Patents by Inventor Aaron John Avagliano

Aaron John Avagliano has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9879191
    Abstract: A method of start-up for a gasification system includes establishing a flow of a start-up fuel external to the gasifier prior to ignition of the gasifier. The method also includes establishing a start-up liquid feed external to the gasifier during gasifier start-up. The method further includes channeling the start-up liquid feed and the start-up fuel to the gasifier during gasifier start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Aaron John Avagliano, John Saunders Stevenson, John Duckett Winter
  • Publication number: 20150175913
    Abstract: A method of start-up for a gasification system includes establishing a flow of a start-up fuel external to the gasifier prior to ignition of the gasifier. The method also includes establishing a start-up liquid feed external to the gasifier during gasifier start-up. The method further includes channeling the start-up liquid feed and the start-up fuel to the gasifier during gasifier start-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Aaron John Avagliano, John Saunders Stevenson, John Duckett Winter
  • Patent number: 9003764
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine that includes a compressor section configured to generate compressed air and a combustor coupled to the compressor section. The combustor is configured to combust a first mixture comprising the compressed air and a first fuel to generate a first combustion gas. The gas turbine engine also includes a turbine section coupled to the combustor. The turbine section is configured to expand the first combustion gas to generate an exhaust gas. The gas turbine engine also includes a boiler coupled to the turbine section. The boiler is configured to combust a second mixture comprising a portion of the first combustion gas and a second fuel to generate a second combustion gas that is routed to the turbine section. In addition, the boiler generates a first steam from heat exchange with the second combustion gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pradeep Stanley Thacker, Aaron John Avagliano
  • Patent number: 8986403
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a gasification system component, such as a quench unit or scrubber may retain of pool of a cooling fluid for cooling another fluid. The gasification system component includes a flow damping mechanism designed to dampen flow of the cooling fluid, the other fluid, or both, within the gasification system component. The flow damping mechanism may be disposed in an inner chamber formed between a dip tube and a draft tube or disposed in an outer chamber formed between the walls of the gasification system component and the draft tube. The flow damping mechanism also may be disposed between the inner chamber and the outer chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Helge B. Klockow, James Michael Storey, Aaron John Avagliano, Guoqing Wang, Gary Dwayne Mandrusiak, Karl Hardcastle, Scott Parent, Prashant Tiwari, Gregory Laskowski, Judeth Brannon Corry, Constantin Dinu
  • Patent number: 8951314
    Abstract: A fuel feed system for use in a gasification system includes a feed preparation section, a pressurization and conveyance section, and a slag additive section. The feed preparation section is configured to grind the fuel to a predetermined size and to adjust the moisture content within the particulate fuel. The pressurization and conveyance section is coupled in flow communication with the feed preparation section, and includes at least one solids pump configured to receive a flow of the particulate fuel at a first pressure and discharge the particulate fuel at a second pressure. The slag additive section is configured to feed a slag additive mixture into the gasifier and to substantially control the total water content within the gasification system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Aaron John Avagliano, John Saunders Stevenson, John Duckett Winter
  • Patent number: 8858660
    Abstract: A throat plug for a gasifier vessel includes at least one first cavity being receptive to at least one device located in the at least one first cavity, and at least one second cavity being receptive to a fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Monty Lee Harned, Aaron John Avagliano, Shashishekara Sitharamarao Talya, Kevin Michael Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20140259882
    Abstract: The disclosures described herein provide for a gasification feedstock which includes a mixture of a solid feedstock with a liquid feedstock. The solid feedstock includes a heating value of less than approximately 20 Megajoules/kilogram (MJ/kg), expressed on a wet basis. The non-aqueous liquid feedstock includes a heating value of greater than approximately 14 MJ/kg, expressed on a wet basis. The resulting feedstock is useful as a gasification fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Julio Zimbron Nieto, Scott Parent, Aaron John Avagliano
  • Patent number: 8764860
