BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a turbine for use in a power plant using hydrogen and oxygen as the fuel. More specifically, the present invention relates to a closed loop steam cooled turbine in which steam, generated by the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen, is expanded for power generation.

A gas turbine is typically comprised of a compressor section that produces compressed air, a combustion section that transforms the compressed air into a hot, compressed gas, and a turbine section that expands the hot, compressed gas. In the combustion section, a hydrocarbon fuel, such as distillate oil or natural gas, is mixed with and burned in the compressed air in one or more combustors. Unfortunately, such combustion results in the formation of oxides of nitrogen ("NOx") , considered an atmospheric pollutant.

Combusting hydrogen in pure oxygen would eliminate all NOx formation. Combustors for rocket engines have traditionally operated by combusting liquid hydrogen in liquid oxygen. However, power turbines must operate for extended periods of time without deterioration. Consequently, the problems of cooling the combustor in a gas turbine presents challenges not present in rocket combustors. This problem is exacerbated if, for reasons of economy and ease of handling and supply, compressed oxygen gas, rather than liquid oxygen, is used. Typically, rocket

combustors rely on the low temperature of liquid oxygen for cooling.

Cooling of the turbine section would also be a problem in a hydrogen/oxygen fueled power plant, especially since it is desirable to operate the turbine with inlet temperatures as high as 900 to 1600 °C in order to achieve optimum power output. The air cooling traditionally used in combustion turbines negatively impacts the efficiency of the power plant. It is, therefore, desirable to provide a system for cooling the vanes and blades of a turbine expanding steam generated by the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is the general object of the current invention to provide a system for effectively and efficiently cooling the vanes and blades of a turbine expanding steam generated by the combustion of hydrogen and oxyge .

Briefly, this object, as well as other objects of the current invention, is accomplished in a method of generating rotating shaft power, comprising the steps of (i) combusting a first flow of hydrogen and a first flow of oxygen, thereby producing a first flow of steam, (ii) at least partially expanding the first flow of steam in a first turbine so as to produce shaft power and a flow of expanded steam, the first turbine having a plurality of components therein over which the first flow of steam flows, whereby heat is transferred from the first flow of steam to the components, (iii) transferring heat from the flow of expanded steam to a flow of feed water so as to generate a flow of cooling steam, (iv) directing at least a first portion of the flow of cooling steam through at least a first portion of the turbine components and transferring heat from the first portion of the turbine components to the first portion of the flow of cooling steam, thereby generating a first flow of heated cooling steam, and (v)

mixing with the first flow of heated cooling steam with the first flow of steam.

The invention also encompasses a power plant, comprising (i) a combustor having means for receiving and combusting a flow of hydrogen and flow of oxygen so as to produce a first flow of steam, (ii) a first turbine having means for expanding the first flow of steam so as to produce a flow of expanded steam, the expanding means including a plurality of components over which the first flow of steam flows and to which the first flow of steam transfers heat, (iii) means for transferring heat from the flow of expanded steam to a flow of feed water so as to generate a second flow of steam, (iv) means for directing at least a first portion of the second flow of steam through at least a first portion of the turbine components and for transferring heat from the first portion of the turbine components to the first portion of second flow of steam, thereby generating a first flow of heated steam, and (v) means for directing the first flow of heated steam to the combustor for mixing with the first flow of steam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen/oxygen fueled power plant employing the closed loop steam cooled high and intermediate pressure turbines according to the current invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section, partially schematic, through the high pressure turbine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of Figure 2 in the vicinity of the turbine inlet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a hydrogen fueled power plant. The major components of the plant are a high pressure combustor 2, a high pressure steam turbine 12 through which a rotor 16 extends, an intermediate pressure combustor 4, and intermediate pressure steam turbine 14, a heat recovery

steam generator 18, a low pressure steam turbine 20, and a condenser 22. As is typical, each of the turbines drives a load, such as an electrical generator (not shown) .

In operation, hydrogen 6 and oxygen 8, which may be in either gaseous or liquid -- i.e., cryogenic -- form, are supplied to the high pressure combustor 2. If the hydrogen 6 and oxygen 8 are in gaseous form, compressors may be utilized to further pressurized the gas. In the high pressure combustor 2, the hydrogen 6 and oxygen 8 combust to form high temperature, high pressure steam. Preferably, the combustion takes place at close to stoichiometric conditions so that the combustor 2 discharges essentially pure steam. A supply of temperature moderating steam 47, generated as discussed below, is also supplied to the high pressure combustor 2. The temperature moderating steam 47 mixes with the steam produced by the combustion of the hydrogen 6 and oxygen 8, thereby cooling it and preventing overheating of the combustor 2 components. Preferably, the steam mixture 50 discharged from the high pressure combustor 2 is about 1600 °C and 250 bar.

