Unitary Injector Having Plural Fuel Flow Paths Patents (Class 60/742)
  • Patent number: 8607569
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes coupling a combustor in flow communication with a compressor such that the combustor receives at least some of the air discharged by the compressor. A fuel nozzle assembly is coupled to the combustor and includes at least one fuel nozzle that includes a plurality of interior surfaces, wherein a thermal barrier coating is applied across at least one of the plurality of interior surfaces to facilitate shielding the interior surfaces from combustion gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Andrew Helmick, Thomas Edward Johnson, William David York, Benjamin Paul Lacy
  • Patent number: 8607570
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle tip for use with a combustor and a method of assembling the fuel nozzle tip are provided. The fuel nozzle tip includes a fuel tube and an air collar coupled to the fuel tube. The fuel tube includes a first plurality of circumferentially-spaced fuel openings and a second plurality of circumferentially-spaced fuel openings. The fuel tube is configured to channel fuel into a mixing zone defined within the combustor. The air collar includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced air openings configured to discharge air into the mixing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Allan Hadley, John Lipinski, Jesse Ellis Barton
  • Patent number: 8607571
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes a nozzle body defining a central axis and having a main fuel circuit. An air circuit is formed within the nozzle body inboard of the main fuel circuit. A primary pilot fuel circuit is formed within the nozzle body inboard of the air circuit. A secondary pilot fuel circuit is formed within the nozzle body inboard of the air circuit and outboard of the primary pilot fuel circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Delavan Inc
    Inventors: Brandon P. Williams, Jeremy T. Rhyan
  • Patent number: 8607572
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a gas turbine combustor that supports hydrogen-containing gas having a high burning velocity and is capable of performing low NOx combustion without reducing reliability of a burner. A first fuel nozzle is provided upstream of a combustion chamber and supplies fuel for activation and hydrogen-containing gas. The combustor has a primary combustion zone, a reduction zone and a secondary combustion zone. In the primary combustion zone, the fuel supplied from the first fuel nozzle is combusted under a fuel rich condition to form a burned gas containing a low concentration of oxygen. In the reduction zone, a hydrogen-containing gas is injected into the combustion chamber through a second fuel injection hole from a second fuel nozzle so that NOx generated in the primary combustion zone is reduced by an oxygen reaction of the hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromi Koizumi, Satoshi Dodo, Hirokazu Takahashi, Tomohiro Asai, Tomomi Koganezawa, Shohei Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8601819
    Abstract: Electric fields control an electric combustion. Plasmas are created by a dielectrically impeded discharge. At least one part of the fuel is mixed with water vapor in the supply line and is subjected to a plasma discharge in a compact reactor that is in close contact with the burner in terms of reaction kinetics. In the associated device, a plasma reactor for creating a reactive plasma gas with at least one supply line for the fuel gas-water vapor mixture and an electric energy supply is integrated into the burner. The device provides suitable flow guidance of the fuel gas-air mixture, of the fuel gas-water vapor mixture, and of the reactive plasma gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Hammer, Dieter Most
  • Publication number: 20130318975
    Abstract: A turbomachine combustor nozzle includes a monolithic nozzle component having a plate element and a plurality of nozzle elements. Each of the plurality of nozzle elements includes a first end extending from the plate element to a second end. The plate element and plurality of nozzle elements are formed as a unitary component. A plate member is joined with the nozzle component. The plate member includes an outer edge that defines first and second surfaces and a plurality of openings extending between the first and second surfaces. The plurality of openings are configured and disposed to register with and receive the second end of corresponding ones of the plurality of nozzle elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lucas John Stoia, Patrick Benedict Melton, Thomas Edward Johnson, Christian Xavier Stevenson, John Drake Vanselow, James Harold Westmoreland
  • Publication number: 20130318976
    Abstract: A turbomachine combustor nozzle includes a first plate member having a first plurality of openings, and a second plate member having a second plurality of openings that are configured and disposed to be in alignment with the first plurality of openings. A plurality of nozzle members extends through corresponding ones of the first plurality of openings and the second plurality of openings. Each of the plurality of nozzle members includes a solid core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia, James Harold Westmoreland
  • Patent number: 8590311
    Abstract: An improved mixing tube design and fuel nozzle that allows for a more uniform and thorough mixing of fuel and air being fed to the combustor of a gas turbine engine, wherein each of a plurality of mixing tubes comprises a pair of concentric hollow cylinders that define a ring-like, annular path for the flow of fuel between the two hollow cylinders in each mixing tube, a plurality of air injection slots formed in the concentric hollow cylinders defining corresponding air flow paths from the outside into the interior of each mixing tube, and one or more fuel injection ports formed in selected ones of the plurality of air injection slots that allow for the flow of fuel from the annular path formed by the hollow cylinders into the air flow path, resulting in significantly better mixing and improved thermodynamic behavior of the fuel and air mixture downstream of the nozzle and upstream of the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nishant Govindbhai Parsania, Gregory Allen Boardman