    Abstract: A system includes a gasification vessel configured to receive a fuel and an oxidizer. The system also includes a gasifier disposed in the gasification vessel. The gasifier is configured to partially oxidize the fuel and the oxidizer to generate a syngas. The system further includes a convective syngas cooler configured to cool the syngas via heat exchange with a coolant. The convective syngas cooler is disposed in an interior of the gasification vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron John Avagliano, James Michael Storey
  • Patent number: 8722003
    Abstract: A system and method of capturing carbon dioxide from a flow of raw synthesis gas generated in a gasification system are provided. The carbon capture system includes an acid gas removal subsystem configured to generate a flow of reduced acid gas content syngas, a flow of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) lean gas, and a first flow of H2S-rich gas from a stream of particulate-free raw syngas, an H2S selective membrane separator, said H2S selective membrane separator configured to separate the flow of H2S-lean gas from the AGR into a second flow of H2S-rich gas and a flow of CO2 gas, and a sulfur recovery unit (SRU) coupled in flow communication with said H2S membrane separator downstream of said membrane separator, said SRU configured to generate a flow of elemental sulfur and a flow of tail gas from the first flow of H2S-rich gas and the second flow of H2S-rich gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron John Avagliano, John Saunders Stevenson
  • Patent number: 8673034
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a gasifier system are provided. The gasifier system includes a gasifier including a syngas cooler configured to transfer heat from a reaction zone of the gasifier to a flow of fluid through the syngas cooler, a reaction vessel coupled in flow communication with the syngas cooler wherein the reaction vessel is adapted to receive the flow of fluid and generate heat in an exothermic shift reaction. The system also includes a heat exchanger coupled in flow communication with the reaction vessel, the heat exchanger adapted to produce relatively high pressure steam using the generated heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron John Avagliano, Paul Steven Wallace
  • Publication number: 20140048744
    Abstract: A system includes a gasification vessel configured to receive a fuel and an oxidizer. The system also includes a gasifier disposed in the gasification vessel. The gasifier is configured to partially oxidize the fuel and the oxidizer to generate a syngas. The system further includes a convective syngas cooler configured to cool the syngas via heat exchange with a coolant. The convective syngas cooler is disposed in an interior of the gasification vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron John Avagliano, James Michael Storey
  • Patent number: 8651772
    Abstract: A method for transporting a solid particulate within a gasifier system is provided. The method includes discharging solid particulate through an inlet into an opening defined within a rotor, wherein the inlet and the solid particulate are at a first pressure. The method further includes rotating the rotor such that at least one end of the opening is aligned in flow communication with a duct at a second pressure that is different from the first pressure. The solid particulate is discharged from the rotor opening through an outlet such that the solid particulate is at the second pressure, and the rotor is rotated such that at least one end of the rotor opening is aligned in flow communication with a pressure source that is at approximately the first pressure, and such that the opening is at the first pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jyung-Hoon Kim, John Saunders Stevenson, Steven Craig Russell, Aaron John Avagliano
  • Patent number: 8649911
    Abstract: A technique is provided for operating a wind farm at increased rated power output. The technique includes sensing a plurality of operating parameters of the wind turbine generator, assessing the plurality of operating parameters with respect to respective design ratings for the operating parameters, and intermittently increasing a rated power output of the wind turbine generator based upon the assessment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron John Avagliano, Ralph Teichmann, Kirk Gee Pierce, Paul David Hopewell, Ameet Shridhar Deshpande, Sukru Alper Eker
  • Publication number: 20130152598
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine that includes a compressor section configured to generate compressed air and a combustor coupled to the compressor section. The combustor is configured to combust a first mixture comprising the compressed air and a first fuel to generate a first combustion gas. The gas turbine engine also includes a turbine section coupled to the combustor. The turbine section is configured to expand the first combustion gas to generate an exhaust gas. The gas turbine engine also includes a boiler coupled to the turbine section. The boiler is configured to combust a second mixture comprising a portion of the first combustion gas and a second fuel to generate a second combustion gas that is routed to the turbine section. In addition, the boiler generates a first steam from heat exchange with the second combustion gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Pradeep Stanley Thacker, Aaron John Avagliano
  • Patent number: 8434700
