Patents by Inventor Gregory Allen Boardman

Gregory Allen Boardman 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: 11906168
    Abstract: A combustor assembly is generally provided. The combustor assembly includes a volute wall extended annularly around a combustor centerline. The volute wall is extended at least partially as a spiral curve from a circumferential reference line around the combustor centerline. The volute wall defines a combustion chamber therewithin. An annular inner wall is extended at least partially along a lengthwise direction from the volute wall. An annular outer wall is extended at least partially along the lengthwise direction from the volute wall. The inner wall and the outer wall are each separated along a radial direction from the combustor centerline. A primary flow passage is defined between the inner wall and the outer wall in fluid communication from the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Pradeep Naik, Joseph Zelina, Clayton Stuart Cooper
  • Patent number: 11371708
    Abstract: A premixer for a gas turbine combustor includes a centerbody, a swirler assembly, and a mixing duct. The swirler assembly includes an inner swirler with vanes that rotate air in a first direction and an outer swirler with vanes that rotate air in an opposite direction. The inner swirler vanes and the outer swirler vanes are separated by an annular splitter. The outer swirler vanes define an outlet plane, and the inner swirler vanes each have a trailing edge that is disposed at an acute angle relative to the outlet plane. In one aspect, the inner swirler is axially offset from the outer swirler. The mixing duct may also define fuel passages that deliver fuel to fuel outlets on the downstream end of the mixing duct. The premixer is designed for operation on gaseous fuel or liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mathew Paul Thariyan, Manampathy Gangadharan Giridharan, Kapil Kumar Singh, Sravan Kumar Dheeraj Kapilavai, Keith Robert McManus, Gregory Allen Boardman, Mark David Durbin
  • Patent number: 11286884
    Abstract: Embodiments of a combustion section including a fuel injector assembly are provided. The combustion section includes the fuel injector assembly coupled to an outer casing and a liner assembly. The fuel injector assembly includes a body defining a first inlet opening and a second inlet opening spaced apart from one another along a first direction. The body further defines a fuel-oxidizer mixing passage therewithin extended along a second direction at least partially orthogonal to the first direction. The first inlet opening and the second inlet opening are each in fluid communication with the fuel-oxidizer mixing passage. The body defines an outlet opening at the fuel-oxidizer mixing passage at a distal end relative to the first inlet opening and the second inlet opening. The first inlet opening and the second inlet opening are each configured to admit a flow of oxidizer to the fuel-oxidizer mixing passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Pradeep Naik, Clayton Stuart Cooper
  • Patent number: 11181269
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a trapped vortex combustor assembly is generally provided. The combustor assembly includes an inner liner wall extended annularly around a combustor centerline, and an outer liner wall extended annularly around the combustor centerline. The inner liner wall and the outer liner wall together define an involute wall extended at least partially as a spiral curve from a circumferential reference line around the combustor centerline. The involute wall defines an involute combustion chamber. One or more of the inner liner wall and the outer liner wall each define a first dilution opening and a shaped dilution opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Pradeep Naik
  • Patent number: 11156361
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a fuel injector for a gas turbine engine. The fuel injector includes an end wall, a centerbody, an outer sleeve surrounding the centerbody from the end wall toward the downstream end of the fuel injector, and a thermal management conduit. The centerbody includes an axially extended outer wall and inner wall extended from the end wall toward a downstream end of the fuel injector. The outer wall, the inner wall, and the end wall together define a fluid conduit extended in a first direction toward the downstream end of the fuel injector and in a second direction toward an upstream end of the fuel injector. The outer sleeve and the centerbody define a premix passage radially therebetween and an outlet at the downstream end of the premix passage. The outer sleeve defines a plurality of radially oriented first air inlet ports in circumferential arrangement at a first axial portion of the outer sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Pradeep Naik, Manampathy Gangadharan Giridharan, David Albin Lind, Jeffrey Michael Martini, Clayton S. Cooper
  • Patent number: 11156360
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine engine is generally provided. The fuel nozzle includes an outer sleeve extended circumferentially around a fuel nozzle centerline and extended along a longitudinal direction co-directional to the fuel nozzle centerline. The outer sleeve defines a plurality of first radially oriented air inlet ports through the outer sleeve in circumferential arrangement relative to the fuel nozzle centerline. A centerbody is positioned radially inward of the outer sleeve. The centerbody includes an outer annular wall extended circumferentially around the fuel nozzle centerline and extended along the longitudinal direction co-directional to the fuel nozzle centerline. The outer sleeve further includes a first radial wall extended from a downstream end of the outer annular wall. The centerbody defines a plenum radially inward thereof. The outer annular wall and the outer sleeve together define a first fuel air mixing passage extended along the longitudinal direction therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Pradeep Naik, Vishal Sanjay Kediya
  • Publication number: 20210317990
