Patent Description:
Hydraulic fracturing has been commonly used by the oil and gas industry to stimulate production of hydrocarbon wells, such as oil and/or gas wells. Hydraulic fracturing, sometimes called "fracing" or "fracking," is the process of injecting fracturing fluid, which is typically a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals, into the subsurface to fracture the subsurface geological formations and release otherwise encapsulated hydrocarbon reserves. The fracturing fluid is typically pumped into a wellbore at a relatively high pressure sufficient to cause fissures within the underground geological formations. Specifically, once inside the wellbore, the pressurized fracturing fluid is pressure pumped down and then out into the subsurface geological formation to fracture the underground formation. A fluid mixture that may include water, various chemical additives, and proppants (e.g., sand or ceramic materials) can be pumped into the underground formation to fracture and promote the extraction of the hydrocarbon reserves, such as oil and/or gas. For example, the fracturing fluid may comprise a liquid petroleum gas, linear gelled water, gelled water, gelled oil, slick water, slick oil, poly emulsion, foam/emulsion, liquid carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas, and/or binary fluid and acid.

Implementing large-scale fracturing operations at well sites typically require extensive investment in equipment, labor, and fuel. For instance, a typical fracturing operation uses a variety of fracturing equipment, numerous personnel to operate and maintain the fracturing equipment, large amounts of fuel to power the fracturing operations, and large volumes of fracturing fluids. As such, planning for fracturing operations is often complex and encompasses a variety of logistical challenges that include minimizing the on-site area or "footprint" of the fracturing operations, providing adequate power and/or fuel to continuously power the fracturing operations, increasing the efficiency of the hydraulic fracturing equipment, and reducing any environmental impact resulting from fracturing operations. Thus, numerous innovations and improvements of existing fracturing technology are needed to address the variety of complex and logistical challenges faced in today's fracturing operations.

<CIT> describes a mobile power generation system and methods for air filtration including providing a trailer including a rear end, a front end, a bottom end, and a top end, a gas turbine housed inside the trailer, an electrical generator coupled to the gas turbine to generate electricity and housed inside the trailer, and a plurality of air inlets disposed on a side panel disposed below the top end and between the rear end and the front end of the trailer.

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosed subject matter in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein. This summary is not an exhaustive overview of the technology disclosed herein. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is discussed later. The claimed invention is defined herein in accordance with the appended claims.

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a power generation transport for providing mobile electric power, the power generation transport includes: a gas turbine; an inlet plenum coupled to an intake of the gas turbine; a generator driven by the gas turbine; an air intake and exhaust module including: an air inlet filter housing comprising an air inlet filter housing door at an end surface of the power generation transport configured to be set to an open position in an operational mode of the power generation transport; an intake air duct disposed between the air inlet filter housing and the inlet plenum, the intake air duct coupled to the air inlet filter housing at a first end and to the inlet plenum at a second end; and an exhaust collector coupled to an exhaust of the gas turbine and defining an exhaust air flow passage, the exhaust air flow passage extending from an exhaust of the gas turbine, passing through a flow passage of the exhaust collector, and ending at an exhaust air outlet disposed on a ceiling of an enclosure of the power generation transport; and at least one base frame, wherein the at least one base frame mounts and aligns the gas turbine, the inlet plenum, the generator, and the air intake and exhaust module of the power generation transport, wherein the air inlet filter housing, the intake air duct, and the inlet plenum define an intake air flow path for intake of combustion air for the gas turbine, wherein the intake air flow path extends underneath the exhaust collector and the gas turbine from an upstream end side that is on a side of the exhaust collector of the gas turbine to a downstream end side that is on a side of the inlet plenum of the gas turbine.

An apparatus for providing mobile electric power comprises: a power generation transport including: a generator; a power source configured to drive the generator; an air inlet filter housing disposed on an exhaust end side of the power source; an inlet plenum coupled to the air inlet filter housing, and configured for providing air to the power source, wherein the inlet plenum is disposed on an intake end side of the power source; an intake air duct coupled to the air inlet filter housing at a first end thereof and to the inlet plenum at a second end; an exhaust collector configured for collecting exhaust from the power source, and disposed on the exhaust end side of the power source; wherein the air inlet filter housing, the inlet plenum, the exhaust collector, the power source, and the generator are mounted on the power generation transport.

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for providing mobile electric power includes: setting an air inlet filter housing door at an end surface of a power generation transport to an open position in an operational mode of the power generation transport; supplying air to a gas turbine disposed on the power generation transport via an intake air flow passage, the intake air flow passage being defined by the air inlet filter housing, an intake air duct, and an inlet plenum, wherein the air inlet filter housing is disposed on an exhaust end side of the gas turbine, the intake air duct is coupled to the air inlet filter housing at a first end and to the inlet plenum at a second end, and the inlet plenum is disposed on an intake end side of the gas turbine; generating electricity by operating a generator disposed on the power generation transport with mechanical energy generated by operation of the gas turbine; expelling exhaust air from the gas turbine via an exhaust air flow passage, the exhaust air flow passage being defined by an exhaust collector disposed on the exhaust end side of the gas turbine, the exhaust air flow passage extending from an exhaust of the gas turbine, passing through a flow passage of the exhaust collector, and ending at an exhaust air outlet disposed on a ceiling of an enclosure of the power generation transport, wherein the intake air flow passage passes underneath the exhaust collector and the gas turbine from the exhaust end side to the intake end side.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the inventive concept. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described. Moreover, the language used in this disclosure has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter, resort to the claims being necessary to determine such inventive subject matter. Reference in this disclosure to "one embodiment" or to "an embodiment" or "another embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention, and multiple references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" or "another embodiment" should not be understood as necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

The terms "a," "an," and "the" are not intended to refer to a singular entity unless explicitly so defined, but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The use of the terms "a" or "an" may therefore mean any number that is at least one, including "one," "one or more," "at least one," and "one or more than one. " The term "or" means any of the alternatives and any combination of the alternatives, including all of the alternatives, unless the alternatives are explicitly indicated as mutually exclusive. The phrase "at least one of" when combined with a list of items, means a single item from the list or any combination of items in the list. The phrase does not require all of the listed items unless explicitly so defined.

As used herein, the term "transport" refers to any transportation assembly, including, but not limited to, a trailer, truck, skid, and/or barge used to transport relatively heavy structures, such as a mobile gas turbine generator.

As used herein, the term "trailer" refers to a transportation assembly used to transport relatively heavy structures, such as a mobile gas turbine generator that can be attached and/or detached from a transportation vehicle used to pull or move the trailer. In one embodiment, the trailer may include the mounts and manifold systems to connect the trailer to other equipment.

As used herein, the term "gas turbine generator" refers to both the gas turbine and the generator sections of a gas-turbine generator transport (e.g., power generation transport, mobile source of electricity, turbine package, and turbine trailer). The gas turbine generator receives hydrocarbon fuel, such as natural gas, and converts the hydrocarbon fuel into electricity.

As used herein, the term "inlet plenum" may be interchanged and generally referred to as "inlet", "air intake," and "intake plenum," throughout this disclosure. Additionally, the term "exhaust collector" may be interchanged throughout and generally referred to as "exhaust diffuser" and "exhaust plenum" throughout this disclosure.

As used herein, the term "gas turbine inlet filter" may be interchanged and generally referred to as "inlet filter" and "inlet filter assembly. " The term "air inlet filter housing" may also be interchanged and generally referred to as "filter housing" and "air filter assembly housing" throughout this disclosure.

This disclosure pertains to a mobile source of electricity that may be configured to provide mobile electric power for different applications or use cases. The mobile source of electricity may be implemented using a single transport (e.g., single trailer or truck) to reduce its "footprint" at a work site. The transport (e.g., power generation transport, gas turbine generator transport, and the like) may comprise a gas turbine and generator along with other equipment to supply electric power for different applications requiring a mobile source of electricity (e.g., well sites, data centers, agricultural applications, and the like). For example, the power generation transport may comprise one or more of a black start generator; control cabinets including variable frequency drives (VFDs); controls room; control system; switch gear; generator; turbine starter electric motor; gearbox; air intake or inlet plenum; gas turbine; and an air intake and exhaust module that includes a plurality of components including gas turbine air inlet filter housing, filter housing door, turbine intake air duct, exhaust collector, and exhaust stack. The power generation transport may further comprise additional ancillary equipment to produce electric power like a gas conditioning unit, breaker, transformer, and the like.

