Patents by Inventor Veerappan Muthaiah

Veerappan Muthaiah 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: 11585234
    Abstract: Systems, program products, and methods for detecting thermal stability within gas turbine systems are disclosed. The systems may include a computing device(s) in communication with a gas turbine system, and a plurality of sensors positioned within or adjacent the gas turbine system. The sensor(s) may measure operational characteristics of the gas turbine system. The computing device(s) may be configured to detect thermal stability within the gas turbine system by performing processes including calculating a lag output for each of the plurality of measured operational characteristics. The calculated lag output may be based on a difference between a calculated lag for the measured operational characteristics and the measured operational characteristic itself. The calculated lag output may be also be based on a time constant for the measured operational characteristics. The computing device(s) may also determine when each of the calculated lag outputs are below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Veerappan Muthaiah, Timothy Andrew Healy, Randy Scott Rosson, Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr., Kowshik Narayanaswamy
  • Patent number: 11149654
    Abstract: Systems, program products, and methods for adjusting operating limit (OL) thresholds for compressors of gas turbine systems based on mass flow loss are disclosed herein. The systems may include at least one computing device in communication with the gas turbine system, sensor(s) measuring operational characteristic(s) of the gas turbine system, and a pressure sensor measuring an ambient fluid pressure surrounding the gas turbine system. The computing device(s) may be configured to adjust operational parameters of the gas turbine system by performing processes including determining a mass flow loss between an estimated, first mass flow rate and a calculated, second mass flow rate for the compressor of the gas turbine system, and adjusting an OL threshold for the compressor of the gas turbine system based on the mass flow loss. The OL threshold for the compressor may be below a predetermined surge threshold for the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Veerappan Muthaiah, Ajay Keshava Rao, Timothy Andrew Healy
  • Publication number: 20210277833
    Abstract: Systems, program products, and methods for adjusting operating limit (OL) thresholds for compressors of gas turbine systems based on mass flow loss are disclosed herein. The systems may include at least one computing device in communication with the gas turbine system, sensor(s) measuring operational characteristic(s) of the gas turbine system, and a pressure sensor measuring an ambient fluid pressure surrounding the gas turbine system. The computing device(s) may be configured to adjust operational parameters of the gas turbine system by performing processes including determining a mass flow loss between an estimated, first mass flow rate and a calculated, second mass flow rate for the compressor of the gas turbine system, and adjusting an OL threshold for the compressor of the gas turbine system based on the mass flow loss. The OL threshold for the compressor may be below a predetermined surge threshold for the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Veerappan Muthaiah, Ajay Keshava Rao, Timothy Andrew Healy
  • Publication number: 20210277794
    Abstract: Systems, program products, and methods for detecting thermal stability within gas turbine systems are disclosed. The systems may include a computing device(s) in communication with a gas turbine system, and a plurality of sensors positioned within or adjacent the gas turbine system. The sensor(s) may measure operational characteristics of the gas turbine system. The computing device(s) may be configured to detect thermal stability within the gas turbine system by performing processes including calculating a lag output for each of the plurality of measured operational characteristics. The calculated lag output may be based on a difference between a calculated lag for the measured operational characteristics and the measured operational characteristic itself. The calculated lag output may be also be based on a time constant for the measured operational characteristics. The computing device(s) may also determine when each of the calculated lag outputs are below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Veerappan Muthaiah, Timothy Andrew Healy, Randy Scott Rosson, Harold Lamar Jordan, JR., Kowshik Narayanaswamy
  • Patent number: 11028784
    Abstract: A control system for a gas turbine includes a controller. The controller includes a processor configured to receive a plurality of signals from sensors disposed in the gas turbine engine system, wherein the gas turbine system engine comprises a compressor section fluidly coupled to a gas turbine section. The processor is additionally configured to derive a vanadium content in a gas turbine engine fuel based on at least one of the plurality of signals. The processor is also configured to determine if a control curve should be adjusted based on the vanadium content in the gas turbine engine fuel, and if it is determined that the control curve should be adjusted, then deriving an adjustment to the control curve based on the vanadium content, and applying the adjustment to the control curve to derive an adjusted control curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pugalenthi Nandagopal, Vikram Muralidharan, Veerappan Muthaiah, Harold Jordan, Jr., Maher Mohamad Aboujaib, Matthieu Paul Frederic Vierling, Sanyu Victoria Nakibuuka Njuki, Pierre Montagne, Sven Sébastien Catrin, Ezio M. Pena Saavedra, Laurent Balcer, Dmitry Sokolov
