Patents Examined by Scott Walthour
  • Patent number: 9995245
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a mixer for a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes forming a forward end and an aft end of the mixer, and forming an annularly undulating contour that defines a plurality of core immersion lobes and a plurality of bypass immersion lobes between the forward end and the aft end. The plurality of bypass immersion lobes includes a first bypass immersion lobe and a second bypass immersion lobe. The first bypass immersion lobe has a first crown contour line extending from the forward end to the aft end of the mixer, and the second bypass immersion lobe has a second crown contour line extending from the forward end to the aft end of the mixer. The first crown contour line is different than the second crown contour line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mustafa Dindar, Vaughn Ray Kunze
  • Patent number: 9989253
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustion instability control device has a combustion unit provided with a hollow combustion chamber, a gas turbine connected to the inside of the combustion chamber and a dynamic pressure sensor which is provided to the inside of the combustion chamber and measures the combustion dynamics of the inside of the combustion chamber; a diagnosis module which processes combustion dynamic pressure signals (p) according to the combustion dynamics measured by the dynamic pressure sensor to calculate the kurtosis value (k) of the dynamic pressure signals, and compares the same with a kurtosis reference value (kth) to evaluate the combustion instability; and a combustion control unit for controlling the operation of the combustion part according to the determination of the diagnosis module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignees: Hanbat National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Jin Cha, Won Joon Song, Kwang Ho Ahn, Gwang Nyeon Ryu
  • Patent number: 9982630
    Abstract: A cooler assembly disposed in and cooled by an air stream according to one embodiment includes a cooler matrix and a fairing. The fairing assembly is disposed generally around the cooler matrix and includes side fairing-housings, first and second side fairing-housings being joined to one another at respective leading and trailing edges, the leading edges partially defining a cooler inlet and the trailing edges partially defining a cooler outlet, the first and second side fairing-housing trailing edges angled transversely toward each other to define a trapezoidal shape for the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Remo Marini, Roberto Marrano, Adam Trumpour
  • Patent number: 9982890
    Abstract: A combustor heat shield has lips with fins distributed on the lips. The lip-fins have an extended end portion projecting rearwardly from the back face of the heat shield. Impingement jets may be directed against the rearwardly extended end portions of the lip-fins to enhance cooling. The heat shield may define a fuel nozzle opening surrounded by a rail on the back side of the heat shield. Impingement holes or slots may be defined in the rail for allowing cooling air passing therethrough to impinge upon the lip-fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Michael Papple, Robert Sze, Sri Sreekanth
  • Patent number: 9976744
    Abstract: A reheat burner arrangement including a center body, an annular duct with a cross-section area, an intermediate fuel injection plane located along the center body and being actively connected to the cross section area of the annular duct, wherein the center body is located upstream of a combustion chamber, wherein the structure of the reheat burner arrangement is defined by various parameters and the structure of the reheat burner arrangement is defined by various dependencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: John Philip Wood, Andrea Ciani, Andre Theuer, Douglas Anthony Pennell, Ewald Freitag
  • Patent number: 9945561
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor part of a gas turbine includes a wall, containing a plurality of near wall cooling channels extending essentially parallel to each other in a first direction within the wall in close vicinity to the hot side and being arranged in at least one row extending in a second direction. The near wall cooling channels are each provided at one end with an inlet for the supply of cooling air, and on the other end with an outlet for the discharge of cooling air. The inlets open into a common feeding channel for cooling air supply, and the outlets open into a common discharge channel for cooling air discharge. The feeding channel and the discharge channel extend in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Adnan Eroglu, Michael Thomas Maurer, Diane Lauffer
  • Patent number: 9939154
    Abstract: A combustor having U-shaped cooling channels is disclosed. The combustor may include a shell having an impingement hole, a liner spaced from the shell and having an effusion hole; a first partition spanning between the shell and the liner, a second partition spaced from the first partition and spanning between the shell and the liner; and a U-shaped channel defined between the shell and the liner and defined in part by the wall, the channel having upstream and downstream ends both adjacent the first partition and separated by the wall, wherein the impingement hole communicates with the upstream end and the effusion hole communicates with the downstream end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Frank J. Cunha
  • Patent number: 9933164
