Equipment and processes for gas turbine air filtering 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 a gas turbine, the operation of a gas turbine, and a process for filtering and cooling air supplied to the gas turbine and simultaneously vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine.

Background Art

[0002] Gas turbines can combust fuel for power generation or work. Examples of different types of gas turbines and gas turbine arrangements can be understood from U.S. Patent 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 determined that a gas turbine arrangement may be configured to utilize a fuel that could result in an inefficient use of energy for vaporizing the fuel to be supplied 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 used to form the cold liquid may be lost when the fuel vaporizes (e.g., via an ambient air vaporizer). We determined that at least a portion of this liquid fuel may be supplied to an intake filter for vaporization within a filtering device while the intake air passes through the filtering device to be supplied to the gas turbine as an oxidizer. We determined that this type of approach could allow the air to be cooled as it is filtered to provide improved performance as an oxidizer in the gas turbine, and at the same time, it could also provide a heating medium for vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel to be supplied to the gas turbine for combustion within the gas turbine. We also determined that such an approach could 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 filtering mechanism to remove particulate matter from the air.

[0004] We have determined that our apparatus and processing embodiments can facilitate improved gas turbine operation to enable a more efficient and cost-effective approach to fuel vaporization and pretreatment of air for supplying as an oxidizer to the gas turbine. The embodiments can also provide enhanced operational flexibility, allowing fuel vaporization through the intake filter to occur only when necessary to help cool the air to a desired supply temperature, thus offering greater flexibility to take into account changes in ambient conditions and gas turbine operating requirements.

[0005] Furthermore, it was determined that embodiments can enable more efficient use of low-temperature or cryogenic liquid fuels (e.g., liquid natural gas or liquid hydrogen) of liquefied fuels that may be stored as fuel sources for gas turbines at relatively low temperatures (e.g., liquid ammonia that can be stored at temperatures of -6°C to -35°C or -30°C to -33°C), so that less energy is lost when the fuel is supplied to the gas turbine for combustion. The improved energy efficiency can also enable more environmentally friendly gas turbine operation, which provides reduced operating costs.

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

[0007] In a first embodiment, a gas turbine, the operation of the gas turbine, and a device for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the gas turbine, and at the same time vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine are provided. The device may include an inlet filter unit having at least one filter element, including a first filter element. The inlet filter unit may also have a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first filter element to vaporize the fuel through the air that has passed through the inlet filter unit and to receive liquid fuel from a fuel storage tank to cool the air. The inlet filter unit may be positioned to output air after the air has passed through at least one filter element and the heat exchanger in order to supply air to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine. The heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit may be configured and positioned to output fuel so that the fuel is at least partially vaporized for supply to the 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 mostly liquid when supplied to the heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit and may be completely vaporized when output from the heat exchanger. In other embodiments, the fuel may be partially vaporized when output from the heat exchanger (e.g., a mixture of heated liquid and gas). Such a partially vaporized fuel may, in such embodiments, be mixed with other vaporized fuels to completely vaporize the fuel before supplying it to the combustion chamber as a gaseous fuel.

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

[0010] In other embodiments, the first filter element may be configured to remove particulate matter from the air, and the second filter element downstream of the first filter element may be configured to remove particulate matter and / or liquid water from the air. The heat exchanger may be positioned downstream of the first filter element and also downstream of the second filter element.

[0011] As another example, at least one filter element may also include a third filter element downstream of a second filter element. The first filter element may be configured to remove particulate matter from the air, the second filter element may be configured to remove liquid water and / or condensates from the air, and the third filter element may be configured to remove particulate matter and / or liquid water from the air.

[0012] In some embodiments, the third filter element may be positioned downstream of the heat exchanger and may be configured to remove liquid water and / or condensates from the air. For example, the third filter element may be located at a predetermined distance of condensate fall distance (CFD) from the heat exchanger or a condensate discharge system downstream of the heat exchanger.

[0013] As yet another example, at least one filter element may include a second filter element, and the heat exchanger may be positioned downstream of the first filter element and upstream of the second filter element. The second filter element may be separated from the heat exchanger or a condensate discharge system downstream of the heat exchanger by a predetermined condensate fall distance (CFD). In some configurations, at least one filter element may also include a third filter element downstream of the second filter element, and the first filter element may be configured to remove particulate matter from the air, the second filter element may be configured to remove liquid water and / or condensates from the air, and the third filter element may be configured to remove particulate matter and / or liquid water from the air.

