Patent Description:
A gas turbine system may include a compressor section, a combustor section, and a turbine section. The combustor section is configured to combust fuel with air to generate hot combustion products to drive one or more turbine stages in the turbine section. Unfortunately, the combustion process may produce undesirable exhaust emissions, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and soot. Accordingly, it would be desirable to reduce the exhaust emissions without adversely impacting performance and without substantially increasing costs associated with operating the gas turbine system.

<CIT> discloses the processing of residual oil for use in gas turbines, in which water is added to the residual oil, an oil-water emulsion is formed in which the water droplets are dispersed in a continuous oil phase and the emulsion is led to a gas turbine for combustion.

<CIT> discloses a system including a gas turbine engine having a first combustor and a second combustor. Each combustor has at least one fuel nozzle that receives a mixture of liquid fuel and water, via main and pilot fuel supplies, and that injects the mixture and an oxidant into a combustion chamber.

<CIT> discloses a gas turbine engine comprising a combustor having a fuel nozzle configured to supply a water fuel emulsion into the combustor. A controller is configured to control generation of the water fuel emulsion to generate a water-in-fuel emulsion.

These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed embodiments, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the subject matter. Indeed, the presently claimed embodiments may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.

In certain embodiments, a gas turbine engine includes a first combustor having a first fuel nozzle, wherein the first fuel nozzle is configured to supply a water fuel emulsion into the first combustor. The water fuel emulsion includes a water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion having a plurality of water droplets dispersed in a fuel, in which the plurality of water droplets is configured to vaporize within the fuel after injection into the combustor to cause micro-explosions to atomize the fuel, and the fuel is configured to combust to generate a combustion gas. The gas turbine engine further includes a turbine driven by the combustion gas from the first combustor.

In certain embodiments, a system includes a controller configured to control a supply of a water fuel emulsion into a first combustor of a gas turbine engine via a first fuel nozzle. The water fuel emulsion includes a water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion having a plurality of water droplets dispersed in a fuel, wherein the plurality of water droplets is configured to vaporize within the fuel to cause micro-explosions to atomize the fuel, and the fuel is configured to combust to generate a combustion gas to drive a turbine of the gas turbine engine.

In certain embodiments, a method includes supplying a water fuel emulsion into a first combustor of a gas turbine engine via a first fuel nozzle, wherein the water fuel emulsion includes a water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion having a plurality of water droplets dispersed in a fuel. The method further includes vaporizing the plurality of water droplets within the fuel to cause micro-explosions to atomize the fuel. The method further includes combusting the fuel to generate a combustion gas to drive a turbine of the gas turbine engine.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presently disclosed techniques will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:.

One or more specific embodiments of the presently disclosed techniques will be described below.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the presently disclosed embodiments, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements.

The disclosed embodiments relate to water fuel emulsions, such as water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsions and/or fuel-in-water (FIW) emulsions, configured to improve combustion in gas turbine engines. The WIF emulsions improve combustion at least due to micro-explosions of small water droplets within larger fuel droplets, thereby improving atomization of the fuel. For example, the WIF emulsion is generated with small water droplets dispersed in a continuous phase of liquid fuel. The WIF emulsion is injected into a combustor as a spray (i.e., a primary atomization) of droplets (i.e., small water droplets within larger fuel droplets). The micro-explosions cause a secondary atomization of the fuel, i.e., the small water droplets evaporate within the larger fuel droplets, causing the larger fuel droplets to explode or break apart into smaller fuel droplets. The smaller fuel droplets (i.e., finely atomized fuel) then rapidly evaporate and mix with the air, resulting in more uniform mixing of the fuel with air, more uniform combustion and temperature distribution, and reduced emissions of NOx and soot. The FIW emulsions can also provide benefits for combustion in gas turbine engines. The FIW emulsion is generated with small fuel droplets dispersed in a continuous phase of water. In either case, the water fuel emulsions (e.g., WIF or FIW emulsions) may help to better control the combustion process, emissions levels, water usage, and other aspects of operation of the gas turbine engine. The water fuel emulsions may be particularly beneficial with low grade fuels, viscous fuels, heavy fuel oil (HFO), crude oil, diesel fuel, and/or contaminated fuels.

<FIG> is a schematic of an embodiment of a gas turbine system <NUM> having a gas turbine engine <NUM> drivingly coupled to a load <NUM>, such as an electrical generator. The gas turbine system <NUM> also includes a fluid supply system <NUM> coupled to the gas turbine engine <NUM>. As illustrated, the fluid supply system <NUM> includes a water fuel emulsification system <NUM> coupled to one or more fuel supply systems <NUM>, one or more water supply systems <NUM>, and one or more emulsifying agent supply systems <NUM>. Additionally, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> is coupled to an emulsion distribution system <NUM> configured to distribute a water fuel emulsion to the gas turbine engine <NUM>. The gas turbine system <NUM> also includes a control system <NUM> and a monitoring system <NUM> coupled to the fluid supply system <NUM> and the gas turbine engine <NUM>.

As discussed in further detail below, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> is configured to generate a water fuel emulsion for distribution and combustion in the gas turbine engine <NUM>. The water fuel emulsion is configured to reduce NOx formation in combustion products, reduce soot formation in the combustion products, and generally improve the combustion process in the gas turbine engine <NUM>. Additionally, the water fuel emulsion is configured to reduce a volume of water otherwise supplied to the gas turbine engine <NUM> separately from the fuel. The disclosed embodiments also are configured to produce the water fuel emulsion in a variety of compositions, such as a water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion, a fuel-in-water (FIW) emulsion, and/or various ratios of water to fuel to control the combustion process.

The gas turbine engine <NUM> includes an air intake section <NUM>, a compressor section <NUM>, a primary combustor section <NUM> having one or more primary combustors <NUM>, and a primary turbine section <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the gas turbine engine <NUM> may further include (or exclude) a secondary combustor section <NUM> having one or more secondary combustors <NUM> and a secondary turbine section <NUM>. The gas turbine engine <NUM> also includes an exhaust section <NUM>.

The compressor section <NUM> may be an axial compressor having one or more compressor stages <NUM>, each having a plurality of compressor blades <NUM> coupled to a central rotor or shaft <NUM>. The compressor blades <NUM> are driven to rotate by the shaft <NUM> within a compressor casing <NUM>. The compressor section <NUM> may include <NUM> to <NUM> or more compressor stages <NUM>.

The primary combustor section <NUM> includes the combustors <NUM> each having one or more fuel nozzles <NUM>. For example, each combustor <NUM> may include <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or more fuel nozzles <NUM>. By further example, each combustor <NUM> may include a central fuel nozzle <NUM> surrounded by a plurality of peripheral fuel nozzles <NUM>. The fuel nozzles <NUM> are primary fuel nozzles disposed in a head end <NUM> of the primary combustors <NUM>. Additionally, the combustors <NUM> may include one or more lateral or quaternary fuel injectors or nozzles <NUM> along a combustor liner or sidewall <NUM> of the primary combustors <NUM>. The fuel nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> are oriented crosswise (e.g., perpendicular or acute angles) relative to one another. For example, the fuel nozzles <NUM> are oriented in an axial direction relative to a central axis of the primary combustor <NUM>, whereas the fuel nozzles <NUM> are oriented in a radial direction relative to the central axis. The fuel nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to inject an emulsion of fuel and water into a combustion chamber or zone <NUM> of the primary combustor <NUM>, such that combustion may occur to generate hot combustion products <NUM> for delivery to the primary turbine section <NUM>.

