Patents Examined by Andrew Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9194297
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel manifold with more than one fuel circuit for connecting a fuel source or fuel sources to at least one fuel injector, the fuel manifold having an inner tube for conveying fuel through a first fuel passage formed interiorly of the inner tube and an outer tube forming with a slot along a length of the inner tube a second fuel passage. If one of the fuel passages is in a low flow or no flow condition, fuel flowing through the other of the fuel passages acts to cool the fuel passage in the low flow or no flow condition to prevent stagnant fuel in the passage from heating up and coking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Roger Pelletier, Michael Kenneth Teter, Charles Raymond Bovard
  • Patent number: 9188002
    Abstract: Hybrid internal detonation-gas turbine engines incorporating detonation or pulse engine technology (such as an internal detonation engine), and methods of manufacturing and using the same are disclosed. The internal detonation engine includes a detonation chamber having a fuel igniter therein, a stator at one end of the detonation chamber having at least a first opening to receive fuel, a rotor adjacent to the stator, and an energy transfer mechanism configured to convert energy from igniting or detonating the fuel to mechanical energy. The detonation chamber and fuel igniter are configured to ignite or detonate a fuel in the detonation chamber. Either the stator or the detonation chamber has a second opening to exhaust detonation gas(es). The rotor has one or more third openings therein configured to overlap with at least the first opening as the rotor rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Inventor: Brent Wei-Teh Lee
  • Patent number: 9181876
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a compressor, a combustor downstream from the compressor and a heat transfer system, wherein the heat transfer system receives a compressed working fluid from the compressor. A fluid coupling between the heat transfer system and the combustor, wherein the fluid coupling receives the compressed working fluid from the heat transfer system. A conditioner in fluid communication with the compressor and a fluid coupling between the heat transfer system and the conditioner, wherein the fluid coupling receives a cooling media from the heat transfer system. A method for operating the gas turbine includes flowing a compressed working fluid from the compressor to the heat transfer system, transferring heat energy from the compressed working fluid to the heat transfer system, flowing the compressed working fluid from the heat transfer system to a combustor, and flowing a cooling media from the heat transfer system to a compressor inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Predrag Popovic, William Francis Carnell, Jr., Andrew Mitchell Rodwell
  • Patent number: 9182124
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine may include an injector housing having a central cavity configured to be fluidly coupled to a combustor of the turbine engine. The central cavity may also be configured to direct a first fuel into the combustor substantially unmixed with air. The fuel injector may also include an annular air discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the downstream end of the central cavity. The air discharge outlet may be configured to discharge compressed air into the combustor circumferentially about the first fuel from the central cavity. The fuel injector may also include an annular fuel discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the air discharge outlet at the downstream end. The fuel discharge outlet may be configured to discharge a second fuel into the combustor circumferentially about the compressed air from the air discharge outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventor: Gareth W. Oskam
  • Patent number: 9163840
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a reliable gas turbine combustor that can provide lowered NOx and combustion stability. The gas turbine combustor includes a combustion chamber to which fuel and air are supplied; a first burner located on the upstream side of the combustion chamber, the first burner jetting fuel into the combustion chamber and jetting air into the combustion chamber in a swirling manner; a plurality of second burners arranged around the first burner and supplying a premixed gas of air and fuel to the combustion chamber; an annular bulkhead disposed between the first burner and the second burners and having an inclined surface formed to broaden toward the downstream side of the combustion chamber; and a plurality of air jet ports formed in the inclined surface of the annular bulkhead and adapted to jet air into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shohei Yoshida, Takeo Saitou, Hiroshi Inoue, Kazuyuki Ito, Toshifumi Sasao, Akinori Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9133773
    Abstract: An example method of aircraft engine control includes detecting a difference between a temperature detected by a first temperature sensor and a temperature detected by a second temperature sensor. Anti-icing activity is initiated in response to the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan H. Gould, Jayant Sabnis
