Combustion turbine having a single compressor with inter-cooling between stages
A combustion turbine is disclosed having a single shaft compressor that includes a low pressure side and a high pressure side. The compressor operation is optimized by inter-cooling within the compressor. In particular, a compressed fluid is extracted from a selected stage and the extracted fluid is cooled and returned to a selected stage within the compressor. The compressor inter-cooling improves engine performance and cycle performance, as measured by an increase in power or a decrease in heat rate for the same power.
1 . A compressor of a combustion turbine, comprising:
a shell;
a low pressure structure having a plurality of stages within the shell;
a high pressure structure having a plurality of stages within the shell; and
an intercooler that is positioned between the low pressure structure and the high pressure structure comprising:
an inlet that is fluidly coupled to the shell and extracts fluid from at least one stage;
a cooler that is fluidly coupled to the inlet and cools the extracted fluid; and
an outlet that is fluidly coupled to the cooler and returns the cooled fluid to at least one stage.
2 . The compressor according to claim 1 , further comprising a single shaft that mechanically couples the low pressure structure and the high pressure structure.
3 . The compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the cooler is a heat exchanger.
4 . The compressor according to claim 1 , wherein an inlet of the compressor receives ambient air.
5 . The compressor according to claim 1 , wherein an outlet of the compressor is fluidly coupled to a combustor.
6 . The compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one stage includes a row of rotating blades and a row of stationary blades.
7 . The compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet extracts the fluid after a sixth stage of the low pressure structure of the compressor.
8 . The compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the cooler cools the extracted fluid by at least 25% from an inlet temperature.
9 . The compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the intercooler extracts substantially 100% all of a total compressor fluid flow.
10 . The compressor according to claim 7 , wherein the outlet returns the cooled fluid after the sixth stage of the low pressure structure of the compressor.
11 . The compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the low pressure structure includes a least five stages.
12 . The compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the high pressure structure includes a least eight stages.
13 . A combustion turbine, comprising:
a compressor comprising:
a shell;
a low pressure structure having a plurality of stages within the shell;
a high pressure structure having a plurality of stages within the shell;
an intercooler that is positioned between the low pressure structure and the high pressure structure comprising:
an inlet that is fluidly coupled to the shell and extracts fluid from at least one stage;
a cooler that is fluidly coupled to the inlet and cools the extracted fluid; and
an outlet that is fluidly coupled to the cooler and returns the cooled fluid to at least one stage;
a combustor coupled to the compressor;
a turbine coupled to the combustor; and
a single shaft that mechanically couples the compressor and the turbine.
14 . The combustion turbine according to claim 13 , wherein the single shaft mechanically couples the low pressure structure, the high pressure structure and the turbine.
15 . The combustion turbine according to claim 13 , wherein the cooler is a heat exchanger.
16 . The combustion turbine according to claim 13 , wherein the inlet extracts the fluid after a sixth stage of the low pressure structure of the compressor.
17 . The combustion turbine according to claim 13 , wherein the cooler cools the extracted fluid by at least 25% from an inlet temperature.
18 . The combustion turbine according to claim 13 , wherein the intercooler extracts substantially all of a total compressor fluid flow.
19 . The combustion turbine according to claim 13 , wherein the outlet returns the cooled fluid after the sixth stage of the low pressure structure of the compressor.
20 . A compressor of a combustion turbine, comprising:
a shell;
a low pressure structure having a plurality of stages within the shell;
a high pressure structure having a plurality of stages within the shell;
a single shaft that mechanically couples the low pressure structure and the high pressure structure; and
an intercooler that is positioned between the low pressure structure and the high pressure structure comprising:
an inlet that is fluidly coupled to the shell and extracts fluid from at least one stage;
a cooler that is fluidly coupled to the inlet and cools the extracted fluid; and
an outlet that is fluidly coupled to the cooler and returns the cooled fluid to at least one stage.