Patents by Inventor Pradeep Naik

Pradeep Naik 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: 11635209
    Abstract: A swirler assembly includes a swirler having a primary swirler and a secondary swirler, and a flare connected the secondary swirler, and a dome disposed radially outward of the flare. A flare oxidizer flow passage is defined by a flare outer surface and a dome inner surface, and the flare oxidizer flow passage includes a swirl inducing member therewithin that induces a swirled flow of an oxidizer passing through the flare oxidizer flow passage into a combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Perumallu Vukanti, Pradeep Naik, Sripathi Mohan, Karthikeyan Sampath, Steven C. Vise, Shai Birmaher, Saket Singh
  • Publication number: 20230104395
    Abstract: A swirler assembly includes a primary swirler having a primary swirler connecting portion, a fuel nozzle connecting portion for connecting a fuel nozzle to the primary swirler, and a primary oxidizer flow passage that extends at least partially in the longitudinal direction, and a secondary swirler having a secondary swirler connecting member, where the primary swirler connecting portion and the secondary swirler connecting member engage to connect the primary swirler and the secondary swirler in the longitudinal direction, and to permit radial movement of the primary swirler with respect to the secondary swirler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, David A. Lind, Shai Birmaher, Ranganatha Narasimha Chiranthan, Ajoy Patra, Saket Singh
  • Publication number: 20230094199
    Abstract: A combustor liner for a combustor of a gas turbine includes an outer liner and an inner liner. The outer liner has an annular outer liner slot dilution opening, with a plurality of outer liner swirl vanes disposed within the annular outer liner slot dilution opening. The inner liner of the combustor liner includes an annular inner liner slot dilution opening, and also includes a plurality of inner liner swirl vanes disposed within the annular inner liner slot dilution opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Shai Birmaher, Saket Singh, Rimple Rangrej, Krishnendu Chakraborty
  • Patent number: 11592182
    Abstract: A swirler assembly of a combustor of a gas turbine, the swirler assembly including a primary swirler having a primary swirler flow opening, and a swirler ferrule plate connected to an upstream side of the primary swirler. The swirler ferrule plate includes (a) a fuel nozzle opening, and (b) a plurality of oxidizer purge passages surrounding the fuel nozzle opening, each one of the plurality of oxidizer purge passages including (i) an inlet passage portion, and (ii) an outlet passage portion extended from the inlet passage portion to a downstream end of the swirler ferrule plate and having an outlet in fluid communication with the primary swirler flow opening. The outlet passage portion has an increasing cross-sectional area extending along the length of the outer passage portion from the inlet passage portion to the outlet that induces a pressure drop in a flow of oxidizer through the oxidizer flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Rimple Rangrej, Pradeep Naik, Perumallu Vukanti, Saket Singh
  • Publication number: 20230053389
    Abstract: A swirler assembly includes a swirler having a primary swirler and a secondary swirler, and a flare connected the secondary swirler, and a dome disposed radially outward of the flare. A flare oxidizer flow passage is defined by a flare outer surface and a dome inner surface, and the flare oxidizer flow passage includes a swirl inducing member therewithin that induces a swirled flow of an oxidizer passing through the flare oxidizer flow passage into a combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Perumallu Vukanti, Pradeep Naik, Sripathi Mohan, Karthikeyan Sampath, Steven C. Vise, Shai Birmaher, Saket Singh
  • Patent number: 11578868
    Abstract: A combustor liner for a combustor of a gas turbine includes an outer liner and an inner liner. At least one of the outer liner and the inner liner has an upstream liner portion and a downstream liner portion with an annular gap therebetween. At least one dilution flow assembly is arranged to bridge across the annular gap. The at least one dilution flow assembly includes an upstream liner panel and a downstream liner panel with a dilution opening provided between the upstream liner panel and the downstream liner panel, and a plurality of dilution fence members arranged within the dilution opening and extending into a combustion chamber. The plurality of dilution fence members are arranged in successive arrangement in a circumferential direction and are arranged such that successive dilution fence members are alternatingly offset in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Krishnendu Chakraborty, Pradeep Naik, Saket Singh, Shai Birmaher, Rimple Rangrej, Daniel J. Kirtley
  • Publication number: 20230042970
    Abstract: A dome assembly for a combustor includes: at least one swirler assembly including: at least one swirler including a plurality of swirl vanes arrayed about an axis, the plurality of swirl vanes oriented so as to impart a tangential velocity to air passing through the swirler parallel to the axis; each of the plurality of swirl vanes having a thickness and including a plurality of edges which collectively define a peripheral boundary of the respective swirl vane; wherein at least a selected one of the plurality of swirl vanes includes at least one void passing through the thickness of the selected swirl vane, the void disposed within the peripheral boundary of the selected swirl vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Gurunath Gandikota, Karthikeyan Sampath, Perumallu Vukanti, Allen M. Danis, Scott M. Bush, Steven Clayton Vise, Hari Ravi Chandra, Rimple Rangrej, Saket Singh, Pradeep Naik, Neeraj Kumar Mishra, Arvind Kumar Rao, Balasubramaniam Venkatanarayanan, Ranjeet Kumar Mishra