The power generation transport may be configured to be 'self-sufficient' such that it can be quickly mobilized and de-mobilized without requiring use of external mechanical means or apparatus. For example, after reaching a remote site where a mobile source of electricity is required, the power generation transport can be quickly converted from a transportation mode to an operational mode by, e.g., opening the door of the air inlet filter housing and the exhaust flap, and further supplying hydrocarbon fuel to the turbine. The gas turbine of the power generation transport may then be operated to generate electricity. After the mobile source of electricity is no longer required at the remote site, the power generation transport can be quickly mobilized to be in the transportation mode without use of any external mechanical apparatus. In the operational mode, the power generation transport may produce electric power in the range of about <NUM>-<NUM> megawatts (MW) (e.g., <NUM> MW, <NUM> MW, etc.).

The air intake and exhaust module of the power generation transport may be modular and compact, and may be disposed on the exhaust end side of the gas turbine on the rear end of the transport. The air intake and exhaust module may be integrally formed or may comprise a plurality of components that are coupled together to provide filtered intake air for combustion by the gas turbine and vent exhaust air from the turbine to safely release heated exhaust air into the atmosphere. The plurality of components of the air intake and exhaust module may include an air inlet filter housing for filtering outside air for combustion by the gas turbine; an intake air duct (e.g., passage, vent, tube, and the like) for flowing the filtered air to the intake port (e.g., flange face opening) of the turbine; an exhaust collector and an exhaust stack for venting the exhaust air from the turbine from the roof of the enclosure. The power generation transport may be configured such that the inlet plenum of the gas turbine is fluidly coupled to the air inlet filter housing of the air intake and exhaust module via the intake air flow duct, and the exhaust end (e.g., exhaust port, exhaust diffuser, exhaust, and the like) of the gas turbine is fluidly coupled to the exhaust collector of the air intake and exhaust module. The air intake and exhaust module may be disposed on the exhaust end side of the turbine so that both an intake air flow path and an exhaust air flow path defined by the air intake and exhaust module may begin on the same (e.g., rear or exhaust end) side of the gas turbine, with the intake air flow path passing underneath the turbine and the exhaust collector from the exhaust side to the intake side of the turbine to be fed into the inlet plenum.

That is, the intake air duct of the air intake and exhaust module may be disposed between the gas turbine and a trailer bed frame of the power generation transport so as to run along the trailer bed frame from the exhaust end side of the gas turbine to the intake end side, and to allow filtered intake combustion air to flow underneath the turbine and into the inlet plenum on the intake port side. This intake air may then pass through the turbine during power generation, and be released as exhaust air into the exhaust collector via the exhaust end of the turbine. The air inlet filter housing of the air intake and exhaust module may thus be provided on a side of the gas turbine that is opposite to the air intake side thereof. The exhaust collector may be fixedly and fluidly coupled with an exhaust stack (or integrally formed therewith) on a top side thereof, and a flap or lid may cover the opening at the top of the exhaust stack so as to be flush with the roof of the enclosure of the transport.

Although the power generation transport has been described as being equipped with a single train of components (e.g., train of components including generator, gear box, inlet plenum, gas turbine, and the air intake and exhaust module) disposed at a rear end of the transport, this may not necessarily be the case. In some embodiments, the power generation transport may be equipped with two independent trains of components respectively disposed at the front and the rear ends of the transport to provide a power generation system with total redundancy of components. That is, the transport may be equipped with two generators, two gear boxes, two inlet plenums, two gas turbines, and two air intake and exhaust modules, such that the two air intake and exhaust modules are respectively disposed at the front and rear ends of the transport. A control system disposed on the power generation transport may then operate the two independent power generation trains in conjunction with a load distribution system (e.g., control system) to achieve an independent operation of the two trains, or a synchronized operation with load balancing or load sharing. In some embodiments, the exhaust collector of the air intake and exhaust module may be equipped with a heat exchanger component disposed in the air passage between the exhaust end of the gas turbine and the exhaust air outlet at the roof of the transport to recapture heat energy from the heated exhaust air and use the heat energy for different applications or use cases.

The mobile source of electricity may have different applications. For example, one or more instances of the transport may power electric hydraulic fracturing operations for one or more well sites by providing electric power to a variety of fracturing equipment located at the well sites. The different fracturing equipment, which include, but are not limited to, a blender, hydration unit, fracturing pump transport, sand handling equipment, chemical additive system, and the mobile source of electricity, may be configured to operate remotely via a control network system that monitors and controls the fracturing equipment using a communication network. In other embodiments, the power generation transport may be implemented to provide electric power for other applications (e.g., industrial, mining, commercial, civilian, agricultural, manufacturing, and the like) where mobile electric power is needed and where the requisite hydrocarbon fuel (e.g., natural gas) required to power the power generation transport is available.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of well site <NUM> which comprises wellhead <NUM> and mobile fracturing system <NUM> that relies on mobile electric power generation to power a fracturing operation. Generally, mobile fracturing system <NUM> may perform fracturing operations to complete a well and/or transform a drilled well into a production well. For example, well site <NUM> may be a site where operators are in the process of drilling and completing a well. Operators may start the well completion process with drilling, running production casing, and cementing within the wellbore. The operators may also insert a variety of downhole tools into the wellbore and/or as part of a tool string used to drill the wellbore. After the operators drill the well to a certain depth, a horizontal portion of the well may also be drilled and subsequently encased in cement. The operators may subsequently remove the rig, and mobile fracturing system <NUM> may be moved onto well site <NUM> to perform fracturing operations that force relatively high pressure fracturing fluid through wellhead <NUM> into subsurface geological formations to create fissures and cracks within the rock. Fracturing system <NUM> may be moved off well site <NUM> once the operators complete the fracturing operations. Typically, fracturing operations for well site <NUM> may last several days.

To provide an environmentally cleaner and more transportable fracturing fleet, mobile fracturing system <NUM> may comprise mobile source of electricity <NUM> (e.g., one or more instances of the power generation transport shown in <FIG>) configured to generate electricity by burning hydrocarbon fuel, such as natural gas, obtained from one or more other sources (e.g., a producing wellhead) at well site <NUM>, from a remote offsite location, and/or another relatively convenient location near mobile source of electricity <NUM>. Improving mobility of mobile fracturing system <NUM> may be beneficial because fracturing operations at a well site typically last for several days and the fracturing equipment is subsequently removed from the well site after completing fracturing operation. Rather than using fuel that is costly and significantly impacts air quality (e.g., diesel fuel) as a source of power and/or receiving electric power from a grid or other type of stationary power generation facility (e.g., located at the well site or offsite), mobile fracturing system <NUM> utilizes mobile source of electricity <NUM> running on natural gas as a power source that may already be freely available at wellsite <NUM> and that burns cleaner. The generated electricity from mobile source of electricity <NUM> may be supplied to fracturing equipment to power fracturing operations at one or more well sites, or to other equipment in various types of applications requiring mobile electric power generation. Mobile source of electricity <NUM> may be implemented as a single power generation transport in order to reduce the well site footprint and provide the ability for operators to easily move mobile source of electricity <NUM> to different well sites and/or different fracturing jobs and/or different physical locations along with other components of system <NUM>. Although not shown in <FIG>, multiple instances of mobile source of electricity <NUM> (e.g., multiple power generation transports) may be utilized in order to generate the adequate amount of power needed for the hydraulic fracturing operations. Configuration and method of operation of mobile source of electricity <NUM> is described in more detail in connection with <FIG>. Mobile source of electricity <NUM> is not limited for use in fracturing operations and may be applicable to power other types of equipment and for other applications (e.g., industrial, mining, commercial, civilian, agricultural, manufacturing, and the like). The use and discussion of <FIG> is only an example to facilitate ease of description and explanation of mobile source of electricity <NUM>.

