Patents Represented by Attorney Dale J. Davis
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Patent number: 8127556Abstract: The present invention provides a method of controlling a turbomachine having at least one fuel supply system that uses an unchoked valve. Here, the method may determine the flow characteristics of a fuel in a fuel supply system without using a flow meter. The present invention also provides a fuel supply system with a configuration comprising at least one unchoked valve. The fuel system may not require the use of a flow meter.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Reuben Aiton, Joseph Robert Law
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Patent number: 8100632Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may provide an integrated cooling system for multiple compartments of a turbomachine. The cooling system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, may provide the following benefits to the user. Improvement on the combined cycle efficiency and an increase in the power output. This may result from reducing the exhaust dilution losses and reducing the parasitic load by requiring fewer air circulation devices. The present invention may also benefit the user by reducing the installation and start-up costs of the cooling system by requiring fewer air circulation devices and integrating the cooling systems. The present invention may circulate a cooling fluid through an integrated cooling circuit, which may be in fluid communication with each compartment of the multiple compartment of the turbomachine.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rahul J. Chillar, Raub W. Smith
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Patent number: 8082067Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may incorporate an adaptive model based control (MBC) for determining a physical parameter including: generator output, head, generator speed, or the like. The adaptive MBC may reduce the need for pre-defined control curves. The adaptive MBC may receive a plurality of data on the hydroelectric plant, and then builds a new operating model, based on that data, which controls the operation of a hydroelectric plant. This model may then be used to forecast and/or control an output variable including the generator output of the hydroelectric plant. The MBC of an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to automatically and/or continuously monitor the hydroelectric plant to determine whether the output parameter is within a desired range.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2008Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Reginald L. Nicoson
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Patent number: 8074499Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide real-time monitoring of a compressor section to determine the possibility of a crack forming on a rotating blade. The present invention does not require the shutdown of the machine. The present invention may be configured to automatically raise an alarm if the acoustic signature of the compressor changes in way that may be consistent with the cracking of a blade.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kevin W. Kinzie, Chingwei M. Shieh, Dongjai Lee
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Patent number: 8069672Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may provide a variable speed booster, which receives air from a compressor of a gas turbine through an intercooler, to supply air at a relatively constant pressure to an air processing unit. An embodiment of the present invention may provide a speed adjustable booster turbine to energize a variable speed booster; which provides air at a relatively constant pressure to an air processing unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2008Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Ping Yu
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Patent number: 8056318Abstract: A portion of the exhaust generated by a turbomachine is recirculated through an inlet portion by an exhaust gas recirculation system. The system reduces the level of Sulfur Oxides and other constituents within the exhaust before the exhaust is recirculated. The system may utilize sea water, fresh water, or combinations thereof; as part of a scrubbing process to reduce the Sulfur Oxides and other constituents.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2007Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rahul J. Chillar, Robert W. Taylor, Peter Martin Maly, Sam Draper, Amit Toprani
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Patent number: 8046986Abstract: A method and system for controlling an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system is provided. The method and system may incorporate a device or devices that continuously monitors an exhaust stream for harmful constituents. The method and system may control components of the EGR system based on the concentration of harmful constituents within the exhaust.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2007Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rahul J. Chillar, Robert W. Taylor, Peter Martin Maly, Jason D. Fuller
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Patent number: 8050887Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may provide a method and system for detecting icing on at least one wind turbine blade. An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a software application and process that utilizes the measured wind speed to detect icing on at least one wind turbine blade.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2008Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Udo Ahmann
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Patent number: 8043413Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a system for removing foreign objects from the airstream entering an inlet system of a turbomachine. The system may include an electrostatic system that may be configured to charge conductive, or partially conductive foreign objects that are in the airstream flowing through the system. This system may create an electric field to draw the charged foreign objects, allowing for a collecting section to remove the charged foreign objects from the airstream. An embodiment of the present invention may provide an automatic accumulation system for collecting the foreign objects removed from the airstream. An embodiment of the present invention may provide an automatic cleaning system for cleaning components of the collecting system.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2008Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rahul J. Chillar, Stephen D. Hiner, Aaron M. Smith
