Patents Examined by Eric Linderman
  • Patent number: 9803554
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustion chamber and a fuel igniter assembly. The combustion chamber is defined by an annular inner combustor liner and an annular outer combustor liner. The fuel igniter assembly is coupled to the combustor and extends radially outward from the outer combustor liner. The fuel igniter assembly includes an igniter housing configured to house a fuel igniter therein, and a heat-dissipating element coupled to the igniter housing. The heat-dissipating element includes a plurality of fins configured to dissipate heat from the fuel igniter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: UNISON INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Raul Arroyo Martinez Fabre, Juan Humberto Martinez Cervantes, Ricardo Arturo Gutierrez Espinosa, Hicham Benkabbou
  • Patent number: 9803555
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine combustor is provided. The fuel delivery system includes a fuel tube and an attachment assembly. The fuel tube extends from a downstream injector (e.g., a late lean injector) towards a mounting ring of the combustor and is moveably attached to the mounting ring using the attachment assembly. Accordingly, the exemplary fuel delivery system may provide fuel to a downstream injector while accommodating a thermal expansion or contraction of the fuel tube along an axial direction of the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Rohrssen, David William Cihlar, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia
  • Patent number: 9803549
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the operation of a gas turbine unit with an evaporative intake air cooling system in the intake air pathway, wherein the return water flow of the evaporative intake air cooling system is used for the cooling of components of the gas turbine unit and/or of a generator coupled to the gas turbine unit and/or of another element coupled to the gas turbine unit, and a gas turbine unit adapted to be operated using this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Klaus Doebbeling, Andreas Rueter, Christof Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 9783315
    Abstract: A nacelle includes at least a first cowling which at least partially defines an inlet of the nacelle and which at least partially defines an outlet of the nacelle. The first cowling can include a unitary portion that extends continuously from the inlet to the outlet. The nacelle also includes a second cowling that at least partially defines the inlet and which translates relative to the first cowling. The nacelle can include a third cowling that at least partially defines the outlet and translates relative to the first cowling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventor: Norman John James
  • Patent number: 9777629
    Abstract: This power generation system is provided with: a gas turbine (11) having a compressor (21), a combustor (22) and a turbine (23); a first compressed air supply line (26) that supplies compressed air, which has been compressed by the compressor (21), to the combustor (22); a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) (13) having an air electrode and a fuel electrode; a compressed air supply device (61) capable of generating compressed air; and a second compressed air supply line (31) that supplies compressed air, which has been compressed by the compressed air supply device (61) to the SOFC (13). The fuel cell can thus be stably operated regardless of the operating state of the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yukimasa Nakamoto, Kazunori Fujita
  • Patent number: 9771867
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique aircraft propulsion gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines with heat exchange systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Abraham Karam, Eric Sean Donovan, Michael Stephen Krautheim, Daniel Kent Vetters, Donald G. Chouinard
  • Patent number: 9771831
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbine engine exhaust casing (1), characterized in that it comprises: a hub (2), an outer ring (3); a plurality of structural arms (10) arranged circumferentially between the hub (2) and the outer ring (3); a stiffener (11) extending along at least a portion of the inner circumference of the hub (2), the hub (2) comprising at least one discharge hole (15), and the stiffener (11) comprising at least one discharge slot (16), so as to enable the discharge of a fluid from the casing (1). The invention also relates to a turbine engine comprising such an exhaust casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Frederic Noel, Benoit Argemiro Matthieu Debray, Mario Cesar De Sousa, Gregory Ghosarossian-Prillieux
  • Patent number: 9759427
    Abstract: An interface assembly for a combustor includes an interface housing having a channel defined by a forward wall and at least one aft wall segment, the aft wall segment operatively coupled to an aft flange of a flow sleeve. Also included is a piston ring fittingly disposed in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kyle Lee Kidder, Donald Timothy Lemon, Stephen Gerard Pope