In addition to mobile source of electricity <NUM>, mobile fracturing system <NUM> may include switch gear transport <NUM>, at least one blender transport <NUM>, at least one data van <NUM>, and one or more fracturing pump transports <NUM> that deliver fracturing fluid through wellhead <NUM> to subsurface geological formations. Switch gear transport <NUM> may receive electricity generated from mobile source of electric power <NUM> via one or more electrical connections. In one embodiment, switch gear transport <NUM> may use <NUM> kilovolts (kV) electrical connections to receive power from mobile source of electricity <NUM>. Switch gear transport <NUM> may comprise a plurality of electrical disconnect switches, fuses, transformers, and/or circuit protectors to protect the fracturing equipment. The switch gear transport <NUM> may transfer the electricity received from the mobile source of electricity <NUM> to the electrically connected fracturing equipment of mobile fracturing system <NUM>. Switch gear transport <NUM> may further comprise a control system to control, monitor, and provide power to the electrically connected fracturing equipment.

In one embodiment, switch gear transport <NUM> may receive an electrical connection at a first voltage and perform one or more voltage step down or voltage step up operations (e.g., using one or more transformers disposed on transport <NUM>) before providing the converted voltage to other fracturing equipment, such as fracturing pump transport <NUM>, blender transport <NUM>, sand storage and conveyor, hydration equipment, chemical equipment, data van <NUM>, lighting equipment, and any additional auxiliary equipment of system <NUM> used for the fracturing operations. The control system may be configured to connect to a control network system such that switch gear transport <NUM> may be monitored and/or controlled from a distant location, such as data van <NUM> or some other type of control center. Alternately, switch gear transport <NUM> may simply pass through a voltage to downstream equipment (e.g., frac pump transport <NUM>), and the downstream equipment may include one or more transformers to perform any voltage conversion operations (e.g., convert <NUM> kV voltage to lower voltage levels like <NUM> kV, <NUM> V, and the like) to power downstream frac equipment. In some embodiments, one or more components of switch gear transport <NUM> may be disposed on mobile source of electricity <NUM>, and switch gear transport <NUM> may be omitted from system <NUM>.

Fracturing pump transport <NUM> may receive the electric power from switch gear transport <NUM> (or from mobile source of electricity <NUM>) to power a prime mover. The prime mover converts electric power to mechanical power for driving one or more pumps. In one embodiment, the prime mover may be a dual shaft electric motor that drives two different pumps. Fracturing pump transport <NUM> may be arranged such that one pump is coupled to opposite ends of the dual shaft electric motor and avoids coupling the pumps in series. By avoiding coupling the pump in series, fracturing pump transport <NUM> may continue to operate when either one of the pumps fails or have been removed from fracturing pump transport <NUM>. Additionally, repairs to the pumps may be performed without disconnecting the system manifolds that connect fracturing pump transport <NUM> to other fracturing equipment within mobile fracturing system <NUM> and wellhead <NUM>.

Blender transport <NUM> may receive electric power fed through switch gear transport <NUM> to power a plurality of electric blenders. A plurality of prime movers may drive one or more pumps that pump source fluid and blender additives (e.g., sand) into a blending tub, mix the source fluid and blender additives together to form fracturing fluid, and discharge the fracturing fluid to fracturing pump transport <NUM>. In one embodiment, the electric blender may be a dual configuration blender that comprises electric motors for the rotating machinery that are located on a single transport, which is described in more detail in <CIT> and entitled "Mobile, Modular, Electrically Powered System for use in Fracturing Underground Formations," In another embodiment, a plurality of enclosed mixer hoppers may be used to supply the proppants and additives into a plurality of blending tubs.

Data van <NUM> may be part of a control network system, where data van <NUM> acts as a control center configured to monitor and provide operating instructions to remotely operate blender transport <NUM>, mobile source of electricity <NUM>, and fracturing pump transport <NUM> and/or other fracturing equipment within mobile fracturing system <NUM>. For example, data van <NUM> may communicate via the control network system with the variable frequency drives (VFDs) located within system <NUM> that operate and monitor the health of the electric motors used to drive the pumps on fracturing pump transports <NUM>. In one embodiment, data van <NUM> may communicate with the variety of fracturing equipment using a control network system that has a ring topology. A ring topology may reduce the amount of control cabling used for fracturing operations and increase the capacity and speed of data transfers and communication. Other fracturing equipment shown in <FIG>, such as water tanks, chemical storage of chemical additives, hydration unit, sand conveyor, and sandbox storage are known by persons of ordinary skill in the art, and therefore are not discussed in further detail.

Although <FIG> describes mobile source of electricity <NUM> as being part of mobile fracturing system <NUM> for performing electric hydraulic fracturing operations at well site <NUM>, mobile source of electricity <NUM> may also be used for any other application where a mobile source of electricity is required. Mobile source of electricity <NUM> may be configured to be transportable to different locations. Once the mobile source of electricity is no longer required at a given location, it may be easily transported to a new location where such mobile source of electricity is now required. Regardless of the application, the mobile source of electricity may include a power generation transport that is configured as a single transport that improves mobility and provides reduced onsite footprint.

<FIG> are schematic diagrams showing a side-profile view of power generation transport <NUM> (e.g., gas turbine generator transport, mobile source of electricity <NUM>, and the like), in accordance with one or more embodiments. <FIG> are schematic diagrams showing a top-profile view of power generation transport <NUM>, in accordance with one or more embodiments. And <FIG> are schematic diagrams showing different perspective views of power generation transport <NUM>, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Note that components in common between <FIG> are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repetition of description thereof is omitted. In addition, to facilitate ease of description and explanation, not all components of power generation transport <NUM> are shown in each of <FIG>. The different views and respective components of power generation transport <NUM> shown in each of <FIG> are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is not to be limited to the details given herein. The different views shown in <FIG> illustrate power generation transport <NUM> with an enclosure thereof removed. That is, <FIG> depict components within the enclosure (not shown) of power generation transport <NUM>.

As shown in one or more of <FIG>, power generation transport <NUM> may comprise the following equipment or components: black start generator <NUM>; control cabinets <NUM>; switch gear (e.g., one or more transformers) <NUM>; generator <NUM>; starter electric motor <NUM>; gearbox <NUM>; inlet plenum <NUM>; power source (e.g., gas turbine) <NUM>; air intake and exhaust module <NUM>; and air outlet cover (e.g., flap, hood, door and the like) <NUM>. Air intake and exhaust module <NUM> may include air inlet filter housing <NUM>, air inlet filter housing door (e.g., hood, cover, and the like) <NUM>, intake air duct including one or more duct portions <NUM>, exhaust collector <NUM>, exhaust stack <NUM>, and exhaust air outlet <NUM> (<FIG>). In addition, power generation transport <NUM> of <FIG> may be equipped with a ventilation and cooling system including one or more generator air outlets 226A (<FIG>); one or more ventilation and cooling air intake louvers <NUM> (<FIG>, <FIG>); one or more exhaust openings <NUM> (e.g., passages, channels, and the like); ventilation and cooling air fans and electric motors (not shown) disposed in exhaust openings <NUM>; and one or more air outlets <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Other components not specifically labeled in <FIG>, but which may also be located on power generation transport <NUM> include a gas conditioning system, a generator shaft, a generator breaker, a transformer, a control system, a controls room, a turbine lube oil system, a fire suppression system, a generator lube oil system, and the like. In one embodiment, power source <NUM> may be a gas turbine. In another embodiment, power source <NUM> may be another type of power source (e.g., internal combustion engine, diesel engine, and the like). Power source <NUM> is hereinafter referred to interchangeably as gas turbine <NUM>. However, as stated above, power source <NUM> may correspond to other types of turbine or non-turbine-based power sources that are capable of generating sufficient mechanical energy for operating generator <NUM>.