[0014] In yet another embodiment, at least one filter unit may include more than three filter elements. Each additional filter element may be positioned to help remove particulate matter and / or liquid from the air being cooled via the vaporization of fuel that may occur through the heat exchanger.

[0015] In a third embodiment, the inlet filter unit may have a condensate discharge system positioned downstream of the heat exchanger. The condensate discharge system may also be (or alternatively) integrated with the heat exchanger to facilitate the discharge of condensates that may be formed through cooling of air, which may be generated through fuel vaporization resulting from the transfer of heat from air to liquid fuel to vaporize the fuel.

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

[0017] In a fifth embodiment, a gas turbine, the operation of the gas turbine, and a 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 are provided. The process may include supplying air to an inlet filter unit for filtering the air, supplying a portion of 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, and outputting 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, which is cooled via heat exchange with the fuel, to the gas turbine.

[0018] The processing embodiments can be used in combination with different types of fuels. In some embodiments, the fuel may include, or may be, ammonia, hydrogen, or natural gas (e.g., methane).

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

[0020] In a sixth embodiment, the process may include other steps. For example, the process may also include removing condensates that form as the air passes through the inlet filter unit. In another example, the process may include feeding 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 supplied to the gas turbine. In yet another example, the process may include filtering the air to remove particulate matter as the air passes through the inlet filter unit.

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

[0022] In a seventh embodiment, the process may include removing liquid water and / or condensates from the air as it passes through an inlet filter unit.

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

[0024] In such embodiments, the inlet filter unit may include a plurality of filter elements, including a first filter element and a second filter element, with at least one of the filter elements located upstream of the heat exchanger. As described above, the filter elements may 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 particulate matter from the air, and the second filter element may be configured to remove liquid water and / or condensates from the air, or the second element may be configured to remove particulate matter 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 particulate matter from the air, the second filter element may be configured to remove liquid water and / or condensates from the air, and the third filter element may be configured to remove particulate matter and / or liquid water from the air.

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

[0026] In a tenth aspect, a turbine device is provided. The turbine device may include an inlet filter unit, and the inlet filter unit includes at least one filter element including a first filter element and a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first filter element for receiving liquid fuel to vaporize the liquid fuel through the air passing through the inlet filter unit to cool the air. The inlet filter unit may be positioned to output air after the air has passed through the filter element for supplying the air to a combustion chamber of a 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] Embodiments of a gas turbine device are provided that may be configured to implement an embodiment of a process for filtering and cooling air supplied to a gas turbine and simultaneously also vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine. Embodiments of a turbine device are provided that may also be configured to include an embodiment of an inlet filter unit of an embodiment of a device for filtering and cooling air supplied to a gas turbine and simultaneously also vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine.

[0028] It should be understood that embodiments of the process and device may utilize various 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 may utilize, for example, an automatic process control system and / or a distributed control system (DCS). Various different conduit arrangements and process control systems may be utilized to meet a particular set of design criteria.

[0029] Our gas turbine device, a device for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the gas turbine and at the same time vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine, a process for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the gas turbine and at the same time vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine, and other details, objects, and effects of the methods for manufacturing and using them will become apparent as the following description of its specific exemplary embodiments proceeds.

[0030] Exemplary embodiments of our processes for gas turbine operation, gas turbine measures, systems for gas turbine operation, a process for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the gas turbine and at the same time vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine, a device for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the gas turbine and at the same time vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine, and methods for manufacturing and using them are shown in the drawings included herein. It should be understood that like reference characters used in the drawings can identify like components.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031] [Figure 1] It is a block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a gas turbine device 1 that can include an exemplary embodiment of a device for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the gas turbine and at the same time vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine 21.

[0032] [Figure 2] It is a block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of an inlet filter unit 9 that can be utilized in a first exemplary embodiment of a gas turbine device 21.

[0033] [Figure 3]This is a block diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of an inlet filter unit 9 that may be used in a first exemplary embodiment of a gas turbine device 21.

[0034] [Figure 4] This is a block diagram of a third exemplary embodiment of an inlet filter unit 9 that may be used in a first exemplary embodiment of a gas turbine device 21.

[0035] [Figure 5] This is a block diagram of a fourth exemplary embodiment of an inlet filter unit 9 that may be used in a first exemplary embodiment of a gas turbine device 21.