  • Patent number: 9121352
    Abstract: A device for purging a feed device that supplies liquid fuel to a gas turbine includes a combustion chamber that can be supplied alternately with gaseous and liquid fuel, and a purge air circuit that includes a manifold to distribute air to the combustion chamber, and at least one valve for regulating the air pressure in the purge air circuit. The purge device includes an electronic control unit that makes it possible to regulate the air pressure and flow rate in the purge air circuit according to the mode of operation of the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: GE Energy Products France SNC
    Inventors: Pierre Montagne, Daniel Deloge, Alexandre Picard, Olivier Chapuis, Benoît Gartner
  • Patent number: 9109464
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a spool, a gearbox having gearing driven by the spool, and a lubrication system. The lubrication system includes a first heat exchanger positioned in a first air flow path, a second heat exchanger positioned in a second air flow path, and a lubrication pump fluidically connected to both the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. A first air fan is driven by the gearbox for inducing air flow through the first air flow path. A second air fan is driven by an electric motor for inducing air flow through the second air flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Jorn A. Glahn, Brian D. Merry, Christopher M. Dye, Nathan Snape, Matthew J. Howlett, Matthew G. Dixon
  • Patent number: 9109810
    Abstract: This ventilation system (1), notably for a gas turbine, comprises at least one fan (2) opening into an air extraction duct (5). It comprises at least one device (6) for varying the pressure drop in the air extraction duct (5), comprising a means (8) of regulating the air flow rate in the air extraction duct (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: GE Energy Products France SNC
    Inventors: Pascal Dominiak, Joel Coudrieeau, Philippe Carles
  • Patent number: 9103298
    Abstract: A primary seal assembly for a variable area fan nozzle (VAFN) equipped turbofan engine includes a deformable seal and a seal retainer attached to the seal. The seal includes an inner wall and webs attached to the inner wall and extending transversely there-from. The inner wall and the webs extend circumferentially at least partially around a bypass duct of the turbofan engine. An inner surface of the inner wall interfaces with the VAFN when the VAFN is in the stowed position. The seal is compressed between the VAFN and the seal retainer when the VAFN is in the stowed position. And each of the webs is deformed into a non-planar configuration when the VAFN is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Kent Gormley
  • Patent number: 9097426
    Abstract: A lance is presented for introducing fuel into a second burner of a combustion chamber of a gas turbine installation with sequential combustion, having a first and a second combustion chamber. The lance includes a foot and a shank which projects from it. In an installed state of the lance the foot extends perpendicularly or at an angle to a main flow direction of the burner. The shank extends centrally in the burner and generally parallel to the main flow direction. At least one projecting arm, having at least one nozzle for introducing fuel, is arranged such that it extends from the shank. A respective end of the at least one arm is oriented in the main flow direction and extends generally parallel to the main flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Ernest Geoffrey Engelbrecht, Anurag Jhalani, Bettina Paikert, Richard Carroni, Michal Bialkowski, Madhavan Narasimhan Poyyapakkam
  • Patent number: 9097118
    Abstract: A gas turbine including a combustion chamber and a first row of guide vanes, arranged essentially directly downstream thereof, of a turbine. The outer and/or inner limitation of the combustion chamber defined by at least one outer and/or inner heat shield, mounted on at least one combustion chamber structure arranged radially outside and/or inside. The hot gases flow path in the region of the guide vane row being restricted radially on the outside and/or inside by an outer and/or inner vane platform, mounted at least indirectly on at least one turbine carrier. A minimal gap size directly upstream of the first row of guide vanes is achieved by mounting at least indirectly on the turbine carrier at least one mini heat shield, arranged upstream of the first row of guide vanes and essentially adjacent the vane platform and in the flow direction between the heat shield and the vane platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Martin Schnieder, Jörg Krückels, Uwe Rüdel, Christoph Appel, Urs Benz
  • Patent number: 9091211
