Gas Turbine Intake Duct Drain Holes Prevent Compressor Water Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
In intake air cooling systems for gas turbines, drain water generated by condensation on the cooling coil often leaks from the drain pan and accumulates in the manifold, potentially entering the compressor and causing damage or lock, with existing solutions not addressing the leakage issue effectively.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates drain holes in the bottom surface of the intake duct downstream of the cooling coil and silencer, allowing drain water to be discharged externally, connected to a drain discharge line to prevent accumulation and entry into the compressor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a drain pan is provided under the cooling coil to collect drain water, then drain water can be collected, but drain water may still leak from the drain pan and enter the compressor
Solution Approach 1:
The drain water discharge function is segmented into multiple locations: the original drain pan and additional drain holes formed in the bottom surface of the intake duct at multiple positions downstream of the cooling coil. This segmentation ensures that even if the drain pan fails to collect all drain water, the additional drain holes provide alternative discharge paths to prevent water accumulation and compressor entry.
Solution Approach 2:
Drain holes are formed in advance in the bottom surface of the intake duct downstream of the cooling coil, creating preliminary discharge paths for drain water before it can accumulate and reach the compressor. This preliminary action prevents the harmful effect of water accumulation by providing advance escape routes.
2Productivity
If the cooling coil cools intake air effectively, then turbine output is maintained, but excessive drain water is generated during supercooling
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful byproduct (excessive drain water) is extracted from the system by providing multiple discharge paths through drain holes in the bottom surface of the intake duct. These drain holes are positioned downstream of the cooling coil to capture and remove excess drain water that would otherwise accumulate and cause harm, while allowing the cooling coil to continue operating at full cooling capacity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If drain water accumulates in the manifold, then it can be contained, but it may enter the compressor and cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom surface of the intake duct serves as an intermediary structure between the cooling coil and the compressor. By forming drain holes in this intermediate location, the system provides a mediator path that intercepts drain water before it can reach the compressor, allowing the water to be discharged safely without affecting compressor operation.
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 efficiently collects and discharges drain water, preventing compressor damage and breakdown by ensuring it does not enter the compressor, thus enhancing system reliability and performance.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling part provided in the intake duct and configured to cool the intake air by heat exchange with a cooling medium which is introduced from an outside
Implementation Method 2
moisture in the atmosphere is cooled by heat exchange with the intake air cooling coil and condensed into drain water
Data Source
AI summary
An intake air cooling system 100 for a gas turbine 18 is provided with: an intake duct 12 for leading intake air taken in from an intake-air inlet 22 to a compressor 14 of the gas turbine; a cooling part provided in the intake duct and configured to cool the intake air by heat exchange with a cooling medium which is introduced from an outside; a protruding step part 13 formed in a convex shape protruding from bottom surfaces 12a1, 12a2 of the intake duct disposed on a downstream side of the cooling part; and at least one drain hole 110 formed in the bottom surfaces 12a1, 12a2 of the intake duct disposed on the downstream side of the cooling part so as to discharge drain water, generated on a surface of the cooling part and dropping from the surface, to an outside of the intake duct.