Patents Assigned to Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
  • Nozzle adjusting mechanism and method
    Patent number: 8231326
    Abstract: Method and nozzle adjustment mechanism for adjusting a flow of a fluid. The nozzle adjustment mechanism includes a fixed ring; at least a vane connected to the fixed ring by a pivot pin and configured to rotate with the pivot pin; an adjusting ring rotatably connected to the fixed ring and configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the nozzle adjustment mechanism; and a connection mechanism connecting the at least a vane to the adjusting ring and configured to move the at least a vane when the adjusting ring is rotated, the connection mechanism including a lever component and a link component connected to each other. The lever component is connected to the at least a vane and the link component is connected to the adjusting ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gabriele Mariotti, Stefano Ghiraldo, Marcello Puggioni, Marcin Legat
  • Method for determining reheat cracking susceptibility
    Patent number: 8186875
    Abstract: System, computer software and method for determining a susceptibility to reheat cracking of a sample of material, which includes a welded area. The method includes measuring a length of the sample, applying a first stress to the sample to achieve a predetermined elongation of the sample, exposing the elongated sample to a predefined heat treatment, applying a second stress to the sample until the sample breaks at least into two different pieces, and determining the susceptibility of the broken sample to reheat cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventors: Leonardo Tognarelli, Eugenio Giorni, Marco Romanelli, Marco Manetti
  • Ultrasound inspection methods for noisy cast materials and related probes
    Patent number: 8181523
    Abstract: Ultrasound inspection methods for noisy materials and related probes are disclosed to inspect a defect in a cast material that use polycarbonate delay layers having a first surface configured to be disposed on a surface of the cast material; and an acoustic crystal element disposed on a second surface of the polycarbonate delay layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventors: Thomas James Batzinger, Riccardo Barigazzi, Fabrizio Betti, Waseem Ibrahim Faidi, Eugenio Giorni, Dane E. Hackenberger, Federico Iozzelli, Manoj Kumar Km, Zongqi Sun, Toby L. Sweigart
  • Systems and Methods for Pre-Heating Compressed Air in Advanced Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage Systems
    Publication number: 20120102937
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide for capturing heat energy in a power generation system. The system includes: a first compressor configured to exhaust a first compressed, heated air flow; a heat exchanger connected to the first compressor and configured to receive the first compressed, heated air flow and configured to transfer heat energy from the first compressed, heated air flow to an oil; at least one pump connected to the heat exchanger and configured to pump the heated oil in a closed-loop system from the heat exchanger to an insulated storage tank; a second compressor connected to the heat exchanger and configured to exhaust a second compressed, heated air flow; and an energy storage unit connected to the second compressor and configured to store heat energy from the second compressed, heated air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: NUOVO PIGNONE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Sanjay ANIKHINDI, Bhaskara KOSAMANA
  • Inlet Air Cooling and Moisture Removal Methods and Devices in Advance Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage Systems
    Publication number: 20120102987
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide for cooling air in a power generation system. The system includes: an air handling unit configured to receive air, to cool the air and to remove moisture from the air; a first compressor fluidly connected to the air handling unit and configured to receive the air from the air handling unit and to exhaust a first compressed, heated air flow; a vapor absorption chiller connected to the first compressor and configured to transfer heat energy between a plurality of mediums and to cool the first compressed, heated air flow; and a second compressor connected to the vapor absorption chiller and configured to receive the cooled first compressed, heated air flow and to exhaust a second compressed, heated air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: NUOVO PIGNONE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Sanjay ANIKHINDI, Bhaskara KOSAMANA
  • RECIPROCATING COMPRESSOR CRANKSHAFT ADAPTER AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20120051949
    Abstract: Method and device for lubricating a connection. A housing is configured to house a crankshaft adapter that connects an oil pump to a compressor. The housing includes a shell forming a round cavity configured to receive the crankshaft adapter; an oil feed conduit configured to enter through the shell into the round cavity and to deliver oil; a first drain conduit, opposite to the oil feed conduit, and configured to enter through the shell into the round cavity; a plug provided in the first drain conduit; and a second drain conduit configured to enter through the shell into the round cavity. The second drain conduit is located between the oil feed conduit and the first drain conduit, substantially between 50 and 130 degrees relative to the first drain conduit on a periphery of the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: NUOVO PIGNONE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Vinh DO, Jeffrey RAYNAL, Jason Andrew HELTON, Carlos TREVINO
  • COMBUSTOR LINER CONCENTRIC SUPPORT AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20120047909
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide for reducing motion which causes wear in a combustor. The method includes attaching a first end of a combustor liner to a retainer which encircles the first end of the combustor liner; attaching the retainer to a combustor casing, where the retainer acts as a spring between the combustor liner and the combustor casing; reducing a relative motion between the combustor casing and the combustor liner along a longitudinal axis and a circumferential axis of the combustor liner by the retainer; and locating the combustor liner substantially concentrically within the combustor casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: NUOVO PIGNONE S.P.A.
