The present invention discloses a novel apparatus and methods for augmenting the power of a gas turbine engine, improving gas turbine engine operation, and reducing the response time necessary to meet changing demands of an electrical grid. Improvements in power augmentation and engine operation include systems and methods for providing rapid response given a change in electrical grid.

The present invention discloses a novel apparatus and methods for augmenting the power of a gas turbine engine, improving gas turbine engine operation, and reducing the response time necessary to meet changing demands of an electrical grid. Improvements in power augmentation and engine operation include systems and methods for providing rapid response given a change in electrical grid.

The invention aims to shorten the time required for start-up and prevent excessive increases in the heat loads on turbine blades. A humid air turbine includes a compressor; a combustor; a turbine; an exhaust heat recovery unit for recovering the heat of turbine exhaust gas to generate high-temperature moisture; a fuel supply system having a fuel flow rate control valve; an exhaust temperature acquiring unit for acquiring a temperature of the exhaust discharged while the turbine is driven; a combustion gas moisture ratio calculating section for calculating a ratio of moisture contained in combustion gas; an exhaust temperature upper limit calculating section for setting an exhaust temperature upper limit based on the combustion gas moisture ratio and the pressure ratio; an exhaust temperature difference calculating section for calculating the difference between the exhaust temperature upper limit and the exhaust temperature; a fuel flow rate command value calculating section for calculating a fuel flow rate command value using the exhaust temperature difference; and a control command value output section for outputting a command signal to the fuel flow rate control valve based on the command value selected by a fuel flow rate command value selecting section.

The invention aims to shorten the time required for start-up and prevent excessive increases in the heat loads on turbine blades. A humid air turbine includes a compressor; a combustor; a turbine; an exhaust heat recovery unit for recovering the heat of turbine exhaust gas to generate high-temperature moisture; a fuel supply system having a fuel flow rate control valve; an exhaust temperature acquiring unit for acquiring a temperature of the exhaust discharged while the turbine is driven; a combustion gas moisture ratio calculating section for calculating a ratio of moisture contained in combustion gas; an exhaust temperature upper limit calculating section for setting an exhaust temperature upper limit based on the combustion gas moisture ratio and the pressure ratio; an exhaust temperature difference calculating section for calculating the difference between the exhaust temperature upper limit and the exhaust temperature; a fuel flow rate command value calculating section for calculating a fuel flow rate command value using the exhaust temperature difference; and a control command value output section for outputting a command signal to the fuel flow rate control valve based on the command value selected by a fuel flow rate command value selecting section.

A heat exchanger includes a separator member that divides a first flow passage from a second flow passage. The heat exchanger also includes a plurality of first hollow members that extend across the first flow passage at respective non-orthogonal angles. The plurality of first hollow members are fluidly connected to the second flow passage. Moreover, the heat exchanger includes a plurality of second hollow members that extend across the second flow passage at respective non-orthogonal angles. The plurality of second hollow members are fluidly connected to the first flow passage.

A heat exchanger includes a separator member that divides a first flow passage from a second flow passage. The heat exchanger also includes a plurality of first hollow members that extend across the first flow passage at respective non-orthogonal angles. The plurality of first hollow members are fluidly connected to the second flow passage. Moreover, the heat exchanger includes a plurality of second hollow members that extend across the second flow passage at respective non-orthogonal angles. The plurality of second hollow members are fluidly connected to the first flow passage.

An internal combustion engine includes an intake conduit fluidically coupled to ambient fluid and having an internal cross-sectional area and an engine cylinder fluidically coupled to the intake conduit. A fluidic amplifier is disposed within the intake conduit and is fluidically coupled to the ambient fluid and engine cylinder. The amplifier is further fluidically coupled to a source of primary fluid and is configured to introduce the primary fluid and at least a portion of the ambient fluid to the engine cylinder.

In a gas turbine system including a first gas turbine generator, a heat recovery steam generator and a steam turbine generator heat rejection system, the present invention relates to a method for CO.sub.2 capture from flue gas in said system, said method including: (a) diverting an amount of heat recovery steam generator flue gas from the CO.sub.2 capture plant; and (b) mixing the diverted heat recovery steam generator flue gas with an air stream, forming a combined gas stream, wherein (1) the combined gas stream is fed to a second gas turbine generator; (2) exhaust gas from the second gas turbine generator is mixed with exhaust gas from the first gas turbine generator, forming a combined exhaust gas stream; and (3) the combined exhaust gas stream enters the heat recovery steam generator, with the CO.sub.2 content of the combined exhaust gas stream increased through supplementary firing in the heat recovery steam generator.

In a gas turbine system including a first gas turbine generator, a heat recovery steam generator and a steam turbine generator heat rejection system, the present invention relates to a method for CO.sub.2 capture from flue gas in said system, said method including: (a) diverting an amount of heat recovery steam generator flue gas from the CO.sub.2 capture plant; and (b) mixing the diverted heat recovery steam generator flue gas with an air stream, forming a combined gas stream, wherein (1) the combined gas stream is fed to a second gas turbine generator; (2) exhaust gas from the second gas turbine generator is mixed with exhaust gas from the first gas turbine generator, forming a combined exhaust gas stream; and (3) the combined exhaust gas stream enters the heat recovery steam generator, with the CO.sub.2 content of the combined exhaust gas stream increased through supplementary firing in the heat recovery steam generator.

The invention is directed to a process to obtain a compressed gas starting from a starting gas having a lower pressure by performing the following steps: (i) increasing the pressure and temperature of a gas having an intermediate pressure by means of indirect heat exchange against a fluid having a higher temperature to obtain a gas high in pressure and temperature, (ii) obtaining part of the gas high in temperature and pressure as the compressed gas, (iii) using another part of the gas high in temperature and pressure as a driving gas to increase the pressure of the starting gas in one or more stages to obtain the gas having an intermediate pressure for use in step (i). The invention is also directed to a configuration wherein the process can be performed and directed to a process to generate energy using the process.