[0036] [Figure 6] This flowchart shows a first exemplary embodiment of a process for filtering and cooling the air supplied to a gas turbine and simultaneously vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine. Embodiments of this process can be implemented in embodiments of an inlet filter unit 9, a gas turbine apparatus 1, and / or an apparatus for filtering and cooling the air supplied to a gas turbine and simultaneously vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0037] Referring to Figures 1-5, the gas turbine system 1 may include a fuel source that can be stored in a fuel storage tank 3. The fuel storage tank 3 may 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 may include a liquid and may be able to be output from the fuel storage tank via a supply pump 5 connected to the fuel storage tank 3 via a supply pump conduit 2 connected between the supply pump 5 and the fuel storage tank 3. The supply pump 5 may be positioned to help drive the flow of fuel toward the gas turbine 11. For example, the supply pump 5 may increase the pressure of the fuel in the fuel storage tank 3 to a pre-selected operating pressure in order to supply fuel to the gas turbine 11. Such a pre-selected operating pressure may be in the range of 40 atm to 80 atm, 20 atm to 60 atm, 20 atm to 80 atm, or other preferred pressure ranges.

[0038] For example, the supply pump 5 may be connected to a vaporizer supply conduit 4a, which is connected between the supply pump 5 and the vaporizer 7. At least a portion of the fuel may be supplied to the vaporizer via the vaporizer supply conduit 4a for vaporization, and so the fuel may be output from the vaporizer 7 via a vaporizer output conduit 6 connected to the vaporizer, and so the fuel may be output from the vaporizer 7 as a gas for supply as gaseous fuel to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine. The heating medium for the vaporizer 7 for heating the fuel and vaporizing it may be ambient air, industrial processing gas, or other suitable heating medium. A combustion chamber supply conduit 6b (shown as a dashed line in Figure 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 a supply conduit 4b of the inlet filter unit, which is connected between the inlet filter unit 9 and the supply pump 5. A portion of the fuel output from the supply pump 5 is passed to the inlet filter unit 9 through this conduit and can be vaporized through the air that passes through the inlet filter unit 9. A 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 position 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 within the inlet filter unit. A controller (not shown) having non-temporary memory and a processor connected to at least one transceiver may be communicatively connected to the valve to 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 is still passed to the vaporizer 7 to vaporize and can then be supplied to the gas turbine 11. When valve V is closed, all the fuel output from the supply pump 5 is passed to the vaporizer 7 to vaporize and can then be supplied to the gas turbine 11.

[0041] 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 the fully open position, all fuel is passed to the inlet filter unit 9 for vaporization within the inlet filter unit, and the vaporizer 7 is not utilized to vaporize the fuel in such an operating state. In such embodiments, the vaporizer supply conduit 4a may also include a valve that can be closed to help facilitate such a flow of fuel to the inlet filter unit 9.

[0042] Air is passed through an inlet filter unit 9 and filtered, and can then be output as a filtered airflow FA for supply to the combustion chamber of a gas turbine as an oxidizer flow. A compressor or fan may be connected to an air supply conduit connected to the inlet filter unit 9 to supply air to the inlet filter unit 9. The air output as a filtered airflow FA can be at a pre-selected air supply temperature. The pre-selected air supply temperature may be within a range of preferred pre-selected supply temperatures (e.g., 15°C to 20°C, 0°C to 30°C, etc.).

[0043] An oxidizer supply conduit is 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 the combustion chamber of the gas turbine 11. The inlet filter unit may include a plurality of 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 can be incorporated into the inlet filter unit 9 to cool the filtered air and vaporize a portion of the fuel 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, so that a first supply of vaporized fuel 10 can 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, so that the gaseous fuel output from the vaporizer 7 constitutes the second supply of fuel.

[0045] For example, in some configurations or operating conditions, the combustion chamber supply conduit 6b may not be used (or may not exist 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 through the combustion chamber supply conduit 8 to be supplied to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine as a first supply of vaporized fuel 10, or as part of a first supply of vaporized fuel 10 mixed with another portion of vaporized fuel output from the inlet filter unit 9 (when the fuel is supplied to the inlet filter unit 9 for vaporization and then supplied to the gas turbine 11).

[0046] In situations where fuel output from the inlet filter unit 9 is mixed with gaseous fuel output from the vaporizer 7, the mixing may be provided via a mixing device (e.g., an inline mixer, or other types of mixing devices) contained in the combustion chamber supply conduit 8. Such a situation can occur, for example, when the valve V of the inlet filter unit supply conduit 4b is open, or in the open position for supplying 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 fuel output from the inlet filter unit and heated is completely vaporized through the mixing, since heat from the fuel output from the vaporizer can be transferred to any fuel output from the inlet filter unit 9 that may not be completely vaporized.

