Micro Gas Turbine Designed To Limit Heat Losses Therefrom

Abstract

A micro gas turbine equipped with a valve mechanism by means of which the operation of the micro gas turbine can be influenced and optimized, particularly by regulating a supply of hot gas from the cabinet and/or the exhaust of the micro gas turbine to an inlet side of the compressor. When the temperature of ambient air is relatively low, thermal output and thermal efficiency of a micro gas turbine decrease. The present micro gas turbine compensates for the loss of thermal efficiency.

Claims

1. A micro gas turbine comprising: a compressor designed to take in and pressurize gas; a combustor designed to take in pressurized gas from the compressor and to generate hot gas on the basis of fuel combustion; a turbine designed to take in and expand hot gas generated by the combustor; a generator mechanically coupled to the turbine and designed to generate electric power on the basis of mechanical power; and a controller designed to control operation of the micro gas turbine, the controller being configured to repeatedly perform a process comprising: allowing hot gas as obtained during operation of the micro gas turbine to flow to the compressor; besides ambient air, checking an actual value related to output electric power of the micro gas turbine; when it is found that the actual value related to the output electric power is lower than a predetermined operative value, driving the micro gas turbine for increasing a rotational speed of the turbine and the generator until the predetermined operative value related to output electric power is achieved, to increase an extent to which hot gas is allowed to flow to the compressor each time the process is repeated; and performing the process as long as the rotational speed of the turbine and the generator is below a predetermined maximum value.

2. The micro gas turbine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to repeatedly perform a subsequent process once the rotational speed of the turbine and the generator has reached the predetermined maximum value, the subsequent process comprising: checking the actual value related to output electric power of the micro gas turbine; and when it is found that the actual value related to the output electric power is lower than the predetermined operative value, decreasing the extent to which hot gas is allowed to flow to the compressor until the predetermined operative value related to output electric power is achieved.

3. The micro gas turbine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to perform the repeated step of checking the actual value related to output electric power at a predetermined time interval.

4. The micro gas turbine according to claim 1 further comprising a valve mechanism which is associated with an inlet path to the compressor, the valve mechanism being controllable by the controller to open the inlet path of the compressor to hot gas as obtained during operation of the micro gas turbine.

5. The micro gas turbine according to claim 4 further comprising: a cabinet accommodating at least the compressor, the combustor and the turbine; and a purging mechanism designed to realize purging of the cabinet's interior by supplying air to the cabinet's interior; wherein the valve mechanism is controllable by the controller to open the inlet path of the compressor to the cabinet's interior for enabling the compressor to take in air supplied by the purging mechanism to the cabinet's interior.

6. The micro gas turbine according to claim 5, wherein the purging mechanism comprises a ventilating mechanism designed to generate a flow of air in the cabinet.

7. The micro gas turbine according to claim 4, wherein the valve mechanism is controllable by the controller to open the inlet path of the compressor to an exhaust associated with the turbine for enabling the compressor to take in exhaust gas from the turbine.

8. The micro gas turbine according to claim 7 further comprising: a cabinet accommodating at least the compressor, the combustor and the turbine; and a purging mechanism designed to realize purging of the cabinet's interior by supplying air to the cabinet's interior; wherein the valve mechanism is controllable by the controller to open the inlet path of the compressor to the cabinet's interior for enabling the compressor to take in air supplied by the purging mechanism to the cabinet's interior; and wherein the valve mechanism comprises a valve and a connection piece having three connection areas, the compressor being connected to one of the connection areas of the connection piece through the valve, the exhaust being connected to another of the connection areas of the connection piece, and the cabinet being connected to yet another of the connection areas of the connection piece.

9. The micro gas turbine according to claim 8, wherein the connection piece is Y shaped and comprises two bifurcation legs and a main leg, the compressor being connected to one of the bifurcation legs of the connection piece through the valve, the exhaust being connected to the other of the bifurcation legs of the connection piece, and the cabinet being connected to the main leg of the connection piece.

10. The micro gas turbine according to claim 1 further comprising a grid converter designed to output electric power generated by the micro gas turbine during operation thereof to an electric power grid.

11. The micro gas turbine according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined operative value related to the output electric power of the micro gas turbine is linked to a maximum allowable electric current level at the grid converter.

