And Cooling Patents (Class 60/806)
  • Publication number: 20120085104
    Abstract: A turbine engine including a channel for injecting a cooling air flow of a high-pressure turbine disk, opening into a cavity that is substantially isolated, upstream, from a cavity in which an air flow sampled at the output of a high-pressure compressor circulates, by a first labyrinth seal, and downstream, from a cavity communicating with the primary flow of the turbine engine, by a second labyrinth seal. The turbine engine includes channels communicating with the injection channel and opening through a static part of the first labyrinth seal between two lips of that seal, so as to allow an air flow coming from the injection channel to be injected between the lips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Fabrice Marcel Noel Garin, Maurice Guy Judet, Patrick Claude Pasquis, Wilfried Lionel Schweblen
  • Publication number: 20120079827
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine is disclosed which is able to operate with high combustion efficiency, and low nitrous oxide emissions during gas turbine operations. The combustor consists of a can-type configuration which combusts fuel premixed with air and delivers the hot gases to a turbine. Fuel is premixed with air through a swirler and is delivered to the combustor with a high degree of swirl motion about a central axis. This swirling mixture of reactants is conveyed downstream through a flow path that expands; the mixture reacts, and establishes an upstream central recirculation flow along the central axis. A cooling assembly is located on the swirler co-linear with the central axis in which cooler air is conveyed into the prechamber between the recirculation flow and the swirler surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: FLEXENERGY ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Yimin HUANG, Shaun SULLIVAN, Brian FINSTAD, Alexander HAPLAU-COLAN
  • Patent number: 8146341
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating heat exchanger elements of HRSG systems with gas turbine exhaust diffusers are provided in the disclosed embodiments. The systems and methods may include integrating heat exchanger elements, such as steam pipes, with various components of an exhaust diffuser. For example, the heat exchanger elements may be integrated with inlet turning vanes, exhaust frame struts, exit guide vanes, associated support structures, and other components of the exhaust diffuser. In addition, the heat exchanger elements may be integrated with multiple components of a single exhaust diffuser. Moreover, the heat exchanger elements may be integrated with the components of the exhaust diffuser within an airfoil, which may encompass both the heat exchanger elements and the individual component of the exhaust diffuser. The use of airfoils may help ensure certain aerodynamic properties of the heated exhaust gas flowing across the exhaust diffuser components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gunnar Leif Siden, Jonathan Glenn Luedke
  • Patent number: 8146366
    Abstract: A method involved operating a combined-cycle power plant (10), which has a gas turbine (11) with a compressor (12) and a turbine (13), a heat recovery steam generator (17) which is connected downstream to the gas turbine (11) and is for producing steam in a water/steam cycle, and also at least one once-through cooler (21), through which flows compressed air which is compressed in the compressor (12) and intended for cooling the gas turbine (11), and, cooling down, converts feed-water (24) which is fed from the heat recovery steam generator (17) into steam, and discharges the steam to the heat recovery steam generator (17). Making the operation more flexible is achieved, without lowering the load of the gas turbine (11), by the combined-cycle power plant (10) being switched between a first operating mode, in which only the gas turbine cycle is used for power generation, and a second operating mode, in which the gas turbine cycle and the water/steam cycle are used for power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Gijsbertus Oomens, Christoph Ruchti, François Droux
  • Publication number: 20120067055
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system that enables one to address various thermal management issues in advanced gas turbine engines. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method to extract heat from an air stream, utilize a significant fraction for on-board power generation, and reject a small quantity of heat to the fuel stream safely at, for example, a lower temperature. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method to extract heat from an air stream, utilize a significant fraction for on-board power generation, and reject a small quantity of heat to the fuel stream safely at, for example, a lower temperature with no potential air/fuel contact is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: ECHOGEN POWER SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy James Held
  • Publication number: 20120060511
