Patents by Inventor Gordon Raymond Smith
Gordon Raymond Smith 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).
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Publication number: 20140142766Abstract: A method of operating a process facility and a power plant operating system are provided. The power plant operating system includes a control system used by a plurality of operators and a computer device coupled to the control system. The computer device includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computer device to perform the steps of collecting data pertaining to the operation of the power plant by each of the plurality of operators, determining an operating efficiency of each of the plurality of operators in operating the power plant, and transmitting one or more advisory messages to at least one of the plurality of operators recommending a manual intervention by the operator to operate the power plant based on the collected data and the determination of the efficiency of each of the operators.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2012Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Awadesh Kumar Tiwari, Gordon Raymond Smith, William Forrester Seely
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Patent number: 8726625Abstract: A combined cycle power plant is provided and includes a gas turbine engine to generate power from combustion of a fuel and air mixture, a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) disposed downstream from the gas turbine engine to receive heat energy from the gas turbine engine from which steam is produced, the HRSG including a superheating element and a drum element, and a steam turbine engine to be receptive of the steam produced in the HRSG and to generate power from the received steam, the HRSG further including a valve operably disposed to isolate the superheating element from the drum element when a risk of condensate formation in the HRSG exists.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2011Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joel Donnell Holt, Gordon Raymond Smith
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Publication number: 20130318965Abstract: A supercharging system for a gas turbine system having a compressor, a combustor, a turbine and a shaft includes a prime mover and a fan assembly that provides an air stream at an air stream flow rate. A hydraulic coupler is coupled to the prime mover and the fan assembly and a second torque converter may couple the supercharger prime mover to an electrical generator. The supercharging system also includes a subsystem for conveying a first portion of the air stream to the compressor, and a bypass subsystem for optionally conveying a second portion of the air stream to other uses.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Gordon Raymond Smith, Alston Ilford Scipio, Timothy Tah-teh Yang, Julio Enrique Mestroni, Kurt Waldner, Tedd Sellers
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Patent number: 8567175Abstract: A system configured to decrease the emissions of a power plant system during transient state operation is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: at least one computing device adapted to adjust a temperature of an operational steam in a power generation system by performing actions comprising: obtaining operational data about components of a steam turbine in the power generation system, the operational data including at least one of: a temperature of the components and a set of current ambient conditions at the power generation system; determining an allowable operational steam temperature range for the steam turbine based upon the operational data; generating emissions predictions for a set of temperatures within the allowable steam temperature range; and adjusting the temperature of the operational steam based upon the emissions predictions.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gordon Raymond Smith, Kelvin Rafael Estrada
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Patent number: 8387356Abstract: A method of increasing output of a combined cycle power plant with supplemental duct firing from a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) during select periods includes guiding a reheat steam flow to at least one reheat attemperator fluidly connected to the HRSG during the select period. The method further includes increasing reheat attemperation water flow through the at least one reheat attemperator, decreasing a set point temperature of the at least one reheat attemperator for the select period to a lower set point temperature, and raising power output of the combined cycle power plant during the select period.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2009Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Virginia Wen-Chi Yang, Gordon Raymond Smith
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Publication number: 20130047615Abstract: A system configured to decrease the emissions of a power plant system during transient state operation is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: at least one computing device adapted to adjust a temperature of an operational steam in a power generation system by performing actions comprising: obtaining operational data about components of a steam turbine in the power generation system, the operational data including at least one of: a temperature of the components and a set of current ambient conditions at the power generation system; determining an allowable operational steam temperature range for the steam turbine based upon the operational data; generating emissions predictions for a set of temperatures within the allowable steam temperature range; and adjusting the temperature of the operational steam based upon the emissions predictions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Gordon Raymond Smith, Kelvin Rafael Estrada
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Publication number: 20120260621Abstract: A combined cycle power plant is provided and includes a gas turbine engine to generate power from combustion of a fuel and air mixture, a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) disposed downstream from the gas turbine engine to receive heat energy from the gas turbine engine from which steam is produced, the HRSG including a superheating element and a drum element, and a steam turbine engine to be receptive of the steam produced in the HRSG and to generate power from the received steam, the HRSG further including a valve operably disposed to isolate the superheating element from the drum element when a risk of condensate formation in the HRSG exists.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2011Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Joel Donnell Holt, Gordon Raymond Smith
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Patent number: 8220266Abstract: A condenser is provided and includes a body into and through which steam turbine discharge is able to flow, and first and second cooling members disposed in the body, wherein the first and second cooling members are each independently receptive of first and second coolant, respectively, the first cooling member, being receptive of the first coolant, is configured to cool the discharge during at least a first cooling operation, and the second cooling member, being receptive of the second coolant, is configured to cool the discharge during a second cooling operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2009Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Gordon Raymond Smith
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Patent number: 8171733Abstract: A system comprises a first heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) operative to receive steam from a source of steam and output water to the source of steam, a second HRSG operative to receive steam from the source of steam and output water to the source of steam, a first water flow control valve operative to regulate a flow of the water output from the first HRSG to the source of steam, and a second water flow control valve operative to regulate a flow of the water output from the second HRSG to the source of steam.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2009Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Gordon Raymond Smith