The primary turbine section <NUM> may include one or more turbine stages <NUM>, each having a plurality of turbine blades <NUM> coupled to a rotor or shaft <NUM>. In operation, the hot combustion products <NUM> flow through the primary turbine section <NUM>, thereby driving the turbine blades <NUM> to rotate the shaft <NUM> within a turbine casing <NUM>. The primary turbine section <NUM> may include <NUM> to <NUM> or more turbine stages <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, such as illustrated in <FIG>, the gas turbine system <NUM> may include the secondary combustor section <NUM> and the secondary turbine section <NUM>. However, some embodiments of the gas turbine system <NUM> may exclude the secondary combustor section <NUM> and the secondary turbine section <NUM>. As illustrated, the secondary combustor section <NUM> includes the one or more secondary combustors <NUM>, each having one or more primary fuel nozzles <NUM> and one or more lateral or quaternary fuel injectors or nozzles <NUM>. The fuel nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to inject an emulsion of fuel and water into a combustion chamber or zone <NUM> in the secondary combustors <NUM>, such that combustion occurs, and hot combustion gases <NUM> are delivered into the secondary turbine section <NUM>.

The secondary turbine section <NUM> may include one or more turbine stages <NUM>, each having a plurality of turbine blades <NUM> coupled to a rotor or shaft <NUM>, which are collectively rotatable within a casing <NUM>. For example, the secondary turbine section <NUM> may include <NUM> to <NUM> or more turbine stages <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the shafts <NUM> and <NUM> are coupled together via an intermediate shaft <NUM>, and the shafts <NUM> and <NUM> are coupled together via an intermediate shaft <NUM>. However, the illustrated shafts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be integrated together into one or more common shafts. Additionally, the shaft <NUM> is coupled to the load <NUM>.

In operation, the compressor section <NUM> is configured to receive air through the air intake section <NUM> as indicated by arrows <NUM>. The air intake section <NUM> may include one or more air filters, silencers, anti-ice systems, or other inlet air conditioning systems. The compressor section <NUM> is configured to compress the intake air <NUM> via the one or more compressor stages <NUM>, thereby progressively compressing the air prior to delivery into the primary combustor section <NUM> as illustrated by arrows <NUM>. The compressed air <NUM> is routed along the combustor liner <NUM> into the head end <NUM> of each of the primary combustors <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the compressed air <NUM> is routed through a flow passage between an exterior surface of the combustor liner <NUM> and a surrounding flow guide for cooling the combustor liner <NUM>.

The compressed air <NUM> is then routed into the combustion chamber <NUM>. In certain embodiments, some of the compressed air <NUM> may be routed around the fuel nozzles <NUM> and/or fuel nozzles <NUM>. Additionally, some atomizing air (e.g., compressed air) may be routed through the fuel nozzles <NUM> and/or fuel nozzles <NUM> to help atomize the fuel. The atomizing air (e.g., compressed air) may be supplied from the compressor section <NUM>, a separate air compressor, or another air supply. In the present discussion, reference will be made to a compressed air (e.g., <NUM>), but it should be understood that the compressed air may originate from one or more air supplies.

The fuel nozzles <NUM> and/or the fuel nozzles <NUM> also receive an emulsion of fuel and water from the fluid supply system <NUM>. The emulsion of fuel and water mixes with the compressed air <NUM> in the combustion chamber <NUM> and combusts to form hot combustion gases, which then flow into the primary turbine section <NUM> as illustrated by arrows <NUM>. As discussed in further detail below, the emulsion of water and fuel provided by the fluid supply system <NUM> is configured to enhance the atomization of fuel in the combustion chamber <NUM>, thereby improving the combustion reaction, reducing NOx formation, reducing soot, and generally improving the combustion process.

The combustion gases <NUM> flow through the one or more turbine stages <NUM> in the primary turbine section <NUM>, thereby driving the turbine blades <NUM> in each of the stages <NUM> to rotate the shaft <NUM>. The combustion gases eventually exit the primary turbine section <NUM> as illustrated by arrow <NUM>. At this point, the combustion gases may enter the secondary combustion section <NUM>. Each of the secondary combustors <NUM> in the secondary combustor section <NUM> is configured to receive the combustion gases <NUM> and an emulsion of water and fuel from the fluid supply system <NUM>, which facilitates further combustion of the fuel in the emulsion within the combustion chamber <NUM> of the secondary combustion section <NUM>. The combustion provides a further output of exhaust gases or combustion products, as indicated by arrows <NUM>. The combustion gases <NUM> then enter the secondary turbine section <NUM>, and the combustion gases <NUM> drive the turbine blades <NUM> to rotate the shaft <NUM> in the one or more turbine stages <NUM>.

Eventually, the combustion gases exit the secondary turbine section <NUM> as exhaust gases as indicated by arrow <NUM>. The exhaust gases <NUM> then flow through the exhaust section <NUM>, which may include an exhaust stack, exhaust treatment systems, silencers, or other equipment. In operation, the combustion gases <NUM> driving rotation of the primary turbine section <NUM> and the combustion gases <NUM> driving rotation of the secondary turbine section <NUM> are configured to rotate the shafts <NUM> and <NUM>, thereby driving rotation of the load <NUM>, the compressor section <NUM>, and any other loads or equipment coupled to the gas turbine system <NUM>.

As noted above, the fluid supply system <NUM> is configured to provide an emulsion of water and fuel to the various fuel nozzles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the gas turbine engine <NUM> to improve the combustion reaction, reduce NOx formation, reduce soot formation, and improve the combustion process. In the illustrated embodiment, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> may include a plurality of emulsifiers <NUM> arranged in series and/or parallel relative to one another. For example, the emulsifiers <NUM> may include a first series of emulsifiers <NUM> disposed in a series or sequential arrangement, a second series of emulsifiers <NUM> disposed in a series or sequential arrangement, and a third series of emulsifiers <NUM> disposed in a series or sequential arrangement, wherein the emulsifiers <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are arranged in parallel relative to one another.

These emulsifiers <NUM> arranged in parallel and in series are configured to provide different levels of emulsification and independent paths of water fuel emulsification for use in various locations throughout the gas turbine engine <NUM>. For example, as discussed in further detail below, different emulsification techniques may be used and/or characteristics of the emulsified water and fuel may be supplied depending on certain operating conditions, injection locations, and so forth.

The water fuel emulsification system <NUM> is configured to receive one or more fuels from the fuel supply systems <NUM>, as indicated by arrow <NUM>. As illustrated, each of the fuel supply systems <NUM> includes a fuel supply <NUM>, at least one flow device <NUM> (e.g., flowmeter, regulator, and/or valve), and at least one pump <NUM>. The fuel supply <NUM> may include a fuel tank, a pipeline, a reservoir, or another source of fuel. The fuel supply <NUM> also may include one or more fuel heaters or heat exchangers to control a temperature of the fuel. The fuel may include low grade fuels, highly viscous fuels, heavy fuel oil (HFO), crude oil, diesel fuel, and/or contaminated liquid fuels. However, any fuel may be used in the fuel supply <NUM>.

More specifically, the flow device <NUM> may include a regulator, a check valve, or a valve (e.g., a gate valve or a ball valve) coupled to an actuator, which may be controlled by the control system <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the flow device <NUM> may include a flowmeter to monitor the flowrate of the fuel and thus improve control of the percentage or ratio of fuel being mixed with the water and emulsifying agent in the emulsifier <NUM>. The pump <NUM> may include a pump section and a drive section, wherein the drive section may include a motor or drive (e.g., variable-frequency drive (VFD)) configured to drive the pump section. The VFD may be configured to provide more precise control of the flow rate. The pump section of the pump <NUM> may include a rotary pump and/or a reciprocating pump.

Again, the fluid supply system <NUM> may include one or more fuel supply systems <NUM>. Each of these fuel supply systems <NUM> may be identical or different from the other fuel supply systems <NUM>. Additionally, each of the fuel supplies <NUM> may be the same or different from the others. For example, one fuel supply <NUM> may include a crude oil, another fuel supply <NUM> may include a contaminated liquid fuel, another fuel supply <NUM> may include a bio-fuel, another fuel supply <NUM> may include other waste products or poor quality fuels, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, each of the fuel supply systems <NUM> may be configured to supply liquid fuel to only one or a plurality of the emulsifiers <NUM> in the water fuel emulsification system <NUM>. For example, each fuel supply system <NUM> may be configured to supply fuel to one of the series of emulsifiers <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>.