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a trapped vortex combustor and a method for operating trapped vortex combustor. In one embodiment, the trapped vortex combustor comprises a trapped vortex combustion zone and at least one secondary combustion zone disposed downstream of the trapped vortex combustion zone. The trapped vortex combustion zone is operable to receive and combust a first fuel and a first air and produce a first combustion product flowing toroidally therein. The at least one secondary combustion zone is operable to receive and combust the first combustion product and at least one second injection consisting of fuel and/or air and produce at least one second combustion product therein. The combustor may reduce the residence time of the highest temperature combustion products and achieve the lower NOx emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Joseph Zelina, Eric John Stevens
  • Publication number: 20210293412
    Abstract: A combustor assembly is generally provided. The combustor assembly includes a volute wall extended annularly around a combustor centerline. The volute wall is extended at least partially as a spiral curve from a circumferential reference line around the combustor centerline. The volute wall defines a combustion chamber therewithin. An annular inner wall is extended at least partially along a lengthwise direction from the volute wall. An annular outer wall is extended at least partially along the lengthwise direction from the volute wall. The inner wall and the outer wall are each separated along a radial direction from the combustor centerline. A primary flow passage is defined between the inner wall and the outer wall in fluid communication from the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Pradeep Naik, Joseph Zelina, Clayton Stuart Cooper
  • Patent number: 11073286
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a trapped vortex combustor and a method for operating trapped vortex combustor. In one embodiment, the trapped vortex combustor comprises a trapped vortex combustion zone and at least one secondary combustion zone disposed downstream of the trapped vortex combustion zone. The trapped vortex combustion zone is operable to receive and combust a first fuel and a first air and produce a first combustion product flowing toroidally therein. The at least one secondary combustion zone is operable to receive and combust the first combustion product and at least one second injection consisting of fuel and/or air and produce at least one second combustion product therein. The combustor may reduce the residence time of the highest temperature combustion products and achieve the lower NOx emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Joseph Zelina, Eric John Stevens
  • Patent number: 11073114
    Abstract: Embodiments of a combustion section including a fuel injector assembly are provided. The combustion section includes the fuel injector assembly coupled to an outer casing and a liner assembly. The fuel injector assembly includes a body defining a first inlet opening and a second inlet opening spaced apart from one another along a first direction. The body further defines a fuel-oxidizer mixing passage therewithin extended along a second direction at least partially orthogonal to the first direction. The first inlet opening and the second inlet opening are each in fluid communication with the fuel-oxidizer mixing passage. The body defines an outlet opening at the fuel-oxidizer mixing passage at a distal end relative to the first inlet opening and the second inlet opening. The first inlet opening and the second inlet opening are each configured to admit a flow of oxidizer to the fuel-oxidizer mixing passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Pradeep Naik, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Joseph Zelina
  • Patent number: 11067280
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for operating a turbine engine, the method including arranging a fluid conduit through a fuel nozzle in a first direction toward a downstream end and in a second direction toward an upstream end, the fluid conduit in fluid communication with a premix passage via a fluid injection port; flowing an oxidizer into the premix passage via a radially oriented first inlet port and a radially oriented second inlet port; flowing a first fuel to the premix passage through the fluid conduit and the fluid injection port, wherein the first fuel is provided to the premix passage axially downstream of the first inlet port; and generating a premixed flame from a mixture of the oxidizer and the first fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Pradeep Naik, Manampathy Gangadharan Giridharan, David Albin Lind, Jeffrey Michael Martini
  • Patent number: 11022313
    Abstract: A rich-quench-lean combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a liner extending between a forward end and an aft end. The liner includes a plurality of quench air jets positioned between the forward end and the aft end. The combustor assembly additionally includes a dome attached to or formed integrally with the liner, the dome and the liner together defining at least in part a combustion chamber. A fuel nozzle is attached to the dome, the fuel nozzle configured as a premix fuel nozzle for providing a substantially homogenous mixture of fuel and air to the combustion chamber, the mixture of fuel and air having an equivalence ratio of at least 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Pradeep Naik, Allen Michael Danis
  • Patent number: 10976053
    Abstract: A combustor assembly includes a volute wall extended annularly around a combustor centerline, extended at least partially as a spiral curve from a circumferential reference line around the combustor centerline, and defining a combustion chamber therewithin, an annular inner wall extended at least partially along a lengthwise direction from the volute wall, an annular outer wall extended at least partially along the lengthwise direction from the volute wall, the annular inner wall and the annular outer wall being separated along a radial direction from the combustor centerline, and a primary flow passage being defined between the annular inner wall and the annular outer wall in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, and a flow passage wall extending between a portion of the volute wall and a portion of the annular outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Pradeep Naik, Joseph Zelina, Clayton Stuart Cooper
  • Patent number: 10976052
