Fuel Patents (Class 60/39.281)
  • Patent number: 9377214
    Abstract: A heating device includes a housing having a flow channel, a heater disposed in the flow channel, an optical rod, a light guider and a photodetector. The optical rod has a transparent body, a first end portion, and a second end portion located inside the housing. The light guider is provided at the second end portion for guiding lights emitted by the heater toward the first end portion. The photodetector is located around the first end portion and faces the second end portion for indirectly receiving the lights emitted by the heater to the light guider through the transparent body. The temperature of the heater can be measured efficiently and timely by using the photodetector having a high responding speed, such that an overheat or damage of the heater can be prevented by controlling the heater based on the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: MPI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Helge Jacob Krystad, Yueh-Ying Lee, Ying-Chiao Chang
  • Patent number: 9316157
    Abstract: A fuel system for an auxiliary power unit includes a mechanical fuel pump, an electric fuel pump, and a controller. The mechanical fuel pump provides fuel flow to the auxiliary power unit and has an output dependent upon an operational speed of the auxiliary power unit. The electric fuel pump provides fuel flow to the auxiliary power unit, and is located in flow series with the mechanical fuel pump. The controller causes the electric fuel pump to provide fuel flow during starting of the auxiliary power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David Lloyd Ripley, Behzad Hagshenas
  • Patent number: 9310072
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle arrangement includes an annular combustor having four quadrants. Fuel injectors are located in the four quadrants and each fuel injector has either a first or second type nozzle attached to it. The first and second type fuel nozzles are located in an array so that at least two of one nozzle type are located together to allow for non-uniform injector spacing with uniform downstream temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Walter Ernest Ainslie
  • Patent number: 9267439
    Abstract: A system for starting a gas turbine engine includes an engine controller and a fuel controller. The engine controller varies the engine speed between a minimum start speed and a maximum start speed until light-off of the engine occurs. The fuel controller operates a fuel command to vary fuel provided to a combustion chamber of the engine until light-off of the engine occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Corson, Kenneth W. Winston
  • Patent number: 9261276
    Abstract: The present invention provides a burner combustion method for supplying and combusting an oxidant stream and a fuel stream, wherein the oxidant stream is composed of a primary oxidant stream jetted from around the periphery of the fuel stream or from a position near the fuel stream, and a plurality of secondary oxidant streams, and by periodically changing the flow rate of at least one of the primary oxidant stream and the plurality of secondary oxidant streams, and also causing a periodic change in the oxygen concentration within the oxidant stream, causing a periodic change in the oxygen ratio which is calculated by dividing the supplied amount of oxygen, supplied by the oxidant stream, by the theoretically required amount of oxygen, and providing a difference between the periodic changes in the oxygen concentration and the oxygen ratio, the combustion state adopts a periodic oscillating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: TAIYO NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Haneji, Kimio Iino, Yasuyuki Yamamoto, Yoshiyuki Hagihara
  • Patent number: 9261278
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for operating a combustion device during a transient operation. The combustion device is fed with at least a fuel. The transient operation includes a period having a period length (T) during which the fuel is fed in an amount lower that a designated (e.g., critical) amount (Mc). A limit value (L) is defined for the period length (T), and fuel feed is regulated to keep the period length (T) smaller or equal to the limit value (L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Mirko Ruben Bothien, Martin Zajadatz, Douglas Anthony Pennell
  • Patent number: 9243567
    Abstract: A system and method control a gas turbine subject to fuel composition variation. The method includes operating a first effector to control the gas turbine based on fuel composition. The method also includes operating a second effector to maintain operation of the first effector within a first boundary limit, the second effector operation being initiated when the operating the first effector reaches a second boundary limit within the first boundary limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Andrew Healy
  • Patent number: 9235217