12. The micro gas turbine according to claim 1 further comprising a heat exchanger being configured and arranged to serve as a recuperator for pre-heating pressurized gas obtained from the compressor before being supplied to the combustor by allowing the pressurized gas to exchange heat with exhaust gas from the turbine.

13. The micro gas turbine (4) according to claim 1 further comprising a heat exchanger being configured and arranged to serve for heating an external medium by allowing the external medium to exchange heat with exhaust gas from the turbine.

14. The micro gas turbine according to claim 1, wherein the actual value related to the output electric power of the micro gas turbine is on of: a value of output electric current of the micro gas turbine; and a value of electric efficiency of the micro gas turbine.

15. (canceled)

16. A micro gas turbine comprising: a compressor designed to take in and pressurize gas; a combustor designed to take in pressurized gas from the compressor and to generate hot gas on the basis of fuel combustion; a turbine designed to take in and expand hot gas generated by the combustor; a generator mechanically coupled to the turbine and designed to generate electric power on the basis of mechanical power; a controller designed to control operation of the micro gas turbine; a valve mechanism which is associated with an inlet path to the compressor, the valve mechanism being controllable by the controller to open the inlet path of the compressor to hot gas as obtained during operation of the micro gas turbine; a cabinet accommodating at least the compressor, the combustor and the turbine; and a purging mechanism designed to realize purging of the cabinet's interior by supplying air to the cabinet's interior, wherein the valve mechanism is controllable by the controller to open the inlet path of the compressor to the cabinet's interior for enabling the compressor to take in air supplied by the purging mechanism to the cabinet's interior.

17. The micro gas turbine according to claim 16, wherein the purging mechanism comprises a ventilating mechanism designed to generate a flow of air in the cabinet.

18. The micro gas turbine according to claim 16, wherein the valve mechanism is also controllable by the controller to open the inlet path of the compressor to an exhaust associated with the turbine for enabling the compressor to take in exhaust gas from the turbine.

19. The micro gas turbine according to claim 18, wherein the valve mechanism comprises a valve and a connection piece having three connection areas, the compressor being connected to one of the connection areas of the connection piece through the valve, the exhaust being connected to another of the connection areas of the connection piece, and the cabinet being connected to yet another of the connection areas of the connection piece.

20. The micro gas turbine according to claim 19, wherein the connection piece is Y shaped and comprises two bifurcation legs and a main leg, the compressor being connected to one of the bifurcation legs of the connection piece through the valve, the exhaust being connected to the other of the bifurcation legs of the connection piece, and the cabinet being connected to the main leg of the connection piece.

21. The micro gas turbine according to claim 16 further comprising a grid converter designed to output electric power generated by the micro gas turbine during operation thereof to an electric power grid.

22.-23. (canceled)

Description

[0019] The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the following description of an example of a micro gas turbine which is designed to be operated at optimal thermal efficiency, even when the air that is to be taken in by the compressor of the micro gas turbine is relatively cold, i.e. at a temperature which is lower than a reference design temperature. Reference will be made to the drawing, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a scheme of various components of a micro gas turbine according to the invention; and

[0021] FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows a Y shaped connection piece and a valve as may be part of a valve mechanism of the micro gas turbine.

[0022] The figures relate to a micro gas turbine 1 having features according to the invention, as will now be explained. The micro gas turbine 1 as shown and described represents only one example of many possibilities existing within the framework of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a scheme of various components of the micro gas turbine 1, wherein fluid flows are indicated by means of large arrows. The micro gas turbine 1 may be dimensioned to generate up to 30 kW electrical power, for example, although lower electric power values are possible as well. The micro gas turbine 1 comprises a compressor 2, a combustor 3, a turbine 4, a high speed generator 5, a recuperator 6, a heat exchanger 7 and an exhaust 8. The high speed generator 5 is arranged on a common shaft 9 of the compressor 2 and the turbine 4. When the micro gas turbine 1 is operated, air is input to the compressor 2 and fuel is input to the combustor 3. The compressor 2 acts to compress the air and to thereby pressurize the air, wherein the pressure of the air may be increased to about 3 bar, for example. The compressed air is supplied to the recuperator 6 where it is pre-heated under the influence of heat exchange with exhaust gas from the turbine 4. The compressed air is further heated under the influence of heat generated by fuel combustion in the combustor 3. The hot pressurized gas is expanded in the turbine 4, on the basis of which mechanical power is obtained that is used for powering both the compressor 2 and the high speed generator 5. In the process, the common shaft 9 performs a rotational movement as indicated by means of a small bent arrow in FIG. 1.

