Multiple Expansion Patents (Class 60/774)
  • Patent number: 11936078
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide fuel cell system capable of stable start-up and method for starting the fuel cell system. Fuel cell system includes SOFC, a turbocharger, oxidizing gas supply line, a control valve, oxidizing gas blow line, start-up air line for supplying the start-up air to the oxidizing gas supply line with a blower, and a control unit that, in state in which the control valve is closed and the blow valve is opened to supply the start-up air to the oxidizing gas supply line with the blower when the turbocharger is started, decreases the opening of the blow valve and, after the timing at which the opening of the blow valve starts to decrease, increases the opening of the control valve and then stops the supply of the starting air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ozawa, Yasushi Iwai, Kimi Kodo, Kenta Araki
  • Patent number: 11891949
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine having a turbine stage disposed in a combustion gas path, wherein the turbine stage includes turbine vanes disposed upstream from turbine blades. The system includes an isothermal expansion system coupled to the turbine stage. The isothermal expansion system includes multi-fluid injectors configured to vary axial positions of combustion within a turbine stage expansion of the turbine stage to reduce temperature variations over the turbine stage expansion, wherein at least one of the multi-fluid injectors is coupled to each of the turbine vanes. Each of the multi-fluid injectors includes a fuel port configured to inject a fuel, an oxidant port configured to inject an oxidant, and a barrier fluid port configured to inject a barrier fluid between the fuel and the oxidant, wherein the barrier fluid is configured to delay mixing between the fuel and the oxidant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLC
    Inventors: John Farrior Woodall, Joel Meador Hall
  • Patent number: 11598300
    Abstract: Operating an engine includes injecting a first charge of liquid fuel using a first set of nozzle outlets in a fuel injector, and injecting a second charge of liquid fuel using a second set of nozzle outlets in a fuel injector. The first charge is autoignited in a first engine cycle, and the second charge is autoignited in a second engine cycle, and may be used to pilot ignite a charge of gaseous fuel. Operating the engine further includes limiting errors in targeting of the second charge of liquid fuel caused by transitioning the engine from a first combination to a second combination of speed, load, and boost, by varying an injection pressure of the liquid fuel from the first engine cycle to the second engine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Anders, Bobby John, Robert Campion
  • Patent number: 11566562
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises, in fluid flow series, a gas-generator compressor, a combustor, a gas-generator turbine, and a free power turbine. The gas-generator compressor is an axi-centrifugal compressor comprising a plurality of axial compression stages followed by a single centrifugal compression stage, wherein the International Standard Atmosphere, sea-level static (hereinafter ISA SLS) design point pressure ratio of the axi-centrifugal compressor is from 12 to 16, and a ratio of the ISA SLS pressure rise across the axial compression stages to the ISA SLS pressure rise across the centrifugal compression stage is from 0.75 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC, ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rory D. Stieger, Daniel Swain
  • Patent number: 11459945
    Abstract: An electrical power generation system including a micro-turbine alternator. The micro-turbine alternator including a combustor, a first stage turbine configured to be driven by exhaust from the combustor, a second stage turbine configured to be driven by the exhaust from the combustor, at least one compressor operably connected to the combustor to provide a compressed airflow thereto, one or more shafts connecting the first stage turbine and the second stage turbine to the at least one compressor such that rotation of the first stage turbine and the second stage turbine drives rotation of the at least one compressor, and an exhaust turbine reheat cycle configured to transfer heat from the exhaust entering the first stage turbine to the exhaust entering the second stage turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard A. Himmelmann
  • Patent number: 11248789
    Abstract: A core engine article includes a combustor liner defining a combustion chamber therein and a turbine nozzle. The combustor liner includes a plurality of injector ports, and the plurality of injector ports have a shape that tapers to a corner on a forward side of the injector ports. The turbine nozzle includes a plurality of airfoils. The combustor liner and turbine nozzle are integral with one another. A method of making a core engine article is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Binek, Jesse R. Boyer, Dmytro Mykolayovych Voytovych
  • Patent number: 11054138
