Fuel Patents (Class 60/39.281)
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Patent number: 9828916Abstract: A fuel system includes a fuel pump formed of a constant-volume pump for changing a discharge flow rate in conjunction with a variation in a speed of revolution of a drive shaft, a boost pump disposed upstream from the fuel pump and formed of a constant-volume pump of which a discharge flow rate per unit of revolution of a drive shaft is greater than that of the fuel pump, a single electric motor rotationally driving the drive shaft of the fuel pump and the drive shaft of the boost pump in a state in which the speeds of revolution thereof are equal to each other, a return flow channel connecting an upstream side and a downstream side of the boost pump, and a relief valve disposed in the return flow channel and opened when an internal pressure of the return flow channel is greater than a reference pressure.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: IHI CorporationInventor: Seiei Masuda
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Patent number: 9822703Abstract: A fuel supply system is provided having a first fuel gas compressor configured to be driven by a motor and a second fuel gas compressor configured to be driven by a shaft of a gas turbine system. The first fuel gas compressor and the second fuel gas compressor are configured to supply a pressurized fuel flow to a combustor of the gas turbine system, and the first fuel gas compressor and the second fuel gas compressor are coupled to one another in series.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2013Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ping Yu, Wenjie Wu, Zhiyong Chen
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Patent number: 9810156Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling mode transfers of a turbine combustor are provided. According to one embodiment, a system may include a controller to control a combustor, and a processor communicatively coupled to the controller. The processor may be configured to receive current operating conditions, target operating limits, and combustor transfer functions. The combustor transfer functions may be evaluated to estimate operating limits associated with one or more combustion modes under the current operating conditions. The estimated operating limits associated with the one or more combustor modes may be compared to the target operating limits, and, based on the comparison, at least one of the combustion modes may be selected. The combustor may then be selectively transferred to the selected combustion mode.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2012Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jason Charles Terry, Timothy Andrew Healy
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Patent number: 9804054Abstract: A system for early detection of onset of oscillatory instabilities in practical devices is described. The system consists of a measuring device, an instability detection unit and a control unit. The measuring device is configured to generate signals corresponding to the dynamics happening inside the practical device. The instability detection unit is configured to diagnose the stability of the practical device from the signals that are generated by the measuring device. Further, the control unit is configured to control various operating parameters in the practical device based on the information obtained from the instability detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2013Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRASInventors: Vineeth Nair Vinod, Gireeshkumaran Thampi, Sulochana Karuppusamy, Saravanan Gopalan, Sujith Raman Pillai Indusekharan Nair
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Patent number: 9790807Abstract: An aircraft turbine engine including at least one spool rotating at speed N1 and a monitoring system including: a regulating module including at least one regulation measurement channel to obtain a measurement of the speed N1 and a mechanism to compare the obtained speed measurement with a thrust setpoint to provide a thrust status; and a module for engaging a protection function of UHT or ATTCS type of the turbine engine. The turbine engine further includes a system for protection against overspeed to prevent ejection of high-energy debris outside the turbine engine, the protection system including at least one overspeed measurement channel to obtain an overspeed of the rotating spool of the turbine engine. The engagement module compares at least one overspeed obtained with at least one reference speed defined according to the protection function to be engaged, to engage the protection function according to results of the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2013Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Cecile Valerie Marie Cointe, Michael Dinsart, Cedrik Djelassi, Bruno Robert Gaully
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Patent number: 9771906Abstract: An engine fuel control system includes a fuel metering valve operable to control the flow of fuel between a supply line and a delivery line. The delivery line is configured to receive fuel from one or more fuel pumps. The engine fuel control system further includes a pressure raising arrangement which receives the fuel flow from the delivery line and raises the fuel pressure therein. The engine fuel control system further includes a pressure sensor arranged to sense the pressure of the fuel in the supply line between the one or more fuel pumps and the fuel metering valve, or to sense the pressure of the fuel in the delivery line between the fuel metering valve and the pressure raising arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2014Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventor: Nigel Henson
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Patent number: 9739199Abstract: A control system for a gas turbine includes a controller. The controller includes a processor configured to access an operational parameter associated with the gas turbine. The processor is configured to calculate a bias based on the operational parameter, wherein the bias indicates an amount of change in a temperature of an oxidant entering a compressor of the turbine to reach a reference temperature. The processor is further configured to control the temperature of the oxidant based on the bias to improve power output of the gas turbine.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Daniel Aaron Kessler, Christopher Hung Vu, Veronica Elizabeth Vela