[0024] Exhaust gas from the turbine 4 is supplied to the recuperator 6 for heating compressed air from the compressor 2, as mentioned. After having passed the recuperator 6, the gas from the turbine 4 is made to flow through the heat exchanger 7 and finally through the exhaust 8. The heat exchanger 7 serves to heat a suitable medium such as water. Thus, output of the micro gas turbine 1 is realized at the heat exchanger 7, and also at the high speed generator 5. In respect of the latter, it is noted that the high speed generator 5 is designed to be used to generate electric current on the basis of mechanical power, and that the micro gas turbine 1 further comprises a grid converter 10 for outputting the electric current to an electric power grid (not shown).

[0025] For the purpose of controlling operation of the micro gas turbine 1, a controller 11 is provided. The controller 11 is configured to take care that all functionalities of the micro gas turbine 1 are performed in an appropriate manner so as to realize operation of the micro gas turbine 1 as envisaged. The controller 11 sets a rotational speed of the rotating assembly 12 of the compressor 2, the turbine 4, the high speed generator 5 and the common shaft 9, and controls a supply of fuel to the combustor 3, to mention only two examples.

[0026] It is advantageous if the micro gas turbine 1 can be operated under conditions as taken into account during the designing process of the micro gas turbine 1, assuming that the design of the micro gas turbine 1 is optimized to those conditions, so that the total efficiency of the micro gas turbine 1 is optimal at those conditions. However, the practical fact is that out of those conditions, the temperature of the ambient air to be taken in by the compressor 2 is a variable factor. Deviation of the actual temperature of the ambient air from a reference design temperature, which may be 15 C., for example, involves a reduction of thermal efficiency of the micro gas turbine 1. In order to compensate for this phenomenon, at least as much as possible in case the actual temperature of the ambient air is lower than the reference design temperature, the micro gas turbine 1 is equipped with a valve mechanism 13.

[0027] In the shown example, the valve mechanism 13 is associated with an inlet side of the compressor 2, with the exhaust 8, and with a cabinet 14 in which various components of the micro gas turbine 1, including the compressor 2, the combustor 3 and the turbine 4, are accommodated. The valve mechanism 13 comprises at least one valve at a position between the inlet side of the compressor 2 on the one hand and the exhaust 8 and the cabinet 14 on the other hand. Also, the micro gas turbine 1 comprises a purging mechanism 15 including a fan 16 for supplying purging air to the cabinet 14 and generating a flow of the purging air inside the cabinet 14. This is done to minimize a risk of accumulation of inflammable/explosive gases in the cabinet 14 which may take place in case unexpected leaks occur, for example.

[0028] When operation of the micro gas turbine 1 is initiated, the controller 11 functions to bring about an increase of the rotational speed of the rotating assembly 12. In the process, at a certain point, the maximum allowable current is reached at the grid inverter 10, at which point the increase of the rotational speed is stopped. Starting from a fully closed position of the valve mechanism 13, the at least one valve of the valve mechanism 13 is opened in a stepwise fashion, while the output current of the grid inverter 10 is checked. Every time the amount of hot gas supplied to the inlet side of the compressor 2 is increased, the mechanical power level at which the micro gas turbine 1 is operated gets reduced, as a result of which the output current is reduced as well. As soon as the output current reaches a certain minimum allowable value, a process in which the rotational speed of the rotating assembly 12 is increased takes place, after which the supply of hot gas to the inlet side of the compressor 2 is increased and the process which leads to increase of rotational speed of the rotating assembly 12 is started all over again. Hence, by gradually increasing the supply of hot gas to the inlet side of the compressor 2, it is achieved that the rotational speed can be made to approximate the design rotational speed. For the purpose of checking the level of the output current at the grid converter 10, any suitable means may be applied.