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Patent number: 8042340Abstract: A method and system for modulating the Modified Wobbe Index (MWI) of a fuel is provided. A variety of industrial components, which may require a gas fuel, such as but not limiting of, a heavy-duty gas turbine; an aero-derivative gas turbine; or a boiler may utilize the method and system. The method and system may provide an industrial component comprising at least one steam injection system, wherein the at least one steam injection system injects steam into at least one fuel supply line upstream of a combustion system to modulate the MWI of at least one fuel. The method and system may also determine whether the MWI of the at least one fuel is outside of a predetermined range; and utilize the at least one steam injection system to automatically inject the steam at a flowrate for adjusting the MWI of the at least one fuel.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jun F. Ma, Colin Wilkes
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Patent number: 8015824Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 1, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sivaraman Vedhagiri, Ravi Meenaksh, Jesse E. Trout, Jun Yang
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Patent number: 8015822Abstract: The present invention takes the form of a method and system that may reduce the level of SOx emissions by recirculating a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine; the portion of exhaust may be mixed with the inlet air prior to re-entering the turbomachine. The present invention may incorporate an inlet bleed heat system to reduce the likelihood of the liquid products forming from SOx emissions. Here, a method may maintain a temperature of the inlet fluid above a condensation temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jatila Ranasinghe, Elizabeth F. Brown
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Patent number: 7996337Abstract: A method and system for remotely predicting the reliability and the remaining time before failure for an DC motor system is provided. The method and system may remotely determine the reliability utilizing a DC motor condition forecaster. The method and system may include acquiring historical motor data, obtaining operational data, performing failure analysis, developing a causal network, and performing an integrated causal network and reliability analysis of the DC motor system. The method and system may provide at least one notification of an issue with the DC motor system or at least one component of the DC motor system.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2007Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Greg L. Flickinger
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Patent number: 7985284Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention measures a sample of the airstream, in real time, for a corrosive, before the airstream enters the compressor. An embodiment of the present invention may then initiate an on-line water wash system to reduce the level of the at least one corrosive on the compressor. An embodiment of the present invention also provides an on-line water wash system that may mix a cleaning fluid with at least one chemical agent to form a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution reduces the level of corrosives on components of a turbomachine compressor. The cleaning solution may be an acidic solution to reduce corrosion of a caustic nature. Alternatively, the cleaning solution may be a basic solution to reduce corrosion of an acidic nature.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2008Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dale J. Davis, Rahul J. Chillar, Eric Gebhardt
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Patent number: 7980146Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an air sampling system for measuring corrosives within an airstream flowing within an inlet system. This air sampling system may include an air sampling unit with a plurality of sampling coupons secured within. Parts of the air sampling system may be externally mounted to the inlet system, allowing for an operator to access the sampling coupons, while the inlet system operates. In operation, an embodiment of the present invention has a sampling line connected to the air sampling system; the airstream flowing within the sampling line passes over the sampling coupons and then returns to the inlet system.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2008Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jeff P. Czapiewski, Rahul J. Chillar, Steve D. Hiner, Rebecca E. Hefner, William K. Eyers, Stephen F. Banks
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Patent number: 7980083Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may provide a variable speed booster, which receives air from a compressor of a gas turbine through an intercooler, to supply air at a relatively constant pressure to an air processing unit. An embodiment of the present invention may provide an external power source to energize the variable speed booster; which provides air at a relatively constant pressure to an air processing unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2008Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Ping Yu
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Patent number: 7966102Abstract: Block loading may occur during the process of restoring an electrical grid after a blackout. A method and system for coordinating the loading of a combined cycle power plant to support block loading is provided. The power plant may include a gas turbine and a steam turbine. The method and system may provide load control loops, for the gas and steam turbine, which support block loading.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Darrin Glen Kirchhof, Bryan Edward Sweet, Karl Dean Minto
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Patent number: 7963095Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an air conditioning system located upstream of the inlet system for a gas turbine. The air conditioning system may include at least one conditioning module for adjusting the temperature of the airstream. The at least one conditioning module may have a plurality of forms including at least one of the following systems: a chiller, an evaporative cooler; a spray cooler, or combinations thereof. The specific form of the at least one conditioning module may be determined in part the configuration of the gas turbine.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rahul J. Chillar, David L. Rogers, Abbas Motakef
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Patent number: 7926256Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sam D. Draper, Douglas S. Byrd, Carl G. Schott, Rahul J. Chillar, Amit S. Toprani
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Patent number: 7914253Abstract: A system for regulating a cooling fluid within a turbomachine. The system may include a plurality of bypass chambers, wherein each of the plurality of bypass chambers allows for the cooling fluid to pass from the compressor section to the at least one wheelspace area. The system may also include a plurality of bypass plugs, wherein each of the plurality of bypass plugs is insertable into a bypass chamber opening on each of the plurality of bypass chambers.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2007Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sivaraman Vedhagiri, Ravi Meenaksh, Jesse Trout, William Parker, Eric Scicchitano, Joseph Moroso