[0047] The gas turbine 11 can receive an airflow FA and a supply of filtered gaseous fuel output from the vaporizer 7 and / or inlet filter unit 9 to burn the fuel in the combustion chamber of the gas turbine 11. The combustion of the fuel can drive the rotation of at least one shaft as exhaust gas containing combustion products from the burned fuel is output from the gas turbine 11 as exhaust gas. The exhaust gas can be discharged into the atmosphere directly or after passing through an exhaust gas treatment system.

[0048] An inlet filter unit 9 having multiple filter elements and a heat exchanger HX for vaporizing gas turbine fuel that can be supplied to the heat exchanger can have different configurations. Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 illustrate different examples of different inlet filter unit 9 configurations that can be used in a turbine apparatus 1 and a device 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 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 another type of filter device.

[0049] Figure 2 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of an inlet filter unit 9 configured to filter air through multiple filter elements and to cool the air via heat transfer using fuel that has passed through the heat exchanger HX of the inlet filter unit 9, which is positioned between the filter elements of the inlet filter unit 9. For example, 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 filter members for removing particulate matter from the air. Some embodiments of the first filter element 9a may also be configured to remove rain from the air. Removal of particulate matter and / or rain from the air can 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 can pass through the heat exchanger HX as a heating medium HM that can transfer the heat of the warmer air to the liquid fuel passing through the heat exchanger (fuel) to vaporize the fuel. The air that has passed through the heat exchanger HX may then be a cooled airflow CA that 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 to prevent liquid water that may be present in the air as liquid water from leaving the inlet filter unit 9 and moving into the combustion chamber of the gas turbine 11 (for example, maintaining the liquid water in the filtered airflow FA output from the inlet filter unit 9 at a level below a pre-selected liquid water content threshold, such as liquid water or a minimum amount of liquid water). The second filter element 9b may be a water condenser, a moisture separator, or other type of suitable water removal filter.

[0051] The third filter element 9c may be a hydrophobic filter configured to remove particulate matter from the air and, at the same time, also help remove liquid water from the air. The downstream third filter element 9c can help maintain the filtered air output from the inlet filter unit 9, having a liquid water content below a pre-selected liquid water content threshold, and a particle content below a pre-selected particle content for the filtered airflow FA. In some embodiments, the filter elements may be arranged and configured so that relatively small amounts of fine particulate matter may pass through the inlet filter unit (e.g., submicron-sized particle material).

[0052] The inlet filter unit 9 may also include a condensate discharge system 12 positioned adjacent to and downstream of the heat exchanger HX to help remove condensates that may form when air comes into contact with one or more cold coils or heat conduits of the heat exchanger HX through which liquid fuel can pass. The condensates to be discharged may include, for example, liquid water that can condense from air when air comes into contact with one or more heat conduits through which fuel passes.

[0053] The inlet filter unit 9 may be arranged and configured such that there is a space of a pre-selected condensate drop distance CFD between the heat exchanger HX (or condensate discharge system 12) and a second filter element 9b downstream of the heat exchanger. The condensate drop distance CFD may be selected to facilitate the drop of condensate from the cooled airflow CA, thereby helping the condensate to drop and / or clump together, facilitating filtering through the second filter element 9b and / or third filter element 9c downstream of the heat exchanger HX. Preferably, the pre-selected condensate drop distance CFD is selected so that the majority of the condensate can drop from the air before reaching the downstream second filter element 9b, which can also help reduce any 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 and third filter elements are positioned in a separated 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 separated from the downstream third filter element.

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

[0056] A second filter element 9b located upstream of the heat exchanger HX and downstream of the first filter element 9a may be configured as a hydrophobic filter configured to remove particulate matter from the air and, at the same time, also help remove liquid water from the air. The second filter element 9b may be positioned to help maintain the filtered air output from the inlet filter unit 9, so that it has a liquid water content that is below a pre-selected liquid water content threshold and a particle content that is below a pre-selected particle content for the filtered airflow FA.

[0057] The heat exchanger HX may be positioned downstream of the second filter element 9b so that the air passing through the second filter element 9b can function 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, heating the fuel (and thereby cooling the air) and forming a cooled airflow CA. A condensate discharge system 12 may be positioned downstream of the heat exchanger HX to help remove any condensates that may form when the air comes into contact with the low-temperature heat transfer conduits of the heat exchanger HX through which the fuel passes. The cooled airflow CA may be output as a filtered airflow FA from the inlet filter unit 9 after passing through the heat exchanger HX or after passing through the condensate discharge system 12 without passing through any further downstream filter elements.