The water fuel emulsification system <NUM> is also configured to receive water from one or more of the water supply systems <NUM>. Each water supply system <NUM> may include a water supply <NUM>, a flow device <NUM> (e.g., flowmeter, regulator, and/or valve), and a pump <NUM>. The water supply <NUM>, similar to the fuel supply <NUM>, may include a water tank, a water pipeline, a water reservoir, or another source of water. The water supply <NUM> also may include one or more water heaters or heat exchangers to control a temperature of the water. The flow device <NUM> may include a regulator, a check valve, or a valve (e.g., a gate valve or a ball valve) coupled to an actuator, which may be controlled by the control system <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the flow device <NUM> may include a flowmeter to monitor the flowrate of the water and thus improve control of the percentage or ratio of water being mixed with the fuel and emulsifying agent in the emulsifier <NUM>. The pump <NUM> may include a pump section and a drive section, wherein the drive section may include a motor or drive (e.g., variable-frequency drive (VFD)) configured to drive the pump section. The VFD may be configured to provide more precise control of the flow rate. The pump section of the pump <NUM> may include a rotary pump, a reciprocating pump, or any combination of pumps. The water supply system <NUM> supplies one or more streams or flows of water to the water fuel emulsification system <NUM>, as illustrated by arrow <NUM>.

The water fuel emulsification system <NUM> also may include the one or more emulsifying agent supply systems <NUM>. Each of the emulsifying agent supply systems <NUM> may include an emulsifying agent supply <NUM>, at least one flow device <NUM> (e.g., flowmeter, regulator, and/or valve), and at least one pump <NUM>. The agent supply <NUM> may include an agent supply tank, an agent supply reservoir, or another suitable agent supply storage medium. The agent supply <NUM> also may include one or more heaters or heat exchangers to control a temperature of the emulsifying agent. The flow device <NUM> may include a regulator, a check valve, or a valve (e.g., a gate valve or a ball valve) coupled to an actuator, which may be controlled by the control system <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the flow device <NUM> may include a flowmeter to monitor the flowrate of the emulsifying agent and thus improve control of the percentage or ratio of emulsifying agent being mixed with the water and fuel in the emulsifier <NUM>. The pump <NUM> may include a pump section and a drive section, wherein the drive section may include a motor or drive (e.g., variable-frequency drive (VFD)) configured to drive the pump section. The VFD may be configured to provide more precise control of the flow rate. The pump section of the pump <NUM> may include a reciprocating pump and/or a rotary pump.

Each emulsifying agent supply system <NUM> is configured to supply an emulsifying agent to the water fuel emulsification system <NUM>, as indicated by arrow <NUM>. In certain embodiments, a single emulsifying agent supply system <NUM> may be configured to supply an emulsifying agent to all of the emulsifiers <NUM>, or each emulsifying agent supply system <NUM> may be configured to supply an emulsifying agent to one or more of the emulsifiers <NUM>, such as the series of emulsifiers <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. In operation, each emulsifier <NUM> is configured to receive fuel from the fuel supply system <NUM> and water from the water supply system <NUM>. Additionally, depending on the operational mode, sensor feedback, and control input, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> may be configured to receive one or more emulsifying agents from the emulsifying agent supply system <NUM>.

The water fuel emulsification system <NUM> is configured to provide a variety of different types and compositions of water fuel emulsions. The controller <NUM> may be configured to control generation of the water fuel emulsion to generate a plurality of different water fuel emulsions, including a water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion or a fuel-in-water (FIW) emulsion. The plurality of different water fuel emulsions may include different fuels or fuel percentages, different emulsifying agents or emulsifying agent percentages, different water percentages, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the plurality of different water fuel emulsions may include different sizes of the plurality of water droplets dispersed in the fuel (e.g., WIF emulsion) and/or different sizes of the plurality of fuel droplets dispersed in the water (e.g., FIW emulsion). For example, the different sizes of water droplets dispersed in fuel and/or fuel droplets dispersed in water may be less than approximately <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> microns as an average diameter of the droplets. In certain embodiments, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> and the fluid supply system <NUM> may be controlled by the control system <NUM> (e.g., the controller <NUM>) to provide a water fuel emulsion in different ratios or percentages of water, fuel, and emulsifying agent, different types of emulsions (e.g., a water-in-fuel [WIF] emulsion or a fuel-in-water [FIW] emulsion), different fuels, different emulsifying agents, or different mixtures of fuel, emulsifying agent, and water.

The fuel, water, and emulsifying agents may be mixed in a variety of ways to generate the water fuel emulsions. For example, one of the emulsifiers <NUM> may be configured to mix fuel from one of the fuel supply systems <NUM> with water from one of the water supply systems <NUM> without an emulsifying agent from the emulsifying agent supply systems <NUM>, while another emulsifier <NUM> may be configured to mix fuel from one of the fuel supply systems <NUM>, water from one of the water supply systems <NUM> and an emulsifying agent from one of the emulsifying agent supply systems <NUM>. As a further example, one of the emulsifiers <NUM> may be configured to provide a larger amount of fuel relative to water to facilitate a water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion, while another one of the emulsifiers <NUM> may be configured to provide a greater amount of water relative to fuel to produce a fuel-in-water (FIW) emulsion. As a further example, one of the emulsifiers <NUM> may be configured with control parameters to mix a crude oil with water and an emulsifying agent, while another one of the emulsifiers <NUM> may be configured to mix a contaminated liquid fuel or bio-fuel with water and an emulsifying agent.

The following examples may correspond to compositions of the water fuel emulsions resulting in WIF and FIW emulsions. For example, the controller <NUM> may be configured to control the relative amounts of water, fuel, and emulsifying agent supplied to the emulsifier <NUM> of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> to generate the WIF emulsion with a first composition having a first percentage of the water, a first percentage of the fuel greater than the first percentage of the water, and a first percentage of the emulsifying agent equal to zero. In this example, the first percentage of the water may be <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, or about <NUM> percent, and the remainder of the first composition may correspond to the fuel (e.g., first percentage of the fuel may be <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, or about <NUM> percent).

As another example, the controller <NUM> may be configured to control the relative amounts of water, fuel, and emulsifying agent supplied to the emulsifier <NUM> to generate the WIF emulsion with a second composition having a second percentage of the water greater than the first percentage of the water, a second percentage of the fuel greater than the second percentage of the water and less than the first percentage of the fuel, and a second percentage of the emulsifying agent greater than zero. In this example, the second percentage of the water may be <NUM> to <NUM> percent, and the remainder of the second composition may correspond to the fuel and the emulsifying agent (e.g., second percentage of the fuel may be <NUM> to <NUM> percent and second percentage of emulsifying agent may be <NUM> to <NUM> percent).

The controller <NUM> also may be configured to control the relative amounts of water, fuel, and emulsifying agent supplied to the emulsifier <NUM> to generate a fuel-in-water (FIW) emulsion with a third composition having a third percentage of the water greater than the first percentage of the water, a third percentage of the fuel greater than the third percentage of the water and less than the first percentage of the fuel, and a third percentage of the emulsifying agent equal to zero. In this example, the third percentage of the water may be <NUM> to <NUM> percent, and the remainder of the second composition may correspond to the fuel (e.g., third percentage of the fuel may be <NUM> to <NUM> percent).

Accordingly, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> may use different emulsifiers <NUM> to provide different types of emulsions; different ratios of water, fuel, and, optionally, emulsifying agent; and different compositions based on different fuels and/or emulsifying agents. In certain embodiments, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> may be configured to vary parameters of the water fuel emulsion depending on operational conditions of the gas turbine engine <NUM>, such as a start-up condition, a steady state condition, a transient condition, a part-load condition, a full-load condition, different emissions requirements, different environmental conditions, different fuel compositions or qualities, and so forth.