  • Patent number: 8572980
    Abstract: A burner for a combustion chamber of a turbine, with an injection device for the introduction of at least one gaseous and/or liquid fuel into the burner is proposed. The injection device has at least one body arranged in the burner with at least two nozzles for introducing the at least one fuel into the burner, the body being configured with a streamlined cross-sectional profile which extends with a longitudinal direction perpendicularly or at an inclination to a main flow direction prevailing in the burner. The carrier air plenum is provided with holes such that carrier air exiting through the holes impinges an inner side of a leading edge portion of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Anton Winkler, Urs Benz, Andre Theuer, Diane Lauffer, Madhavan Poyyapakkam
  • Patent number: 8555648
    Abstract: A fuel injector nozzle is disclosed. The nozzle includes a nozzle body having a fuel conduit that extends from a fuel inlet through a fuel outlet conduit to a fuel outlet and a fluid conduit that extends from a fluid inlet through a fluid outlet conduit to a fluid outlet. The fuel outlet conduit and fuel outlet configured to produce a liquid fuel jet from the fuel outlet upon introduction of a pressurized liquid fuel into the fuel conduit. The fluid outlet conduit and fluid outlet are configured to produce a liquid fluid jet from the fluid outlet upon introduction of a pressurized liquid fluid into the fluid conduit, wherein the liquid fuel jet and the liquid fluid jet are configured to impact one another and produce a flow stream of atomized fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sachin Khosla, Mihir Lal, Daniel Scott Zehentbauer
  • Patent number: 8555646
    Abstract: Disclosed is a premixer for a combustor including an annular outer shell and an annular inner shell. The inner shell defines an inner flow channel inside of the inner shell and is located to define an outer flow channel between the outer shell and the inner shell. A fuel discharge annulus is located between the outer flow channel and the inner flow channel and is configured to inject a fuel flow into a mixing area in a direction substantially parallel to an outer airflow through the outer flow channel and an inner flow through the inner flow channel. Further disclosed are a combustor including a plurality of premixers and a method of premixing air and fuel in a combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christian Xavier Stevenson, Patrick Benedict Melton, William David York
  • Patent number: 8544276
    Abstract: An object is to provide a low cost gas turbine combustor. The gas turbine combustor has a plurality of main nozzles annularly supported on a nozzle pipe base (11), and the main nozzles each have an oil fuel path for supplying oil fuel and a gas fuel path for supplying gas fuel. A plurality of the oil fuel paths are provided to penetrate the nozzle pipe base (11), and a plurality of lengths of upright piping (21) are provided to be connected to the oil fuel paths, respectively, and be erected on the nozzle pipe base (11). A plurality of lengths of connection piping (22) for interconnecting the lengths of the upright piping (21) in a polygonal shape at a minimum distance are provided outside the nozzle pipe base (11). An oil fuel supply section (14) is connected to one of the lengths of the connection piping (22) to distribute oil fuel to each of the oil fuel paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Terada, Tetsu Konishi, Katsuyoshi Omae
  • Patent number: 8539773
    Abstract: A fuel/air mixing tube for use in a fuel/air mixing tube bundle is provided. The fuel/air mixing tube includes an outer tube wall extending axially along a tube axis between an inlet end and an exit end, the outer tube wall having a thickness extending between an inner tube surface having a inner diameter and an outer tube surface having an outer tube diameter. The tube further includes at least one fuel injection hole having a fuel injection hole diameter extending through the outer tube wall, the fuel injection hole having an injection angle relative to the tube axis. The invention provides good fuel air mixing with low combustion generated NOx and low flow pressure loss translating to a high gas turbine efficiency, that is durable, and resistant to flame holding and flash back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Willy Steve Ziminsky, Thomas Edward Johnson, Benjamin Paul Lacy, William David York, Jong Ho Uhm, Baifang Zuo
  • Patent number: 8528337
    Abstract: An injection system for fuel and air that includes a number of lobes positioned adjacent to each other. Each of the lobes has a trailing end. A number of jets may be positioned adjacent to the trailing end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Gilbert Otto Kramer
  • Patent number: 8528338
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating an air-staged diffusion nozzle for a gas turbine combustor to cool the nozzle tip and improve mixing of gas fuel and air within a downstream burner space. Air is mixed with the gas-fuel in an outer swirler and expanded in a downstream burner tube space. Compressed air from a cooling air cavity in the nozzle flows through an inner swirler, passing downstream from the tip of the nozzle to the burner tube space, cooling the nozzle tip and improving the mixing of the gas-fuel with air, thereby reducing emissions from the gas turbine and reducing soot formation in startup. Direction and rotation of the discharged air from the nozzle tip into the burner space may be arranged to promote nozzle tip cooling and gas-fuel mixing with air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anand Prafulchandra Desai, Karthick Kaleeswaran, Venugopal Polisetty
