GB1138165A - Improvements in or relating to a gas turbine plant - Google Patents

Abstract

1,138,165. Gas turbine plant - fuel supply. M.A.N. TURBO, G.m.b.H. June 3, 1966 [June 9, 1965], No.24954/66. Heading F1G. The invention relates to a gas turbine plant in which liquid or gaseous fuel is passed together with water into a reaction chamber being heated by passing the turbine exhaust gases in heat exchange therewith, whereby an endothermic reaction takes place in the chamber, the reaction products being a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen which is then utilized as fuel in the combustion chamber. A feature of the invention is the provision of a further reaction chamber in which the endothermic reaction is completed, this chamber being heated by working fluid tapped from an intermediate point of the turbine. The gas turbine plant shown comprises an air compressor 23, an air preheater 22, combustion chamber 10, a first, high pressure turbine 12 which drives the compressor, and a second, low pressure turbine 14 which provides useful power. The exhaust gases from the turbine 14 pass through duct 16 to the reaction chamber 9, the exhaust gases then passing through line 21 te the air preheater 22 and thence to atmosphere. A mixture of hydrocarbon fuel and water is passed from tank 1 by pump 8 to the reaction chamber 9 which contains a suitable catalyst and is heated by the turbine exhaust gases, the resulting endothermic reaction producing a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The reaction is not completed in the chamber 9 because the temperature is not sufficiently high, so the reaction products are passed to a second chamber 48 which is heated by working fluid tapped from the turbine 12 through line 29 and returned thereto through line 30. The endothermic reaction is thus completed and hydrogen and carbon-monoxide fuel mixture is passed to the combustion chamber 10 to be combusted therein. A valve 17 is provided in the line 16 to control flow of turbine exhaust gases to the reaction chamber 9 in dependence on temperature of the discharging reaction products or temperature of the chamber. The valve 17 may also be moved to close off gas flow to the chamber 9, the gas flow then passing through line 20 to line 21. The plant may be operated on normal liquid or gaseous fuel from tank 5 during starting, the valve 26 being operated so that fuel passes through line 27 direct to the combustion chamber. Alternatively, the reaction products discharging from the chamber 9 may be passed through hollow stator blades of the turbine to be further heated, the final products then passing to the combustion chamber 10.