (e.g., liquid ammonia), and the energy utilized to form the cold liquid may be lost when the fuel vaporizes (e.g., via an ambient air vaporizer). We have determined that while the intake air is passing through a filtering device to be supplied to the gas turbine as an oxidizer, at least a portion of the liquid fuel may be supplied to an intake air filter for vaporization within the filtering device. We have determined that this type of approach allows the air to be cooled as it is filtered to provide improved performance as an oxidizer in the gas turbine, while also providing a heating medium for vaporization of at least a portion of the fuel to supply the gas turbine for combustion therein. We have also determined that such an approach may help prevent fouling of the heat exchanger by facilitating heat exchange between the air and the fuel after the air has passed through at least one filter mechanism to remove particulates from the air.

[0004] It has been determined that embodiments of our apparatus and process can facilitate improved gas turbine operation to enable a more efficient and cost-effective approach for vaporizing fuel and pre-treating air for delivery as an oxidant to the gas turbine. Embodiments can also provide enhanced operational flexibility such that fuel vaporization via an inlet air filter can occur only when necessary to help cool the air to a desired delivery temperature, providing more flexibility in light of changing ambient conditions and gas turbine operating requirements.

[0005] It has also been determined that embodiments may enable more efficient use of low temperatures of liquefied fuel, which may be relatively low temperatures (e.g., liquid ammonia, which may be stored at temperatures between −6° C. and −35° C. or −30° C. to −33° C.), or low temperatures of cryogenic liquid fuel (e.g., liquid natural gas or liquid hydrogen) stored as a fuel source for the gas turbine, such that less of the energy utilized to cool the fuel to a liquid is lost when the fuel is delivered to the gas turbine for combustion therein. Improved energy efficiency may also enable the provision of a more environmentally friendly gas turbine operation providing reduced operating costs.

[0006] In some embodiments, the fuel that may be utilized may be ammonia and / or natural gas. Such fuels may be stored as cryogenic or cold liquids and then vaporized to be fed to the gas turbine for combustion therein. In situations where the fuel is ammonia, the ammonia may be provided via a green ammonia production process (e.g., the use of renewable energy to form ammonia from electrolysis of water to form hydrogen and air separation to provide nitrogen to form ammonia). Such embodiments may provide gas turbine operation that may be generated more efficiently while also providing relatively minimal or significantly reduced environmental impact.

[0007] In a first aspect, a gas turbine, operation of the gas turbine, and an apparatus for filtering and cooling air supplied to the gas turbine while also vaporizing at least a portion of fuel supplied to the gas turbine are provided. The apparatus can include an inlet filter unit having at least one filter element including a first filter element. The inlet filter unit can also have a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first filter element to vaporize the fuel via air passed through the inlet filter unit and to receive liquid fuel from a fuel storage tank to cool the air. The inlet filter unit can be positionable to output air after the air has passed through the at least one filter element and the heat exchanger to supply the air to a combustion chamber of the gas turbine. The heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit can be configured and positioned to output fuel such that the fuel is at least partially vaporized to supply to a combustion chamber of the gas turbine.

[0008] In some embodiments, the fuel may be ammonia, hydrogen, or natural gas, or may consist of ammonia, hydrogen, or natural gas (e.g., methane). The fuel may be liquid or primarily liquid when fed to the heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit and may be fully vaporized when output from the heat exchanger. In other embodiments, the fuel may be partially vaporized (e.g., a mixture of heated liquid and gas) when output from the heat exchanger. Such partially vaporized fuel may be mixed with other vaporized fuels in such embodiments to fully vaporize the fuel before supplying the fuel to the combustion chamber as a gaseous fuel.

[0009] In a second embodiment, the at least one filter element can include more than the first filter element. For example, the at least one filter element can also include a second filter element. The heat exchanger can be positioned between the first filter element and the second filter element.

[0010] In other embodiments, a first filter element can be configured to remove particulates from the air and a second filter element downstream of the first filter element can be configured to remove particulates and / or liquid water from the air. A heat exchanger can be positioned downstream of the first filter element and also downstream of the second filter element.

[0011] As another example, the at least one filter element can also include a third filter element downstream of the second filter element, where the first filter element can be configured to remove particulates from the air, the second filter element can be configured to remove liquid water and / or condensate from the air, and the third filter element can be configured to remove particulates and / or liquid water from the air.

[0012] In some embodiments, a third filter element may be positioned downstream of the heat exchanger, and the third filter element may be configured to remove liquid water and / or condensate from the air. For example, the third filter element may be spaced a preselected condensate drop distance (CFD) from the heat exchanger or a condensate drainage system downstream of the heat exchanger.

[0013] As yet another example, the at least one filter element can include a second filter element, and the heat exchanger can be positioned downstream of the first filter element and upstream of the second filter element. The second filter element can be spaced a preselected condensate drop distance (CFD) from the heat exchanger or a condensate drainage system downstream of the heat exchanger. In some configurations, the at least one filter element can also include a third filter element downstream of the second filter element, and the first filter element can be configured to remove particulates from the air, the second filter element can be configured to remove liquid water and / or condensate from the air, and the third filter element can be configured to remove particulates and / or liquid water from the air.