[0058] The embodiment shown in Figure 4 may be used in several embodiments, but may not be ideal for some operating conditions. For example, having a heat exchanger HX downstream of the first filter element 9a and the second filter element 9b is intended to allow some moisture to pass outside the inlet filter unit 9 and be present in the filtered airflow FA. In some situations, the possible liquid water content may exceed the desired or preferred liquid water content level of the filtered airflow FA 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] Figure 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of the inlet filter unit 9, in which the heat exchanger HX of the inlet filter unit 9 may be located 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 Figure 5, the first filter element 9a may be positioned upstream of the heat exchanger HX and upstream of the second filter element 9b. The first filter element 9a may include one or more mesh elements or other types of particulate filter members for removing particulate matter from the air. The second filter element 9b, located upstream of the heat exchanger HX and downstream of the first filter element 9a, may be configured as a hydrophobic filter configured to remove particulate matter from the air and, at the same time, also help remove liquid water from the air. The second filter element 9b may be positioned to help maintain the filtered air output from the inlet filter unit 9, so that it has a liquid water content that is below a pre-selected liquid water content threshold (e.g., no liquid water, no liquid condensates, etc.) and a particle content that is below a pre-selected particle content for the filtered airflow FA. Preventing liquid water from passing through all filter elements of the inlet filter unit 9 may be beneficial in some embodiments by helping to prevent salts that may be present in the air from passing through the filter elements and out of the inlet filter unit 9, potentially contributing to corrosion or other deterioration of downstream gas turbine equipment.

[0060] The heat exchanger HX may be positioned downstream of the second filter element 9b and upstream of the third filter element 9c, so that the air that has passed through the second filter element 9b can function 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, heating the fuel (and thereby cooling the air) and forming a cooled airflow CA. The condensate removal system 12 may be positioned downstream of the heat exchanger HX to help remove any condensates that may form when air comes into contact with the low-temperature heat transfer conduits of the heat exchanger HX through which the fuel passes.

[0061] A third filter element 9c may be positioned downstream of the heat exchanger. The third filter element 9c may also be positioned at a predetermined condensate fall distance CFD of space away from the heat exchanger HX or condensate discharge system 12, thereby helping condensate from within the cooled airflow CA to fall and / or clump together, facilitating filtering through the third filter element 9c downstream of the heat exchanger HX. Preferably, the predetermined condensate fall distance CFD is selected such that the majority of the condensate can fall from the air before reaching the downstream third filter element 9c, which can also help reduce any pressure drop that may occur from the 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 has passed downstream of the heat exchanger HX, thereby preventing any liquid water present in the air from moving from the inlet filter unit 9 to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine 11 (for example, maintaining the liquid water in the filtered airflow FA output from the inlet filter unit 9 at a level below a pre-selected liquid water content threshold). The third filter element 9c may be a water coalescer, a moisture separator, or other suitable type of water removal filter.

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

[0063] In the 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 can remove particulate matter or remove particulate matter 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 the second step S2, a portion of the liquid fuel may be supplied to the inlet filter unit 9 (e.g., a filter house or other type of inlet filter unit 9). The fuel may be supplied to the inlet filter unit for vaporization 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 can occur while the air is being filtered within the inlet filter unit 9.

[0065] In the third step S3, in order to supply vaporized fuel and filtered and cooled air to the gas turbine 11, 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 airflow FA) may be output from the inlet filter unit 9. An example of the output of filtered and cooled air and vaporized fuel from the inlet filter unit 9 to the gas turbine 11 is described above.

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

[0067] Embodiments of the processing and apparatus can be monitored and / or controlled using a distributed control system (DCS) or an automated processing control system. A controller of such a system can be used to control how much of the fuel is supplied to the gas turbine 11, how much of the fuel is supplied to the vaporizer 7 for vaporization, and how much of the fuel is supplied to the inlet filter unit 9 for fuel vaporization and air cooling. Such control operations can be based on sensor data obtained from different sensors in the apparatus and / or operator inputs that can be provided to the controller of the control system. For example, a temperature sensor can be positioned adjacent to the outlet of the inlet filter unit 9 to measure the filtered air temperature of the filtered airflow FA output from the inlet filter unit 9. Such temperature data can be provided to the controller for use in regulating the flow of liquid fuel supplied to the inlet filter unit 9 (for example, if the temperature of the filtered airflow exceeds a pre-selected high-temperature threshold, more fuel may be supplied to the heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit; if the temperature falls below a pre-selected low-temperature threshold, less fuel may be supplied to the heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit).