  • Patent number: 8522556
    Abstract: In an air-staged diffusion nozzle for a gas turbine combustor, air is mixed with the gas fuel and expanded in a downstream burner tube. Introduction of air, passing downstream from the tip of the nozzle to the burner tube space forces hot gases away from and cools the nozzle tip. Air flow through an inner swirler or through cooling holes on the nozzle tip may be arranged to establish a cooling flow volume and direction that advantageously interacts with gas fuel-air flow from an outer swirler to improve fuel-air mixing in the burner tube, helping to reduce emissions and soot formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anand Prafulchandra Desai, Karthick Kaleeswaran, Venugopal Polisetty
  • Patent number: 8522554
    Abstract: A secondary fuel nozzle for a turbine includes a passive purge air passageway which provides purge air to the secondary nozzle at all times that the nozzle is in operation. The passive purge air passageway draws in air from a location adjacent an upstream end of the nozzle. Because of a pressure differential between air located at the downstream end of the nozzle and air located at the upstream end of the nozzle, purge air will run through the passive purge air passageway at all times the nozzle is in operation. There is no need for a supply of compressed purge air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Intile, Predrag Popovic, Lucas John Stoia
  • Patent number: 8516821
    Abstract: The invention relates to an injection element having an inner element with a first outlet opening and an outer element. The outer element includes at least one second outlet opening structured and arranged for receiving and injecting fuel in a combustion space, and arranged coaxially to the first outlet opening. The outer element further includes third outlet openings composed of bores structured and arranged for forming a cooling liquid film layer, wherein the bores are arranged coaxially to the first outlet opening and the at least one second outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Eads Space Transportation GmbH
    Inventor: Chris Udo Maeding
  • Patent number: 8495982
    Abstract: A fuel shroud assembly (100) into which fuel (118) is injected for mixing with an air stream (120) in a fuel manifold. The shroud assembly (100) comprises a plurality of parallel fuel scoops (102) each receiving the injected fuel (118). The fuel stream (118) flows through each scoop (102), exiting at an open scoop end (114A). The air stream (120) flows between scoops, creating a shear region proximate each scoop end (114A) where the fuel exits. The shear causes mixing of the air (120) and the fuel (118) streams, wherein the degree of mixing is not dependent on the momentum ratio of the air (120) or fuel (118) streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter R. Laster, Elizabeth R. Colore, David A. Little
  • Patent number: 8490401
    Abstract: An annular combustion chamber for a gas turbine engine includes radially inner and outer walls connected together by a chamber end wall including openings, each of which receives a fuel injection system. Heat protection deflectors are fastened to the chamber end wall. Holes are formed through the chamber end wall to pass cooling air onto an upstream face of each deflector. The inner or outer edge of a deflector presents a sealing rim engaging the respective inner or outer wall of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Patrice Andre Commaret, Didier Hippolyte Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20130174568
    Abstract: A combustor includes a tube bundle that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor. The tube bundle includes an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface. A plurality of tubes extends from the upstream surface through the downstream surface, and each tube provides fluid communication through the tube bundle. A baffle extends axially inside the tube bundle between adjacent tubes. A method for distributing fuel in a combustor includes flowing a fuel into a fuel plenum defined at least in part by an upstream surface, a downstream surface, a shroud, and a plurality of tubes that extend from the upstream surface to the downstream surface. The method further includes impinging the fuel against a baffle that extends axially inside the fuel plenum between adjacent tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Thomas Edward Johnson, William David York
  • Patent number: 8479520
    Abstract: A low cost gas turbine combustor has main nozzles having a cylindrical central tube using an interior as an oil fuel path, a cylindrical outer tube disposed on an outermost periphery of the main nozzle, and a support tube disposed between the central tube and the outer tube, the central tube, the outer tube and the support tube each being formed independently. The support tube has such an internal diameter as to form a clearance becoming an insulating air layer between the support tube and an outer periphery of the central tube, and includes supporting portions formed on an axially upstream side and radially contacting an inner periphery of the outer tube groove portions formed along an axial direction between the supporting portions, and a cylindrical portion formed on an axially downstream side and having an external diameter equal to or smaller than an external diameter of the groove portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Terada, Tetsu Konishi, Katsuyoshi Omae
  • Patent number: 8479519
