US 12,320,263 B2
System and method for use of intercooler cooled fluid as bearing pressurization fluid source
Dariusz Andrzej Falkus, Warsaw (PL); Tho Vankhanh Nguyen, Cypress, TX (US); Tuy Cam Huynh, Houston, TX (US); Radu Ioan Danescu, Greer, SC (US); Richard Michael Watkins, Houston, TX (US); Mariusz Seredyn, Warsaw (PL); and Kheun Chia, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to GE Infrastructure Technology LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on May 30, 2018, as Appl. No. 15/992,364.
Prior Publication US 2018/0347398 A1, Dec. 6, 2018
Int. Cl. F01D 25/12 (2006.01); F01D 11/04 (2006.01); F02C 6/08 (2006.01); F02C 7/143 (2006.01); F02C 7/28 (2006.01); F02C 9/18 (2006.01)
CPC F01D 25/125 (2013.01) [F01D 11/04 (2013.01); F02C 6/08 (2013.01); F02C 7/143 (2013.01); F02C 7/28 (2013.01); F02C 9/18 (2013.01); F05D 2240/50 (2013.01); F05D 2260/211 (2013.01); F05D 2260/213 (2013.01); F05D 2260/85 (2013.01); F05D 2260/98 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a gas turbine engine, comprising:
a compressor comprising a high pressure section and a low pressure section;
a combustor; and
a turbine;
an intercooler configured to receive a discharge air from the low pressure section of the compressor, to cool the discharge air, and to return the cooled discharge air to the high pressure section of the compressor;
a first conduit configured to divert a portion of the cooled discharge air along a first flow path from the intercooler or a location downstream of the intercooler to a bearing assembly located within the turbine to pressurize the bearing assembly to block leakage of fluid from a lube oil chamber of the bearing assembly;
a secondary source of air, wherein the secondary source is separate from the compressor and configured to provide the air independently of the compressor;
a second conduit coupled to the secondary source and configured to receive the air from the secondary source and to provide the air along a second flow path from the secondary source to the bearing assembly to pressurize the bearing assembly to block leakage of the fluid from the lube oil chamber, wherein the first flow path from the intercooler or the location downstream from the intercooler to the bearing assembly is independent of the second flow path from the secondary source to the bearing assembly, such that the first conduit is configured to provide the cooled discharge air to the bearing assembly independently of the air from the secondary source, and the second conduit is configured to provide the air from the secondary source to the bearing assembly independently of the cooled discharge air;
a valve having a single inlet and a single outlet, wherein the single inlet is fluidly coupled to the second conduit and configured to receive the air from the second conduit, and the single outlet is fluidly coupled to the second conduit and configured to output the air to the second conduit; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the valve, wherein the controller comprises a memory and a processor, and the controller is configured to control actuation of the valve to selectively provide the air from the second conduit to the bearing assembly based on an operating state of the gas turbine engine;
wherein the controller, during startup and shutdown of the gas turbine engine, is configured to control actuation of the valve to enable the air from the secondary source to be provided to the bearing assembly, and the controller, during steady state operation of the gas turbine engine, is configured to control actuation of the valve to block the air from the secondary source from being provided to the bearing assembly.