    Abstract: A shroud structure and a combustor burner using the shroud structure are provided for improving swozzle flow. The shroud structure includes a shroud configured to surround a combustion nozzle and a plurality of swirlers provided along a circumferential row of the combustion nozzle, the shroud having an outer circumferential surface in which a plurality of inlets are formed to draw in compressed air flowing outside the shroud, the compressed air being drawn into the shroud before being mixed with fuel. The inlets are disposed, at positions spaced apart from each other, before a circumferential row of the outer circumferential surface of the shroud that faces a first fuel injector provided on an inner circumferential surface of a combustor casing so that compressed air guided into the inlet is supplied to a region formed around a second fuel injector provided in the swirlers in the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventors: Moon Soo Cho, In Chan Choi
  • Patent number: 11041436
    Abstract: A process for retrofitting an industrial gas turbine engine of a power plant where an old industrial engine with a high spool has a new low spool with a low pressure turbine that drives a low pressure compressor using exhaust gas from the high pressure turbine, and where the new low pressure compressor delivers compressed air through a new compressed air line to the high pressure compressor through a new inlet added to the high pressure compressor. The old electric generator is replaced with a new generator having around twice the electrical power production. One or more stages of vanes and blades are removed from the high pressure compressor to optimally match a pressure ratio split. Closed loop cooling of one or more new stages of vanes and blades in the high pressure turbine is added and the spent cooling air is discharged into the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell B. Jones, Joseph D. Brostmeyer, Justin T. Cejka, John E. Ryznic
  • Patent number: 10995678
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a core engine including: a compressor, combustion equipment which receives compressed air from the compressor, a circumferential row of nozzle guide vanes, and a turbine. The nozzle guide vanes defines a throat receiving hot working gases from the combustion equipment into the turbine. The gas turbine engine further has an air system which is switchably operable between an on-position which opens a diversion pathway along which a portion of the compressed air exiting the compressor bypasses the combustion equipment to join the hot working gases at re-entry holes located between the nozzle guide vanes and a rotor at the front of the turbine, thereby increasing the semi-dimensional mass flow ?(T30)0.5/(P30) of the core engine at the exit of the compressor, and an off-position which closes the diversion pathway, thereby decreasing the semi-dimensional mass flow of the core engine at the exit of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Alan R. Maguire, Timothy J. Scanlon, Luis F. Llano, Paul A. Sellers
  • Patent number: 10859003
    Abstract: A control system for a gas turbine engine includes an engine core, the engine core including combustion equipment, a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft connecting the turbine to the compressor. The control system includes at least one variable stator vane for controlling the angle at which gas enters the engine core, and there is a bypass passage within the engine core for directing gas flow to bypass the combustion equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Luis F Llano, Arthur L Rowe
  • Patent number: 10787963
    Abstract: A power generation system burns a fuel in a gas in a combustion chamber, producing one or more combustion products and heating a working fluid, preferably supercritical CO2, that is chemically the same as a combustion product. The working fluid is mixed with the combustion products to form a combustion output mixture which is used in a turbine to drive a shaft of the turbine connected with a generator, producing electricity. The turbine outputs an exhaust that goes to a working fluid recycling system that connects the turbine outlet with the combustion chamber. The fluid recycling system has a radial compressor that receives and pressurizes the exhaust mixture and sends it to a chamber that has a bleed outlet and a recycling outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: David Amos, Jayanta Kapat, Narasimha Nagaiah, Akshay Khadse
  • Patent number: 10533493
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes a first fan including a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis and a reverse flow core engine section including a core turbine axially forward of a combustor and compressor. The core turbine drives the compressor about the axis and a transmission system. A geared architecture is driven by the transmission system to drive the first fan at a speed less than that of the core turbine. A second fan is disposed axially aft of the first fan and forwarded of the core engine and a second turbine is disposed between the second fan and the core engine for driving the second fan when not coupled to the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Patent number: 10094297
    Abstract: In order to enhance the tracking performance of power generation equipment with respect to a load variation and increase the reliability of the power generation equipment, a dynamic characteristic model simulating the dynamic characteristics of a multi-shaft gas turbine is used to calculate an output prediction value of a first power generator in a case where a combustor is controlled so as to match the output of the first power generator to an output target value; on the basis of the output target value and the output prediction value of the first power generator, a first power generator output instruction value as an instruction value for the output from the first power generator to a power system and a second power generator output instruction value as an instruction value for the output from a second power generator to the power system are calculated; and the combustor is controlled on the basis of the first power generator output instruction value and a frequency convertor is controlled on the basis of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiro Kusumi, Noriaki Hino, Aung Ko Thet, Tomofumi Shiraishi, Masatoshi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 9739197