[0014] In yet other embodiments, the at least one filter unit may include more than three filter elements, with each additional filter element positioned to aid in removing particulates and / or liquids from the air that is cooled via vaporization of the fuel, which may occur via the heat exchanger.

[0015] In a third aspect, the inlet filter unit can have a condensate drainage system positioned downstream of the heat exchanger. The condensate drainage system can also (or alternatively) be integrated with the heat exchanger to facilitate drainage of condensate that may form via cooling of the air that may occur via fuel vaporization due to the transfer of heat from the air to the liquid fuel to vaporize the fuel.

[0016] In the fourth aspect, the device of the first aspect can include one or more features of the second aspect and / or the third aspect. It should be understood that different embodiments can include other features or combinations of features. Examples of different features that can be included in the exemplary embodiments can be understood from the description of the exemplary embodiments described herein.

[0017] In a fifth aspect, a gas turbine, operation of the gas turbine, and a process for filtering and cooling air supplied to the gas turbine while also vaporizing at least a portion of a fuel supplied to the gas turbine are provided, the process including: supplying air to an inlet filter unit for filtering the air, supplying a portion of a liquid fuel to a heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit for vaporization of the portion of the fuel via heat exchange with the air passing through the inlet filter unit, outputting the at least partially vaporized fuel from the heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit to the gas turbine, and outputting filtered air from the inlet filter unit to the gas turbine, the filtered air being cooled via heat exchange with the fuel.

[0018] Embodiments of the process may be utilized in conjunction with different types of fuels In some embodiments, the fuel may include or be ammonia, hydrogen, or natural gas (e.g., methane), for example.

[0019] In some embodiments of the process, the fuel may be liquid or primarily liquid when it is fed to the heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit and may be fully vaporized when it is output from the heat exchanger. In other embodiments, the fuel may be partially vaporized (e.g., a mixture of heated liquid and gas) when it is output from the heat exchanger. Such partially vaporized fuel may be mixed with other vaporized fuel in such embodiments to fully vaporize the fuel before supplying the fuel to the combustion chamber as a gaseous fuel.

[0020] In a sixth aspect, the process may include other steps. For example, the process may also include removing condensate formed as the air passes through the inlet filter unit. As another example, the process may include providing another portion of the liquid fuel to a vaporizer to vaporize the fuel, and mixing the vaporized fuel output from the vaporizer with the fuel output from the heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit before the fuel is provided to the gas turbine. As yet another example, the process may include filtering the air to remove particulates from the air as the air passes through the inlet filter unit.

[0021] As yet another example, the process may include cycling between cooling the air and vaporizing the fuel through the inlet filter unit, and then ceasing to supply fuel to the inlet filter unit heat exchanger to cool the air and vaporizing all fuel through another vaporization mechanism (e.g., an ambient air vaporizer, etc.) Such cycling may be configured to occur based on, for example, gas turbine operating data and / or ambient air conditioning data.

[0022] In a seventh aspect, the treatment may include removing liquid water and / or condensate from the air as it passes through the inlet filter unit.

[0023] In an eighth aspect, the process may utilize or be implemented via an embodiment of our apparatus for filtering and cooling air supplied to a gas turbine while also vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine.

[0024] In such an embodiment, the inlet filter unit can include a plurality of filter elements, including a first filter element and a second filter element, at least one of the filter elements being upstream of the heat exchanger. As discussed above, the filter elements can also include additional filter elements (e.g., a third filter element, a fourth filter element, etc.). In some embodiments, the first filter element may be configured to remove particulates from the air and the second filter element may be configured to remove liquid water and / or condensate from the air, or the second element may be configured to remove particulates and / or liquid water from the air. In some configurations, a third filter element may also be positioned downstream of the heat exchanger, and the first filter element may be configured to remove particulates from the air, the second filter element may be configured to remove liquid water and / or condensate from the air, and the third filter element may be configured to remove particulates and / or liquid water from the air.

[0025] In the ninth aspect, the process of the fifth aspect may include one or more features of the sixth aspect, the seventh aspect, and / or the eighth aspect. It should be understood that different embodiments may include other features or combinations of features. Examples of different features that may be included in the exemplary embodiments may be understood from the description of the exemplary embodiments described herein.

[0026] In a tenth aspect, a turbine apparatus is provided. The turbine apparatus may include an inlet filter unit having at least one filter element including a first filter element and a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first filter element to receive liquid fuel for vaporizing the liquid fuel via air passed through the inlet filter unit to cool the air. The inlet filter unit may be positionable to output air after the air has passed through the filter element to supply the air to a combustion chamber of the gas turbine. The heat exchanger may be configured and positioned to output fuel such that the fuel vaporizes for supplying to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine.

[0027] An embodiment of a gas turbine apparatus is provided that may be configured to implement an embodiment of a process for filtering and cooling air supplied to a gas turbine while also vaporizing at least a portion of a fuel supplied to the gas turbine. An embodiment of a turbine apparatus is provided that may also be configured to include an embodiment of an inlet filter unit of an embodiment of an apparatus for filtering and cooling air supplied to a gas turbine while also vaporizing at least a portion of a fuel supplied to the gas turbine.