  • Publication number: 20200088110
    Abstract: A control system for a gas turbine includes a controller. The controller includes a processor configured to receive a plurality of signals from sensors disposed in the gas turbine engine system, wherein the gas turbine system engine comprises a compressor section fluidly coupled to a gas turbine section. The processor is additionally configured to derive a vanadium content in a gas turbine engine fuel based on at least one of the plurality of signals. The processor is also configured to determine if a control curve should be adjusted based on the vanadium content in the gas turbine engine fuel, and if it is determined that the control curve should be adjusted, then deriving an adjustment to the control curve based on the vanadium content, and applying the adjustment to the control curve to derive an adjusted control curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Pugalenthi Nandagopal, Vikram Muralidharan, Veerappan Muthaiah, Harold Jordan, JR., Maher Mohamad Aboujaib, Matthieu Paul Frederic Vierling, Sanyu Victoria Nakibuuka Njuki, Pierre Montagne, Sven Sébastien Catrin, Ezio M. Pena Saavedra, Laurent Balcer, Dmitry Sokolov
  • Patent number: 10227920
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a gas turbine system, having: a turbine driven by combustion products produced by a turbine combustion system; and a separation unit positioned between turbine stages of the turbine, wherein the separation unit separates oxygen out of the combustion products. The separation unit may include an ion transport membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Veerappan Muthaiah, Ashok Kumar Anand, Sanyaswara Rao Ganti
  • Patent number: 9512759
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor, a turbine, an exhaust gas compressor, a flow path, and at least one catalytic converter. The turbine is driven by combustion products from the turbine combustor. The exhaust compressor is configured to compress and route an exhaust gas from the turbine to the turbine combustor. The flow path leads from the exhaust gas compressor, through turbine combustor, and into the turbine. The catalytic converter is disposed along the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Veerappan Muthaiah, Kamlesh Mundra
  • Patent number: 9341113
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph John, Raub Warfield Smith, Bhaskar Pemmi, Veerappan Muthaiah
  • Patent number: 9279340
    Abstract: The present application provides a cooling system for a gas turbine. The cooling system may include a source of CO2, a stator blade cooling system positioned about a casing of the gas turbine and in communication with the source of CO2 and a number of stator blades, and a rotor blade cooling system positioned about a rotor shaft of the gas turbine and in communication with the source of CO2 and a number of rotor blades. A first portion of a flow of CO2 may flow through the stator blade cooling system and returns to the source of CO2 in a first closed loop and a second portion of the flow of CO2 may flow through the rotor blade cooling system and returns to the source of CO2 in a second closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahendhra Muthuramalingam, Ashok Kumar Anand, Veerappan Muthaiah
  • Publication number: 20150315970
    Abstract: A heat exchange circuit in a gas turbine includes an evaporative cooling medium circuit circulating an exchange medium, and a cooling source containing fuel. The cooling source is coupled with a supply line in a heat exchange relationship with the evaporative cooling medium circuit. The exchange medium is cooled by the fuel in the supply line, and the evaporative cooling medium circuit directs the cooled exchange medium through the evaporative cooler. The fuel is heated by the evaporative cooling medium circuit, and the supply line directs the heated fuel to the one or more combustors of the gas turbine. The cooler turbine inlet air results in increased baseload output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph John, Bhaskar Pemmi, Veerappan Muthaiah
  • Publication number: 20150198089
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a gas turbine system, having: a turbine driven by combustion products produced by a turbine combustion system; and a separation unit positioned between turbine stages of the turbine, wherein the separation unit separates oxygen out of the combustion products. The separation unit may include an ion transport membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Veerappan Muthaiah, Ashok Kumar Anand, Sanyaswara Rao Ganti
  • Publication number: 20140216011