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Patent number: 9739208Abstract: An engine fuel control system is provided, including a supply line for the supply of fuel to a fuel metering valve which controls the flow of fuel to burners of an engine. Fuel is delivered at a first high pressure to the supply line by a pump arrangement. The engine fuel control system includes a restrictor located in the supply line for passage of the fuel delivered by the pump arrangement therethrough. The restrictor is configured such that fuel exiting the restrictor for onward supply to the fuel metering valve is at a second high pressure which is lower than the first high pressure. The engine fuel control system includes pressure limiting valves which actuate when the pressure difference between the first high and low pressure reaches a predetermined level to open a flow path for fuel on the supply line to by-pass the restrictor, thereby limiting the pressure difference.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventors: Michael Griffiths, Roger Southeran
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Patent number: 9731723Abstract: A working vehicle includes an engine, a pair of right and left traveling portions rotated by a power of the engine, a pair of right and left brake operation devices for respectively operating to brake the traveling portions, an engine controller which controls driving of the engine, and a control mode selection switch which can alternatively select the isochronous control and the droop control. The engine controller selects any of an isochronous control and a droop control so as to control the engine. In the case that the isochronous control is designated by the control mode selection switch, the engine is controlled according to the isochronous control when one of the right and left brake operation devices is under a non-operation state, and the engine is controlled according to the droop control when both of the right and left brake operation devices are under an operation state.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2016Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akimichi Iwata, Hiroshi Isobe
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Patent number: 9726085Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a gas turbine group including, a first combustion chamber, a first turbine connected, a second combustion chamber, a second turbine, and a load. The method includes: measuring a temperature TAT1 at an outlet of the first turbine; determining a ratio S1R of a fuel mass flow feeding a pilot flame of the first combustion chamber to a total fuel mass flow feeding the first combustion chamber based upon the measured temperature TAT1 in accordance with a predetermined mapping table between ratio S1R and temperature TAT1; adopting the larger one between the determined ratio S1R and a predetermined booster ratio S1R to be used in the controlling fuel flow feeding the first combustion chamber of the gas turbine group. Pulsation behavior of the gas turbine group may be improved. High pulsation during fast de-loading of the gas turbine group is substantially is decreased, avoiding potential damage to the parts of the gas turbine group.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2014Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AGInventors: Sebastian Lipari, Ghislain Singla, Thiemo Meeuwissen, Theodoros Ferreira-Providakis
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Patent number: 9708983Abstract: The present disclosure refers to a method for operating a gas turbine with sequential combustors having a first-burner, a first combustion chamber, and a second combustor arranged sequentially in a fluid flow connection. To minimize emissions and combustion stability problems during transient changes when the fuel flow to a second combustor is initiated the method includes the steps of increasing the second fuel flow to a minimum flow, and reducing the first fuel flow to the first-burner of the same sequential combustor and/or the fuel flow to at least one other sequential combustor of the sequential combustor arrangement in order keep the total fuel mass flow to the gas turbine substantially constant. Besides the method a gas turbine with a fuel distribution system configured to carry out such a method is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AGInventors: Adnan Eroglu, Juergen Hoffmann
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Patent number: 9709278Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 12, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Charlotte Cole Wilson
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Patent number: 9695750Abstract: A turbine engine assembly having a turbine core with a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and a nozzle section and a liquid natural gas (LNG) fuel system having a LNG reservoir, a vaporizer heat exchanger, a first liquid supply line operably coupling the LNG reservoir to an input of the vaporizer heat exchanger, a gas supply line operably coupling an output of the vaporizer heat exchanger to the combustion section, a second liquid supply line operably coupling the LNG reservoir to the gas supply line and a thermostatic expansion valve (TEV) and a dual fuel aircraft control system.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2013Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Gary Craig Wollenweber
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Patent number: 9677476Abstract: Presented herein are turbine machines, turbine control systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices for controlling turbines including a compressor, a combustion system, and a turbine section comprising a turbine operating at an initial turbine output while using initial parameter values for the respective control parameters of the turbine. The techniques involve, for respective selected control parameters, selecting an adjustment of the initial parameter value of the selected control parameter, and predicting a predicted turbine output of the turbine operated using the adjustment of the selected control parameter and the initial parameter values for other control parameters; comparing the predicted turbine outputs for the adjustments of the respective control parameters to select, from the control parameters, a target control parameter having a target adjustment that results in the target turbine output; and operating the turbine with the target adjustment of the target control parameter.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jonathan York Smith, John Rogers Huey, Prabhanjana Kalya