    Abstract: A combustor includes an end cap having a perforated downstream plate and a combustion chamber downstream of the downstream plate. A plenum is in fluid communication with the downstream plate and supplies a cooling medium to the combustion chamber through the perforations in the downstream plate. A method for cooling a combustor includes flowing a cooling medium into a combustor end cap and impinging the cooling medium on a downstream plate in the combustor end cap. The method further includes flowing the cooling medium into a combustion chamber through perforations in the downstream plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Baifang Zuo, Roy Marshall Washam, Chunyang Wu
  • Patent number: 8132417
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a combustion chamber (2), a turbine (3), a radially inward and/or radially outward axial gap (4; 16, 17) between the combustion chamber (2) and the turbine (3), at which gap inner and/or outer combustion chamber walls (7, 8) and inner and/or outer turbine walls (11, 12) end, and a cooling gas supply (5), which via the gap (4; 16, 17) introduces a cooling gas into the turbine gas path (13) and/or into the combustion chamber gas path (9). An end section (21, 22, 23, 24) of the respective turbine wall (11, 12) and/or of the respective chamber wall (7, 8) adjoining the gap (4; 16, 17) is radially inwardly and/or radially outwardly, alternatingly formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Ulrich Steiger, Willy Heinz Hofmann
  • Patent number: 8127547
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided with a first heat exchanger associated with a cooling air flow to deliver cooling air to a turbine section. A second heat exchanger is associated with a fuel supply line for delivering fuel into a combustion section. An intermediate fluid cools air at the first heat exchanger and heats fuel at the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Norris, Andrew P. Berryann
  • Publication number: 20120047906
    Abstract: A land based gas turbine apparatus includes an integral compressor; a turbine component having a combustor to which air from the integral compressor and fuel are supplied; and a generator operatively connected to the turbine for generating electricity; wherein hot gas path component parts in the turbine component are cooled entirely or at least partially by cooling air or other cooling media supplied by an external compressor. A method is also provided which includes the steps of supplying compressed air to the combustor from the integral compressor; and supplying at least a portion of the cooling air or other cooling media to the hot gas path parts in the turbine component from an external compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Constantin A. Dinu
  • Patent number: 8112998
    Abstract: The turbine section of the turbine engine is provided with a flow of cooling air which is taken from a compressor section of the turbine engine. The air received from the compressor section is itself cooled before the air is delivered to the turbine. Heat is removed from the flow of air by a plurality of heat pipes which conduct heat away from the flow of air to lower the temperature of the air before it is provided to the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yang Liu, Hua Zhang
  • Patent number: 8104292
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine shroud includes a row of different first and second shroud segments alternating circumferentially therearound. The first segments have a first pattern of first cooling holes extending therethrough. The second segments have a second pattern of second cooling holes extending therethrough. The corresponding patterns have different collective flowrate capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Geoffrey Douglas Robinson, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Publication number: 20120017605
    Abstract: A heat transfer augmented channel wall includes a bulk portion, a wall surface and a plurality of multi-portion indented features extending from the wall surface into the bulk portion. The multi-portion indented features include a first indented portion and a second indented portion that are divided by a ridge which disrupts fluid flow between first and second indented portions. The ridge has a height that is less than a maximum depth of the multi-portion indented features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: CARSON D. SLABAUGH, JAYANTA S. KAPAT
  • Publication number: 20120011857
    Abstract: Hydrogen gas compression systems that each include a multistage centrifugal compressor in which each stage has an inlet-to-outlet pressure rise ratio of about 1.20 or greater. In one embodiment, the multistage compressor includes six high-speed centrifugal compressors driven at a speed of about 60,000 rpm. The compressor has an output of more than 200,000 kg/day at a pressure of more than 1,000 psig. The compressors for the compression stages are distributed on both sides of a common gear-box, which has gearing that allows axial thrusts from the compressors to be handled effectively. Each stage's compressor has a unique impeller, which is secured to a support shaft using a tension-rod-based attachment system. In another embodiment, the multistage compressor is driven by a combustion turbine and one or more intercoolers are provided between compression stages. Each intercooler is cooled by coolant from an absorption chiller utilizing exhaust gas from the combustion turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: CONCEPTS ETI, INC.
