Patents by Inventor Priscilla Childers

Priscilla Childers 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: 8286414
    Abstract: A system and method to reduce the gas fuel supply pressure requirements of a gas turbine, which results in an increased operability range and a reduction in gas turbine trips. According to the method, the gas turbine is allowed to start and operate at supply pressures determined as a function of ambient conditions and gas turbine compressor pressure ratio. This increases the operability window, and reduces or eliminates the need for gas fuel compressors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Gallagher, Ravi Praveen S. Eluripati, Jonathan Carl Thatcher, Priscilla Childers, Bryan Edward Sweet
  • Patent number: 8240153
    Abstract: A method for controlling the generation of turbine cooling air from air extracted from a compressor of a gas turbine including: extracting compressed air from a low pressure and a high pressure stage of the compressor; adding in an ejector the compressed air from the low pressure stage to the air from the high pressure stage and discharging the combined air as turbine cooling air; bypassing the ejector with a bypass portion of the extracted compressed air from the high pressure stage; in response to turning on the flow of extracted compressed air from the low pressure stage, changing a set point for an actual pressure ratio that includes a pressure of the turbine cooling air, and adjusting the bypass flow in response to the changed set point to cause the actual pressure ratio to approach the changed set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Priscilla Childers, Mark Disch, Curtis Newton, III, David Wesley Ball, Jr., Kenneth Neil Whaling, Alan Meier Truesdale
  • Publication number: 20120117977
    Abstract: A method for controlling the generation of turbine cooling air from air extracted from a compressor of a gas turbine including: extracting compressed air from a low pressure and a high pressure stage of the compressor; adding in an ejector the compressed air from the low pressure stage to the air from the high pressure stage and discharging the combined air as turbine cooling air; bypassing the ejector with a bypass portion of the extracted compressed air from the high pressure stage; in response to turning on the flow of extracted compressed air from the low pressure stage, changing a set point for an actual pressure ratio that includes a pressure of the turbine cooling air, and adjusting the bypass flow in response to the changed set point to cause the actual pressure ratio to approach the changed set point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Priscilla Childers, Mark Disch, Curtis Newton, III, David Wesley Ball, JR., Kenneth Neil Whaling, Alan Meier Truesdale
  • Patent number: 7837429
    Abstract: A system for controlling the clearance between a turbine blade and the turbine casing that includes an impingement cooling manifold attached to a turbine casing, a temperature sensing device for determining the temperature of the turbine casing, a blower, a control system logic for determining the setting temperature of the casing, and a controller for controlling the blower, wherein the blower forces air onto the impingement cooling manifold to cool the casing towards the setting temperature and control the clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Dean Erickson, Michael Michalski, Jason Seale, Priscilla Childers
  • Publication number: 20100034635
    Abstract: A system for controlling the clearance between a turbine blade and the turbine casing that includes an impingement cooling manifold attached to a turbine casing, a temperature sensing device for determining the temperature of the turbine casing, a blower, a control system logic for determining the setting temperature of the casing, and a controller for controlling the blower, wherein the blower forces air onto the impingement cooling manifold to cool the casing towards the setting temperature and control the clearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dean Erickson, Hua Zhang, Michael Michalski, Jason Seale, Priscilla Childers
  • Publication number: 20090241510
    Abstract: A system and method to reduce the gas fuel supply pressure requirements of a gas turbine, which results in an increased operability range and a reduction in gas turbine trips. According to the method, the gas turbine is allowed to start and operate at supply pressures determined as a function of ambient conditions and gas turbine compressor pressure ratio. This increases the operability window, and reduces or eliminates the need for gas fuel compressors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Gallagher, Ravi Praveen S. Eluripati, Jonathan Carl Thatcher, Priscilla Childers, Bryan Edward Sweet
  • Patent number: 7549293
    Abstract: A system and method to reduce the gas fuel supply pressure requirements of a gas turbine, which results in an increased operability range and a reduction in gas turbine trips. According to the method, the gas turbine is allowed to start and operate at supply pressures determined as a function of ambient conditions and gas turbine compressor pressure ratio. This increases the operability window, and reduces or eliminates the need for gas fuel compressors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Gallagher, Ravi Praveen S Eluripati, Jonathan Carl Thatcher, Priscilla Childers, Bryan Edward Sweet
  • Publication number: 20070186557
    Abstract: A system and method to reduce the gas fuel supply pressure requirements of a gas turbine, which results in an increased operability range and a reduction in gas turbine trips. According to the method, the gas turbine is allowed to start and operate at supply pressures determined as a function of ambient conditions and gas turbine compressor pressure ratio. This increases the operability window, and reduces or eliminates the need for gas fuel compressors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Gallagher, Ravi Praveen Eluripati, Jonathan Thatcher, Priscilla Childers, Bryan Sweet