Turbo-compressor train with rolling bearings and related assembly method

Abstract

A turbo-compressor train and a method for assembling a turbo-compressor train. The train includes a gas turbine engine configured to transform thermal energy into mechanical energy; a centrifugal compressor having a shaft connected to a shaft of the gas turbine engine; and a single lube pump configured to provide synthetic oil to the gas turbine engine and the centrifugal compressor. The gas turbine engine, the centrifugal compressor and the single lube pump each has only rolling bearings.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A turbo-compressor train, the train comprising:
 a gas turbine configured to transform thermal energy into mechanical energy;   a centrifugal compressor comprising a shaft connected to a shaft of the gas turbine; and   a single lube pump configured to provide synthetic oil to the gas turbine, and the centrifugal compressor,   wherein the gas turbine, the centrifugal compressor and the single lube pump each has only rolling bearings.   
     
     
         2 . The turbo-compressor train of  claim 1 , wherein the gas turbine comprises:
 a compressor configured to compress air;   a combustion chamber configured to receive the compressed air from the compressor and to ignite the compressed air after mixing it with fuel; and   an expander configured to receive hot gases from the combustion chamber and to transform the thermal energy of the hot gases into rotational motion.   
     
     
         3 . The turbo-compressor train of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an auxiliary gearbox connecting a shaft of the gas turbine to a shaft of the lube pump and the auxiliary gearbox is configured to work with synthetic oil, or   a power source configured to provide energy to activate the lube pump.   
     
     
         4 . The turbo-compressor train of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 piping connecting the lube pump to the gas turbine and the centrifugal compressor for distributing the synthetic oil.   
     
     
         5 . The train turbo-compressor of  claim 1 , wherein no mineral oil is used in any component of the train. 
     
     
         6 . The turbo-compressor train of  claim 1 , wherein the gas turbine comprises an axial expander. 
     
     
         7 . The turbo-compressor train of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gearbox configured to mechanically connect a shaft of the gas turbine and a shaft of the centrifugal compressor.   
     
     
         8 . The turbo-compressor train of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an auxiliary gearbox connecting a shaft of the gas turbine to a shaft of the lube pump and the auxiliary gearbox is configured to work with synthetic oil;   piping connecting the lube pump to the gas turbine and the centrifugal compressor for distributing the synthetic oil; and   a gearbox configured to mechanically connect a shaft of the gas turbine and a shaft of the centrifugal compressor,   wherein the gas turbine further comprises:
 a compressor configured to compress air; 
 a combustion chamber configured to receive the compressed air from the compressor, to mix the compressed air with fuel, and to ignite the compressed air mixed with fuel; and 
 an expander configured to receive hot gases from the combustion chamber and to transform the thermal energy of the hot gases into rotational motion. 
   
     
     
         9 . A turbo-compressor train, the train comprising:
 a gas turbine configured to transform thermal energy into mechanical energy;   a generator comprising a shaft connected to a shaft of the gas turbine; and   a single lube pump configured to provide synthetic oil to the gas turbine, and the generator,   wherein the gas turbine, the generator and the single lube pump each has only rolling bearings.   
     
     
         10 . A method for assembling a turbo-compressor train, the method comprising:
 mechanically connecting a gas turbine to a centrifugal compressor;   mechanically or electrically connecting a lube pump to the gas turbine, wherein the lube pump is configured to pump synthetic oil; and   providing each of the gas turbine, the centrifugal compressor, and the lube pump only with rolling bearings.   
     
     
         11 . The turbo-compressor train of  claim 9 , wherein the gas turbine comprises:
 a compressor configured to compress air;   a combustion chamber configured to receive the compressed air from the compressor and to ignite the compressed air after mixing it with fuel; and   an expander configured to receive hot gases from the combustion chamber and to transform the thermal energy of the hot gases into rotational motion.   
     
     
         12 . The turbo-compressor train of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an auxiliary gearbox connecting a shaft of the gas turbine to a shaft of the lube pump and the auxiliary gearbox is configured to work with synthetic oil, or   a power source configured to provide energy to activate the lube pump.   
     
     
         13 . The turbo-compressor train of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 piping connecting the lube pump to the gas turbine and the generator for distributing the synthetic oil.   
     
     
         14 . The train turbo-compressor of  claim 9 , wherein no mineral oil is used in any component of the train. 
     
     
         15 . The turbo-compressor train of  claim 9 , wherein the gas turbine comprises an axial expander. 
     
     
         16 . The turbo-compressor train of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a gearbox configured to mechanically connect a shaft of the gas turbine and a shaft of the generator.   
     
     
         17 . The turbo-compressor train of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an auxiliary gearbox connecting a shaft of the gas turbine to a shaft of the lube pump and the auxiliary gearbox is configured to work with synthetic oil;   piping connecting the lube pump to the gas turbine and the generator for distributing the synthetic oil; and   a gearbox configured to mechanically connect a shaft of the gas turbine and a shaft of the generator,   wherein the gas turbine further comprises:
 a compressor configured to compress air; 
 a combustion chamber configured to receive the compressed air from the compressor, to mix the compressed air with fuel, and to ignite the compressed air mixed with fuel; and 
 an expander configured to receive hot gases from the combustion chamber and to transform the thermal energy of the hot gases into rotational motion.