The water fuel emulsion generated by the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> can be distributed throughout the gas turbine engine <NUM> via the emulsion distribution system <NUM>. As illustrated, the emulsion distribution system <NUM> may include one or more fluid distribution manifolds <NUM>, one or more valves <NUM>, and one or more fluid flow dividers or combiners <NUM>. For example, each manifold <NUM> may be configured to distribute an input flow into a plurality of output flows; the valves <NUM> may include check valves, gate valves, ball valves or other actuatable valves; and the flow dividers or combiners <NUM> may be configured to split or combine fluid flows of the water fuel emulsion.

The emulsion distribution system <NUM> may be fluidly coupled to the gas turbine engine <NUM> via one or more emulsion distribution lines or conduits <NUM>. For example, in certain embodiments, a single line may be fluidly coupled to all of the fuel nozzles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. However, in some embodiments, a plurality of fuel circuits may be used to control and distribute the emulsion to the various fuel nozzles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. For example, each of the conduits <NUM> may be coupled to one or more subsets of the fuel nozzles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the fuel nozzles <NUM> may include a primary or central fuel nozzle and secondary or peripheral fuel nozzles. Accordingly, the conduits <NUM> may be coupled to central fuel nozzles <NUM> via a first fuel circuit or conduit <NUM> and independently to peripheral or secondary fuel nozzles <NUM> via a second fuel fluid circuit or conduit <NUM>. The conduits <NUM> also may include independent conduits <NUM> coupled to the lateral fuel nozzle <NUM>, independent conduits <NUM> coupled to the fuel nozzle <NUM>, and independent fuel conduits <NUM> coupled to the lateral fuel nozzle <NUM>. In certain embodiments, each of these independent conduits <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include an actuatable valve coupled to the control system <NUM> to provide independent control of the flows to the respective fuel nozzles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Accordingly, the flows of water fuel emulsions to each of these fuel nozzles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be controlled to improve combustion, reduce NOx formation, reduce soot formation, and control the overall combustion process.

The gas turbine engine <NUM> and the fluid supply system <NUM> may be controlled and monitored by the control system <NUM> and the monitoring system <NUM>. The control system <NUM> may include one or more controllers <NUM>, each having one or more processors <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and instructions <NUM> stored on the memory <NUM> and executable by the processors <NUM>. For example, the controllers <NUM> may include various controls for operating the gas turbine engine <NUM>, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM>, distribution of the emulsion through the emulsion distribution system <NUM>, fuel supply through the fuel supply system <NUM>, water supply through the water supply system <NUM>, and emulsifying agent supply through the emulsifying agent supply system <NUM>. The monitoring system <NUM> may include a variety of monitoring functions or sub-systems.

As illustrated, the monitoring system <NUM> includes a sensor feedback acquisition system <NUM>, which may include a turbine monitor <NUM>, an emulsion monitor <NUM>, a supply monitor <NUM>, and a distribution monitor <NUM>. The monitoring system <NUM> is also communicatively coupled to various sensors <NUM> distributed throughout the gas turbine system <NUM>. The sensors <NUM> (designated in <FIG> with an S) are communicatively coupled to the monitoring system <NUM> via one or more monitoring or communication lines <NUM>. As illustrated, the sensors <NUM> are coupled to one or more locations along the compressor section <NUM>, the primary combustors <NUM>, the primary turbine section <NUM>, the secondary combustors <NUM>, the secondary turbine section <NUM>, the load <NUM>, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM>, the fuel supply systems <NUM>, the water supply systems <NUM>, the emulsifying agent supply system <NUM>, and the emulsion distribution system <NUM>. These sensors <NUM> may include temperature sensors, pressure sensors, flow sensors, vibration sensors, exhaust emissions sensors, combustion dynamics or compositions sensors, fluid composition sensors, leak sensors, or any combination thereof. The sensors <NUM> provide sensor feedback to the monitoring system <NUM>, which then uses the sensor feedback to facilitate the various monitors (or monitoring functions) <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The monitors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> monitor the gas turbine system <NUM> to facilitate control functions of the control system <NUM>. The turbine monitor <NUM> is configured to monitor operational characteristics of the gas turbine engine <NUM>, such as a start-up condition, a steady state condition, transient conditions, a part load or full load condition, combustion dynamics, exhaust emissions in the combustion products, flame temperature of combustion, or any other suitable parameter that may be used to facilitate control via the control system <NUM>. The monitored exhaust emissions may include nitrogen oxides (NOx), soot, carbon dioxide (CO<NUM>), carbon monoxide (CO), and sulfur oxides (SOx).

The emulsion monitor <NUM> may be configured to monitor aspects of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM>, such as ratios of fuel, water, and emulsifying agent, characteristics or types of water fuel emulsions (e.g., WIF or FIW emulsions), pressure of the fluid supplies or emulsion, or any other characteristics. The supply monitor <NUM> may be specifically configured to monitor the fuel supply system <NUM>, the water supply system <NUM>, and the emulsifying agent supply system <NUM>. For example, the supply monitor <NUM> may be configured to monitor the quantity or level of the fluid supplies (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), the supply pressures, the supply flow rates, the supply temperatures, potential leaks, or other characteristics of the fluid flows (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) from the fluid supply system <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to the water fuel emulsification system <NUM>.

The distribution monitor <NUM> is configured to monitor the distribution of the water fuel emulsion through the emulsion distribution system <NUM>. Accordingly, the distribution monitor <NUM> may monitor fluid pressures, fluid flow rates, temperatures, leaks, compositions of the emulsion, or other characteristics impacting the distribution of the emulsion to the various fuel nozzles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Altogether, the various monitors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> help the control system <NUM> to control operation of the gas turbine engine <NUM>, control generation and distribution of the water fuel emulsions, and control the combustion reaction and emissions levels in the combustor chambers <NUM> and <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic of an embodiment of a portion of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> having a plurality of emulsifiers <NUM>. As illustrated, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> has one of the fuel supply systems <NUM>, one of the water supply systems <NUM>, and one of the emulsifying agent supply systems <NUM> coupled to the emulsifiers <NUM>. The fuel supply <NUM>, the flow device <NUM>, and the pump <NUM> of the fuel supply system <NUM> are fluidly coupled to the emulsifiers <NUM>. Similarly, the water supply <NUM>, the flow device <NUM>, and the pump <NUM> of the water supply system <NUM> are fluidly coupled to the emulsifiers <NUM>. The agent supply <NUM>, the flow device <NUM>, and the pump <NUM> of the emulsifying agent supply system <NUM> are fluidly coupled to the emulsifiers <NUM>. Although only one of each supply system <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is shown in the embodiment of <FIG>, two or more of the supply systems may be included to provide more flexibility in fluid supplies and independent controls and distributions of emulsions to the various fuel nozzles. As illustrated, the emulsifier <NUM> receives the fuel, water, and agent through respective lines or conduits <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, respectively. Each emulsifier <NUM> may be coupled to the lines or conduits <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> via branch lines <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> having valves <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, respectively. Accordingly, the valves <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be configured to help control the distribution and flows of the fuel, water, and agent to each of the emulsifiers <NUM>.

Each of the emulsifiers <NUM> is configured to emulsify the fuel and water with or without the use of the emulsifying agent. Each of the emulsifiers <NUM> may include one or more emulsifying inducers or agitators <NUM> disposed about or within a body or housing <NUM> of the emulsifier <NUM>. The agitators <NUM> may include mechanical structures, such as stationary screens, protrusions, recesses, or other features configured to mix the fluids. The agitators <NUM> may include rotating blades or impellers, vibration inducers, acoustic agitators, impinging flows of the different fluids, or any combination thereof. Each of the emulsifiers <NUM> may be configured to operate independently from the other emulsifiers <NUM>, such that the emulsifiers <NUM> may be configured to provide different emulsions of water, fuel, and emulsifying agent. Regardless, each emulsifier <NUM> is configured to output a water fuel emulsion as indicated by arrow <NUM>. The water fuel emulsification system <NUM> is configured to route the emulsion <NUM> to the emulsion distribution system <NUM>.