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a diffusion tip for use with a fuel nozzle is described. The diffusion tip has a substantially circular body including an outer surface and an opposite inner surface. The diffusion tip body extends from a discharge end to an inlet end. The diffusion tip includes an inlet surface adjacent to the discharge end and defined within the body. A discharge surface is defined opposite the inlet surface. A plurality of diffusion apertures each extend between the discharge surface and the inlet surface, each aperture is oriented relative to the body to discharge a diffusion flow outward therefrom at an angle ? (gamma) measured in an X-Z plane between a centerline of the aperture and an X-axis extending tangentially to the outer surface, and at an angle ? (theta) measured in a Y-Z plane between the centerline of the aperture and a Y-axis extending radially outward from the centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wei Chen, William Lawrence Byrne, Xiaoguang Yu, James Harper
  • Patent number: 8474265
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a turbine engine includes a primary fuel passageway for supplying fuel to a plurality of radially extending fuel injectors arranged around the exterior of the fuel nozzle. A secondary fuel passageway couples an upstream end of the primary fuel passageway to a downstream end of the primary fuel passageway. The secondary fuel passageway acts as a resonator tube to help reduce oscillations in the fuel flowing through the primary fuel passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Praveen Babulal Jain, Narayan Subramanian
  • Patent number: 8468834
    Abstract: A fuel injector nozzle is disclosed. The nozzle includes a nozzle body for fluid communication of a liquid fuel to produce a liquid fuel jet and a fluid to produce a fluid jet. The nozzle body includes an adapter comprising a fuel conduit and a fluid conduit. The nozzle body also includes a nozzle tip disposed on the adapter comprising a plurality of fuel outlet conduits that are in fluid communication with the fuel conduits and a plurality of fluid outlet conduits that are in fluid communication with the fluid conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sachin Khosla, Mihir Lal, Daniel Scott Zehentbauer
  • Publication number: 20130152593
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine may include an injector housing having a central cavity configured to be fluidly coupled to a combustor of the turbine engine. The central cavity may also be configured to direct a first fuel into the combustor substantially unmixed with air. The fuel injector may also include an annular air discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the downstream end of the central cavity. The air discharge outlet may be configured to discharge compressed air into the combustor circumferentially about the first fuel from the central cavity. The fuel injector may also include an annular fuel discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the air discharge outlet at the downstream end. The fuel discharge outlet may be configured to discharge a second fuel into the combustor circumferentially about the compressed air from the air discharge outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventor: Gareth W. Oskam
  • Publication number: 20130152594
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes an injector housing having a central cavity configured to fluidly couple with a combustor of the gas turbine engine. The fuel injector may include a fuel nozzle at the upstream end of the central cavity. The fuel nozzle may be configured to direct a first fuel into the central cavity. The fuel injector may also include an annular air inlet disposed circumferentially about the fuel nozzle at the upstream end of the central cavity, and an annular air discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the exit opening of the central cavity. The fuel injector may further include an annular fuel discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the air discharge outlet. The fuel discharge outlet may be configured to discharge a second fuel into the combustor circumferentially around the air discharge outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventor: Gareth W. Oskam
  • Patent number: 8464537
    Abstract: A nozzle for a combustor is disclosed. The nozzle includes a center body, a burner tube provided around the center body and defining a fuel-air mixing passage therebetween, and an outer peripheral wall provided around the burner tube and defining an air flow passage therebetween. The nozzle further includes a nozzle tip connected to the center body. The nozzle tip includes a pilot fuel passage configured to deliver a flow of pilot fuel to a combustion zone, and a plurality of transfer passages. The plurality of transfer passages are configured to deliver a flow of air for combustion with the flow of pilot fuel in the combustion zone and further configured to deliver a flow of transfer fuel to the combustion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Patent number: 8464539
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly (10) comprising a first inlet tube (14), a second inlet tube (15), and a nozzle (16). The nozzle (16) is formed from a stack of plates (20-38) which are joined together in face-to-face contact. The plates (20-38) collectively have openings which define a nozzle outlet, a first inlet, a second inlet, a first circuit from the first inlet to the nozzle outlet, a second circuit from the second inlet to the nozzle outlet, and a fluid-outlet chamber through which both the first circuit and the second circuit pass. The nozzle assembly (10) can be used as a fuel injector for a gas turbine engine, with jet fuel being supplied to the first circuit during start-up and low power conditions and jet fuel being supplied to both the first circuit and the second circuit during high power conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Pelletier, James R. Pavlik