  • Publication number: 20230033628
    Abstract: A main mixer for an engine. The main mixer includes a plurality of mixer vanes located circumferentially around a mixer body. Each mixer vane includes a waveform profile. The waveform profile detaches or trips a boundary layer of an air flow across the mixer vane such that the waveform profile introduces turbulence into the air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Rimple Rangrej, Saket Singh, Pradeep Naik
  • Publication number: 20230034004
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor includes a main mixer for providing an air flow to mix with a fuel flow in a combustor. The main mixer includes an annular mixer body, a plurality of mixer vanes located circumferentially around the annular mixer body, and a plurality of wedges extending radially outward from each of the plurality of mixer vanes. At least one of the wedges includes serrations. The air flow through the main mixer enters the main mixer at a leading edge of the mixer vane, flows over the plurality of wedges, and exits the mixer vanes at a trailing edge of the main mixer. The wedges create vortices in the air flow to provide a uniform fuel-air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Rimple Rangrej, Saket Singh, Pradeep Naik, Neeraj Mishra
  • Patent number: 11566789
    Abstract: A ferrule in a fuel-air mixer assembly. The ferrule includes a body having (i) a plurality of channels having sidewalls, the plurality of channels leading to a corresponding plurality of exit openings, the plurality of channels configured to guide a first airflow therein and (ii) a plurality of cascade holes formed within the sidewalls of the plurality of channels and defining a plurality of passageways therein that are transverse to the plurality of channels. The ferrule also includes a plurality of airflow modifiers provided within the plurality of channels. The plurality airflow modifiers are configured to reduce a velocity of the first airflow when the first airflow exits through the plurality of exit openings and to generate low velocity vortex pairs to reduce interaction of the first airflow with a second airflow provided through primary vanes located downstream of the plurality of exit openings of the plurality of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Saket Singh, Pradeep Naik, Rimple Rangrej, Ranganatha Narasimha Chiranthan, Veeraraju Vanapalli
  • Publication number: 20230003385
    Abstract: A premixer array for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of swirled premixer tubes and a plurality of non-swirled premixer tubes. The premixer array further includes a pilot tube for providing a pilot product. The plurality of swirled premixer tubes may guide and spread out the pilot product in a radial direction, in a circumferential direction, or both in a radial direction and a circumferential direction. The plurality of swirled premixer tubes may include clockwise swirled and counterclockwise swirled premixers. Also, included is a method of controlling the flow of pilot products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Gregory A. Boardman, Vishal Sanjay Kediya
  • Publication number: 20220412550
    Abstract: A swirler-ferrule assembly includes a radial swirler, a ferrule, a fuel nozzle, and a surface feature. The radial swirler includes a primary swirler vane having a primary air passage and a secondary swirler vane having a secondary air passage. The ferrule may be connected to the radial swirler. The surface feature may be located on the primary swirler vane and/or the ferrule. The surface feature may be configured to direct an air flow through the primary air passage away from a recirculation zone located upstream of the primary swirler vane. The surface feature has a trailing end and a distal end, and the fuel nozzle is axially aligned with the trailing end of the surface feature or is located axially downstream of the trailing end of the surface feature. The surface feature may have a plurality of grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Steven C. Vise, Clayton S. Cooper, Michael A. Benjamin, Pradeep Naik, Kwanwoo Kim, Shai Birmaher, Perumallu Vukanti, Saket Singh, Karthikeyan Sampath
  • Publication number: 20220412560
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine has a combustor liner that has a cold surface side and a hot surface side, the liner defining an upstream end and a downstream end, and a dilution opening through the combustor liner. The dilution opening includes a main dilution hole portion having an upstream edge and a downstream edge, a notched portion disposed at the upstream edge and extending upstream from the upstream edge, the notched portion being in fluid communication with the main dilution hole portion, and a slotted portion disposed at the downstream edge and extending downstream of the downstream edge, the slotted portion being in fluid communication with the main dilution hole portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Ranganatha Narasimha Chiranthan, Rimple Rangrej, Saket Singh, Pradeep Naik, Gregory A. Boardman
  • Publication number: 20220412563