In one embodiment, gas turbine <NUM>, gearbox <NUM>, generator <NUM>, and other components of power generation transport <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be supported on power generation transport <NUM> by being mounted on an engineered base frame <NUM>, a sub-base, sub-skid, or any other sub-structure of power generation transport <NUM>. The single engineered base frame <NUM> may be used to mount and to align the connections between gas turbine <NUM>, gearbox <NUM>, generator <NUM>, inlet plenum <NUM>, and one or more components of air intake and exhaust module <NUM> including air inlet filter housing <NUM>, intake air duct <NUM> including one or more duct portions, and exhaust collector <NUM>. In addition, base frame <NUM> may mount the various components thereon at a predetermined height from base <NUM> so as to create a clearance for intake air duct <NUM> of air intake and exhaust module <NUM> which may be disposed between gas turbine <NUM> and bed frame <NUM> and which may run along bed frame <NUM> from the exhaust side of gas turbine <NUM> to the intake end side thereof and be fluidly coupled to inlet plenum <NUM>. Engineered base frame <NUM> may allow for easier alignment and connection of gas turbine <NUM>, gearbox <NUM>, and generator <NUM>, air intake and exhaust module <NUM> and other components of power generation transport <NUM> compared to using a separate sub-base for gas turbine <NUM> and generator <NUM>. Other embodiments of power generation transport <NUM> may use a plurality of sub-bases so as to, for example, mount gas turbine <NUM> and gearbox <NUM> on one sub-base and mount generator <NUM> on another sub-base.

As shown in one or more of <FIG>, gas conditioning components (not shown), black start generator <NUM>, control cabinet (e.g., control system or controls room) <NUM>, switch gear <NUM>, and starter electric motor <NUM> may also be disposed on power generation transport <NUM> (e.g., by being mounted on base frame <NUM>). The gas conditioning components (e.g., gas conditioning unit or system) may be adapted to receive hydrocarbon gas (e.g., natural gas) from a hydrocarbon fuel source (e.g., a gas pipeline). The gas conditioning components may be disposed on power generation transport <NUM> or on a separate transport or trailer, sub-base, sub-skid, or any other sub-structure, and may be configured to provide hydrocarbon gas for operation of gas turbine <NUM>. The gas conditioning components may include a gas conditioning system that regulates hydrocarbon gas pressures, heats the hydrocarbon gas, separates out liquids from the hydrocarbon gas (e.g., water), and/or filters out unwanted contaminants (e.g., sand) from the hydrocarbon gas. The gas conditioning components may also include a compression system that utilizes an electric motor to drive one or more compressors to compress the hydrocarbon gas to a designated pressure (e.g., about <NUM> MPa ( <NUM> pounds per square inch PSI)). The gas conditioning components may subsequently output the processed hydrocarbon gas to a gas storage system that siphons a portion of the processed hydrocarbon gas to fill one or more gas storage tanks (not shown). Prior to storing the processed hydrocarbon gas within the gas storage tanks, the gas storage system may further compress the hydrocarbon gas to a relatively higher pressure level (e.g., about <NUM> MPa (<NUM>,<NUM> PSI) or <NUM> MPa (<NUM>,<NUM> PSI)). The remaining portion of the processed hydrocarbon gas bypasses any additional processing by the gas conditioning components and may be directly output to gas turbine <NUM> for electric power generation. When the pressure of the hydrocarbon gas received by the compression system of the gas conditioning components starts to drop below a predetermined backup pressure (e.g., about <NUM>. 45MPa (<NUM> PSI)) the gas storage system of the conditioning skid may release the hydrocarbon gas stored within the gas storage tanks so as to output hydrocarbon gas that is free of contaminants to gas turbine <NUM> at a regulated and acceptable pressure level.

Black start generator <NUM> may be configured to provide power to control, ignite, or start gas turbine <NUM>. In addition, black start generator <NUM> may provide ancillary power where peak electric power demand exceeds the electric power output of power generation transport <NUM>. Black start generator <NUM> may comprise a diesel generator that may provide testing, standby, peaking, and/or other emergency backup power functionality for power generation transport <NUM> or other equipment powered by power generation transport <NUM>. The Generator breaker (not labeled) may comprise one or more circuit breakers that are configured to protect generator <NUM> from current and/or voltage fault conditions. The generator breaker may be a medium voltage (MV) circuit breaker switchboard. In one embodiment, the generator breaker may include three panels, two for generator <NUM> and one for a feeder that protect relays on the circuit breaker. Other embodiments may include one or two or more than three panels for the generator breaker. In one embodiment, the generator breaker may be a vacuum circuit breaker.

Switch gear <NUM> may include a step-down transformer that is configured to lower generator <NUM> voltage to a lower voltage to provide control power to power generation transport <NUM>. Gearbox <NUM> is provided to reduce the output rpm of turbine <NUM> to the operational rpm of generator <NUM>. Starter motor <NUM> may be a motor (e.g., electric motor, hydraulic motor, air motor, and the like) coupled to gearbox <NUM> and/or gas turbine <NUM> to start operation of turbine <NUM>. Control cabinet <NUM> may be a section of power generation transport <NUM> that houses all the electronics and controls of generator <NUM> and turbine <NUM>. Control cabinet <NUM> may include a control system configured to control, monitor, regulate, and adjust power output of gas turbine <NUM> and generator <NUM>. For example, in the embodiment where power generation transport <NUM> is implemented to provide a remote source of power, the control system may monitor and balance the load produced by the power consuming system or equipment, and generate electric power to match load demands. The control system may also be configured to synchronize and communicate with a control network system that allows a data van or other computing systems located in a remote location (e.g., off a well site) to control, monitor, regulate, and adjust power output of generator <NUM>. Although <FIG> illustrate black start generator <NUM>, control cabinet <NUM>, switch gear <NUM>, and starter electric motor <NUM> may be mounted on base frame <NUM> of power generation transport <NUM>, other embodiments of power generation transport <NUM> may mount one or more of these components in other locations (e.g. on switch gear transport <NUM>).

Other equipment that may also be located on power generation transport <NUM>, but not specifically labeled or shown in <FIG> include the turbine lube oil system, gas fuel valves, generator lube oil system, gearbox lube oil system, and fire suppression system. The lube oil systems or consoles, which generally refer to both the turbine lube oil system, gearbox lube oil system, landing & leveling legs and associated hydraulics and generator lube oil system within this disclosure, may be configured to provide a generator lube oil filtering and cooling system and a turbine lube oil filtering and cooling system. In one embodiment, the turbine lube oil console area of the transport may also contain the fire suppression systems, which may comprise sprinklers, water mist, clean agent, foam sprinkler, carbon dioxide, and/or other equipment used to suppress a fire or provide fire protection for gas turbine <NUM>. The mounting of the turbine, gearbox & generator lube oil consoles and the fire suppression system onto power generation transport <NUM> reduces this transport's footprint by eliminating the need for an auxiliary transport and connections for the turbine, gearbox and generator lube oil, filtering, cooling systems and the fire suppression systems to gas turbine generator transport <NUM>. The turbine, gearbox, and generator lube oil systems may be mounted on a skid that is located underneath generator <NUM> or any other location on power generation transport <NUM>.

Gas turbine <NUM> may be a General Electric (GE) turbine to generate mechanical energy (i.e., rotation of a shaft) from a hydrocarbon fuel source, such as natural gas, liquefied natural gas, condensate, and/or other liquid fuels. As generally shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a shaft of gas turbine <NUM> is connected to gearbox <NUM> and generator <NUM> such that generator <NUM> converts the supplied mechanical energy from rotation of the shaft of gas turbine <NUM> to produce electric power. Gas turbine <NUM> may be a commercially available gas turbine such as a General Electric gas turbine, a Pratt and Whitney gas turbine, a Siemens gas turbine, a Baker Hughes gas turbine, or any other similar gas turbine. Generator <NUM> may be a commercially available generator such as a Brush generator, a WEG generator, or other similar generator configured to generate a compatible amount of electric power. For example, the combination of gas turbine <NUM>, gearbox <NUM>, and generator <NUM> disposed on power generation transport <NUM> may generate electric power from a range of at least about <NUM> megawatt (MW) to about <NUM> MW (e.g., <NUM> MW, <NUM> MW, and the like). Other types of gas turbine/generator combinations with power ranges greater than about <NUM> MW or less than about <NUM> MW may also be used depending on the application requirement.

