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An inlet bleed heat and power augmentation system utilizing a bi-directional and common piping arrangement is disclosed. The piping arrangement includes a plurality of feed tubes arranged to communicate either steam to a compressor discharge plenum or compressed air from the compressor discharge ple

An inlet bleed heat and power augmentation system utilizing a bi-directional and common piping arrangement is disclosed. The piping arrangement includes a plurality of feed tubes arranged to communicate either steam to a compressor discharge plenum or compressed air from the compressor discharge plenum. Various embodiments of the invention are discussed including operation methods.

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What is claimed is: 1. An inlet bleed heat and steam injection system comprising: a manifold extending about at least a portion of a gas turbine engine; a plurality of feed pipes in fluid communication with the manifold and a compressor discharge plenum of the engine; a supply pipe in fluid communi

What is claimed is: 1. An inlet bleed heat and steam injection system comprising: a manifold extending about at least a portion of a gas turbine engine; a plurality of feed pipes in fluid communication with the manifold and a compressor discharge plenum of the engine; a supply pipe in fluid communication with the manifold; a steam pipe coupled to the supply pipe and in fluid communication with a steam source, the steam pipe having a steam isolation valve and a steam control valve; and, an inlet pipe coupled to the supply pipe and in fluid communication with an inlet to the engine, the inlet pipe having an inlet bleed heat isolation valve and an inlet bleed heat control valve. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the manifold extends in a general U-shape about a portion of the engine. 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the compressor discharge plenum has a plurality of openings generally equally spaced about the plenum for receiving the feed pipes. 4. The system of claim 3 wherein each of the feed pipes contain a nozzle proximate the openings in the plenum. 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the nozzle includes a plurality of injection holes with each hole having one rounded edge. 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the steam pipe further comprises an orifice plate, a plurality of drain valves, and at least one thermocouple. 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the inlet pipe further comprises one or more drain valves and at least one thermocouple. 8. The system of claim 1 wherein steam can flow from the steam source through the steam pipe to the supply pipe and to the compressor discharge plenum when the valves in the inlet pipe are closed. 9. The system of claim 1 wherein compressed air can flow from the compressor discharge plenum through the supply pipe and through the inlet pipe to the engine inlet when the valves in steam pipe are closed. 10. A gas turbine engine comprising: an air inlet; a compressor in fluid communication with the inlet, the compressor for compressing air from the inlet; a compressor discharge plenum; at least one combustor for generating hot combustion gases in fluid communication with the compressor discharge plenum; a turbine in fluid communication with the at least one combustor, the turbine for converting the hot combustion gases into mechanical work to drive the compressor and an electrical generator, which are coupled to the turbine by a shaft; a bi-directional flowing pipe system comprising: a manifold having a plurality of feed pipes in fluid communication therewith, the feed pipes also in fluid communication with the compressor discharge plenum; a supply pipe in fluid communication with the manifold; a steam pipe coupled to the supply pipe and in fluid communication with a steam source, the steam pipe having a steam isolation valve and a steam control valve; and, an inlet pipe coupled to the supply pipe and in fluid communication with the inlet, the inlet pipe having an inlet bleed heat isolation valve and an inlet bleed heat control valve. 11. The gas turbine engine of claim 10 wherein the at least one combustor comprises a plurality of combustors in an annular array about the engine shaft. 12. The gas turbine engine of claim 10 further comprising a nozzle positioned proximate an end of each feed pipe and adjacent the compressor discharge plenum. 13. The gas turbine engine of claim 12 wherein the nozzle includes a plurality of injection holes with each hole having one edge rounded. 14. The gas turbine engine of claim 10 wherein the steam pipe further comprises an orifice plate, a plurality of drain valves, and at least one thermocouple. 15. The gas turbine engine of claim 10 wherein the inlet pipe further comprises one or more drain valves and at least one thermocouple. 16. The gas turbine engine of claim 10 wherein when the inlet bleed heat valves are closed and the steam valves are open, steam can flow through the steam pipe to the supply pipe, the feed pipes, and into the compressor discharge plenum. 17. The gas turbine engine of claim 10 wherein when the steam valves are closed and the inlet bleed valves are open, air can flow from the compressor discharge plenum through the feed pipes, the supply pipe, and the inlet pipe into the inlet. 18. The gas turbine engine of claim 17 wherein the air injected into the inlet is injected by a plurality of generally vertically extending manifolds. 19. A method of providing heated compressed air to a gas turbine engine inlet comprising: providing a gas turbine engine comprising a compressor for compressing air, at least one combustor for generating hot combustion gases, and a turbine coupled to the compressor for converting the energy from the combustor into work; providing a piping system comprising a manifold, a supply pipe coupled to the manifold, a steam pipe coupled to the supply pipe, the steam pipe having a steam isolation valve and a steam control valve, and an inlet pipe coupled to the supply pipe, the inlet pipe having an inlet bleed heat isolation valve and an inlet bleed heat control valve; providing a steam source to the gas turbine engine; closing a control valve and isolation valve in a steam pipe; opening a control valve and isolation valve in an inlet pipe such that heated compressed air from the compressor discharge plenum flows through the feed tubes to the manifold, the supply pipe, and the inlet pipe to the inlet; mixing the heated compressed air received from the compressor discharge plenum with external air drawn into the inlet; and directing the air mixture through the inlet and into the compressor. 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the control valve in the inlet pipe is adjustable and its position will vary depending on the amount of air required to be injected into the inlet. 21. The method of claim 19 wherein providing heated compressed air to the inlet is permitted at engine load conditions of approximately 95% operating speed to approximately 75% of baseload. 22. A method of providing power augmentation to a gas turbine engine comprising: providing a gas turbine engine comprising a compressor for compressing air, at least one combustor for generating hot combustion gases, and a turbine coupled to the compressor for converting the energy from the combustor into work; providing a piping system comprising a manifold, a supply pipe coupled to the manifold, a steam pipe coupled to the supply pipe, the steam pipe having a steam isolation valve and a steam control valve, and an inlet pipe coupled to the supply pipe, the inlet pipe having an inlet bleed heat isolation valve and an inlet bleed heat control valve; providing a steam source to the gas turbine engine; closing the control valve and isolation valve in the inlet pipe; opening the control valve and isolation valve in the steam pipe such that steam from the steam source flows from the steam source through the steam pipe to a supply pipe, to a manifold, and through a plurality of feed tubes to a compressor discharge plenum; mixing the steam and air from the compressor in the compressor discharge plenum; flowing the steam and air from the compressor discharge plenum through the at least one combustor so as to provide additional working fluid at a lower reaction temperature, thereby increasing the engine output. 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the control valve in the steam pipe is adjustable and its position will vary depending on the amount of steam required to be injected into the compressor discharge plenum. 24. The method of claim 22 wherein providing power augmentation occurs only when the engine is operating at a full load condition.