Patents by Inventor Willy Steve Ziminsky
Willy Steve Ziminsky 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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Patent number: 11940354Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting a fuel leak are provided. A method of detecting a fuel leak within a turbomachine combustor includes a step of monitoring, by a controller, a sensor output from a particulate matter sensor positioned on a component within the combustor. The sensor output includes one of a fault state sensor output or a non-fault state sensor output. The method further includes receiving, with the controller, the fault state sensor output from the particulate matter sensor when a fuel leak is present within the combustor.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLCInventor: Willy Steve Ziminsky
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Publication number: 20230136865Abstract: A method of operating a combustor of a turbomachine on a total fuel input that contains a concentration of hydrogen that is greater than about 80% is provided. The method includes injecting a first mixture of air and a first fuel containing a first amount of hydrogen into the primary combustion zone of the combustor to generate a first flow of combustion gases having a first temperature. The method further includes injecting, with one or more premix injectors disposed downstream of the fuel nozzles, a second mixture of air and a second fuel containing a second amount of hydrogen into the secondary combustion zone of the combustor to generate a second flow of combustion gases having a second temperature. The method further includes separately injecting a third fuel into secondary combustion zone to generate a third flow of combustion gases having a third temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Michael John Hughes, Willy Steve Ziminsky
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Patent number: 11566790Abstract: A method of operating a combustor of a turbomachine on a total fuel input that contains a concentration of hydrogen that is greater than about 80% is provided. The method includes injecting a first mixture of air and a first fuel containing a first amount of hydrogen into the primary combustion zone of the combustor to generate a first flow of combustion gases having a first temperature. The method further includes injecting, with one or more premix injectors disposed downstream of the fuel nozzles, a second mixture of air and a second fuel containing a second amount of hydrogen into the secondary combustion zone of the combustor to generate a second flow of combustion gases having a second temperature. The method further includes separately injecting a third fuel into secondary combustion zone to generate a third flow of combustion gases having a third temperature.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael John Hughes, Willy Steve Ziminsky
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Publication number: 20220065736Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting a fuel leak are provided. A method of detecting a fuel leak within a turbomachine combustor includes a step of monitoring, by a controller, a sensor output from a particulate matter sensor positioned on a component within the combustor. The sensor output includes one of a fault state sensor output or a non-fault state sensor output. The method further includes receiving, with the controller, the fault state sensor output from the particulate matter sensor when a fuel leak is present within the combustor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventor: Willy Steve Ziminsky
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Publication number: 20210301736Abstract: A method for selectively operating a combustor head end assembly is provided. The combustor head end assembly includes a plurality of bundled tube fuel nozzles. The method includes opening a first fuel circuit of a plurality of fuel circuits. The first fuel circuit of the plurality of fuel circuits is fluidly coupled to a first nozzle group, and the first nozzle group includes one bundled tube fuel nozzle of the plurality of bundled tube fuel nozzles. The method further includes adjusting an airflow received by the plurality of bundled tube fuel nozzles in response to opening the first fuel circuit of the plurality of fuel circuits. The airflow is adjusted based on an emissions output requirement corresponding with the first nozzle group. The method also includes firing the first nozzle group.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2020Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Jayaprakash Natarajan, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Mark William Pinson
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Publication number: 20210301722Abstract: Combustors, gas turbines, and associated methods of operation are provided. A method for operating a combustor includes firing a bundled tube fuel nozzle assembly within a combustion liner of the combustor to generate combustion gases at a first temperature within a first combustion zone length. The method further includes firing a fuel injector downstream from the bundled tube fuel nozzle assembly within the combustion liner of the combustor to generate combustion gases at a second temperature within a second combustion zone length. The first combustion zone length is less than the second combustion zone length. The combustion gases travel through the first combustion zone length in a first time period and through the second combustion zone length in a second time period. The second time period is less than the first time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2020Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Willy Steve Ziminsky, Mark William Pinson, Jayaprakash Natarajan, Lucas John Stoia
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Patent number: 9845956Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 9, 2014Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Willy Steve Ziminsky, Sarah Lori Crothers
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Patent number: 9835089Abstract: A system includes an oxidant compressor and a gas turbine engine turbine, which includes a turbine combustor, a turbine, and an exhaust gas compressor. The turbine combustor includes a plurality of diffusion fuel nozzles, each including a first oxidant conduit configured to inject a first oxidant through a plurality of first oxidant openings configured to impart swirling motion to the first oxidant in a first rotational direction, a first fuel conduit configured to inject a first fuel through a plurality of first fuel openings configured to impart swirling motion to the first fuel in a second rotational direction, and a second oxidant conduit configured to inject a second oxidant through a plurality of second oxidant openings configured to impart swirling motion to the second oxidant in a third rotational direction. The first fuel conduit surrounds the first oxidant conduit and the second oxidant conduit surrounds the first fuel conduit.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2014Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Baifang Zuo, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy
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Patent number: 9822649Abstract: An integrated combustor and stage one nozzle in a gas turbine includes a combustion chamber that receives premixed fuel and air from at least one fuel nozzle group at separate axial locations. The combustion chamber includes a liner and a transition piece that deliver hot combustion gas to the turbine. The stage one nozzle, the liner and the transition piece are integrated into a single part. At least one of the axial locations of the one or more fuel nozzle groups includes a plurality of small scale mixing devices that concentrate heat release and reduce flame length.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Willy Steve Ziminsky, Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronald James Chila, Sergey Anatolievich Meshkov