As explained previously, air intake and exhaust module <NUM> may be modular and compact, and disposed on the rear end of transport <NUM>. Air intake and exhaust module <NUM> may be configured so that it can be easily replaced by sliding a replacement components of air intake and exhaust module <NUM> at the rear end of transport <NUM>. Air intake and exhaust module <NUM> may be integrally formed or may comprise a plurality of components that are coupled together at the rear end of transport <NUM>. Air intake and exhaust module <NUM> may be configured to provide filtered air for combustion by gas turbine <NUM> and to safely vent hot exhaust air from turbine <NUM> via exhaust collector <NUM>, exhaust stack <NUM>, and air outlet <NUM>. Further, the ventilation and cooling system disposed on power generation transport <NUM> may be configured to intake ambient air from the sides, and/or ends of the transport for ventilating an interior of an enclosure or compartment (not shown) of power generation transport <NUM>, and for using the ambient fresh air to cool components (e.g., generator <NUM>, gear box <NUM>, gas turbine <NUM>, exhaust collector <NUM>, and exhaust stack <NUM>) within the transport that may heat up during the power generation operation. Operation and configuration of air intake and exhaust module <NUM> and of the ventilation and cooling system of power generation transport <NUM> will be described in greater detail below in connection with <FIG>.

Although the embodiments shown in <FIG> depict a single train of components with the air intake and exhaust module <NUM> disposed at the rear end of the transport, this may not necessarily be the case. In an alternate embodiment, the arrangement of the components could be reversed so that air intake and exhaust module <NUM> is disposed at the front end of transport <NUM>, followed by exhaust collector <NUM>, turbine <NUM>, gear box <NUM>, and generator <NUM>, in that order from the front end of transport <NUM>. In yet another embodiment (shown in <FIG>), two independent trains of components may be disposed on the transport such that one air intake and exhaust module is disposed at the front end and a second air intake and exhaust module is disposed at the rear end. The embodiment shown in <FIG> is described in greater detail later.

<FIG> depict power generation transport <NUM> while power generation transport <NUM> is in a transportation mode. <FIG> is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of an embodiment of air intake and exhaust module <NUM> disposed on power generation transport <NUM>, while power generation transport <NUM> is in an operational mode. And <FIG> is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of an embodiment of air intake and exhaust module <NUM> disposed on power generation transport <NUM>, while power generation transport <NUM> is in a transportation mode. To fit within the limited physical dimensions available at the rear end of the transport, air intake and exhaust module <NUM> may be configured so that components for both the intake air flow passage (e.g., air inlet filter housing <NUM>, intake air duct <NUM>) and the exhaust air flow passage (e.g., exhaust collector <NUM>) are disposed on the same side (e.g., rear side, exhaust side, and the like) of gas turbine <NUM>. As explained previously, air intake and exhaust module <NUM> may include air inlet filter housing <NUM>, air inlet filter housing door <NUM>, intake air duct <NUM> (including one or more duct portions), exhaust collector <NUM>, exhaust stack <NUM>, and exhaust air outlet <NUM>.

Gas turbine air inlet filter housing <NUM> may include one or more air inlets and one or more air filters that are mounted along an end side surface (e.g., rear end surface) and/or on longitudinal side surfaces of power generation transport <NUM> to intake ambient air from the end side of the transport for combustion by turbine <NUM>. Combustion air may be air that is supplied to gas turbine <NUM> to aid in production of mechanical energy. As shown most clearly in <FIG>, air inlet filter housing <NUM> may include a plurality of air inlets and filters that are mounted as a two-dimensional grid or array of filters so as to extend substantially along a surface of the rear end side (e.g., a farthest aft end) of power generation transport <NUM>. Although not shown in <FIG>, the plurality of air inlets and filters of air inlet filter housing <NUM> may also be mounted on one or both longitudinal side surfaces that are adjacent to the rear end surface of power generation transport <NUM>. The arrangement of filter housing <NUM> or the number and arrangement of the gas turbine air inlets and filters of housing <NUM> is not intended to be limiting. Any number or arrangement of inlets and filters of filter housing <NUM> may be employed depending on, e.g., the amount or volume of clean air and the air flow dynamics needed to supply fresh combustion air to gas turbine <NUM> for the power generation operation, and the like.

As shown most clearly in <FIG>, air inlet filter housing <NUM> may be covered with air inlet filter housing door <NUM> to cover the air inlets and filters from the elements when the power generation transport <NUM> is in the transportation mode (<FIG>). Door <NUM> may be coupled to a top end (or a side end) of housing <NUM> (or the frame of transport <NUM>) by a coupling member (e.g., hinge) and may be controlled by an actuating system so as to be pivotable between a closed position during the transportation mode (<FIG>) and an open position during the operational mode (<FIG>). In some embodiments, door <NUM> may be pivotable between the closed and open positions manually. In case transport <NUM> is equipped with an actuating system, any suitable mechanism may be employed to mechanically actuate door <NUM> between the open and closed positions. For example, the actuating system may be implemented using a hydraulic system, an electric motor, a rack-and-pinion system, a pneumatic system, a pulley-based system, and the like. As shown in <FIG>, in the open position during the operational mode, the door <NUM> may remain open to allow ambient air to easily enter air inlet filter housing <NUM>. During the operational mode, door <NUM> may also act as a roof that protects filters of air inlet filter housing <NUM> from environmental elements like sun, rain, snow, dust and the like. As shown in <FIG>, in the closed position during the transportation mode, door <NUM> may be controlled by the actuating system to be closed to prevent damage to the air inlet filter housing <NUM> during transportation, and provide increased aerodynamics and enhanced mobility of power generation transport <NUM> over a variety of roadways.

As shown in <FIG>, the plurality of air inlets of air inlet filter housing <NUM> may be fluidly coupled to intake air duct <NUM> (e.g., pipe, duct, passage, and the like). Intake air duct <NUM> may include one or more duct portions that are serially coupled to each other and that run along base frame <NUM> of transport <NUM> to extend from the rear end side of transport <NUM> toward the front end side. For example, as shown in <FIG>, an intake air duct portion disposed proximally to air intake filter housing <NUM> may include a tapered end <NUM> that is fluidly coupled via a flange portion to an output side of air inlet filter housing <NUM> to receive filtered air. The other end of the intake air duct portion may be fluidly coupled in series to one or more additional intake air duct portions (or to inlet plenum <NUM>) so as to define an intake air flow passage (e.g., intake air flow path) for gas turbine <NUM>. As shown most clearly in <FIG>, and <FIG>, the one or more duct portions defining intake air duct <NUM> of air intake and exhaust module <NUM> may extend along base frame <NUM> of power generation transport <NUM> so as to be disposed between base frame <NUM> on one side, and exhaust collector <NUM>, gas turbine <NUM>, and inlet plenum <NUM> on the other side. Inlet plenum <NUM> may be fluidly coupled to an intake port of gas turbine <NUM> via a flange connection. Inlet plenum <NUM> may be configured to collect the filtered intake air from gas turbine air inlet filter housing <NUM> via intake air duct <NUM> and supply the intake air to gas turbine <NUM>.

A distal end of an intake air duct portion proximal to inlet plenum <NUM> may be fluidly coupled via a flange portion to inlet plenum <NUM> to provide the intake air filtered by air inlet filter housing <NUM> to gas turbine <NUM> for the power generation operation. Air inlet filter housing <NUM>, intake air duct <NUM> (including one or more duct portions), and inlet plenum <NUM> may thus define a combustion intake air flow passage in which ambient air for combustion enters air inlet filter housing <NUM> from the rear end side of power generation transport <NUM> (exhaust end side of gas turbine <NUM>), the ambient air is filtered by one or more filters of air inlet filter housing <NUM>, and the filtered ambient air is channeled via tapered end <NUM> (see <FIG>) of an intake air duct portion of intake air duct <NUM> to flow from the exhaust end side of gas turbine <NUM> toward the intake end side thereof. In the intake air flow passage, the intake air channeled into intake air duct <NUM> flows underneath exhaust collector <NUM> and gas turbine <NUM> along base frame <NUM> to enter inlet plenum <NUM> on the intake end side of gas turbine <NUM>. As shown most clearly in <FIG>, intake air duct <NUM> may be disposed so that a first (tapered) end <NUM> thereof is substantially perpendicular to air inlet filter housing <NUM>, and a second (distal) end thereof is substantially perpendicular to inlet plenum <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the intake air flow passage may thus include a first angular section defined by the flange coupling between air inlet filter housing <NUM> and the first end of intake air duct <NUM>, and a second angular section defined by the flange coupling between inlet plenum <NUM> and the second end of intake air duct <NUM>. Both the first end <NUM> and the second end of air duct <NUM> may be tapered.

