Gas Turbine Inlet Air Heating System with Cooling Tower Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inlet air heating systems for gas turbine systems reduce heat energy available for steam turbines by transferring heat from condensate to ambient air, thereby decreasing steam turbine output.
Innovation Solution
An inlet air heating system that includes an inlet heat exchanger upstream of the compressor, a heating loop, and a heat transfer assembly to receive cooling tower fluid from a steam condenser, facilitating heat transfer from cooling tower fluid to heating fluid, which is then used to heat airflow, thereby increasing heat energy available for the steam turbine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If heat is transferred from condensate to ambient air to increase gas turbine efficiency, then gas turbine performance is improved, but steam turbine output is reduced due to heat energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
A heat transfer assembly acts as an intermediary between the cooling tower fluid pathway and the inlet air heating system. This intermediary component captures heat from the cooling tower fluid that would otherwise be wasted, and transfers it to the heating fluid that warms the compressor inlet air. This resolves the contradiction by providing an alternative heat source that doesn't deplete steam turbine energy reserves.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts heat from the cooling tower fluid pathway independently from the steam turbine heat extraction process. By taking out this alternative heat source from the cooling tower fluid, the system can heat the compressor inlet air without competing with the steam turbine for thermal energy from the exhaust gases, thus maintaining steam turbine output while improving gas turbine efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If heat is extracted from cooling tower fluid to heat inlet air, then energy availability for steam turbine is increased, but additional system complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling tower fluid pathway serves multiple functions: it cools the condenser and simultaneously provides a heat source for the inlet air heating system through the heat transfer assembly. This multi-functionality allows the system to generate additional energy for the steam turbine without requiring a separate dedicated heat source, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the added heat transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transfer assembly merges the cooling tower fluid pathway with the inlet air heating system into a unified thermal management architecture. By combining these previously separate functions into an integrated system, the patent reduces complexity through consolidation while maintaining the benefit of increased energy availability for the steam turbine.
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 configuration increases energy transfer to the steam turbine, enhancing its output by utilizing heat from cooling tower fluid instead of solely relying on heat from the steam turbine system.
Implementation Method 1
the inlet heat exchanger is configured to facilitate transfer of heat from the heating fluid to an airflow into the compressor
Implementation Method 2
The heat transfer assembly is configured to facilitate transfer of heat from the cooling tower fluid to the heating fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
An inlet air heating system for a gas turbine system (10) includes an inlet heat exchanger (52) configured to be positioned upstream of a compressor (16) of the gas turbine system (10). The inlet air heating system also includes a heating loop (56) fluidly coupled to the inlet heat exchanger (52). The heating loop (56) is configured to provide heating fluid (58) to the inlet heat exchanger (52), and the inlet heat exchanger (52) is configured to facilitate transfer of heat from the heating fluid (58) to an airflow into the compressor (16). Furthermore, the inlet air heating system includes a first heat transfer assembly (60) configured to receive cooling tower fluid (48) from a fluid pathway (44) extending between a steam condenser (39) and a cooling tower. The heat transfer assembly is configured to facilitate transfer of heat from the cooling tower fluid (48) to the heating fluid (58). The inlet air heating system also includes a second heat transfer assembly (68) configured to receive heated fluid from a steam turbine system (28), wherein the second heat transfer assembly is configured to facilitate transfer of heat from the heated fluid to the heating fluid (58).