  • Patent number: 8448441
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a fuel nozzle is provided. The method includes providing a unitary portion of material including a first end face, a second end face, and a body extending therebetween. A passageway is fabricated to extend from the first end face to the second end face along a centerline of the portion of material. The method further includes fabricating a plurality of concentrically-aligned channels within the first end face, and fabricating a plurality of inlets that extend through at least one of the second end face and an outer surface of the body to at least one of the passageway and one of the plurality of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Richard Nyberg, II, William Kirk Hessler
  • Patent number: 8448442
    Abstract: The present application provides a flexible combustor fuel nozzle. The flexible combustor fuel nozzle may include a main passage in communication with a source of natural gas and a source of low BTU fuel, a secondary passage surrounding the main passage and in communication with the source of low BTU fuel and a source of purge air, and a tertiary passage surrounding the secondary passage and in communication with the source of low BTU fuel, the source of purge air, and a source of diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy, Joel Hall, Jesse Barton, Vijaykant Sadasivuni
  • Patent number: 8443608
    Abstract: A feed arm for a multiple circuit fuel injector of a gas turbine engine. The feed arm includes an elongated tubular sleeve having a central bore with an interior wall defining an inner diameter, and an elongated fuel tube positioned within the bore of the tubular sleeve. The fuel tube includes a tubular wall defining an outer diameter, which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the central bore. A primary fuel flow passage is formed within the tubular wall of the fuel tube and bounded by the interior wall of the tubular sleeve, and the primary fuel flow passage circumferentially extends around the fuel tube at least once along the axial length of the fuel tube. A secondary fuel flow passage extends through a central portion of the fuel tube, and the fuel tube is configured to facilitate heat transfer by conduction and/or convection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Delavan Inc
    Inventor: Brandon Phillip Williams
  • Patent number: 8443607
    Abstract: An air/fuel premixer comprising a peripheral wall defining a mixing chamber, a nozzle disposed at least partially within the peripheral wall comprising an outer annular wall spaced from the peripheral wall so as to define an outer air passage between the peripheral wall and the outer annular wall, an inner annular wall disposed at least partially within and spaced from the outer annular wall, so as to define an inner air passage, and at least one fuel gas annulus between the outer annular wall and the inner annular wall, the at least one fuel gas annulus defining at least one fuel gas passage, at least one air inlet for introducing air through the inner air passage and the outer air passage to the mixing chamber, and at least one fuel inlet for injecting fuel through the fuel gas passage to the mixing chamber to form an air/fuel mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William D. York, Willy S. Ziminsky, Benjamin P. Lacy
  • Patent number: 8443609
    Abstract: A gas-turbine burner for a gas turbine includes a fuel nozzle 1 having several fuel exit holes 23, which are each connected to a fuel line 5, 7, 29, 30, through which fuel can be passed selectively Between individual fuel exit holes 23, different static pressures of the airflow are provided between fuel lines flown by fuel and fuel lines not flown by fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Thomas Doerr, Leif Rackwitz, Waldemar Lazik
  • Patent number: 8429915
    Abstract: A fuel injector is provided, including a fuel injector body, a plurality of fuel vanes, and a plurality of fuel pegs. The injector body includes a manifold and an inlet. The manifold is configured for receiving fuel, and the inlet is configured for receiving air. The fuel vanes are located within the injector body and are positioned in a direction that is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the injector body to orient the air flowing from the inlet. The plurality of fuel pegs are fluidly connected to the manifold and are arranged within the plurality of fuel vanes. The plurality of fuel pegs are each spaced at a distance that is about equal between each of the plurality of fuel pegs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Allan Hadley, David Kenton Felling
  • Publication number: 20130098044
    Abstract: A late lean fuel injection nozzle for a gas turbine includes a first outer air supply tube having a relatively large inner diameter and an outlet at a distal end thereof. The first outer air supply tube is adapted to supply air to a combustion chamber, and at least one fuel injection tube having a relatively smaller diameter enters a distal end portion of the first outer air supply tube and extends within the first outer air supply tube substantially to the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Arjun SINGH
  • Patent number: 8407892
    Abstract: The present application thus describes a method of manufacture for a late lean injection system in a combustor of a combustion turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Martin DiCintio, Patrick Benedict Melton, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Lucas John Stoia
  • Publication number: 20130074504
