Patents by Inventor Sarah Lori Crothers

Sarah Lori Crothers 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: 9551283
    Abstract: A system with a gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a first combustor comprising a first fuel nozzle, a second combustor comprising a second fuel nozzle, and a first fuel pressure oscillation system. The first fuel pressure oscillation system includes a first rotary device coupled to a first fuel circuit. The first fuel circuit is disposed along a first fuel passage leading to the first fuel nozzle. The first rotary device is configured to generate a first fuel pressure oscillation through the first fuel nozzle. The gas turbine engine also includes a second fuel pressure oscillation system having a second rotary device coupled to a second fuel circuit. The second fuel circuit is disposed along a second fuel passage leading to the second fuel nozzle, and the second rotary device is configured to generate a second fuel pressure oscillation through the second fuel nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, James Scott Flanagan, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160305337
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a system with a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine includes a first combustor having a first fuel injector and a second combustor having a second fuel injector. The gas turbine engine further includes a first fuel conduit extending from a first orifice to a first fuel outlet of the first fuel injector. The first fuel conduit has a first acoustic volume between the first orifice and the first fuel outlet. The gas turbine engine further includes a second fuel conduit extending from a second orifice to a second fuel outlet of the second fuel injector. The second fuel conduit has a second acoustic volume between the second orifice and the second fuel outlet, and the first acoustic volume and the second acoustic volume are different from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Hasan Karim, Joel Meador Hall
  • Publication number: 20160273449
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine having a first combustor and a second combustor. Each combustor has at least one fuel nozzle that receives a mixture of liquid fuel and water, via main and pilot fuel supplies, and that injects the mixture and an oxidant into a combustion chamber. A biasing system is disposed in a fuel path upstream of the fuel nozzles in the second combustor to vary the ratios of water/main fuel or water/pilot fuel or the flow rates of such mixtures. The biasing system is configured to help reduce a combustion dynamics amplitude or modal coupling between the first combustor and the second combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Richard Martin DiCintio, Sarah Lori Crothers
  • Patent number: 9303564
    Abstract: The present application provides a fuel delivery system for a combustor with reduced coherence and/or reduced combustion dynamics. The combustor can assembly may include a first manifold for delivering a first flow of fuel to a first set of fuel injectors and a second manifold for delivering a second flow of fuel to a second set of fuel injectors. The first flow of fuel may have a first temperature and the second flow of fuel may have a second temperature. The first temperature may be higher than the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Christan Xavier Stevenson, David Leach
  • Patent number: 9255711
    Abstract: First and second combustors are provided, and each combustor includes a fuel nozzle and a combustion chamber downstream from the fuel nozzle. Each fuel nozzle includes an axially extending center body, a shroud that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the center body, and vanes that extend radially between the center body and the shroud. A first fuel port through at least one of the vanes is located at a first axial distance from the combustion chamber, a second fuel port through the center body is located at a second axial distance from the combustion chamber, and the vanes are located at a third axial distance from the combustion chamber. The system varies one or more of the first, second, and third axial distances from combustor-to-combustor to produce a combustion instability frequency in the first combustor that is different from the combustion instability frequency in the second combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Gilbert Otto Kraemer
  • Publication number: 20150377138
    Abstract: A system with a gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a first combustor comprising a first fuel nozzle, a second combustor comprising a second fuel nozzle, and a first fuel pressure oscillation system. The first fuel pressure oscillation system includes a first rotary device coupled to a first fuel circuit. The first fuel circuit is disposed along a first fuel passage leading to the first fuel nozzle. The first rotary device is configured to generate a first fuel pressure oscillation through the first fuel nozzle. The gas turbine engine also includes a second fuel pressure oscillation system having a second rotary device coupled to a second fuel circuit. The second fuel circuit is disposed along a second fuel passage leading to the second fuel nozzle, and the second rotary device is configured to generate a second fuel pressure oscillation through the second fuel nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, James Scott Flanagan, Lewis Berkley Davis, JR.