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine includes supplying fuel via at least one control valve regulated using an open-loop control system based on a predetermined load setpoint value. A valve stroke control command (scmd) is generated based on a fuel mass flow control command (mcmd) using a mass flow-valve stroke converter. The valve stroke control command (scmd) is compared with a valve stroke limit value (min{slim1, slim2}) using a variable pressure regulator. A load limit value is generated if the valve stroke control command (scmd) exceeds the valve stroke limit value (min{slim1, slim2}) to reduce the load setpoint value. Operation of the gas turbine is stabilized using a low limit value (xlim) of a pressure drop ratio (x), wherein the pressure drop ratio (x) is a quotient of a pressure drop (dp) which occurs at the control valve and of a pressure (p1) upstream of the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Liedtke, Mengbin Zhang, Aysegul Kirecci, Ulf Schirmeister
  • Patent number: 9091206
    Abstract: The present application provides an inlet air fogging system for a gas turbine engine. The inlet air fogging system may include a fogging nozzle array and a fogging control system in communication with the fogging nozzle array. The fogging control system may include a droplet size measurement system and a humidity level measurement system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Rahul J. Chillar, Chayan Mitra, Julio Enrique Mestroni, Sandip Maity, Rachit Sharma
  • Patent number: 9086033
    Abstract: Propulsion systems and method for making a propulsion system include additively manufacturing a casing body into a single-piece structure having no bonded or bolted joints. The casing body defines a combustion chamber therein and is at least partially composed of a material useful as a solid rocket fuel and capable of being consumed during combustion. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Inventors: Matthew Dushku, Walter Holemans
  • Patent number: 9068748
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a radially inboard liner, a radially outboard liner, and a bulkhead that cooperatively define an annular combustion chamber, a plurality of first fuel injectors that are disposed in the bulkhead, and a plurality of second fuel injectors that are disposed in at least one of the inboard liner and the outboard liner aftward of the bulkhead. A method is also provided for operating the combustor of the gas turbine engine wherein fuel distribution between the forward combustion zone and the downstream combustion zone is selectively varied in response to the power operating mode of the gas turbine engine with an objective to control NOx formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: James B. Hoke
  • Patent number: 9057028
    Abstract: Described herein are gradual oxidation systems that receive and process solid, liquid, or gaseous fuels. The system can include a solid fuel gasifier that extracts and cleans gas fuel from a solid fuel. The system can also include a reaction chamber that receives the gas fuel and maintains a gradual oxidation process of the fuel. In some embodiments, liquids containing contaminants can be oxidized within the gradual oxidation chamber. Liquid fuels and gas fuels may be communicated to the oxidation chamber separately or in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: ENER-CORE POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Edan D. Prabhu
  • Patent number: 9057523
    Abstract: A combustor component of a gas turbine engine including a heat shield panel. The heat shield panel a defines microcircuit flow path within a thickness of said heat shield panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Timothy S. Snyder
  • Patent number: 9046002
    Abstract: An oil supply system for an aircraft engine, includes at least one oil circuit including an oil tank having a closing valve associated with an outlet opening of the oil tank into a suction line, an oil pump, and at least one consumer to be supplied oil via a pressure line. A negative pressure relief line having a shut-off valve is connected to the suction line for ensuring pressure relief in the suction line after shutdown. Via a diaphragm volume flow limiter alternatively incorporated into the relief line, the suction line can also be connected permanently to the pressure line. A negative pressure occurring in the suction line after shutdown of the engine when the closing valve is closed and the plastic deformation of the suction line as well as a reduction of the pump suction capacity are thus avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Christian Homeyer
  • Patent number: 9046270
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flameholder (1) for holding a flame (84) comprising a flow of combusting fluid. The flameholder (1) comprises an inlet (32) and an outlet (34) which defines a flow path between them. A magnetic-field generator (10, 20) is arranged to generate a magnetic field (40) across the flow path such that in use the fluid flows in the flow path through the magnetic field (40). As the fluid flows through the magnetic field an electric current is induced in the fluid. This results in a force (86) being generated on the fluid which opposes the flow direction (82). This force acts to hold the flame in place. If the flow path is in the form of a closed loop, in a plane perpendicular to the flow direction (82), then the current (50) induced in the fluid can flow in a closed loop entirely within the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Simon A. Weeks, Christopher G. Bright