[0028] It is understood that process and apparatus embodiments can utilize a variety of conduit arrangements and process control elements. Embodiments may utilize sensors (e.g., pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow sensors, concentration sensors, etc.), controllers, valves, piping, and other process control elements. Some embodiments can utilize, for example, an automated process control system and / or a distributed control system (DCS). A variety of different conduit arrangements and process control systems can be utilized to meet a particular set of design criteria.

[0029] Other details, objects and advantages of our gas turbine apparatus, apparatus for filtering and cooling air supplied to a gas turbine and simultaneously vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine, process for filtering and cooling air supplied to a gas turbine and simultaneously vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine, and methods of making and using the same will become apparent as the following description of certain exemplary embodiments thereof proceeds.

[0030] Exemplary embodiments of our processes for gas turbine operation, gas turbine measures, systems for gas turbine operation, processes for filtering and cooling air supplied to a gas turbine while also vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine, apparatus for filtering and cooling air supplied to a gas turbine while also vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine, and methods of making and using the same are illustrated in the drawings included herein. It should be understood that like reference characters used in the drawings may identify like components. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a gas turbine apparatus 1 that may include an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for filtering and cooling air supplied to the gas turbine while also vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine 21.

[0032] [Diagram 2] 2 is a block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of an inlet filter unit 9 that may be utilized in a first exemplary embodiment of a gas turbine system 21. FIG.

[0033] [Diagram 3]2 is a block diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of an inlet filter unit 9 that may be utilized in the first exemplary embodiment of a gas turbine system 21. FIG.

[0034] [Figure 4] 2 is a block diagram of a third exemplary embodiment of an inlet filter unit 9 that may be utilized in the first exemplary embodiment of the gas turbine system 21. FIG.

[0035] [Diagram 5] 2 is a block diagram of a fourth exemplary embodiment of an inlet filter unit 9 that may be utilized in the first exemplary embodiment of the gas turbine system 21. FIG.

[0036] [Figure 6] 1 is a flow chart illustrating a first exemplary embodiment of a process for filtering and cooling air supplied to a gas turbine and simultaneously vaporizing at least a portion of a fuel supplied to the gas turbine. This process embodiment may be implemented in embodiments of the inlet filter unit 9, the gas turbine device 1, and / or the device for filtering and cooling air supplied to a gas turbine and simultaneously vaporizing at least a portion of a fuel supplied to the gas turbine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] 1-5, the gas turbine system 1 can include a fuel source that can be stored in a fuel storage tank 3. The fuel storage tank 3 can include at least one container configured to store the fuel as a cryogenic liquid (e.g., liquid natural gas) or a liquid (e.g., liquid ammonia). The fluid in the fuel storage tank 3 can include a liquid and can be output from the fuel storage tank via a feed pump 5 connected to the fuel storage tank 3 via a feed pump conduit 2 connected between the feed pump 5 and the fuel storage tank 3. The feed pump 5 can be positioned to help drive the flow of fuel towards the gas turbine 11. For example, the feed pump 5 can increase the pressure of the fuel in the fuel storage tank 3 to a preselected operating pressure to supply the fuel to the gas turbine 11. Such a preselected operating pressure can be a pressure within a range of 40 atm to 80 atm, within a range of 20 atm to 60 atm, within a range of 20 atm to 80 atm, or within any other suitable pressure range.

[0038] For example, the feed pump 5 may be connected to a vaporizer supply conduit 4a connected between the feed pump 5 and the vaporizer 7. At least a portion of the fuel may be supplied to the vaporizer for vaporization via the vaporizer supply conduit 4a, so that the fuel may be output from the vaporizer 7 via a vaporizer output conduit 6 connected to the vaporizer, so that the fuel may be output from the vaporizer 7 as a gas for being supplied to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine as a gaseous fuel. The heating medium for the vaporizer 7 to heat the fuel and vaporize it may be ambient air, industrial process gas, or other suitable heating medium. A combustion chamber supply conduit 6b (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1 ) may be connected between the vaporizer output conduit 6 and the gas turbine 11 to supply the vaporized fuel output from the vaporizer to the gas turbine.

[0039] The supply pump 5 may also be connected to the inlet filter unit supply conduit 4b connected between the inlet filter unit 9 and the supply pump 5. A portion of the fuel output from the supply pump 5 may be passed to the inlet filter unit 9 via this conduit and vaporized via air passed through the inlet filter unit 9. The valve V may be positioned to adjust how much of the fuel output from the supply pump 5 is passed to the inlet filter unit 9. For example, the valve V may be connected to the inlet filter unit supply conduit 4b at a location between the inlet filter unit 9 and the supply pump 5. The valve V may be adjustable from a closed position in which no fuel is supplied to the inlet filter unit 9 and an open position in which a portion of the fuel is passed to the inlet filter unit 9 to vaporize in the inlet filter unit. A controller (not shown) having a processor connected to a non-transitory memory and at least one transceiver may be communicatively connected to the valve and may actuate the adjustment of the valve to different positions between its closed and open positions.