    Inventors: Frederick E. Becker, Jamin J. Bitter, Francis A. DiBella, Alexander Gofer, Robert J. Pelton, Sharon E. Wight, Karl D. Wygant, Kerry N. Oliphant
  • Publication number: 20120006028
    Abstract: A resonance chamber (42) has an outer wall (32) with coolant inlet holes (34A-C), an inner wall (36) with acoustic holes (38), and side walls (40A-C) between the inner and outer walls. A depression (33A-C) in the outer wall has a bottom portion (50) that is close to the inner wall compared to peaks (37A-C) of the outer wall. The coolant inlet holes may be positioned along the bottom portion of the depression and along a bottom portion of the side walls to direct coolant flows (44, 51) toward impingement locations (43) on the inner wall that are out of alignment with the acoustic holes. This improves impingement cooling efficiency. The peaks (37A-C) of the outer wall provide volume in the resonance chamber for a target resonance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Danning You, Reinhard Schilp, Chander Prakash
  • Publication number: 20120000205
    Abstract: An aircraft adaptive power thermal management system for cooling one or more aircraft components includes an air cycle system, a vapor cycle system, and a fuel recirculation loop operably disposed therebetween. An air cycle system heat exchanger is between the air cycle system and the fuel recirculation loop, a vapor cycle system heat exchanger is between the vapor cycle system and the fuel recirculation loop, and one or more aircraft fuel tanks are in the fuel recirculation loop. An intercooler including a duct heat exchanger in an aircraft gas turbine engine FLADE duct may be in the air cycle system. The system is operable for providing on-demand cooling for one or more of the aircraft components by increasing heat sink capacity of the fuel tanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: George Albert Coffinberry, Neil Richard Garrigan
  • Patent number: 8087249
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine turbine cooling system includes an impeller and a diffuser directly downstream of the impeller, a bleed for bleeding clean cooling air from downstream of the diffuser, and one or more channels in fluid communication with the bleed. Each of the channels having a generally radially extending section followed by a generally axially aftwardly extending section terminating at an annular cooling air plenum connected to accelerators. The radially and axially aftwardly extending sections may be connected by a bend section of the cooling air channel and the axially aftwardly extending section may be angled radially inwardly going from the bend section to the cooling air plenum. Each of the cooling channels includes an inner wall formed by a forward end wall extending radially outwardly from an inner combustor casing, an annular cover covering a radially inner portion of the forward end wall, and the inner combustor casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marcus Joseph Ottaviano, Robert John Parks, John Lawrence Noon, Mark Michael D'Andrea, Thomas Michael Regan
  • Patent number: 8087253
    Abstract: A method of operating a turbine engine, wherein the turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, a plurality of successive axially stacked stages that include a row of circumferentially spaced stator blades and circumferentially spaced rotor blades, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced injection ports disposed upstream of a first row of stator blades in the turbine; the injection ports comprising a port through which cooling air is injected into the hot-gas path of the turbine, the method comprising: configuring the stator blades in the first row of stator blades such that the circumferential position of a leading edge of one of the stator blades is located within +/?15% pitch of the first row of stator blades of the circumferential location of the injection port midpoint of at least a plurality of the injection ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wei Ning, Stephen W. Tesh, Gunnar L. Siden, Bradley T. Boyer
  • Patent number: 8079804
    Abstract: A gas turbine case is provided including an outer case surface, and a channel portion formed as a recessed area extending radially inwardly into the outer case surface. The channel portion extends about a circumference of the case. An outer flow jacket is attached to the outer case surface and extends over the channel portion to define an enclosed cooling passage along the outer case surface. At least one inlet passage and at least one outlet passage are provided in fluid communication with the enclosed cooling passage to convey air to and from the cooling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Yevgeniy Shteyman, Frank Tsai, James F. Marshall, Scott W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20110296848
    Abstract: A fluid transfer arrangement comprising a duct having a first end and a second end, a pulse generation mechanism located at the first end of the duct to direct fluid pulses towards the second end of the duct in use, and a baffle located at the second end of the duct that defines an aperture having sharp edges. The sharp edges generate ring vortex fluid flow from the aperture in use. Applications include impingement heating and cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Zâhid M. HUSSAIN, Christopher T.J. SHEAF, Brian A. HANDLEY