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Patent number: 8140248Abstract: A control system for providing an optimal estimate of NOx emission in an exhaust during a selective catalytic reduction process is provided. The control system includes a continuous emission monitoring sensor configured to generate a responsive signal representing a first estimate of NOx emission; wherein the responsive signal has a first time lag between a time of measurement of NOx emission and the time when the corresponding responsive signal is made available by the continuous emission monitoring sensor, and the continuous emission monitoring sensor has a first time constant. The control system also includes a virtual sensor configured to generate a relatively faster responsive signal representing a second estimate of NOx emission. The control system further includes a processor that includes a time delay compensation circuit configured to introduce a second time lag in the relatively faster responsive signal, wherein the second time lag matches the first time lag.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2009Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Charudatta Subhash Mehendale, Gordon Raymond Smith
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Publication number: 20110099972Abstract: A method of increasing output of a combined cycle power plant with supplemental duct firing from a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) during select periods includes guiding a reheat steam flow to at least one reheat attemperator fluidly connected to the HRSG during the select period. The method further includes increasing reheat attemperation water flow through the at least one reheat attemperator, decreasing a set point temperature of the at least one reheat attemperator for the select period to a lower set point temperature, and raising power output of the combined cycle power plant during the select period.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2009Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Virginia Wen-Chi Yang, Gordon Raymond Smith
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Publication number: 20100281870Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes a fuel heater. The fuel heater includes a first heat exchanger configured to receive compressed air from a compressor and to transfer heat from the compressed air to feedwater. The fuel heater also includes a second heat exchanger configured to receive heated feedwater from the first heat exchanger and to transfer heat from the heated feedwater to a fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2009Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joel Donnell Holt, Richard John Rucigay, Brian Jacob Berry, Gordon Raymond Smith, Devkinandan Madhukar Tokekar
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Publication number: 20100263376Abstract: A system comprises a first heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) operative to receive steam from a source of steam and output water to the source of steam, a second HRSG operative to receive steam from the source of steam and output water to the source of steam, a first water flow control valve operative to regulate a flow of the water output from the first HRSG to the source of steam, and a second water flow control valve operative to regulate a flow of the water output from the second HRSG to the source of steam.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2009Publication date: October 21, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Gordon Raymond Smith
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Publication number: 20100251699Abstract: A control system for providing an optimal estimate of NOx emission in an exhaust during a selective catalytic reduction process is provided. The control system includes a continuous emission monitoring sensor configured to generate a responsive signal representing a first estimate of NOx emission; wherein the responsive signal has a first time lag between a time of measurement of NOx emission and the time when the corresponding responsive signal is made available by the continuous emission monitoring sensor, and the continuous emission monitoring sensor has a first time constant. The control system also includes a virtual sensor configured to generate a relatively faster responsive signal representing a second estimate of NOx emission. The control system further includes a processor that includes a time delay compensation circuit configured to introduce a second time lag in the relatively faster responsive signal, wherein the second time lag matches the first time lag.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2009Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Charudatta Subhash Mehendale, Gordon Raymond Smith
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Publication number: 20100229553Abstract: A condenser is provided and includes a body into and through which steam turbine discharge is able to flow, and first and second cooling members disposed in the body, wherein the first and second cooling members are each independently receptive of first and second coolant, respectively, the first cooling member, being receptive of the first coolant, is configured to cool the discharge during at least a first cooling operation, and the second cooling member, being receptive of the second coolant, is configured to cool the discharge during a second cooling operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2009Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Gordon Raymond Smith
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Publication number: 20100077970Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling exhaust steam temperatures from a finishing superheater are provided. In certain embodiments, the system includes a controller which includes control logic for predicting an exhaust temperature of steam from the finishing superheater using model-based predictive techniques (e.g., based on empirical data or thermodynamic calculations). Based on the predicted exhaust temperature of steam, the control logic may use feed-forward control techniques to control the operation of an inter-stage attemperation system upstream of the finishing superheater. The control logic may determine if attemperation is required based on whether the predicted exhaust temperature of steam from the finishing superheater exceeds a set point temperature as well as whether the inlet temperature of steam into the finishing superheater drops below a set point temperature of steam.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2008Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rajeeva Kumar, Darrin Glen Kirchhof, Gordon Raymond Smith, William George Carberg
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Patent number: 7621133Abstract: Methods and apparatus for fast starting and loading a combined cycle power system are described. In one example embodiment, the method includes loading the gas turbine at up to it's maximum rate, and loading the steam turbine at its maximum rate with excess steam bypassed to the condenser while maintaining the temperature of steam supplied to the steam turbine at a substantially constant temperature from initial steam admission into the steam turbine until all steam generated by the heat recovery steam generator is being admitted to the steam turbine while the gas turbine operates at up to maximum load.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2005Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Leroy Omar Tomlinson, Charles Michael Jones, Gordon Raymond Smith, Mark Joseph Steffen, Bruce Charles Martindale, Marc Trent Kazanas, Paul Ronan Murphy, Gurbaksh Singh Ohson, Steven David Shemo, Eric YuHang Fung
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Publication number: 20090205310Abstract: An exhaust gas attemperating device is provided. The exhaust gas attemperating device includes a conduit in fluid communication with a gas turbine. The conduit is configured to receive exhaust gases from the gas turbine and has one or more apertures extending therethrough. The exhaust gas attemperating device further includes one or more atomizing nozzles extending through the apertures of the conduit. The atomizing nozzle is configured to inject a liquid through the aperture into the conduit, such that the liquid evaporates and decreases a temperature and an oxygen concentration of the exhaust gases in the conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2008Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Joell Randolph Hibshman, II, Gordon Raymond Smith