Patents by Inventor Sanji Ekanayake

Sanji Ekanayake 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: 10337357
    Abstract: The present application provides a power generation system. The power generation system may include a gas turbine engine, a steam turbine, and a steam turbine preheating system. The steam turbine preheating system may include a steam generator that creates a flow of steam to preheat the steam turbine from an extraction of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George Vargese Mathai, Joseph Philip Klosinski, Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, William Theadore Fisher
  • Patent number: 10316759
    Abstract: An airflow control system control system for a gas turbine system according to an embodiment includes: an airflow generation system including a plurality of air moving systems for selective attachment to a rotatable shaft of a gas turbine system, the airflow generation system drawing in an excess flow of air through an air intake section; and a mixing area for receiving an exhaust gas stream of the gas turbine system; the airflow generation system: directing a first portion and a second portion of the excess flow of air generated by the airflow generation system into the mixing area to reduce a temperature of the exhaust gas stream; and directing a third portion of the excess flow of air generated by the airflow generation system into a discharge chamber of a compressor component of the gas turbine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Parag Prakash Kulkarni, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio
  • Patent number: 10272475
    Abstract: The present application thus provides a wash system for use with a compressor having a bellmouth and one or more extraction pipes. The wash system may include a water source, a first fluid source, a mixing chamber in communication with the water source and the first fluid source, a bellmouth line in communication with the mixing chamber and the bellmouth, and a stage line in communication with one of the extraction pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: General, Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Patent number: 10267231
    Abstract: A system for augmenting gas turbine power output is disclosed. The system may include a gas turbine engine having a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The system also may include a pressurized air tank in communication with the gas turbine engine. Moreover, the system may include an external compressor in communication with the pressurized air tank. The external compressor may be configured to supply compressed air to the pressurized air tank, and the pressurized air tank may be configured to supply compressed air to the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Phillip Klosinski, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Patent number: 10253652
    Abstract: A system for controlling gas turbine output for a gas turbine power plant is disclosed herein. The power plant includes a gas turbine including a combustor downstream from a compressor, a turbine downstream from the combustor and an exhaust duct downstream from the outlet of the turbine. The exhaust duct receives exhaust gas from the turbine outlet. The system further includes an exhaust damper operably connected to a downstream end of the exhaust duct. The exhaust damper increases backpressure at the turbine outlet and restricts axial exit velocity of the exhaust gas exiting the turbine outlet when the exhaust damper is partially closed. A method for controlling gas turbine output is also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George Vargese Mathai, Alston Ilford Scipio, Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr., Sanji Ekanayake, Joseph Philip Klosinski
  • Patent number: 10247110
    Abstract: A method and system for transitioning a gas turbine from burning gaseous fuel to liquid fuel and purging the liquid fuel therefrom after transfer back to the gaseous fuel are disclosed herein. The method includes pressurizing a volume of liquid fuel in an accumulator with a first volume of motive gas. A valve is opened in response to low gaseous fuel pressure in the gas turbine to permit the volume of liquid fuel to flow through a conduit to the gas turbine. A volume of flushing medium is pressurized in the accumulator with a second volume of motive gas. The valve is opened to permit at least a portion of the volume of flushing medium to flow through the conduit to flush any of the volume of liquid fuel remaining in the conduit after the gas turbine consumes the volume of liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Alston I. Scipio, David Terry Trayhan, Jr., Sanji Ekanayake, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Patent number: 10179893
    Abstract: A cleaning method and a cleaning fluid are provided. The cleaning method includes accessing a plurality of turbine components attached to a turbine assembly, the turbine assembly being a portion of a turbomachine, positioning at least one cleaning vessel over at least one of the turbine components, forming a liquid seal with a sealing bladder, providing a cleaning fluid to the cleaning vessel, and draining the cleaning fluid from the cleaning vessel. The cleaning fluid includes a carrier fluid and a solvent additive for removing fouling material from the turbine component. An alternative cleaning method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Surinder Singh Pabla, Murali Krishna Kalaga, Alston Ilford Scipio, Ishmael Dean El
