Abstract: A spark ignition system for a gas turbine electronically controls the cycle of charge and discharge of a spark generator of the capacitive type. There is a function generator (5) which derives a reference voltage as a function of the speed of the turbine and possibly of other parameters. A charge control (6) for the capacitive cell (9) and a spark frequency control (7) are controlled by the reference voltage. Reignition in the case of flame extinction is controlled by an opto-electronic arrangement (11, 12, 13) which drives a reignition circuit (14), when flame extinction is detected. The reignition circuit produces a voltage which is superimposed on and over-rides the speed reference voltage to activate the system to produce ignition at a start condition.The system can be used for ignition of a gas turbine, especially a turbo-compressor.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine control for an engine which experiences airflow distortion at the engine inlet face plane uses a static pressure measurement upstream of the face plane along with a corrected rotor speed to generate a signal indicative of the average total pressure at the engine face plane. This signal is combined with a total pressure signal from elsewhere in the engine to generate a pressure ratio signal which is compared to the scheduled pressure ratio for the current operating conditions. Control logic then adjusts either the fuel flow rate to the burners or the area of the exhaust nozzle in response to the difference between these pressure ratios.

Abstract: In a compressed air supply system utilizing a shaft-driven compressor (10,16), the flow capacity of the compressor is changed by varying the compressor outlet stator geometry (16) by an actuator (18) which controls the outlet stator geometry to provide an optimum match between the compressor flow capacity and the requirements of the load. The result is a compressed air supply system which satisfies wide variations in demanded flow by the load, while supplying air at maximum pressure with minimum input shaft horsepower.

Abstract: The load on the starting steam turbine or motor which drives the power recovery string of an FCC process is reduced on the order of 15% by increasing the specific volume of the air compressed by a fixed volume compressor in the string. The specific volume of the ambient air is increased by returning a portion of the compressed and thereby heated air to the inlet of the compressor in amounts sufficient to raise the temperature of the inlet air about 75.degree. F., or more.

Abstract: An afterburner on a turbofan or fan-jet engine contains a fuel system having a fuel control delivering fuel to a plurality of injection zones. As the power lever is advanced, for afterburner operation, fuel is delivered sequentially to the afterburner through different zones until it reaches the last zone. The last zone comprises a set of two axially spaced sprayrings located adjacent the outer wall of the afterburner, one spraying being located upstream of the other spraying. The downstream sprayring has a splash plate located radially inwardly from each nozzle to provide a barrier to the fuel spraying inwardly for directing a portion of the spray downstream over the outward radial portion of the afterburner near the afterburner wall.

Abstract: A device for bleeding motor gases through the motor pole piece or flange the rocket nozzle flange to reduce the control system weight and complexity and especially for fiber glass wound rocket motor cases.

Abstract: A steam power plant containing a pressure-fired steam generator with fluidized bed firing and a loading or charging set or unit driven by the flue gases of the firing equipment. The boiler heating surfaces are arranged exclusively outside of the vortex or fluidized layer of the fluidized bed. In the steam generator there are provided by-pass flow regulating valves for controlling and regulating the steam output. For this purpose and for cooling the fluidized or vortex layer there is additionally provided a flue gas by-pass or shunt line containing at least one by-pass regulation valve, a flue gas cooler and a ventilator.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine fuel control system includes an hydromechanical speed governor fuel flow control with an electromechanical trim. The trim is controlled by a proportional-plus-integral controller in accordance with the error signal from an error amplifier comparing an engine parameter with a desired value of that parameter. A trim datum signal is produced by a suitable generator circuit and, if the error signal (or its rate of charge) exceeds a set maximum, the integrator is set to a new value.

Abstract: A coal burning power plant which produces electricity at high efficiency and with very low levels of atmospheric contamination. A fluidized bed of limestone and coal is used to burn the coal with little air pollution, and a large quantity of specially constructed heat pipes transfer the heat to a closed cycle gas turbine with very low temperature loss. The preferred embodiments of the heat pipes are constructed with steel casing, have a thin aluminum oxide layer on their surfaces to prevent hydrogen permeation into the casing and have a plasma sprayed coating of ceramic on the portion within the fluidized bed to prevent erosion of the heat pipe casing by the solid particles within the bed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary-reactive internal combustion engine in which the reactive powers of the exhaust gas add to the driving torque of the present engine. The classification of this engine: The kind of the fuel is a liquid fuel. One cycle consists of the three working periods. The ignition of the fuel realizes inside the four combustion chambers by the high-tension ignition. One cycle is corresponding to a 360.degree. turning angle of the shaft of the rotor. The method of the formation of the mixture is the external mixing or is the pump fuel-air mixture with a very high pressure feed. The constructional distinctness is the rotary engine. The method of the formation of the power is the reactive power. The process of the scavenging is through forced scavenging. The present engine will be able to create the power and will work with a high speed rotation. This engine system allows it to use both synthetic fuel and common gasoline.

Abstract: A method of performing work and an apparatus for performing the method utilizing the following thermodynamic cycle. Ambient air is isothermally compressed to a predetermined degree (A-B) and then heat is added to the air at constant pressure (B-C). This is followed by isentropic compression (C-D) which in turn is followed by heat addition at constant volume (D-E). Thereafter follows isentropic expansion (E-F-H-G) then finally heat recovery (G-A). The recovered heat (G-A) is preferably utilized for the initial heat addition (B-C).