The intake air flow passage may thus extend from air inlet filter housing <NUM> in a substantially downward sloping direction, and then in a first substantially horizontal direction underneath exhaust collector <NUM> and gas turbine <NUM> and along base frame <NUM> of transport <NUM>. The intake air flow passage at the second angular section may then change a direction of flow of the intake air from the first substantially horizontal direction to a substantially vertical direction as the intake air enters inlet plenum <NUM>. The inlet plenum <NUM> may further include a curved portion (e.g., shaped like an elbow joint) that changes a direction of flow of the intake air from the substantially vertical direction to a second substantially horizontal direction as the intake air enters into gas turbine <NUM> for combustion. As is evident from the figures, the second substantially horizontal direction of the intake air flow passage is opposite to the first substantially horizontal direction. Thus, the first substantially horizontal direction, the substantially vertical direction, and the second substantially horizontal direction of the intake air flow path define a substantially "U-shaped" intake air flow path. In some embodiments, the intake air flow passage may be configured for noise control and sound attenuation. For example, one or more of air inlet filter housing <NUM>, one or more duct portions of intake air duct <NUM>, and inlet plenum <NUM> may be equipped with one or more sound dampening silencers that reduce noise from power generation transport <NUM> during operation.

Air intake and exhaust module <NUM> may further include exhaust collector <NUM>, exhaust stack <NUM>, and air outlet <NUM> that collectively define an exhaust air flow passage (e.g., exhaust air flow path) in which exhaust air output from the exhaust port (e.g., exhaust end, exhaust, and the like) of gas turbine <NUM> is released out into the atmosphere from air outlet <NUM> disposed at the roof (e.g., ceiling or top side <NUM> in <FIG>) of the enclosure of power generation transport <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, exhaust collector <NUM> (e.g., exhaust diffuser) may be aligned and coupled with the exhaust port of gas turbine <NUM> to collect exhaust air and supply the exhaust air to exhaust stack <NUM>. Exhaust stack <NUM> may be vertically coupled so as to be stacked on top of exhaust collector <NUM> (i.e., exhaust stack <NUM> positioned on top of exhaust collector <NUM>). Any suitable arrangement and coupling between exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM> may be employed so that exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM> may be housed within dimensions of power generation transport <NUM> (including underbelly truss or skid of transport <NUM>). For example, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, exhaust collector <NUM> may include an upward curved portion <NUM> that is aligned and coupled with exhaust stack <NUM> positioned on top of the upward curved portion <NUM>. Alternately, exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM> may be integrally formed as a single component. The exhaust air flow passage defined by exhaust collector <NUM>, exhaust stack <NUM>, and air outlet <NUM> may thus extend from the exhaust port of gas turbine <NUM> and through a passage defined by exhaust collector <NUM>. The exhaust end flow passage may then extend upward due to the upward curved portion <NUM> of exhaust collector <NUM> so as to change a direction of flow of the exhaust air from a substantially horizontal direction to a substantially vertical direction. The exhaust air flow passage may then extend substantially vertically through exhaust stack <NUM> and air outlet <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, an upper end of exhaust stack <NUM> may be flush with the roof or a top side of the enclosure of power generation transport <NUM>. In some embodiments, gas turbine exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM> may be configured for noise control and sound attenuation. For example, exhaust collector <NUM> and/or exhaust stack <NUM> may comprise a plurality of sound dampening silencers that reduce noise from power generation transport <NUM> during operation. The exhaust air flow passage may thus be configured to reduce exhaust noise and safely release (extremely hot) exhaust air into the atmosphere without posing danger to any equipment and/or an operator working in a vicinity of power generation transport <NUM>.

As described above, both the intake air flow passage and the exhaust air flow passage of air intake and exhaust module <NUM> begin on the same side (e.g., rear side, exhaust end side, and the like) of gas turbine <NUM>, with the intake air flow path passing underneath exhaust collector <NUM> and turbine <NUM> from the exhaust side to the intake side to be fed to inlet plenum <NUM> so as to define a substantially "U-shaped" intake air flow path. Air inlet filter housing <NUM> of air intake and exhaust module <NUM> may thus be provided on a side of gas turbine <NUM> that is opposite to the air intake port side.

As shown most clearly in <FIG> and <FIG>, air outlet <NUM> of air intake and exhaust module <NUM> may be covered with air outlet cover <NUM> (e.g., flap, lid, and the like) to cover air outlet <NUM>, and to protect exhaust collector <NUM>, and exhaust stack <NUM> from environmental elements like rain, snow, dust and the like when the power generation transport <NUM> is in the transportation mode (<FIG>). Flap <NUM> may be disposed so as to be flush with the roof of the enclosure of power generation transport <NUM>, and may be coupled to a frame of the roof of transport <NUM> by a coupling member (e.g., hinge) and may be controlled by an actuating system so as to be pivotable between a closed position during the transportation mode (<FIG> and <FIG>) and an open position (not shown) during the operational mode. Any suitable mechanism may be employed to mechanically actuate cover <NUM> between the open and closed positions. For example, the actuating system may be implemented using a hydraulic system, an electric motor, a rack-and-pinion system, a pneumatic system, a pulley-based system, and the like. Alternately, cover <NUM> may be gravity biased (or spring-loaded) in the closed position and adapted to open during the operational mode due to the pressure of the exhaust expelled from exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM>. During the operational mode, cover <NUM> may remain in the open position to release exhaust air to the ambient environment. During the transportation mode, cover <NUM> may be controlled by the actuating system or other mechanism (e.g., manually) to be closed to provide increased aerodynamics and enhanced mobility of power generation transport <NUM> over a variety of roadways. Power generation transport <NUM> may be configured to be converted from the operational mode to transportation mode and vice-versa without attaching to an external transportation vehicle (e.g., a tractor or other type of motor vehicle, external mechanical means, external mechanical apparatus, and the like).

As explained previously, power generation transport <NUM> may further be equipped with the ventilation and cooling system configured to provide ventilation air to ventilate an interior of the enclosure or one or more compartments of power generation transport <NUM>, and further provide cooling air to cool one or more components disposed on transport <NUM> that may heat up during the power generation operation. As shown in <FIG>, the ventilation and cooling system may include black start generator air outlet 210A (<FIG>); one or more generator air outlets 226A (<FIG>); one or more ventilation and cooling air inlets or louvers <NUM> (<FIG>); one or more exhaust openings <NUM> (e.g., passages, channels, and the like; <FIG>); ventilation and cooling air fans and motors (not shown) disposed in exhaust openings <NUM>; and one or more air outlets <NUM> (<FIG>). The enclosure (not shown) of power generation transport <NUM> may include on top, side, or end surfaces thereof, cavities corresponding to black start generator air outlet 210A, generator air outlets 226A, ventilation and cooling air inlet louvers <NUM>, one or more air outlets <NUM>, and exhaust air outlet <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, one or more exhaust openings <NUM> may be provided on power generation transport <NUM> to exhaust ventilation and cooling air via air outlets <NUM> disposed on the roof of the enclosure of transport <NUM>. In some embodiments, exhaust openings <NUM> may be defined so as to surround exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM> on all sides thereof. That is, as shown most clearly in <FIG>, a connection wall where the exhaust port of gas turbine <NUM> connects to the intake of exhaust collector <NUM>, a plurality of exhaust openings <NUM> are disposed so as to surround the intake of exhaust collector <NUM>. The plurality of exhaust openings <NUM> may be equipped with exhaust fans to draw in fresh air for ventilation and cooling of generator <NUM>, gearbox <NUM>, and gas turbine <NUM>, and release the air out into the ambient atmosphere via air outlets <NUM> disposed so as to surround exhaust air outlet <NUM> at the roof of the enclosure. Exhaust openings <NUM> may define an annular space or compartment between an external perhiperal surface of exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM>, and an internal peripheral surface of the enclosure of transport <NUM> and a (top-side) outer surface of intake air duct <NUM>.

