PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR ACHIEVING POWER AUGMENTATION IN GAS TURBINES VIA WET COMPRESSION

摘要

A power augmentation apparatus and process for effectively adding a mass flo w of water to the working fluid acquired by the compressor of an industrial ga s turbine, and especially for adding a mass flow of water to a fully-humidifie d working fluid for reducing the work of compression performed by the compress or and achieving a net augmentation of the power produced by the turbine, said apparatus and process preferably including the use of a spray rack group assembly having at least one spray rack water pipe and at least one spray ra ck water nozzle which assembly is ideally positioned a distance away from the compressor inlet. Water mass flow is added preferably in increments which correspond to the spray rack water pipes and associated nozzles. Monitoring of the temperature profile of fluid-cooled rotor blades in the turbine section with an optical pyrometer to detect clogging of cooling pathways in those rotor blades from impurities in the added water, monitoring of the working fluid's temperature in proximity to the gas turbine compressor inlet to guar d against the possibility of icing, a deformation measurement device, and concurrent addition of heat and humidity, preferably steam, to the working fluid as a means to extend the utility of the process and apparatus to lower ambient air temperature operation are disclosed.