Patents by Inventor Constantin Dinu

Constantin Dinu 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).

  • Publication number: 20100199675
    Abstract: An injector includes a surface and an injector hole formed in the surface. The injector also includes a groove formed in the surface, the groove surrounding the injector hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Constantin Dinu, Mahesh Bathina, Ramanand Singh
  • Publication number: 20100170266
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes determining a first heating value of a low BTU fuel, determining a target fuel quality level based on a state of a turbine system, controlling a second heating value of a high BTU fuel, and injecting the high BTU fuel into the low BTU fuel to achieve the target fuel quality level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Constantin Dinu, Gilbert Kraemer, Geoffrey D. Myers
  • Publication number: 20090241505
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes a turbine section having a first turbine portion and a second turbine portion arranged along a central axis. A re-heat combustor is arranged between the first and second turbine portions. The re-heat combustor includes a combustion duct having a curvilinear flow portion. The curvilinear flow portion provides an increased residence time of combustion products passing through the re-heat combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Constantin Dinu
  • Publication number: 20090183511
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel nozzle for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a nozzle inlet, a combustion area and a swirler disposed between the nozzle inlet and combustion area. The swirler includes a plurality of swirler vanes, each swirler vane capable of creating a pressure difference in fluid flow through the swirler between a pressure side and suction side of the swirler vane. The swirler further includes at least one through airflow hole located in at least one swirler vane of the plurality of swirler vanes. The at least one through airflow hole is capable of utilizing the pressure difference between the pressure side and suction side to promote fluid flow through the at least one airflow hole. Also disclosed is a method for operating a combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Constantin Dinu
  • Patent number: 7509808
    Abstract: A gas fuel injector includes a first header plate, a second header plate, and a plurality of venturi tubes. The second header plate is spaced downstream from the first header plate. The plurality of venturi tubes is sealably secured to the first and second header plates. Each venturi tube of the plurality of venturi tubes is defined by a plurality of fixable components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James M Storey, Constantin Dinu
  • Publication number: 20090051167
    Abstract: A land based gas turbine apparatus includes an integral compressor; a turbine component having a combustor to which air from the integral compressor and fuel are supplied; and a generator operatively connected to the turbine for generating electricity; wherein hot gas path component parts in the turbine component are cooled entirely or at least partially by cooling air or other cooling media supplied by an external compressor. A method is also provided which includes the steps of supplying compressed air to the combustor from the integral compressor; and supplying at least a portion of the cooling air or other cooling media to the hot gas path parts in the turbine component from an external compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Constantin A. Dinu
  • Publication number: 20060213178
    Abstract: A gas fuel injector includes a first header plate, a second header plate, and a plurality of venturi tubes. The second header plate is spaced downstream from the first header plate. The plurality of venturi tubes is sealably secured to the first and second header plates. Each venturi tube of the plurality of venturi tubes is defined by a plurality of fixable components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Storey, Constantin Dinu
  • Patent number: 7093438
    Abstract: A gas fuel injector includes a first header plate; a second header plate spaced downstream from the upstream header plate; and a plurality of venturi tubes arranged in rows and sealably secured to the first and second header plates. Each of the venturi tubes includes an inlet section, a throat section and an exit. The exit is shaped into a pattern that reduces space between each of the venturi tubes at the exit of each of the plurality of venturi tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Constantin Dinu, Thomas Raymond Farrell, Kevin M. Gordon, James Michael Storey, Krishna Kumar Venkataraman
  • Publication number: 20060156730
    Abstract: A gas fuel injector includes a first header plate; a second header plate spaced downstream from the upstream header plate; and a plurality of venturi tubes arranged in rows and sealably secured to the first and second header plates. Each of the venturi tubes includes an inlet section, a throat section and an exit. The exit is shaped into a pattern that reduces space between each of the venturi tubes at the exit of each of the plurality of venturi tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Constantin Dinu, Thomas Farrell, Kevin Gordon, James Storey, Krishna Venkataraman
  • Publication number: 20060000216
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine includes a main fuel injector for receiving compressor discharge air and mixing the air with fuel for flow to a downstream catalytic section. The main fuel injector includes an array of venturis each having an inlet, a throat and a diffuser. A main fuel supply plenum between forward and aft plates supplies fuel to secondary annular plenums having openings for supplying fuel into the inlets of the venturis upstream of the throats. The diffusers transition from a circular cross-section at the throat to multiple discrete angularly related side walls at the diffuser exits without substantial gaps therebetween. With this arrangement, uniform flow distribution of the fuel/air, velocity and temperature is provided at the catalyst inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Constantin Dinu, Iris Hu, James Storey, Thomas Farrell
  • Publication number: 20060000218
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine includes a main fuel injector for receiving compressor discharge air and mixing the air with fuel for flow to a downstream catalytic section. The main fuel injector includes an array of venturis each having an inlet, a throat and a diffuser. A main fuel supply plenum between forward and aft plates supplies fuel to secondary annular plenums having openings for supplying fuel into the inlets of the venturis upstream of the throats. Each diffuser transitions from a circular cross-section at the throat to multiple discrete angularly related side walls at the diffuser exit. Gaps between circumferentially and radially spaced diffusers at their exits are eliminated. With this arrangement, uniform flow distribution of the fuel/air, velocity and temperature is provided at the catalyst inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Constantin Dinu, Iris Hu, James Storey
  • Publication number: 20060000217
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine includes a main fuel injector for receiving compressor discharge air and mixing the air with fuel for flow to a downstream catalytic section. The main fuel injector includes an array of venturis each having an inlet, a throat and a diffuser. A main fuel supply plenum between forward and aft plates supplies fuel to secondary annular plenums having openings for supplying fuel into the inlet of the venturis upstream of the throat. The diffusers transition from a circular cross-section at the throat to multiple discrete angularly related side walls at the diffuser exits without substantial gaps therebetween. With this arrangement, uniform flow distribution of the fuel/air, velocity and temperature is provided at the catalyst inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Constantin Dinu
  • Publication number: 20050044842
    Abstract: A flow controller is disposed between a preburner section in a diffuser and prior to the main fuel injector and catalytic sections in a turbine combustor. The flow from the burner section is typically not uniform in temperature and velocity and the flow splitter renders the flow substantially uniform at the fuel injector and catalyst inlet. The flow splitter comprises substantially equal mass annular flow areas defined by a first outer frustoconical element and the diffuser wall, a second element defining with the first element a second annular area and a central bluff disk defining with the second element the interior annular area. Vanes are provided on the flow splitter to enhance turbulent flow and substantially preclude swirling flow. As a result, flow uniformity at the catalyst inlet and main fuel injection is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Constantin Dinu