  • Patent number: 10174639
    Abstract: The present application provides a power generation system. The power generation system may include a gas turbine engine for creating a flow of combustion gases, a steam turbine, and a steam turbine preheating system. The steam turbine preheating system may receive an extraction of the flow of combustion gases and delivers the extraction to the steam turbine to preheat the steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, George Vargese Mathai, Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Patent number: 10156192
    Abstract: The present application provides a multiple fuel delivery system for use with a gas turbine engine. The multiple fuel delivery system may include a first fuel tank with a first fuel therein, a second fuel tank with a second fuel therein, a mixing chamber, and a flow divider downstream of the mixing chamber. The first fuel tank may be in communication with the mixing chamber via a first fuel pump and the second fuel tank may be in communication with the mixing chamber via a second fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Paul Robert Fernandez, Thomas John Freeman, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Publication number: 20180274391
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods described in this disclosure are directed to operating a combined cycle power plant. In certain embodiments, systems and methods can be provided for a combined cycle power plant incorporating a control system that uses a holistic approach to continuously and automatically adjust a heat rate of the combined cycle power plant and achieve a desired efficiency. In accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, the control system can be used to dynamically control various operations of the combined cycle power plant, including addressing of certain conflicting requirements such as avoiding generation of superheated steam in an attemperator while concurrently maintaining exhaust emissions within allowable regulatory limits and maintaining exhaust gas temperatures within allowable material capability limits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: George Vargese Mathai, Jeremy Andrew Williams, Joseph Klosinski, Sanji Ekanayake, William Fisher, Alston Scipio
  • Patent number: 10072573
    Abstract: A power plant includes a turbine disposed downstream from a combustor. The turbine includes an extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and which provides a flow path for a stream of combustion gas to flow out of the turbine. An exhaust duct is disposed downstream from the turbine and receives exhaust gas from the turbine. An ejector coupled to the extraction port and to an air supply cools the stream of combustion gas upstream from the exhaust duct. The cooled combustion gas flows into the exhaust duct at a higher temperature than the exhaust gas. The cooled combustion gas mixes with the exhaust gas within the exhaust duct to provide a heated exhaust gas mixture to a heat exchanger disposed downstream from the exhaust duct. The heat exchanger may extract thermal energy from the exhaust gas mixture to produce steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, George Vargese Mathai
  • Patent number: 10066632
    Abstract: The present application provides an inlet bleed heat control system for a compressor of a gas turbine engine. The inlet bleed heat control system provides an inlet bleed heat manifold and an ejector in communication with the inlet bleed heat manifold such that the ejector is in communication with a flow of compressor discharge air and a flow of ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Sanji Ekanayake, John Clisby Blanton, Alston Ilford Scipio
  • Publication number: 20180216499
    Abstract: The present application provides a power generation system. The power generation system may include a gas turbine engine, a steam turbine, and a steam turbine preheating system. The steam turbine preheating system may include a steam generator that creates a flow of steam to preheat the steam turbine from an extraction of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: George Vargese Mathai, Joseph Philip Klosinski, Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, William Theadore Fisher
  • Publication number: 20180216497
    Abstract: The present application provides a power generation system. The power generation system may include a gas turbine engine for creating a flow of combustion gases, a steam turbine, and a steam turbine preheating system. The steam turbine preheating system ay receive an extraction of the flow of combustion gases and delivers the extraction to the steam turbine to preheat the steam turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, George Vargese Mathai, Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Patent number: 10036321
    Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing gas turbine compartment ventilation discharge air. In one embodiment, a system may include a gas turbine engine having a compressor. The system also may include a gas turbine compartment disposed about the gas turbine engine. Moreover, the system may include an inlet bleed heat (IBH) manifold in fluid communication with the compressor. The gas turbine compartment may be in fluid communication with the IBH manifold for providing the IBH manifold with ventilation discharge air from the gas turbine compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Joseph Klosinski, Pierre Antoine Semel