  • Patent number: 9217373
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle includes a center body that extends axially along an axial centerline for a length. A shroud circumferentially surrounds the center body for at least a portion of the length of the center body. A plurality of helical passages circumferentially surround the center body along at least a portion of the length of the center body, and a fuel port in each helical passage has a different convective time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, James Harold Westmoreland, III, Sarah Lori Crothers, Ronald James Chila
  • Patent number: 9212823
    Abstract: A combustor having a combustion chamber is provided with an external flow sleeve and a combustor liner surrounding the combustion chamber. A plurality of flow channels are provided on the combustor liner and a plurality of nozzles are disposed at predetermined locations on the flow channels. The locations of the nozzles are selected to provide different mixing times for fuel injected through the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Ronald James Chila, Mark Allan Hadley, Johnie Franklin McConnaughhay, Sarah Lori Crothers
  • Publication number: 20150345402
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine having a first combustor and a second combustor. The first combustor includes a first fuel conduit having a first plurality of injectors. The first plurality of injectors are disposed in a first configuration within the first combustor along a first fuel path, and the first plurality of injectors are configured to route a fuel to a first combustion chamber. The system further includes a second combustor having a second fuel conduit having a second plurality of injectors. The second plurality of injectors are disposed in a second configuration within the second combustor along a second fuel path, and the second plurality of injectors are configured to route the fuel to a second combustion chamber. The second configuration has at least one difference relative to the first configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Joseph Vincent Citeno, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20150345794
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine having a first combustor and a second combustor. The first combustor includes a first set of fuel nozzles and a first plurality of injection pegs. The first plurality of injection pegs are disposed in a first configuration upstream of the first set of fuel nozzles, along a first fuel path, and the first plurality of injection pegs are configured to route a fuel to the first set of fuel nozzles. The system further includes a second combustor having a second set of fuel nozzles and a second plurality of injection pegs. The second plurality of injection pegs are disposed in a second configuration upstream of the second set of fuel nozzles, along a second fuel path, and the second plurality of injection pegs are configured to route the fuel to the second set of fuel nozzles. The second configuration has at least one difference relative to the first configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Joseph Vincent Citeno
  • Publication number: 20150330636
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine that includes a first combustor and a second combustor. The first combustor includes a first fuel nozzle disposed in a first head end chamber of the first combustor. The first fuel nozzle includes a first orifice configured to inject fuel into a first combustion chamber of the first combustor. The second combustor includes a second fuel nozzle disposed in a second head end chamber of the second combustor. The second fuel nozzle includes a second orifice configured to inject the fuel into a second combustion chamber of the second combustor. The second combustor also includes a second orifice plate disposed in a fuel path upstream of the second orifice. The second orifice plate is configured to help reduce modal coupling between the first combustor and the second combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Charlotte Cole Wilson, Bryan Wesley Romig
  • Publication number: 20150292744
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a system with a gas turbine engine including a first combustor and a second combustor. The first combustor includes a first end cover with a first geometry and the second combustor includes a second end cover with a second geometry. The first geometry has one or more geometric differences relative to the second geometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Willy Steve Ziminsky, Sarah Lori Crothers
  • Publication number: 20150285505
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system including a first combustor having a first fuel nozzle and a second combustor having a second fuel nozzle. The system further includes a first acoustic adjuster having a first drive coupled to a first piston with a first fuel orifice. The first piston is disposed along a first fuel passage leading to the first fuel nozzle of the first combustor. The system further includes a second acoustic adjuster having a second drive coupled to a second piston with a second fuel orifice. The second piston is disposed along a second fuel passage leading to the second fuel nozzle of the second combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christian Xavier Stevenson, Sarah Lori Crothers
  • Patent number: 9151502