[0040] When a portion of the fuel is passed to the inlet filter unit 9, another portion of the fuel can still be passed to the carburetor 7 to be vaporized and then supplied to the gas turbine 11. In a situation where the valve V is closed, all the fuel output from the supply pump 5 can be passed to the carburetor 7 to be vaporized and then supplied to the gas turbine 11.

[0041] It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the conduit connected to the valve V and the supply pump 5 may be arranged such that when the valve V is in a fully open position, all of the fuel is passed to the inlet filter unit 9 for vaporization within the inlet filter unit and the carburetor 7 is not utilized to vaporize fuel under such operating conditions. In such embodiments, the carburetor supply conduit 4a may also include a valve that may be closed to help facilitate such flow of fuel to the inlet filter unit 9.

[0042] The air may be passed through the inlet filter unit 9 to be filtered and then output as a filtered air flow FA for supply to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine as the oxidant flow. A compressor or fan may be connected to an air supply conduit connected to the inlet filter unit 9 to supply the air to the inlet filter unit 9. The air output as the filtered air flow FA may be at a preselected air supply temperature. The preselected air supply temperature may be a temperature within a suitable preselected supply temperature range (e.g., a temperature between 15°C and 20°C, a temperature between 0°C and 30°C, etc.).

[0043] An oxidant supply conduit may be positioned between the gas turbine 11 and the inlet filter unit 9 to supply the filtered airflow FA output from the inlet filter unit 9 to a combustion chamber of the gas turbine 11. The inlet filter unit may include multiple filter elements (e.g., a first filter element 9a and a second filter element 9b, a first filter element 9a, a second filter element 9b and a third filter element 9c, etc.) and may also include a filter unit heat exchanger HX that may be incorporated within the inlet filter unit 9 to cool the air being filtered and also to vaporize a portion of the fuel that is passed into the inlet filter unit 9 via the inlet filter unit supply conduit 4b.

[0044] The fuel vaporized in the inlet filter unit 9 may be output from the inlet filter unit 9 as gas for supply to the gas turbine via the combustion chamber supply conduit 8, such that a first supply of vaporized fuel 10 may be supplied to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine 11. In some embodiments, the first supply of vaporized fuel may include fuel output from the vaporizer 7. In other embodiments, a second supply of vaporized fuel may be supplied to the combustion chamber via a combustion chamber supply conduit 6b connected between the gas turbine 11 and the vaporizer 7, such that the gaseous fuel output from the vaporizer 7 is the second supply of fuel.

[0045] For example, in some configurations or operating conditions, the combustion chamber supply conduit 6b may not be utilized (or may not be present at all) and the gaseous fuel output from the vaporizer 7 may be supplied to the gas turbine via the combustion chamber supply conduit 8. In such a configuration or arrangement, the combustion chamber supply conduit connecting conduit 6a may be connected between the combustion chamber supply conduit 8 and the vaporizer output conduit 6, so that the gaseous fuel output from the vaporizer may be passed into the combustion chamber supply conduit 8 for supply to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine as a first supply of vaporized fuel 10 or as a portion of the first supply of vaporized fuel 10 mixed with another portion of the vaporized fuel output from the inlet filter unit 9 (in the case where the fuel is supplied to the inlet filter unit 9 for vaporization and then supplied to the gas turbine 11).

[0046] In situations where the fuel output from the inlet filter unit 9 is mixed with the gaseous fuel output from the carburetor 7, the mixing may be provided via a mixing device (e.g., an in-line mixer, other type of mixing device) included in the combustion chamber supply conduit 8. Such a situation may occur, for example, when the valve V of the inlet filter unit supply conduit 4b is open or in an open position to supply fuel to the inlet filter unit to be heated therein. Such mixing may be beneficial in some situations or operating conditions to help ensure that the heated fuel output from the inlet filter unit is fully vaporized via mixing, since heat from the fuel output from the carburetor may be transferred to any fuel output from the inlet filter unit 9 that may not be fully vaporized.

[0047] The gas turbine 11 may receive an airflow FA as well as a supply of filtered gaseous fuel output from the carburetor 7 and / or inlet filter unit 9 for combusting the fuel in a combustion chamber of the gas turbine 11. The combustion of the fuel may drive the rotation of at least one shaft as exhaust gases including combustion products from the combusted fuel are output from the gas turbine 11 as an Exhaust stream. The exhaust may be vented to the atmosphere directly or after passing through an exhaust treatment system.

[0048] The inlet filter unit 9 having a plurality of filter elements and a heat exchanger HX for vaporization of the gas turbine fuel that may be supplied to the heat exchanger may have different configurations. Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 illustrate different examples of different inlet filter unit 9 configurations that may be utilized in the turbine apparatus 1 and the apparatus that may be included in the turbine apparatus 1 for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the gas turbine and at the same time also vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine 21. Such an inlet filter unit 9 may be considered a filter house or may be considered another type of filter device.