[0068] Our processing and apparatus embodiments can be configured to provide a more energy-efficient fuel vaporization scheme in which the heat that may be required to vaporize the fuel supplied to the gas turbine is utilized as an oxidizer flow through the air supplied to the gas turbine, thereby helping to reduce the costs and environmental impacts associated with other options for heating the fuel (e.g., electric thermal vaporizers) used by other users. Furthermore, cooling the oxidizer supplied to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine can help increase the air mass flow rate supplied to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine 11, thereby improving the performance of the gas turbine and thus providing an advantage. This may be particularly advantageous in warmer climates with warmer ambient air.

[0069] Furthermore, we found that vaporizing the fuel within the inlet filter unit makes the heat exchange process used for vaporization more efficient and requires less maintenance. For example, removing particulate matter upstream of the heat exchanger HX within the inlet filter unit 9 can remove particulate matter from the air, which can avoid fouling or other degradation problems. We found that vaporizing the fuel using the inlet air within the inlet filter unit 9 can help reduce the energy required to vaporize the fuel while simultaneously cooling the inlet air supplied to the gas turbine as an oxidizer to improve turbine performance.

[0070] The embodiment can also provide the turbine unit 1 with improved operational flexibility. For example, in some operating conditions, it may be undesirable to utilize the inlet filter unit for fuel vaporization. This may occur, for example, during turbine startup 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 the vaporized fuel may be supplied to the vaporizer 7 to provide the gas turbine 11.

[0071] The valve V of the inlet filter unit supply conduit 4b can then be adjusted to the open position when it is advantageous to vaporize at least a portion of the fuel through 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 can be adapted to meet ambient operating conditions and the operating requirements of the gas turbine 11, providing improved operational flexibility, reducing turbine downtime, and providing improved turbine performance.

[0072] As described above, the turbine unit 1 may be configured to operate at a pre-selected operating pressure. This pre-selected operating pressure may be a suitable pressure chosen to take into account the size of the turbine unit, the fuel burned within the turbine unit, and other design criteria. Furthermore, the operating temperature within a pre-selected temperature range may be chosen based on the type of fuel burned, the airflow supplied to the gas turbine 11, the size of the gas turbine 11, and other design criteria.

[0073] Embodiments of our processes, apparatus, and systems may be adapted to different turbine apparatus design criteria. For example, other embodiments may utilize different types of conduit arrangements, fuel storage tanks, and types of liquid fuels (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), 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 to the inlet of the inlet filter unit 9 to help remove moisture from the air. Other modifications may also be made to satisfy a specific set of criteria for different embodiments of the apparatus for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the turbine apparatus 1, or gas turbine, and at the same time vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine 21.

[0074] Accordingly, modifications to the embodiments expressly shown and described herein may be made to satisfy a particular set of design objectives or a particular set of design criteria. For example, arrangements of valves, piping, and other conduit elements (e.g., conduit connection mechanisms, tubes, seals, valves, etc.) for interconnecting different units of a device for fluid communication of fluid flow between different elements (e.g., pumps, valves, conduits, compressors, etc.) may be arranged to satisfy a particular plant layout design taking into account the available area of ​​the device, the size of the equipment, and other design considerations. As another example, the flow rate, pressure, and temperature of fluid passing through various device or system elements may vary taking into account different design configurations and other design criteria.

[0075] The gas turbine apparatus 1, a device for filtering and cooling the air supplied to the gas turbine and simultaneously processing for the operation of the gas turbine, a device for vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine, and the device 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 a processing control element positioned and configured to monitor and control its operation (e.g., an automated processing control system having at least one workstation including temperature and pressure sensors, flow sensors, a processor, non-temporary memory, and at least one transceiver for communicating with the sensor elements, valves, and a controller for providing a user interface for the automated processing control system which may be run on the workstation and / or another computer device in the plant). Embodiments should be understood to utilize a distributed control system (DCS) to implement one or more processes and / or similarly to control the operation of the apparatus or processes.