    Abstract: A flight control system for a helicopter having a main rotor and a tail rotor is provided. The flight control system includes an automatic rotor speed control being configured to transition the main rotor and the tail rotor between a high speed and a low speed based upon a plurality of received information without requiring any pilot action, the plurality of received information comprising height above ground level, knot indicated air speed, outside air temperature, barometric altitude, pressure altitude, density altitude, and an engine operational status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Greg W. Barnes, Eileen F. Horbury, Eric W. Jacobs, Kenneth J. Buckman
  • Patent number: 9228492
    Abstract: A safety device for controlling an engine includes a first and a second sensor of an environmental parameter, two channels for processing data measured by the sensors, each of the channels each including a command module and a power supply. The device includes at least two relays. The first relay is capable of receiving a first command coming from a supply and delivering, in the absence of the first command, data from the first sensor to the second command module. The second relay is capable of receiving a second command coming from the supply and delivering, in the absence of the second command, data from the second sensor to the first command module. The supply of the active channel sends a command to the relay associated with it, the relay sending data from the sensor to the active channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Florent Nobelen
  • Patent number: 9222418
    Abstract: A fuel feed circuit for an aeroengine, the circuit including a high-pressure pumping system including first and second positive displacement pumps, a hydraulic actuator, and a fuel metering unit. As a function of a position of a slide of the actuator, a feed orifice of the actuator may be connected to a high-pressure delivery orifice connected to an outlet of the second pump, or to a low-pressure delivery orifice connected to a low-pressure feed line. The fuel metering unit includes through sections, one of these through sections being connected to an outlet of the high-pressure pumping system and the other through section being connected to an outlet of the high-pressure pumping system and leading to a high-pressure pilot chamber of the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Nicolas Alain Bader, Frederic Brettes, Bastien Dore, Laurent Gilbert Yves Hodinot
  • Patent number: 9222674
    Abstract: A multi-stage vortex mixer for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a vortex amplifier stage in communication with a first stage amplifier, the vortex amplifier stage in communication with a dilution hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Torence P. Brogan
  • Patent number: 9212575
    Abstract: A gear device in which lubricating oil for cooling and lubricating gears to be driven therein is adjusted to a temperature and an amount suitable for the speed of a vehicle, and a vehicle having the gear device mounted thereon. A transmission adjusts the temperature of lubricating oil by supplying the lubricating oil from a lower part of a housing of the transmission into a heat exchanger by a circulation pump and causing the lubricating oil and engine cooling water to exchange heat with each other in the heat exchanger. A level of the lubricating oil retained in an oil pan when the circulation pump is stopped is defined as a highest oil level, while the level of the lubricating oil retained in the oil pan when the amount of the lubricating oil pumped up by the circulation pump is maximum is defined as a lowest oil level. The heat exchanger is disposed at a position outside the housing and higher than the highest oil level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Takeshi Kikuchi, Naoya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9206746
    Abstract: A method of controlling an engine in which a fuel flow setpoint is determined is provided. The method includes implementing a steady speed regulation loop in which the fuel-flow-rate setpoint is determined as a function of a difference between a setpoint parameter that depends on the position of a control lever and an operating parameter of the engine; detecting an intended speed transient; and implementing a speed transient regulation loop in which the fuel-flow-rate setpoint is determined as a function of a difference between a speed of the engine and a speed setpoint varying over time with the speed trajectory as generated in predetermined manner, if a speed transient is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Cedrik Djelassi
  • Patent number: 9194302
    Abstract: A control of a fuel metering device for a turbine engine as a function of a weight flow rate setpoint includes responding to at least one validity criterion to select a weight flow rate from among: a weight flow rate calculated as a function of a position signal; a weight flow rate calculated as a function of the position signal and of at least one temperature measurement signal; a weight flow rate calculated as a function of the position signal and of at least one permittivity measurement signal; a weight flow rate calculated as a function of the position signal, of at least one temperature measurement signal, and of at least one permittivity measurement signal; and a weight flow rate calculated as a function of a temperature measurement signal, of a permittivity measurement signal, and of a volume flow rate measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Bruno Robert Gaully, Cecile Marot
  • Patent number: 9169769