  • Patent number: 8070099
    Abstract: Aircraft systems having baffle seals with low coefficients of friction and methods of assembling aircraft systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an aircraft system includes: (a) an aircraft baffle; (b) an aircraft cowl separated from the aircraft baffle by a gap, the aircraft cowl having a contact surface; and (c) a flexible aircraft baffle seal extending from the aircraft baffle to the aircraft cowl to seal the gap, the aircraft baffle seal having a contact side for contacting the contact surface of the aircraft cowl, the contact side having a kinetic coefficient of friction that is not more than 0.4, the aircraft baffle seal comprising an elastomer sheet and a laminate, the laminate being the contact side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Horizon, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Shane McFarlane, David Adonis McFarlane
  • Publication number: 20110283713
    Abstract: A system (10) for cooling a heat exchanger (12) on board an aircraft comprises a process air line (28), a first end of which is connected to an engine (16) of the aircraft in order to supply engine bleed air to the process air line (28). A second end of the process air line 28 is connected to a turbine (30) in order to supply the engine bleed air flowing through the process air line (28) to the turbine (30). A first end of a cooling air line (34) is connected to the turbine (30) in order to supply the cooling air line (34) with cooling air that is produced by expansion of the engine bleed air in the turbine (30). The cooling air line (34) is adapted to supply the cooling air flowing through the cooling air line (34) to the heat exchanger (12) that is to be cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Juergen Kelnhofer
  • Patent number: 8061146
    Abstract: A compact heat exchanger pedestal array for augmenting heat transfer in a machine is disclosed. The compact heat exchanger pedestal array includes a wall having first and second surfaces. The first surface faces a heated flow path and the second surface partially forms a flow path for cooling fluid. A plurality of pedestals extend from the second surface of the wall. At least one turbulator strip extends between adjacent pedestals. The turbulator strips and pedestals are operable for mixing the cooling fluid to increase heat transfer from the wall to the cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher R. Joe, Paul M. Lutjen
  • Patent number: 8056345
    Abstract: A hybrid cooling system for a gas turbine engine includes a vapor cooling assembly and a cooling air cooling assembly. The cooling air cooling assembly is configured to remove thermal energy from cooling air used to cool a first component of the gas turbine engine. The vapor cooling assembly configured to transport thermal energy from a vaporization section to a condenser section through cyclical evaporation and condensation of a working medium sealed within the vapor cooling assembly. The vaporization section is located at least partially within a second component of the gas turbine engine, and the condenser section is located outside the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Norris, Bernard J. Raver, James D. Hill
  • Patent number: 8057157
    Abstract: A system for providing air from a multi-stage to a turbine includes a turbine having a high pressure input port and a low pressure input port. The system also includes a compressor having at least one high pressure extraction air output and at least one low pressure extraction air output. A valve is fluidly connected to the at least one high pressure extraction air output, at least one low pressure extraction air output and low pressure input port of the turbine. The valve is selectively operated to fluidly connect the at least one low pressure extraction air output with the low pressure input port during normal operating conditions and fluidly connect the at least one high pressure extraction air output and the low pressure input port during a turn down condition or below design temperature operation to enhance turbine engine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric David Roush, William Andrew Parker
  • Publication number: 20110271689
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a compressor discharge casing of a gas turbine engine is designed to receive discharge air from a compressor and to direct a first portion of the discharge air into a combustor of the gas turbine engine and a second portion of the discharge air into a nozzle assembly of a gas turbine to cool components of the gas turbine. A heat transfer device is configured to receive a cooling fluid and to cool the second portion of the discharge air with the cooling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Ashok Kumar Anand, Raymond Edward Chupp, Andres Jose Garcia-Crespo, Ross James Gustafson
  • Patent number: 8047000
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas turbine combustion chamber with a combustion chamber wall 1, with at least part of the combustion chamber wall 1 being provided with a liquid-cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Ralf Sebastian von der Bank
