Patents Examined by Rene Ford
  • Patent number: 9441545
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus is provided with a plurality of flow-rate regulating valves that regulate the flow rate of fuel flowing in a fuel supply line; a calculating section that calculates a required flow-rate coefficient on the basis of at least a fuel pressure in the fuel flow upstream of the flow-rate regulating valves, a pressure determined in advance as a fuel pressure downstream of the flow-rate regulating valves, and the flow rate of fuel to be supplied to one fuel nozzle among different kinds of fuel nozzles, the required flow-rate coefficient being the coefficient of the flow-rate regulating valve corresponding to the one fuel nozzle; and a valve control section that controls the degree-of-opening of the flow-rate regulating valve corresponding to the one fuel nozzle on the basis of the required flow-rate coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Shoichi Harada
  • Patent number: 9435536
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a gas turbine combustor that can suppress an increase in pressure loss while improving product reliability. The gas turbine combustor includes a combustor liner, an air transfer casing installed on the outer circumference of the combustor liner, the combustor liner and the air transfer casing defining an annular passage therebetween adapted to allow a heat-transfer medium to flow therethrough, and a plurality of vortex generating devices disposed on an inside surface of the air transfer casing, the vortex generating devices generating longitudinal vortices each having a rotational axis extending in a flow direction of a heat-transfer medium. The plurality of vortex generating devices are arranged in paired manner, with each pair of devices generating vortices having rotational directions opposed to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osami Yokota, Tomomi Koganezawa, Shohei Numata, Shohei Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9429069
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an open brayton bottoming cycle includes a heat exchanger configured between a compressor and an expander. The heat exchanger is configured to receive heat from a heat source and supply at least a portion of the exhaust heat to an expander using a fluid. The compressor configured to supply compressed fluid to the heat exchanger. The expander has a shaft connected to the compressor and configured to supply energy to the compressor. At least one of the compressor or the expander has an efficiency greater than 80 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: StarRotor Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Price, Mark T. Holtzapple
  • Patent number: 9423129
    Abstract: A combustor adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The combustor includes a metallic shell forming a cavity and a ceramic liner arranged in the cavity of the metallic shell. The ceramic liner defines a combustion chamber in which fuel is burned during operation of a gas turbine engine. The ceramic liner includes a plurality of ceramic tiles mounted to the metallic shell and arranged to shield the metallic shell from heat generated in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Charles B Graves, William G Cummings, III, Russell N Bennett, Jun Shi
  • Patent number: 9404393
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant in which a gas turbine engine generates power, a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) produces steam from high energy fluids produced from the generation of power in the gas turbine engine and a steam turbine engine generates additional power from the steam produced in the HRSG. The combined cycle power plant includes a heating element fluidly interposed between the steam turbine engine and the HRSG to heat fluid output from the steam turbine engine, which is to be fed to the HRSG and a control system to control an amount the fluid output from the steam turbine engine is heated by the heating element based on differences between HRSG and ambient temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Raymond Pang, Raub Warfield Smith
  • Patent number: 9388988
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor cap assembly (24) including a pre-mix tube (42, 44) with an upstream flange (60, 62) that aligns and seats the tube against a primary feed plate (66) attached to an upstream end of a support ring (48). The pre-mix tube may have an intermediate flange (64) at an intermediate position on the length of the tube that aligns and seats the tube against an intermediate structural frame (68) attached to the support ring at an intermediate position on the length of the support ring. The combustor cap assembly (24) may have multiple pre-mix tubes, including a central pre-mix tube (44) with upstream (62) and intermediate (64) flanges and a circular array of outer pre-mix tubes (44) with at least an upstream flange (64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Moehrle, Luis Estrada, Jeremy Lefler, Martin Konen
  • Patent number: 9382814