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Patent number: 9678161Abstract: The disclosure relates to checking a rotational speed relay of a wind turbine. The wind turbine comprises a rotational speed sensor for the rotational speed of a shaft. The rotational speed sensor outputs a rotational speed signal, which is fed to a signal input of the rotational speed relay. According to disclosure, the rotational speed signal fed to the rotational speed relay is first inactivated. Then a signal generator is activated, which produces a check signal equivalent to the rotational speed signal. The check signal is fed to the signal input of the rotational speed relay. The signal generator is operated with a check signal that is beyond a rotational speed limit, and a check is performed to determine if the rotational speed relay generates a switch-off command. This allows the functional capability of the rotational speed relay to be checked reliably and at low cost.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2011Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: SENVION SEInventor: Soenke Bolln
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Patent number: 9677686Abstract: A gas supply system of a gas turbine and a method for controlling an operation of the gas supply system. A gas supply system includes a first valve connected in series to a set of second valves that are in parallel with each other. At least one second valve from the set of second valves is connected to a combustion chamber of the gas turbine. A degree of opening of the first valve and the at least one second valve is changed to in a manner that controls a total mass flow of gas output by the set of second valves during the change in the degree of opening.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Christian-Anghel Solacolu
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Patent number: 9664656Abstract: A method for monitoring the concentration of a gas in an enclosed space is provided. A gas is injected into the space, by a gas injection system. The concentration of the gas is measured using a gas sensor. The concentration is compared with predetermined limits, and the gas injection system is shut off if the concentration is above one of the predetermined limits. In addition, hardware, software, and signal control elements which perform the monitoring, are continuously monitored for faults, and if a fault is detected, the gas injection system is shut off.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2012Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Ruks Engineering Ltd.Inventors: Narayan Krishnan, Santanam Sridhar
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Patent number: 9639071Abstract: A method and system for transferring between combustion modes in a gas turbine engine is provided. A processor generates data representative of an initial set of splits for providing at least one of fuel and air to at least one combustor in the gas turbine engine. A gas turbine engine model module generates data representative of at least one engine operating condition. A first split calculation module generates data representative of at least one set of active control splits to control the engine in a first combustion mode, using as an input the initial split data. A second split calculation module generates data representative of at least one set of passive control splits to control the engine in at least a second combustion mode. Transfer between combustion modes may be accomplished via use of at least one of the active control splits and the passive control splits.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Prabhanjana Kalya, Steven William Backman, Laura Lea Boes, David Spencer Ewens, Trevor Valder Jones
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Patent number: 9625886Abstract: A conditionally active limit regulator may be used to regulate the performance of engines or other limit regulated systems. A computing system may determine whether a variable to be limited is within a predetermined range of a limit value as a first condition. The computing system may also determine whether a current rate of increase or decrease of the variable to be limited is great enough that the variable will reach the limit within a predetermined period of time with no other changes as a second condition. When both conditions are true, the computing system may activate a simulated or physical limit regulator.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2013Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Sanjay Garg, Ryan D. May
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Patent number: 9624777Abstract: A rotor of an aircraft turbomachine having a main axis A, which includes modifying the critical speed of the rotor, depending on whether the rotational speed of the rotor is lower or higher than a predefined rotational speed, including a component that is capable of occupying a first state or a second state depending on whether the rotational speed of the rotor is lower or higher than the predefined rotational speed, each state of the component corresponding to a critical speed of the rotor, and driving the component to one or the other of the two states thereof, depending on the rotational speed of the rotor, wherein modifying the critical speed of the rotor further includes a component that engages with the drive means and is capable of being deformed elastically between one or the other of two stable forms, each of which corresponds to a state of the component.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: SNECMAInventor: Julien Michel Patrick Christian Austruy
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Patent number: 9611791Abstract: 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 fuel flow to match a nominal fuel flow value, and subsequently measuring an actual power output value for each GT; and adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual power output value and a nominal power output value at the ambient condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rex Allen Morgan, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Scott Arthur Day, Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr.
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Patent number: 9612016Abstract: The state of a flame in a subject combustor of a gas turbine engine is acoustically monitored using a dynamic pressure sensor within the subject combustor and one or more additional sensors in nearby combustors. Dynamic pressure sensor output signals from the sensors are cross correlated to identify acoustic oscillations generated by a flame in the subject combustor and received by the sensors. The cross correlation may be constrained by a maximum time delay between correlated components of the signals, based on physical characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Heiko Claussen, Nancy H. Ulerich, Zainul Momin, Patrick Ronald Flohr
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Patent number: 9605595Abstract: A method for eliminating rotational stall in a compressor of a turbine engine, includes automatically detecting surge in the turbine engine; automatically shutting-down the turbine engine; in the event surge is detected, automatically restoring a surge margin; and automatically re-igniting the turbine machine.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2012Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: SNECMAInventor: Cédrik Djelassi
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Patent number: 9599018Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for the safe operation of a gas turbine plant, whose operation is both controlled by at least one process controller, which at least triggers and/or influences operationally relevant processes of the gas turbine plant, and is also monitored by a separate protection unit that is operated independently of the process controller on the basis of at least one first limit value for a safety-relevant operating parameter, wherein the gas turbine plant is subjected to an emergency switch-off once the at least one first limit value is exceeded. In that in the case of a defined transient operating state of the gas turbine plant that can be detected by the protection unit, the at least one first limit value of the safety-relevant operating parameter is raised to a second limit value, wherein the gas turbine plant is protected by an emergency switch-off of the gas turbine plant once said second limit value is exceeded.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBHInventor: Andreas Belzner
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Patent number: 9599027Abstract: 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 emissions value to match a nominal emissions value, and subsequently measuring an actual exhaust energy value for each GT; and adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual exhaust energy value and a nominal exhaust energy value at the ambient condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rex Allen Morgan, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Scott Arthur Day, Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr.
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Patent number: 9599024Abstract: 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 exhaust energy to match a nominal exhaust energy value, and subsequently measuring an actual emissions value for each GT; and adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value and a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rex Allen Morgan, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Scott Arthur Day, Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr.
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Patent number: 9599026Abstract: 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 exhaust energy to match a nominal exhaust energy value, and subsequently measuring an actual power output value for each GT; and adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual power output value and a nominal power output value at the ambient condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rex Allen Morgan, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Scott Arthur Day, Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr.
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Patent number: 9599030Abstract: 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 exhaust energy to match a nominal exhaust energy value, and subsequently measuring an actual fuel flow value for each GT; 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rex Allen Morgan, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Scott Arthur Day, Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr.
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Patent number: 9599032Abstract: 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 emissions value to match a nominal emissions value, and subsequently measuring an actual fuel flow value for each GT; 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rex Allen Morgan, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Scott Arthur Day, Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr.
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Patent number: 9599527Abstract: The flame status of a group of gas turbine combustors is acoustically monitored using dynamic pressure sensors within the combustor. Dynamic pressure sensor output signals are received from the sensors and processed to determine flame status. The signals are processed both by performing a correlation analysis within each combustor and by applying a wavelet-based flame detection algorithm to each output signal. A flame is determined to be present based on the correlation analysis and the wavelet-based flame detection algorithm. The wavelet-based flame detection algorithm is chosen based on whether the gas turbine combustors are in an ignition phase or a monitoring phase.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Heiko Claussen, Nancy H. Ulerich, Zainul Momin, Justinian Rosca
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Patent number: 9599025Abstract: 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 power output to match a nominal power output value, and subsequently measuring an actual exhaust energy value for each GT; and adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual exhaust energy value and a nominal exhaust energy value at the ambient condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rex Allen Morgan, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Scott Arthur Day, Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr.
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Patent number: 9599031Abstract: 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 power output to match a nominal power output value, and subsequently measuring an actual emissions value for each GT; and adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value and a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rex Allen Morgan, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Scott Arthur Day, Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr.
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Patent number: 9599029Abstract: 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 fuel flow to match a nominal fuel flow value, and subsequently measuring an actual emissions value for each GT; and adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value and a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rex Allen Morgan, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Scott Arthur Day, Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr.
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Patent number: 9599033Abstract: 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 fuel flow value to match a nominal fuel flow value, and subsequently measuring an actual exhaust energy value for each GT; and adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual exhaust energy value and a nominal exhaust energy value at the ambient condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rex Allen Morgan, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Scott Arthur Day, Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr.
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Patent number: 9587834Abstract: A distributed sensing system for detecting a flashback condition in a combustor for a gas turbine engine The distributed sensing system includes one or more strategically positioned fiber optic cables provided upstream of the combustion area in the combustor. The distributed sensing system employs Rayleigh backscattering and swept-wavelength interferometry to measure temperature and reliably identify the location of the flashback condition The fiber optic cable is specially fabricated to have a high temperature resistance suitable for those temperatures existing during flashback conditions. The fiber optic cable can be wrapped on an inside of a combustion basket or on an outside of the combustion basket, and in a serpentine manner or otherwise.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Upul P. DeSilva, Christine P. Spiegelberg
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Patent number: 9574500Abstract: A direct metering architecture is provided having a metering pump and a servo pump wherein the metering and servo pumps are driven by an engine shaft by way of a gearbox transmission. The system reduces wasted horsepower previously occurring with oversized fixed displacement pumps, reduces instances of engine flameout and reduces the amount of heat added to fuel which ultimately improves engine oil cooling.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Lauren Marie Kelly, Robert Edward Goeller, William James Mailander
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Patent number: 9568197Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a combustor having a fuel nozzle assembly for delivering fuel to a combustion chamber. A sensor is at least partially housed within the fuel nozzle assembly for sensing a parameter associated with the delivery of fuel to the combustion chamber. In one example, the sensor is an optical sensor coupled to an optical decoder for ascertaining the parameter. A trim valve is in communication with the fuel nozzle assembly. A controller is in communication with the sensor and is programmed to actuate the trim valve to adjust the amount of fuel delivered through the fuel nozzle assembly in response to the parameter. In one example, an end of the optical sensor is arranged near a fuel exit of the fuel nozzle assembly. The controller actuates the trim valve for the fuel nozzle assembly to achieve a desired air/fuel ratio and/or balance the fuel delivery of the fuel nozzle assembly relative to another fuel nozzle assembly within the gas turbine engine's combustor system.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2007Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: John T. Ols, Stephen K. Kramer, Sheree R. Swenson-Dodge
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Patent number: 9562479Abstract: A system includes a controller configured to control an operational behavior of a turbine system. The controller includes a droop response system configured to detect one or more operational characteristics of the turbine system as an indication of a frequency variation of an electric power system associated with the turbine system. The droop response system is further configured to generate a response to vary an output of the turbine system in response to the indication of the frequency variation. The controller includes a multivariable droop response correction system configured to determine one or more possible errors associated with the one or more operational characteristics of the turbine system, and to generate a plurality of correction factors to apply to the response generated by the droop response system. The plurality of correction factors is configured to correct the response generated by the droop response system.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Yuhui Chen, John Dalton Warren
