Patents by Inventor Dale J. Davis

Dale J. Davis 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: 9644542
    Abstract: The present application provides a gas turbine engine for low turndown operations. The gas turbine engine may include a compressor with a compressor bleed air flow, a turbine, and a compressor bleed air flow manifold. The compressor bleed air manifold directs a variable portion of the compressor bleed air flow to the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Julio Enrique Mestroni, Dale J. Davis, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Patent number: 9567913
    Abstract: A system and method for supercharging a combined cycle system includes a forced draft fan providing a variable air flow. At least a first portion of the air flow is directed to a compressor and a second portion of the airflow is diverted to a heat recovery steam generator. A control system controls the airflows provided to the compressor and the heat recovery steam generator. The system allows a combined cycle system to be operated at a desired operating state, balancing cycle efficiency and component life, by controlling the flow of air from the forced draft fan to the compressor and the heat recovery steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Steven Hartman, Dale J. Davis
  • Patent number: 9557246
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems to determine a power plant machine reliability forecast. In an embodiment, a method may comprise obtaining an environmental factor of a power plant machine based on geospatial data of a first area and location data of a second area, obtaining an operating factor of the power plant machine, and determining a reliability forecast based on the obtained environmental factor and the obtained operating factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Benjamin Arnette LaGrange, Alston Ilford Scipio, Dale J. Davis, Timothy Tah-teh Yang
  • Patent number: 9556798
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring a flow profile in a portion of a flow path in a turbine engine is provided. The system includes a mass flow sensor assembly having a plurality of hot wire mass flow sensors, the mass flow sensor assembly disposed in the portion of the flow path at a location where the flow profile is to be measured. The system also includes a controller that converts signals from the temperature sensor, the pressure sensor and the plurality of hot wire mass flow sensors to flow profile measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Thomas C. Billheimer, Douglas Corbin Warwick, Alston Ilford Scipio, Dale J. Davis, Jason Nathaniel Cook, Vahid Vaezi
  • Publication number: 20160356221
    Abstract: A thermal valve is disclosed. The thermal valve may provide one or more flows of cooling fluid to a hot cavity within a cooling circuit of a gas turbine engine. The thermal valve may include a temperature sensitive element and a valve assembly in communication with the temperature sensitive element. The valve assembly may include at least one inlet in fluid communication with at least one cooling fluid source, at least one outlet in fluid communication with the hot cavity, and at least one valve in communication with the temperature sensitive element. The at least one valve may be disposed between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet. The temperature sensitive element may be configured to move the at least one valve between a closed position and an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Carlos Miguel Miranda, Stanley Frank Simpson, Dale J. Davis
  • Patent number: 9280797
    Abstract: A system and method to preemptively adjust power generation of one or more non-solar power generators based on near term solar generation capability, spinning reserve margin, and/or power grid spinning reserve forecast requirements to offset solar power generation based on geospatial regional solar conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Dale J. Davis, Eric J. Kauffman, Timothy Tah-teh Yang
  • Patent number: 9209730
    Abstract: A system and method is provided that improves the under frequency response of gas turbines by providing a fast-response power augmentation system. The system includes a tank storing a blended mixture of motive fuel such as ethanol or methanol and demineralized water in a predetermined ratio that is provided as a diluent to be injected into the compressor bellmouth, the Compressor Discharge Chamber (CDC), and/or the combustion system via one to three dedicated circuits. To achieve the instantaneous injection of the diluent at the correct pressure and for the appropriate duration to meet the needs of the gas turbine Grid compliance mandate, an accumulator is used as the motive force to drive the augmentation fluid in the dedicated circuits. The injected diluent is microprocessor controlled to either be simultaneous into all three circuits or is sequenced based on a determination of the best turbine control and performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Dale J. Davis, Steven Hartman, Sanji Ekanayake, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20150345390
    Abstract: Systems and methods for de-icing an inlet screen and dehumidifying an inlet air filter in a gas turbine engine are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method may include determining a current inlet screen temperature. The method also may include determining a desired inlet screen temperature. If the current inlet screen temperature is less than the desired inlet screen temperature, the method may further include determining a first amount of gas turbine compartment ventilation discharge air necessary to achieve the desired inlet screen temperature, extracting the first amount of gas turbine compartment ventilation discharge air, and conveying the first amount of gas turbine compartment ventilation discharge air to the inlet screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Joseph Klosinski, Dale J. Davis
  • Publication number: 20150322865
    Abstract: The present application provides a gas turbine engine for low turndown operations. The gas turbine engine may include a compressor with a compressor bleed air flow, a turbine, and a compressor bleed air flow manifold. The compressor bleed air manifold directs a variable portion of the compressor bleed air flow to the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Julio Enrique Mestroni, Dale J. Davis, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Patent number: 9163322