    Abstract: A method for monitoring cold start of Brayton cycle power generation system comprises: measuring an ambient temperature to obtain a Brayton cycle predetermined operating line of a working fluid, parameter values and calculated values of three monitoring points of the Brayton cycle predetermined operating line, and a position of a saturation curve of the working fluid according to the ambient temperature and a LUT; starting the cold start, continuously measuring the parameter values of the three monitoring points, and meanwhile continuously recording and displaying moving trajectories of the parameter values and the calculated values of the three monitoring points; after the parameter values and the calculated values of the three monitoring points are close to the default values, operating the Brayton cycle power generation system for a predetermined time; and ending the cold start, to enter a stable operating state of the Brayton cycle power generation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: METAL INDUSTRIES RESEARCH&DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
    Inventors: Sheng-Chung Yang, Kou-Cheng Lee, Ho-Chung Fu
  • Patent number: 9657604
    Abstract: A cogeneration plant is provided that includes a gas turbine, a heat recovery steam generator, a steam turbine and a cooler/condenser. A division module is provided at a division point, via which downstream the heat recovery steam generator the combustion gas is cooled and dehumidified in the cooler/condenser and then divided into a first combustion gas flow and a second combustion gas flow. A second condenser is provided for receiving the second combustion gas flow to separate contained carbon dioxide from contained water by condensation of the water. The cogeneration plant further includes a heater and a compressor for receiving the first combustion gas flow, which is heated, compressed and partly extracted to by-pass the combustor for cooling of the gas turbine before it enters the combustor and mix with the flow of oxygen and fuel to be burned in the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Mats Sjödin
  • Patent number: 9654161
    Abstract: A process for testing a turbine of a gas turbine engine at high altitudes, where a large volume of compressed air is stored in a large reservoir of at least 10,000 m3 such as an underground storage cavern, compressed air from the storage reservoir is passed through heat exchanger to preheat the compressed air to a temperature that would normally be discharged from a compressor, the preheated compressed air is burned with a fuel in the combustor, and additional compressed air from the reservoir is passed through an injector located downstream from the turbine to produce a decreased pressure such that a low atmospheric condition at the turbine exit is simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph D Brostmeyer, Robert L Memmen
  • Patent number: 9604756
    Abstract: A process for testing a combustor of a gas turbine engine, where a large volume of compressed air is stored in a large reservoir of at least 10,000 m3 such as an underground storage cavern, compressed air from the storage reservoir is passed through heat exchanger to preheat the compressed air to a temperature that would normally be discharged from a compressor, the preheated compressed air is burned with a fuel in the combustor, and additional compressed air from the reservoir is passed through an injector located downstream from the combustor to produce a decreased pressure such that a low atmospheric condition at the combustor exit is simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph D Brostmeyer, Robert L Memmen
  • Patent number: 9500564
    Abstract: A process for testing a full-sized aircraft or full-sized gas turbine engine in a wind tunnel and includes the steps of securing a full-sized aircraft or engine in a wind tunnel for testing; filling an underground storage reservoir with compressed air; passing pre-treated compressed air from the underground storage reservoir through the wind tunnel for testing of the full-sized aircraft or engine; connecting an outlet of the wind tunnel to an ejector; and, passing compressed air from the underground storage reservoir through the ejector to decrease the exit pressure at the wind tunnel during testing of the full-sized aircraft or engine. The step of pre-treating compressed air from the underground storage reservoir includes preheating the compressed air; and, passing the higher temperature compressed air into the wind tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: S & J DESIGN, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph D Brostmeyer, Robert L Memmen
  • Patent number: 9383105