    Abstract: A device for connecting a thrust reverser front frame to a fan casing includes a crenulated flange secured to the front frame, an annular component to accept this flange secured to the fan casing, and a crenulated annulus of a shape that complements the flange and pivot-mounted on the annular component. The crenulated flange, the annular component and the crenulated annulus are designed in such a way that a rotation of the annulus with respect to the annular component has the effect of locking this flange against this annular component through the collaboration between the respective crenulations of the flange and of the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: AIRCELLE
    Inventors: Serge Bunel, Vincent Peyron, Hazem Kioua, Jerome Lescure
  • Patent number: 9376960
    Abstract: A heat transfer augmented channel wall includes a bulk portion, a wall surface and a plurality of multi-portion indented features extending from the wall surface into the bulk portion. The multi-portion indented features include a first indented portion and a second indented portion that are divided by a ridge which disrupts fluid flow between first and second indented portions. The ridge has a height that is less than a maximum depth of the multi-portion indented features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Carson D. Slabaugh, Jayanta S. Kapat
  • Patent number: 9376963
    Abstract: A tuning process is provided for dynamically tuning a gas-turbine (GT) engine to correct for flashback events without directly measuring occurrences of the flashback events at the GT engine. Initially, readings are taken that measure low-frequency dynamics at the GT engine. A determination of whether flashback criteria are met by an instantaneous signal that quantifies a detected spike within the measured low-frequency dynamics is carried out, where the flashback criteria include the following: identifying the spike overcomes a multiple of an average of the low-frequency dynamics measured over a predefined period of time; and identifying the spike overcomes a preestablished minimum amplitude. Upon the spike meeting the flashback criteria, a count is added to a running record of spikes, which is compared to an alarm limit. If the alarm limit is triggered, action(s) are invoked to address the flashback events, such as adjusting fuel-flow splits of the GT engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Sumit Soni, Donald Gauthier, Hany Rizkalla, Khalid Oumejjoud, Peter Stuttaford
  • Patent number: 9353691
    Abstract: A fuel routing system of a gas turbine engine includes a primary fuel circuit in communication with a fuel source and a fuel distribution manifold. Also included is a secondary fuel circuit extending from the primary fuel circuit to a plurality of fuel nozzles configured to direct fuel to a plurality of combustor chambers. Further included is a main fuel flow control valve disposed in the primary fuel circuit for restricting a fuel flow to the fuel distribution manifold upon removal of an electrical load operably coupled to the gas turbine engine. Yet further included is a plurality of check valves disposed between the secondary fuel circuit and the primary fuel circuit for restricting the fuel flow between the secondary fuel circuit and the primary fuel circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Arthur Simmons, William Randolph Shinkle
  • Patent number: 9341118
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component is disclosed having a construction that permits a working fluid to flow from one side of the component to the other. In one embodiment the construction includes multiple layers, and in one particular embodiment the construction includes three layers. One or more layers can have different properties. Additionally, one or more layers of the construction can include a cellular structure. In one embodiment the component is a gas turbine engine combustor liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip M. Bastnagel, Edward Claude Rice
  • Patent number: 9334803
    Abstract: A method of recovering heat energy from a cooling medium used to cool hot gas path components in a turbine engine includes cooling one or more hot gas path components with the cooling medium; supplying spent cooling medium used to cool the one or more hot gas path components to a heat exchanger; supplying air (e.g., compressor discharge air) to the heat exchanger so as to be in heat exchange relationship with the spent cooling medium and thereby add heat to the compressor discharge air; and supplying the air heated in the heat exchanger to at least one combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Charles Intile, Kevin Richard Kirtley
  • Patent number: 9328663
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine and method for operating a gas turbine engine includes compressing an air stream in a compressor and generating a post combustion gas by combusting a compressed air stream exiting from the compressor in a combustor. The post combustion gas is expanded in a first turbine. The expanded combustion gas exiting from the first turbine is split into a first stream, a second stream and a third stream. The first stream of the expanded combustion gas is combusted in a reheat combustor. An outer liner and flame stabilizer of the reheat combustor are cooled using the second stream of the expanded combustion gas. An inner liner of the reheat combustor is cooled using the third stream of the expanded combustion gas and a portion of the second stream of the expanded combustion gas passing through the one or more flame stabilizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ronald Scott Bunker
