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U.S. Department of Energy
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Indirectly heated gas turbine engine

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6811551
An indirectly fired gas turbine engine system is described comprising: a compressor; an external heat source; a heat exchanger through which air discharged from the compressor can be circulated in heat exchange relationship with gases from the external heat source to heat the air; a turbine through which heated air can be expanded to drive the turbine; a first mixing chamber to which heated air can be circulated from the heat exchanger and from which air can be circulated to the turbine; means including a bypass duct for diverting a modulated proportion of the air discharged from the compressor from the upstream side of the heat exchanger to the mixing chamber for admixture with the air circulated thereto from the heat exchanger to thereby control the temperature of the air circulated to the turbine from the mixing chamber; a compressor discharge duct providing fluid communication between the compressor and the heat exchanger, the compressor duct also communicating with the bypass duct; and means for maintaining a constant or scheduled pressure drop between the compressor and the turbine to provide accurate turbine inlet temperature control and to permit substantial and rapid drops in the turbine inlet temperature, the last-mentioned means comprising a modulating, pressure drop control valve in the compressor duct on the downstream side of the bypass duct and between the compressor duct and the heat exchanger.
Assignee:
Solar Turbines Inc., San Diego, CA
Patent Number(s):
US 4761957
OSTI ID:
6811551
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English