    Abstract: A method of operating a compressed air energy storage (CAES) system includes operating a compressor train of the CAES system, thereby compressing air. The method further includes, while operating the compressor train: inter-cooling a first portion of the compressed air; further compressing the inter-cooled first portion; after-cooling the further compressed first portion; supplying the after-cooled first portion to a storage vessel; supplying a second portion of the compressed air to a combustor; combusting the second portion; and operating a turbine train of the CAES system using the combusted second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignees: APEX COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE, LLC, Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: Stephen Ward Naeve
  • Patent number: 9273606
    Abstract: A system for the gradual oxidation of fuel is disclosed. The system includes an oxidizer that has a reaction chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The reaction chamber is configured to receive a fluid comprising an oxidizable fuel through the inlet. The oxidizer is configured to maintain a flameless oxidation process. The system also includes a heating chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the heating chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet of the reaction chamber. The heating chamber is configured to receive the fluid from the reaction chamber and selectably heat the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ener-Core Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Hamrin, Steve Lampe
  • Patent number: 9261022
    Abstract: A system for controlling a flow rate of a compressed cooling medium between a compressor section and a turbine section of a gas turbine includes a flow path that is defined between the compressor section and the turbine section of the gas turbine and a thermally actuated variable flow valve disposed within the flow path. The variable flow valve defines an opening that changes in size based on a temperature of the compressed cooling medium flowing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Rajarshi Saha, Santhosh Donkada, Indrajit Mazumder, Bhaskar Pemmi
  • Patent number: 9062886
    Abstract: A gas turbine (1) includes a compressor (2) that feeds an oxidizer to one or more combustion devices (3, 5) in which fuel is injected and is combusted to generate hot gases that are expanded in a turbine (4, 6). The flue gases discharged from the turbine (4, 6) are partially recirculated into the compressor (2). The fuel is a gaseous fuel that is injected into the combustion devices (3, 5) via two or more stages (20, 22, 23). One of the stages is a pilot stage (20) in which the fuel is injected along a longitudinal axis (21) of the combustion device (3, 5) or an axis parallel thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Marta De La Cruz Garcia, Andre Burdet
  • Patent number: 9062579
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for electric power production and integrated combustion and emissions control. The invention may include an engine capable of receiving air and fuel, and producing power and an engine exhaust gas. The invention may also include a first reaction zone receiving the engine exhaust gas from the engine configured to combust fuel and air having an equivalence ratio of more than one, thereby generating a first product. The combustion may reduce nitrogen containing species. The invention may also include a second reaction zone receiving the engine exhaust gas from the engine configured to combust fuel and air having an equivalence ratio of less than one, thereby generating a second product. The combustion may reduce or minimize NOx. The invention may also include a mixing zone configured to receive the first product and second product, and mix and react the first and second products, thereby generating an exhaust with reduced NOx levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Altex Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Kelly, Carlo Castaldini, Meladi Namazian
  • Publication number: 20150135722
    Abstract: A two-shaft gas turbine control system and method are provided that can enhance the efficiency and reliability thereof by controlling the amount of intake air spray and the rotational speed of a high-pressure turbine in accordance with the aperture of an inlet guide vane in a state where a two-shaft gas turbine is being operated with the efficiency of its compressor reduced. The control system includes a droplet spray device for spraying droplets to intake air for the compressor and a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Yasuo TAKAHASHI, Takuya TAKEDA
  • Publication number: 20150121893
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes a first fan including a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis and a reverse flow core engine section including a core turbine axially forward of a combustor and compressor. The core turbine drives the compressor about the axis and a transmission system. A geared architecture is driven by the transmission system to drive the first fan at a speed less than that of the core turbine. A second fan is disposed axially aft of the first fan and forwarded of the core engine and a second turbine is disposed between the second fan and the core engine for driving the second fan when not coupled to the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Publication number: 20150101340
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is presented. The gas turbine engine includes a control unit having a first bypass channel that is coupled between an outlet of a first turbine and an inlet of a second turbine. Further, the control unit includes a second bypass channel coupled between a first outlet of a compressor unit and the inlet of the second turbine. Additionally, the control unit includes a first control valve coupled to the first bypass channel and configured to direct at least a first portion of exhaust gas from the first turbine to the inlet of the second turbine via the first bypass channel. Furthermore, the control unit includes a second control valve coupled to the second bypass channel and configured to direct at least a first portion of compressed air from the compressor unit to the inlet of the second turbine via the second bypass channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kapil Kumar Singh, Sherif Hatem Abdulla Mohamed