By operating the exhaust fans disposed in a ventilation and cooling air passage defined by exhaust openings <NUM>, ambient air may be drawn into the enclosure of power generation transport <NUM> for ventilation and cooling. The ambient air may be drawn into the enclosure via ventilation and cooling air inlet louvers <NUM>. Ventilation and cooling air inlet louvers <NUM> may be disposed on one or both of the longitudinal sides, and an end side of the enclosure of transport <NUM>. The ambient air that is drawn in via the inlets <NUM> and made to flow back around generator <NUM>, gear box <NUM>, and gas turbine <NUM> would ventilate and also cool the compartment of generator <NUM>, gear box <NUM>, and gas turbine <NUM> during operation. The drawn in fresh air coming in through both sides and/or an end face of the trailer may flow through the length of the enclosure, before it is released through exhaust openings <NUM>, via the annular space or compartment disposed around exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM>, and out of the trailer through air outlets <NUM> at the ceiling. When not in operation, air outlets <NUM> may be covered with the same flap <NUM> that covers air outlet <NUM> for combustion air exhaust. The ventilation and cooling air passage may thus extend from inlets <NUM>, run along the length of the trailer where generator <NUM>, gear box <NUM>, and gas turbine <NUM> are disposed. The ventilation and cooling air passage may further extend along the annular space or compartment defined by the external peripheral surface of exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM>, and the internal peripheral surface of the enclosure of transport <NUM> and the top surface of air duct <NUM>, and then exit the enclosure of transport <NUM> from air outlets <NUM> disposed surrounding exhaust air outlet <NUM> of the exhaust air flow passage at the roof of the enclosure.

Thus, as best shown in <FIG>, ventilation air flowing out via exhaust openings <NUM> and through the annular compartment or space along the external peripheral surface of exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM> may come out on each side of exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM> (e.g., underneath, on both sides, and/or on top of exhaust collector <NUM> when viewed in the longitudinal direction of transport <NUM>) so that the filtered combustion air flowing in the intake air flow passage from tapered end <NUM> of intake air duct <NUM> toward inlet plenum <NUM> is not heated by the hot exhaust air flowing in the exhaust air flow passage from exhaust collector <NUM> and along upward curved portion <NUM> of exhaust collector <NUM> toward exhaust stack <NUM>. In other words, ventilation air entering the enclosure via inlets <NUM> may be circulated through the exhaust fans disposed in exhaust openings <NUM> to create an air insulation on all sides and all around (e.g., a periphery of) exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM>. The air insulation created by the ventilation and cooling air flowing through the ventilation and cooling air passage in the annular space or compartment may keep the external surface of the intake air flow passage (e.g., external top surface of intake air duct <NUM> and tapered end <NUM> facing exhaust collector <NUM>) that carries filtered combustion air for combustion by gas turbine <NUM> from being heated. Thus, the ventilation and cooling system uses fresh ambient air to ventilate and cool radiated heat from generator <NUM>, radiated heat from gear box <NUM>, radiated heat from gas turbine <NUM>, radiated heat from exhaust collector <NUM>, and radiated heat from exhaust stack <NUM>, and additionally protect the intake combustion air in the intake air flow passage from being heated by the exhaust air in the exhaust air flow passage.

To further cool generator <NUM> during operation, generator <NUM> may be equipped with air ventilation fans internal and/or external to generator <NUM> to draw air into a compartment of generator <NUM> via air inlets <NUM>, provide the drawn air to cool generator <NUM>, and discharge air out on the top and/or sides via generator air outlets 226A. Other embodiments may have outlets 226A positioned on different locations of the enclosure for generator <NUM>. In one embodiment, air inlets <NUM> may be inlet louvres and outlets 210A, 226A, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be outlet louvres that protect the interior of the enclosure from weather elements. A separate generator ventilation stack unit may be mounted on the top and/or side of power generation transport <NUM>.

By adapting air intake and exhaust module <NUM> to be mounted on the same/single transport as the transport for inlet plenum <NUM>, gas turbine <NUM>, exhaust collector <NUM>, and generator <NUM>, power generation transport <NUM> provides a relatively quick rig-up and/or rig-down that eliminates the use of heavy lift cranes, forklifts, and/or any other external mechanical means or apparatus at the operational site. To improve mobility over a variety of roadways, power generation transport <NUM> in <FIG> may have a maximum height of about <NUM> feet and <NUM> inches, a maximum width of about <NUM> feet and <NUM> inches, and a maximum length of about <NUM> feet. (<NUM> ft corresponds to <NUM>, <NUM> inch to <NUM>,<NUM>).

Further, power generation transport <NUM> may comprise at least three axles used to support and distribute the weight on power generation transport <NUM>. Other embodiments of power generation transport <NUM> may be transports that exceed three axles depending on the total transport weight. The dimensions and the number of axles may be adjusted to allow for transport over roadways that typically mandate certain height, length, and weight restrictions.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of an embodiment of intake and exhaust module <NUM> of power generation transport equipped with a heat exchanger. Components of the power generation transport shown in <FIG> that are the same as those of power generation transport <NUM> of <FIG> are labeled with the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted here. Components corresponding to the intake air flow passage of intake and exhaust module <NUM> of <FIG> are the same as components corresponding to the intake air flow passage of intake and exhaust module <NUM> of <FIG>. With respect to components corresponding to the exhaust air flow passage of intake and exhaust module <NUM> of <FIG>, heat exchanger component <NUM> replaces one or both of exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM> of the exhaust air flow passage of intake and exhaust module <NUM>, or be provided in addition thereto. Similarly to the exhaust air flow passage of intake and exhaust module <NUM>, exhaust air from gas turbine <NUM> may flow through the exhaust air flow passage of intake and exhaust module <NUM> to exhaust through air outlet <NUM> disposed at the roof of the enclosure of the power generation transport. However, the exhaust air flowing through the exhaust air flow passage of intake and exhaust module <NUM> may flow through heat exchanger component <NUM>.

Heat exchanger component <NUM> may be configured to recover heat energy from the exhaust air of gas turbine <NUM> and utilize the recovered heat energy for predetermined applications or use cases. For example, heat exchanger component <NUM> could include heat exchanger coils that are disposed in the exhaust air flow passage defined by heat exchanger component <NUM> and that allow source fluid (e.g., water) to flow through the coils via input and output plumbing connections <NUM> and <NUM>. As the source fluid flows within and through the heat exchanger coils, heat exchanger component <NUM> transfers thermal energy without transforming all of the source fluid into a gaseous state (e.g., steam). More specifically, exhaust air from gas turbine <NUM> provides thermal energy to one or more heat conducting elements, such as heat exchanger coils of heat exchanger component <NUM>. At the same time, source fluid traverses through the heat conducting elements to heat the source fluid input through input plumbing connection <NUM> to a target temperature without transforming all of the source fluid into a gaseous state (e.g., steam). Afterwards, intake and exhaust module <NUM> may discharge the source fluid to one or more destinations via output plumbing connection <NUM>. The heated source fluid may be used, for example, to heat and prevent icing of air inlet filter housing <NUM> when power generation transport <NUM> is being operated in cold environments.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, heat exchanger component <NUM> replaces one or both of exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM> of the exhaust air flow passage of intake and exhaust module <NUM>. However, in an alternate embodiment, heat exchanger component <NUM> may be provided in addition to exhaust collector <NUM> and exhaust stack <NUM> of the exhaust air flow passage. In such an embodiment, heat exchanger component <NUM> may be placed on the roof of the enclosure of the power generation transport during the operational mode to recapture heat energy from the exhaust. For example, heat exchanger component <NUM> may be disposed on the roof of the enclosure so as to be coupled with exhaust air outlet <NUM> of intake and exhaust module <NUM> during operation.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of another embodiment of power generation transport <NUM>. <FIG> is a schematic diagram showing a top-profile view of another embodiment of power generation transport <NUM>. Components of power generation transport <NUM> shown in <FIG> that are the same as those of power generation transport <NUM> of <FIG> are labeled with the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted here. Power generation transport <NUM> shown in <FIG> illustrates a single train design in which a single turbine package is disposed on a single trailer. That is, <FIG> illustrate a single train design in which power generation transport <NUM> is equipped with a single gas turbine <NUM>, a single generator <NUM>, a single gear box <NUM>, and a single air intake and exhaust module <NUM> that slides into the rear end of power generation transport <NUM>. However, in an alternate embodiment shown in <FIG>, power generation transport <NUM> may have a dual independent train design in which two smaller turbine packages (e.g., GE gas turbines, Solar gas turbines, and the like) may be disposed on a single trailer. That is, in the alternate embodiment shown in <FIG>, power generation transport <NUM> may be equipped with two independent trains so that the single power generation transport <NUM> comprises two generators <NUM>, two gear boxes <NUM>, two gas turbines <NUM>, and two instances of air intake and exhaust module <NUM> respectively disposed on both ends of the trailer. The two independent trains of power generation transport <NUM> may thus provide a power generation system with total redundancy.

