Mobile electric power generation for hydraulic fracturing of subsurface geological formations
Providing mobile electric power comprising a power generation transport configured to convert hydrocarbon fuel to electricity and an inlet and exhaust transport configured to: couple to at least one side of the power generation transport such that the inlet and exhaust transport is not connected to a top side of the power generation transport, provide ventilation air and combustion air to the power generation transport, collect exhaust air from the power generation transport, and filter the exhaust air.
1. A system for providing mobile electric power, the system comprising:
a first transport including a gas turbine and an exhaust collector, wherein the exhaust collector is in communication with an exhaust of the gas turbine; and
a second transport including an exhaust stack,
wherein the first transport and the second transport are separate transports that are independently movable in a transportation mode,
wherein, in an operational mode, a first longitudinal facing side of the first transport faces a second longitudinal facing side of the second transport, and
wherein, in the operational mode, the exhaust collector is connectable to the exhaust stack between the first longitudinal facing side and the second longitudinal facing side.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust stack has an exhaust passage, the exhaust stack being configured to be movable between a first position and a second position, the exhaust stack in the first position being lowered on the second transport, and the exhaust stack in the second position being raised and pointing the exhaust passage vertically on the second transport.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second transport further includes a hinge and hydraulics permitting rotation of the exhaust stack between the first position and the second position, the exhaust stack in the first position being horizontal on the second transport.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein, in the transportation mode in the first position, a longitudinal side of the exhaust passage is parallel to the second longitudinal facing side of the second transport.
5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the exhaust stack includes an exhaust end connector, and wherein, in the operational mode in the second position, at least a part of the exhaust stack is positioned above the exhaust end connector.
6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising an expansion connection that is configured to interconnect the exhaust collector with the exhaust end connector between the first longitudinal facing side and the second longitudinal facing side.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the exhaust collector is disposed on the first longitudinal facing side of the first transport, and
wherein, in the operational mode, the exhaust end connector communicates with the exhaust collector on the first longitudinal facing side of the first transport.
8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the exhaust stack, when positioned in the second position, is configured to place the exhaust passage in fluid communication with the exhaust collector via the exhaust end connector.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first transport further comprises a generator.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first transport further comprises an inlet plenum, wherein the inlet plenum is in communication with an air intake of the gas turbine, and wherein the inlet plenum is disposed on the first longitudinal facing side of the first transport.
11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
an air inlet filter housing, wherein, in the operational mode, the air inlet filter housing is connectable with the inlet plenum to provide filtered combustion air to the gas turbine.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the air inlet filter housing is provided on the second transport.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first transport further comprises a turbine enclosure having an inlet on the first longitudinal facing side, and wherein, in the operational mode, the air inlet filter housing is further connectable with the inlet of the turbine enclosure to provide filtered air for ventilating and cooling the gas turbine.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first transport and the second transport includes a hydraulic walking system for positioning the first longitudinal facing side of the first transport at a predetermined distance and orientation relative to the second longitudinal facing side of the second transport.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the hydraulic walking system positions the first longitudinal facing side of the first transport and the second longitudinal facing side of the second transport to be substantially parallel to each other in the operational mode.
16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an auxiliary power generation transport that is separately and independently movable relative to the first transport and the second transport, wherein the auxiliary power generation transport is configured to generate electric power to at least one of start the gas turbine disposed on the first transport, and provide ancillary power where peak electric power demand exceeds an electric power output of a generator disposed on the first transport.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein electric power generated by a generator disposed on the first transport is in a range of 15-35 megawatts.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second transport further comprises an expansion joint configured to:
connect to the exhaust collector of the first transport in the operational mode without being supported by a mechanical apparatus external to the second transport; and
disconnect from the exhaust collector of the first transport to allow the first transport and the second transport to move independently relative to each other in the transportation mode.
19. A method for providing mobile electric power, the method comprising:
transporting, in a transportation mode, a first transport and a second transport to a predetermined location, the first transport and the second transport being separate transports that are independently movable in the transportation mode, wherein the first transport includes a gas turbine and an exhaust collector, the exhaust collector being in communication with an air exhaust of the gas turbine, and wherein the second transport includes an exhaust stack;
converting the first transport and the second transport to an operational mode by:
(i) positioning a first longitudinal facing side of the first transport and a second longitudinal facing side of the second transport to be substantially parallel to each other, and
(ii) connecting the exhaust collector to the exhaust stack between the first longitudinal facing side and the second longitudinal facing side; and
operating the gas turbine to generate mobile electric power.