Method and apparatus for achieving power augmentation in gas turbines via wet compression

摘要

A wet compression power augmentation apparatus and method for effectively adding a mass flow of nebulized water to a gas turbine by use of a spray rack group assembly having at least one spray rack water pipe and at least one spray rack water nozzle. Nebulized water mass flow is added in increments such that operationally-induced thermal stresses within the gas turbine are sufficiently minimized to preserve the structural integrity of the gas turbine. 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 liquid added through the wet compression, monitoring of temperature in the gas turbine compressor inlet to guard against the possibility of icing, and use of a laser emitter and laser target measuring system mounted to the exterior of the gas turbine hosing to detect deformation in the housing of the gas turbine from associated cooling effects help enable safe use of the wet compression technique. Addition of steam in the compressor inlet to control the inlet air temperature and to thereby prevent ice-forming conditions in the compressor inlet and elsewhere extends the benefits of the wet compression technique to operation in cooler climates.