    Abstract: A gas-fired engine that supplies high-pressure liquefied gas (e.g., LNG) as fuel by a reciprocating pump. A gas fuel supply device includes: a reciprocating pump driven by a hydraulic motor to boost an introduced liquefied gas pressure to a desired pressure and discharge the liquefied gas; a hydraulic oil introduction line that introduces a portion of high-pressure hydraulic oil from a hydraulic oil line and supplies the high-pressure hydraulic oil to the hydraulic motor; a hydraulic oil return line that returns the high-pressure hydraulic oil to the hydraulic oil line; a heating unit that heats and gasifies the boosted liquefied gas; a control section that adjusts a rotational speed of the hydraulic motor to maintain constant a gas fuel outlet pressure of the heating unit; and an engine inlet gas pressure-reducing valve that regulates a gas fuel pressure injected into a combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Murata, Masaru Oka
  • Patent number: 9140191
    Abstract: A fuel system, such as for use in an aircraft, comprises a main pump, a servo pump, a modulating valve, a shut-off valve, an actuator and a pump sharing valve. The main pump and the servo pump receive fuel from a source. The metering valve receives main flow from the main pump. The shut-off valve receives fuel flow from the metering valve. The actuator receives fuel flow from the servo pump. The pump sharing valve receives circulating flow from the servo pump and alternatively directs shared flow to the main flow or an inlet of the servo pump. The pump sharing valve also sends main pump flow to supplement the servo pump during shutdown conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Todd Haugsjaahabink
  • Patent number: 9140190
    Abstract: A system provides “fail fixed” functionality and allows a user to manually manipulate fuel flow to a gas turbine engine in the unlikely event the primary control means is unavailable. The fuel metering unit includes a fuel metering valve, a flow increase valve, and a flow decrease valve. The flow increase valve and flow decrease valves are both in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve and are each adapted to selectively receive fuel flow commands from a primary fuel flow command source and from a secondary fuel flow command source. The flow increase and decrease valves are responsive to the fuel flow commands to selectively control the position of the fuel metering valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Larry Portolese, Gregory Kline, Paul W. Futa, David Tuttle, Brad McRoberts, Greg Lafferty
  • Patent number: 9140196
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gas turbine, including during transient operating states, and such a gas turbine are provided. The gas turbine includes a compressor for compressing inducted combustion air, a combustion chamber for generating hot gas by combusting a fuel with the aid of the compressed combustion air, and a multistage turbine for expanding the generated hot gas and performing work. The controlling of the gas turbine is carried out in accordance with the hot gas temperature which is derived from a plurality of other measured operating variables of the gas turbine. A reliable controlling of the gas turbine is achieved, even during rapid changes, by pressure measurements being gathered exclusively at different points of the gas turbine for derivation of the hot gas temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Herbert Fuchs
  • Patent number: 9133850
    Abstract: A method of preventing surge in a dynamic compressor is disclosed. The method includes providing an anti-surge valve having an adjustable opening for increasing the flow through a dynamic compressor. The next step is sensing process conditions in the dynamic control to determine a compressor load variable. A control system estimates a process disturbance model using the compressor load variable. The control system then adjusts a safety margin using a rate limited response and initiates a closed loop response using process feedback based on the process disturbance model. The control system adjusts the opening of the anti-surge valve according to the safety margin and closed loop response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Energy Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishnan Narayanan, Paul Reinke, Nikhil Dukle
  • Patent number: 9091217
    Abstract: High-pressure fuel is supplied at a controlled rate to a combustion chamber via a position-controlled valve and a variable-restriction stop-and-pressurizing cut-off valve. A value representative of the real mass flow rate of fuel as delivered is calculated by a calculation unit on the basis of information representative of the pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet of the cut-off valve and of the flow section through the cut-off valve, e.g. as represented by the position X of the slide of the cut-off valve. The position-controlled valve has a variable position that is controlled by the calculation unit as a function of the difference between the calculated value representative of the real mass flow rate and a value representative of a desired mass flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Laurent Gilbert Yves Hodinot, Celine Marie Anne Issert, Pascal Laurent Marly
  • Patent number: 9080513
