Patents by Inventor Raub Warfield Smith
Raub Warfield Smith 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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Publication number: 20240133320Abstract: A combined cycle power plant (CCPP) is provided. The CCPP includes a gas turbine that has a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section. The CCPP further includes a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) that has a first economizer. The HRSG receives a flow of exhaust gas from the turbine section. The HRSG further includes a fuel heating system that has a fuel supply line and a high temperature heat exchanger disposed in thermal communication on the fuel supply line. The fuel supply line is fluidly coupled to the combustion section. The high temperature heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the first economizer such that the high temperature heat exchanger receives water from the first economizer. The CCPP further includes a feedwater pump that is fluidly coupled to the high temperature heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventor: Raub Warfield Smith
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Publication number: 20240133341Abstract: A combined cycle power plant (CCPP) includes a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) that includes a first economizer and a condensate supply line. The HRSG receives a flow of exhaust gas from the turbine section. The CCPP further includes a fuel heating system that has a fuel supply line and a high temperature heat exchanger. The fuel supply line is fluidly coupled to the combustion section. The high temperature heat exchanger is disposed in thermal communication on the fuel supply line. A high temperature input line fluidly couples the high temperature heat exchanger to the first economizer of the HRSG such that the high temperature heat exchanger receives water from the first economizer. A recirculation line fluidly coupling the high temperature heat exchanger to the condensate supply. A hydro turbine is disposed on the recirculation line.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventor: Raub Warfield Smith
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Publication number: 20240018907Abstract: A combined cycle power plant includes a gas turbine engine that includes a compressor having a compressor inlet, a compressor outlet, and an interstage inlet defined therebetween. The turbine also includes a turbine outlet configured to discharge a first exhaust gas stream therefrom. A heat recovery steam generator is configured to receive the first exhaust gas stream, extract heat from the first exhaust gas stream, and discharge a second exhaust gas stream therefrom. Either a recirculation compressor pressurizes a first portion of the second exhaust gas stream for recirculation towards the compressor interstage inlet, or an admission compressor pressurizes an air stream directed towards the compressor interstage inlet. A first cooler cools the stream directed to the compressor, thereby defining a cooled stream, wherein the first cooler provides the cooled stream to the interstage inlet of the compressor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2022Publication date: January 18, 2024Inventor: Raub Warfield Smith
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Publication number: 20240003270Abstract: A combined cycle power plant including a gas turbine engine having a compressor inlet and a turbine outlet that is configured to discharge a first exhaust gas stream therefrom. A heat recovery steam generator is configured to receive the first exhaust gas stream, extract heat from the first exhaust gas stream to make steam, and discharge a second exhaust gas stream therefrom. A steam turbine is configured to discharge a steam stream therefrom, a carbon capture system is configured to receive the steam stream, a recirculation blower is configured to pressurize a portion of the second exhaust gas stream for recirculation towards the compressor inlet, and an air inlet blower is configured to pressurize an airflow stream channeled towards the compressor inlet, such that a pressurized mixed flow stream, formed from the portion of the second exhaust gas stream and the airflow stream, is received at the compressor inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2022Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: Raub Warfield Smith, Majed Sammak
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Patent number: 11852074Abstract: A combined cycle power plant includes a gas turbine engine that includes a compressor having a compressor inlet, a compressor outlet, and an interstage inlet defined therebetween. The turbine also includes a turbine outlet configured to discharge a first exhaust gas stream therefrom. A heat recovery steam generator is configured to receive the first exhaust gas stream, extract heat from the first exhaust gas stream, and discharge a second exhaust gas stream therefrom. Either a recirculation compressor pressurizes a first portion of the second exhaust gas stream for recirculation towards the compressor interstage inlet, or an admission compressor pressurizes an air stream directed towards the compressor interstage inlet. A first cooler cools the stream directed to the compressor, thereby defining a cooled stream, wherein the first cooler provides the cooled stream to the interstage inlet of the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Raub Warfield Smith
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Patent number: 10851990Abstract: The present application provides an energy control computing device for adjusting one or more steam flow parameters delivered to a steam turbine from a heat recovery steam generator via a number of control devices. The energy control computing device includes a processor in communication with a memory. The processor is programmed to receive a number of measured operating values, identify steam turbine operating limits, identify a number of candidate operating modes meeting steam turbine operating limits, selecting the candidate operating mode maximizing the steam flow parameters while not exceeding the steam turbine operating limits, and directing the control devices to meet the selected candidate operating mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2019Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Charles Michael Jones, Robert John Gdaniec, Raub Warfield Smith, Francois Droux
