Patents by Inventor Karl Dean Minto
Karl Dean Minto 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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Patent number: 9617914Abstract: A system includes a plurality of extraction passages configured to passively extract a portion of a gas flow from a downstream region of a gas flow path. The system includes a plurality of sensors respectively coupled to the plurality of extraction passages, wherein the plurality of sensors is configured to measure one or more parameters of the portion of the gas flow traversing the plurality of extraction passages. The system also includes a manifold coupled to the plurality of extraction passages, wherein the manifold is configured to receive the portion of the gas flow from the plurality of extraction passages. The system further includes a return passage coupled to the manifold, wherein the return passage is configured to passively provide the portion of the gas flow to an upstream region of the gas flow path.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Karl Dean Minto, Douglas Frank Beadie
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Publication number: 20170002745Abstract: A control apparatus for angling guide vanes of a torque converter is provided and includes a modeling unit configured to receive current condition data, to determine a current input power supplied by a starting motor from the current condition data and to output a result of the determination as a control signal and a controller, which is coupled to the modeling unit and thereby receptive of the control signal. The controller is configured to execute a comparison of the current input power with a rating of the starting motor and to angle the guide vanes of the torque converter at an angle in accordance with a result of the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jason Dean Fuller, Karl Dean Minto, Justin Aaron Allen
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Patent number: 9297313Abstract: A control apparatus for angling guide vanes of a torque converter is provided and includes a modeling unit configured to receive current condition data, to determine a current input power supplied by a starting motor from the current condition data and to output a result of the determination as a control signal and a controller, which is coupled to the modeling unit and thereby receptive of the control signal. The controller is configured to execute a comparison of the current input power with a rating of the starting motor and to angle the guide vanes of the torque converter at an angle in accordance with a result of the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2011Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jason Dean Fuller, Justin Aaron Allen, Karl Dean Minto
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Patent number: 9255580Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosure may include systems, methods and apparatus for operating and validating a compressor. According to an example embodiment of the disclosure, a method is provided for validating compressor operation. The method can include receiving compressor operating parameter data from a plurality of sensors; and adjusting a portion of a variable flow area downstream of a compressor discharge to achieve a desired compressor pressure ratio.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Daniel Richard Waugh, Karl Dean Minto, Scott William Szepek, Louis Veltre
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Publication number: 20160010493Abstract: A system includes plurality of combustors and a distributed flow measurement system coupled to the plurality of combustors. Each combustor of the plurality of combustors includes one or more oxidant passages and one or more fuel passages. The distributed flow measurement system is configured to measure an oxidant flow rate for a respective oxidant passage of the one or more oxidant passages of the respective combustor based at least in part on an oxidant pressure drop along the respective oxidant passage, and the distributed flow measurement system is configured to measure a fuel flow rate for a respective fuel passage of the one or more fuel passages of the respective combustor based at least in part on a fuel pressure drop along the respective fuel passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventors: Dennis M. O'Dea, Karl Dean Minto, Richard A. Huntington, Sulabh K. Dhanuka, Franklin F. Mittricker
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Publication number: 20150377140Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a drive train starter system. The drive train starter system includes a generator mechanically coupled to a drive train of a gas turbine system and an exciter system electrically coupled to the generator and configured to provide a magnetic field. The drive train starter system additionally includes a load commutated inverter (LCI) electrically coupled to the generator and configured to provide electrical power to the generator and a controller communicatively coupled to the generator, the exciter system, and the LCI. The controller is configured to start up the drive train via the LCI and the generator up to less than a drive train operating speed, wherein the generator is converting electricity into mechanical motion; drive the drive train via a gas turbine up to the drive train operating speed; and to drive the drive train via the generator at the drive train operating speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Brian Allen Rittenhouse, Karl Dean Minto
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Publication number: 20150377148Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes at least one sensor configured to communicate a signal representative of blower vane position, wherein the blower vane is disposed in a blower of an exhaust gas recirculation system receiving exhaust from a gas turbine system and recycling the exhaust gas back to the gas turbine system. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, wherein the controller is configured to execute a control logic to derive a reference value for the blower vane position, and wherein the controller is configured to apply a direct limit, an model-based limit, or a combination thereof, to the reference value to derive a limit-based value, and wherein the controller is configured to position the blower vane based on the limit-based value.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Karl Dean Minto, Todd Franklin Denman, Franklin F. Mittricker, Richard Alan Huntington