  • Publication number: 20110259017
    Abstract: A cooling system for a hot gas path component is disclosed. The cooling system may include a component layer and a cover layer. The component layer may include a first inner surface and a second outer surface. The second outer surface may define a plurality of channels. The component layer may further define a plurality of passages extending generally between the first inner surface and the second outer surface. Each of the plurality of channels may be fluidly connected to at least one of the plurality of passages. The cover layer may be situated adjacent the second outer surface of the component layer. The plurality of passages may be configured to flow a cooling medium to the plurality of channels and provide impingement cooling to the cover layer. The plurality of channels may be configured to flow cooling medium therethrough, cooling the cover layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Ronald Scott Bunker, Gary Michael Itzel
  • Publication number: 20110247347
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a supply of cooling fluid, a rotatable shaft, blade disc structure coupled to the shaft and having at least one bore for receiving cooling fluid, and a particle separator. The particle separator includes particle deflecting structure upstream from the blade disc structure, and a particle collection chamber. The particle deflecting structure deflects solid particles from the cooling fluid prior to the cooling fluid entering the at least one bore in the blade disc structure. The particle collection chamber is upstream from the particle deflecting structure and receives the solid particles deflected from the cooling fluid by the particle deflecting structure. The solid particles deflected by the particle deflecting structure flow upstream from the particle deflecting structure to the particle collection chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Todd Ebert, Keith D. Kimmel, Vincent P. Laurello
  • Publication number: 20110247346
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a supply of cooling fluid, a rotatable shaft, structure defining at least one bypass passage in fluid communication with the supply of cooling fluid for supplying cooling fluid from the supply of cooling fluid, and metering structure located at an outlet of the at least one bypass passage. The metering structure includes at least one flow passageway extending therethrough at an angle to a central axis of the engine for permitting cooling fluid in the bypass passage to pass into a turbine rim cavity. The cooling fluid flowing out of the flow passageway has a velocity component in a direction tangential to the circumferential direction in the same direction as a rotation direction of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Keith D. Kimmel, Vincent P. Laurello, Todd Ebert
  • Publication number: 20110247345
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a pre-swirl structure. Inner and outer wall structures of the pre-swirl structure define a flow passage in which swirl members are located. The swirl members include a leading edge and a circumferentially offset trailing edge. Cooling fluid exits the flow passage with a velocity component in a direction tangential to the circumferential direction, wherein a swirl ratio defined as the velocity component in the direction tangential to the circumferential direction of the cooling fluid to a velocity component of a rotating shaft in the direction tangential to the circumferential direction is greater than one as the cooling fluid exits the flow passage outlet, and the swirl ratio is about one as the cooling fluid enters at least one bore formed in a blade disc structure. An annular cavity extends between the flow passage and the at least one bore formed in the blade disc structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Vincent P. Laurello, Keith D. Kimmel, Todd Ebert
  • Patent number: 8033119
    Abstract: A transition member between a combustion section and a turbine section in a gas turbine engine. The transition member includes a casing inner wall and a plurality of spanning members. The spanning members extend radially outwardly from a radially outer surface of the casing inner wall. Each of the spanning members included a slot formed therein. Each slot is in communication with a first aperture formed in the radially inner surface of the casing inner wall and a plurality of second apertures formed in an aft side of the spanning member for effecting a passage of the cooling fluid from a first cooling fluid channel to an inner volume defined within the radially inner surface of the casing inner wall. The slots include a component in the radial direction and a component in the axial direction such that the first aperture is not radially aligned with the second apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: George Liang
  • Patent number: 8033116