[0049] FIG. 2 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of an inlet filter unit 9 configured to filter air through multiple filter elements and also cool the air via heat transfer with fuel passed through a heat exchanger HX of the inlet filter unit 9 positioned between the filter elements of the inlet filter unit 9. For example, the air may pass through a first filter element 9a positioned upstream of the heat exchanger HX. The first filter element 9a may include one or more mesh elements or other types of particulate removal members for removing particulates from the air. Some embodiments of the first filter element 9a may also be configured to remove rain from the air as well. Removal of particulates and / or rain from the air may help protect the heat exchanger HX by preventing fouling of the heat exchanger elements. The air that has passed through the first filter element 9a may pass through the heat exchanger HX as a heating medium HM that may transfer heat from the warmer air to liquid fuel passing through the heat exchanger (fuel) to vaporize the fuel. The air exiting through the heat exchanger HX may then be a cooled air stream CA which passes through the second filter element 9b and the third filter element 9c.

[0050] In some embodiments, the second filter element 9b may be configured to condense or otherwise separate liquid water from the air (e.g., maintain liquid water in the filtered airflow FA output from the inlet filter unit 9 at a level below a preselected liquid water content threshold, such as liquid water or a minimum amount of liquid water) to prevent liquid water, which may be in the air, from migrating out of the inlet filter unit 9 and into the combustion chamber of the gas turbine 11. The second filter element 9b may be a water condenser, moisture separator, or other type of suitable water removal filter.

[0051] The third filter element 9c may be a hydrophobic filter configured to remove particulates from the air while also helping to remove liquid water from the air as well. The downstream third filter element 9c may help maintain the filtered air output from the inlet filter unit 9 having a liquid water content that is below a preselected liquid water content threshold and also having a particulate content that is below a preselected particulate content for the filtered airflow FA. In some embodiments, the filter elements may be arranged and configured such that a relatively small amount of fine particulates may exit the inlet filter unit (e.g., sub-micron sized particulate material, etc.).

[0052] The inlet filter unit 9 may also include a condensate drainage system 12 positioned adjacent to and downstream of the heat exchanger HX to help remove condensate that may form when air contacts one or more cold coils or heat transfer conduits of the heat exchanger HX through which liquid fuel may pass. The formed condensate that is drained may include, for example, liquid water that may condense out of the air when the air contacts one or more heat transfer conduits through which fuel may pass.

[0053] The inlet filter unit 9 may be arranged and configured such that there is a preselected condensate drop distance CFD between the heat exchanger HX (or the condensate drainage system 12) and the second filter element 9b downstream of the heat exchanger. The condensate drop distance CFD may be selected to facilitate the drop of condensate from within the cooled airflow CA, so that the condensate can help to fall and / or clump to facilitate filtering through the second filter element 9b and / or the third filter element 9c downstream of the heat exchanger HX. Preferably, the preselected condensate drop distance CFD is selected to allow a majority of the condensate to fall out of the air before reaching the downstream second filter element 9b, which may also help reduce the pressure drop that may occur from the air passing through the filter elements.

[0054] In the inlet filter unit 9 of Figure 2, the second filter element 9b and the third filter element 9c can be positioned or staged on the same filter wall to help reduce the size of the inlet filter unit 9, which can help reduce capital costs. Figure 3 illustrates an alternative where the second filter element and the third filter element are positioned in a spaced apart relationship, with the second filter element 9b positioned between the heat exchanger HX and the third filter element within the housing of the inlet filter unit 9 and spaced apart from the downstream third filter element.

[0055] 4 illustrates another embodiment of an inlet filter unit 9 in which a heat exchanger HX of the inlet filter unit 9 can be downstream of both the first filter element 9a and the second filter element 9b. In this exemplary embodiment, the first filter element 9a can be positioned upstream of the heat exchanger HX and upstream of the second filter element 9b. The first filter element 9a can include one or more mesh elements or other types of particulate removal members for removing particulates from the air.

[0056] A second filter element 9b, upstream of the heat exchanger HX and downstream of the first filter element 9a, may be configured as a hydrophobic filter configured to remove particulates from the air while also helping to remove liquid water from the air as well. The second filter element 9b may be positioned to help maintain the filtered air output from the inlet filter unit 9 such that it has a liquid water content that is below a preselected liquid water content threshold and also has a particle content that is below a preselected particle content for the filtered airflow FA.

[0057] A heat exchanger HX may be positioned downstream of the second filter element 9b so that air passing through the second filter element 9b may pass along one or more coils or other heat transfer conduits of a heat exchanger that acts as a heating medium HM and through which fuel passes to heat the fuel (thereby cooling the air) and form a cooled air flow CA. A condensate drain system 12 may be positioned downstream of the heat exchanger HX to help remove any condensate that may form when air contacts the low temperature heat transfer conduits of the heat exchanger HX through which fuel passes. The cooled air flow CA may be output as a filtered air flow FA from the inlet filter unit 9 after passing through the heat exchanger HX or after passing through the condensate drain system 12 without passing through any further downstream filter elements.

