Patent GB-1451207-A (GB)
Title: Gas turbine plant
IPC: F02C1/10
Filed: 1973-12-21
Abstract: 1451207 Closed cycle gas turbine plant KERNFORSCHUNGSANLAGE JULICH GmbH 21 Dec 1973 [27 Dec 1972] 59628/73 Heading F1G The invention relates to a closed cycle gas turbine plant which is controlled by removing and returning working fluid from and to the working fluid circuit. The plant shown comprises a compressor 2 for working fluid, say air, a heat exchanger 10 in which the air is heated, a turbine 1 in which the heated air is expanded, and a heat exchanger 11 in which the air discharging from the turbine is cooled before returning to the compressor. The turbine 1 drives the compressor 2 through shaft 7, also an electric generator 3 which supplies useful power, a second electric generator 4 which supplies current to drive auxiliary equipment, and a pump 5 which supplies cooling fluid to the electric generators, the fluid being cooled in a heat exchanger 37. The plant comprises also a blower 23 driven by a motor 28, the blower drawing in atmospheric air through inlet 27, the air being pre-heated in a heat exchanger 22, the air being discharged from the blower through line 27b to the heat exchanger 11 where it is further heated, the heated air then passing to a combustion chamber 24 to which fuel is supplied through rotary atomizer 31. The gases discharge from the combustion chamber to the heat exchanger 10 in which the turbine working fluid, air, is heated, the gases finally discharging through duct 25 to atmosphere. Fuel is supplied to the atomizer from tank 33  through line 35 under control of valve 36 which is controlled in dependence on speed of the blower 23 as sensed at 29. The plant comprises also working fluid storage cylinders 21 to which working fluid may pass from the closed circuit at a highpressure point at the outlet of the compressor 2 through line 15 under control of valves 17, 19, the working fluid abstracted being cooled in the heat exchanger 22 before passing to the storage cylinders. Working fluid may be returned to the closed circuit at a low-pressure point upstream of the compressor inlet through line 18 under control of valves 16 and 20. Loss of working fluid from the closed circuit may be made good from a reservoir 13 or from a pump 14 through line 88 under control of valve 12. A by-pass line 43 having a control valve 44 is provided between a point at the outlet of the compressor and a point at the outlet of the turbine. Air is taken from the outlet of the blower 23 through line 38 to the heat exchanger 37 in which the coolant for the electric generators 3, 4 is cooled. The speed of the compressor/turbine shaft 7 is sensed at 68. A motor 6 mounted on the compressor/turbine shaft 7 is utilized for starting. The plant is started by the control 39 which transmits signal S6 to unit 47 which allows current to pass from battery 48 to the starter motor 6. At starting, signal S1 passes to unit 40, from which signal S2 passes to unit 41, a signal S3 from which acts to open valve 44 in the by-pass line 43. At starting, also signal S7 to unit 49 causes energization of igniter 50 in the combustion chamber 24. In operation of the plant, which may be used for vehicle propulsion, signals S11 and S12 from the acceleration and retardation controls 60, 61 pass to the unit 40, signals S4, S5 from which act to control valves 19', 20', which control flow of working fluid to and from the storage cylinders 21. The speed of the compressor/turbine shaft is sensed at 68 and in the event of overspeed acts to open the by-pass valve 44. The valve 36 controlling supply of fuel to the atomizer 31 is controlled in dependence on speed of the shaft of the blower 23 as sensed at 29, also in dependence on temperature in the combustion chamber as sensed by the thermocouple 69.