Abstract:
Mechanical drive architectures can include a gas turbine having a compressor section, a turbine section, and a combustor section. A load compressor is driven by the gas turbine. A rotor shaft extends through the gas turbine and the load compressor. The rotor shaft has rotating blades arranged in a circumferential array to define a plurality of moving blade rows in the gas turbine and the load compressor. At least one of the rotating blades in one of the gas turbine and the load compressor includes a low-density material. Bearings support the rotor shaft within the gas turbine and the load compressor, wherein at least one of the bearings is a hybrid-type low-loss bearing.
Abstract:
A compressor includes a first stage of stator vanes having a first position and a second group of stator vanes arranged in two or more stages downstream from the first stage of stator vanes, each stage having a respective second position. A first actuator is engaged with the first stage of stator vanes, and a second actuator is engaged with a bar connecting the second group of stator vanes. A method for operating a compressor includes adjusting a first position of a first plurality of stator vanes and adjusting the respective second positions of a second group of stator vanes separately from the first position of the first stage of stator vanes.
Abstract:
A multi-stage axial compressor arrangement is disclosed that uses a compressor speed reducer to rotate the moving blades in the forward stages of the compressor at a slower rotational speed than the moving blades in the mid stages and the aft stages of the compressor. Slowing the rotational speed of the moving blades in the forward stages in relation to the blades in the mid stages and the aft stages, enables the multi-stage axial compressor to deliver a high airflow rate while overcoming excessive attachment stresses that is typically experienced in the large rotating blades of the forward stages of the compressor.