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Publication number: 20150226133Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a combustor configured to combust an oxidant and a fuel in the presence of an exhaust gas diluent to produce combustion products, an oxidant supply path fluidly coupled to the combustor and configured to flow the oxidant to the combustor at an oxidant flow rate, and a turbine configured to extract work from the combustion products to produce an exhaust gas used to generate the exhaust gas diluent. The turbine causes a shaft of the gas turbine system to rotate when the work is extracted from the combustion products. The system also includes an electrical generator that generates electrical power in response to rotation by the shaft, and a controller that performs load control in response to a target load by adjusting the oxidant flow rate along the oxidant flow path as a primary load control parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2013Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric CompanyInventors: Karl Dean Minto, Jonathan Carl Thatcher, Brian Allen Rittenhouse, Aaron Vorel
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Publication number: 20150214879Abstract: A non-transitory, computer readable medium stores instructions executable by a processor of an electronic device. The instructions include instructions to determine that a transient event is occurring in an electrical grid coupled to an EGR gas turbine system, wherein the transient event is an under-frequency or an under-voltage event. The instructions also include instructions to increase a flow rate of fuel to a combustor of the EGR gas turbine system in response to the transient event when the EGR gas turbine system is operating in a non-stoichiometric combustion mode. The instructions further include instructions to increase a flow rate of oxidant to the combustor before increasing the flow rate of fuel to the combustor, or to decrease a local consumption of the electrical power to increase a portion of the electrical power that is exported to the attached electrical grid, or both, in response to the transient event when the EGR gas turbine system is operating in a stoichiometric combustion mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: Richard A. Huntington, Karl Dean Minto, Bin Xu, Jonathan Carl Thatcher, Aaron Lavene Vorel
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Publication number: 20150204239Abstract: A system includes a fuel control system configured to control a fuel flow to one or more combustors and an oxidant control system configured to control an oxidant flow to each combustor of the one or more combustors, wherein the oxidant flow is configured to at least partially react with the fuel flow within the one or more combustors to form an exhaust gas flow. The system also includes an exhaust gas system configured to direct a recirculation flow of the exhaust gas flow to each combustor of the one or more combustors; and a controller coupled to the fuel control system, the oxidant control system, and the exhaust gas system. The controller is configured to independently control a fuel-to-oxidant ratio and an exhaust gas-to-oxidant ratio. The FOR is the fuel flow divided by the oxidant flow, and the EGOR is the recirculation flow divided by the oxidant flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2015Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Karl Dean Minto, Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., John Joseph Lipinski
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Publication number: 20150033749Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a turbine combustor having a combustor liner disposed about a combustion chamber, a head end upstream of the combustion chamber relative to a downstream direction of a flow of combustion gases through the combustion chamber, a flow sleeve disposed at an offset about the combustor liner to define a passage, and a barrier within the passage. The head end is configured to direct an oxidant flow and a first fuel flow toward the combustion chamber. The passage is configured to direct a gas flow toward the head end and to direct a portion of the oxidant flow toward a turbine end of the turbine combustor. The gas flow includes a substantially inert gas. The barrier is configured to block the portion of the oxidant flow toward the turbine end and to block the gas flow toward the head end within the passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventors: Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy, Lewis Berkley Davis, JR., Karl Dean Minto
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Publication number: 20150000294Abstract: A system includes a plurality of extraction passages configured to passively extract a portion of a gas flow from a downstream region of a gas flow path. The system includes a plurality of sensors respectively coupled to the plurality of extraction passages, wherein the plurality of sensors is configured to measure one or more parameters of the portion of the gas flow traversing the plurality of extraction passages. The system also includes a manifold coupled to the plurality of extraction passages, wherein the manifold is configured to receive the portion of the gas flow from the plurality of extraction passages. The system further includes a return passage coupled to the manifold, wherein the return passage is configured to passively provide the portion of the gas flow to an upstream region of the gas flow path.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: Karl Dean Minto, Douglas Frank Beadie
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Patent number: 8909454Abstract: A compression system includes a compressor with adjustable inlet guide vanes (IGVs) and variable stator vanes (VSVs) that are adjustable independently of each other. IGV and VSV control units produce respective IGV and VSV reference commands responsive to respective first and second inputs that may be responsive to measured properties of the compression system. The second input may be provided by a model of the compressor or of the compression system responsive to measured properties. The second input may particularly be an estimate of a property not directly observable, such as stall margin or efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2011Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Karl Dean Minto