    Abstract: A refurbishing method, refurbishing apparatus and refurbished article are provided. The refurbishing method includes accessing a plurality of rotatable components attached to a turbine assembly, the turbine assembly being a portion of a turbomachine, providing a predetermined volume of a buffered electrolytic solution in an electro-polishing tank, coupling the plurality of rotatable components to a power supply, immersing an immersion portion of at least one of the plurality of rotatable components in the buffered electrolytic solution, passing an electrical energy through the immersion portion of at least one of the plurality of rotatable components while the immersion portion is immersed in the buffered electrolytic solution, wherein an electrical flux to the immersion portion electro-polishes the immersion portion, separating the immersion portion from the buffered electrolytic solution, and applying a corrosion inhibitor to the plurality of rotatable components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Stephen DiMascio, Alston Ilford Scipio, Dale J. Davis, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Publication number: 20150159558
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for dispensing turbine engine anticorrosive protection. In an embodiment, a method may include selecting an anticorrosion fluid for a gas turbine engine and applying the anticorrosion fluid to the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Douglas S. Byrd, Dale J. Davis, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Publication number: 20150159505
    Abstract: A gas turbine wash control system may perform a wash and a rinse of a gas turbine that is offline. An inter-rinse solution may be injected into the gas turbine. The gas turbine may be agitated and the inter-rinse solution drained. A second rinse of the gas turbine may be performed followed by the injection of an anticorrosive solution into the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Dale J. Davis, Rebecca Evelyn Hefner
  • Publication number: 20150159506
    Abstract: A gas turbine wash control system may perform a wash and a rinse of a gas turbine that is offline. An peracetic acid inter-rinse solution may be injected into the gas turbine. The gas turbine may be agitated and the peracetic acid inter-rinse solution drained. A second rinse of the gas turbine may be performed followed by the injection of an anticorrosive solution into the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Dale J. Davis, Rebecca Evelyn Hefner, Brent Allen Clothier
  • Publication number: 20150159559
    Abstract: Methods and systems may dispense turbine engine anticorrosive protection. In an embodiment, a method may include determining a condition of a gas turbine engine while the gas turbine engine is online, wherein the condition includes the power output level of the gas turbine engine and applying, based on the condition, an anticorrosion fluid to the gas turbine engine while the gas turbine engine is online.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Dale J. Davis, Paul Stephen DiMascio
  • Publication number: 20150159509
    Abstract: Methods and systems for dispersing anticorrosive treatment for a turbine engine may incorporate an inlet bleed heat system. In an embodiment, a method may include selecting an anticorrosion fluid for a turbine engine and distributing the anticorrosion fluid via a vaporizing system fluidly connected with the turbine engine, wherein the vaporizing system is used to transform the anticorrosion fluid into a vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston I. Scipio, Douglas S. Byrd, Dale J. Davis, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Publication number: 20150101401
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems to determine a reliability forecast for a wind turbine. In an embodiment, a method may comprise obtaining an environmental factor of a wind turbine based on geospatial data of a first area and location data of a second area, obtaining an operating factor of the wind turbine, and determining a reliability forecast based on the environmental factor and the operating factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Benjamin Arnette Lagrange, Alston Ilford Scipio, Dale J. Davis, Robert Grimley, Timothy Tah-teh Yang
  • Publication number: 20150106059
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems to determine a power plant machine reliability forecast. In an embodiment, a method may comprise obtaining an environmental factor of a power plant machine based on geospatial data of a first area and location data of a second area, obtaining an operating factor of the power plant machine, and determining a reliability forecast based on the obtained environmental factor and the obtained operating factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Benjamin Arnette Lagrange, Alston Ilford Scipio, Dale J. Davis, Timothy Tah-teh Yang
  • Publication number: 20150075170
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a gas turbine combustion system by generating a flame detection signal are provided. A set of modeled parameters expected when there is a flame in a secondary combustion zone is calculated. A set of measured gas turbine parameters is measured. A flame validation signal based on the set of measured parameters and the set of modeled parameters is generated. The systems include a subsystem that calculates a set of modeled parameters expected when there is a flame in the secondary combustion zone and a subsystem that measures a set of measured parameters. A subsystem generates a flame validation signal based on the set of measured parameters and the set of modeled parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Dale J. Davis, Jean-Marc Carré, William McEntagart
  • Publication number: 20150076821
    Abstract: A system and method to preemptively adjust power generation of one or more non-wind power generators based on near term wind generation capability, spinning reserve margin, and/or power grid spinning reserve forecast requirements to offset wind power generation based on geospatial regional wind conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Dale J. Davis, Eric J. Kauffman, Timothy Tah-teh Yang
  • Publication number: 20150081124
    Abstract: A system and method to preemptively adjust power generation of one or more non-solar power generators based on near term solar generation capability, spinning reserve margin, and/or power grid spinning reserve forecast requirements to offset solar power generation based on geospatial regional solar conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Dale J. Davis, Eric J. Kauffman, Timothy Tah-teh Yang