Patents by Inventor Prakash Rajagopal

Prakash Rajagopal 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: 9683453
    Abstract: Systems and devices configured to reduce thermal design clearances (e.g., between stationary nozzles connected to the inner casing and rotor buckets connected to the rotor) in turbines by actively controlling casing movements and/or locations during turbine operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a clearance management system includes: a first inner casing support arm shaped to connect to an inner casing of a turbine and extend through an outer casing of the turbine; a seal system disposed about the first inner casing support arm and configured to connect to the outer casing; and a set of actuators disposed on a turbine foundation of the turbine and connected to the first inner casing support arm, the set of actuators located external to the outer casing and configured to adjust a position of the inner casing relative to the outer casing via manipulation of the first inner casing support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Karimulla Shaik Sha, Prakash Rajagopal, Xiaoqing Zheng
  • Publication number: 20150071766
    Abstract: Systems and devices configured to reduce thermal design clearances (e.g., between stationary nozzles connected to the inner casing and rotor buckets connected to the rotor) in turbines by actively controlling casing movements and/or locations during turbine operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a clearance management system includes: a first inner casing support arm shaped to connect to an inner casing of a turbine and extend through an outer casing of the turbine; a seal system disposed about the first inner casing support arm and configured to connect to the outer casing; and a set of actuators disposed on a turbine foundation of the turbine and connected to the first inner casing support arm, the set of actuators located external to the outer casing and configured to adjust a position of the inner casing relative to the outer casing via manipulation of the first inner casing support arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Karimulla Shaik Sha, Prakash Rajagopal, Xiaoqing Zheng