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Willy Steve Ziminsky, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Ertan Yilmaz
  • Patent number: 9068509
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine fuel control system is provided that includes a fuel metering valve and a thrust control valve. The fuel metering valve includes a metering valve inlet and a metering valve outlet. The metering valve inlet is adapted to receive a flow of fuel, and is configured to control the flow of fuel through the metering valve outlet. The thrust control valve is adapted to receive thrust control valve override signals and is configured, in response thereto, to move from a first position, in which flow from the metering valve is not impacted, and a second position, in which flow from the metering valve is blocked while flow through a fixed-area orifice is allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Paul Futa, Larry Portolese, David Lawrence
  • Patent number: 9021780
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided having a variety of forms and features. The gas turbine engine can include a compressor having movable vanes. In one form of operation the compressor can close down the vanes to a relatively low flow capacity position and the compressor can be operated at a higher speed, whereupon the vanes can be repositioned and the gas turbine engine operated at a different condition. The gas turbine engine can include a turbine having movable vanes. In one form of operation the turbine can change the vane positions to a relatively low torque position and the engine operated at a higher fuel flow condition, whereupon the vanes can be repositioned and the gas turbine engine operated at a different condition. The gas turbine engine can have a heater that adds heat to a flow stream, a motor that provides energy to a shaft, and an external load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ray F. Bowman, Philip Ray Owen
  • Publication number: 20150113998
    Abstract: The burners include a central burner and a plurality of outer burners disposed around the central burner. Each of the outer burners is equipped with a fuel supply system that includes a fuel flow regulating valve. The outer circumference of the combustor liner is provided with a cylindrical flow sleeve. At least one flow velocity measurement unit is disposed in a circular flow path formed between the combustor liner and the flow sleeve to measure the flow velocity of air flowing downward. The gas turbine combustor also includes a control device that adjusts the fuel flow rate of the fuel, which is to be supplied to the outer burners, in accordance with the flow velocity of the air in the circular flow path, which is measured by the flow velocity measurement units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Tetsuma TATSUMI, Shohei NUMATA, Osami YOKOTA
  • Publication number: 20150107259
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Adnan EROGLU, Juergen HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20150107260
    Abstract: A gas turbine afterburner includes a gutter electrode that helps to hold an afterburner flame. A charge source applies a majority charge to be carried by a turbine exhaust gas. Electrical attraction between the majority charge and the gutter electrode helps to hold the afterburner flame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: JOSEPH COLANNINO, IGOR A. KRICHTAFOVICH, ROBERT E. BREIDENTHAL, CHRISTOPHER A. WIKLOF
  • Patent number: 9003809
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a power generation system that includes a steam turbine that is coupled to a gas turbine engine. The method includes calculating, by a control system, a gas turbine engine power output that is based at least in part on a predefined power generation system power output and a predefined steam turbine power output. The power generation system is operated to generate a power output that is approximately equal to the predefined power generation system power output. A signal indicative of a sensed operating power output of the gas turbine engine is transmitted from a sensor to the control system. A condition of the steam turbine is determined based at least in part on the sensed operating gas turbine engine power output and the calculated gas turbine engine power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jay Lynn Johnson, Edward Arthur Dewhurst, Charles Scott Sealing, Justin Aden Spade
  • Patent number: 9008943
    Abstract: One of a controllable load and a fuel flow to a single-spool turboshaft engine is controlled so that a rotational speed of a single-spool turboshaft engine is substantially regulated to a level corresponding to a corrected rotational speed command, and the other of the fuel flow and the controllable load is controlled so that a torque transmitted from the single-spool turboshaft engine to the controllable load is substantially regulated to a level corresponding to a corrected torque command. Under at least one operating condition, the corrected rotational speed command is determined so as to minimize or nearly minimize a measure of fuel consumption by the single-spool turboshaft engine when operated so that the torque transmitted to the controllable load corresponds to the corrected torque command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Williams International Co., L.L.C.