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Patent number: 9556797Abstract: A fuel divider included in a fuel supply device of a gas turbine engine includes a movable member which is movable according to a fuel pressure at a fuel entrance, opens only a pilot port when the fuel pressure at the fuel entrance is lower than a first pressure, and opens both of the pilot port and the main port when the fuel pressure at the fuel entrance is higher than the first pressure. In addition, the fuel divider includes an adjusting means which adjusts a value of the first pressure in such a manner that it applies to the movable member a counter force in a direction opposite to a direction in which the movable member moves according to the fuel pressure at the fuel entrance, and adjusts the counter force.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2011Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hideki Ogata
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Patent number: 9546599Abstract: A turbine engine for an aircraft including a turbine engine shaft and a pumping module, including: a pump shaft, connected to the turbine engine shaft; a pump for supplying fuel to the turbine engine, mounted on the pump shaft, configured to deliver a flow of fuel as a function of a speed of rotation of the turbine engine shaft; and an electrical device mounted on the pump shaft and configured, according to a first mode of operation, to drive the pump shaft in rotation to actuate the supply pump and, according to a second mode of operation, to be driven in rotation by the pump shaft to supply electrical power to equipment of the turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2012Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: TURBOMECAInventors: Jean Lindeman, Philippe Jean René Marie Benezech, Jean-Luc Charles Gilbert Frealle, Bertrand Moine
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Patent number: 9540944Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, and an electronic engine control system. The compressor, combustor, and turbine are arranged in flow series. The electronic engine control system is configured to generate a real-time estimate of compressor stall margin from an engine model, and command engine actuators to correct for the difference between the real time estimate of compressor stall margin and a required stall margin.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Richard P. Meisner, Brian V. Winebrenner, Matthew R. Feulner, Boris Karpman, Juan A. Marcos, David L. Ma
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Patent number: 9528913Abstract: A system for remote detection of surge in a fleet of turbine engines includes an on-site monitoring device coupled to each turbine engine of the fleet of turbine engines. The on-site monitoring device is configured to continuously receive operating parameter measurements indicative of operational and thermodynamic conditions of the turbine engine. The operational condition includes a compressor exit condition of the turbine engine compressor. The on-site monitoring device is configured to compile and transmit a snapshot of the operating parameter measurements to a remote monitoring unit. The remote monitoring unit is positioned remote from each turbine engine of the fleet of turbine engines. The remote monitoring unit is configured to receive the snapshot of operating parameter measurements from the on-site monitoring device. The remote monitoring unit is further configured to detect surge in the turbine engine based on analysis of the snapshot of operating parameter measurements.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sanjeev Shyam Heda, Steven William Backman, Matthew John Mckeever, Scott Alan Wood, Carlo Angelo Yon, Robert Joseph Iasillo, Christopher Childs
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Patent number: 9500134Abstract: Provided is a gas turbine including: a first compressor which compresses air; a mixer which adds the compressed air from the first compressor to fuel and generates a fuel mixture; a combustor which combusts the generated fuel mixture from the mixer; a plurality of flow meters which adjusts an amount of the air or the fuel injected into the mixer; and a control unit which maintains the Wobbe Index of the fuel mixture within a predetermined Wobbe Index range.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd.Inventor: Chul-Ju Ahn
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Patent number: 9476363Abstract: A method for calibrating a fuel control valve assembly including a valve and an actuator is disclosed. The method includes determining an encoder offset by actuating the valve until a predetermined value for the effective flow area is measured to obtain an actual calibration encoder count and comparing the actual calibration encoder count to an initial calibration encoder count. The method also includes adjusting an alignment encoder count and a maximum encoder count by an amount of the encoder offset. The method further includes associating the adjusted alignment encoder count with an alignment command value and the adjusted maximum encoder count with a maximum command value.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2015Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: Louis James Bertsch, IV, Roy Thomas Collins
