Turbomachine assembly and method of using same

Abstract

A turbomachine assembly generally has a compressor section including a first end of a rotating member and a first cover configured to substantially enclose the first end therein. The compressor section includes a bypass valve coupled to the first cover portion and configured to control fluid flow within the compressor section to enable controlling at least one operating parameter of the compressor section. A turbine section is arranged in flow communication with the compressor section. The turbine section includes a second end of the rotating member and a second cover configured to substantially enclose the second end therein. At least one regulating valve that is in flow communication with the compressor section and the turbine section, wherein the regulating valve is configured to control fluid flow between the compressor and turbine sections to enable controlling at least one operating parameter of the turbine section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A turbomachine assembly comprising:
 a compressor section comprising a first end of a rotating member and a first cover portion that is configured to substantially enclose at least a portion of said first end of said rotating member therein, said compressor section further comprises a bypass valve coupled to said first cover portion, wherein said bypass valve is configured to control fluid flow being channeled within said compressor section to enable controlling at least one operating parameter of said compressor section;   a turbine section in flow communication with said compressor section, wherein said turbine section comprises a second end of said rotating member and a second cover portion that is configured to substantially enclose at least a portion of said second end of said second rotating member therein; and   at least one regulating valve in flow communication with said compressor section and said turbine section, wherein said at least one regulating valve is configured to control fluid flow being channeled between said compressor section and said turbine section to enable controlling at least one operating parameter of said turbine section, wherein controlling the at least one operating parameter of each of said compressor section and said turbine section, at least partly independently, facilitates attaining a predefined performance threshold for each of said compressor section and said turbine section.   
     
     
         2 . A turbomachine assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said first cover portion comprises a first flow path defined therein, said bypass valve is configured to control fluid flow being channeled within said compressor section by controlling fluid flow being channeled within said first flow path. 
     
     
         3 . A turbomachine assembly in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said bypass valve controls fluid flow being channeled within said first flow path by channeling fluid flow within said first flow path in one of a first direction and a second direction, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction. 
     
     
         4 . A turbomachine assembly in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said bypass valve controls fluid flow being channeled within said first flow path by channeling fluid flow within said first flow path towards one of a load and said housing assembly. 
     
     
         5 . A turbomachine assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said second cover portion comprises a second flow path defined therein. 
     
     
         6 . A turbomachine assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a housing assembly positioned between said compressor section and said turbine section, said housing assembly comprises a plurality of conduits extending from said compressor section to said turbine section. 
     
     
         7 . A turbomachine assembly in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said at least one regulating valve comprises a plurality of regulating valves such that each of said plurality of regulating valves is positioned in a separate conduit of said plurality of conduits. 
     
     
         8 . A power system comprising:
 a load apparatus comprising a load configured to convert mechanical rotational energy to electrical energy for a power output; and   a turbomachine assembly coupled to said load apparatus, said turbomachine assembly comprises:
 a compressor section comprising a first end of a rotating member and a first cover portion that is configured to substantially enclose at least a portion of said first end of said rotating member therein, said compressor section further comprises a bypass valve coupled to said first cover portion, wherein said bypass valve is configured to control fluid flow being channeled within said compressor section to enable controlling at least one operating parameter of said compressor section; 
 a turbine section positioned in flow communication with said compressor section, wherein said turbine section comprises a second end of said rotating member and a second cover portion that is configured to substantially enclose at least a portion of said second end of said rotating member therein; and 
 at least one regulating valve that is in flow communication with said compressor section and said turbine section, wherein said at least one regulating valve is configured to control fluid flow being channeled between said compressor section and said turbine section to enable controlling at least one operating parameter of said turbine section, wherein controlling the at least one operating parameter of each of said compressor section and said turbine section, at least partly independently, facilitates attaining a predefined performance threshold for each of said compressor section and said turbine section. 
   
     
     
         9 . A power system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said first cover portion comprises a first flow path defined therein, said bypass valve is configured to control fluid flow being channeled within said compressor section by controlling fluid flow being channeled within said first flow path. 
     
     
         10 . A power system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said bypass valve controls fluid flow being channeled within said first flow path by channeling fluid flow within said first flow path in one of a first direction or a second direction, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction. 
     
     
         11 . A power system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said bypass valve controls fluid flow being channeled within said first flow path by channeling fluid flow within said first flow path towards one of said load apparatus or towards said housing assembly. 
     
     
         12 . A power system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said second cover portion comprises a second flow path defined therein. 
     
     
         13 . A power system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said turbomachine assembly further comprises a housing assembly positioned between said compressor section and said turbine section, said housing assembly comprising a plurality of conduits extending from said compressor section to said turbine section. 
     
     
         14 . A power system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said at least one regulating valve comprises a plurality of regulating valves such that each of said plurality of regulating valves is positioned in a separate conduit of said plurality of conduits. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using a turbomachine assembly, said method comprising:
 providing a compressor section that includes a first end of a rotating member and a first cover portion that is configured to substantially enclose at least a portion of the first end of the rotating member therein, the compressor section also includes a bypass valve coupled to the first cover portion;   controlling fluid flow being channeled within the compressor section, via the bypass valve, to enable controlling at least one operating parameter of the compressor section;   positioning a turbine section in relation to the compressor section such that the turbine section is in flow communication with the compressor section, wherein the turbine section includes a second end of the rotating member and a second cover portion that is configured to substantially enclose at least a portion of the second end of the rotating member therein;   controlling fluid flow being channeled between the compressor section and the turbine section, via at least one regulating valve that is in flow communication with the compressor section and the turbine section, to enable controlling at least one operating parameter of the turbine section, wherein controlling the at least one operating parameter of each of the compressor section and the turbine section, at least partly independently, facilitates attaining a predefined performance threshold for each of the compressor section and the turbine section.   
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein controlling fluid flow being channeled within the compressor section further comprises controlling fluid flow being channeled within a first flow path that is defined within the first cover portion. 
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein controlling fluid flow being channeled within a first flow path further comprises controlling fluid flow being channeled within the first flow path in one of a first direction or a second direction, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction. 
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein controlling fluid flow being channeled within a first flow path further comprises controlling fluid flow being channeled within the first flow path towards one of a load or towards the housing assembly. 
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 15 , further comprising positioning a housing assembly between the compressor section and the turbine section, wherein the housing assembly includes a plurality of conduits extending from the compressor section to the turbine section. 
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein controlling fluid flow being channeled between the compressor section and the turbine section further comprises controlling fluid flow being channeled within the plurality of conduits to one of the compressor section and the turbine section.