Patent ID: 8635849

Claim:
A system for introducing a liquid into an inlet structure, the system comprising: a compressor including the inlet structure, the inlet structure configured to direct an inlet airstream into the compressor; a set of nozzle assemblies configured to direct the liquid into the inlet structure, the nozzle assemblies elongate along a central longitudinal axis, each nozzle assembly having a nozzle body; a first set of first spray nozzle tips, each of the first spray nozzle tips comprising an orifice sized to discharge liquid at a first flow rate, and each of the respective first spray nozzle tips configured to be coupled to the nozzle body; a second set of second spray nozzle tips, each of the second spray nozzle tips comprising an orifice sized differently than the orifice of the first set of spray nozzle tips so that each of the second spray nozzle tips discharges liquid at a second flow rate different than the first flow rate, and each of the respective second spray nozzle tips configured to be coupled to the nozzle body; a plurality of spray nozzle tip quick-connect fittings, each spray nozzle tip quick-connect fitting comprising a first portion coupled to a respective nozzle body, and a mating second portion configured to be coupled to a respective one of the spray nozzle tips in the first and second sets of spray nozzle tips, the mating second portion defining an outer surface that is spaced from the central longitudinal axis along a direction that is substantially transverse to the central longitudinal axis, each spray nozzle quick-connect fitting further including a biasing seal member disposed on the outer surface of the mating second portion, the biasing seal member configured to seal an interface defined between the first portion and the mating second portion; whereby the first and second sets of spray nozzle tips are capable of being disconnected from the set of nozzle bodies without breaking any threaded or welded connection; a manifold mounted proximate the inlet structure and configured to direct the liquid to the set of nozzle bodies; a set of mounting bosses associated with the set of nozzle bodies, each mounting boss configured to mount its respective nozzle body onto the inlet structure of the compressor; a plurality of nozzle body quick-connect fittings, each of the nozzle body quick-connect fittings comprising a first portion configured to be coupled to one of the respective nozzle body and a mating second portion configured to be coupled to one of the respective mounting bosses, whereby each nozzle body are configured to be disconnected from its respective mounting boss without breaking any threaded or welded connection; whereby the spray nozzle quick-connect fittings and the nozzle body quick-connect fittings are configured such that the first spray nozzle tips can be readily replaced by the second spray nozzle tips on the same respective nozzle body such that the system can introduce the liquid via the second set of second spray nozzle tips into the inlet structure at the second flow rate.