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a compressor portion that generates a cooling airflow. The compressor portion includes a plurality of compressor stages. The turbomachine further includes a turbine portion operatively connected to the compressor portion. The turbine portion includes a plurality of turbine stages. A conduit fluidly connects at least one of the plurality of compressor stages with at least one of the plurality of turbine stages and delivers a portion of the cooling airflow from the compressor portion to the turbine portion. An injector port is connected to the conduit and a secondary fluid generation system. The secondary fluid generation system delivers an amount of dry secondary fluid into the cooling airflow passing from the compressor portion to the turbine portion. The amount of dry secondary fluid replaces a portion of the cooling airflow passing to the turbine portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ajit Singh Sengar, Nattanmai Venkataraman Saravanan, Aslam Basha
  • Publication number: 20110232299
    Abstract: An impingement structure 204 in an impingement cooling system, wherein the impingement structure 204 comprises a plurality of impingement apertures 214 that are configured to impinge a flow of coolant and direct resulting coolant jets against a target-surface 210 that opposes the impingement structure 204 across an impingement cavity 212 formed therebetween, the impingement structure 204 comprising a corrugated configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Sergey Aleksandrovich Stryapunin, Sergey Anatolievich Meshkov
  • Publication number: 20110232298
    Abstract: A system for cooling components of a turbine includes: at least one input in fluid communication with a source of carbon dioxide gas, the carbon dioxide gas removed from synthesis gas produced by a gasification unit from hydrocarbon fuel; and at least one first conduit in fluid communication with the at least one input and configured to divert a portion of the carbon dioxide gas from the source of carbon dioxide gas to at least one component of the turbine, the turbine configured to combust the synthesis gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Muthuramalingam Mahendhra, Ashok Kumar Anand, Veerappan Muthaiah
  • Patent number: 8015824
    Abstract: A method and system for regulating a cooling fluid within a turbomachine in real time. The system may an external flow conditioning system for adjusting at least one property of the cooling fluid, wherein the external flow conditioning system comprises an inlet portion and an outlet portion. The system may also include at least one heat exchanger; at least one control valve; at least one bypass orifice; at least one stop valve; and a control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sivaraman Vedhagiri, Ravi Meenaksh, Jesse E. Trout, Jun Yang
  • Publication number: 20110214430
    Abstract: In a method for the fast cooling down of a gas turbine (1) after its operation, and also in a gas turbine (1) useful for carrying out the method, subsequent to the operation of a gas turbine (1), the rotor (8) is operated at low cooling speed (n) in order to cool down the gas turbine (1) which is heated up as a result of operation. This allows service or maintenance operations to be started early and therefore to reduce the shutdown periods of a gas turbine (1). After the operation of the gas turbine (1), cooling is not carried out a constant low cooling speed (n), but the cooling speed (n) is controlled as a function of at least one critical temperature (Tk) and/or of time (t). The cooling speed (n) in this case, in dependence upon the critical temperature (Tk), is kept as high as the resulting thermal and/or cyclic load allows for realizing a fast cool-down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Ernst Pauli, Alexander Derksen
  • Publication number: 20110214431
    Abstract: A turbine guide vane support for an axial-flow gas turbine is provided. The support includes a tubular wall having an inflow-side end and an outflow-side end for a hot gas flowing in the interior of the turbine guide vane support in a flow path of the gas turbine. Cooling channels for a coolant are provided in the wall. The cooling channels extend from a coolant inlet to a coolant outlet, respectively. At least one of the cooling inlets and one of the cooling outlets, respectively, is disposed at the outflow-side end of the turbine guide vane support, wherein the cooling channel associated with the respective inlet and outlet extends up to the inflow-side end of the turbine guide vane support and transitions to a redirecting area from which the respective cooling channel further extends to the outflow-side end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Francois Benkler, Andreas Böttcher, Daniel Grundei, Uwe Lohse, Ekkehard Maldfeld, Mirko Milazar, Oliver Schneider, Shilun Sheng
  • Publication number: 20110203294
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an annular combustion chamber of a turbomachine, the system comprising support means for supporting and centering a fuel injector head, and a bowl arranged downstream from the support means and including at its downstream end an annular collar that extends radially outwards and that is cooled by air impacting against its upstream radial surface, and including on said surface means for disturbing the flow of cooling air and for increasing the heat exchange area between the air and the collar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Laurent Bernard CAMERIANO, Christophe Pieussergues, Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis
  • Patent number: 8001792
    Abstract: Apparatus for channeling combustion gases to a turbine in a gas turbine engine. The engine has a compressor for providing compressed air, a combustor for combusting fuel with the compressed air to provide combustion gases, and a radial inflow turbine having an inlet configured to receive the combustion gases. The turbine is rotatable about an axis for expanding the combustion gases to produce work. The apparatus includes a subassembly of plurality of nozzle guide vanes fixed between a pair of spaced apart, ring-shaped sidewalls. A pair of spaced apart supports is configured to position the subassembly therebetween, concentric with the axis, and adjacent the turbine inlet. The apparatus further includes a plurality of bolt assemblies extending axially through the pair of supports, apertures in the sidewalls, and holes in the guide vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: OPRA Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Marek Dvorak, R. Jan Mowill
  • Patent number: 7980052
    Abstract: An industrial gas turbine engine capable of operating at higher temperatures than air cooled nickel based alloy airfoils in the turbine. The engine burns stoichiometric or rich to produce a hot gas stream that is mostly without oxygen, and the turbine airfoils are made from a high temperature resistant material such as a refractory material that also has poor oxidation resistance. A second small gas turbine engine is used to compress nitrogen gas that is used to pass through the turbine airfoils for cooling where the film cooling nitrogen gas is injected into the hot gas stream but without igniting the fuel rich gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose R Paulino
  • Publication number: 20110162387
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided for cooling a turbine of a gas turbine engine. The system has first and second flow paths for guiding cooling air received from the compressor of the engine. The routes of both flow paths bypass the combustor of the engine. The system also has a preswirler for receiving the cooling air at the ends of the two flow paths, swirling the cooling air tangentially to the engine axis, and delivering the swirled cooling air to a rotor of the turbine. The first flow path is routed through a heat exchanger which cools the cooling air guided by the first flow path relative to the cooling air guided by the second flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Adam P. Chir, Andrew M. Rolt
  • Patent number: 7966807
    Abstract: A cooling system for a gas turbine engine includes a non-rotating component extending into an engine flowpath, a vapor cooling assembly configured to transport thermal energy from a vaporization section to a condenser section through cyclical evaporation and condensation of a working medium sealed within the vapor cooling assembly, wherein the vaporization section is located at least partially within the non-rotating component, and wherein the condenser section is located outside the non-rotating component and away from the engine flowpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Norris, James D. Hill, Craig A. Nordeen
  • Patent number: 7966804
    Abstract: A method for testing a cooling system for use in a gas turbine engine control system is provided. The method includes connecting an inlet of the cooling system to a differential pressure sensor, connecting an outlet of the cooling system to the differential pressure sensor, and determining whether or not a difference in pressure exists between the inlet and outlet, wherein such a pressure difference is indicative of whether cooling fluid is flowing through the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Barton Hunter Snow
  • Patent number: 7958717
    Abstract: A gas turbine power generator plant, intended to reduce its noise by making small the intake and exhaust outlets of the cooing air channel of a case, comprises an engine core in which a turbine, a compressor and a generator are installed on the same axis, a combustor for burning air for combustion compressed by the compressor and supplying the air to the turbine, a radiator for cooling a coolant or a lubricant, a cooling fan for ventilating the radiator with cooling air, an electric power converter for converting electric power generated by the generator, and the case for housing these constituent elements. And, a combustion air channel passing the compressor, the combustor and the turbine and a cooling air channel passing the radiator, the cooling fan and the electric power converter are formed as mutually independent channels from intake to exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Nakano, Masaya Ichinose, Masanori Watanabe, Kuniyoshi Tsubouchi, Toshihiko Fukushima, Masatoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7954324