  • Patent number: 9759425
    Abstract: A system includes a multi-tube fuel nozzle. The multi-tube fuel nozzle includes multiple fuel injectors. Each fuel injector is configured to extend into a respective premixing tube of a plurality of mixing tubes. Each fuel injector includes a body, a fuel passage, and multiple fuel ports. The fuel passage is disposed within the body and extends in a longitudinal direction within a portion of the body. The multiple fuel ports are disposed along the portion of the body and coupled to the fuel passage. A space is disposed between the portion of the body with the fuel ports and the respective premixing tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Harold Westmoreland, Ronald James Chila, Gregory Allen Boardman, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Patent number: 9752500
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including at least one high pressure turbine rotor and at least one high pressure compressor rotor drivingly engaged to a rotatable high pressure spool, a low pressure spool rotatable independently of the high pressure spool, at least one low pressure turbine rotor drivingly engaged to the low pressure spool, and a rotatable load drivingly engaged to the low pressure spool. A fixed rotational speed ratio is defined between rotational speeds of the at high pressure turbine and compressor rotors. A fixed rotational speed ratio is defined between rotational speeds of the low pressure turbine rotor(s) and of the low pressure spool. A low pressure compressor rotor is in driving engagement with the low pressure spool through a variable transmission which defines a variable rotational speed ratio between the rotational speeds of the low pressure spool and of the low pressure compressor rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard Ullyott, Lazar Mitrovic, Jean Dubreuil, Stephen Christopher Kenny, Guy Bouchard, Ilya B. Medvedev, Keith Morgan, Darius Jehangir Karanjia, Nashed Azer Youssef
  • Patent number: 9745894
    Abstract: A gas turbine having a combustion chamber with exhaust section through which combustion gas is exhaustable, plenum chamber and compressor are provided. The plenum chamber is coupled to the compressor wherein a first quantity of compressed fluid is injectable therein at a radially inner wall of the plenum chamber. A guide vane section with at least one airfoil is coupled to the exhaust section so combustion gas is flowable against the airfoil. The exhaust section and guide vane section are housed inside the plenum chamber. The airfoil has a first flow chamber where a second quantity of compressed fluid is flowable through the guide vane section from the compressor in the direction from the inner wall to a outer wall of the plenum chamber before being discharged. The second quantity of compressed fluid streamable through the guide vane section is larger than the first quantity of the compressed fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Ulf Nilsson
  • Patent number: 9746184
    Abstract: A combustor heat shield comprises a heat shield body adapted to be mounted to a combustor wall with a back side of the heat shield body in spaced-apart facing relationship with the combustor wall to define an air gap between the heat shield body and the combustor wall. At least one nozzle opening is defined in the heat shield bod. The opening is bordered by a nozzle opening boss. The boss extends from the back side of the heat shield body across the air gap for sealing engagement with an adjacent part of the combustor. An annular array of effusion holes is provided adjacent the nozzle opening boss. The effusion holes extend through the heat shield body for passing cooling air from the back side to a front side of the heat shield body. Fins are interspersed between the effusion holes on the back side of the heat shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Michael Papple, Robert Sze
  • Patent number: 9732673
    Abstract: Methods and systems for low emission power generation in hydrocarbon recovery processes are provided. One system includes a gas turbine system configured to stoichiometrically combust a compressed oxidant and a fuel in the presence of a compressed recycle exhaust gas and expand the discharge in an expander to generate a gaseous exhaust stream and drive a main compressor. A boost compressor can receive and increase the pressure of the gaseous exhaust stream and inject it into an evaporative cooling tower configured to use an exhaust nitrogen gas having a low relative humidity as an evaporative cooling media. The cooled gaseous exhaust stream is then compressed and recirculated through the system as a diluent to moderate the temperature of the stoichiometric combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Denton, Himanshu Gupta, Richard Huntington, Moses Minta, Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren K. Starcher