  • Publication number: 20150101341
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for a part load CO reduction operation and a low-CO emissions operation of a gas turbine with sequential combustion. The gas turbine essentially includes at least one compressor, a first combustor which is connected downstream to the compressor. The hot gases of the first combustor are admitted at least to an intermediate turbine or directly or indirectly to a second combustor. The hot gases of the second combustor are admitted to a further turbine or directly or indirectly to an energy recovery. At least one combustor runs under a caloric combustion path having a can-architecture, and wherein the air ratio (?) of the combustion at least of the second combustor is kept below a maximum air ratio (?max).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Michael DÜSING, Adnan EROGLU
  • Publication number: 20150075173
    Abstract: A compressed-air energy-storage system, comprising: a variable-nozzle expander configured to receive an airflow at a first pressure and partially expand said airflow at a second pressure, said second pressure being lower than said first pressure, expansion of said airflow in said variable-nozzle expander producing useful mechanical power; a heat generator component configured to receive a fuel and a partially expanded airflow from the variable-nozzle expander; and a turbine configured to receive combustion gas from the heat generator component and expand the combustion gas producing useful mechanical power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Matteo Berti, Michele D'Ercole, Stefano Francini, Allesandro Russo, Paola Del Turco
  • Publication number: 20150047364
    Abstract: The invention relates to a burner arrangement for using in a single combustion chamber or in a can-combustor comprising a center body burner located upstream of a combustion zone, an annular duct with a cross section area, intermediate lobes which are arranged in circumferential direction and in longitudinal direction of the center body. The lobes being actively connected to the cross section area of the annular duct, wherein a cooling air is guided through a number of pipes within the lobes to the center body and cools beforehand at least the front section of the center body based on impingement cooling. Subsequently, the impingement cooling air cools the middle and back face of the center body based on convective and/or effusion cooling. At least the back face of the center body includes on the inside at least one damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Xianfeng Gao, Urs Benz, Andre Theuer, Rohit Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 8935923
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an intercooling turbine section to at least partially drive one of a low spool and a high spool. An intercooling turbine section bypass to selectively bypass at least a portion of a core flow through an intercooling turbine section bypass path around the intercooling turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel B. Kupratis
  • Publication number: 20140366550
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine and method for operating a gas turbine engine includes compressing an air stream in a compressor and combusting the compressed air stream to generate a post combustion gas. The post combustion gas is expanded in a first turbine. The expanded combustion gas exiting the first turbine is split into a first stream, a second stream and a third stream in a splitting zone including one or more aerodynamically shaped flow diverters. The first stream of the expanded combustion gas is combusted in a reheat combustor. An outer liner and flame stabilizer of the reheat combustor are cooled using the second stream of the expanded combustion gas. An inner liner of the reheat combustor is cooled using the third stream of the expanded combustion gas and a portion of the second stream of the expanded combustion gas passing through the one or more flame stabilizers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Bunker, Andrei Tristan Evulet
  • Publication number: 20140352320
    Abstract: A two-shaft gas turbine is provided that can raise an inlet temperature of a high-pressure turbine and the air quantity of a compressor to respective rated values at any atmospheric temperature without using a variable stator vane in the initial stage of a low-pressure turbine. The two-shaft gas turbine includes a power generator 21 having a compressor 11, a combustor 12 and a high-pressure turbine 13; a low-pressure turbine 14 driven by exhaust gas from the high-pressure turbine 13; a generator motor 23 connected to the gas generator 21; and a control unit 24. When either one of a value of the inlet temperature of the high-pressure turbine 13 and a value of the air quantity of the compressor 11 reaches a rated value before the other value reaches a rated value, the control unit 24 drives the generator motor 23 to bring the other value close to the rated value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji NANATAKI, Hidetoshi KUROKI