From the high pressure combustor 2, the steam 50 is directed to the high pressure steam turbine 12, which is discussed in detail below. In the high pressure steam turbine 12, the steam 50 is partially expanded, thereby producing shaft power in the rotor 16. Preferably, the steam 48 discharged from the high pressure turbine 12 has been expanded to 935 C and 25 bar. The steam 48 is then mixed with three streams of temperature moderating steam 43, 46, and 78. Steam 43 has been heated in the process of cooling the intermediate pressure rows of vanes in the high pressure turbine 12, as discussed further below. Steam 46 has been heated in the process of cooling the intermediate pressure turbine 14. Steam 78 has been heated in the process of cooling the low pressure rows of blades in the high pressure turbine 12, as discussed further below.

Additional hydrogen 7 and oxygen 9 are combusted in the intermediate pressure combustor 4. Despite their having absorbed heat from the turbines 12 and 14, the steam flows 43, 46, and 78 are nevertheless cooler than the steam produced by the combustion of hydrogen 7 and oxygen 9 in the intermediate pressure combustor 4. Thus, steam streams 43, 48, 78, and 46 are directed to the intermediate pressure combustor 4 and serve to moderate temperature and cool the combustor. Preferably, the steam 43 and 46 is approximately 650 °C.

The heated steam 52 discharged from the intermediate combustor 4 is then directed to the intermediate steam turbine 14. Preferably, the steam 52 has been heated in the combustor 4 to approximately 1600 C. In the intermediate pressure turbine 14, the steam 52 is further expanded, thereby producing additional shaft power. Preferably, the steam 54 discharged from the intermediate pressure turbine 14 has been expanded to approximately 840 °C and 1 bar. The steam 54 from the intermediate turbine 14 is then directed to a hear recovery steam generator 18, where a portion of its heat is transferred to two streams of feed water 102 and 104, thereby generating two streams of steam 30 and 58. Preferably, sufficient heat is transferred in the heat recovery steam generator 18 so that the steam 60 discharged therefrom has been cooled to approximately 110 °C. From the heat recovery steam generator 18, the cooled steam 60 is directed to a low pressure turbine 20, where it is further expanded to produce still more shaft power. Preferably, the steam 62 discharged from the low pressure turbine 20 has been expanded to approximately 33 °C and 0.05 bar. The expanded steam 62 is then condensed in a condenser 22.

The condensate 100 drawn from the condenser 22 by pump 23 is split into three steams, the first and second of which are directed to feed pumps 24 and 25, respectively. The third stream 103 is bleed from the cycle, as discussed

below. Feed pump 24 boosts the pressure of a portion of the condensate 100, preferably to a pressure in excess of 300 bar, and directs the high pressure feed water 102 to the heat recovery steam generator 18 where, as previously discussed, it absorbs heat from the steam 54 discharged by the intermediate pressure turbine 14. Preferably, sufficient heat is transferred to heat the high pressure steam 30 discharged from the heat recovery steam generator 18 to approximately 400 °C. Feed pump 25 boosts the pressure of the second condensate stream to an intermediate pressure and directs the intermediate pressure feed water 104 to the heat recovery steam generator 18 where it is converted to intermediate pressure steam 58. Preferably, intermediate steam 58 is approximately 375 °C and 30 bar. The high pressure steam 30 from the heat recovery steam generator 18 is split into two streams 32 and 34. Steam 34 forms a portion of the temperature moderating steam 47 for the high pressure combustor 2, as previously discussed. According to the current invention, steam 32 is further split into two streams 35 and 36, both of which are directed to the high pressure turbine 12 for cooling. The first stream of cooling steam 35 serves to cool the stationary vanes while the second stream of cooling steam 36 cools the rotor 16, as discussed further below. The vane cooling steam 35 is divided into three streams 38, 39, and 40. Steam streams 38, 39, and 40 serve to cool the high, intermediate and low pressure vanes of the high pressure turbine 12, respectively, and, in the process become further heated. After they perform their cooling function, steam streams 38, 39 and 40 are discharged from the turbine 12 as heated steam streams 44, 42, and 43, respectively. The high pressure vane cooling steam 44 that is discharged from the high pressure turbine 12 forms a second portion of the temperature moderating steam 47 supplied to the high pressure combustor 2.

