US 12,085,020 B1
Apparatus and process for gas turbine air filtration and fuel vaporization
Gregory W. Henzler, Emmaus, PA (US); Paul D. Altpeter, Bethlehem, PA (US); Ghassan Altimany, North Wales, PA (US); and Tito Paratico, London (GB)
Assigned to Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA (US)
Filed by Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA (US)
Filed on Aug. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/238,636.
Int. Cl. F02C 7/052 (2006.01); B01D 46/00 (2022.01); B01D 46/42 (2006.01); B01D 46/62 (2022.01); F02C 7/141 (2006.01); F02C 7/224 (2006.01); F23R 3/04 (2006.01); F23R 3/30 (2006.01)
CPC F02C 7/052 (2013.01) [B01D 46/0031 (2013.01); B01D 46/4263 (2013.01); B01D 46/62 (2022.01); F02C 7/141 (2013.01); F02C 7/224 (2013.01); F23R 3/04 (2013.01); F23R 3/30 (2013.01); B01D 2279/60 (2013.01); F05D 2260/20 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for filtering and cooling air to be fed to a gas turbine of a gas turbine apparatus while also vaporizing at least a portion of fuel to be fed to the gas turbine, the gas turbine apparatus comprising:
an inlet filter unit having a first filter element, a second filter element positioned downstream of the first filter element, and a third filter element positioned downstream of the second filter element, the inlet filter unit also having a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first filter element and upstream of the second filter element to receive liquid fuel from a fuel storage tank to vaporize the fuel via air passed through the inlet filter unit and to cool the air, the heat exchanger having at least one heat transfer conduit through which the fuel is passable, the at least one heat transfer conduit being positioned to contact the air as the air passes through the inlet filter unit;
the first filter element configured to remove particulates from the air;
the second filter element configured to remove water from the air, the second filter element being positioned a pre-selected distance downstream of the heat exchanger so that more than 50% of condensate within the air passable from the heat exchanger to the second filter element falls out of the air and/or aglomerates to facilitate filtration of the condensate via the second filter element and/or the third filter element;
the third filter element configured to remove particulates from the air so the air has a particulate content that is at or below a pre-selected particulate content threshold;
the inlet filter unit being positionable to output air after the air is passed through the first filter element, the heat exchanger, the second filter element, and the third filter element to feed the air to a combustion chamber of a gas turbine; and
the heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit being configured and positioned to output the fuel so the fuel is at least partially vaporized for feeding to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine:
the process comprising:
feeding air into the inlet filter unit for filtration of the air;
feeding a portion of liquid fuel into the heat exchanger for vaporization of the portion of the fuel and cooling of the air passing through the inlet filter unit via heat exchange between the air and the fuel;
outputting at least partially vaporized fuel from the heat exchanger to the gas turbine; and
outputting cooled filtered air from the inlet filter unit to the gas turbine.
 
2. An apparatus for filtering and cooling air to be fed to a gas turbine while also vaporizing at least a portion of fuel to be fed to the gas turbine, the apparatus comprising:
an inlet filter unit having a first filter element, a second filter element positioned downstream of the first filter element, and a third filter element positioned downstream of the second filter element, the inlet filter unit also having a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first filter element and upstream of the second filter element to receive liquid fuel from a fuel storage tank to vaporize the fuel via air passed through the inlet filter unit and to cool the air, the heat exchanger having at least one heat transfer conduit through which the fuel is passable, the at least one heat transfer conduit being positioned to contact the air as the air passes through the inlet filter unit;
the first filter element configured to remove particulates from the air;
the second filter element configured to remove water from the air, the second filter element being positioned a pre-selected distance downstream of the heat exchanger so that more than 50% of condensate within the air passable from the heat exchanger to the second filter element falls out of the air and/or agglomerates to facilitate filtration of the condensate via the second filter element and/or the third filter element;
the third filter element configured to remove particulates from the air so the air has a particulate content that is at or below a pre-selected particulate content threshold;
the inlet filter unit being positionable to output air after the air is passed through the first filter element, the heat exchanger, the second filter element, and the third filter element to feed the air to a combustion chamber of a gas turbine; and
the heat exchanger of the inlet filter unit being configured and positioned to output the fuel so the fuel is at least partially vaporized for feeding to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine.