Patents Examined by Steven M Sutherland
  • Patent number: 11828466
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine includes a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) dome with a swirler mounting wall formed integral with the CMC dome, and a swirler assembly including a plurality of clevis dome attachment members for connecting the swirler assembly to the CMC dome. Bushings are arranged within a plurality of dome-side swirler assembly mounting openings of the swirler mounting wall, and the CMC dome is arranged within respective ones of the plurality of clevis dome attachment members of the swirler assembly. A swirler-dome connecting member is disposed through each of the clevis dome attachment members so as to mount the swirler assembly to the CMC dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gerardo Antonio Salazar Lois, Daniel J. Kirtley, Nicholas John Bloom, Shai Birmaher, Ryan Christopher Jones
  • Patent number: 11828469
    Abstract: An adaptive trapped vortex combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustion chamber, a fuel injector, and one or more chutes. The combustion chamber is defined by an outer liner, an inner liner, and a dome, and includes a primary combustion zone within the combustion chamber defining a vortex cavity for a trapped vortex, the vortex cavity having a volume therein, a secondary combustion zone within the combustion chamber, and an opening from the primary combustion zone to the secondary combustion zone. The fuel injector injects a fuel into the primary combustion zone. The one or more chutes provide an air flow to the primary combustion zone and/or the secondary combustion zone. A feature of the adaptive trapped vortex combustor is controllable such that a residence time of the fuel in the vortex cavity is controllable based on an operating condition of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Overman, Aaron J. Glaser
  • Patent number: 11828225
    Abstract: A control device for adjusting an amount of fuel to be supplied to a gas turbine based on a rotational speed of the gas turbine, such that a frequency of electric power output by a power generator that generates electric power using the gas turbine is within a given range, includes a load value acquisition unit configured to acquire a load value that is a value of a load applied to the power generator after cutoff of a part of the load applied to the power generator when the part of the load applied to the power generator is cut off, an arithmetic unit configured to calculate an adjusted value that is a value of the load different from the load value by carrying out an arithmetic operation on the load value and a bias, and a command unit configured to adjust the amount of fuel by outputting a first signal for causing the power generator to output electric power corresponding to the adjusted value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiko Saito, Hidekazu Yamashita, Jun Sasahara, Koichiro Yano, Yosuke Kitauchi, Mizuhiko Tanaka, Masahiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11821362
    Abstract: An assembly of a gas turbine engine includes a low pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, an intermediate case between the low pressure compressor and the high pressure compressor, and a cleaning apparatus having an annular arrangement about the intermediate case. A core flow path is defined through the low pressure compressor, the intermediate case, and the high pressure compressor. The annular arrangement includes a scroll portion configured to extract debris from an airstream at an outer diameter wall of the core flow path and return the airstream to the core flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Marc J. Muldoon
  • Patent number: 11815015
    Abstract: Provided is a gas turbine system that is used for a moving body including a thrust generator configured to generate thrust from electric power and includes: a combustor that burns a compressed air generated by a compressor together with fuel to generate a combustion gas; a turbine driven by the combustion gas generated by the combustor; a generator that is coupled to the turbine to generate electric power by driving of the turbine and supplies electric power to the thrust generator; a turbocharger that guides external air to the compressor; and an exhaust unit that guides a combustion gas that passed through the turbine to the outside, and the turbocharger is driven by a part of a combustion gas guided to the exhaust unit or by external air heated by heat exchange with a part of a combustion gas guided to the exhaust unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Morisaki, Kazuhiro Imai, Masayuki Oda, Yuichi Nakatani, Yasuhiro Saiki
  • Patent number: 11815013
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity comprising a gas propellant chamber and one or more generators. The gas propellant chamber comprises a compressor, a nuclear fuel chamber, and a turbine assembly, wherein a drive shaft extending axially through the gas propellant chamber couples the compressor to the turbine assembly and wherein the nuclear fuel chamber is a rotating nuclear fuel chamber configured to rotate axially along the drive shaft to which the compressor and the turbine assembly are coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: NUGEN, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen K. Rhyne
  • Patent number: 11806664
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for power plant facilities are disclosed herein. A power plant facility includes a gas turbine; and a power generator that generates electricity from power supplied by the gas turbine. The power plant facility can also include at least one post-combustion capture unit that generates a CO2-rich stream from the combustion products of the gas turbine; and a sequestration compression unit that compresses and conveys at least one CO2-rich stream from a post-combustion capture unit, towards a sequestration site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: NEXT CARBON SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Van der Walt, Ben Heichelbech, Alex Thompson, Vikrum Subra, Victor Fernandes, Michael Abegg
