Offshore Gas Turbine Intercooler Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore gas turbine systems face challenges in concentrating high specific power within reduced available spaces, necessitating a compact footprint while maintaining efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system includes a gas turbine with a low pressure compressor, high pressure compressor, combustor, and turbines, where the low pressure compressor is driven by the intermediate pressure turbine, and the high pressure compressor by the high pressure turbine, with an intercooler positioned separately from the baseplate to increase air density and reduce compression work, and flexible connections to accommodate structural misalignments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the intercooler is integrated on the baseplate with the gas turbine, then the system occupies less space, but the system becomes more sensitive to structural deformations and sea motion
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate modules: the gas turbine assembly on its baseplate and the intercooler on a separate support structure. This segmentation allows each component to be independently positioned and mounted, reducing the overall sensitivity to structural deformations while maintaining a compact footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible connections act as intermediaries between the gas turbine and the intercooler, accommodating structural misalignments and sea motion. These flexible couplings transfer fluid while compensating for relative movements between the separately mounted components.
2Reliability
If the intercooler is positioned separately from the baseplate, then the system is more tolerant to structural deformations, but the overall footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intercooler is positioned in a different spatial location relative to the gas turbine, connected via flexible conduits that allow three-dimensional accommodation of misalignments. This dimensional flexibility enables separate mounting while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
3Productivity
If high specific power is concentrated in reduced spaces, then power generation efficiency increases, but the system becomes more sensitive to space constraints and structural deformations
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the system into separately mountable modules (gas turbine, intercooler, driven equipment), the design achieves high specific power in compact spaces while each module can independently accommodate structural deformations, maintaining reliability despite space constraints.
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 enhances power generation efficiency, reduces the overall footprint, and allows for flexible mounting to withstand structural deformations and sea motion, effectively addressing the space constraints in offshore applications.
Implementation Method 1
An intercooler is provided between the low pressure compressor and the high pressure compressor. Air at a first pressure value delivered by the low pressure compressor flows through the intercooler before being delivered to the high pressure compressor.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
The off-shore gas turbine system comprises a floating structure with at least one deck (25) and a baseplate (31) mounted on the deck. The baseplate supports a gas turbine (1) having: a low pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, a combustor, a high pressure turbine, an intermediate pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine. The low pressure compressor is driven into rotation by the intermediate pressure turbine and the high pressure compressor is driven by the high pressure turbine. The low pressure turbine has a load coupling. The system further comprises a driven equipment (57, 59) mechanically connected to the load coupling (21) of the low pressure turbine and driven into rotation by the low pressure turbine. An intercooler (19) is provided between the low pressure compressor and the high pressure compressor and connected to them through displacement-tolerant connections. The baseplate (31) is supported on the deck (25) separately from the intercooler (19).