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Patent number: 9562687Abstract: The present application provides a combustor for use with flow of fuel and a flow of air in a gas turbine engine. The combustor may include a number of micro-mixer fuel nozzles positioned within a liner and an air bypass system position about the liner. The air bypass system variably allows a bypass portion of the flow of air to bypass the micro-mixer fuel nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Heath Michael Ostebee, Christopher Paul Keener
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Patent number: 9546598Abstract: The present application provides a variable volume combustor for use with a gas turbine engine. The variable volume combustor may include a liner, a number of micro-mixer fuel nozzles positioned within the liner, and a linear actuator so as to maneuver the micro-mixer fuel nozzles axially along the liner.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Heath Michael Ostebee, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Thomas Edward Johnson, Christopher Paul Keener
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Patent number: 9506654Abstract: A system for reducing combustion dynamics in a combustor includes an end cap that extends radially across the combustor and includes an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface. A combustion chamber is downstream of the end cap, and tubes extend from the upstream surface through the downstream surface. Each tube provides fluid communication through the end cap to the combustion chamber. The system further includes means for reducing combustion dynamics in the combustor. A method for reducing combustion dynamics in a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through tubes that extend axially through an end cap that extends radially across the combustor and obstructing at least a portion of the working fluid flowing through a first set of the tubes.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2011Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Thomas Edward Johnson, Shiva Srinivasan, William David York
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Patent number: 9353950Abstract: A combustor includes an end cap that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor. The end cap includes an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface. A plurality of tubes extend from the upstream surface through the downstream surface of the end cap to provide fluid communication through the end cap. Each tube in a first set of the plurality of tubes has an inlet proximate to the upstream surface and an outlet downstream from the downstream surface. Each outlet has a first portion that extends a different axial distance from the inlet than a second portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2012Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Thomas Edward Johnson, Michael John Hughes, William David York
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Patent number: 9322557Abstract: A combustor includes a tube bundle that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor. The tube bundle includes an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface. A plurality of tubes extends from the upstream surface through the downstream surface, and each tube provides fluid communication through the tube bundle. A baffle extends axially inside the tube bundle between adjacent tubes. A method for distributing fuel in a combustor includes flowing a fuel into a fuel plenum defined at least in part by an upstream surface, a downstream surface, a shroud, and a plurality of tubes that extend from the upstream surface to the downstream surface. The method further includes impinging the fuel against a baffle that extends axially inside the fuel plenum between adjacent tubes.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2012Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Thomas Edward Johnson, William David York
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Patent number: 9303874Abstract: Embodiments of the present application include a combustor assembly. The combustor assembly may include a combustion chamber, a first plenum, a second plenum, and one or more elongate air/fuel premixing injection tubes. Each of the elongate air/fuel premixing injection tubes may include a first length at least partially disposed within the first plenum and configured to receive a first fluid from the first plenum. Moreover, each of the elongate air/fuel premixing injection tubes may include a second length disposed downstream of the first length and at least partially disposed within the second plenum. The second length may be formed of a porous wall configured to allow a second fluid from the second plenum to enter the second length and create a boundary layer about the porous wall.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2012Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Christian Xavier Stevenson
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Publication number: 20150292744Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2014Publication date: October 15, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Willy Steve Ziminsky, Sarah Lori Crothers
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Patent number: 9140454Abstract: A turbomachine includes a compressor, a combustor operatively connected to the compressor, an end cover mounted to the combustor, and an injection nozzle assembly operatively connected to the combustor. The injection nozzle assembly includes a cap member having a first surface that extends to a second surface. The cap member further includes a plurality of openings. A plurality of bundled mini-tube assemblies are detachably mounted in the plurality of openings in the cap member. Each of the plurality of bundled mini-tube assemblies includes a main body section having a first end section and a second end section. A fluid plenum is arranged within the main body section. A plurality of tubes extend between the first and second end sections. Each of the plurality of tubes is fluidly connected to the fluid plenum.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Thomas Edward Johnson, Baifang Zuo, William David York, Jong Ho Uhm
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Publication number: 20150219336Abstract: A gas turbine includes one or more combustors, and each combustor may include one or more fuel nozzles for mixing fuel with a compressed working fluid prior to combustion. The gas turbine further includes various structures for reducing the modal coupling of the combustion dynamics by producing a different convective time, fuel flow, and/or compressed working fluid flow through at least one fuel nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Christian Xavier Stevenson
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Patent number: 9080513Abstract: A method for operating a combustor is provided. The method includes supplying a predetermined amount of a first gaseous fuel to the combustor, wherein the first gaseous fuel has a first Modified Wobbe Index (MWI) and a first fuel reactivity, and supplying a predetermined amount of a second gaseous fuel to the combustor, wherein the second gaseous fuel has a second MWI that is lower than the first MWI and a second fuel reactivity that is higher than the first fuel reactivity. The method also includes mixing the first and second gaseous fuels together to form a blended gaseous fuel, and injecting the blended gaseous fuel into the combustor.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Willy Steve Ziminsky, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Ertan Yilmaz
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Patent number: 8959921Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of primary nozzles configured to diffuse or premix fuel into an air flow through the combustor; and a secondary nozzle configured to premix fuel with the air flow. Each premixing nozzle includes a center body, at least one vane, a burner tube provided around the center body, at least two cooling passages, a fuel cooling passage to cool surfaces of the center body and the at least one vane, and an air cooling passage to cool a wall of the burner tube. The cooling passages prevent the walls of the center body, the vane(s), and the burner tube from overheating during flame holding events.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2010Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Chunyang Wu, Baifang Zuo, Christian Xavier Stevenson