That is, the two independent trains of transport <NUM> may be operated separately or collectively to generate electric power based on load demands. Further, the two independent trains of transport <NUM> may provide total redundancy so that if one of the two independent trains is out of operation for maintenance or repair, power generation transport <NUM> can still remain operational to generate mobile electric power using the other independent train disposed on the single trailer. Each of the two independent trains of power generation transport <NUM> may be equipped with components and may be operable in the same manner as the single train of power generation transport <NUM> of <FIG>. For example, each of the two trains may have a corresponding separate (or shared) ventilation and cooling system that draws in fresh air via corresponding louvers <NUM> for ventilation and cooling of the corresponding train of components (e.g., corresponding generator <NUM>, corresponding gear box <NUM>, corresponding gas turbine <NUM>, and corresponding exhaust collector <NUM>) and exhaust via corresponding air outlets on the ceiling of the trailer (not shown). Further, each of the two independent trains may have a corresponding intake air flow passage and exhaust air flow passage defined by the corresponding air intake and exhaust module <NUM> disposed at the corresponding (e.g., front and rear) end of transport <NUM>.

Power generation transport <NUM> may further include control system <NUM> (e.g., control cabinet, control electronics, and the like) to control the dual independent trains with integrated controls on the single trailer package to run the two trains in parallel or independently. Control system <NUM> may enable power generation transport <NUM> to run the two trains fully independently or setup control so that the two trains can sync to each other and run in conjunction with one another so as to optimize overall performance metrics of transport <NUM> like emissions, efficiency, and the like. For example, control system <NUM> may be configured to independently ramp one of the two trains up or down during operation based on where the combined power of the two trains needs to be. Each train of power generation transport <NUM> may include its own control electronics including one or more synchronizers. Control system <NUM> may control the control electronics of the two trains by communicatively coupling with the synchronizers of the two trains so that the two trains can be synchronized to each other. Control system <NUM> may thus be configured (in hardware and/or software) to run the two trains fully independently or with a load distribution system to achieve load sharing or load balancing.

<FIG> is a flow chart of an embodiment of method <NUM> to provide a mobile source of electricity for any operation requiring a mobile power source. Method <NUM> may begin at block <NUM> by transporting a mobile source of electricity (e.g., power generation transport <NUM> or <NUM>) to a remote location. Method <NUM> may then move to block <NUM> and convert the mobile source of electricity from transportation mode to operational mode. The same transport <NUM> or <NUM> may be used during the conversion from transportation mode to operational mode. In other words, transports are not added and/or removed when setting up the mobile source of electricity for operational mode. Additionally, method <NUM> may be performed without the use of a forklift, crane, and/or other external mechanical means to transition the mobile source of electricity into operational mode. For example, at block <NUM>, power generation transport <NUM> or <NUM> may be converted from transportation mode to operational mode by setting door <NUM> and exhaust flap <NUM> to the open position (<FIG>) without requiring external mechanical apparatus, and supplying hydrocarbon fuel to gas turbine <NUM> for the power generation operation.

Method <NUM> may then move to block <NUM> and generate electricity using the mobile source of electricity to power a variety of operations requiring a mobile power source. In one embodiment, method <NUM> may generate electricity by converting hydrocarbon fuel into electricity using a gas turbine generator. Method <NUM> may then move to block <NUM> and convert the mobile source of electricity from operational mode to transportation mode without utilizing any external mechanical apparatus. Similar to block <NUM>, the conversion process for block <NUM> may use the same transport without using a forklift, crane, and/or other external mechanical means to transition the mobile source of electricity back to transportation mode. For example, at block <NUM>, power generation transport <NUM> or <NUM> may be converted from operational mode to transportation mode by setting door <NUM> and exhaust flap <NUM> to the closed position (<FIG> and <FIG>) without requiring external mechanical apparatus. Method <NUM> may then move to block <NUM> to remove the mobile source of electricity from the location after mobile power is no longer needed.

At least one embodiment is disclosed and variations, combinations, and/or modifications of the embodiment(s) and/or features of the embodiment(s) made by a person having ordinary skill in the art are within the scope of the disclosure. Alternative embodiments that result from combining, integrating, and/or omitting features of the embodiment(s) are also within the scope of the disclosure. Where numerical ranges or limitations are expressly stated, such express ranges or limitations may be understood to include iterative ranges or limitations of like magnitude falling within the expressly stated ranges or limitations (e.g., from about <NUM> to about <NUM> includes, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc.; greater than <NUM> includes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc.). The use of the term "about" means ±<NUM>% of the subsequent number, unless otherwise stated.

Use of the term "optionally" with respect to any element of a claim means that the element is required, or alternatively, the element is not required, both alternatives being within the scope of the claim. Use of broader terms such as comprises, includes, and having may be understood to provide support for narrower terms such as consisting of, consisting essentially of, and comprised substantially of. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited by the description set out above but is defined by the claims that follow, that scope including all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims. Each and every claim is incorporated as further disclosure into the specification and the claims are embodiment(s) of the present disclosure.

Claim 1:
A power generation transport for providing mobile electric power, the power generation transport comprising:
a gas turbine (<NUM>);
an inlet plenum (<NUM>) coupled to an intake of the gas turbine (<NUM>);
a generator (<NUM>) driven by the gas turbine (<NUM>);
an air intake and exhaust module (<NUM>, <NUM>) including:
an air inlet filter housing (<NUM>) comprising an air inlet filter housing door (<NUM>) at an end surface of the power generation transport configured to be set to an open position in an operational mode of the power generation transport;
an intake air duct (<NUM>) disposed between the air inlet filter housing (<NUM>) and the inlet plenum (<NUM>), the intake air duct (<NUM>) coupled to the air inlet filter housing (<NUM>) at a first end and to the inlet plenum (<NUM>) at a second end; and
an exhaust collector (<NUM>) coupled to an exhaust of the gas turbine (<NUM>) and defining an exhaust air flow passage, the exhaust air flow passage extending from the exhaust of the gas turbine (<NUM>), passing through a flow passage of the exhaust collector (<NUM>), and ending at an exhaust air outlet (<NUM>) disposed on a ceiling of an enclosure of the power generation transport; and
at least one base frame (<NUM>), wherein the at least one base frame (<NUM>) mounts and aligns the gas turbine (<NUM>), the inlet plenum (<NUM>), the generator (<NUM>), and the air intake and exhaust module (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the power generation transport,
wherein the air inlet filter housing (<NUM>), the intake air duct (<NUM>), and the inlet plenum (<NUM>) define an intake air flow path for intake of combustion air for the gas turbine (<NUM>), wherein the intake air flow path extends underneath the exhaust collector (<NUM>) and the gas turbine (<NUM>) from an upstream end side that is on a side of the exhaust collector (<NUM>) of the gas turbine (<NUM>) to a downstream end side that is on a side of the inlet plenum (<NUM>) of the gas turbine.