  • Publication number: 20140352319
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine and method for operating a gas turbine engine includes compressing an air stream in a compressor and generating a post combustion gas by combusting a compressed air stream exiting from the compressor in a combustor. The post combustion gas is expanded in a first turbine. The expanded combustion gas exiting from the first turbine is split into a first stream, a second stream and a third stream. The first stream of the expanded combustion gas is combusted in a reheat combustor. An outer liner and flame stabilizer of the reheat combustor are cooled using the second stream of the expanded combustion gas. An inner liner of the reheat combustor is cooled using the third stream of the expanded combustion gas and a portion of the second stream of the expanded combustion gas passing through the one or more flame stabilizers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Ronald Scott Bunker
  • Publication number: 20140338352
    Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-spool gas turbine engine, including: a first generator for providing electrical power to an electrical system, the generator being driveably connected to a first spool; a second generator for providing electrical power to the electrical system, the generator being driveably connected to a second spool; a disconnection device for disconnecting the second generator from the second spool; and, a controller configured to selectively operate the disconnection device under predetermined powered engine conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Huw Llewelyn EDWARDS, Robert William SLATER
  • Publication number: 20140260295
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a rotational speed of the low pressure compressor rotor(s) of a gas turbine engine, including rotating the high pressure compressor rotor(s) with the high pressure turbine rotor(s) through the high pressure spool, rotating the low pressure turbine rotor(s) with a flow of exhaust gases from the high pressure turbine, rotating the low pressure spool with the low pressure turbine rotor(s), rotating a load of the engine with the low pressure spool, driving a rotation of the low pressure compressor rotor(s) with the low pressure spool through a variable transmission defining a variable transmission ratio between rotational speeds of the compressor rotor(s) and the low pressure spool, and adjusting the transmission ratio to obtain a desired rotational speed for the low pressure compressor rotor(s). A method of adjusting rotational speeds of a gas turbine engine and a gas turbine engine are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard ULLYOTT, Lazar MITROVIC, Jean DUBREUIL, Stephen Christopher KENNY, Guy BOUCHARD, Ilya B. MEDVEDEV, Keith MORGAN, Daris Jehangir KARANJIA, Nashed Azer YOUSSEF
  • Publication number: 20140250903
    Abstract: One example of a gas turbine engine may include a gas generator, a reheat combustor that is disposed downstream of the gas generator, and a power turbine that is disposed downstream of the reheat combustor and includes a plurality of nozzle guide vanes. The reheat combustor is configured to increase a fuel flow so as to increase a temperature of the reheat combustor and match a required exhaust temperature. The nozzle guide vanes are configured to increase a real capacity at a power turbine inlet in proportion with the required exhaust temperature. A constant apparent capacity at a gas generator exit upstream of the reheat combustor remains constant, in response to proportionately increasing the temperature and the real capacity with respect to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Lebel, Carl Carson
  • Publication number: 20140250904
    Abstract: One example of a gas turbine engine can include a first compressor and a first turbine connected to the first compressor by a first shaft. The engine can include a reheat combustor, which is disposed downstream of the first turbine, and a second turbine, which is disposed downstream of the reheat combustor. The engine can further include a second compressor, which is connected to the second turbine by a second shaft and is disposed upstream of the first compressor. The first and second turbines can be disconnected from one another, and the first and second compressors can be disconnected from one another. The second compressor may have an outlet including a flow to the first compressor, such that the first and second turbines provide a shaft worksplit. The reheat combustor can be configured to receive fuel and generate a reheat exit temperature, so as to control an apparent capacity of the second turbine based on a plurality of parameters of the second compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Lebel
  • Publication number: 20140223918
    Abstract: An apparatus performs a power cycle involving expansion of compressed air utilizing high pressure (HP) and low pressure (LP) air turbines located upstream of a gas turbine. The power cycle involves heating of the compressed air prior to its expansion in the HP and LP air turbines. Taking into consideration fuel consumption to heat the compressed air, particular embodiments may result in a net production of electrical energy of ˜2.2-2.5x an amount of energy consumed by substantially isothermal air compression to produce the compressed air supply. Although pressure of the compressed air supply may vary over a range (e.g. as a compressed air storage unit is depleted), the gas turbine may run under almost constant conditions, facilitating its integration with the apparatus. The air turbines may operate at lower temperatures than the gas turbine, and they may include features of turbines employed to turbocharge large reciprocating engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Lightsail Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael CONEY