    Inventor: George Hanna GHANIME
  • Closed Cycle Brayton Cycle System and Method
    Publication number: 20120039701
    Abstract: Method and unit for generating energy with improved efficiency. A Brayton cycle unit includes a multistage compressor configured to compress a flowing medium; a first heat exchanger fluidly connected to the multistage compressor and configured to transfer heat from a working medium passing the first heat exchanger to the compressed flowing medium; an expander fluidly connected to the first heat exchanger and configured to expand the heated compressed flowing medium for producing a rotation of a shaft of the expander; and a second heat exchanger fluidly connected between the expander and the compressor and configured to remove heat from the expanded flowing medium. A path of the flowing medium through the unit is closed. At least one inter-cooler mechanism between first and second stages of the multistage compressor is configured to cool the flowing medium to a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: NUOVO PIGNONE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Pradeep DIDDI, Bhaskara KOSAMANA
  • THREADED JOINT AND METHOD OF SEALING A THREADED JOINT
    Publication number: 20120027539
    Abstract: A threaded joint includes a flange, a nut and a flexible seal. The flange, the nut and the flexible seal have threads respective inner surfaces, the threads having shapes complementary to threads on an outer surface of a stem. The flange is configured to allow the stem to move by rotation through the flange. The nut and the flexible seal are configured to move by rotation relative to the stem. The flange has a counter bore and the nut has a groove. The flexible seal has a first portion configured to fill the counter bore in the flange, and a second portion configured to fill the groove of the nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: NUOVO PIGNONE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Vinh DO, Jeffrey RAYNAL, Mayur MANSUKH
  • LINER AFT END SUPPORT MECHANISMS AND SPRING LOADED LINER STOP MECHANISMS
    Publication number: 20110314829
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a liner, a casing surrounding the liner, a hula seal flexibly connected to an aft end of the liner and a liner aft support mechanism. The liner is configured to receive compressed gas and fuel at an upstream end, the mixture of the compressed gas and the fuel being burned in a combustion core area of the liner to yield hot exhaust gasses. The liner aft end support mechanism is located downstream from an area where a highest temperature on an outer surface of the liner is attained, and upstream to a portion where the hula seal is connected to the liner, and is configured to movably support the liner inside the casing. The liner aft end support mechanism includes at least three individual support elements configured to allow a part of the individual support elements to move in the flow direction relative to at least one of the liner or the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: NUOVO PIGNONE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Balasundar KUPPUSAMY
  • BLOCKED NOZZLE DETECTION AND REMEDIAL METHOD AND SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20110270447
    Abstract: System and method for controlling a stuck nozzle system installed between first and second turbines connected in series to a compressor. The method includes determining whether the nozzle system is stuck; instructing the first turbine to increase a minimum speed reference when the nozzle system is stuck; verifying whether the nozzle system continues to be stuck; instructing the compressor to increase an inlet bleed heat (IBH) flow from a current value to a maximum value when the nozzle system is stuck; verifying whether the nozzle system continues to be stuck; and instructing the compressor to increase an inlet guide vanes (IGV) angle from a current value to a maximum value when the nozzle system is stuck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A
    Inventors: Carmine Allegorico, Carlo Trombi
  • System and Method for Enhancing Chaplet Fusion
    Publication number: 20110209842
    Abstract: System and method for fusing a chaplet to a casting. The method includes placing the chaplet on an upper surface of a mold; distributing a heater around the chaplet such that the heater is not exposed to the casting; placing a core on the chaplet such that the mold and the core define a component of a machine; heating the chaplet with the heater to a predetermined temperature; and pouring the casting in the mold, around the core and the chaplet, when the chaplet is at the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: NUOVO PIGNONE, S.P.A.
    Inventors: Srinivas RAO, Shankar Rao
  • Protection device for a turbine stator
    Patent number: 7972106
    Abstract: Protection device (10) for a stator of a gas turbine of the type comprising a series of sectors (12) constrained to each other by connection means, each sector (12) has at least one cavity (14) having a bottom (15), in correspondence with at least one cavity (14), a corresponding sheet (20) equipped with a series of pass-through holes (21) and suitable for covering at least one cavity (14) is fixed on an outer surface of the relative sector (12), each sector (12) is cooled by means of a stream of air coming from the pass-through holes (21) of the corresponding sheet (20) which is passed on the bottom (15) and discharged from at least one outlet hole, the bottom (15) of each sector (12) comprises a series of protuberances (30) to increase the thermal exchange surface and increase the cooling efficiency of the protection device (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Manuele Bigi, Piero Iacopetti, Riccardo Cini
  • Fatigue Resistant Thermowell and Methods
    Publication number: 20110150033
    Abstract: Methods and thermowell systems that can be uses in high dynamic pressure environments. A thermocouple system includes a thermowell configured to enter a structure through which a medium flows; an elongated probe provided partially inside the thermowell and configured to measure a temperature; at least one o-ring disposed around the elongated probe at a first end, the o-ring being configured to dampen a vibration for the elongated probe by contacting the thermowell; and an elastomer disposed around the elongated probe section at a second end, the elastomer being configured to dampen the vibration for the elongated probe by contacting the thermowell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: NUOVO PIGNONE S.p.A.