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a compressor section, a combustor for combusting a fuel, and a turbine. Compressed air flows through a combustion liner of the combustor in a bulk airflow direction. The combustor includes a primary fuel nozzle and a secondary fuel nozzle. The secondary fuel nozzle is downstream of the primary fuel nozzle in the bulk airflow direction. The primary fuel nozzle is configured to inject a primary portion of the fuel into a primary combustion zone, and the secondary fuel nozzle is configured to inject a secondary portion of the fuel into a secondary combustion zone. The secondary combustion zone is located downstream of the primary combustion zone in the bulk airflow direction. The fuel may be one of diatomic hydrogen fuel and a hydrogen enriched fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Manampathy G. Giridharan, Pradeep Naik
  • Publication number: 20220390110
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal centerline extending in a longitudinal direction, a radial direction extending orthogonally outward from the longitudinal centerline, and a circumferential direction extending concentrically around the longitudinal centerline, the combustor including: a forward liner segment; an aft liner segment disposed downstream from the forward liner segment relative to a direction of flow through the combustor, the forward and aft liner segments at least partially defining a combustion chamber; and a fence disposed between the forward and aft liner segments, wherein the fence extends in the circumferential direction, and wherein the fence extends into the combustion chamber along the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Rimple Rakeshkumar Rangrej, Saket Singh, Narasimha Chiranthan R, Shai Birmaher, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger
  • Publication number: 20220390112
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal centerline extending in a longitudinal direction, a radial direction extending orthogonally outward from the longitudinal centerline, and a circumferential direction extending concentrically around the longitudinal centerline, the combustor including: a liner at least partially defining a combustion chamber, the liner including a dilution slot in fluid communication with the combustion chamber; and one or more guides configured to redirect cooling medium into the dilution slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Perumallu Vukanti, Daniel J. Kirtley, Karthikeyan Sampath, Shai Birmaher, Pradeep Naik, Rajendra Mahadeorao Wankhade, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Veeraraju Vanapalli, Deepak Ghiya
  • Publication number: 20220390114
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal centerline extending in a longitudinal direction, a radial direction extending orthogonally outward from the longitudinal centerline, and a circumferential direction extending concentrically around the longitudinal centerline, the combustor including: a forward liner segment; and an aft liner segment disposed downstream from the forward liner segment relative to a direction of flow through the combustor, the forward and aft liner segments at least partially defining a combustion chamber, wherein the forward and aft liner segments are coupled together at a moveable interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Daniel J. Kirtley, Shai Birmaher, Veeraraju Vanapalli, Karthikeyan Sampath, Deepak Ghiya, Perumallu Vukanti, Rajendra Mahadeorao Wankhade, Pradeep Naik, Rimple Rakeshkumar Rangrej, Saket Singh
  • Publication number: 20220390115
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal centerline extending in a longitudinal direction, a radial direction extending orthogonally outward from the longitudinal centerline, and a circumferential direction extending concentrically around the longitudinal centerline, the combustor including: a forward liner segment; an aft liner segment disposed downstream from the forward liner segment relative to a direction of flow through the combustor, the forward and aft liner segments at least partially defining a combustion chamber; and an intermediate member disposed at least partially between the forward and aft liner segments and extending in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Karthikeyan Sampath, Pradeep Naik, Veeraraju Vanapalli, Perumallu Vukanti, Shai Birmaher, Daniel J. Kirtley, Deepak Ghiya, Rimple Rakeshkumar Rangrej, Saket Singh, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Rajendra Mahadeorao Wankhade
  • Publication number: 20220390113
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal centerline extending in a longitudinal direction, a radial direction extending orthogonally outward from the longitudinal centerline, and a circumferential direction extending concentrically around the longitudinal centerline, the combustor including: a liner at least partially defining a combustion chamber of the gas turbine engine, wherein the liner comprises a looped feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Daniel J. Kirtley, Shai Birmaher, Pradeep Naik
  • Publication number: 20220390111
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal centerline extending in a longitudinal direction, a radial direction extending orthogonally outward from the longitudinal centerline, and a circumferential direction extending concentrically around the longitudinal centerline, the combustor including: a liner at least partially defining a combustion chamber, the liner further defining a gap; and an intermediate member disposed at least partially within the gap of the liner and in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, wherein the intermediate member is retained at a relatively fixed position with respect to the liner by a support extending between the intermediate member and a case of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Daniel J. Kirtley, Shai Birmaher, Veeraraju Vanapalli, Karthikeyan Sampath, Deepak Ghiya, Perumallu Vukanti, Rajendra Mahadeorao Wankhade, Pradeep Naik