Movable Cone Oxidant Intake for Gas Turbine Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine systems face challenges with fixed oxidant intake systems that hinder maintenance and replacement, requiring costly and time-consuming disassembly or removal, which increases downtime and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A movable cone system within the oxidant intake system that can retract into the plenum, allowing for inspection or replacement of gas turbines without removing the intake system, coupled with a water wash system that retracts with the cone for reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the oxidant intake system is made fixed and substantial, then the structural stability and integrity are improved, but the ease of repair and maintenance are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The oxidant intake system is divided into modular segments including a fixed plenum and a movable cone section. This segmentation allows the stable plenum to remain fixed while the cone section can be independently moved for maintenance access, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The cone section is designed with dynamic movement capability along guide rails, transitioning from a fixed configuration to a movable one during maintenance. This dynamic feature allows the system to maintain structural integrity during operation while enabling easy access to compressor components during maintenance periods.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the oxidant intake system is made fixed and substantial, then the structural integrity is improved, but the loss of time for maintenance and replacement is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The movable cone section with hydraulic actuation enables rapid reconfiguration of the intake system without complete disassembly. The cone can be quickly retracted to create maintenance clearance or returned to its blocking position, significantly reducing maintenance time while preserving structural integrity through the robust plenum design.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable cone acts as an intermediary element between the fixed plenum and the compressor. It provides the necessary clearance for maintenance activities without requiring removal of the entire intake system, thus reducing maintenance time while maintaining the structural integrity of the permanent components.
3Reliability
If the cone is positioned to block access to compressor components, then the protection of components is improved, but the ease of operation for maintenance is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cone's position is dynamically adjustable between a blocking position that protects compressor components and a retracted position that provides maintenance access. The support system with guide rails and hydraulic actuation enables smooth transitions between these states, resolving the contradiction between protection and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable cone system enables self-service maintenance capabilities where the intake structure itself provides the mechanism for component access. By retracting the cone, maintenance personnel can directly access compressor components without requiring external equipment or complete system disassembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine system includes a plenum that includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is configured to receive a flow of oxidant and the outlet is configured to direct the flow of oxidant in a downstream direction. Additionally, a support system is coupled to the plenum and to a cone. The support system enables the cone to move along the support system from a first position to a second position. The cone includes an upstream end and the upstream end is removably coupled to the outlet of the plenum in the first position. When the cone is in the first position, the cone is configured to direct the flow of oxidant in the downstream direction to a gas turbine engine. The upstream end is disposed upstream of the outlet and is decoupled from the outlet when the cone is in the second position.