Gas turbine exhaust diffuser having plasma actuator

Abstract

A gas turbine is provided, including a turbine, an exhaust diffuser, and a plasma actuator. The turbine releases an exhaust gas. The exhaust diffuser receives the exhaust gas from the turbine. The exhaust diffuser has an inlet and an outlet, and at least one wall that is disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The plasma actuator produces a plasma along the at least one wall of the diffuser.

1 . A gas turbine, comprising:
 a turbine releasing an exhaust gas;   an exhaust diffuser for receiving the exhaust gas from the turbine, the exhaust diffuser having an inlet, an outlet and at least one wall that is disposed between the inlet and the outlet; and   a plasma actuator producing a plasma along the at least one wall of the diffuser.   
     
     
         2 . The gas turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust diffuser includes an inner diffuser and an outer diffuser, wherein the inner diffuser is generally concentric with the outer diffuser. 
     
     
         3 . The gas turbine of  claim 2 , wherein the inner diffuser includes an inner wall, and wherein the plasma actuator is disposed along the inner wall of the inner diffuser. 
     
     
         4 . The gas turbine of  claim 2 , wherein the outer diffuser includes an outer wall, and wherein the plasma actuator is disposed along the outer wall of the inner diffuser. 
     
     
         5 . The gas turbine of  claim 2 , wherein the inner diffuser includes a generally annular configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The gas turbine of  claim 2 , wherein the outer diffuser includes a generally conical configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The gas turbine of  claim 2 , comprising at least one manway located between the inner diffuser and the outer diffuser, wherein the at least one manway includes an outer manway surface, and wherein another plasma actuator is located along the outer manway surface. 
     
     
         8 . The gas turbine of  claim 1 , comprising an exhaust strut that is located between an inner wall and an outer wall of the exhaust diffuser, the exhaust strut having a cross-section, wherein the cross-section of the exhaust strut includes an airfoil shape. 
     
     
         9 . The gas turbine of  claim 8 , comprising an exhaust strut plasma actuator that is disposed along an outer surface of the exhaust strut. 
     
     
         10 . The gas turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the plasma actuator includes an inner electrode, an outer electrode, and a dielectric material. 
     
     
         11 . A gas turbine, comprising:
 a turbine releasing an exhaust gas;   an exhaust diffuser for receiving the exhaust gas from the turbine, the exhaust diffuser having an inlet and an outlet, comprising:
 an inner diffuser disposed between the inlet and the outlet, the inner diffuser having an inner wall; 
 an outer diffuser disposed between the inlet and the outlet, the outer diffuser having an outer wall, the inner diffuser generally concentric with the outer diffuser; and 
   a plasma actuator producing a plasma along at least one of the inner wall and the outer wall.   
     
     
         12 . The gas turbine of  claim 11 , wherein the inner diffuser includes a generally annular configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The gas turbine of  claim 11 , wherein the outer diffuser includes a generally conical configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The gas turbine of  claim 11 , comprising at least one manway located between the inner diffuser and the outer diffuser, wherein the at least one manway includes an outer manway surface, and wherein another plasma actuator is located along the outer manway surface. 
     
     
         15 . The gas turbine of  claim 11 , comprising an exhaust strut that is located between an inner wall and an outer wall of the exhaust diffuser, the exhaust strut having a cross-section, wherein the cross-section of the exhaust strut includes an airfoil shape. 
     
     
         16 . The gas turbine of  claim 15 , comprising an exhaust strut plasma actuator that is disposed along an outer surface of the exhaust strut.