    Inventors: William C. Egan, Robert Schultz
  • Design Method for Subsea Equipment Subject to Hydrogen Induced Stress Cracking
    Publication number: 20110137616
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating transfer functions associated with calculating local stresses on pipe elements by post processing forces and moments of a pipe model representing the piping system. The transfer functions are reusable and allow recalculation with different sets of user data without requiring regeneration of the transfer functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: NUOVO PIGNONE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Leonardo TOGNARELLI, Paolo DI SISTO, Michelangelo FABBRIZZI, Roberto MERLO
  • Heat Exchanger for Direct Evaporation in Organic Rankine Cycle Systems and Method
    Publication number: 20110100009
    Abstract: Systems and methods include heat exchangers using Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) fluids in power generation systems. The system includes a heat exchanger configured to be mounted inside an exhaust stack that guides hot flue gases and having an inlet and an outlet, the heat exchanger being configured to receive a liquid stream of a first fluid through the inlet and to generate a vapor stream of the first fluid and the heat exchanger is configured to include a double walled pipe, where the first fluid is disposed within an inner wall of the double walled pipe and a second fluid is disposed between the inner wall and an outer wall of the double walled pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: NUOVO PIGNONE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Matthew Alexander Lehar, Thomas Frey, Gabor Ast, Sebastian Freund, Richard Aumann
  • Convex sealing bottom for a twin-shaft turbine
    Patent number: 7874790
    Abstract: Convex sealing bottom (10) for a twin-shaft turbine of the type comprising a series of convex disks constrained to each other by means of a series of pins, each disk of said disks comprises an outer shaped edge which is engaged with a corresponding annular surface (71) of an inner grooved surface (72) of a ring (70) for obtaining an axial seal. The series of disks comprises three disks, a first disk (12), a second disk (13) and a third disk (14) respectively. The three disks are fixed to each other centrally by means of a series of spokes (30) and are constrained in pairs respectively by means of a series of pins which are arranged orthogonally to the three disks to minimize the relative movements of the three disks in an axial direction at the same time allowing the radial dilatations of the three disks themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Pecchioli, Dino Bianchi
  • Lateral, Angular and Torsional Vibration Monitoring of Rotordynamic Systems
    Publication number: 20100312504
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a surface of a rotating element with both a phase reference mark and a plurality of additional marks. A proximity probe detects the passage of both the phase reference mark and the plurality of additional marks as they rotate through a detection zone. Both a phase reference signal and a vibration reference signal are generated, which signals are used to calculate lateral and angular (and optionally torsional) vibration of the rotating elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: NUOVO PIGNONE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Valerio Rossi, Valerio Depau
  • Processing method of a semi-processed product for the production of a rotor equipped with a series of blades integral therewith
    Patent number: 7784181
    Abstract: A processing method of a semi-processed product for obtaining a rotor equipped with a series of blades integral therewith by using a rotating tool such as a cutter, integral or with inserts. The processing method includes a) forming a hole into the semi-processed product; b) forming a series of cavities in the semi-processed product by removing material with the rotating tool to create the series of blades, starting from the hole and following predetermined paths; and c) removing material from the semi-processed product by advancing the rotating tool along its rotation axis and not removing material when the rotating tool advances along the predetermined paths. The rotation axis of the rotating tool is misaligned with respect to an axis of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventors: Enzo Nocciolini, Roberto Ciappi
  • Disk wheel of a rotor of a turbomachine
    Patent number: 7771163
    Abstract: Disk wheel (10) of a rotor of a turbomachine of the type equipped with a series of blades (12) integral with a central annular portion (14) which is fitted on a shaft (20) of the turbomachine, the disk wheel comprises at least a first insertable portion (18) of the female or male type situated close to a base end of the central annular portion (14), which is suitable for being coupled with at least a corresponding second insertable portion (38) of the male or female type integral with the shaft (20) so as to increase the reliability of the disk wheel (10) itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventors: Davide Betti, Andrea Cianti, Lorenza Sassolini