As illustrated, the emulsion distribution system <NUM> includes manifolds <NUM>, valves <NUM>, and heat exchangers <NUM> between the emulsifiers <NUM> and the fuel nozzles <NUM>. Each manifold <NUM> includes at least one fluid inlet passage <NUM>, a plurality of fluid outlet passages <NUM>, and a common or joining passage <NUM> between the passages <NUM> and <NUM>. Each of the outlet passages <NUM> is fluidly coupled to one of the valves <NUM> and one of the heat exchangers <NUM> along an outlet or distribution conduit <NUM> extending between the manifold <NUM> and one of the fuel nozzles <NUM>. The valve <NUM> is configured to selectively open and close the fluid flow of the water fuel emulsion to the respective fuel nozzle <NUM>.

The heat exchanger <NUM> is configured to exchange heat with a thermal fluid <NUM> (e.g., water) fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger <NUM> via a heat exchange circuit <NUM> having a valve <NUM> and a pump <NUM>. The valve <NUM> is configured to open and close to enable or disable flow of the thermal fluid <NUM> through the heat exchange circuit <NUM>, while the pump <NUM> is configured to force a flow of the thermal fluid <NUM> through the heat exchange circuit <NUM> to exchange heat with one or more of the heat exchangers <NUM> or with each of the heat exchangers <NUM>. For example, the thermal fluid <NUM> may be hotter than the water fuel emulsion, thereby transferring heat to the water fuel emulsion before delivery to the fuel nozzle <NUM>. However, in certain embodiments, the thermal fluid <NUM> may be cooler than the water fuel emulsion, thereby facilitating heat transfer away from the emulsion into the thermal fluid <NUM> in the heat exchanger <NUM>. The control system <NUM> may be configured to control the valve <NUM> and the pump <NUM> to selectively control the heat exchange between the water fuel emulsion and the thermal fluid <NUM> as desired to control the temperature of the emulsion prior to entry into the fuel nozzle <NUM>.

Each fuel nozzle <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is configured to inject the water fuel emulsion into a combustion chamber (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>) as discussed above. In the illustrated embodiment, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> has multiple series of the emulsifiers <NUM>, the manifolds <NUM>, the valves <NUM>, the heat exchangers <NUM>, and the fuel nozzles <NUM>. For example, the water fuel emulsion system <NUM> may include <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or more of these series for emulsification of water and fuel for delivery into various fuel nozzles <NUM>. In certain embodiments, each series of the emulsifier <NUM>, manifold <NUM>, valves <NUM>, heat exchangers <NUM>, and fuel nozzles <NUM> may be associated with a single combustor (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>) or combustion section (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>), multiple combustors (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>) or combustion sections (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>), one or more fuel circuits, or any combination thereof. For example, each series may be associated with a primary fuel circuit, a secondary fuel circuit, and so forth. In some embodiments, each series may correspond to a different gas turbine engine <NUM>, such that each series is distributing an emulsion of fuel and water to a different gas turbine engine <NUM> coupled to a load <NUM> in a power plant or other facility.

Similar to <FIG>, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> of <FIG> has the monitoring system <NUM> coupled to various sensors <NUM> at the emulsifiers <NUM>, the manifolds <NUM>, the valves <NUM>, the heat exchangers <NUM>, and the fuel nozzles <NUM>. The sensors <NUM> (indicated by the letter "S") are coupled to the monitoring system <NUM> via one or more communication lines <NUM>. Additionally, the control system <NUM> is communicatively coupled to the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> via one or more control lines <NUM>. For example, the control system <NUM> is communicatively coupled to the flow devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, the valves <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the pumps <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the valves <NUM>, and other equipment throughout the water fuel emulsification system <NUM>.

The control system <NUM> may include a variety of controls to facilitate operation of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may be programmed with an emulsification control <NUM>, a water/fuel split control <NUM>, an agitation control <NUM>, a transient operation control <NUM>, a steady state operation control <NUM>, a load state control <NUM>, a water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion control <NUM>, and a fuel-in-water (WIF) emulsion control <NUM>. Each of these controls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is configured to change characteristics of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM>, thereby changing one or more characteristics of the water fuel emulsion <NUM> provided to the fuel nozzles <NUM> depending on various sensor feedback from the sensors <NUM>, user input, or operational conditions.

The controls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be configured to vary aspects of the emulsification process in the emulsifiers <NUM>. The emulsification control <NUM> may be configured to control various aspects of the emulsifiers <NUM> and the fluid supplies <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, thereby helping to control the emulsification process and composition of the water fuel emulsion. The water/fuel split control <NUM> may be configured to control ratios of the water, the fuel, and the emulsifying agent from the fluid supplies <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> into the emulsifiers <NUM>, thereby helping to control the composition of the water fuel emulsion <NUM>. The agitation control <NUM> may be configured to control each of the emulsifying inducers or agitators <NUM>, such as controlling a position, speed, intensity, or other characteristic of the agitators <NUM>. The controls <NUM> and <NUM> may be configured to vary aspects of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> depending on the desired type of emulsion. The water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion control <NUM> is configured to adjust or change characteristics of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM>, such that water is encapsulated inside of fuel as a water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion. In contrast, the fuel-in-water (FIW) emulsion control <NUM> is configured to adjust or change characteristics of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM>, thereby providing a fuel-in-water (FIW) emulsion. These controls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are configured to operate independently and/or cooperatively to adjust the water fuel emulsion <NUM>.

The controls <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be configured to vary aspects of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> depending on operational conditions and loads of the gas turbine system <NUM>. For example, the transient operation control <NUM> may be configured to control or change aspects of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> during transient operational conditions of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> and/or the gas turbine engine <NUM>, such as a start-up condition, a shut-down condition, or generally unstable conditions during operation. The steady state operation control <NUM> may be configured to adjust or change characteristics of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> during steady state conditions of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> and/or the gas turbine engine <NUM>, such as relatively continuous or stable conditions in between start-up and shut-down conditions. The load state control <NUM> may be configured to adjust characteristics of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> depending on a load state of the gas turbine engine <NUM>, such as a full load condition or part load condition. Accordingly, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> may adjust or change characteristics of the water fuel emulsion depending on the load. These controls <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are configured to operate independently and/or cooperatively with the controls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to adjust the water fuel emulsion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic of an embodiment of the water fuel emulsion system <NUM>, illustrating the emulsifier <NUM> having a plurality of different types of emulsifying inducers or agitators <NUM>. As illustrated, the agitators <NUM> are coupled to and may extend into the body <NUM> of the emulsifier <NUM>. For example, the agitators <NUM> include a fluid impingement agitator <NUM>, a rotary agitator <NUM>, a rotary agitator <NUM>, a stationary agitator <NUM>, an acoustic agitator <NUM>, a vibration agitator <NUM>, or any combination of these agitators integrated together into a common unit. For purposes of discussion, reference may be made to an axial direction or axis <NUM>, a radial direction or axis <NUM>, and a circumferential direction or axis <NUM> extending about the axial direction or axis <NUM>. Each of these axes or directions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are relative to a longitudinal axis <NUM> of the emulsifier <NUM>. The agitators <NUM> are coupled to various sides of the body <NUM>, in various orientations relative to the longitudinal axis <NUM>, and through an interior <NUM> of the body <NUM>.