  • Patent number: 9309775
    Abstract: A debris discourager for a gas turbine engine is rotatable about an engine axis and extends between a fore end and an aft end. A portion of the debris discourager includes a non-uniform surface that generates a wind flow to prevent debris from entering a sealed interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Jacob Peter Mastro
  • Patent number: 9309809
    Abstract: Additive manufacturing techniques may be utilized to construct effusion plates. Such additive manufacturing techniques may include defining a configuration for an effusion plate having one or more internal cooling channels. The manufacturing techniques may further include depositing a powder into a chamber, applying an energy source to the deposited powder, and consolidating the powder into a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the defined configuration. Such methods may be implemented to construct an effusion plate having one or more channels with a curved cross-sectional geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Christopher Paul Keener, Heath Michael Ostebee, Daniel Gerritt Wegerif
  • Patent number: 9309810
    Abstract: A system for converting gaseous fuel into liquid fuel is provided. The system may have a combustor configured to receive a supply of gaseous fuel. The system may also have a gas compressor configured to direct gaseous fuel from the supply into the combustor. The system may also have an air compressor configured to direct compressed air into the combustor, and a turbine in fluid communication with an outlet of the combustor. The turbine may be connected to drive the gas compressor and the air compressor. The system may also have at least one heat exchanger in fluid communication with an outlet of the gas compressor and an outlet of the air compressor. The system may also have at least one expander in fluid communication with an outlet of the at least one heat exchanger. The system may also have a condenser in fluid communication with an outlet of the at least one expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Foege
  • Patent number: 9303564
    Abstract: The present application provides a fuel delivery system for a combustor with reduced coherence and/or reduced combustion dynamics. The combustor can assembly may include a first manifold for delivering a first flow of fuel to a first set of fuel injectors and a second manifold for delivering a second flow of fuel to a second set of fuel injectors. The first flow of fuel may have a first temperature and the second flow of fuel may have a second temperature. The first temperature may be higher than the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Christan Xavier Stevenson, David Leach
  • Patent number: 9297531
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes an air inlet, a combustor, an exhaust and first and second measurement devices. A plurality of fuel supply lines is provided to the at least one combustor. The first measurement device measures an amount of a gas in the air inlet. The second measurement device measures an amount of the gas in the exhaust. A control unit varies the fuel supply in the plurality of fuel supply lines so as to control the amount of the gas in the exhaust. The variation is made in dependence upon both the measured amount of the gas in the air inlet and the measured amount of the gas in the exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Robert Pearce
  • Patent number: 9297535
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle includes an inner wall defining a central passage extending in an axial direction of the fuel nozzle, a hub wall surrounding the inner wall and defining a first annular passage, an outer wall surrounding the hub wall and defining a second annular passage, and a shroud surrounding the outer wall and defining a third annular passage. A swirler may receive air and direct the air into the first annular passage. The swirler includes at least one swirl vane extending from the shroud to the hub wall that has an air passage extending between the shroud and the hub wall. The air passage is coupled to the first annular passage and has a first width adjacent the shroud and a second width adjacent the hub wall. The second width is larger than the first width defining a diverging outlet into the first annular passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Bryan Wesley Romig, Yon Han Chong
  • Patent number: 9297266
    Abstract: An example method of sealing an interface within a gas turbine engine includes holding a sealing ring arrangement relative to a turbine nozzle using a flange extending from a combustor liner. The method further includes urging the sealing ring arrangement toward a sealed relationship with the turbine nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David Ronald Adair, Walter Ernest Ainslie, Gordon F. Jewess, Anthony C. Jones, Eric J. Alexander