IP Library Granted Patent US 9,181,875
Granted Patent B2
US 9,181,875 · App. 13/434,809 · Granted Nov 10, 2015

Gas turbine air intake manifold controllably changing a mechnical rigidity of the walls of said intake manifold

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,181,875
App. No.
13/434,809
Granted
Nov 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An intake manifold is provided for inducting combustion air for a compressor of a gas turbine. The intake manifold includes a plurality of walls that delimit against the environment. Devices are provided for controllable change of the mechanical rigidity of the walls to reduce noise which is generated or is emitted in an air intake region during operation of the gas turbine. A gas turbine is also provided and includes an air intake to which air to be compressed is fed via an intake manifold. The intake manifold having a plurality of walls that delimit against the environment. Devices are provided to controllably change a mechanical rigidity of the walls to reduce noise which is generated or emitted in an air intake region during operation of the gas turbine.

Claims (25)

1. An intake manifold for inducting combustion air for a compressor of a gas turbine, the intake manifold comprising:

a plurality of walls that delimit against the environment;

devices are provided to controllably change a mechanical rigidity of the walls to reduce noise which is generated or is emitted in an air intake region during operation of the gas turbine;

wherein the devices for the controllable change of a mechanical rigidity of the walls comprise piezoelements which are connected to a control unit; and

wherein the walls comprise wall plates which, with the aid of frames and/or stiffening girders, are mechanically stiffened, the piezoelements are arranged at predetermined points between the wall plates and the frames or stiffening girders in such a way that as a result of their actuation the mechanical rigidity of the wall plates can be changed.

2. The intake manifold as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one sound sensor is arranged in the air intake region of the gas turbine, and the sound sensor is connected to the control unit.

3. The intake manifold as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured such that, by actuation of the piezoelements in accordance with a measured sound in the air intake region, it influences the rigidity of the walls so that sound in the air intake region is reduced.

4. The intake manifold as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the piezoelements exert a force upon the wall plates which is directed perpendicularly to a plane of the plates.

5. The intake manifold as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the piezoelements exert a force upon the wall plates which is directed parallel to the plane of the plates.

6. The gas turbine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the piezoelements are arranged between the wall plates and the frames.

7. The gas turbine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the piezoelements are arranged between the wall plates and the stiffening girders.

8. The gas turbine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the wall plates includes at least one stiffening girder, the at least one stiffening girder comprising at least one diagonal reinforcement member.

9. The gas turbine as claimed in claim 8 , where the at least one diagonal reinforcement member comprises two diagonally extending reinforcement members, which cross in a center thereof.

10. The gas turbine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the wall plates includes at least one stiffening girder, the at least one stiffening girder being angled in a shape of an L, and wherein upon receiving a control signal from the control unit, at least one piezoelements exerts a force upon the wall plate, and wherein the force is directed perpendicularly to a plane of the wall plate.

11. The gas turbine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the walls are an outer wall of the air intake manifold.

12. The gas turbine as claimed in claim 11 , comprising:

stiffening blocks arranged beneath the stiffening girders between spaced apart piezoelements.

13. A gas turbine, for inducting combustion air for a compressor, comprising:

an air intake to which air to be compressed is fed via an intake manifold, the intake manifold having a plurality of walls that delimit against the environment, wherein devices are provided to controllably change a mechanical rigidity of the walls to reduce noise which is generated or emitted in an air intake region during operation of the gas turbine;

wherein the devices for the controllable change of a mechanical rigidity of the walls comprise piezoelements which are connected to a control unit; and

wherein the walls comprise wall plates which, with the aid of frames and/or stiffening girders, are mechanically stiffened, the piezoelements are arranged at predetermined points between the wall plates and the frames or stiffening girders in such a way that as a result of their actuation the mechanical rigidity of the wall plates can be changed.

14. The gas turbine as claimed in claim 13 , wherein at least one sound sensor is arranged in the air intake region of the gas turbine, the sound sensor is connected to the control unit.

15. The gas turbine as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the control unit is configured such that, by actuation of the piezoelements in accordance with a measured sound in the air intake region, it influences the rigidity of the walls so that sound in the air intake region is reduced.

16. The gas turbine as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the piezoelements exert a force upon the wall plates which is directed perpendicularly to a plane of the plates.

17. The gas turbine as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the piezoelements exert a force upon the wall plates which is directed parallel to a plane of the plates.

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 May 8, 2012
From: BUSEKROS, ARMIN; KRAMER, THOMAS; FISCHER, JOCHEM; HOFFMANN, JUERGEN
To: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
Reel/Frame 028172/0987 →