  • Patent number: 11802513
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes: a casing that accommodates a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine; an electric power generator arranged inside the casing and driven by a rotating shaft; an electric power line through which electric power generated by the electric power generator is supplied to an outside of the outer shell; and an electrically-operated accessory that is arranged at an outside of the casing, is driven by the electric power supplied from the electric power line, and includes an electrically-operated fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Okuwa, Yoshiyasu Shibayama, Hikaru Maesato, Kazuki Ueta, Masahiro Suzuki, Tateki Sakimoto, Yoshiaki Yuda
  • Patent number: 11802549
    Abstract: In an aspect of the invention there is provided a plasma thruster device comprising: an electrically insulating substrate, said substrate comprising one or more feed channels for feeding an electrically conductive liquid to a bridge structure; said substrate further provided with electrical terminals; said bridge structure configured to form, when provided with the electrically conductive liquid, an electrical conducting bridge; said bridge structure configured to form contact areas in electrical contact with said electrical terminals, said bridge structure thereby connecting the contact areas, said bridge structure arranged for forming a plasma of said electrically conductive liquid, when the electrically conductive liquid is ionized by a current peak flow circuit that contacts the contact areas via said electrical terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Alfons Ernst Hendrik Johan Mayer, Wolter Pieter Wilhelmus Wieling, Robertus Johannes Gerhardus Hermsen
  • Patent number: 11802507
    Abstract: A device for work done by compressed air and a dual-pressure jet engine thereof are provided, a first compressed air storage chamber for cooperating with the air intake compressor is arranged between the air intake compressor and the screw gas compressor so as to pressurize the air. The first compressed air storage chamber is communicated with the screw gas compressor, the air intake end of the screw gas compressor is provided with the fuel injection mechanism for injecting fuel inside the screw gas compressor. The air outlet end of the screw gas compressor is provided with the second compressed air storage chamber for cooperating with the screw gas compressor so as to pressurize the air. The second compressed air storage chamber is communicated with the combustion chamber which is used to be injected with fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventor: Yunfeng Li
  • Patent number: 11795872
    Abstract: An engine system includes a gas turbine engine with a first compressor, a first combustor, and a first turbine. The engine system also includes a secondary power unit with a second compressor, a second combustor, a second turbine, a third compressor coupled to the second compressor, and an electric motor-generator, where the secondary power unit is coupled to the gas turbine engine. A controller is operable to determine an operating mode of the engine system, select an input energy source and an output type of the secondary power unit based on the operating mode, control the secondary power unit based on the input energy source and the output type as selected, detect a change in the operating mode of the engine system, and modify the input energy source and/or the output type of the secondary power unit based on the change in the operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andre M. Ajami, Ryan W. Hunter, Javier A. Cue
  • Patent number: 11795843
    Abstract: A gas turbine plant includes a gas turbine, an exhaust line, an exhaust heat recovery boiler that generates steam due to heat of exhaust gas and guides the exhaust gas to the exhaust line, a carbon dioxide recovery device that recovers carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas, a heat exchanger that cools the exhaust gas to a temperature set in advance, and a circulation line that branches from a position between the carbon dioxide recovery device and the heat exchanger and is connected to an inlet of the gas turbine. The carbon dioxide recovery device has an absorption tower that absorbs carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas by causing the exhaust gas at the set temperature and an absorption liquid to come into contact with each other. The heat exchanger is formed of a material having higher corrosion resistance than a material forming the exhaust heat recovery boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., MITSUBSHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINEERING, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tsutsumi, Tetsuya Tanaka, Naoyuki Nagafuchi, Takashi Kamijo
  • Patent number: 11781503
    Abstract: A primary lock system for a translating cowl thrust reverser system includes a primary lock having a housing, a lock, and a manual mechanism. The lock is disposed at least partially within, and is movable relative to, the housing and is movable between a lock position and an unlock position. The manual mechanism is coupled to the lock and is configured, in response to a manual input force supplied to the manual mechanism, to: selectively move from a first position to a second position, whereby the lock is selectively moved from the lock position to the unlock position, respectively, and selectively prevent movement of the lock out of the lock position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Shawn Alstad
  • Patent number: 11781479
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core section including a compressor, a main combustor, and a main turbine. Combustion products from the main combustor drive rotation of the turbine and the compressor. A power turbine is fluidly connected to the main turbine and driven by exhaust from the main turbine. The gas turbine engine further includes a fan section having a fan rotor located fluidly upstream of the core section. The power turbine is operably connected to the fan rotor to drive rotation of the fan rotor via rotation of the power turbine. The gas turbine engine includes a bleed arrangement having one or more bleed passages configured to divert a bleed airflow from the compressor around the main combustor and main turbine, and reintroduce the bleed airflow into the power turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul R. Hanrahan, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Christopher J. Hanlon