  • Publication number: 20140216047
    Abstract: A two-shaft gas turbine having high operability is provided. The two-shaft gas turbine includes: a gas generator having a compressor, a combustor and a high pressure turbine; a power turbine having a low pressure turbine; a load connected to the power turbine; a motor/generator capable of rotatably driving the gas generator and capable of extracting power from the gas generator; electric equipment controlling the rotational driving and the power extraction by delivering electric power between the electric equipment and the motor/generator; and a control device controlling the electric equipment, wherein the combustor has a plurality of combustion regions to which a fuel is supplied through fuel adjustment means which are independent from each other, and the control device controls a delivery amount of the electric power delivered by the electric equipment corresponding to the number of combustion regions to which the fuel is supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro MORISAKI, Naohiro KUSUMI, Noriaki HINO, Tomomichi ITO, Kazuo TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20140208765
    Abstract: A system and method for supercharging a combined cycle system includes a forced draft fan providing a variable air flow. At least a first portion of the air flow is directed to a compressor and a second portion of the airflow is diverted to a heat recovery steam generator. A control system controls the airflows provided to the compressor and the heat recovery steam generator. The system allows a combined cycle system to be operated at a desired operating state, balancing cycle efficiency and component life, by controlling the flow of air from the forced draft fan to the compressor and the heat recovery steam generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Steven Hartman, Dale J. Davis
  • Patent number: 8783008
    Abstract: A reheat combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a fuel/gas mixer for mixing fuel, air and combustion gases produced by a primary combustor and expanded through a high pressure turbine. Fuel injectors inject fuel into the mixer together with spent cooling air previously used for convectively cooling the reheat combustor. The fuel mixture is burnt in an annular reheat combustion chamber prior to expansion through low pressure turbine inlet guide vanes. The fuel/gas mixer and optionally the combustion chamber define cooling paths through which cooling air flows to convectively cool their walls. The fuel injectors are also convectively cooled by the cooling air after it has passed through the fuel/gas mixer cooling paths. The low pressure turbine inlet guide vanes may also define convective cooling paths in series with the combustion chamber cooling paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Adnan Eroglu, Thiemo Meeuwissen, Peter Flohr
  • Patent number: 8783042
    Abstract: A method for operating a firing plant with at least one combustion chamber and at least one burner, especially a gas turbine, includes an operating characteristic for operating the combustion chamber close to the lean extinction limit defined as a burner group staging ratio (BGVRich). Pressure pulsations (PulsActual) measured in the combustion chamber are processed by a filter device (2) and converted into corresponding signals (PulsActual,Filter(t)). An exceeding/falling short of at least one pulsation limiting value (PulsLimit) is monitored by a monitoring device (3) and adapts a pulsation reference value (PulsRef) in dependence upon the monitoring. The processed pressure pulsations (PulsActual,Filter(t)) are then compared with the adapted pulsation reference value (PulsRef,adapt), and, from this, a correction value ?BGV is determined, by which the burner group staging ratio (BGVRich) is corrected, and as a result operation of the firing plant close to the lean extinction limit is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Mauricio Garay, Gianfranco Guidati, Stanka Kokanovic, Stephan Torchalla
  • Publication number: 20140182299
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine having an exhaust flow path through a plurality of turbine stages, wherein the plurality of turbine stages is driven by combustion products flowing through the exhaust flow path, at least one main combustor disposed upstream from the turbine, wherein the at least one main combustor is configured to combust a fuel with a first oxidant and an exhaust gas to generate the combustion products, at least one reheat combustor disposed in or between turbine stages of the turbine, wherein the at least one reheat combustor is configured to reheat the combustion products by adding a second oxidant to react with unburnt fuel in the combustion products, and an exhaust gas compressor, wherein the exhaust gas compressor is configured to compress and route the exhaust gas from the turbine to the at least one main combustor along an exhaust recirculation path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Farrior Woodall, Andrei Tristan Evulet, Samuel David Draper
  • Publication number: 20140150443