    Abstract: An annular combustion chamber (10) for a turbomachine (100), the combustion chamber presenting an axial direction (X), a radial direction, and an azimuth direction, and comprising a first annular wall (12) and a second annular wall (14), each wall delimiting at least a portion of the volume of the annular combustion chamber (10), the first and second walls (12, 14) presenting complementary fitting elements (12d, 14d), the first wall (12) presenting at least one first through hole (12f), while the second wall (14) presents at least one second through hole (14f), the combustion chamber (10) also having at least one pin (18) engaged in a pair of holes comprising a first hole (12f) and a second hole (14f), said pin (18) locking the fitting of the first and second walls (12, 14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Safran Helicopter Engines
    Inventors: Nicolas Savary, Patrick Berteau, Bernard Carrere, Jean-Marc Dubourdieu, Ludovic Naudot
  • Patent number: 9933336
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a fuel leakage in the fuel distribution system between a fuel control valve and at least one burner of a gas turbine during the operation of the gas turbine. In order to detect a fuel leakage, the fuel consumption is approximated in accordance with the mechanical power of the gas turbine, the fuel amount fed to the fuel distribution system is determined, and the leakage flow is determined from the difference between the fed fuel amount and the fuel consumption. The invention further relates to a gas turbine for performing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Mengbin Zhang, Klaus-Dieter Liedtke, Wenceslao Granados Gomez
  • Patent number: 9920639
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustion chamber is provided, including a flow sleeve structure with an improved anti-vibration performance. A gas turbine combustion chamber of the present invention includes a liner, a transition piece, and a flow sleeve including a plurality of segments and integrated by welding a tie piece along joint portions of the segments. The tie piece includes a first member and a second member, the first member continuously extending along a longitudinal direction of the joint portions of the segments and being arranged to cover the joint portions, and the second member being formed at an end portion of the first member, having a width wider than the first member, and including a recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Sekihara, Kunihiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9920696
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine (11) having a compressor (12), a turbine (14) and a combustor (13) with a pilot burner group (15a), a rich premix burner group (15b) and a lean premix burner group (15c), under changing composition of the incoming fuel gas (16), includes the steps of: continuously measuring, in real time, the composition of the fuel gas (16); and controlling the operation of the gas turbine (11) and the combustion of the burners (15a-c) by using the real time fuel gas composition measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Norbert Walter Emberger, Pankaj Bajaj, Michael Kenyon, Frank Keppler, Tobias Christian Amsler, Mengbin Zhang, Zlatko Pavlic
  • Patent number: 9915201
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is disclosed which includes a bypass passage that in some embodiments are capable of being configured to act as a resonance space. The resonance space can be used to attenuate/accentuate/etc a noise produced elsewhere. The bypass passage can be configured in a number of ways to form the resonance space. For example, the space can have any variety of geometries, configurations, etc. In one non-limiting form the resonance space can attenuate a noise forward of the bypass duct. In another non-limiting form the resonance space can attenuate a noise aft of the bypass duct. Any number of variations is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Abraham Karam, Craig Heathco, Andrew Eifert
  • Patent number: 9909533
    Abstract: A pulsed detonation engine may include a detonation tube for receiving fuel and an oxidizer to be detonated therein, one or more fuel-oxidizer injectors for injecting the fuel and oxidizer into the detonation tube, one or more purge air injectors for injecting purge air into the detonation tube for purging the detonation tube, and an ignition for igniting the fuel and oxidizer in the detonation tube so as to initiate detonation thereof. The detonation tube has an upstream end, a downstream end, and an axially extended portion extending from the upstream end to the downstream end and having a perimeter. The fuel-oxidizer injectors and purge air injectors may be disposed at least along the axially extended portion. The ignition may include a plurality of igniters disposed at or near the perimeter of the axially extended portion, spaced about the perimeter, at or near the upstream end of the detonation tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Frank K. Lu, Donald R Wilson
  • Patent number: 9897004
    Abstract: A device for discharging oil from an oil chamber located in a downstream part of a gas turbine engine, the device including: a mechanism discharging at least part of the oil contained in the chamber to exterior of the engine; and a drive mechanism for driving the oil, which allows passage of an air flow that assists in driving the discharge of the oil to the exterior of the engine. The drive mechanism includes: a ventilation port in the downstream part of the engine, such that the oil passes through the ventilation port; and a guide element arranged such that, after the oil has passed through the ventilation port, the oil is directed towards a downstream bleed area of the low-pressure turbine. A turbomachine can include such an oil discharge device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Amandine Roche, Jacques Rene Bart, Gerard Philippe Gauthier
