Gas Fuel Delivery Pressure Control for Hydrocarbon Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas turbine fuel systems require multiple heat exchangers and additional capital costs to maintain fuel temperature above the hydrocarbon dew point during startup operations, leading to inefficiencies and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a pressure changing device and a separator, controlled by sensing devices and a controller to determine and achieve a desired pressure for removing liquids from the fuel, reducing the need for multiple heat exchangers and optimizing fuel supply to the gas turbine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple heat exchangers are used to maintain fuel temperature above dew point during startup, then fuel temperature control is improved, but device complexity and capital costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the control parameter from temperature-based control (using multiple heat exchangers to maintain temperature above dew point) to pressure-based control (using a single pressure changing device to reduce pressure to an optimal value). This parameter transformation simplifies the system while maintaining the goal of preventing condensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for multiple heat exchangers by introducing a single pressure changing device that performs the essential function of preventing condensation through pressure reduction. This extraction removes unnecessary components while preserving the core function of fuel temperature control.
2Temperature
If multiple heat exchangers with independent heat sources are used during startup, then fuel temperature control is improved, but power consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms the control approach from thermal energy addition (using multiple heat exchangers consuming power) to pressure reduction (using a single pressure changing device). This parameter change eliminates the need for continuous power consumption while achieving the same temperature control objective.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the power-consuming heat exchanger components during startup operations, replacing them with a pressure changing device that achieves temperature control without requiring additional power input, thereby reducing operational costs.
3Reliability
If conventional fuel systems use heat exchangers to prevent condensation, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the control parameter from temperature maintenance (requiring multiple heat exchangers) to pressure reduction (using a single pressure changing device). This parameter transformation maintains reliability in preventing condensation while significantly reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary heat exchanger components by introducing a single pressure changing device that achieves the same reliability goal of preventing condensation through an alternative mechanism, thereby simplifying the overall system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces hardware costs, improves plant efficiency by minimizing the number of heating devices, and prevents damage to turbine components from liquids and condensates, while maintaining fuel temperature above the dew point.
Implementation Method 1
As the fuel expands through the flow control valve 18, the Joule-Thomson effect causes a decrease in the temperature of the fuel
Implementation Method 2
the separator 16 removes any condensed fluids (e.g., water, condensed hydrocarbons, etc.) from the fuel
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for supplying fuel to a gas turbine are described. A fuel may be received, and one or more parameters associated with the received fuel may be determined. Based at least in part upon the determined one or more parameters, a desired pressure for removing one or more liquids from the fuel utilizing a separator may be calculated. The operation of a pressure changing device may then be controlled in order to achieve the desired pressure. In certain embodiments, the operations of the method may be performed by a controller that includes one or more computers.