The fluid impingement agitator <NUM> includes a plurality of fluid injectors or nozzles <NUM> configured to inject the fuel <NUM>, the water <NUM>, and the agent <NUM> into the body <NUM> of the emulsifier <NUM> to facilitate mixing of the different fluids. As illustrated, the fluid injectors <NUM> include fluid injectors <NUM> and fluid injectors <NUM> orientated crosswise (e.g., perpendicular or at acute angles) relative to one another to facilitate mixing of the fluids. For example, the fluid injectors <NUM> may be oriented along the axial direction <NUM>, whereas the fluid injectors <NUM> may be oriented along the radial direction <NUM>. In some embodiments, the fluid injectors <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be oriented at an angle to facilitate a swirling flow about the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the emulsifier <NUM>. For example, the fuel injectors <NUM> may be oriented generally along the axial direction <NUM> with a slight angle (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> degrees relative to the longitudinal axis <NUM>) in the circumferential direction <NUM>, such as in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction about the longitudinal axis <NUM>. Similarly, the fluid injectors <NUM> may be oriented generally in the radial direction <NUM> with an angle about the longitudinal axis <NUM>, such that the fluid injectors <NUM> are directing the fluid flows in the circumferential direction <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the fluid injectors <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to impinge fluid flows directly against one another, as indicated by arrows <NUM> and <NUM> representing streams of injected fluids.

The streams of injected fluids <NUM> and <NUM> also may be restricted between an outer sidewall <NUM> of the body <NUM> of the emulsifier <NUM> and an outer sidewall <NUM> of a central hub <NUM> disposed within the interior <NUM> of the body <NUM>. Accordingly, the sidewalls <NUM> and <NUM> may define a restricted cavity or flow path <NUM> to further enhance the mixing between the fluid streams <NUM> and <NUM>. For example, the restricted flow path <NUM> may be an annular flow path extending about the hub <NUM> and extending in the axial direction <NUM>. The fluid impingement agitator <NUM> is configured to enhance mixing and emulsification of the fuel <NUM> with the water <NUM> and optionally the agent <NUM> in this restricted flow path <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the hub <NUM> also may be configured to move rotationally, along with other aspects of the rotary agitator <NUM>.

The rotary agitator <NUM> includes a drive <NUM> coupled to a rotating propeller <NUM> via a shaft <NUM>. In operation, the drive <NUM> is configured to rotate the propeller <NUM> via the shaft <NUM> to facilitate mixing of the fuel <NUM>, the water <NUM>, and optionally the agent <NUM> within the interior <NUM> of the emulsifier <NUM>, thereby helping to promote emulsification. The propeller <NUM> may have a diameter equal to, less than, or greater than the outer diameter of the hub <NUM>. Accordingly, the propeller <NUM> may extend partially across the restricted flow path <NUM> in the radial direction <NUM>. The drive <NUM> may include an electric motor or drive, a hydraulic motor or drive, a pneumatic motor or drive, or any other suitable motor or drive. The drive <NUM> also may be configured to move the propeller <NUM> and shaft <NUM> in an axial direction <NUM> along the longitudinal axis <NUM> to facilitate mixing, such as reciprocating the propeller <NUM> and shaft <NUM> at a certain frequency.

The rotary agitator <NUM> includes a drive <NUM> coupled to a rotary hub <NUM>, which may include a plurality of radial protrusions or spokes <NUM> extending inwardly from an annular outer wall <NUM>. The drive <NUM> is configured to rotate the annular wall <NUM> having the plurality of radial protrusions <NUM>, thereby facilitating mixing and improving the emulsification of the fuel <NUM>, the water <NUM>, and optionally the agent <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the outer annular wall <NUM> may be sealed along the outer sidewall <NUM> of the body <NUM>, such that the drive <NUM> can directly rotate the annular outer wall <NUM> along an exterior of the emulsifier <NUM>. However, in certain embodiments, the drive <NUM> may facilitate rotation of the annular outer wall <NUM> via another drive technique, such as a belt or chain-driven assembly coupled to the rotary hub <NUM>. Additionally, the drive <NUM> may be configured to move the rotary hub <NUM> back and forth in the axial direction <NUM> and/or the radial direction <NUM> at a certain frequency to facilitate additional mixing. Similar to the drive <NUM>, the drive <NUM> may include an electric motor or drive, a hydraulic motor or drive, a pneumatic motor or drive, or another suitable motor or drive.

The stationary agitators <NUM> may include one or more screens <NUM> having a mesh of a plurality of wires or lines <NUM> extending in a first direction across the interior <NUM> and a plurality of second wires or lines <NUM> extending in a second direction across the interior <NUM>, wherein the wires or lines <NUM> and <NUM> extend crosswise to one another. For example, the lines <NUM> and <NUM> may be oriented perpendicular to one another to define a mesh across the interior <NUM>. In some embodiments, the lines <NUM> and <NUM> may be staggered from one screen <NUM> to another. As illustrated, the stationary agitators <NUM> having the screens <NUM> may be disposed at a plurality of locations within the interior <NUM>, such as downstream from the rotary agitator <NUM> and upstream from the rotary agitator <NUM>. However, embodiments of the emulsifier <NUM> may have one or more sets of the stationary agitators <NUM> with screens <NUM> at various locations.

The acoustic agitator <NUM> is configured to provide acoustic or sonic energy into one or more locations of the emulsifier <NUM>, such as the outer sidewall <NUM> of the body <NUM> as indicated by arrows <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, into the fluid injectors <NUM> and <NUM> of the fluid impingement agitator <NUM> as indicated by arrows <NUM> and <NUM>, into one or both of the rotary agitators <NUM> and <NUM> as indicated by arrow <NUM>, or any other location directly at the emulsifier <NUM>, at the various agitators <NUM>, upstream from the emulsifier <NUM>, and/or downstream from the emulsifier <NUM>. The acoustic agitator <NUM> is configured to provide acoustic or sonic energy in the form of soundwaves (for example, ultrasonic energy). Accordingly, the acoustic agitator <NUM> may include an ultrasonic agitator configured to provide ultrasonic waves into the various locations of the emulsifier <NUM>. The ultrasonic energy is configured to help mix and emulsify the fuel <NUM>, the water <NUM>, and optionally the agent <NUM>.

The vibration agitator <NUM> is configured to provide vibrational energy at various locations of the emulsifier <NUM>. For example, the vibration agitator <NUM> may apply vibrational energy to the outer sidewall <NUM> of the emulsifier <NUM> as indicated by arrow <NUM>, to one or more of the screens <NUM> of the stationary agitators <NUM> as indicated by arrows <NUM>, to one or more of the fluid injectors <NUM> and <NUM> of the fluid impingement agitator <NUM> as indicated by arrows <NUM> and <NUM>, or to one or both of the rotary agitators <NUM> and <NUM> as indicated by arrow <NUM>. The vibrational energy is configured to help induce mixing and emulsification of the fuel <NUM> with the water <NUM> and optionally the agent <NUM>. The vibration agitator <NUM> may be disposed at one or more locations about the emulsifier <NUM>, such as circumferentially about the outer sidewall <NUM> or along one or both of opposite end walls <NUM> and <NUM> of the body <NUM> of the emulsifier <NUM>.