    Inventors: Ray D. Lickfold, Gregg Williams, Robert S. Thompson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8997452
    Abstract: A control system for use with a turbine engine that is configured to operate at a rated power output is provided. The control system includes a computing device that includes a processor that is programmed to calculate an amount of fluid to be supplied for combustion in the turbine engine. The processor is also programmed to designate at least one nozzle of a plurality of nozzles to receive the fluid. Moreover, the control system includes at least one control valve coupled to the computing device. The control valve is configured to receive at least one control parameter from the computing device for use in modulating the amount of the fluid to be channeled to the nozzle such that the rated power output is generated while emission levels are maintained below a predefined emissions threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael John Hughes, Bryan Wesley Romig, Abdul Rafey Khan
  • Patent number: 8997499
    Abstract: A system and way for controlling a gas turbine engine in the event of a partial or full load rejection from a generator is disclosed. Upon detection of a partial or full load rejection, the fuel flow of the combustor is directed to a secondary circuit of a secondary fuel nozzle to maintain a flame in a downstream chamber of the combustor. By maintaining the flame in the downstream chamber while the engine speed is controlled, the recovery process to a load condition avoids use of spark ignition system and flame detectors in the upstream chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Nicolas Demougeot, Jon Glende, Peter Stuttaford
  • Patent number: 8991152
    Abstract: An aircraft fuel system is provided and includes a metering valve having inlet and outlet sides to monitor fuel flow from the inlet to the outlet side, a check valve that, when opened, allows fuel to flow toward the inlet side during start and climb conditions and, when closed, prevents such fuel flow and an ejector pump, which is operably disposed between the check valve and the metering valve, and which, with the check valve closed, pumps fuel toward the inlet side during idle conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Steven A. Heitz
  • Patent number: 8991148
    Abstract: A jet pump (14) is inserted between the low-pressure pump and a high-pressure fuel pump (16). A fuel metering unit (20) includes a metering valve (22) which delivers a regulated fuel flow to a feed line (30), and a bypass valve (24) which diverts to a primary intake (14a) of the jet pump the excess fuel flow supplied by the high-pressure pump. An overspeed protection unit (50) includes a control element (54) of the bypass valve (24) which causes said to fully open in the event of an overspeed of the engine. A shutoff and pressurization checkvalve (42) is mounted on the feed line and controlled by a servo-valve (44) having a high-pressure port (44a) brought to the high fuel pressure, a low-pressure port brought to the pressure of the primary intake (14a) of the jet pump and an output setting the pressure in a control chamber (42a) of the shutoff valve (42) to a value between those prevailing at the high pressure and low pressure ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Bastien Dore, Loïc Pora
  • Patent number: 8984856
    Abstract: An example fuel system includes a fuel sensor configured to sense at least one characteristic of a fuel provided to an engine. The fuel is selected from a plurality of different fuel types. The fuel system also includes a controller that is configured to meter the fuel in response to the at least one characteristic of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Rhoden
  • Publication number: 20150075174
    Abstract: A fuel control device and method of a gas turbine combustor, for advanced humid air turbines, in which plural combustion units comprising plural fuel nozzles for supplying fuel and plural air nozzles for supplying air for combustion are provided. A part of the plural combustion units are more excellent in flame stabilizing performance than the other combustion units. A fuel ratio, at which fuel is fed to the part of the combustion units is set on the basis of internal temperature of the humidification tower and internal pressure of the humidification tower to control a flow ratio of the fuel fed to the plural combustion units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Kazuki ABE, Tomomi KOGANEZAWA
  • Patent number: 8959920
    Abstract: An assembly or system is provided for selectively regulating journal bearing lubrication between at least first and second levels in an aircraft engine. A high pressure pump includes movable portions at least in part supported by a journal bearing. A selector valve is configured to selectively supply lubrication flow to the journal bearing. In addition, a relief valve is configured to receive a signal from the selector valve defining a pressure level at which the relief valve should relieve pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Martin A. Clements
  • Patent number: 8950186
    Abstract: A system and method for supplementing fuel feed pressure and flow within an aircraft fuel system. The fuel system includes boost and override fuel pumps delivering fuel from the tanks to a fuel manifold, and a jettison fuel pump. The method includes the steps of: (a) sensing whether the aircraft engine is operating near maximum power; (b) upon sensing the condition, operating the jettison fuel pump in fluid interconnection with the override fuel pump to deliver fuel to the fuel manifold; and (c) upon sensing the cessation of the condition, deactivating the jettison fuel pump. The system includes a monitoring circuit signaling when the aircraft engine speed is greater than a predetermined threshold, and a fuel system control circuit operating a jettison fuel pump enable circuit portion in response to the signal while omitting other jettisoning operations. The jettison fuel pump consequently functions as an override fuel pump assist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: William H. McCabe
