Gas turbine system and corresponding method for assembling

Abstract

Method and gas turbine system having a reduced footprint. The gas turbine system includes a gas turbine configured to produce energy and having a gas turbine shaft; an auxiliary equipment attached to the gas turbine; an overhung shaft of the auxiliary equipment being configured to be attached to the gas turbine shaft; a flexible joint configured to be provided between the shaft of the auxiliary equipment and the gas turbine shaft; and a bearing system having at least two bearing units provided at a first end of the shaft of the auxiliary equipment next to the flexible joint. A second end of the shaft of the auxiliary equipment is free of bearings.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gas turbine system having a reduced footprint, the gas turbine system comprising:
 a gas turbine configured to produce energy and having a gas turbine shaft;   an auxiliary equipment attached to the gas turbine; an overhung shaft of the auxiliary equipment being configured to be attached to the gas turbine shaft;   a flexible joint configured to be provided between the shaft of the auxiliary equipment and the gas turbine shaft; and   a bearing system having at least two bearing units provided at a first end of the shaft of the auxiliary equipment next to the flexible joint,   wherein a second end of the shaft of the auxiliary equipment is free of bearings.   
     
     
         2 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein there are no other bearing unit in the auxiliary equipment. 
     
     
         3 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two bearing units are separated by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         4 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gas turbine casing configured to connect to an auxiliary equipment casing, wherein the bearing unit is provided in the gas turbine casing.   
     
     
         5 . The gas turbine system of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible joint is provided in its entirety inside the gas turbine casing. 
     
     
         6 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gas turbine casing configured to connect to an auxiliary equipment casing, wherein the bearing unit is provided in the auxiliary equipment casing.   
     
     
         7 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an interface unit provided between a gas turbine casing and an auxiliary equipment casing, wherein the bearing unit is provided within the interface unit.   
     
     
         8 . The gas turbine system of  claim 7 , wherein the shaft of the auxiliary equipment is configured to pass through the interface unit to enter inside a casing of the gas turbine. 
     
     
         9 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible joint is configured to allow the shaft of the gas turbine to rotate and/or translate relative to the shaft of the auxiliary equipment. 
     
     
         10 . The gas turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the gas turbine includes a compressor and an expander sharing the shaft of the gas turbine and the auxiliary equipment is one of a pump, a mechanical accessory or an electrical equipment. 
     
     
         11 . A gas turbine system having a reduced footprint, the gas turbine system comprising:
 a gas turbine configured to produce energy and having a gas turbine shaft;   an auxiliary equipment attached to the gas turbine;   an overhung shaft of the auxiliary equipment being configured to be attached to the gas turbine shaft; and   a bearing system having at least two bearing units provided at a first end of the shaft of the auxiliary equipment next to the gas turbine shaft,   wherein a second end of the shaft of the auxiliary equipment is free of bearings.   
     
     
         12 . The gas turbine system of  claim 11 , wherein there are no other bearing unit in the auxiliary equipment. 
     
     
         13 . The gas turbine system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a flexible joint provided between the gas turbine shaft and the shaft of the auxiliary equipment so that no gear box is provided between these shafts.   
     
     
         14 . The gas turbine system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an interface unit provided between a gas turbine casing and an auxiliary equipment casing, wherein the bearing unit is provided within the interface unit.   
     
     
         15 . The gas turbine system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a gas turbine casing configured to connect to an auxiliary equipment casing, wherein the auxiliary equipment casing has no external support.   
     
     
         16 . A gas turbine system having a reduced footprint, the gas turbine system comprising:
 a gas turbine shaft shared by a compressor and an expander;   an auxiliary equipment having an overhung shaft attached to the gas turbine shaft;   a bearing system having at least two bearing units provided at a first end of the shaft of the auxiliary equipment next to the gas turbine shaft,   wherein a second end of the shaft of the auxiliary equipment is free of bearings.   
     
     
         17 . The gas turbine system of  claim 16 , wherein there are no other bearing unit in the auxiliary equipment. 
     
     
         18 . The gas turbine system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a flexible joint directly connecting to the gas turbine shaft and the shaft of the auxiliary equipment;   a casing for the compressor and expander; and   a casing for the auxiliary equipment configured to be connected to the casing for the compressor and expander.   
     
     
         19 . A method for assembling a gas turbine and an auxiliary equipment to form a gas turbine system, the method comprising:
 directly connecting to a flexible joint a gas turbine shaft of the gas turbine and a shaft of the auxiliary equipment; and   supporting the shaft of the auxiliary equipment with a bearing system only at a first end, wherein a second end of the shaft of the auxiliary equipment is free of bearings.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 providing at least two bearing units for the bearing system.