Abstract: A rotating fluidized bed combustor particularly adaptable for mounting on conventional gas turbine engines comprising an annular fluidized bed, defined by inner and outer spaced apart coaxial, cylindrical, perforated walls, which rotates about the longitudinal axis of the cylinders. Compressed air and solid or liquid fuel enter the bed through the outer perforated wall and fluidize the bed. The air reacts with the fuel within the bed to produce hot combustion gas which exits the bed, together with unreacted compressed air, through the inner perforated wall. When employed with gas turbine engines, the gases exiting the bed are directed into the guide vanes of the gasifier turbine. Cooling tubes pass substantially longitudinally through the rotating fluidized bed and compressed air is directed through the tubes to absorb combustion heat from the bed.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for controlling particulate emissions from a combustion apparatus, as a diesel engine. Diesel engine exhaust particles are electrically charged during the formation of the particles in the engine combustion chamber. A particle collector is used to collect the electrically charged particles on collecting structures connected to a high voltage power supply and ground. The collecting structures of the particle collector can be a plurality of parallel metal plates, spaced cylindrical rods, or concentrically located cylindrical members. A fibrous matrix can be located adjacent the particle collecting structure to collect the charged particles as they move through the matrix. In one embodiment, the collected particles separate from the collecting structures and return to the engine intake. In another embodiment, a removable collecting cartridge has electrically conductive plates for collecting the charged particles. The entire cartridge is removed for cleaning or replacement.

Abstract: A multiple-purpose, closed-loop, automatic control system is disclosed, having a system controlled, and means for detecting a controlled variable output from the system controlled and for converting the controlled variable into an electrical feedback signal. The system further includes signal converting means for receiving the feedback signal and for converting the signal into an angular displacement corresponding to the feedback signal; means for comparing the controlled variable with a preset desired value and for selectively opening or closing a forward or reverse controlling circuit; and controlling means for automatic control over the system controlled to keep the controlled variable within the preset desired value. The controlling means includes the forward and the reverse controlling circuits selectively opened or closed by the comparing means, a braking control circuit and a driving mechanism responsive to the forward and reverse control circuits and the braking control circuit.

Abstract: A diffuser for a centrifugal compressor has an annular array of vanes which is movable to vary the configuration of the diffusing passages between the vanes. Each vane includes suction and pressure surfaces joined at an inlet apex and divergent therefrom to form a wedge-shaped control surface between fixed, spaced parallel side walls of the diffuser and pivoted about the apex for varying flow area through the diffuser. Each vane has an elastomeric inner portion which is selectively inflatable to expand to either side of said wedge-shaped control surface to sealingly engage the spaced parallel side walls to seal against gas flow between the pressure surface and the suction surface on each of the vanes.

Abstract: A closed cycle-high energy density heat generating system. In the heat generating system hydrogen peroxide is fed from a vessel at a controlled rate through a catalytic converter to produce water vapor and oxygen. A first reaction heat transfer vessel receives the water vapor and oxygen mixture from the converter and combines hydrogen provided by a second reaction heat transfer with the received oxygen in a combustion reaction which produces water and heat. The water produced by the first reaction heat transfer vessel is applied to the second reaction heat transfer vessel in which it reacts with an active metal to produce a metal hydroxide, hydrogen which is recycled to the first reaction heat transfer vessel, and further heat. The flow of gases and liquids in the system is controlled by diverse temperature and pressure sensors placed throughout the system to control heat generation and system stability.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an improved turbine shroud support assembly useful in a gas turbine engine which comprises a gasifier module within a case, a power output module fixedly detachably attachable to the case in position to receive exhaust gases exiting a combustor and passing via a gasifier turbine portion of said gasifier module to drive a power turbine having a turbine shroud about a plurality of blades thereof and thereby drive a shaft of said power output module and a heat exchanger arranged to receive compressed gas from a compressor of said gasifier module, heat the compressed gas therein and pass the resulting heated gas to the combustor and to receive the exhaust gases from the power turbine, cool the exhaust gases therein by transferring some of the heat thereof to the compressed gas and pass the resulting cooled exhaust gases to the exterior of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A thermal power plant comprises a thermal prime mover and a supercharged gas generator for generating producer gas from coal which, following separation of fly ash and sulphur, serves as fuel for the power plant. A charging group for the gas generator consists of coupled air compressor and gas turbine units, the compressor unit providing compressed air for operating the supercharged gas generator and the gas turbine unit being driven by unburned producer gas from the output of the supercharged gas generator, and a dry dust collector for the fly ash is incorporated in the flow path of the producer gas either ahead of the charging gas turbine or just after the first row of its moving blading.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated process for the generation of base-load and peak-load power, particularly electrical power, from a solid carbonaceous material. A solid carbonaceous material is gasified to produce a combustible synthesis gas. A portion of this synthesis gas is contacted with a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to produce condensable hydrocarbons. Preferably, a second portion of the synthesis gas is combusted and utilized to generate a base-load power output and the condensable hydrocarbons are utilized as a fuel as needed for peak-load power production.

Abstract: The disclosure of this invention relates to means for detecting compressor surge by sensing the pressure downstream of the compressor of a turbine type power plant for rapidly opening the compressor bleeds and holding the bleeds open for brief interval after surge disappears. The sensed pressure is admitted to one side of the diaphragm through a laminar flow restrictor for obtaining a lag time constant which increases as pressure decreases.