Patents by Inventor Paul V. Heberling
Paul V. Heberling 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: 6983605Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a combustor system including a lean premix combustor and a water delivery system. The combustor is operable with a fuel/air mixture equivalence ratio less than one and the water delivery system is configured to supply at least one of water or steam to the gas turbine engine such that either the water or the steam is injected into the combustor to control emissions generated by the combustor. As a result, nitrous oxide emissions for specified turbine operating power levels are lowered.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2000Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard B. Hook, John M. Davidson, Eric J. Kress, Jack W. Smith, Jr., James W. Stegmaier, Paul V. Heberling, David B. Patterson
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Patent number: 6530223Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine having a longitudinal axis therethrough, including an outer liner having a forward end and an aft end, an inner liner having a forward end and an aft end, a first dome formed upstream of the outer liner forward end so as to define a first combustion zone radially oriented to the longitudinal axis, and a dome plate having an outer portion connected to an upstream end of the first dome and an inner portion connected to the inner liner forward end, wherein a second combustion zone is defined by the dome plate, the outer liner, and the inner liner substantially perpendicular to the first combustion zone.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1999Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Willard J. Dodds, Paul V. Heberling, Jack R. Taylor, Ely E. Halila
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Patent number: 6339923Abstract: A fuel air mixer for a gas turbine engine combustor having a longitudinal axis therethrough, wherein the fuel air mixer is configured for use in a dome oriented substantially radial to the longitudinal axis. The fuel air mixer includes a fuel injection assembly having a first end, a second end, a fuel passage extending therethrough, and a flange portion having a plurality of spaced openings formed therein which extends from the first end. The fuel air mixer also includes a mixer assembly having a first end, a second end, a cavity formed in a central portion thereof, and a flange portion having a plurality of spaced openings formed therein which extends from the first end. The mixer assembly is configured to receive the fuel injection assembly in the cavity so that the fuel injection assembly and the mixer assembly are able to be connected to an outer casing of the combustor by means of the respective flange portions.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1999Date of Patent: January 22, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ely E. Halila, Stuart C. Greenfield, Paul V. Heberling, John D. Bibler, John A. Kastl
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Patent number: 5778676Abstract: An air fuel mixer is disclosed having a mixing duct, a shroud surrounding the upstream end of the mixing duct in which a fuel manifold is provided in flow communication with a fuel supply and control means, a set of inner and outer counter-rotating swirlers adjacent the upstream end of the mixing duct for imparting swirl to an air stream, a hub separating the inner and outer annular swirlers to allow independent rotation of the air stream, and a centerbody located axially along and substantially the full length of the mixing duct. In order to inject one type of fuel into the mixing duct, fuel is supplied to the outer annular swirlers which include hollow vanes with internal cavities, wherein the internal cavities of the outer swirler vanes are in fluid communication with the fuel manifold in the shroud. The outer swirler vanes further include a plurality of fuel passages therethrough in flow communication with the internal cavities.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 1996Date of Patent: July 14, 1998Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Narendra D. Joshi, Paul R. Angel, James M. Caldwell, Paul V. Heberling, Anthony J. Dean
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Patent number: 5680766Abstract: An air fuel mixer is disclosed having a mixing duct, a shroud surrounding the upstream end of the mixing duct in which a fuel manifold is provided in flow communication with a fuel supply and control means, a set of inner and outer counter-rotating swirlers adjacent the upstream end of the mixing duct for imparting swirl to an air stream, a hub separating the inner and outer annular swirlers to allow independent rotation of the air stream, and a centerbody located axially along and substantially the full length of the mixing duct. In order to inject one type of fuel into the mixing duct, fuel is supplied to the outer annular swirlers which include hollow vanes with internal cavities, wherein the internal cavities of the outer swirler vanes are in fluid communication with the fuel manifold in the shroud. The outer swirler vanes further include a plurality of fuel passages therethrough in flow communication with the internal cavities.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 1996Date of Patent: October 28, 1997Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Narendra D. Joshi, Paul R. Angel, James M. Caldwell, Paul V. Heberling, Anthony J. Dean
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Patent number: 5675971Abstract: An air fuel mixer is disclosed having a mixing duct, a shroud surrounding the upstream end of the mixing duct in which a fuel manifold is provided in flow communication with a fuel supply and control means, a set of inner and outer counter-rotating swirlers adjacent the upstream end of the mixing duct for imparting swirl to an air stream, a hub separating the inner and outer annular swirlers to allow independent rotation of the air stream, and a centerbody located axially along and substantially the full length of the mixing duct. In order to inject one type of fuel into the mixing duct, fuel is supplied to the outer annular swirlers which include hollow vanes with internal cavities, wherein the internal cavities of the outer swirler vanes are in fluid communication with the fuel manifold in the shroud. The outer swirler vanes further include a plurality of fuel passages therethrough in flow communication with the internal cavities.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 1996Date of Patent: October 14, 1997Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Paul R. Angel, James M. Caldwell, Paul V. Heberling, Anthony J. Dean, Narendra D. Joshi
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Patent number: 5540056Abstract: A cyclonic precombustion mixing chamber or prechamber has an axially extending annular cyclonic chamber to vaporize liquid fuel therein and a centerbody centrally disposed within. A fuel injection means introduces liquid fuel radially outward into the cyclonic chamber. The centerbody extends axially through an annular exit of the prechamber to define a throat and throat exit therebetween which is optimally designed for preventing backflash and autoignition. In one embodiment the diameter of the throat is sized to substantially match the diameter of the potential core.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1995Date of Patent: July 30, 1996Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Paul V. Heberling, Mark P. Kelsey, Willard J. Dodds
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Patent number: 5444982Abstract: The present invention provides a cyclonic precombustion mixing chamber or prechamber having an axially extending annular cyclonic chamber to vaporize liquid fuel therein and a centerbody centrally disposed within. A fuel injection means introduces liquid fuel radially outward into the cyclonic chamber. The centerbody extends axially through an annular exit of the prechamber to define a throat and throat exit therebetween which is optimally designed for preventing backflash and autoignition. In one embodiment the diameter of the throat is sized to substantially match the diameter of the potential core. The diameter of the potential core and the centerbody at the throat exit, D.sub.c, may given by the solution to the following equation;4(D.sub.c /D.sub.t).sup.4 =(.rho./.DELTA.P)V.sub.w.sup.2 (D.sub.w /D.sub.t).sup.2 [1+(D.sub.c /D.sub.t).sup.2 ]where D.sub.t is the diameter of the outer edge of the throat exit, .rho.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 1994Date of Patent: August 29, 1995Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Paul V. Heberling, Mark P. Kelsey, Willard J. Dodds
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Patent number: 4246757Abstract: A combustor useful for combustion of initially liquid fuel to provide motive fluid for gas turbines is described. The combustor includes an air-swirling cyclonic prechamber having a wide-angle spray-cone liquid nozzle and opening to a downstream combustion chamber. The prechamber provides long residence time for liquid fuel being vaporized therein, short residence time for the resulting mixture of fuel vapor and air, and capability for minimal formation of nitrogen oxides.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1979Date of Patent: January 27, 1981Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Paul V. Heberling