IP Library Granted Patent US 10,468,944
Granted Patent B2
US 10,468,944 · App. 15/415,622 · Granted Nov 5, 2019

System and method for synchronous condensing

Inventors: Vineet Sethi (Houston, TX); Robert Darin Swartz (Houston, TX)
Assignee: General Electric Company
H02K7/1823F02C6/00F02C7/36G05F1/70H02J3/1885H02J3/1892H02K7/10H02K7/108F05D2220/76Y02E40/32
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,468,944
App. No.
15/415,622
Granted
Nov 5, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method includes aligning a generator shaft axis of a generator, a clutch axis of a clutch, and a pump axis of a pump along a common axis. The method also includes coupling a supply line from the pump to a radial surface of the clutch. Further, the generator is configured to operate in a power generation mode and a synchronous condensing mode, and the pump is configured to supply a lubricant to the clutch in a radial direction that is substantially perpendicular to the common axis.

Claims (39)

1. A system comprising:

a generator coupled to a generator shaft about a generator shaft axis, wherein the generator is configured to operate in a power generation mode and a synchronous condensing mode, the generator is configured to supply a power output to a power grid when in the power generation mode, and the generator is configured to modify power on the power grid when in the synchronous condensing mode;

a clutch disposed about a clutch axis, wherein the clutch is configured to engage the generator shaft with a turbine shaft in the power generation mode, and the clutch is configured to disengage the generator shaft with the turbine shaft in the synchronous condensing mode; and

a pump disposed about a pump axis, wherein the pump is configured to supply a lubricant to the clutch;

wherein the generator, the clutch, and the pump are axially aligned such that the generator shaft axis, the clutch axis, and the pump axis form a common axis;

wherein the clutch is disposed axially between the pump and the generator;

wherein the generator shaft is configured to drive the pump when the generator is in the synchronous condensing mode.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the generator shaft is coupled to the pump and is configured to supply a mechanical power to the pump to drive the pump.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pump is directly coupled to a clutch assembly having the clutch disposed in a clutch housing.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pump is configured to supply the lubricant to the clutch in a radial direction relative to the common axis.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pump is configured to supply the lubricant to at least one of the generator, a gear box, or any combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 1 , comprising a gear box configured to transfer rotational energy from the turbine shaft to the generator shaft, wherein the turbine shaft is radially offset from the common axis.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pump is coupled to an end of the generator shaft.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the gear box comprises a quill shaft disposed about the common axis, and the generator shaft is disposed at least partially within the quill shaft.

9. The system of claim 1 , comprising a gas turbine coupled to the turbine shaft.

10. A system comprising:

a generator coupled to a generator shaft about a common axis, wherein the generator is configured to operate in a power generation mode and a synchronous condensing mode, the generator is configured to supply a power output to a power grid when in the power generation mode, and the generator is configured to modify power on the power grid when in the synchronous condensing mode;

a clutch disposed about the common axis, wherein the clutch is configured to engage the generator shaft with a turbine shaft in the power generation mode, and the clutch is configured to disengage the generator shaft with the turbine shaft in the synchronous condensing mode;

a pump disposed about the common axis, wherein the pump is configured to supply a lubricant to the clutch in a radial direction relative to the common axis; and

a gear box configured to transfer rotational energy from the turbine shaft to the generator shaft, wherein the turbine shaft is radially offset from the common axis;

wherein the clutch is disposed axially between the pump and the generator;

wherein the generator shaft is configured to drive the pump when the generator is in the synchronous condensing mode.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the generator shaft is coupled to the pump and is configured to supply a mechanical power to the pump to drive the pump in the synchronous condensing mode.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the gear box comprises a quill shaft disposed about the common axis, and the generator shaft is disposed at least partially within the quill shaft.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the pump is directly coupled to a clutch assembly having the clutch disposed in a clutch housing.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the pump is configured to supply the lubricant to at least one of the generator, a gear box, or any combination thereof.

15. The system of claim 10 , comprising a gas turbine coupled to the turbine shaft.

16. A method comprising:

aligning a generator shaft axis of a generator shaft of a generator, a clutch axis of a clutch, and a pump axis of a pump along a common axis, wherein the clutch is disposed axially between the pump and the generator, wherein the generator is configured to operate in a power generation mode and a synchronous condensing mode, wherein the clutch is configured to engage the generator shaft with a turbine shaft in the power generation mode, wherein the clutch is configured to disengage the generator shaft with the turbine shaft in the synchronous condensing mode, wherein the generator shaft is configured to drive the pump when the generator is in the synchronous condensing mode; and

coupling a supply line from the pump to a radial surface of the clutch, wherein the pump is configured to supply a lubricant to the clutch in a radial direction relative to the common axis.

17. The method of claim 16 , comprising coupling a gear box between the turbine shaft and the generator shaft, wherein the turbine shaft is radially offset from the common axis.

18. The method of claim 16 , comprising coupling the pump directly to a clutch assembly having the clutch disposed in a clutch housing, and coupling the clutch to the generator shaft.

19. A system comprising:

a generator coupled to a generator shaft about a generator shaft axis, wherein the generator is configured to operate in a power generation mode and a synchronous condensing mode, the generator is configured to supply a power output to a power grid when in the power generation mode, and the generator is configured to modify power on the power grid when in the synchronous condensing mode;

a clutch disposed about a clutch axis, wherein the clutch is configured to engage the generator shaft with a turbine shaft in the power generation mode, and the clutch is configured to disengage the generator shaft with the turbine shaft in the synchronous condensing mode; and

a pump disposed about a pump axis, wherein the pump is configured to supply a lubricant to the clutch;

wherein the generator, the clutch, and the pump are axially aligned such that the generator shaft axis, the clutch axis, and the pump axis form a common axis;

wherein the clutch is disposed axially between the pump and the generator;

wherein the pump is directly coupled to a clutch assembly having the clutch disposed in a clutch housing.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 065727/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2017
From: SETHI, VINEET; SWARTZ, ROBERT DARIN
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 041102/0055 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180212492A1 · Jul 26, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,416,264