  • Patent number: 8950420
    Abstract: A containment housing includes a hexagonal portion configured to receive a linear variable differential transformer. The containment housing also includes a housing contact flange adjacent to the hexagonal portion. The housing contact flange has a flange face. The containment housing further includes an external threaded portion formed between the flange face and a containment housing end. The external threaded portion is configured to engage a fuel control housing portion of a fuel control. A length is defined between the flange face and the containment housing end, and a ratio of the length to a width of the housing contact flange is between 8.22 and 8.94.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Aaron Rickis
  • Publication number: 20150033750
    Abstract: A power system includes a gas turbine configured to rotate a shaft to supply power to an electricity grid and a controller configured to detect a change in a speed of the shaft and to adjust a formula for controlling a fuel supplied to a combustor of the gas turbine based on detecting a changing shaft speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Rogers Huey, Chi Ming Ho, Harold Lamar Jordan
  • Patent number: 8925328
    Abstract: A starting process for a gas turbine (28) that holds the turbine speed of rotation at an ignition speed setting during an ignition window (58), with the ignition speed setting being based on ambient air conditions to achieve a specified combustor air mass flow rate (52). A fuel flow rate may be set based on the fuel type and temperature to achieve a particular air/fuel ratio in a combustor. The fuel flow rate may be adjusted during the ignition window and thereafter based on a combustor inlet air temperature (46). Completion of ignition may be determined by a reduction (68) in a blade path temperature spread (66). After ignition, fuel flow is increased to accelerate the turbine to full speed. At any point, the fuel flow may be reduced, or its increase may be slowed, to avoid exceeding a temperature limit in the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Shervin Rodd, Adam M. Foust, Gary V. Hildebrandt, Damien G. Teehan
  • Patent number: 8919094
    Abstract: A fuel metering system includes a bypass valve configured to receive a fuel flow under a pressure P1, a pressure regulating valve in fluid communication with the bypass valve and configured to receive a fuel flow under a pressure PQ, a metering valve in fluid communication with the bypass valve and the pressure regulating valve, and configured to receive the fuel flow under the pressure P1 and to output a fuel flow under a pressure P2, a single stage servo valve in fluid communication with the bypass valve, the pressure regulating valve and the metering valve, and configured to receive the fuel flow under the pressure P1, and to output the fuel flow under the pressure PQ, and to output a fuel flow under a pressure PM, and a linear variable differential transformer coupled to the metering valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Todd Haugsjaahabink
  • Patent number: 8919129
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gas turbine engine fuel control valve during low flow conditions includes positioning the fuel control valve in an operating position. The method also includes determining a fuel control valve flow sensor flow rate while in the operating position and determining a corrected effective flow area (“Cda”) of the fuel control valve. The method further includes generating Cda versus command data with the corrected Cda and the operating position and inserting the generated Cda versus command data into the nominal Cda versus command data set when nominal Cda versus command data is not known at the operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Chad M. Holcomb, Saliha Kenyon Lacoursiere, Roy Thomas Collins
  • Patent number: 8915059
    Abstract: A method is provided for modifying a fuel control system for a gas turbine having a standard unloading sequence and a pre-defined minimum inlet pressure requirement associated with the standard unloading sequence to allow the gas turbine to operate over an increased range of fuel supply pressure. The method includes modifying the fuel control system by inputting a modified unloading sequence onto a computing system operatively associated with the fuel control system, the modified unloading sequence comprising a series of operating modes, mode transfers, or a combination thereof that is different than the standard unloading sequence; and modifying the fuel control system by inputting a new defined minimum inlet pressure requirement for the modified unloading sequence onto the computing system, the new defined minimum inlet pressure requirement being less than the pre-defined minimum inlet pressure requirement thereby reducing a fuel supply pressure trip point for the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Pradeep Rentala
  • Patent number: 8904803
    Abstract: A gas turbine, computer software and a method for controlling an operating point of the gas turbine that includes a compressor, a combustor and at least a turbine is provided. The method comprises: determining an exhaust pressure at an exhaust of the turbine; measuring a compressor pressure discharge at the compressor; determining a turbine pressure ratio based on the exhaust pressure and the compressor pressure discharge; calculating a primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold reference curve as a function of the turbine pressure ratio, where the primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold curve includes points at which an operation of the gas turbine is changed between a primary mode to a lean-lean mode; and controlling the gas turbine to change between the primary mode and the lean-lean mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventor: Claudio Botarelli