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided comprising a compressor, a fuel supply apparatus, a combustor, and a turbine. The fuel supply apparatus comprises a fuel source, a cooling apparatus including a heat exchanger and structure for defining a first path for fuel to travel from the fuel source to the heat exchanger and a second path for fuel to travel away from the heat exchanger. The combustor functions to receive the compressed air from the compressor and the fuel from the heat exchanger, combine the air and fuel to create an air/fuel mixture and ignite the air/fuel mixture to create combustion products. The cooling apparatus further comprises structure coupled to and extending between the heat exchanger and at least one of a plurality vanes in the turbine for circulating a coolant fluid through at least one vane and the heat exchanger. In another embodiment, pipe supply structure extends from a fuel source through an end section of a turbine casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Holland, Gerard McQuiggan
  • Patent number: 7946806
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems and related methods involving heat exchange are provided. In this regard, a representative heat exchange system for a gas turbine engine includes: a heat exchanger; and a flow restrictor operative to selectively restrict a flow of gas flowing along an annular gas flow path; in an open position, the flow restrictor enabling gas to flow along the gas flow path and, in a closed position, the flow restrictor restricting the flow of gas such that at least a portion of the gas is provided to the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being located radially outboard of the flow restrictor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Murphy
  • Publication number: 20110115227
    Abstract: A turbogenerator having a gas turbine engine powering generator and a cooling system and an annular heat exchanger powered by a fan disposed across an outer fan duct of the engine. Fan variable inlet and outlet guide vanes may be used to vary power between the fan and the generator which are drivenly connected to a low pressure turbine. Inner and outer portions separated by a rotating shroud of the fan are disposed in annular inner and outer fan ducts respectively. A directed energy weapon may be powered by the generator and cooled by the cooling system. A refrigeration apparatus may be operably disposed between the annular heat exchanger and the directed energy weapon for cooling the directed energy weapon and conditioning power electronics for the weapon. The refrigeration apparatus may include a vapor cycle cooling system and a cold storage containing a phase change material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Douglas George Shafer, Mark Gerard Rettig, Robert John VanderMolen
  • Publication number: 20110113790
    Abstract: A thermal machine including a wall defining a hot gas duct for transferring a hot gas stream and a cooling jacket disposed at a distance from the wall on an outside of the hot gas duct so as to define a cooling duct with an inlet and an outlet. The cooling duct is configured to conduct a cooling medium along an external face of the wall from the inlet to an outlet in a direction counter to a flow of hot gas in the hot gas duct. An impingement cooling plate is disposed at the inlet of the cooling duct and includes cooling baffle holes configured such that cooling medium entering the cooling duct through the cooling baffle holes flows in a direction perpendicular to the wall. The impingement cooling plate is positioned such that an inflow-side edge sealingly abuts the wall of the hot gas duct so as to reduce a transverse flow of the cooling medium through the cooling duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Hartmut HAEHNLE, Gregory VOGEL, Russell Bond JONES, Marion DUGGANS (-ONEIL), Remigi TSCHUOR
  • Patent number: 7942009
    Abstract: A small gas turbine engine with a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine located downstream of the combustor. The compressor and turbine are supported on a rotary shaft, and a main bearing is support on the rotary shaft, the main bearing being located in a hot zone of the combustor. The main bearing includes cooling air passages within the races to provide cooling for the bearing. A cooling air is diverted from the compressor and passed through the bearing cooling passages for cooling the bearing, and then the cooling air is directed into the combustor. The cooling air is also passed through a guide nozzle before being passed through the bearing to cool both the guide nozzle and the bearing. A swirl cup injector is sued to deliver the compressed air from the compressor and the cooling air from the bearing into the combustor, the swirl cup injector also acting to draw the cooling air through the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark M Harris, Wesley D Brown, Angel M Garcia
  • Patent number: 7937951
    Abstract: A system for cooling the impeller of a centrifugal compressor in a turbomachine is disclosed. The compressor supplies an annular diffuser. The diffuser includes an end-piece that extends downstream and along the impeller of the compressor and is covered on the upstream side by an annular metal sheet. The sheet delimits, with the impeller of the compressor, a first annular passageway to carry away the air taken from the outlet of the compressor and, with the end-piece of the diffuser, a second annular passageway to carry away a portion of the air flow coming out of the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Antoine Robert Alain Brunet, Jean-Christophe Leininger, David Locatelli, Romain Nicolas Lunel