Catalytic combustion air heating system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9360214-B2
Application number	US-201313858192-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2013
Priority date	Apr 8, 2013
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

A system for pre-heating a working fluid within a combustor includes a compressor for providing the working fluid to the combustor. An outer casing is disposed downstream from the compressor. The outer casing at least partially defines a high pressure plenum that at least partially surrounds the combustor. A combustion chamber is defined within the combustor downstream from the high pressure plenum. A catalytic combustor is disposed within the high pressure plenum upstream from the combustion chamber so as to provide thermal energy to the working fluid upstream from the combustion chamber.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A system for pre-heating a working fluid within a combustor, comprising:
a. a compressor for providing the working fluid to the combustor;
b. an outer casing disposed downstream from the compressor, wherein the outer casing at least partially defines a high pressure plenum that at least partially surrounds the combustor;
c. a combustion chamber defined within the combustor, wherein the combustion chamber is disposed downstream from the high pressure plenum;
d. a catalytic combustor disposed within the high pressure plenum upstream from the combustion chamber, wherein the catalytic combustor provides thermal energy to the working fluid upstream from the combustion chamber;
e. a combustion liner that at least partially surrounds the combustion chamber, wherein the catalytic combustor extends at least partially circumferentially around and is radially spaced from an outer surface of the compression liner with respect to a centerline axis of the combustion chamber; and
f. an external oxidant supply that is in fluid communication with the catalytic combustor.

2. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the compressor includes a discharge outlet that is upstream from the high pressure plenum, wherein the catalytic combustor is disposed proximate to the discharge outlet.

3. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the catalytic combustor extends at least partially through the outer casing.

4. The system as in claim 1 , further comprising a heat shield disposed between the catalytic combustor and the combustion liner.

5. The system as in claim 1 , further comprising a flow sleeve that surrounds the combustion liner and a flow passage defined between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, the flow passage providing for fluid communication between the high pressure plenum and the combustion chamber, wherein the catalytic combustor is disposed upstream from the flow passage.

6. The system as in claim 1 , further comprising a pre-mix flow chamber disposed downstream from the catalytic combustor and upstream from the combustion chamber.

7. The system as in claim 1 , further comprising a high pressure fuel supply that is in fluid communication with the catalytic combustor.

8. A combustor for a gas turbine, comprising:
a. a combustion liner;
b. a combustion chamber defined within the combustion liner;
c. a fuel nozzle disposed upstream from the combustion chamber, wherein the fuel nozzle at least partially defines a pre-mix flow chamber;
d. an outer casing that surrounds the combustion liner;
e. a high pressure plenum defined within the outer casing, wherein the high pressure plenum is upstream from the pre-mix flow chamber;
f. a catalytic combustor disposed within the high pressure plenum upstream from the pre-mix flow chamber; and
g. a flow sleeve that surrounds the combustion liner defines a flow passage between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, wherein the catalytic combustor at least partially surrounds a portion of the combustion liner at a position that is upstream from the flow passage.

9. The combustor as in claim 8 , wherein the high pressure plenum is in fluid communication with a discharge outlet of a compressor, the catalytic combustor being disposed proximate to the discharge outlet.

10. The combustor as in claim 8 , wherein the catalytic combustor extends at least partially through the outer casing.

11. The combustor as in claim 8 , wherein the catalytic combustor at least partially surrounds a portion of the combustion liner.

12. The combustor as in claim 8 , further comprising a heat shield disposed between the catalytic combustor and the combustion liner.

13. The system as in claim 1 , further comprising an external oxidant supply that is in fluid communication with the catalytic combustor, wherein the external oxidant supply includes an auxiliary compressor.

14. A gas turbine, comprising:
a. a compressor for providing a flow of a compressed working fluid;
b. a combustion section disposed downstream from the compressor, the combustion section having an outer casing that defines a high pressure plenum;
c. a turbine disposed downstream from the combustion section; and
d. wherein the combustion section further comprises:
i. a combustor that extends within the high pressure plenum, the combustor having a combustion liner, a combustion chamber defined within the combustion liner downstream from the high pressure plenum and a fuel nozzle disposed upstream from the combustion chamber;
ii. a catalytic combustor disposed within the high pressure plenum upstream from the combustion chamber, wherein the catalytic combustor provides thermal energy to the flow of the compressed working fluid; and
iii. a heat shield disposed between the catalytic combustor and the combustion liner.

15. The gas turbine as in claim 14 , wherein the catalytic combustor is integral with the outer casing.

16. The gas turbine as in claim 14 , wherein the catalytic combustor at least partially surrounds a portion of the combustion liner.

17. The gas turbine as in claim 14 , further comprising a flow sleeve that surrounds the combustion liner and a flow passage defined between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, wherein the catalytic combustor at least partially surrounds a portion of the combustion liner at a position that is upstream from the flow passage.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Conchieri John Anthony
• Washam Roy Marshall
• Kraemer Gilbert Otto

Classifications

• F02C3/205

  in a fluidised-bed combustor (in combination with a steam cycle see F01K23/061; fluidised-bed apparatus in general B01J8/18; fluidised-bed combustors in general F23C10/00) · CPC title

• F24H1/0045

  with catalytic combustion · CPC title

• F02C7/08

  Heating air supply before combustion, e.g. by exhaust gases · CPC title

• F23R3/005 Primary

  Combined with pressure or heat exchangers · CPC title

• F23R3/40

  characterised by the use of catalytic means · CPC title