  • Patent number: 9890954
    Abstract: A combustor cap assembly includes an impingement plate coupled to an annular shroud and a cap plate which is coupled to the impingement plate and forms an impingement air plenum therebetween. The cap assembly further includes a flow conditioning plate which is coupled to a forward end portion of the shroud. The flow conditioning plate includes an inner band portion, an outer band portion and an annular portion which extends radially therebetween. The annular portion includes upstream side, a downstream side and a plurality of flow conditioning passages which provide for fluid communication through the upstream and downstream sides. The inner band portion of the flow conditioning plate at least partially defines an exhaust channel. The exhaust channel is in fluid communication with the impingement air plenum and an exhaust outlet. The exhaust outlet is positioned to route cooling air from the impingement air plenum into an annular flow passage defined within a combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: William Francis Carnell, Jr., Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, Jonathan Hale Kegley, Yon Han Chong
  • Patent number: 9885481
    Abstract: The invention refers to a sequential combustor arrangement including a first burner, a first combustion chamber, a dilution burner for admixing a dilution gas and a second fuel via a dilution-gas-fuel-admixer to the first combustor combustion products. The dilution-gas-fuel-admixer has at least one streamlined body which is arranged in the dilution burner for introducing the at least one second fuel into the dilution burner through at least one fuel nozzle, and which has a streamlined cross-sectional profile and which extends with a longitudinal direction perpendicularly or at an inclination to a main flow direction prevailing in the dilution burner. The streamlined body includes a dilution gas opening for admixing dilution gas into the first combustor combustion products upstream of the at least one fuel nozzle. The disclosure further refers to a method for operating a gas turbine with such a sequential combustor arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventor: Michael Duesing
  • Patent number: 9885284
    Abstract: A turbojet comprising a high-pressure compressor with several compression stages in which the pressure rises in a direction of air flow, from a low pressure to a high pressure, passing through intermediate pressures, and a system to bleed air in the turbojet and deliver the air to an air system. The bleeding system comprises a first air intake to bleed air at low pressure, a second air intake to bleed air at an intermediate pressure, a first valve and a second valve having inlets connected to the first air intake, a compressor having an inlet connected to the second valve outlet, a high-pressure valve connected to the second air intake, and a control valve connected to the air system, and a controller to control the opening and closing of the valves depending on the pressures at the first and second air intakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventors: Olivier Pelagatti, Thomas Deguin, Ronan Bodet
  • Patent number: 9885480
    Abstract: A combustion chamber of a combustor for a gas turbine is provided. A combustion chamber includes a plurality of segments arranged annularly about an axis of the combustion chamber, each segment comprising a radial inner wall portion and a radial outer wall portion, a first section comprising an opening for the installation of a burner, and a second section at which at least one airfoil extends between the radial inner wall portion and radial outer wall portion of the segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Magnus Hasselqvist, Frank Rubensdorffer
  • Patent number: 9879603
    Abstract: This invention concerns a system for cooling components in a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine including a compressor for driving a primary gas flow to a combustor and a turbine arranged to be driven by combustion gases from the combustor, wherein the system includes: an annular cooling flow passage arranged for fluid communication between the compressor and the turbine, the flow passage having a first inlet arranged to receive gas from the primary gas flow downstream of compressor, and a second inlet located upstream of the first inlet, wherein the annular cooling flow passage has at least one internal wall for guiding airflow from the first inlet towards the airflow from the second inlet, the airflow from the first and second inlets coalesce within the annular flow passage prior to passing along the passage in a direction from the compressor to the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Alan Robert Maguire, Timothy John Scanlon, Colin Young
  • Patent number: 9869246
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine power plant, and a gas turbine power plant in which fresh air is delivered to a compressor inlet and is accelerated in the compressor inlet and a recirculated first exhaust gas substream is delivered into a region of the compressor inlet in which the fresh air is accelerated to an extent such that the difference between total pressure and static pressure in the fresh air is greater than or equal to a pressure difference which is required in order to suck a target mass flow of the recirculated first exhaust gas substream into the compressor inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Eribert Benz, Jaan Hellat, Hans Wettstein, Robin Payne