Intercooled gas turbine engine with integral air bottoming cycle

摘要

A gas turbine engine that includes a 2/3 stage intercooled booster compressor is described. In one embodiment, the engine includes a low pressure turbine and a booster compressor rotatable on a low pressure shaft. The engine further includes a high pressure compressor, a high pressure combustor, and a high pressure turbine rotatable on a high pressure (HP) shaft and forming the core engine. A low pressure combustor is located at the outlet of the high pressure turbine and a power turbine. The booster compressor includes first and second stage compressors, and air flow from the first stage compressor is supplied to a first intercooler, and air flow from the second stage compressor is supplied to a second intercooler. Airflow from the first intercooler is supplied to the inlet of the second stage compressor, and airflow from the second intercooler is split between being provided to the inlet of the high pressure compressor and a recuperator. The recuperator also is coupled to receive air from the power turbine so that air from the power turbine heats air split away from the second stage compressor before being exhausted to atmosphere. Air heated in the recuperator drives the low pressure turbine connected to the booster compressors.