    Abstract: A system including a controller. The controller may receive a signal indicative of an emissions level of a turbine. The controller may also generate at least one control signal. This control signal may control a split of diluent between a first and a second mixing chamber, whereby the first and the second mixing chambers are located in a fuel nozzle in the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Abinash Baruah, Anand Prafulchandra Desai, Thangaraj Dhanasekaran, Predrag Popovic
  • Patent number: 8402768
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a burner for a combustion chamber of a gas turbine, with an injection device for the introduction of at least one gaseous and/or liquid fuel into the burner, wherein the injection device has at least one body which is arranged in the burner with at least one nozzle for introducing the at least one fuel into the burner, the at least one body being configured as a streamlined body which has a streamlined cross-sectional profile and which extends with a longitudinal direction perpendicularly or at an inclination to a main flow direction prevailing in the burner. The at least one nozzle has its outlet orifice at or in a trailing edge of the streamlined body, and with reference to a central plane of the streamlined body, the trailing edge is provided with at least two lobes extending in opposite transverse directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Khawar Syed, Madhavan Poyyapakkam, Anton Winkler, Andre Theuer
  • Patent number: 8393157
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel nozzle for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a nozzle inlet, a combustion area and a swirler disposed between the nozzle inlet and combustion area. The swirler includes a plurality of swirler vanes, each swirler vane capable of creating a pressure difference in fluid flow through the swirler between a pressure side and suction side of the swirler vane. The swirler further includes at least one through airflow hole located in at least one swirler vane of the plurality of swirler vanes. The at least one through airflow hole is capable of utilizing the pressure difference between the pressure side and suction side to promote fluid flow through the at least one airflow hole. Also disclosed is a method for operating a combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Constantin Dinu
  • Patent number: 8393155
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The fuel injector includes an injector housing extending from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis. The second end of the housing is fluidly coupled to a combustor of the turbine engine and the housing includes a liquid fuel gallery annularly disposed about the longitudinal axis. The fuel injector also includes a stem extending longitudinally from the first end of the housing to a third end. The stem includes a liquid tube configured to deliver liquid fuel to the fuel injector. The fuel injector also includes an annular shell extending along the longitudinal axis from the first end to the third end and circumferentially disposed about the stem. The fuel injector further includes an insulating air shroud formed inside the shell. The air shroud includes a layer of air between the shell and the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: James Scott Piper, Hongyu Wang
  • Patent number: 8387392
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fuel injection system, including: a fuel injection module including a primary fuel injector and one or more secondary fuel injectors disposed around the primary fuel injector; an air supply module for supplying air to the fuel injection module inwardly and outwardly; and a fuel supply module for supplying fuel to the fuel injection module, wherein the fuel injection module serves to generate multistage flames in a burner by forming a rich fuel flame region using the primary fuel injector and forming a lean fuel flame region behind the rich fuel flame region using the secondary fuel injectors through a burning process of gasifying secondary fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Industrial Technology
    Inventors: Se Won Kim, Myung Chul Shin, Chang Yeop Lee
  • Patent number: 8381530
    Abstract: A tunable fluid flow control system for controlling combustion dynamics in a combustor is disclosed. The control system includes a fuel supply path having an inlet portion, a first diverted portion, a second diverted portion, and an exit portion. A first diverted portion has a first length and a first diameter. A second diverted portion has a second length and a second diameter and spaced apart from the first diverted portion. The first and second diverted portions converge at a merging location. The exit portion is coupled to the merging location of the first and second diverted portions. At least one flow regulation device is coupled to the inlet portion and configured to divert fuel flow to the first and second diverted portions alternately to generate fuel flow perturbations at the merging location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kapil Kumar Singh, Fei Han, Shiva Srinivasan, Kwanwoo Kim
  • Publication number: 20130031905
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle is provided and includes a nozzle body defining first and second interior regions for providing a supply of first and second fluids, a collar defining a third interior region and radial slots permitting radial ingress of a third fluid to the third interior region and a nozzle tip interposed between the nozzle body and the collar. The nozzle tip defines an annular slot, first discrete passageways by which the first fluid is communicated from the first interior region to the annular slot, second discrete passageways by which the first fluid is communicated from the annular slot to the radial slots, and third discrete passageways by which the second fluid is communicated from the second interior region to the radial slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ilya Alexandrovich Slobodyanskiy, William Francis Carnell, JR.
