Patent ID: 11951435
Assignee: GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B  F | IPC B  F

Claim 6:
7. A gas turbine assembly comprising:
a lubrication system;
a turbine; and
a vapor separation system which receives an air-oil-water mixture drawn from a bearing of the turbine, wherein the air-oil mixture is at a temperature above the vapor point of water comprising:
a cooler comprising an inlet oriented to receive an air-oil-water mixture from the lubrication system, and an outlet oriented to discharge separated oil and water in two different phases of matter;

a separation tank downstream from the cooler for receiving the air-oil-water mixture and condensed liquids discharged from the cooler, wherein the separator tank comprises a vent for discharging vaporized water and air separated from the liquefied oil;
a first sensor at the outlet of the cooler; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the cooler, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive temperature feedback from the first sensor; and
cool, with the cooler and based on the temperature feedback, the air-oil-water mixture to a separation temperature to cause at least a portion of the oil in the air-oil-water mixture to liquify while maintaining at least a portion of the water in the air-oil-water mixture in a vaporized state.