  • Patent number: 11773779
    Abstract: An air inlet into a nacelle of an aircraft turbojet engine having a de-icing device and extends along an axis X, an air stream flowing in the air inlet from upstream to downstream, the inlet comprising an inner wall and an outer wall which are connected by a leading edge, the inner wall having a plurality of air delivery lines, each air delivery line having a plurality of through-holes designed to blow elementary streams from the hot air source in order to de-ice said inner wall, the air delivery lines being parallel to one another in a cylindrical projection plane, each air delivery line having a depth P3 defined along the axis X as well as a length L3 defined along the axis Y in the cylindrical projection plane, two adjacent air delivery lines being spaced apart by a distance D3, each position along the axis Y with no more than one through-hole, the ratio of the distances L3/D3 being between 0.8 and 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN NACELLES
    Inventor: Hervé Léopold Hurlin
  • Patent number: 11773774
    Abstract: A method, device and system for operating internal combustion engines with an increased pressure ratio and vehicle with this system. Internal combustion engines have a technically restricted pressure ratio, which limits the thermal efficiency. Gas turbines have so far had a maximum pressure ratio of 33:1, diesel engines have compression ratios of up to 23:1. An oxidizer is fed into the combustion chamber in (cold) liquefied condition under very high pressure. The fuel is also supplied in liquid form under high pressure. The pressure ratio of the oxidizer pump is 200, 500 or more. In the combustion chamber, the oxidizer and fuel react and expand to more than a thousand times the liquid volume. Depending on the fuel used, an expansion machine with a pressure ratio of around ?=500 or more or an equivalent expansion ratio of ?=85 or more can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Tivadar Menyhart
  • Patent number: 11767977
    Abstract: A combustor includes an outer cylinder, a combustor liner, a plurality of main nozzles, an air flow channel part, and a plurality of water injection parts. The air flow channel part sends air introduced from an outside to between an inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder and an outer peripheral surface of the combustor liner into the combustor liner. The plurality of water injection parts are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder at intervals in a circumferential direction around a central axis. The plurality of water injection parts inject water into the air flowing through the air flow channel part. The water injection part includes a first nozzle and a second nozzle. The first nozzle injects water to a first side in the circumferential direction. The second nozzle injects water to a second side in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kozo Aoki, Toshihiko Saito
  • Patent number: 11761346
    Abstract: The present invention thus proposes an inlet cone for an aircraft turbine engine, comprising a frustoconical body and a tip made from elastically deformable material fixed to an end of smaller diameter of said body, the tip comprising a top configured to be situated on an axis of rotation of the cone and a fastening base for attachment on said end of said body. Said base extends in a connecting plane P. Said connecting plane P is inclined relative to said axis of rotation. Said base has a generally circular or oval shape. According to the invention, said connecting plane P is inclined relative to a transverse plane T perpendicular to said axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Baptiste Rene Roger Batonnet, Alban Francois Louis
  • Patent number: 11754003
    Abstract: Systems and methods to control gas turbine firing temperatures during air injection. A method of achieving a desired firing temperature of a gas turbine engine during air injection comprises injecting compressed air into the gas turbine engine using an external source. The external source includes a compressor and a recuperator. The method comprises using a controller of the gas turbine engine to: (a) determine an air injection exhaust bias gain using an inlet temperature of the gas turbine engine; (b) calculate, based on the determined air injection exhaust bias gain and a flow rate of the injected compressed air, an air injection exhaust curve bias; and (c) change a fuel flow of the gas turbine engine by adding the air injection exhaust curve bias to an existing exhaust curve of the gas turbine engine to thereby achieve the desired firing temperature during air injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: POWERPHASE INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Kraft, Scott Auerbach, Sergio A. Arias Quintero, James H. Leahy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11739689
    Abstract: A turbofan engine is provided. The turbofan engine includes a fan comprising a plurality of fan blades; a turbomachine operably coupled to the fan for driving the fan, the turbomachine comprising a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow order and together defining a core air flowpath; a nacelle surrounding and at least partially enclosing the fan; an inlet pre-swirl feature located upstream of the plurality of fan blades, the inlet pre-swirl feature attached to or integrated into the nacelle; and a means for reducing ice buildup or ice formation on the inlet pre-swirl feature, the means in communication with the inlet pre-swirl feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arthur William Sibbach, Allan George van de Wall, Sean Christopher Binion, Brian Lewis Devendorf, Brandon Wayne Miller