The intermediate pressure vane cooling steam 42 that is discharged from the high pressure turbine 12 is combined with the intermediate pressure steam 58 produced by the heat recovery steam generator 18, as previously discussed. The combined flow of steam 56 is then directed to the intermediate pressure turbine 14 for cooling of the turbine components using the techniques discussed below with reference to the cooling of the high pressure turbine 12. From the intermediate pressure turbine 14, the cooling steam 46, which has preferably been heated to approximately 650 °C, along with the high pressure turbine low pressure vane cooling steam 43, is combined with the steam 48 discharged from the high pressure turbine 12 so as to form the remainder of the temperature moderating steam for the intermediate pressure combustor 4.

The second stream of cooling steam 36 cools the blades of the high pressure turbine rotor 16, after which it is discharged from the rotor in two streams 78 and 45. Stream 78, which cooled the lower pressure blades of the high pressure turbine 12, is combined with the low pressure vane cooling steam 43, where it serves to moderate the temperature in the intermediate pressure combustor 4, as previously discussed. Stream 45, which cooled the high pressure blades of the high pressure turbine 12, is combined with the high pressure vane cooling steam 44 and forms the third portion of the temperature moderating steam 47 supplied to the high pressure combustor 2.

In the preferred embodiment, all of the cooling of the high pressure turbine 12 is accomplished by the steam 32, thereby providing a very thermodynamically efficient system. As can be seen, the cooling system is closed loop -- that is, except for incidental leakages, all of the steam 32 supplied to the high pressure turbine 12 for cooling is returned to the cycle, along with heat absorbed during the cooling. Since hydrogen and oxygen are continually added to the system in the combustors 2 and 4 ,

a portion 103 of the condensate 100 is continuously bleed from the system to maintain an equilibrium.

The details of the closed loop steam cooling for the high pressure steam turbine 12 will now be discussed with reference to Figures 2 and 3. The cooling of the stationary vanes will be discussed first.

As shown in Figure 2, the high pressure turbine 12 is enclosed by an outer shell 17 that encloses an inner shell 19. The inner and outer shells 17 and 19 are connected by webs so as to form three plenums 120, 122 and 124 that serve to direct the flow of the cooling steam flows 38, 39 and 40, respectively. The high pressure combustors 2 are attached to the front end of the outer shell 17. Ducts 126 extend through plenum 120 and direct the flow of the steam 50 from the high pressure combustors 2 to the inlet of the turbine working fluid flow path.

The high pressure vane cooling steam 38 enters the outer shell 17 through a passage 110 and is directed by a pipe 141 to a circumferentially extending pipe 142, as shown in Figure 3. Pipe 142 forms a manifold 140 that divides the cooling steam 38 into three streams 64, 65, and 66 and distributes these streams to pipes 144, 146, and 148.

Steam 64 is directed by pipes 144 from the manifold 140 to passages 150 formed in the inner shell 19. The passages 150 direct the steam 64 to the first row stationary vanes 180 and then through cooling passages 170 formed in the vanes. As shown, each cooling passage 170 has a simple U-shaped configuration. However, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the cooling passages 170 can take a variety of forms, such as serpentine. As a result of flowing through the cooling passages 170, a portion of the heat that was transferred from the combustion steam 50 to the vanes 180 is transferred from the vanes 180 to the cooling steam 64, thereby cooling the vanes and heating the cooling steam.

From the vane cooling passages 170 the now heated cooling steam 67 is directed by passages 152 to the plenum 120.

Similarly, pipes 146 and 148 direct steam 65 and 66, respectively, from the manifold 140 to passages 154 and 158, respectively, formed in the inner shell 19. The passages 154 and 158 direct the steam to passages 174 and 178, respectively, formed in the second and third rows of stationary vanes 182 and 184, respectively, thereby cooling the vanes. The now heated cooling steam 68 and 69 from the cooling passages 174 and 178, respectively, is the directed by passages 156 and 160, respectively, formed in the inner shell 19, to the plenum 120.

As shown in Figure 2, from the plenum 120, the combined flow 44 of heated cooling steam 67, 68, and 69 is directed by the plenum past the ducts 126 and into the high pressure combustors 2 where, as previously discussed, the steam 44 serves to moderate temperature and cool the combustors.