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor, a turbine, an exhaust gas compressor, a flow path, and at least one catalytic converter. The turbine is driven by combustion products from the turbine combustor. The exhaust compressor is configured to compress and route an exhaust gas from the turbine to the turbine combustor. The flow path leads from the exhaust gas compressor, through turbine combustor, and into the turbine. The catalytic converter is disposed along the flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric Company
    Inventors: Veerappan Muthaiah, Kamlesh Mundra
  • Patent number: 8752391
    Abstract: An integrated turbomachine oxygen plant includes a turbomachine and an air separation unit. One or more compressor pathways flow compressed air from a compressor through one or more of a combustor and a turbine expander to cool the combustor and/or the turbine expander. An air separation unit is operably connected to the one or more compressor pathways and is configured to separate the compressed air into oxygen and oxygen-depleted air. A method of air separation in an integrated turbomachine oxygen plant includes compressing a flow of air in a compressor of a turbomachine. The compressed flow of air is flowed through one or more of a combustor and a turbine expander of the turbomachine to cool the combustor and/or the turbine expander. The compressed flow of air is directed to an air separation unit and is separated into oxygen and oxygen-depleted air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ashok Kumar Anand, Richard Anthony DePuy, Veerappan Muthaiah
  • Publication number: 20140110092
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph John, Raub Warfield Smith, Bhaskar Pemmi, Veerappan Muthaiah
  • Publication number: 20140090387
    Abstract: A fuel heating system for a power plant includes an exhaust structure having an interior region for receiving an exhaust gas therein. Also included is a fluid injection arrangement comprising a first fluid duct for transferring a fluid, the first fluid duct extending at least partially throughout the interior region of the exhaust structure for heating the fluid. Further included is a heat exchanger for receiving the fluid and a liquid fuel, the fluid heating the liquid fuel during passage of the liquid fuel through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph John, Veerappan Muthaiah, Chandrasekhar Pushkaran, Prithviraj Pandian
  • Patent number: 8641812
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a system includes a gas treatment system configured to treat a gas and a controller configured to control flow of a heat transfer fluid between a solar thermal collector and the gas treatment system. Conduits may interconnect the gas treatment system and the solar thermal collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahendhra Muthuramalingam, Veerappan Muthaiah
  • Publication number: 20130251509
    Abstract: The present application provides a cooling system for a gas turbine. The cooling system may include a source of CO2, a stator blade cooling system positioned about a casing of the gas turbine and in communication with the source of CO2 and a number of stator blades, and a rotor blade cooling system positioned about a rotor shaft of the gas turbine and in communication with the source of CO2 and a number of rotor blades. A first portion of a flow of CO2 may flow through the stator blade cooling system and returns to the source of CO2 in a first closed loop and a second portion of the flow of CO2 may flow through the rotor blade cooling system and returns to the source of CO2 in a second closed loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahendhra Muthuramalingam, Ashok Kumar Anand, Veerappan Muthaiah
  • Publication number: 20130186101
    Abstract: An external fluid in a closed loop is used to cool hot gas path components of gas turbine. After cooling the turbine components, the heated external fluid is dumped either in the compressor discharge casing or in the one of the turbine's stages. Where the external fluid is nitrogen to be dumped in the turbine compressor's discharge casing, the nitrogen is compressed using diluent nitrogen compressors. Alternatively, where the external fluid is nitrogen to be dumped in one of the stages of the turbine, the nitrogen is not compressed at all. The turbine blade heat exchangers in the turbine stages through which the nitrogen passes can be connected in parallel or in series for cooling the hot gas path components in the turbine stages. The nitrogen can optionally be mixed with air or steam or not mixed at all.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kamlesh MUNDRA, Ashok Kumar Anand, Veerappan Muthaiah
  • Patent number: 8418467
    Abstract: A system is disclosed including a low pressure steam turbine; an air-cooled condenser (ACC) in fluid connection with the low pressure (LP) steam turbine, the ACC for receiving a portion of steam from an exhaust of the LP steam turbine; a feedwater heater in fluid connection with the low pressure steam turbine via a conduit, the feedwater heater for receiving a portion of supply steam from the LP steam turbine; and a condensate pump in fluid connection with the ACC and the feedwater heater, the condensate pump for receiving condensate fluid from the ACC and drain fluid from the feedwater heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahendhra Muthuramalingam, Veerappan Muthaiah, Raub Warfield Smith