Siemens Energy, Inc.

Gary V Hildebrandt

Damien G Teehan

Adam Matthew Foust

Jatinder P Singh

Satish B Gadde

Danny W Kozachuk

Shervin Rodd

Joseph L Kollar

A starting process for a gas turbine () that holds the turbine speed of rotation at an ignition speed setting during an ignition window (), with the ignition speed setting being based on ambient air conditions to achieve a specified combustor air mass flow rate (). A fuel flow rate may be set based on the fuel type and temperature to achieve a particular air/fuel ratio in a combustor. The fuel flow rate may be adjusted during the ignition window and thereafter based on a combustor inlet air temperature (). Completion of ignition may be determined by a reduction () in a blade path temperature spread (). After ignition, fuel flow is increased to accelerate the turbine to full speed. At any point, the fuel flow may be reduced, or its increase may be slowed, to avoid exceeding a temperature limit in the turbine.

Gas turbine starting process

A method of controlling fuel flow to a combustor () of a gas turbine engine () during startup of the engine includes determining a relationship between Cand valve position for a flow control valve (e.g.,) in a fuel supply () to the combustor as a function of at least one real time parameter of fuel () in the fuel supply. The method also includes determining a value of the at least one parameter of the fuel before initiating a flow of the fuel to the combustor, and then calculating a first actual Cvalue for the flow control valve at a target flow rate using the determined value of the parameter. The method then includes positioning the flow control valve to a first position corresponding to the actual Cvalue based upon the determined relationship between Cand valve position, and initiating the flow of fuel to the combustor through the flow control valve.

Fuel control for starting a gas turbine engine

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Oviedo, FL, United States of America

Gary V Hildebrandt