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing combustion dynamics includes first and second combustors, and each combustor includes a fuel nozzle and a combustion chamber downstream from the fuel nozzle. Each fuel nozzle includes an axially extending center body, a shroud that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the axially extending center body, a plurality of vanes that extend radially between the center body and the shroud, a first fuel port through at least one of the plurality of vanes at a first axial distance from the combustion chamber, the plurality of vanes being located at a second axial distance from the combustion chamber. A second fuel port is provided through the center body at a third axial distance from the combustion chamber. The system further includes structure for producing a combustion instability frequency in the first combustor that is different from the combustion instability frequency in the second combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Gilbert Otto Kraemer
  • Publication number: 20150260407
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine that includes a first combustor and a second combustor. The first combustor includes a first fuel nozzle disposed in a first head end chamber of the first combustor and a first fuel injector. The first fuel nozzle is configured to inject a first fuel and an oxidant into a first combustion chamber of the first combustor. The second combustor includes a second fuel nozzle disposed in a second head end chamber of the second combustor, a second fuel injector, and a second orifice plate disposed in a second fuel path upstream of the second fuel injector. The second fuel nozzle is configured to inject the first fuel and the oxidant into a second combustion chamber of the second combustor and the second orifice plate is configured to help reduce modal coupling between the first combustor and the second combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Charlotte Cole Wilson
  • Publication number: 20150241066
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine that includes a first combustor and a second combustor. The first combustor includes a first oxidant flow path and a first perforated structure comprising a first plurality of oxidant ports, wherein the first perforated structure is disposed in the first oxidant flow path. The second combustor includes a second oxidant flow path and a second perforated structure comprising a second plurality of oxidant ports. The second perforated structure is disposed in the second oxidant flow path and the first perforated structure has at least one difference relative to the second perforated structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Lucas John Stoia, William Francis Carnell, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150219019
    Abstract: A system includes a control system. The control system includes a coherence derivation system configured to derive a coherence between respective outputs of each of a plurality of combustors coupled to a gas turbine system, and a phase derivation system configured to derive a phase difference between the respective outputs of each of the plurality of combustors coupled to the gas turbine system. The control system is configured to derive an indication of an impending lean blowout (LBO) or an actual LBO of at least one of the plurality of combustors based at least in part on the coherence derivation, the phase derivation, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Scott Arthur Day, Scott Alan Kopcho
  • Publication number: 20150219337
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing modal coupling of combustion dynamics generally include multiple combustors, and each combustor includes multiple fuel nozzle groups for mixing fuel with a compressed working fluid prior to combustion. A fuel circuit is in fluid communication with each fuel nozzle, and orifice plates in the fuel circuit upstream from the fuel nozzles control the fuel split between the fuel nozzles in each combustor and/or between different combustors to produce a frequency difference between combustors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Alberto Jose Negroni
  • Publication number: 20150219016
    Abstract: A system for operating a gas turbine includes a controller configured to execute logic stored in a memory that causes the controller to determine a frequency, a coherence and, optionally, a phase and/or an amplitude, of a combustion instability; to compare the frequency and the coherence, and, optionally, the phase and/or the amplitude, of the combustion instability to a respective predetermined limit; and to adjust at least one parameter of the gas turbine if the frequency, the coherence, and, optionally, the phase and/or the amplitude of the combustion instability is actionable relative to the respective predetermined limit. A related method of operating the gas turbine is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Scott Arthur Day
  • Publication number: 20150219335
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing modal coupling of combustion dynamics among multiple combustors are provided. Each combustor may include one or more fuel nozzles axially aligned with a combustion chamber; one or more fuel injectors downstream from the fuel nozzles; and a set of flow openings integrated with the combustor. The fuel injectors provide fluid communication through a liner that circumferentially surrounds each combustion chamber. The flow rate of compressed working fluid diverted through the fuel injectors may be different and/or variable between the combustors to produce different combustion instability frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Christian Xavier Stevenson, William Francis Carnell, Jr.