Patents by Inventor Eric John Kress

Eric John Kress 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: 11761386
    Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a fuel nozzle during engine operation is provided. Operations include operating the compressor section to provide the flow of oxidizer at a first oxidizer flow condition to the combustion chamber, wherein the first oxidizer flow condition comprises an environmental parameter; operating the fuel system at a first fuel flow condition to produce a fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber; comparing the environmental parameter to a first environmental parameter threshold; and transitioning the fuel system to a second fuel flow condition corresponding to a cleaning condition at the fuel nozzle if the environmental parameter is equal to or greater than the first environmental threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Scott McCambridge, Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Eric John Kress, Kevin Richard Graziano, Brendon Matthew Leeker
  • Publication number: 20220290620
    Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a fuel nozzle during engine operation is provided. Operations include operating the compressor section to provide the flow of oxidizer at a first oxidizer flow condition to the combustion chamber, wherein the first oxidizer flow condition comprises an environmental parameter; operating the fuel system at a first fuel flow condition to produce a fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber; comparing the environmental parameter to a first environmental parameter threshold; and transitioning the fuel system to a second fuel flow condition corresponding to a cleaning condition at the fuel nozzle if the environmental parameter is equal to or greater than the first environmental threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Scott McCambridge, Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Eric John Kress, Kevin Richard Graziano, Brendon Matthew Leeker
  • Patent number: 11359554
    Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a fuel nozzle during engine operation is provided. Operations include operating the compressor section to provide the flow of oxidizer at a first oxidizer flow condition to the combustion chamber, wherein the first oxidizer flow condition comprises an environmental parameter; operating the fuel system at a first fuel flow condition to produce a fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber; comparing the environmental parameter to a first environmental parameter threshold; and transitioning the fuel system to a second fuel flow condition corresponding to a cleaning condition at the fuel nozzle if the environmental parameter is equal to or greater than the first environmental threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Michael Scott McCambridge, Eric John Kress, Kevin Richard Graziano, Brendon Matthew Leeker
  • Patent number: 11261803
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel nozzle cleaning during engine operation is provided. The steps or operations include operating the compressor section to provide the flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber, operating the fuel system at a first fuel flow condition, in which the first fuel flow condition provides a fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber, operating the fuel system at a second fuel flow condition, in which the second fuel flow condition provides the fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber equal at the first fuel flow condition and the second fuel flow condition, and operating the fuel system at a third fuel flow condition after operating the fuel system at the second fuel flow condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Scott McCambridge, Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Eric John Kress, Kevin Richard Graziano, Brendon Matthew Leeker
  • Publication number: 20210277796
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel nozzle cleaning during engine operation is provided. The steps or operations include operating the compressor section to provide the flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber, operating the fuel system at a first fuel flow condition, in which the first fuel flow condition provides a fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber, operating the fuel system at a second fuel flow condition, in which the second fuel flow condition provides the fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber equal at the first fuel flow condition and the second fuel flow condition, and operating the fuel system at a third fuel flow condition after operating the fuel system at the second fuel flow condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Scott McCambridge, Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Eric John Kress, Kevin Richard Graziano, Brendon Matthew Leeker
  • Publication number: 20210277838
    Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a fuel nozzle during engine operation is provided. Operations include operating the compressor section to provide the flow of oxidizer at a first oxidizer flow condition to the combustion chamber, wherein the first oxidizer flow condition comprises an environmental parameter; operating the fuel system at a first fuel flow condition to produce a fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber; comparing the environmental parameter to a first environmental parameter threshold; and transitioning the fuel system to a second fuel flow condition corresponding to a cleaning condition at the fuel nozzle if the environmental parameter is equal to or greater than the first environmental threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Michael Scott McCambridge, Eric John Kress, Kevin Richard Graziano, Brendon Matthew Leeker
  • Patent number: 7302334
    Abstract: A mapping device maps each burner mode at various bleed settings to generate control schedules for a combustion controller that ensure combustion dynamic (acoustic) pressures, and emissions limits and ring flame temperatures are within operational limits. In general, a method of combustor mapping involves adjusting the bulk ring flame temperature to meet emissions and acoustic requirements. The dome (ring) ring flame temperature is then adjusted to determine maximum and minimum ring flame temperature boundary limits. At both the maximum and minimum ring flame temperatures, the emissions levels and acoustic pressures are checked to see that they are within specification limits. If they are not, the bulk ring flame temperature is adjusted, and the entire process is repeated for that bleed setting and burner mode. If the emissions levels and acoustic pressures are within specification limits, then the power is increased to a different mode and bleed setting combination, and the process is again repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Bradford Hook, Eric John Kress, William Lee Barrow, John Bolton
  • Publication number: 20040024516
    Abstract: A mapping device maps each burner mode at various bleed settings to generate control schedules for a combustion controller that ensure combustion dynamic (acoustic) pressures, and emissions limits and ring flame temperatures are within operational limits. In general, a method of combustor mapping involves adjusting the bulk ring flame temperature to meet emissions and acoustic requirements. The dome (ring) ring flame temperature is then adjusted to determine maximum and minimum ring flame temperature boundary limits. At both the maximum and minimum ring flame temperatures, the emissions levels and acoustic pressures are checked to see that they are within specification limits. If they are not, the bulk ring flame temperature is adjusted, and the entire process is repeated for that bleed setting and burner mode. If the emissions levels and acoustic pressures are within specification limits, then the power is increased to a different mode and bleed setting combination, and the process is again repeated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Richard Hook, Eric John Kress, William Lee Barrow, John Bolton