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Patent number: 8770912Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling turbine guide vane positions. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for controlling at least one turbine guide vane. The method includes receiving a reference signal associated with the at least one turbine guide vane, measuring an actuator position and an angular position associated with the at least one turbine guide vane, generating a deadband signal based at least in part on the angular position, and manipulating the at least one turbine guide vane based at least in part on the deadband signal and the reference signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2010Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Karl Dean Minto, Dwight Eric Davidson, William E. Dixon
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Publication number: 20140182298Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes at least one sensor configured to communicate a signal representative of a gas turbine operations. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The system additionally includes a stoichiometric model configured to receive one or more inputs representative of the gas turbine operations and a measured equivalence ratio, wherein the controller is configured to transform the signal into the one or more inputs and to use the stoichiometric model to derive an actuation signal based on a target equivalence ratio.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric CompanyInventors: ANTHONY WAYNE KRULL, Rex Allen Morgan, Karl Dean Minto
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Patent number: 8757105Abstract: A level control system for controlling a liquid level in a vessel containing a two-phase fluid includes a plurality of sensors configured to measure parameters related to the vessel. The parameters include liquid level in the vessel, vapor flow rate leaving the vessel, pressure in the vessel, temperature of the vessel, and feed-liquid flow rate entering the vessel indicative of a state of the vessel. A predictive controller is configured to receive output signals from the plurality of sensors and predict a volume of liquid over a predetermined time period in the vessel based on output signals from the plurality of sensors and a variation in pressure, thermal load, or combinations thereof in the vessel. The controller is configured to generate a liquid level set point of the vessel based on the predicted volume of liquid in the vessel; and further control a liquid level in the vessel based on the generated liquid level set point by manipulating one or more control elements coupled to the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2008Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rajeeva Kumar, Karl Dean Minto, Charudatta Subhash Mehendale, Erhan Karaca
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Patent number: 8733104Abstract: A heat recovery steam generation system is provided. The heat recovery steam generation system includes at least one superheater in a steam path for receiving a steam flow and configured to produce a superheated steam flow. The system also includes an inter-stage attemperator for injecting an attemperation fluid into the steam path. The system further includes a control valve coupled to the inter-stage attemperator. The control valve is configured to control flow of attemperation fluid to the inter stage attemperator. The system also includes a controller coupled to the control valve and the inter-stage attemperator. The controller further includes a feedforward controller and a trimming feedback controller.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2009Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rajeeva Kumar, Karl Dean Minto, William Forrester Seely, William George Carberg, Peter Paul Polukort
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Publication number: 20140123624Abstract: In one embodiment, a gas turbine system includes a controller configured to receive fuel composition information related to a fuel used for combustion in a turbine combustor; receive oxidant composition information related to an oxidant used for combustion in the turbine combustor; receive oxidant flow information related to a flow of the oxidant to the turbine combustor; determine a stoichiometric fuel-to-oxidant ratio based at least on the fuel composition information and the oxidant composition information; and generate a control signal for input to a fuel flow control system configured to control a flow of the fuel to the turbine combustor based on the oxidant flow information, a target equivalence ratio, and the stoichiometric fuel-to-oxidant ratio to enable combustion at the target equivalence ratio in the presence of an exhaust diluent within the turbine combustor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2013Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric CompanyInventor: Karl Dean Minto
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Publication number: 20140093349Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosure may include systems, methods and apparatus for operating and validating a compressor. According to an example embodiment of the disclosure, a method is provided for validating compressor operation. The method can include receiving compressor operating parameter data from a plurality of sensors; and adjusting a portion of a variable flow area downstream of a compressor discharge to achieve a desired compressor pressure ratio.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Daniel Richard Waugh, Karl Dean Minto, Scott William Szepek, Louis Veltre
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Publication number: 20130061601Abstract: A control apparatus for angling guide vanes of a torque converter is provided and includes a modeling unit configured to receive current condition data, to determine a current input power supplied by a starting motor from the current condition data and to output a result of the determination as a control signal and a controller, which is coupled to the modeling unit and thereby receptive of the control signal. The controller is configured to execute a comparison of the current input power with a rating of the starting motor and to angle the guide vanes of the torque converter at an angle in accordance with a result of the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2011Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Jason Dean Fuller, Justin Aaron Allen, Karl Dean Minto