IP Library Granted Patent US 8,806,873
Granted Patent B2
US 8,806,873 · App. 12/858,524 · Granted Aug 19, 2014

Method for operating a gas turbine plant

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,806,873
App. No.
12/858,524
Granted
Aug 19, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gas turbine plant has a compressor ( 2 ), a first combustion chamber ( 6 ) followed by a high pressure turbine ( 4 ), a second combustion chamber ( 10 ) and a low pressure turbine ( 5 ). In the first combustion chamber ( 6 ) a first gaseous fuel ( 8 ) is injected and combusted, generating first hot gases ( 9 ) that are at least partly expanded in the high pressure turbine ( 4 ), and in the second combustion chamber ( 10 ) a second fuel ( 11 ) is injected in the at least partly expanded hot gases generated in the first combustion chamber ( 6 ) and combusted, generating second hot gases ( 12 ) that are expanded in the low pressure turbine ( 5 ). In the first combustion chamber ( 6 ) water is also injected to increase the gas turbine plant power output. In the first combustion chamber ( 6 ) a water flow rate is injected compatible with a predetermined flame stability limit. In the second combustion chamber ( 6 ) the flame temperature is regulated to burn the non-combusted products generated in the first combustion chamber ( 6 ) to bring their amount below a predetermined emission limit, without exceeding a predetermined NO x emission limit.

Claims (30)

1. A method for operating a gas turbine plant having a compressor, a first combustion chamber followed by a high pressure turbine, a second combustion chamber, and a low pressure turbine, the method comprising:

defining a prefixed emission limit for the gas turbine plant;

injecting and combusting a first gaseous fuel in the first combustion chamber, generating first hot gases and non-combusted products above the prefixed emission limit;

at least partly expanding the first hot gases in the high pressure turbine;

injecting and combusting a second fuel in the at least partially expanded first hot gases in the second combustion chamber, generating second hot gases;

expanding the second hot gases in the low pressure turbine;

injecting water at least in the first combustion chamber to increase the gas turbine plant power output;

wherein injecting water comprises injecting in the first combustion chamber at a water flow rate such that flame stability in the first combustion chamber does not pass a predetermined flame stability limit; and

regulating flame temperature in the second combustion chamber to burn non-combusted products generated in the first combustion chamber to bring the amount of non-combusted products below a predetermined emission limit, and without exceeding a predetermined NO x emission limit.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein injecting water comprises injecting in the first combustion chamber up to a maximum water flow rate such that the predetermined flame stability limit is not passed, wherein the predetermined flame stability limit is defined by an operating condition with a lowest flame temperature with no pulsation generation.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein injecting water comprises injecting in the first combustion chamber at a maximum water flow rate such that the predetermined flame stability limit is not passed.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein regulating comprises regulating the flame temperature in the second combustion chamber at a temperature higher than the temperature of the first combustion chamber.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second fuel is a gaseous fuel.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein regulating comprises regulating the flame temperature in the second combustion chamber by regulating a water flow rate injected into the second combustion chamber.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein injecting water comprises increasingly injecting water in the second combustion chamber until an emission limit for the NO x is reached.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein injecting comprises increasingly injecting water in the second combustion chamber up to the stability limit of the second combustion chamber.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein injecting water comprises injecting water in the first and/or second combustion chamber as a water jet.

10. A method, for operating a gas turbine plant haying a compressor, a first combustion chamber followed by a high pressure turbine, a second combustion chamber, and a low pressure turbine, the method comprising:

injecting and combusting a first gaseous fuel in the first combustion chamber, generating first hot gases;

at least partly expanding the first hot gases in the high pressure turbine;

injecting and combusting a second fuel in the at least partially expanded first hot gases in the second combustion chamber, generating second hot gases;

expanding the second hot gases in the low pressure turbine;

injecting water at least in the first combustion chamber to increase the gas turbine plant power output, wherein injecting water comprises injecting in the first combustion chamber at a water flow rate such that flame stability in the first combustion chamber does not pass a predetermined flame stability limit;

regulating flame temperature in the second combustion chamber to burn non-combusted products generated in the first combustion chamber to bring the amount of non-combusted products below a predetermined emission limit, and without exceeding a predetermined NO x emission limit, and wherein regulating comprises regulating the flame temperature in the second combustion chamber by regulating a water flow rate injected into the second combustion chamber; and

wherein regulating the water flow rate comprises:

in a first period (I), injecting water in both the first and second combustion chambers;

in a second period (II) after said first period, injecting water in the first combustion chamber at a flow rate up to the stability limit of the first combustion chamber, and in the second combustion chamber at a constant flow rate, and

in a third period (III) after said first and second periods, when the stability limit for the first combustion chamber has been reached, injecting water at a constant flow rate, and injecting water at an increased flow rate in the second combustion chamber.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the second fuel is a gaseous fuel.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein injecting water comprises injecting water in the first and/or second combustion chamber as a water jet.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2017
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
To: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 041686/0884 →
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 18, 2010
From: SCHELL, SUSANNE; MEEUWISSEN, THIEMO; KOKANOVIC, STANKA; KAESER, JUERG; ALTHAUS, PETER
To: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
Reel/Frame 025375/0601 →