[0076] As another example, certain features described individually or as part of one embodiment may be combined with other individually described features or parts of other embodiments. Thus, further embodiments can be provided by combining elements and functions of the various embodiments described herein. Therefore, while specific exemplary embodiments of processes, apparatus, systems, and methods of manufacturing and using them are shown and described above, it should be clearly understood that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and can be embodied and practiced in various ways within the scope of the following claims. Examples of embodiments of the present invention are listed in the following sections [Aspect 1] to [Aspect 20]. [Aspect 1] A device for filtering and cooling the air supplied to a gas turbine, and at the same time vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine, wherein the device is The inlet filter unit comprises at least one filter element including a first filter element, wherein the inlet filter unit also has a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first filter element to vaporize the fuel through air that has passed through the inlet filter unit and to receive liquid fuel from a fuel storage tank to cool the air, The inlet filter unit is positioned to output the air after it has passed through the at least one filter element and the heat exchanger, in order to supply the air to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine. The apparatus wherein 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 supply to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine. [Aspect 2] The apparatus according to embodiment 1, wherein the at least one filter element also includes a second filter element, and the heat exchanger is positioned between the first filter element and the second filter element. [Aspect 3] The apparatus according to embodiment 2, wherein the at least one filter element includes a third filter element located downstream of the second filter element. [Aspect 4] The apparatus according to embodiment 3, wherein the first filter element is configured to remove particulate matter from the air, the second filter element is configured to remove liquid water and / or condensates from the air, and the third filter element is configured to remove particulate matter and / or liquid water from the air. [Aspect 5] The apparatus according to embodiment 1, wherein the first filter element is configured to remove particulate matter from the air, and the apparatus further includes a second filter element downstream of the first filter element, wherein at least one filter element is also configured to remove particulate matter and / or liquid water from the air. [Aspect 6] The apparatus according to embodiment 5, wherein the heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the first filter element and also downstream of the second filter element. [Aspect 7] The apparatus according to embodiment 6, wherein the at least one filter element includes a third filter element located downstream of the heat exchanger, the third filter element being configured to remove liquid water and / or condensates from the air. [Aspect 8] The apparatus according to embodiment 7, wherein the third filter element is separated from the heat exchanger or a condensate discharge system downstream of the heat exchanger by a predetermined condensate fall distance (CFD). [Aspect 9] The apparatus according to embodiment 1, wherein the inlet filter unit has a condensate discharge system positioned downstream of the heat exchanger. [Aspect 10] The apparatus according to Embodiment 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 upstream of the second filter element, and the second filter element is separated from the heat exchanger or a condensate discharge system downstream of the heat exchanger by a predetermined condensate fall distance (CFD). [Aspect 11] The at least one filter element includes a third filter element downstream of the second filter element, The apparatus according to embodiment 10, wherein the first filter element is configured to remove particulate matter from the air, the second filter element is configured to remove liquid water and / or condensates from the air, and the third filter element is configured to remove particulate matter and / or liquid water from the air. [Aspect 12] A process for filtering and cooling the air supplied to a gas turbine, and at the same time vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine, wherein the process is: To filter the aforementioned air, air is supplied to the inlet filter unit, In order to vaporize a portion of the liquid fuel through heat exchange with the air passing through the inlet filter unit, a portion of the liquid fuel is supplied to the heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit, A process comprising 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, which is cooled through the heat exchange with the fuel, to the gas turbine. [Aspect 13] The process according to embodiment 12, further comprising removing condensates formed as the air passes through the inlet filter unit. [Aspect 14] The other portion of the liquid fuel is supplied to the vaporizer to vaporize the fuel, The process according to embodiment 12, further comprising 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 supplied to the gas turbine. [Aspect 15] The process according to embodiment 12, further comprising filtering the air to remove particulate matter from the air as the air passes through the inlet filter unit. [Aspect 16] The process according to embodiment 15, comprising removing liquid water and / or condensates from the air as it passes through the inlet filter unit. [Aspect 17] The process according to embodiment 15, wherein the inlet filter unit has a plurality of filter elements, including a first filter element and a second filter element, and at least one of the filter elements is located upstream of the heat exchanger. [Aspect 18] The process according to embodiment 17, wherein the first filter element is configured to remove particulate matter from the air, or the second filter element is configured to remove liquid water and / or condensates from the air, or the second element is configured to remove particulate matter and / or liquid water from the air. [Aspect 19] The filter element also includes a third filter element downstream of the heat exchanger. The process according to embodiment 17, wherein the first filter element is configured to remove particulate matter from the air, the second filter element is configured to remove liquid water and / or condensates from the air, and the third filter element is configured to remove particulate matter and / or liquid water from the air. [Aspect 20] A turbine device, The inlet filter unit comprises at least one filter element including a first filter element, and a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first filter element to receive the liquid fuel to vaporize the liquid fuel through the air that has passed through the inlet filter unit and to cool the air, The inlet filter unit is positionable to output the air after it has passed through the filter element, in order to supply the air to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine. A turbine apparatus in which the heat exchanger is configured and positioned to output the fuel such that the fuel is vaporized for supply to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine.