The agitators <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may be used in any combination, orientation, or sequence relative to one another in each of the emulsifiers <NUM>. For example, if the emulsion system <NUM> includes emulsifiers <NUM> in a plurality of series <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> that are parallel to one another as indicated by <FIG>, each of these emulsifiers <NUM> may have one or more of the agitators <NUM> in different arrangements or the same arrangement relative to one another. Accordingly, multiple stages of the agitators <NUM> may be used for the different emulsifiers <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the fluid impingement agitator <NUM> may inject the fuel <NUM>, the water <NUM>, and optionally the agent <NUM> in one or both of the fluid injectors <NUM> and <NUM>. For example, the fluid injectors <NUM> may be used only for injection of the fuel <NUM>, the water <NUM>, or the agent <NUM>, or a combination of two or all of these fluids. Similarly, the fluid injectors <NUM> may be used to inject only the fuel <NUM>, the water <NUM>, or the agent <NUM>, or these fluid injectors <NUM> may be used for two or all of these fluids. Additionally, the fluid injectors <NUM> and <NUM> may be configured such that the fuel <NUM> and the water <NUM> are paired such that the streams <NUM> and <NUM> correspond to streams of the fuel <NUM> and the water <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> is configured to control each of the illustrated agitators <NUM> via the control line <NUM> coupled to each respective agitator <NUM>. The controller <NUM> also may be responsive to sensor feedback from the monitoring system <NUM> as discussed above. The monitoring system <NUM> is communicatively coupled to the control system <NUM> and various sensors <NUM> distributed throughout the emulsifier <NUM>. For example, one or more sensors <NUM> may be coupled to each of the agitators <NUM>. The sensors <NUM> may be configured to monitor operation of these agitators <NUM> and/or interior conditions within the emulsifier <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic of an embodiment of the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> having a plurality of emulsification stages <NUM>, including a first emulsification stage <NUM>, a second emulsification stage <NUM>, a third emulsification stage <NUM>, and a series of additional emulsification stages leading up to an Nth emulsification stage <NUM>. Each of the emulsification stages <NUM> may include one or more of the agitators <NUM> as discussed above, such as described with reference to <FIG>. For example, the first emulsification stage <NUM> may include the fluid impingement agitator <NUM>, the second emulsification stage <NUM> may include the rotary agitator <NUM>, and the third emulsification stage <NUM> may include the stationary agitator <NUM>. Another emulsification stage may include the acoustic agitator <NUM>, the vibration agitator <NUM>, the stationary agitator <NUM>, and/or the rotary agitator <NUM>. Accordingly, the emulsification stages <NUM> may continue with one or more of the same or different agitators <NUM> leading up to the Nth emulsification stage <NUM>. In certain embodiments, each of the emulsification stages <NUM> may include one or more of the same agitators <NUM> as a preceding or subsequent emulsification stage <NUM>.

The sequence of emulsification stages <NUM> may gradually change the characteristics of a water fuel emulsion <NUM>. For example, the first emulsification stage <NUM> may produce a water fuel emulsion <NUM> with first characteristics, the second emulsification stage <NUM> may product a water fuel emulsion <NUM> with second characteristics, the third emulsification stage <NUM> may produce a water fuel emulsion <NUM> with third characteristics, and so on until the Nth emulsification stage <NUM> produces a water fuel emulsion <NUM> with Nth characteristics. The characteristics of the different water fuel emulsions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include different droplet sizes disposed in the carrier fluid, different ratios between fuel, water, and the agent, different types of water fuel emulsions, different overall compositions, or any combination thereof. For example, the different types of water fuel emulsions may include a fuel-in-water (FIW) emulsion having droplets of fuel carried in a continuous or main flow of water, or the water fuel emulsion may include a water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion having droplets of water disposed in a main flow of fuel. In certain embodiments, the different droplet sizes, which may apply to either fuel droplets or water droplets depending on the type of water fuel emulsion, may gradually decrease from one stage to another in the emulsification stages <NUM>. The ratios of the fuel, water, and agents also may be varied in percent by mass of these different fluids. The different compositions in the water fuel emulsions also may correspond to different agents being used in the different emulsions, or different agents being added in subsequent stages <NUM>. The different compositions also may include different fuels in the water fuel emulsion, or different fuels being added in subsequent stages <NUM>.

Accordingly, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> produces the water fuel emulsions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> with potentially different characteristics, which can then be extracted at different points along different extraction conduits as indicated by conduits <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The conduit <NUM> extends from the first emulsification stage <NUM> to a first fuel nozzle <NUM> and includes a valve <NUM> coupled to the control system <NUM> to enable selective control of the flow of the water fuel emulsion <NUM> to the first fuel nozzle <NUM>. Similarly, the conduit <NUM> extends from the second emulsification stage <NUM> to a second fuel nozzle <NUM> and includes a valve <NUM> coupled to the control system <NUM> for selective control of a flow of the water fuel emulsion <NUM> to the second fuel nozzle <NUM>. The conduit <NUM> extends from the third emulsification stage <NUM> to a third fuel nozzle <NUM> and includes a valve <NUM> coupled to the control system <NUM> for selective control of a flow of the third water fuel emulsion <NUM> to the third fuel nozzle <NUM>. Additional conduits, valves and nozzles are coupled to subsequent emulsification stages <NUM> until the Nth emulsification stages <NUM>. The conduit <NUM> extends from the Nth emulsification stage <NUM> to an Nth fuel nozzle <NUM>, and a valve <NUM> is disposed along the conduit <NUM> and coupled to the control system <NUM> for selective control of the flow of the water fuel emulsion <NUM> to the Nth fuel nozzle <NUM>. Accordingly, the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> is configured to enable a controlled flow of different water fuel emulsions from different emulsification stages <NUM> to different fuel nozzles <NUM> in the gas turbine engine <NUM>.

As illustrated, the fuel supply system <NUM>, the water supply system <NUM>, and the emulsifying agent supply system <NUM> are coupled to the first emulsification stage <NUM>. However, one or more of these supplies <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be coupled to each subsequent stage <NUM>, such as the second emulsification stage <NUM>, the third emulsification stage <NUM>, and the Nth emulsification stage <NUM> to add additional fuel, water, and/or agent when emulsifying the flow from one stage to another. For example, subsequent emulsification stages <NUM> may receive the same or different fuels and/or agents to alter the composition of the water fuel emulsion.

<FIG> is a schematic of an embodiment of a water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion combustion process <NUM> occurring in a combustion zone or chamber <NUM> downstream from a fuel nozzle <NUM>. The fuel nozzle <NUM> may correspond to any of the fuel nozzles discussed in detail above, including but not limited to the fuel nozzles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. As illustrated, the fuel nozzle <NUM> injects a water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion <NUM> (e.g., a WIF spray formed by a primary atomization) into the combustion chamber <NUM>, such that heat within the combustion chamber <NUM> helps to cause a micro-explosion of water droplets <NUM> disposed within each fuel droplet <NUM>. The water droplets <NUM> evaporate prior to the fuel droplets <NUM>, thereby causing the water droplets <NUM> to change into a vapor within the body of the fuel droplets <NUM>. The evaporating water droplets <NUM> create an outward force or pressure to explode the fuel droplets <NUM> (i.e., micro-explosions), which causes secondary atomization of the fuel droplets <NUM> into more finely atomized fuel droplets. As illustrated in <FIG>, arrows <NUM> indicate the micro-explosion of the fuel droplets <NUM> caused by evaporation of the interior water droplets <NUM>. The resulting finely atomized fuel droplets are indicated by droplets <NUM>. At this point, the finely atomized fuel droplets rapidly evaporate and mix with the air, and undergo combustion as indicated by combusting fuel droplets <NUM>. This process of micro-explosions of the WIF emulsion <NUM> provides better combustion, while the water helps to reduce formation of NOx and soot. The WIF emulsion <NUM> consumes less water than direct water injection (e.g., separate from the fuel), leading to heat rate improvements and fuel savings due to less heat being used to evaporate the water.

<FIG> is schematic of an embodiment of one of the water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion droplets <NUM> of <FIG>. As illustrated, the WIF droplet <NUM> has a plurality of water droplets <NUM> dispersed within a larger fuel droplet <NUM>. The size of the water droplets <NUM> may depend on various parameters and agitation by the agitators <NUM> in the emulsifiers <NUM> as discussed above. For example, the water droplets <NUM> may have an average diameter of less than <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> microns. In certain embodiments, the water droplets <NUM> may have an average diameter of between <NUM> to <NUM> microns or between <NUM> to <NUM> microns. The size of the fuel droplet <NUM> may correspond to characteristics of atomization provided by the fuel nozzle <NUM>. For example, the fuel droplets <NUM> may have an average diameter of between <NUM> to <NUM> microns or between <NUM> to <NUM> microns. Ranges of droplet size are inclusive of the endpoints of the range.