    Abstract: The present application provides an integrated bottoming cycle system for use with a gas turbine engine. The integrated bottoming cycle system described herein may include a compressor/pump, a cooling circuit downstream of the compressor/pump, a bottoming cycle heat exchanger, a heating circuit downstream of the bottoming cycle heat exchanger, and a number of turbine components in communication with the cooling circuit and/or the heating circuit to maximize the overall plant efficiency and economics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald Gordon Laing, Charles Michael Booth
  • Publication number: 20140123665
    Abstract: A reheat burner arrangement including a center body, an annular duct with a cross-section area, an intermediate fuel injection plane located along the center body and being actively connected to the cross section area of the annular duct, wherein the center body is located upstream of a combustion chamber, wherein the structure of the reheat burner arrangement is defined by various parameters and the structure of the reheat burner arrangement is defined by various dependencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: John Philip WOOD, Andrea CIANI, Andre THEUER, Douglas Anthony PENNELL, Ewald FREITAG
  • Publication number: 20140096532
    Abstract: A method for reducing NOx emissions in the exhaust of a combined cycle gas turbine equipped with a heat recovery boiler and a catalyst effective for NOx reduction, wherein a slip stream of hot flowing exhaust gases is withdrawn from the primary gas flow after the catalyst at a temperature of 500° F. to 900° F. and directed through a fan to a continuous duct into which an aqueous based reagent is injected for decomposition to ammonia gas and the outlet of the continuous duct is connected to an injection grid positioned in the primary exhaust for injection of ammonia gas into the primary exhaust stream at a location upstream of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Broderick, Kathryn V. O'Leary, R. Gifford Broderick, John N. Dale, James M. Valentine
  • Patent number: 8689566
    Abstract: An apparatus performs a power cycle involving expansion of compressed air utilizing high pressure (HP) and low pressure (LP) air turbines located upstream of a gas turbine. The power cycle involves heating of the compressed air prior to its expansion in the HP and LP air turbines. Taking into consideration fuel consumption to heat the compressed air, particular embodiments may result in a net production of electrical energy of ˜2.2-2.5× an amount of energy consumed by substantially isothermal air compression to produce the compressed air supply. Although pressure of the compressed air supply may vary over a range (e.g. as a compressed air storage unit is depleted), the gas turbine may run under almost constant conditions, facilitating its integration with the apparatus. The air turbines may operate at lower temperatures than the gas turbine, and they may include features of turbines employed to turbocharge large reciprocating engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Lightsail Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Coney
  • Patent number: 8613186
    Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a two-shaft gas turbine that exhibits improved reliability, output power, and efficiency. The turbine operates stably by establishing a balance between the driving force of a compressor and the output power of a high-pressure turbine in the case where the two-shaft gas turbine is applied to a system, in which the flow rate of a fluid flowing into a combustor is higher than a simple cycle gas turbine. A portion of the fluid driving the high-pressure turbine is allowed to flow not into the high-pressure turbine but into a low-pressure turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomi Koganezawa, Shinichi Higuchi, Yasuo Takahashi, Ryo Akiyama, Shinya Marushima
  • Publication number: 20130318991
    Abstract: A combustion system including a combustor; a combustor liner disposed within the combustor is provided. At least one primary fuel nozzle is provided to provide fuel to a primary combustion zone disposed proximate to the upstream end of the combustor liner. A transition duct is coupled to the downstream end of the combustor liner. A secondary nozzle assembly is disposed proximate to the downstream end of the combustor to provide fuel to a secondary combustion zone at locations predetermined to reduce peak thermal loads on the surface area of the transition duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard Martin DiCintio, Wei Chen, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia, Mark Allan Hadley
  • Publication number: 20130298568
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant system and methods of operation so as to minimize consumption of cooling water utilizes exhaust from a combustion turbine to generate steam for power generation in a steam turbine topping cycle. The exhaust steam from the steam turbine topping cycle is utilized to vaporize an organic working fluid in an organic working fluid bottoming cycle, where vaporized organic working fluid expanded across a turbine generates additional power. Exhaust gas from the organic working fluid bottoming cycle is condensed utilizing an air-cooled heat exchanger. Heat exchange bundles of the air-cooled heat exchanger are preferably arranged horizontally relative to the ground to maximize efficiency. Turbine inlet cooling is employed at the combustion turbine to recapture energy lost in the system. A thermal energy storage tank may be utilized in conjunction with the turbine inlet cooling to supply chilling water to the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas L. Pierson, Herman Leibowitz