Still referring to Figure 2, and in a manner similar to that discussed above with respect to the high pressure vane cooling steam 38, the cooling steam 39 for the intermediate pressure vanes of the high pressure turbine 12 enters the outer shell 17 through a passage 112 and is directed by a pipe to a circumferentially extending pipe that forms a manifold located within the plenum 122. The manifold divides the cooling steam 39 into two streams 70 and 71 that are then distributed to pipes that direct them to passages in the inner shell 19 and eventually to cooling passages in the fourth and fifth row stationary vanes. Additional passages formed in the inner shell 19 direct the now heated cooling steam 72 and 73 from the vane cooling passages to the plenum 122. A passage 116 in the outer shell 17 directs the heated cooling steam 42 out of the plenum 122. As previously discussed, the heated intermediate pressure vane cooling steam 42 is mixed with the steam 58 from the heat recovery steam generator 18 and then directed

to the intermediate pressure turbine 14 where it provides further cooling.

In a manner similar to that discussed above with respect to the intermediate pressure vane cooling steam 39, the cooling steam 40 for the low pressure vanes of the high pressure turbine 12 enters the outer shell 17 through a passage 114 and is directed by a pipe to a circumferentially extending pipe that forms a manifold located within the plenum 124. The manifold divides the cooling steam 40 into two streams 74 and 75 that are then distributed to pipes that direct them to passages in the inner shell 19 and eventually to cooling passages in the sixth and seventh row stationary vanes. Additional passages formed in the inner shell 19 direct the now heated cooling steam 76 and 77 from the vane cooling passages to the plenum 124. A gap 125 formed between an outer flow guide 128 and the inner shell 19 directs the combined flow 43 of heated cooling steam streams 76 and 77 from the plenum 124 to the working fluid flow path where it mixes with the partially expanded steam 48 discharged from the high pressure turbine 12. As previously discussed, cooling steam stream 43 is subsequently further heated, and expanded steam stream 48 is subsequently reheated, in the intermediate pressure combustor 4. The closed loop cooling system for the rotating blades will now be discussed. As shown in Figure 2, the portion 36 of the cooling steam 32 from the heat recovery steam generator 18 enters the rotor 16 and flows axially upstream through a plurality of circumferentially distributed passages that form manifolds 130.

Alternatively, the manifold 130 could be a single circular annular passage. The manifolds 130 distribute the cooling steam 36 to each of the rows of blades in the rotor 16 of the high pressure turbine 12. Referring to Figure 3, a portion 86 of the cooling steam 36 is directed by radially extending passages 162 formed in the rotor 16 from the manifolds 130 to the

first row rotating blades 186 and then through cooling passages 172 formed in the blades. Bushings 190 prevent the cooling steam 86 from entering the manifold 134 directly. As shown, each cooling passage 172 has a simple U-shaped configuration. However, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the cooling passages 172 can take a variety of forms, such as serpentine. As a result of flowing through the cooling passages 172, a portion of the heat that was transferred from the combustor steam 50 to the blades 186 is transferred from the blades to the cooling steam 86, thereby cooling the blades and heating the cooling steam. From the blade cooling passages 172 the now heated cooling steam 94 is directed by passages 164 to manifolds 134. Similarly, the cooling steam 85 for the second row blades 188 flows through passages 166 and bushings 192 to cooling passages 176 formed in the second row blades 188. Passages 168 direct the now heated cooling steam 93 to the manifold 134. Returning to Figure 2, in a similar manner, cooling 84 is provided to the third row blades.

The combined flow 45 of heated cooling steam 92, 93, and 94 from the first three rows of blades is directed by the manifold 134 to the plenum 120. From the plenum 120, the high pressure blade cooling steam 45 is directed, along with the high pressure vane cooling steam 44, by the plenum past the ducts 126 and into the high pressure combustors 2 where, as previously discussed, the steam streams 44 and 45 serve to moderate temperature .

As also shown in Figure 2, the rotor manifold 130 also distributes steam flows 80-83 to the fourth through seventh rows of rotating blades . The streams of heated cooling steam 87-90 from these rows is directed by a manifold 132 to a gap 127 formed between an inner flow guide 129 and the rotor 16. From the gap 127, the combined flow 78 of heated cooling steam from the low pressure blades of the high pressure turbine 12 is then directed to the working fluid flow path, where it mixes with the

partially expanded steam 48 discharged from the high pressure turbine 12. As previously discussed, the low pressure blade cooling steam 78, along with the low pressure vane cooling steam 43, is subsequently further heated in the intermediate pressure combustor 4.

The closed loop high pressure turbine cooling system previously discussed permits very effective cooling, thereby enabling the expansion of very high temperature steam 50 (e.g., 1600 °C) in the high pressure turbine. Further, since essentially all of the cooling steam is returned to the cycle, the thermodynamic losses associated with prior vane and blade cooling schemes have been eliminated.

Although the present invention was discussed with reference to a high pressure turbine, the invention is also applicable to other turbines. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.