[0029] The process of gradually opening the at least one valve of the valve mechanism 13 is terminated when the rotational speed of the rotating assembly 12 is at the maximum level. From that moment on, if it is found that the level of the output current of the grid inverter 10 is lower than the highest level and even as low as the minimum level, the valve mechanism 13 is put to a further closed position, while the rotational speed of the rotating assembly 12 is kept at the maximum level. Under those circumstances, it is achieved that due to a decrease of temperature of an intake flow of the compressor 2, the mechanical power level goes up and the level of the output current of the grid inverter 10 is increased.

[0030] If the micro gas turbine 1 would not comprise the valve mechanism 13 at a position between the inlet side of the compressor 2, the exhaust 8 and the cabinet 14, and if the controller 11 would not be configured so as to control the valve mechanism 13 in the way as described in the foregoing, thermal efficiency of the micro gas turbine 1 would be at a poor level when the temperature of the ambient air taken in by the compressor 2 would be relatively low, i.e. lower than the reference temperature as taken into account in the design process of the micro gas turbine 1. In order to ensure proper operation of the micro gas turbine 1, a mass flow which is large compared to mass flows used in conventional techniques such as internal combustion is needed, which causes the effect of a low ambient temperature to be significant as a large amount of thermal energy exits the micro gas turbine 1 through the exhaust 8.

[0031] By having the valve mechanism 13 and controlling the valve mechanism 13 in a specific manner, it is achieved that the actual operational conditions of the micro gas turbine 1 can be made to approximate the reference design conditions, wherein the thermal efficiency of the micro gas turbine 1 can be kept as high as possible. In particular, controlling the valve mechanism 13 aims at having a rotational speed of the rotating assembly 12 at a predetermined maximum level and at the same time having the output electric current of the grid converter 10 at a predetermined operative level. In the process, hot gas as available in the micro gas turbine 1 is used, wherein there is no need for an additional energy flow for achieving a controlling functionality as desired. The hot gas can be taken from the cabinet 14 in view of the fact that the purging mechanism 15 acts to supply air to the cabinet 14 and the fact that the temperature prevailing in the cabinet 14 is high during operation. Alternatively or in addition, the hot gas can be taken from the exhaust 8, in which case the hot gas is exhaust gas from the turbine 4 which is retrieved before exiting the micro gas turbine 1.

[0032] In FIG. 2, a possible embodiment of the valve mechanism 13 is illustrated. In particular, a Y shaped connection piece 17 and a valve 18 as may be part of the valve mechanism 13 are shown. The valve 18 is arranged at one of the bifurcation legs 17a, 17b of the connection piece 17, i.e. a bifurcation leg 17a which is shown at the left side in the representation as shown in FIG. 2, and which will hereinafter be referred to as compressor leg 17a. The other of the bifurcation legs 17a, 17b of the connection piece 17, i.e. a bifurcation leg 17b which is shown at the right side in the representation as shown in FIG. 2, serves for connection of the valve mechanism 13 to the exhaust 8, and will hereinafter be referred to as exhaust leg 17b. The main leg 17c of the connection piece 17 serves for connecting the valve mechanism 13 to the cabinet 14, and will hereinafter be referred to as cabinet leg 17c.

[0033] On the basis of the flow which is created by the compressor 2 during operation of the micro gas turbine 1, a slight underpressure is prevailing at an inlet side of the valve 18, i.e. in the compressor leg 17a. Under the influence of operation of the fan 16 of the purging mechanism 15, the pressure prevailing in the cabinet leg 17c is at a higher level, so that an air flow from the cabinet 14 to the compressor 2 is obtained when the valve 18 is opened. When the valve 18 is fully opened, a flow of gas from the exhaust 8 is realized as well, wherein the gas is drawn in through the exhaust leg 17b. If the valve 18 is fully closed or almost fully closed, an air flow from the cabinet 14 to the exhaust 8 will be obtained.

[0034] It is noted that the extent to which a temperature of an inlet flow of the compressor 2 is varied is dependent on a number of factors, including the functional position of the valve mechanism 13, a rotational speed of the fan 16 of the purging mechanism 15 (which may be dependent on the temperature prevailing in the cabinet 14), the rotational speed of the rotating assembly 12, and the temperature of the medium that is heated in the heat exchanger 7 as this temperature determines the temperature of the hot gas at the exhaust 8 and also, to some extent, the temperature prevailing in the cabinet 14.