<FIG> is a schematic of an embodiment of one of the water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion droplets <NUM> of <FIG>, illustrating the micro-explosions occurring within the WIF emulsion droplet <NUM>. As illustrated, arrows <NUM> illustrate the outward pressure or force caused by evaporation of the water droplets <NUM> disposed within the fuel droplet <NUM>. Each fuel droplet <NUM> may include one or more water droplets <NUM>, such as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or more water droplets <NUM>. Each of these water droplets <NUM> evaporates to cause a micro-explosion in the fuel droplet <NUM>, thereby helping to atomize the fuel droplet <NUM> into a plurality of finely atomized fuel droplets <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic illustrating the finely atomized fuel droplets <NUM> (i.e., secondary atomization) resulting from the micro-explosions occurring in the WIF emulsion droplets <NUM> as discussed above with reference to <FIG>. The finely atomized fuel droplets <NUM> may have an average diameter of less than <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,<NUM>, or <NUM> microns. For example, the finely atomized fuel droplets <NUM> may have an average diameter of between <NUM> to <NUM> microns.

<FIG> is a flow chart of an embodiment of a process <NUM> for combusting a water fuel emulsion within one or more combustors of a gas turbine engine <NUM> as discussed above. As illustrated, the process <NUM> may include supplying water to one or more emulsifiers <NUM> as indicated by block <NUM>, supplying fuel to the one or more emulsifiers <NUM> as indicated by block <NUM>, and (optionally) supplying an emulsifying agent to one or more emulsifiers <NUM> as indicated by block <NUM>. Although listed sequentially, it should be understood that the supply of water, fuel, and emulsifying agent can occur in a different order or may occur simultaneously.

The process <NUM> also includes controlling a ratio of fluids (e.g., water, fuel, and emulsifying agents) in the one or more emulsifiers <NUM>, as indicated by block <NUM>. For example, the ratio between the water, the fuel, and the agent may be varied to provide a greater or lesser amount of water, fuel, or emulsifying agent to change the composition and type of the water fuel emulsion. For example, a greater ratio of fuel relative to water may result in a water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsion having small droplets of water dispersed in a continuous volume or flow of fuel. Alternatively, a greater ratio of water relative to fuel may result in a fuel-in-water (FIW) emulsion, wherein small droplets of fuel are dispersed within a continuous volume or flow of water. Accordingly, the process <NUM> may include controlling the type of emulsion (e.g., water-in-fuel or fuel-in-water emulsion) in the one or more emulsifiers <NUM>, as indicated by block <NUM>.

The control of the ratios (block <NUM>) and the control of the type of emulsion (block <NUM>) may be closely related to one another, such that varying the ratio of the fluids may also change the type of the emulsion between a WIF type emulsion and a FIW type emulsion. However, controlling the ratio of fluids also may help to change the composition and/or size of the droplets of one fluid suspended inside the other. Additionally, controlling the ratio of fluids (block <NUM>) may include selectively choosing a ratio that excludes or includes one or more emulsifying agents, such as surfactants. The inclusion or exclusion in varying quantities of the emulsifying agents also may have an impact on the overall characteristics of the water fuel emulsion.

The process <NUM> also may include controlling the agitation of fluids (e.g., water, fuel, and agents) before, during, and after emulsification in the one or more emulsifiers <NUM>, as indicated by block <NUM>. For example, the control of agitation may include controlling any one or more of the agitators <NUM> discussed in detail above. For example, the control of agitation may include controlling the pressure and flow rate of fuel, water, and agents being injected into the emulsifier <NUM>, the intensity or frequency of vibration by the vibration agitator <NUM>, the intensity and frequency of acoustic agitation provided by the acoustic agitator <NUM>, the rotational speed of the rotary agitators <NUM> and <NUM>, or any combination thereof.

The process <NUM> also may include controlling the distribution of the water fuel emulsion, as indicated by block <NUM>. For example, the distribution control <NUM> may include selectively opening and closing various valves, thereby controlling flows of different emulsions to the various fuel nozzles in the gas turbine engine <NUM>. The distribution control <NUM> may be configured to distribute the same water fuel emulsions to different fuel nozzles, combustors, and/or gas turbine engines, or to distribute different water fuel emulsions to the different fuel nozzles, combustors, and/or gas turbine engines.

The process <NUM> also may include monitoring feedback from sensors, as indicated by block <NUM>. For example, the monitoring system <NUM> may monitor sensor feedback from the sensors <NUM> as discussed above. The process <NUM> also may include adjusting controls based on the feedback and operational mode/state of the gas turbine engine <NUM> and the water fuel emulsification system <NUM>, as indicated by block <NUM>. For example, the control adjustments of block <NUM> may include changes in characteristics of the water fuel emulsion provided by the water fuel emulsification system <NUM> depending on an operational mode (e.g., steady state, start-up, shut-down, or transient conditions) of the gas turbine engine <NUM>, a load state (e.g., part load or full load) of the gas turbine engine <NUM>, environmental conditions (e.g., humidity, temperature, or other parameters), emissions requirements, load demands (e.g., power grid demands), or any combination thereof. Technical effects of the disclosed embodiments include generation, distribution, and combustion of water fuel emulsions in combustors of a gas turbine engine. For example, the water fuel emulsions may be supplied as water-in-fuel (WIF) emulsions, which help to further atomize the fuel as micro-explosions of water droplets occur inside of the fuel droplets. In turn, the fuel is more finely atomized by the micro-explosions, leading to more evaporation of the fuel and better mixing with the air. The fuel in turn is more completely and uniformly combusted in the combustors. As a result, the WIF emulsion helps to reduce formation of NOx and soot in the combustion process, while using less water as compared to separate injection of water into the combustors. For example, the water fuel emulsion (e.g., WIF emulsion) may help to lower NOx emissions by <NUM> to <NUM> percent, lower soot emissions by <NUM> to <NUM> percent, reduce fuel consumption by <NUM> to <NUM> percent, and reduce water consumption by <NUM> to <NUM> percent relative to direct water injection (i.e., separate from fuel).

Claim 1:
A system (<NUM>), comprising:
a gas turbine engine (<NUM>), comprising:
a plurality of emulsifier stages (<NUM>, <NUM>. <NUM>, <NUM>) arranged in series with one another; each of the emulsifier stages (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) producing a water fuel emulsion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) with specific characteristics;
a combustor section (<NUM>) having a plurality of fuel nozzles (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), wherein each of the plurality of fuel nozzles is coupled to a different stage of the plurality of emulsifier stages via a respective conduit of a plurality of conduits (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), wherein each of the conduits includes a valve (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) coupled to a controller (<NUM>) to enable selective control of the flow of the water fuel emulsions to the respective fuel nozzle,
wherein the plurality of emulsifier stages is configured to supply a plurality of different water fuel emulsions to the plurality of fuel nozzles,
wherein the combustor section (<NUM>) comprises:
a first combustor (<NUM>) comprising at least a first fuel nozzle (<NUM>) of the plurality of fuel nozzles, wherein the first fuel nozzle (<NUM>) is configured to supply a water fuel emulsion of the plurality of different water fuel emulsions into the first combustor (<NUM>), the water fuel emulsion comprising a water-in-fuel, WIF, emulsion having a plurality of water droplets dispersed in a fuel such that in use the plurality of water droplets vaporizes within the fuel causing micro-explosions to atomize the fuel, and the atomized fuel combusts to generate a combustion gas;
a turbine (<NUM>) driven by the combustion gas from the first combustor (<NUM>); and the controller (<NUM>), configured to control generation of the plurality of different water fuel emulsions, including the WIF emulsion;
wherein the controller (<NUM>) is configured to change characteristics of the plurality of different water fuel emulsions depending on:
an operational mode of the gas turbine engine (<NUM>);
a load state of the gas turbine engine (<NUM>);
environmental conditions;
emissions requirements; or
load demands,
wherein the controller is further configured to selectively control flows of the plurality of different water fuel emulsions from the plurality of emulsifier stages to the plurality of fuel nozzles to control combustion in the combustor section.