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Publication number: 20200284427Abstract: The present application provides an energy control computing device for adjusting one or more steam flow parameters delivered to a steam turbine from a heat recovery steam generator via a number of control devices. The energy control computing device includes a processor in communication with a memory. The processor is programmed to receive a number of measured operating values, identify steam turbine operating limits, identify a number of candidate operating modes meeting steam turbine operating limits, selecting the candidate operating mode maximizing the steam flow parameters while not exceeding the steam turbine operating limits, and directing the control devices to meet the selected candidate operating mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2019Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventors: Charles Michael JONES, Robert John GDANIEC, Raub Warfield SMITH, Francois DROUX
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Patent number: 10087801Abstract: An airflow control system for a gas turbine system according to an embodiment includes: an airflow generation system for attachment to a rotatable expander shaft of a gas turbine system, downstream of the gas turbine system, for drawing in a flow of ambient air through an air intake section into a mixing area; and an eductor nozzle for attachment to a downstream end of the turbine component for receiving an exhaust gas stream produced by the gas turbine system and for drawing in a flow of ambient air through the air intake section into the mixing area, the exhaust gas stream passing through the eductor nozzle into the mixing area; wherein, in the mixing area, the exhaust gas stream mixes with the flow of ambient air drawn in by the airflow generation system and the flow of ambient air drawn in by the eductor nozzle to reduce a temperature of the exhaust gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Parag Prakash Kulkarni, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Robert Joseph Reed, Raub Warfield Smith
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Patent number: 10041378Abstract: A method for adjusting startup floor pressure levels of HRSG steam circuits is implemented by a pressure controlling computing device including a processor and a memory. The method includes receiving a plurality of measured plant operating values associated with a HRSG steam circuit, identifying a plurality of candidate pressure levels for use in pressurizing the HRSG steam circuit, determining a calculated steam velocity level for each of the plurality of candidate pressure levels, identifying a steam velocity limit for a steam piping section of the HRSG steam circuit, selecting a lowest pressure level of the plurality of candidate pressure levels, wherein the lowest pressure level is associated with a determined calculated steam velocity level that does not exceed the identified velocity limit, and pressurizing the HRSG steam circuit to the selected lowest pressure level.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2015Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Leslie Yung Min Tong, Raub Warfield Smith, Diego Fernando Rancruel, Erhan Karaca, Charles Michael Jones, Bryan Michael Jones
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Patent number: 9784183Abstract: Various embodiments include a system having: at least one computing device configured to tune a set of gas turbines (GTs) by performing actions including: commanding each GT in the set of GTs to a base load level, based upon a measured ambient condition for each GT; commanding each GT in the set of GTs to adjust a respective output to match a nominal mega-watt power output value, and subsequently measuring an actual fuel flow value and an actual emissions value for each GT; adjusting at least one of a fuel flow or a water flow for each GT to an adjusted water/fuel ratio in response to the actual emissions value deviating from an emissions level associated with the base load level, while maintaining the respective adjusted output; and adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual fuel flow value and a nominal fuel flow value at the ambient condition, while maintaining the adjusted water/fuel ratio.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr., Rex Allen Morgan, Raub Warfield Smith
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Patent number: 9650909Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes a controller configured to obtain an inter-stage pressure measurement between stages of a multi-stage compressor. The controller is also configured to identify actual damage in the multi-stage compressor based at least in part on the inter-stage pressure measurement.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2009Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Raub Warfield Smith
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Publication number: 20160376961Abstract: An airflow control system for a gas turbine system according to an embodiment includes: an airflow generation system for attachment to a rotatable expander shaft of a gas turbine system, downstream of the gas turbine system, for drawing in a flow of ambient air through an air intake section into a mixing area; and an eductor nozzle for attachment to a downstream end of the turbine component for receiving an exhaust gas stream produced by the gas turbine system and for drawing in a flow of ambient air through the air intake section into the mixing area, the exhaust gas stream passing through the eductor nozzle into the mixing area; wherein, in the mixing area, the exhaust gas stream mixes with the flow of ambient air drawn in by the airflow generation system and the flow of ambient air drawn in by the eductor nozzle to reduce a temperature of the exhaust gas stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2015Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventors: Parag Prakash Kulkarni, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Robert Joseph Reed, Raub Warfield Smith
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Patent number: 9477214Abstract: Systems and methods provided herein. In one embodiment, a system includes an advisory system including a loss computation engine configured to derive a total system loss for an industrial plant based on a first sensor positioned in a first industrial plant component and on a first physical model of the first industrial plant component. The advisory system further includes a cost model configured to use a cost function to derive a cost based on the total system loss, and a control strategy system configured to derive an advisory report, a control correction factor, or a combination thereof, based on the cost, wherein a control system is configured to apply the control correction factor to control a process in the industrial plant.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Awadesh Kumar Tiwari, Mahesh Kumar Asati, Raub Warfield Smith, Achalesh Kumar Pandey