[0058] 4 may be utilized in some embodiments, but may not be ideal for some operating situations. For example, it is contemplated that having a heat exchanger HX downstream of the first filter element 9a and the second filter element 9b may result in allowing some moisture to pass out of the inlet filter unit 9 and be in the filtered airflow FA. In some situations, the liquid water content that may be present may exceed the desired or preferred liquid water content level of the filtered airflow FA that is supplied to the gas turbine 11. This is undesirable because the presence of liquid water may cause erosion or other problems on the compression side of the gas turbine 11 and / or other problems that may be undesirable for the performance of the gas turbine.

[0059] FIG. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of the inlet filter unit 9 in which the heat exchanger HX of the inlet filter unit 9 can be downstream of both the first filter element 9a and the second filter element 9b, and upstream of the third filter element 9c. In the exemplary configuration of FIG. 5, the first filter element 9a can be positioned upstream of the heat exchanger HX and upstream of the second filter element 9b. The first filter element 9a can include one or more mesh elements or other types of particulate removal members for removing particulates from the air. Also, the second filter element 9b, upstream of the heat exchanger HX and downstream of the first filter element 9a, can be configured as a hydrophobic filter configured to remove particulates from the air and at the same time also help remove liquid water from the air as well. The second filter element 9b can be positioned to help maintain the filtered air output from the inlet filter unit 9 such that it has a liquid water content that is below a preselected liquid water content threshold (e.g., no liquid water, no liquid condensate, etc.) and also has a particle content that is below a preselected particle content for the filtered air flow FA. Preventing liquid water from passing through all of the filter elements of the inlet filter unit 9 can be beneficial in some embodiments by helping to prevent salts that may be in the air from passing through the filter elements and out through the inlet filter unit 9, potentially contributing to corrosion or other degradation of downstream gas turbine equipment.

[0060] A heat exchanger HX may be positioned downstream of the second filter element 9b and upstream of the third filter element 9c so that air passing through the second filter element 9b may act as a heating medium HM and pass along one or more coils or other heat transfer conduits of the heat exchanger through which the fuel passes to heat the fuel (thereby cooling the air) and form a cooled air stream CA. A condensate drain system 12 may be positioned downstream of the heat exchanger HX to help remove any condensate that may form when air contacts the low temperature heat transfer conduits of the heat exchanger HX through which the fuel passes.

[0061] The third filter element 9c may be positioned downstream of the heat exchanger. The third filter element 9c may also be spaced apart from the heat exchanger HX or the condensate drainage system 12 by a preselected condensate drop distance CFD of space, so that condensate from within the cooled airflow CA may fall and / or clump to help facilitate filtering through the third filter element 9c downstream of the heat exchanger HX. Preferably, the preselected condensate drop distance CFD is selected to allow a majority of the condensate to fall out of the air before reaching the downstream third filter element 9c, which may also help reduce pressure drops that may occur from air passing through the filter element. The third filter element 9c may be configured to condense or otherwise separate liquid water from the cooled airflow CA after it passes downstream of the heat exchanger HX to prevent liquid water that may be in the air from migrating from the inlet filter unit 9 to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine 11 (e.g., to maintain liquid water in the filtered airflow FA output from the inlet filter unit 9 at a level below a preselected liquid water content threshold). The third filter element 9c may be a water coalescer, moisture separator or other type of suitable water removal filter.

[0062] One embodiment of our process for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the gas turbine and simultaneously vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine that may be implemented via an embodiment of an apparatus for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the turbine unit 1 and / or gas turbine and simultaneously vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine 21 is illustrated in Figure 6. It should be understood that the process may also include other steps in addition to those illustrated in Figure 6 to meet a particular set of design goals.

[0063] In a first step S1, air may be supplied to an inlet filter unit 9 (e.g. a filter house or other type of inlet filter unit 9) for filtering. The filtering of the air may remove particulates or may remove particulates and liquid water from the air. Such filtering may be provided, for example, by a first filter element 9a, a second filter element 9b, and / or a third filter element 9c, as described above.

[0064] In a second step S2, a portion of the liquid fuel may be provided to an inlet filter unit 9 (e.g., a filter house or other type of inlet filter unit 9). The fuel may be provided to the inlet filter unit for vaporization of the fuel via heat exchange with air that has passed through the inlet filter unit 9, for example, as described above. The passage of the fuel through the heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit 9 may occur while the air is being filtered in the inlet filter unit 9.

[0065] In a third step S3, the at least partially vaporized fuel may be output from the heat exchanger HX of the inlet filter unit and cooled filtered air (e.g., filtered air flow FA) may be output from the inlet filter unit 9 to supply vaporized fuel and filtered and cooled air to the gas turbine 11. Examples of outputs of filtered and cooled air and vaporized fuel from the inlet filter unit 9 to the gas turbine 11 are described above.

[0066] In an optional fourth step S4, at least some condensate that may form from air cooling in the inlet filter unit 9 may be removed. Condensate removal may be provided, for example, via at least one filter element and / or condensate drainage system 12, as described above. Condensate removal may remove at least a portion of the condensate from the air, so that the air output from the inlet filter unit no longer has such condensate or has a relatively small amount of condensate carried along with the air flow.