Claims

1. A device for filtering and cooling the air supplied to a gas turbine, and at the same time vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine, wherein the device is An inlet filter unit comprising a first filter element, a second filter element positioned downstream of the first filter element, and a third filter element positioned downstream of the second filter element, wherein the inlet filter unit also comprises a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first filter element to vaporize the fuel through air passing through the inlet filter unit and to receive liquid fuel from a fuel storage tank to cool the air, and a condensate discharge system positioned adjacent to and downstream of the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger has at least one heat conduit through which the fuel can pass, and the at least one heat conduit is positioned to be in contact with the air as the air passes through the inlet filter unit. The second or third filter element is separated from the condensate discharge system by a predetermined condensate fall distance (CFD). The inlet filter unit is positioned to output the air after it has passed through the first filter element, the second filter element, the third filter element, and the heat exchanger, in order to supply the air to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine. The apparatus wherein 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 supply to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is positioned between the first filter element and the second filter element.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first filter element is configured to remove particulate matter from the air, the second filter element is configured to remove liquid water and / or condensates from the air, and the third filter element is configured to remove particulate matter and / or liquid water from the air.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the first filter element and also downstream of the second filter element.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third filter element is separated from the heat exchanger or a condensate discharge system downstream of the heat exchanger by a predetermined condensate fall distance (CFD).

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the first filter element and upstream of the second filter element, and the second filter element is separated from the heat exchanger or a condensate discharge system downstream of the heat exchanger by a predetermined condensate fall distance (CFD).

7. A process for filtering and cooling the air supplied to a gas turbine, and at the same time vaporizing at least a portion of the fuel supplied to the gas turbine, wherein the process is: To filter the aforementioned air, air is supplied to the inlet filter unit, In order to vaporize a portion of the liquid fuel through heat exchange with the air passing through the inlet filter unit, a portion of the liquid fuel is supplied to the heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit, This includes outputting 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, which is cooled through the heat exchange with the fuel, to the gas turbine, The inlet filter unit comprises a first filter element, a second filter element positioned downstream of the first filter element, a third filter element positioned downstream of the second filter element, a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first filter element to vaporize the fuel through the air that has passed through the inlet filter unit and to receive liquid fuel from a fuel storage tank to cool the air, and a condensate discharge system positioned adjacent to and downstream of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has at least one heat transfer conduit through which the fuel can pass, The at least one heat transfer conduit is positioned to come into contact with the air as it passes through the inlet filter unit. The process wherein the second or third filter element is separated from the condensate discharge system by a predetermined condensate fall distance (CFD).

8. The process according to claim 7, comprising removing condensates formed as the air passes through the inlet filter unit.

9. The other portion of the liquid fuel is supplied to the vaporizer to vaporize the fuel, The process according to claim 7, further comprising 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 supplied to the gas turbine.

10. The process according to claim 7, further comprising filtering the air to remove particulate matter from the air as the air passes through the inlet filter unit.

11. The process according to claim 10, further comprising removing liquid water and / or condensates from the air as it passes through the inlet filter unit.

12. The filter element also includes a third filter element downstream of the heat exchanger. The process according to claim 7, wherein the first filter element is configured to remove particulate matter from the air, the second filter element is configured to remove liquid water and / or condensates from the air, and the third filter element is configured to remove particulate matter and / or liquid water from the air.

13. A turbine device, The inlet filter unit comprises a first filter element, a second filter element positioned downstream of the first filter element, a third filter element positioned downstream of the second filter element, a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first filter element to receive the liquid fuel to vaporize the liquid fuel through the air that has passed through the inlet filter unit and to cool the air, and a condensate discharge system positioned adjacent to and downstream of the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger has at least one heat conduit through which the fuel can pass, and the at least one heat conduit is positioned to be in contact with the air as the air passes through the inlet filter unit. The second or third filter element is separated from the condensate discharge system by a predetermined condensate fall distance (CFD). The inlet filter unit is positioned to output the air after it has passed through the first filter element, the second filter element, the third filter element, and the heat exchanger, in order to supply the air to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine. A turbine apparatus in which the heat exchanger is configured and positioned to output the fuel such that the fuel is vaporized for supply to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine.

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