Concentric Air Intake Filter Assembly with Alignment Ring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current combustion turbine air intake filter assemblies require frequent and costly changes, leading to inefficiencies and potential turbine damage due to improper filter seating and exposure to adverse conditions, necessitating a solution for extending high-efficiency filter life and enabling filter replacements without shutting down the turbine.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of concentrically mounted filters with a filter alignment ring system that allows for sealed interfaces and easy replacement of upstream filters while the turbine is operational, using a structural support and end nut mechanism to maintain a sealed connection and prevent unfiltered air from entering the manifold.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the entire filter assembly is changed out frequently to prevent turbine exposure to contaminants, then turbine reliability is improved, but operational loss and direct costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveturbine reliabilityVSAvoidenergy production loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The filter assembly is segmented into multiple independently replaceable filter stages (pre-filter, intermediate filter, high-efficiency filter). This allows the high-efficiency filter to be retained and continued operated while only the fouled pre-filter or intermediate filter is replaced, preventing turbine exposure to contaminants without requiring complete assembly replacement and thus avoiding energy production loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design enables selective discarding of only the fouled filter stages (pre-filter or intermediate filter) while recovering and continuing to use the high-efficiency filter stage. This extends the operational life of the expensive high-efficiency filter and eliminates the need for complete assembly replacement, thereby reducing energy production loss while maintaining turbine reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Reliability

If the entire filter assembly is changed out frequently to prevent turbine exposure to contaminants, then turbine reliability is improved, but direct costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveturbine reliabilityVSAvoiddirect costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The filter assembly is divided into separate replaceable stages, allowing the high-efficiency filter to be retained while only the fouled pre-filter or intermediate filter is replaced. This reduces the frequency of complete assembly replacements and directly lowers material and labor costs associated with frequent changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables selective replacement of only the fouled filter stages while recovering the high-efficiency filter for continued use. This extends the service life of the expensive high-efficiency filter and reduces direct costs associated with purchasing and installing complete filter assemblies frequently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Productivity

If filter changeout is performed without shutting down the turbine, then productivity is improved, but proper hermetic seating becomes difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy productionVSAvoidhermetic seating precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The filter stages are segmented and mounted independently on the exhaust manifold, with the high-efficiency filter positioned to seal against the manifold flange. This segmentation allows the high-efficiency filter to remain in place during operation while enabling easy replacement of other stages without requiring turbine shutdown, and the seal design accommodates thermal expansion and contraction during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seal design incorporates flexibility to accommodate dynamic conditions during turbine operation, including thermal expansion and contraction of the exhaust manifold and filter assembly. This allows hermetic sealing to be maintained during operation while enabling filter replacement without shutdown.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If a single filter combines pre-filter and intermediate filter functions, then device complexity is reduced, but filter life is shortened due to premature fouling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter assembly complexityVSAvoidfilter life

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The filter functions are segmented into separate pre-filter and intermediate filter stages, each designed to handle specific contaminant ranges. This segmentation allows the high-efficiency filter to be protected from premature fouling by capturing larger particles in the pre-filter and intermediate stages first, thereby extending the life of the high-efficiency filter while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8801825B2Systems and methods for air intake filter assemblies

Publication Date: 2014.08.12 FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT CO

AI summary

Combustion turbine air intake filter assemblies, their components, and methods of use are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the assemblies may be useful, inter alia, for extending high efficiency filter life, reducing turbine downtime for filter assembly changeouts, or adjusting filter assemblies to address changing local conditions after the assemblies have been put into service.