[0067] Embodiments of the process and apparatus may utilize a distributed control system (DCS) or an automated process control system to monitor and / or control operation. A controller of such a system may be utilized to control how much of the fuel is provided to the gas turbine 11, what percentage of the fuel is provided to the vaporizer 7 for vaporization, and how much of the fuel is provided to the inlet filter unit 9 for fuel vaporization and air cooling. Such control actions may be based on sensor data obtained from different sensors of the apparatus and / or operator inputs that may be provided to a controller of the control system. For example, a temperature sensor may be positioned adjacent to the exhaust outlet of the inlet filter unit 9 to measure the filtered air temperature of the filtered air flow FA output from the inlet filter unit 9. Such temperature data may be provided to the controller for use in adjusting the flow of liquid fuel provided to the inlet filter unit 9 (e.g., if the temperature of the filtered air flow exceeds a preselected high temperature threshold, more fuel may be provided to the inlet filter unit heat exchanger, and if the temperature is below a preselected low temperature threshold, less fuel may be provided to the inlet filter unit heat exchanger).

[0068] Embodiments of our process and apparatus may be configured such that the heat that may be required to vaporize the fuel supplied to the gas turbine may utilize the air supplied to the gas turbine as the oxidant stream to provide a more energy efficient fuel vaporization scheme that helps reduce the costs and environmental impacts associated with users of other options for heating the fuel (e.g., electric thermal vaporizers, etc.). Additionally, cooling of the oxidant supplied to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine may provide an advantage since it may help increase the air mass flow rate supplied to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine 11, which may improve the performance of the gas turbine. This may be particularly advantageous in warmer climates with hotter ambient air.

[0069] Furthermore, we have found that by vaporizing the fuel in the inlet filter unit, the heat exchange process used for vaporization can be more efficient and require less maintenance. For example, particulate removal upstream of the heat exchanger HX in the inlet filter unit 9 can remove particulates from the air, which can avoid fouling or other degradation issues. We have found that vaporizing the fuel using inlet air in the inlet filter unit 9 can help reduce the energy required to vaporize the fuel while simultaneously cooling the inlet air that is supplied to the gas turbine as an oxidant to improve turbine performance.

[0070] The embodiments may also provide improved operational flexibility to the turbine apparatus 1. For example, in some operating situations, it may not be desirable to utilize the inlet filter unit for fuel vaporization. This may occur, for example, during turbine start-up operations or due to maintenance work that may be required on the heat exchanger HX of the inlet filter unit 9. In such situations, the valve V of the inlet filter unit supply conduit 4b may be closed and all fuel may be supplied to the vaporizer 7 to provide vaporized fuel to the gas turbine 11.

[0071] The valve V of the inlet filter unit supply conduit 4b may then be adjusted to an open position when it is advantageous to vaporize at least a portion of the fuel via the air that has passed through the inlet filter unit 9. The use of the inlet filter unit 9 for cooling the air and vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine 11 may provide improved operational flexibility that may be adapted to meet ambient operating conditions and operating requirements of the gas turbine 11, reducing turbine downtime and providing improved turbine performance.

[0072] As described above, the turbine unit 1 may be configured to operate at a preselected operating pressure. The preselected operating pressure may be a suitable pressure selected to take into account the size of the turbine unit, the fuel combusted therein, and other design criteria. Additionally, the operating temperature within the preselected temperature range may be selected based on the type of fuel combusted, the flow of air supplied to the gas turbine 11, the size of the gas turbine 11, and other design criteria.

[0073] Our process, apparatus, and system embodiments may be adapted to different turbine apparatus design criteria. For example, it should be understood that other embodiments may utilize different types of conduit arrangements, fuel storage tanks, and liquid fuel types (e.g., liquid ammonia, liquid natural gas, etc.). As another example, some inlet filter units 9 may include only a single filter element (e.g., a jet pulse filter, etc.), while others may include more than two filter elements, more than three filter elements, or more than four filter elements. As yet another example, some inlet filter units 9 may include a vane separator or other type of moisture removal device adjacent the inlet of the inlet filter unit 9 to help remove moisture from the air. It should be understood that other modifications may also be made to meet a particular set of criteria for different embodiments of the turbine apparatus 1, or the apparatus for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the gas turbine and simultaneously vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine 21.

[0074] It is therefore understood that modifications to the embodiments explicitly shown and described herein may be made to meet a particular set of design objectives or design criteria. For example, the arrangement of valves, piping, and other conduit elements (e.g., conduit connections, tubes, seals, valves, etc.) for interconnecting different units of equipment for fluid communication of fluid flow between different elements (e.g., pumps, valves, conduits, compressors, etc.) may be arranged to meet a particular plant layout design that takes into account the available area of ​​the equipment, the size of the equipment, and other design considerations. As another example, the flow rates, pressures, and temperatures of fluids passing through various equipment or system elements may be varied to account for different design configurations and other design criteria.