    Abstract: A combustor assembly is generally provided. The combustor assembly includes a volute wall extended annularly around a combustor centerline. The volute wall is extended at least partially as a spiral curve from a circumferential reference line around the combustor centerline. The volute wall defines a combustion chamber therewithin. An annular inner wall is extended at least partially along a lengthwise direction from the volute wall. An annular outer wall is extended at least partially along the lengthwise direction from the volute wall. The inner wall and the outer wall are each separated along a radial direction from the combustor centerline. A primary flow passage is defined between the inner wall and the outer wall in fluid communication from the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Pradeep Naik, Joseph Zelina, Clayton Stuart Cooper
  • Patent number: 10935245
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine engine is generally provided. The fuel nozzle includes an outer sleeve extended circumferentially around a fuel nozzle centerline and extended along a longitudinal direction substantially co-directional to the fuel nozzle centerline. The outer sleeve defines a plurality of first radially oriented air inlet ports through the outer sleeve in circumferential arrangement relative to the fuel nozzle centerline. The fuel nozzle further includes a centerbody positioned radially inward of the outer sleeve. The centerbody is extended along the longitudinal direction substantially co-directional to the fuel nozzle centerline and wherein the centerbody is concentric to the fuel nozzle centerline and the outer sleeve. The centerbody defines a plurality of second radially oriented air inlet ports through the centerbody in circumferential arrangement relative to the fuel nozzle centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Manampathy Gangadharan Giridharan, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Pradeep Naik, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Vishal Sanjay Kediya
  • Patent number: 10895384
    Abstract: A fuel injector assembly for a gas turbine engine is generally provided. The first fuel injector includes a first centerbody surrounding a first walled fuel injection circuit. A first fuel injection port is extended at least partially radially through the first centerbody in fluid communication with the first walled fuel injection circuit. The first centerbody defines a cooling circuit surrounding the first walled fuel injection circuit. The first centerbody defines a plurality of cooling openings at a downstream end of the first centerbody. The plurality of cooling openings is in fluid communication with the cooling circuit. The first centerbody defines an axially extended cooling outlet at the downstream end of the first centerbody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall Charles Boehm, Gregory Allen Boardman, Ajoy Patra, David Albin Lind, Pradeep Naik, Ranjeet Kumar Mishra
  • Publication number: 20210010674
    Abstract: A premixer for a gas turbine combustor includes a centerbody, a swirler assembly, and a mixing duct. The swirler assembly includes an inner swirler with vanes that rotate air in a first direction and an outer swirler with vanes that rotate air in an opposite direction. The inner swirler vanes and the outer swirler vanes are separated by an annular splitter. The outer swirler vanes define an outlet plane, and the inner swirler vanes each have a trailing edge that is disposed at an acute angle relative to the outlet plane. In one aspect, the inner swirler is axially offset from the outer swirler. The mixing duct may also define fuel passages that deliver fuel to fuel outlets on the downstream end of the mixing duct. The premixer is designed for operation on gaseous fuel or liquid fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Mathew Paul THARIYAN, Manampathy Gangadharan GIRIDHARAN, Kapil Kumar SINGH, Sravan Kumar Dheeraj KAPILAVAI, Keith Robert MCMANUS, Gregory Allen BOARDMAN, Mark David DURBIN
  • Patent number: 10890329
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a fuel injector including a centerbody defining an air inlet opening defined substantially radially through the centerbody; an outer sleeve surrounding the centerbody, and an end wall coupled to the centerbody and the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve defines a radially oriented first air inlet port defined radially outward of the air inlet opening at the centerbody. A mixing passage is defined between the outer sleeve and the centerbody. A first fuel injection port is defined substantially axially through the end wall to the mixing passage. The first fuel injection port defines a first fuel injection opening at the mixing passage between the first air inlet port at the outer sleeve and the air inlet opening at the centerbody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Pradeep Naik, Jacob Foster, Kediya Vishal Sanjay
  • Patent number: 10816210
    Abstract: A fuel injector assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a centerbody extended along a lengthwise direction, the centerbody defining a first fuel nozzle, and an annular shroud defining a second fuel nozzle directly surrounding the centerbody and extended along the lengthwise direction. A passage is defined through the annular shroud and extended generally along the lengthwise direction. The passage defines an exit opening disposed at a downstream end adjacent to the combustion chamber and in fluid communication therewith. The annular shroud defines a fuel inlet opening disposed at an upstream end of the passage. The annular shroud defines an air inlet opening in fluid communication with the passage. The air inlet opening is disposed between the fuel inlet opening and the exit opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Albin Lind, Gregory Allen Boardman
  • Patent number: 10808934
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine including an outer sleeve. An upstream end of the outer sleeve defines an inlet opening and a downstream end defines an exit opening, each of which defined within the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve defines a radial opening extended therethrough along the radial direction. At least a portion of the outer sleeve defines a plurality of grooves. The outer sleeve defines a fuel conduit through at least a portion of the outer sleeve outward of the plurality of grooves along the radial direction from the fuel injector centerline. The fuel conduit defines a fuel injection opening inward along the radial direction of the radial opening defined through the outer sleeve. A first member of an arm is coupled to the outer sleeve. A second member of the arm is contoured defining a fuel injection port generally concentric to the fuel injector centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Jeffrey Michael Martini, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Pradeep Naik