[0035] It follows from the foregoing that in the micro gas turbine 1 according to the invention, advantageous use can be made of the presence of a purging mechanism 15 comprising a fan 16. The relatively hot air from the cabinet 14 can be used in a process of keeping the thermal efficiency at an optimal level during operation of the micro gas turbine 1. Also, the exhaust gas from the turbine 4 can be used in the process as mentioned, wherein advantageous use is made of the fact that the level of oxygen of the exhaust gas is still rather high even though the gas is output from an assembly including a combustor 3.

[0036] It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the foregoing, but that several amendments and modifications thereof are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims.

[0037] For the sake of completeness, it is noted that where aspects of the invention like the rotational speed of the rotating assembly 12 is at the maximum level are mentioned, these are to be understood for their practical meaning, taking into account that in fact a tolerance window is applicable.

[0038] A possible summary of the invention reads follows. When the temperature of ambient air is relatively low, thermal output and thermal efficiency of a micro gas turbine 1 decrease. In order to compensate for the loss of thermal efficiency, the micro gas turbine 1 is equipped with a valve mechanism 13 by means of which the operation of the micro gas turbine 1 can be influenced and optimized, particularly by regulating a supply of hot gas as obtained during operation of the micro gas turbine 1, which may be hot gas from the cabinet 14 and/or the exhaust 8 of the micro gas turbine 1, for example, to an inlet side of the compressor 2.

[0039] The concept of having a possibility of supplying hot gas from the cabinet 14 to the inlet side of the compressor 2 is not necessarily linked to a particular way of controlling operation of the micro gas turbine 1. In view thereof, the invention also relates to a micro gas turbine 1 comprising a compressor 2 designed to take in and pressurize gas, a combustor 3 designed to take in pressurized gas from the compressor 2 and to generate hot gas on the basis of fuel combustion, a turbine 4 designed to take in and expand hot gas generated by the combustor 3, a generator 5 mechanically coupled to the turbine 4 and designed to generate electric power on the basis of mechanical power, a controller 11 designed to control operation of the micro gas turbine 1, a valve mechanism 13 which is associated with an inlet path to the compressor 2, the valve mechanism 13 being controllable by the controller 11 to open the inlet path of the compressor 2 to hot gas as obtained during operation of the micro gas turbine 1, a cabinet 14 accommodating at least the compressor 2, the combustor 3 and the turbine 4, and a purging mechanism 15 designed to realize purging of the cabinet's interior by supplying air to the cabinet's interior, wherein the valve mechanism 13 is controllable by the controller 11 to open the inlet path of the compressor 2 to the cabinet's interior for enabling the compressor 2 to take in air supplied by the purging mechanism 15 to the cabinet's interior.

[0040] Using air from the cabinet's interior as a default option and only additionally using exhaust air originating from the turbine 4 when such is necessary to achieve a certain supply of hot gas to the inlet side of the compressor 2 is advantageous over only using exhaust air originating from the turbine 4. In this way, heat losses through discharge of air from the cabinet's interior are kept limited. Also, air from the cabinet's interior has a higher content of oxygen and a lower content of combustion products than exhaust air originating from the turbine 4, so that it is better suited to be used in the fuel combustion process in the combustor 3.

[0041] Further, the invention relates to a possibility of supplying hot gas from the cabinet 14 to the inlet side of the compressor 2 without necessarily using a valve mechanism 13. In view thereof, the invention also relates to a micro gas turbine 1 comprising a compressor 2 designed to take in and pressurize gas, a combustor 3 designed to take in pressurized gas from the compressor 2 and to generate hot gas on the basis of fuel combustion, a turbine 4 designed to take in and expand hot gas generated by the combustor 3, a generator 5 mechanically coupled to the turbine 4 and designed to generate electric power on the basis of mechanical power, a cabinet 14 accommodating at least the compressor 2, the combustor 3 and the turbine 4, and a purging mechanism 15 designed to realize purging of the cabinet's interior by supplying air to the cabinet's interior, wherein an inlet path of the compressor 2 is open to the cabinet's interior for enabling the compressor 2 to take in air supplied by the purging mechanism 15 to the cabinet's interior.