Gas Turbine Line Modification for Foundation Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas turbine arrangements are typically designed to be specific to a particular manufacturer's type, making it difficult and costly to replace one type with another without requiring a new foundation, which results in significant downtime and potential loss of operating licenses.

Innovation Solution

Modifying the blow-off and extraction lines of the gas turbine arrangement to prevent collisions with the existing foundation, allowing a gas turbine of a different type to be mounted without changing the foundation, including adjustments such as position shifts, cross-sectional reductions, and insulation changes, and using adapter plates to compensate for differences in anchor points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a gas turbine arrangement of a first type is installed on a foundation specifically designed for it, then the assembly is reliable and collision-free, but the foundation cannot accommodate gas turbine arrangements of different types from other manufacturers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly reliabilityVSAvoidfoundation compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The gas turbine arrangement is divided into modular components (casing, compressor, combustion chamber, gas turbine) that can be independently positioned and adjusted on the foundation, allowing different types to be accommodated on the same foundation through modular reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves the adaptation from the foundation level to the component level by adjusting the spatial arrangement and positioning of individual gas turbine components in three-dimensional space, allowing type-specific arrangements on a universal foundation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the foundation is replaced to accommodate a new gas turbine arrangement from a different manufacturer, then the new arrangement can be installed, but significant downtime and high costs are incurred

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturer independenceVSAvoidpower plant downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The foundation is pre-configured with universal mounting structures and adjustment mechanisms that enable future installations of different gas turbine types without requiring foundation replacement, allowing seamless swaps during maintenance periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediary adaptation layer is introduced between the foundation and the gas turbine arrangement, consisting of adjustable mounting structures and positioning mechanisms that mediate between the fixed foundation and the variable turbine components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the foundation is replaced to accommodate a new gas turbine arrangement, then the new arrangement can be installed, but the operating permit may be lost requiring a new permitting process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign flexibilityVSAvoidoperating permit continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The foundation is designed with universal characteristics that can support multiple gas turbine types while maintaining the same legal and operational identity, allowing the existing operating permit to remain valid across different manufacturer types through functional equivalence

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If blow-off and extraction lines are modified to prevent collision with the foundation, then a gas turbine arrangement of a first type can be mounted on a foundation designed for a second type, but the modifications add complexity to the system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-type compatibilityVSAvoidline configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blow-off and extraction lines are designed with adjustable and movable sections that can be dynamically positioned to avoid collision with the foundation, using expandable joints and flexible routing that adapt to the specific spatial constraints of the installation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3837430B1Method for assembling a gas turbine arrangement on a foundation
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3837430B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3837430B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3837430B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for installing a gas turbine assembly (1) of a first type at a position of an existing power plant (12) where previously a gas turbine assembly of a second type was installed on a foundation (10) specially designed for said second type. The gas turbine assembly (1) comprises at least one housing (2), a compressor (3), a combustion chamber (4), a gas turbine (5), and a plurality of venting and removal lines (6, 7) guided along the exterior of the housing. The invention is characterized in that modifications to the venting and/or removal lines (6, 7) of the gas turbine assembly (1) of the first type are carried out in a first step, and the modified gas turbine assembly (1) is installed on the existing foundation (10) in a second step. The invention additionally relates to a gas turbine assembly.