  • Patent number: 8904749
    Abstract: The present invention provides an inductively coupled plasma device with a cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the cylindrical vessel is transparent or semi-transparent to a wave energy. A tangential inlet is connected to or proximate to the first end. A tangential outlet is connected to or proximate to the second end. An electrode housing is connected to the first end of the cylindrical vessel such that a first electrode is (a) aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and (b) extends into the cylindrical vessel. A hollow electrode nozzle is connected to the second end of the cylindrical vessel such that the center line of the hollow electrode nozzle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel. An electromagnetic radiation source that produces a wave energy and is disposed around or within the cylindrical vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Foret Plasma Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Foret
  • Patent number: 8904804
    Abstract: In an overspeed protection apparatus for a gas turbine engine having a turbine rotated by combustion gas injected from a combustion chamber to drive a compressor, a fuel shutoff valve to shut off fuel to be supplied to the engine and a controller controlling operation of the fuel shutoff valve based on a turbine rotational speed to protect the turbine from overspeed, an outlet pressure of the compressor is detected and compared with a threshold value when a shutoff command is outputted, and the fuel shutoff valve is determined to be failed when the detected pressure is not less than the threshold value, thereby enabling to promptly detect the fuel shutoff valve failure without additional installing sensor, thereby enhancing the reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Tezuka, Koji Fukutomi
  • Patent number: 8899047
    Abstract: Provided is a power plant including a gas turbine that uses a fuel gas as a fuel; a fuel gas cooler that cools the fuel gas, which is to be pressurized in a fuel gas compressor and re-circulated, using cooling water; and a dust collection device that separates/removes impurities from the fuel gas that is to be guided to the fuel gas compressor; wherein the power plant further includes heating means that heats the fuel gas that is to be guided to the dust collection device using the fuel gas that has been used to generate an anti-thrust force acting on a rotor of the fuel gas compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanabe, Eiki Anzawa
  • Patent number: 8893466
    Abstract: A fuel flow system for a gas turbine includes a first pump, a main fuel flow path and a second pump. The first pump is connected to an actuator and a metering valve. The main fuel flow path is formed between the first pump and the metering valve. The second pump is connected to the main fuel flow path and supplements the fuel flow from the first pump under certain conditions. The second pump and first pump are in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Charles E. Reuter
  • Patent number: 8894408
    Abstract: A combustion apparatus includes a fuel supply line for providing an overall fuel supply to the apparatus; a burner including multiple fuel supply lines, the supply of fuel in the fuel supply lines to the burner corresponding to the overall fuel supply in the fuel supply line to the apparatus, and a combustion volume associated with the at least one burner. A temperature sensor measures a temperature of a part of the apparatus to be protected against overheating. A pressure sensor measures pressure within the combustion volume. A control arrangement varies the fuel supplies to the burner based on the measured temperature and pressure and on an information indicative for a progress over time for a signal for a time span. The arrangement maintains the temperature of part to be protected and the pressure variations within the combustion volume below predetermined limits, while maintaining constant fuel supply to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ghenadie Bulat, Robin McMillan
  • Patent number: 8881529
    Abstract: A gas turbine, in particular a gas turbine aircraft engine, including a fuel supply device and a control device, wherein at least parts of the control device, in particular of an engine control device, are integrated into the fuel supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Wittmann
  • Publication number: 20140325990
    Abstract: A gas turbine having a compressor for compressing air, a combustor for taking in compressed air discharged from the compressor, mixing it with fuel, and burning them, and a turbine driven by combustion gas generated in the combustor, comprising: inlet guide vanes installed at a stage near an inlet of the compressor for adjusting a compressor flow rate by changing an attaching angle thereof, a steam injection mechanism for injecting steam to the combustor, a steam adjustment valve for adjusting the steam injection rate, and a steam rate control mechanism for adjusting an opening of the steam adjustment valve, a steam monitoring mechanism for monitoring the steam rate injected to the combustor, an air temperature monitoring mechanism for monitoring an atmospheric temperature, and a control unit for determining whether a restriction value of the steam injection rate using a temperature, an opening of the inlet guide vanes, and the steam injection rate as indexes is satisfied, and controlling at least one of a te
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki TAKEDA, Ryo AKIYAMA, Yasuo TAKAHASHI