IP Library Granted Patent US 7,216,486
Granted Patent B2
US 7,216,486 · App. 10/894,031 · Granted May 15, 2007

Method for operating a turbine group

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,216,486
App. No.
10/894,031
Granted
May 15, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

Relevant fuel-gas properties (X G ) are measured on an ongoing basis while a gas turbine group is operating. The C 2+ alkane content of the fuel gas is of particular interest in this context, since it has a significant influence on the ignitability of the fuel gas in the combustion chamber. The operating parameters of the gas turbine group are acted on directly as a function of the measured fuel-gas properties. In particular, in the case of the example of a gas turbine group with sequential combustion, the distribution of the fuel mass flows ({dot over (m)} EV , {dot over (m)} SEV ) between the combustion chambers ( 4, 8 ) of the gas turbine group is varied. Furthermore, if there is provision for inert media, such as water or steam, to be introduced, it is possible for the mass flow of inert media ({dot over (m)} ST ) to be controlled as a function of the measured fuel properties.

Claims (43)

1. A method for operating a gas turbine group, the gas turbine group including a fuel gas supply line and a device for determining fuel gas properties arranged in said fuel gas supply line, the method comprising:

determining at least one fuel gas property;

feeding the determined fuel gas property to a control system of the gas turbine group;

performing control action on the operation of the gas turbine group dependent on the determined fuel gas property, the control action being performed on at least one selected from the group consisting of the distribution of a fuel gas mass flow between different fuel gas outlet openings, a combustion air supply of burners of the gas turbine group, and the injection of inert media into a gas turbine group working fluid; and

selecting the content of C 2+ -alkanes as the fuel gas property.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

selecting the heating value as a supplemental fuel gas property.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

selecting the Wobbe-index as a supplemental fuel gas property.

4. A method for operating a gas turbine group, the gas turbine group including a fuel gas supply line and a device for determining fuel gas properties arranged in said fuel gas supply line, the method comprising:

determining at least one fuel gas property;

feeding the determined fuel gas property to a control system of the gas turbine group;:

performing control action on the operation of the gas turbine group dependent on the determined fuel gas property, the control action being performed on at least one selected from the group consisting of the distribution of a fuel gas mass flow between different fuel gas outlet openings, a combustion air supply of burners of the gas turbine group, and the injection of inert media into a gas turbine group working fluid;

selecting a first infrared spectral range such that absorption in said first spectral range is effected by C 2+ -alkanes;

selecting a second infrared spectral range such that absorption in said second spectral range is the effected by methane;

measuring the infrared absorption in at least said first and second spectral ranges; and

determining the fuel gas properties from the measured infrared absorption.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising:

selecting a third spectral range such that the absorption in said third spectral range is effected by carbon dioxide; and

measuring the infrared absorption in said third spectral range.

6. The method of claim 4 , comprising:

measuring the thermal conductivity of the fuel gas.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising:

feeding a fuel mass flow to a burner having multiple fuel supply lines; and

varying the distribution of the fuel mass flow to said fuel supply lines dependent on the determined fuel gas properties.

8. A method for operating a gas turbine group, the gas turbine group including a fuel gas supply line and a device for determining fuel gas properties arranged in said fuel gas supply line, the method comprising:

determining at least one fuel gas property;

feeding the determined fuel gas property to a control system of the gas turbine group;

performing control action on the operation of the gas turbine group dependent on the determined fuel gas property, the control action being performed on at least one selected from the group consisting of the distribution of a fuel gas mass flow between different fuel gas outlet openings, a combustion air supply of burners of the gas turbine group, and the injection of inert media into a gas turbine group working fluid;

operating said gas turbine group at a power output;

defining at least one critical value for at least one of the determined fuel gas properties; and

decreasing the power output upon detection of a critical value.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising:

shutting down the gas turbine group upon detection of a critical value.

10. The method of claim 8 , comprising:

defining an upper limit value of the C 2+ -alkane content; and

defining any value exceeding said upper limit value as a critical value.

11. The method of claim 4 , comprising:

feeding a fuel mass flow to a burner having multiple fuel supply lines; and

varying the distribution of the fuel mass flow to said fuel supply lines dependent on the determined fuel gas properties.

12. The method of claim 8 , comprising:

feeding a fuel mass flow to a burner having multiple fuel supply lines; and

varying the distribution of the fuel mass flow to said fuel supply lines dependent on the determined fuel gas properties.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2017
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
To: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
Reel/Frame 041731/0626 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 22, 2016
From: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
Reel/Frame 038216/0193 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2004
From: DOEBBELING, KLAUS; HAFFNER, KEN-YVES; RUETSCHI, ROLF; ZINN, HANSPETER
To: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
Reel/Frame 015340/0232 →