[0075] The gas turbine apparatus 1, the process for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the gas turbine and simultaneously vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine, and the process for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the gas turbine and simultaneously vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine may each be configured to include process control elements positioned and configured to monitor and control the operation (e.g., an automated process control system having at least one workstation including temperature and pressure sensors, flow sensors, a processor, non-transitory memory, and at least one transceiver for communicating with the sensor elements, valves, and a controller for providing a user interface for the automated process control system, which may be executed on the workstation and / or another computing device of the plant). It should be understood that embodiments may utilize a distributed control system (DCS) to implement one or more processes and / or control the operation of the apparatus or processes as well.

[0076] As another example, it is contemplated that certain features described individually or as part of an embodiment may be combined with other individually described features or parts of other embodiments. Thus, elements and acts of various embodiments described herein may be combined to provide further embodiments. Thus, while certain illustrative embodiments of processes, apparatus, systems, and methods of making and using the same have been shown and described above, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not limited to those embodiments and may be variously embodied and implemented in other ways within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for filtering and cooling air supplied to a gas turbine and simultaneously vaporizing at least a portion of fuel supplied to said gas turbine, said apparatus comprising: an inlet filter unit having at least one filter element including a first filter element, the inlet filter unit also having a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first filter element to vaporize the fuel via air passing through the inlet filter unit and to receive liquid fuel from a fuel storage tank to cool the air; the inlet filter unit is positionable to output the air after it has passed through the at least one filter element and the heat exchanger for supplying the air to a combustion chamber of a gas turbine; The heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit is configured and positioned to output the fuel such that the fuel is at least partially vaporized for delivery to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter element also includes a second filter element, the heat exchanger being positioned between the first filter element and the second filter element.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one filter element includes a third filter element downstream of the second filter element.

4. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first filter element is configured to remove particulates from the air, the second filter element is configured to remove liquid water and / or condensate from the air, and the third filter element is configured to remove particulates and / or liquid water from the air.

5. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first filter element is configured to remove particulates from the air, and the at least one filter element includes a second filter element downstream of the first filter element also configured to remove particulates and / or liquid water from the air.

6. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the first filter element and also downstream of the second filter element.

7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one filter element includes a third filter element downstream of the heat exchanger, the third filter element configured to remove liquid water and / or condensate from the air.

8. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the third filter element is spaced a preselected condensate drop distance (CFD) from the heat exchanger or a condensate drainage system downstream of the heat exchanger.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inlet filter unit includes a condensate drainage system positioned downstream of the heat exchanger.

10. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one filter element also includes a second filter element, the heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the first filter element and also positioned upstream of the second filter element, the second filter element being spaced a preselected condensate drop distance (CFD) from the heat exchanger or a condensate drainage system downstream of the heat exchanger.

11. the at least one filter element includes a third filter element downstream of the second filter element; 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first filter element is configured to remove particulates from the air, the second filter element is configured to remove liquid water and / or condensate from the air, and the third filter element is configured to remove particulates and / or liquid water from the air.

12. 1. A process for filtering and cooling air supplied to a gas turbine and simultaneously vaporizing at least a portion of a fuel supplied to the gas turbine, the process comprising: providing air to an inlet filter unit for filtering said air; providing a portion of the liquid fuel to a heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit for vaporization of the portion of the liquid fuel via heat exchange with the air passing through the inlet filter unit; outputting at least partially vaporized fuel from the heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit to a gas turbine, and outputting filtered air from the inlet filter unit to the gas turbine, the filtered air being cooled via the heat exchange with the fuel.

13. 13. The process of claim 12, including removing condensation formed as the air passes through the inlet filter unit.

14. providing another portion of the liquid fuel to a vaporizer to vaporize the fuel; and mixing the vaporized fuel output from the vaporizer with the fuel output from the heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit before the fuel is delivered to the gas turbine.

15. 13. The process of claim 12, comprising filtering the air to remove particulates from the air as the air passes through the inlet filter unit.

16. 16. The process of claim 15, comprising removing liquid water and / or condensate from the air as it passes through the inlet filter unit.

17. 16. The process of claim 15, wherein the inlet filter unit has a plurality of filter elements including a first filter element and a second filter element, at least one of the filter elements being upstream of the heat exchanger.

18. 18. The process of claim 17, wherein the first filter element is configured to remove particulates from the air, the second filter element is configured to remove liquid water and / or condensate from the air, or a second element is configured to remove particulates and / or liquid water from the air.

19. the filter elements also including a third filter element downstream of the heat exchanger; 18. The process of claim 17, wherein the first filter element is configured to remove particulates from the air, the second filter element is configured to remove liquid water and / or condensate from the air, and the third filter element is configured to remove particulates and / or liquid water from the air.

20. 1. A turbine apparatus comprising: an inlet filter unit having at least one filter element including a first filter element and a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first filter element to receive liquid fuel for vaporizing the liquid fuel via air passing through the inlet filter unit to cool the air; the inlet filter unit is positionable to output the air after it has passed through the filter element for supplying the air to a combustion chamber of a gas turbine; The heat exchanger is constructed and positioned to output the fuel such that the fuel is vaporized for delivery to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine.

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