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Patent number: 9470152Abstract: An engine fuel control system includes a metering valve to control fuel flow between the supply and delivery line with a pressure drop control regulating the pressure across the valve and maintain a substantially constant pressure across the valve. The fuel control system includes a backup system controllable by a pullback signal to operate the pressure control, thus increasing the pullback signal reducing the fuel flow between the supply and delivery line. The fuel control system detects a start of an engine overthrust event, and when the upward runaway is caused by the arrested overthrust event. The fuel control system's controller which (i) determines the overthrust detection, the pullback signal increase rate and the pullback signal offset, (ii) sends the pullback signal to the backup system at the rate of increase, and (iii), reduces the pullback signal to the backup system when the upward runaway is arrested by the offset.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CONTROLS AND DATA SERVICES LIMITEDInventors: Alexander MacDonald, Mohammad Khalid Khan, Nigel Herbert Henson
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Patent number: 9464576Abstract: A system including a fuel-supply system including, an auxiliary-fuel-gas compressor configured to compress a fuel for use by a gas-turbine system, an expander configured to generate power by expanding an oxidant from the gas-turbine system, and a motor/generator configured to function in a motor mode and in a generator mode, wherein the motor/generator drives fuel compression with the auxiliary fuel-gas compressor in the motor mode, and the motor/generator generates power in the generator mode as the expander uses oxidant from the gas-turbine system to drive the motor/generator.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2013Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hua Zhang, Wenjie Wu, Yongjiang Hao
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Patent number: 9435458Abstract: An electric solenoid valve, methods for operating and/or actuating the solenoid valve, valve system diagnostics, and applications for use are described. The valve may be designed to actuate in a manner so as to control liquid flow into and/or through a device, such as a spray nozzle. By altering the characteristics of the electrical signal transmitted to the solenoid valve, the instantaneous pressure across the valve and duration of fluid flow through the valve can be controlled with a single actuator. Controlled cyclic durations of flow may be implemented to regulate the exact timing of flow through the valve. Alternatively, cyclic durations may occur with a pulse-width modulation technique in which the duty cycle regulates average flow rate through the valve.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2012Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Capstan Ag Systems, Inc.Inventors: Duane Needham, Andrew J. Holtz
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Patent number: 9382847Abstract: A speed control system for an engine comprising at least one rotary load is provided. The speed control system may include a rotor speed controller configured to regulate speed in the rotary load based on a sensed rotor speed, exclusive of resonant mode speed oscillations, in closed loop feedback with a commanded rotor speed. To provide active damping of resonant mode speed oscillations, a resonance disturbance rejection controller may be configured to compensate a speed control signal by observing a component of the sensed rotor speed that is due to resonant mode oscillations. Based on the observed resonance component, the resonance disturbance rejection controller may compute an adjustment value for the speed control signal. In the particular case of gas turbine engines, the resonance disturbance rejection controller may effect active damping by compensation of a fuel flow request for a gas generator.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventor: Peter Ficklscherer
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Patent number: 9382850Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine having a combustor, and a fuel blending system. The fuel blending system further includes a first fuel supply configured to supply a first fuel, a second fuel supply configured to supply a second fuel, a first fuel circuit, a second fuel circuit, and a controller. The first fuel circuit may be configured to blend the first fuel and the second fuel to form a first to form a first fuel mixture. The second fuel circuit may be configured to blend the first fuel and the second fuel to form a second fuel mixture. The controller may be configured to regulate blending of the first fuel mixture and the second fuel mixture based on a measured operating parameter of the combustor.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2013Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Arvind Venugopal Menon, Alan Meier Truesdale, Abhijit Prabhakar Kulkarni, Predrag Popovic
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Patent number: 9377192Abstract: A highly-reliable combustor is provided that allows flash back of flame into a premixer to be suppressed. The combustor has a mixing chamber forming member 110 that forms a mixing chamber thereinside. The mixing chamber includes a first mixing chamber 200 broadening toward a downstream side. The member 110 includes air introduction holes 202, 203, 204 formed in a plurality of rows in an axial direction, with the air introduction holes being arranged plurally in a circumferential direction of the mixing chamber. The member 110 includes a fuel ejection hole 206 provided in a wall surface which forms the air introduction hole. The air introduction holes 202, 203, 204 are circumferentially eccentrically installed. The air introduction holes 202 located in the most upstream row are more inclined toward the downstream side than the air introduction holes 203, 204 located in the rows other than the most upstream row.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2012Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshitaka Hirata, Shohei Yoshida, Tatsuya Sekiguchi, Akinori Hayashi, Hirokazu Takahashi