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Patent number: 9404393Abstract: A combined cycle power plant in which a gas turbine engine generates power, a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) produces steam from high energy fluids produced from the generation of power in the gas turbine engine and a steam turbine engine generates additional power from the steam produced in the HRSG. The combined cycle power plant includes a heating element fluidly interposed between the steam turbine engine and the HRSG to heat fluid output from the steam turbine engine, which is to be fed to the HRSG and a control system to control an amount the fluid output from the steam turbine engine is heated by the heating element based on differences between HRSG and ambient temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2011Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Raymond Pang, Raub Warfield Smith
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Publication number: 20160201518Abstract: A method for adjusting startup floor pressure levels of HRSG steam circuits is implemented by a pressure controlling computing device including a processor and a memory. The method includes receiving a plurality of measured plant operating values associated with a HRSG steam circuit, identifying a plurality of candidate pressure levels for use in pressurizing the HRSG steam circuit, determining a calculated steam velocity level for each of the plurality of candidate pressure levels, identifying a steam velocity limit for a steam piping section of the HRSG steam circuit, selecting a lowest pressure level of the plurality of candidate pressure levels, wherein the lowest pressure level is associated with a determined calculated steam velocity level that does not exceed the identified velocity limit, and pressurizing the HRSG steam circuit to the selected lowest pressure level.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2015Publication date: July 14, 2016Inventors: Leslie Yung Min Tong, Raub Warfield Smith, Diego Fernando Rancruel, Erhan Karaca, Charles Michael Jones, Bryan Michael Jones
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Publication number: 20160138470Abstract: Various embodiments include a system having: at least one computing device configured to tune a set of gas turbines (GTs) by performing actions including: commanding each GT in the set of GTs to a base load level, based upon a measured ambient condition for each GT; commanding each GT in the set of GTs to adjust a respective output to match a nominal mega-watt power output value, and subsequently measuring an actual fuel flow value and an actual emissions value for each GT; adjusting at least one of a fuel flow or a water flow for each GT to an adjusted water/fuel ratio in response to the actual emissions value deviating from an emissions level associated with the base load level, while maintaining the respective adjusted output; and adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual fuel flow value and a nominal fuel flow value at the ambient condition, while maintaining the adjusted water/fuel ratio.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2014Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, JR., Harold Lamar Jordan, JR., Rex Allen Morgan, Raub Warfield Smith
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Patent number: 9341113Abstract: An attemperation system and an atomizing air system are integrated for a combined cycle turbine including a gas turbine and a steam turbine. The atomizing air system receives compressor discharge air for fuel atomization. The atomizing air system includes an atomizing air cooler that serves to cool the compressor discharge air. A heat recovery steam generator receives exhaust from the gas turbine and generates steam for input to the steam turbine via an attemperation system. A feed water circuit draws feed water from the heat recovery steam generator and communicates in a heat exchange relationship with the atomizing air cooler to heat the feed water. The feed water circuit communicates the heated feed water to the attemperation system of the heat recovery steam generator.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2012Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Joseph John, Raub Warfield Smith, Bhaskar Pemmi, Veerappan Muthaiah
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Publication number: 20160076455Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for protecting a surface from corrosive pollutants. A method includes detecting airborne corrosive pollutants proximate to a surface using at least one sensor adapted to detect a concentration of the airborne corrosive pollutants and/or one or more types of airborne corrosive pollutants, the concentration of the airborne corrosive pollutants being an instantaneous concentration value or a time-weighted-integrated concentration value; selecting a fluid to deliver to at least a portion of the surface based upon a predetermined type and/or concentration of the airborne corrosive pollutants detected by the at least one sensor; and initiating a fluid treatment to deliver the selected fluid such that the selected fluid contacts the at least a portion of the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2014Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Dale Joel Davis, Robert Michael Orenstein, Alston Ilford Scipio, Raub Warfield Smith
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Publication number: 20140257526Abstract: Systems and methods provided herein. In one embodiment, a system includes an advisory system including a loss computation engine configured to derive a total system loss for an industrial plant based on a first sensor positioned in a first industrial plant component and on a first physical model of the first industrial plant component. The advisory system further includes a cost model configured to use a cost function to derive a cost based on the total system loss, and a control strategy system configured to derive an advisory report, a control correction factor, or a combination thereof, based on the cost, wherein a control system is configured to apply the control correction factor to control a process in the industrial plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Awadesh Kumar Tiwari, Mahesh Kumar Asati, Raub Warfield Smith, Achalesh Kumar Pandey
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Publication number: 20140126991Abstract: The present application thus provides an active cooling system for a compressor and a turbine of a gas turbine engine. The active cooling system may include an air extraction pipe extending from the compressor to the turbine, a heat exchanger positioned about the air extraction pipe, and an external air cooling system in communication with the air extraction pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2012Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Raub Warfield Smith, Alston Ilford Scipio, Steven Hartman, Robert Frank Hoskin