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a feed injector are provided. The feed injector system includes a plurality of annular channels that are substantially concentric about a longitudinal axis. The plurality of annular channels direct a flow of fluid substantially axially therethrough from a respective source to a reaction zone. The feed injector system also includes a swirl member extending into the fluid flow path defined in at least one of the plurality of annular channels wherein the swirl member is configured to impart a circumferential flow direction to fluid flowing through the at least one annular channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Cliff Yi Guo, John Saunders Stevenson, Dustin Wayne Davis, Aaron John Avagliano
  • Patent number: 8424877
    Abstract: A method and systems for a purged seal for an annular space are provided. The purged seal includes a first baffle element that extends from an inner surface of the annular space into the annular space at an oblique angle and a second baffle element that extends from an outer surface of the annular space above the first baffle element in a direction opposite gravity flow into the annular space wherein the second baffle element extends at an oblique angle. The system also includes a third baffle element that extends from the inner surface above the first baffle element in a direction of gravity flow into the annular space wherein the third baffle element extends into the annular space at an oblique angle with respect to the inner surface and wherein a distal end of the third baffle element is positioned proximate a distal end of the second baffle element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Constantin Dinu, James Michael Storey, Aaron John Avagliano, Douglas S. Byrd, Shaoping Shi, Judeth Brannon Corry, Allyson Joy Jimenez Huyke
  • Patent number: 8376034
    Abstract: A method of assembling a radiant cooler includes providing a vessel shell that defines a gas flow passage therein that extends generally axially through the vessel shell, forming a tube cage from coupling a plurality of cooling tubes together to form a tube cage defined by a plurality of chevron-shaped projections that extend circumferentially about a center axis of the tube cage, each chevron-shaped projection includes a first side and a second side coupled together a tip, circumferentially-adjacent pairs of projections coupled together such that a valley is defined between each pair of circumferentially-spaced projections, each of the projection tips is positioned radially outward from each of the valleys, and orienting the tube cage within the vessel shell such that the tube cage is in flow communication with the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Aaron John Avagliano, Ashley Nicole Gerbode, John Battaglioli
  • Patent number: 8240366
    Abstract: A method of assembling a radiant cooler is provided. The method includes providing a vessel shell that includes a gas flow passage defined therein that extends generally axially through the vessel shell, coupling a plurality of cooling tubes and a plurality of downcomers together to form a tube cage wherein at least one of the plurality of cooling tubes is positioned circumferentially between a pair of circumferentially-adjacent spaced-apart downcomers, and orienting the tube cage within the vessel shell such that the tube cage is in flow communication with the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Aaron John Avagliano, Ashley Nicole Gerbode, Fulton Jose Lopez, Lien-Yan (Tom) Chen, Judeth Helen Brannon Corry
  • Patent number: 8227078
    Abstract: A coating for use in combustion systems includes a plurality of refractory metal particles in a ceramic, glass or metal matrix disposed on surfaces of the system that are prone to slag, ash, and/or char buildup during operation of the combustion system. The coating is effective to prevent any substantial interaction with the slag, ash, and/or char.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Martin Mathew Morra, Aaron John Avagliano, Wei Chen, Kristopher John Frutschy, Monty L. Harned, Shashishekara S. Talya, James Michael Storey
  • Patent number: 8197564
    Abstract: A method of assembling a synthesis gas (syngas) cooler for a gasification system includes positioning a dip tube within a shell of the syngas cooler. The dip tube is configured to quench the syngas flowing through the shell and/or at least partially channel the syngas through the dip tube. The method also includes coupling an isolation tube to the dip tube such that the isolation tube is substantially concentrically aligned with, and radially outward of, the dip tube. The isolation tube is coupled in flow communication with a purge gas source and is configured to at least partially form a dynamic pressure seal. The method further includes coupling at least one of the isolation tube and the dip tube in fluid communication with a fluid retention chamber. The method also include at least partially filling the fluid retention chamber with fluid, thereby further forming the dynamic pressure seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Allyson Joy Jimenez-Huyke, James Michael Storey, John Saunders Stevenson, Aaron John Avagliano, Thomas Frederick Leininger, Judeth Brannon Corry