  • Patent number: 9724746
    Abstract: A recuperator disposed in the exhaust duct of a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of recuperator plates arranged in a spaced-apart relationship to define therebetween a plurality of interstices and fluid channels, the plurality of interstices adapted to direct therethrough at least one first stream received at a leading plate edge of the recuperator plates and the plurality of fluid channels adapted to direct therethrough at least one second stream to effect heat exchange between the at least one first stream and the at least one second stream. Each recuperator plate includes, formed at the leading plate edge thereof, a first concavity extending along the leading edge in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the plate. The first concavity extends transversely to a direction of the at least one first stream flowing over each recuperator plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Andreas Eleftheriou, Daniel Alecu, David Menheere
  • Patent number: 9702320
    Abstract: A pulse unit of a multi-pulse rocket motor has: a propellant in an internal-burning type shape or an internal-end-burning type shape that is loaded within a motor case; an igniter arranged at an end surface of the propellant; a barrier membrane arranged to cover a whole of an initial burning surface of the propellant and the igniter; a forward joint arranged at a forward end of the motor case; and a rearward joint arranged at a rearward end of the motor case. The forward joint is formed so as to be connectable with the rearward joint of another pulse unit. The rearward joint is formed so as to be connectable with the forward joint of yet another pulse unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Chiyako Mihara, Tasuku Suzuki, Katsunori Ieki
  • Patent number: 9702301
    Abstract: A fuel circuit for an aviation turbine engine, the fuel circuit including: a main fuel line for feeding fuel to a combustion chamber of the engine and including a positive displacement pump; an auxiliary fuel line connected to the main fuel line at a junction situated downstream from the pump and serving to feed fuel to hydraulic actuators to control variable-geometry equipment of the engine, the auxiliary fuel line including electrohydraulic servo-valves upstream from each actuator; and a fuel pressure regulator valve arranged on the main fuel line downstream from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Nicolas Potel, Sebastien Gameiro
  • Patent number: 9677766
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for use in a turbine engine is provided. The fuel nozzle includes a fuel injector configured to discharge a flow of fuel therefrom and a premixer tube coupled in flow communication with the fuel injector. The premixer tube is configured to receive the fuel flow and a flow of air at an upstream end of the premixer tube, wherein the fuel and air are progressively mixed as the fuel and air are channeled through the length of the premixer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bassam Sabry Mohammad Abd El-Nabi, Gregory Allen Boardman
  • 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: 9650959
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for premixing fuel and air prior to combustion within a combustion chamber. The system includes a plurality of fuel injectors and a plurality of mixing tubes, wherein each mixing tube has a first portion for receiving one of the plurality of fuel injectors and a second portion having a mixing chamber that is configured to mix fuel and air. The length of the mixing chamber varies among the plurality of mixing tubes to allow for different mixing times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Patrick Benedict Melton, James Harold Westmoreland, Ronald James Chila, Sarah Lori Crothers
  • Patent number: 9644497
    Abstract: An integrated single-piece exhaust system (SPEX) with modular construction that facilitates design changes for enhanced aerodynamics, structural integrity or serviceability. The SPEX defines splined or curved exhaust path surfaces, such as a series of cylindrical and frusto-conical sections that mimic curves. The constructed sections may include: (i) a tail cone assembly fabricated from conical sections that taper downstream to a reduced diameter; or (ii) an area-ruled cross section axially aligned with one or more rows of turbine struts; or both features. Modular inner and outer diameter inlet lips enhance transitional flow between the last row blades and the SPEX, as well as enhance structural integrity. Modular strut collars have large radius profiles between the SPEX annular inner diameter and outer diameter flow surfaces, for enhanced airflow and constant thickness walls for uniform heat transfer and thermal expansion. Scalloped mounting flanges enhance structural integrity and longevity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Anil L. Salunkhe, John A. Orosa, Yevgeniy Shteyman, Matthew R. Porter, Lijuan Han, Matthew J. Delisa, III