  • Patent number: 8365534
    Abstract: A combustor includes an end cover having a nozzle. The nozzle has a front end face and a central axis. The nozzle includes a plurality of fuel passages and a plurality of oxidizer passages. The fuel passages are configured for fuel exiting the fuel passage. The fuel passages are positioned to direct fuel in a first direction, where the first direction is angled inwardly towards the center axis. The oxidizer passages are configured for having oxidizer exit the oxidizer passages. The oxidizer passages are positioned to direct oxidizer in a second direction, where the second direction is angled outwardly away from the center axis. The plurality of fuel passages and the plurality of oxidizer passages are positioned in relation to one another such that fuel is in a cross-flow arrangement with oxidizer to create a burning zone in the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Predrag Popovic, Abinash Baruah, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, William Thomas Ross
  • Patent number: 8365536
    Abstract: A dual fuel combustor nozzle includes a body member including a first end portion that extends to a second end portion through an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion includes an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion with the inner wall portion defining a first fuel plenum. The dual fuel nozzle also includes an inner nozzle member arranged within the first fuel plenum. The inner nozzle member includes a first end section that extends to a second end section through an intermediate section. The intermediate section defines a second fuel plenum. The second end section being spaced from the second end portion of the body member so as to define a pre-emergence zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Baifang Zuo
  • Patent number: 8365535
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle manifold comprising a flange, a stem and a swirler is provided. The flange has a first fluid inlet fluidly connected to a radially extending first flow passage, the stem includes at least a first axially extending and only partially circumferentially extending flow channel, and the swirler has at least a first radially extending premix passage. The flange and the stem can comprise a homogeneous component, or two separate components fluidly connecting the first axially extending flow channel to the first flow passage, to form a fluid connection between the flange and the stem, the swirler comprises another component fitted together with the flange and stem component and fluidly connecting the first premix passage and the first flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, Scott Robert Simmons
  • Patent number: 8347630
    Abstract: An air-blast fuel nozzle assembly includes a housing having an inner surface defining an interior chamber around a central axis. The inner surface terminates in an exit aperture. An air swirler pneumatically communicates with the interior chamber and has vanes operative to impart a swirling motion to air passing across the vanes and into the interior chamber. A fuel injection assembly includes a nozzle portion extending along the central axis and having a plurality of outlets circumferentially-arranged around the central axis that are directed into the interior chamber toward the inner surface of the housing. A shield extends radially outwardly from the nozzle portion upstream of the plurality of outlets. The shield extends between a base at the nozzle section and a free tip end such that the shield extends partially across the interior chamber toward the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corp
    Inventors: Jeffery A. Lovett, Frederick C. Padget, John W. Mordosky, Shawn M. McMahon
  • Patent number: 8347631
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes an end cover and a liquid cartridge. The liquid cartridge is configured to mount in a fuel nozzle of a turbine engine, wherein the liquid cartridge comprises a one piece flange configured to couple to the end cover, wherein the flange comprises a water inlet, an air inlet, and a fuel inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Mark Bailey, Scott R Simmons, Gregory Allen Boardman, Xiomara Irizarry-Rosado
  • Patent number: 8336313
    Abstract: A unitary distributor is disclosed, comprising at least one main flow passage located within a distributor ring body, the main flow passage having an arcuate portion oriented in a circumferential direction around a distributor axis. Exemplary embodiments of a unitary distributor having an annular ring located at the axially forward end of the distributor ring body are disclosed. A fuel distributor is disclosed, comprising a fuel conduit and a distributor wherein the fuel distributor has a unitary construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marie Ann McMasters, Michael A. Benjamin, Alfred Mancini