  • Patent number: 10024197
    Abstract: A power generation system may include a generator, and a gas turbine system for powering the generator, the gas turbine system including a turbine component, an integral compressor and a combustor to which air from the integral compressor and fuel are supplied, the combustor arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the turbine component, and the integral compressor having a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of at least one of the combustor and the turbine component, creating an excess air flow. A turbo-expander may also power the generator. A first control valve control flow of the excess air flow along an excess air flow path to an inlet of the turbo-expander. An educator may be positioned in the excess air flow path for using the excess air flow as a motive force to augment the excess air flow with additional air. A discharge of the turbo-expander is supplied to an inlet of the integral compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Kihyung Kim, Alston Ilford Scipio, Leslie Yung Min Tong, Michael Wesley Yarnold
  • Patent number: 9976479
    Abstract: A power plant includes a compressor, a combustor downstream from the compressor and a turbine disposed downstream from the combustor. The compressor includes a compressor extraction port. The turbine includes a turbine extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and which provides a flow path for a stream of combustion gas to flow out of the turbine. An exhaust duct is disposed downstream from the turbine and receives exhaust gas from the turbine. A static mixer coupled to the turbine extraction port and to the compressor extraction port cools the stream of combustion gas upstream from the exhaust duct. The cooled combustion gas flows into the exhaust duct at a higher temperature than the exhaust gas and mixes with the exhaust gas within the exhaust duct to provide a heated exhaust gas mixture to a heat exchanger downstream from the exhaust duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Jason Brian Shaffer, Joseph Philip Klosinski, George Vargese Mathai
  • Patent number: 9970354
    Abstract: A power plant includes a compressor, a combustor downstream from the compressor and a turbine disposed downstream from the combustor. The compressor includes a compressor extraction port. The turbine includes a turbine extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and which provides a flow path for a stream of combustion gas to flow out of the turbine. An exhaust duct is disposed downstream from the turbine and receives exhaust gas from the turbine. An ejector coupled to the turbine extraction port and to the compressor extraction port cools the stream of combustion gas upstream from the exhaust duct. The cooled combustion gas flows into the exhaust duct at a higher temperature than the exhaust gas and mixes with the exhaust gas within the exhaust duct to provide a heated exhaust gas mixture to a heat exchanger downstream from the exhaust duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Michael Anthony Cocca, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Patent number: 9964035
    Abstract: A power plant includes a turbine having a plurality of turbine stages and an extraction port in fluid communication with one or more of the turbine stages. The extraction port provides a flow path for a stream of combustion gas to flow out of the turbine. An exhaust duct is disposed downstream from the turbine and receives exhaust gas from the turbine. The exhaust duct is fluid communication with the extraction port. A coolant injection system injects a coolant into the stream of combustion gas to provide cooled combustion gas to the exhaust duct. The cooled combustion gas flows into the exhaust duct at a temperature that is higher than a temperature of the exhaust gas, thereby increasing the temperature of the exhaust gas within the exhaust duct. The increase in thermal energy may be used to produce steam downstream from the exhaust duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Michael Anthony Cocca, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Jason Brian Shaffer
  • Patent number: 9945266
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant includes a gas turbine having a primary flow passage, a heat recovery steam generator having a heat exchanger disposed downstream from the primary flow passage, an exhaust stack in fluid communication with the primary flow passage and disposed downstream from the heat recovery steam generator and a reversible turning gear coupled to a rotor shaft of the gas turbine. The reversible turning gear counter rotates the rotor shaft during turning gear counter rotation operation of the gas turbine and reverses flow of combustion exhaust gas from the exhaust stack through the heat exchanger and back into the primary flow passage of the gas turbine, thereby conserving thermal energy stored in the heat recovery steam generator. A method for conserving thermal energy of a combined cycle power plant during counter rotation turning gear operation of the gas turbine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Julio Enrique Mestroni, Alston I. Scipio