Mobile gas turbine inlet air conditioning system and associated methods

Abstract

A system, as well as associated methods, for increasing the efficiency of a gas turbine including an inlet assembly and a compressor may include a housing configured to channel airstream towards the inlet assembly, an air treatment module positioned at a proximal end the housing, and at least one air conditioning module mounted downstream of the air treatment module for adjusting the temperature of the airstream entering the compressor. The air treatment module may include a plurality of inlet air filters and at least one blower configured to pressurize the air entering the air treatment module.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An air treatment system to increase the efficiency of a gas turbine, the air treatment system comprising:
 (a) a housing having (i) an internal chamber including one or more outlets therefrom and (ii) one or more inlets positioned to channel air flow into the internal chamber;   (b) one or more air treatment modules including one or more stages of a plurality of inlet air filters to provide pre-cleaning of airstream flow entering the inlets of the housing, the plurality of inlet filters positioned prior to entry into the internal chamber of the housing so as to knock-down debris prior to entrance into the internal chamber of the housing, each of the plurality of inlet air filters having a cylindrical tubular portion configured to channel the air into the internal chamber; and   (c) one or more additional filters positioned downstream of the one or more air treatment modules.   
     
     
         2 . The air treatment system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of inlet air filters is configured to eject debris from the plurality of filters via centrifugal force. 
     
     
         3 . A hydraulic fracturing unit to be mounted on a trailer, the hydraulic fracturing unit comprising:
 a hydraulic fracturing pump;   a gas turbine to drive the hydraulic fracturing pump, the gas turbine including an inlet assembly and a gas turbine compressor; and   an air treatment system including:
 a housing having an internal chamber and positioned to channel an airstream towards the inlet assembly of the gas turbine; and 
 an air treatment module having one or more inlet air filters to filter fluid flow to the internal chamber, the plurality of inlet air filters being positioned to knock-down debris prior to entrance into the internal chamber of the housing and to eject debris therefrom via centrifugal force, each of the plurality of inlet air filters having a cylindrical tubular portion configured to channel the air into the internal chamber. 
   
     
     
         4 . The hydraulic fracturing unit of  claim 3 , further comprising one or more additional filters positioned downstream of the air treatment module. 
     
     
         5 . A pumping unit comprising:
 a gas turbine engine comprising a dual fuel gas turbine engine;   an enclosure housing the gas turbine engine;   an air intake duct connected to the gas turbine engine;   an air treatment system connected to the air intake duct, the air treatment system comprising one or more inlet pre-cleaners configured to eject debris, each of the one or more inlet pre-cleaners having a cylindrical tubular portion configured to channel air toward the air intake duct and configured to eject debris via centrifugal force;   a gearbox mechanically linked to the gas turbine engine; and   a pump mechanically linked to the gearbox.   
     
     
         6 . The pumping unit of  claim 5 , further comprising a trailer configured and positioned to support both the pump and the enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The hydraulic fracturing unit of  claim 5 , further comprising one or more additional filters positioned downstream of the air treatment system. 
     
     
         8 . A pumping unit comprising:
 a chassis;   a gas turbine engine;   an enclosure;   an air intake duct connected to the gas turbine engine;   an air treatment system connected to the air intake duct, the air treatment system comprising one or more inlet pre-cleaners configured to eject debris via centrifugal force;   a gearbox mechanically linked to the gas turbine engine; and   a pump positioned on the chassis and mechanically linked to the gearbox, the air treatment system, the enclosure, the gas turbine engine, and the gearbox.   
     
     
         9 . The pumping unit of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more inlet pre-cleaners comprises a cylindrical tubular portion configured to channel air toward the air intake duct. 
     
     
         10 . The pumping unit of  claim 8 , wherein the gas turbine engine comprises a dual fuel gas turbine engine.