Patents Examined by Thomas Burke
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Patent number: 9759159Abstract: A turbine exhaust case (TEC) of a turbofan aeroengine includes a mixer in an annular wavy configuration having alternate crests and valleys, and a plurality of radial deswirling struts interconnecting an annular hub positioned within the mixer and selected valleys of the mixer. A plurality of secondary trailing edge struts smaller than the deswirling struts in average chord dimensions interconnect the annular hub and other selected valleys free of connection with the deswirling struts.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Remo Marini, Mark Huzzard Cunningham
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Patent number: 9746185Abstract: An annular fluid distribution device (20) for distributing fluid into a gaseous flow (14), that includes: a first fluid distribution manifold (30) having a first fluid inlet and first fluid outlets (24), wherein the first fluid outlets inject a first fluid into the gaseous flow; and a second fluid distribution manifold (32), having a second fluid inlet and second fluid outlets (26), wherein the second fluid outlets inject a second fluid into the gaseous flow. The second fluid manifold is isolated from the first fluid distribution manifold, and the first fluid outlets and the second fluid outlets are disposed on a common fluid outlet plane (43).Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2010Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.Inventors: David M. Ritland, Timothy A. Fox
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Patent number: 9732675Abstract: Methods and systems for CO2 separation for low emission power generation in combined-cycle power plants are provided. One system includes a gas turbine system that stoichiometrically combusts a fuel and an oxidant in the presence of a compressed recycle stream to provide mechanical power and a gaseous exhaust. The compressed recycle stream acts as a diluent to moderate the temperature of the combustion process. A boost compressor can boost the pressure of the gaseous exhaust before being compressed into the compressed recycle stream. A purge stream is tapped off from the compressed recycle stream and directed to a CO2 separator configured to absorb CO2 from the purge stream using a potassium carbonate solvent.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2011Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Russell H. Oelfke, Moses Minta
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Patent number: 9699833Abstract: An electrical assembly 600 comprising an electrical raft 200 and an electronic unit 300 is provided to a gas turbine engine 10. The electrical raft 200 has electrical conductors 252 embedded in a rigid material 220, which may be a rigid composite material. The electrical conductors 252 are in electrical contact with the electronic unit 300. When the electronic unit 300 is installed, at least a part 310 of it forms a part of a gas-washed surface of the engine 10. The electronic unit 300 is then easily accessible from the engine 10, and potentially complex and/or heavy access doors/panels may not be required.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2012Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Paul Broughton, Richard Peace, Gary Alan Skinner, Robin Charles Kennea
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Patent number: 9644843Abstract: A combustor heat shield for a gas turbine engine has a heat shield panel adapted to be mounted to an inner surface of a combustor shell with a back face of the panel spaced-apart from the combustor shell to define an air gap therewith. Studs project from the back face of the panel for engagement in corresponding mounting holes defined in the combustor shell. Each stud has a threaded distal end portion for engagement with a nut outside of the combustor shell. At least one of the studs has a channel defined in a peripheral surface thereof. The channel extends longitudinally along the stud from an inlet end connectable to a source of cooling air outside of the combustor shell to an outlet end disposed within the air gap for locally providing cooling air at the base of the stud.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventor: Jason Herborth
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Patent number: 9631812Abstract: A support frame for assembling a combustion module for a gas turbine includes a base plate disposed at a bottom end of the support frame and a support plate that is vertically separated from the base plate by one or more vertical support members. The support plate defines an opening that is sized to allow a portion of the combustion module to pass therethrough. A support block extends vertically from the base plate towards the support plate where the support block defines one or more fastener holes for connecting an aft end of a combustion liner of the combustion module to the support block. A central support column extends vertically from the base plate towards the support plate. A horizontal support extends radially outward from the central support column to align the combustion liner with the opening in the support plate.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Lucas John Stoia, Richard Martin DiCintio, William Michael Poschel, Patrick Benedict Melton
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Patent number: 9605597Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustor adjacent the compressor, a turbine adjacent the combustor, a shaft, a motor, a variable frequency drive, a stored energy source and a ride thru unit. The motor is coupled to the shaft. The variable frequency drive is electrically connected to the motor and to an AC power source. The ride thru unit electrically connects to the variable frequency drive, the AC power source and the stored energy source. The ride thru unit includes at least one DC to DC voltage converter.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2013Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: Rachel Bruno, Daniel Fingleton, Scott Hitoshi Kato
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Patent number: 9562689Abstract: A fuel flow passes through a micromixer section of a gas turbine that includes a plurality of mixing tubes for transporting a fuel/air mixture and a distribution plate including a plurality of distribution holes and a plurality of tube holes for accommodating the mixing tubes. Each of the mixing tubes includes a plurality of fuel holes through which fuel enters the mixing tubes. The tube holes and the mixing tubes form a plurality of annulus areas between the distribution plate and the mixing tubes. The distribution holes and the annulus areas are configured to pass the fuel flow through the distribution plate toward the fuel holes. A flow management device modifies an effective size of the annulus areas to control a distribution of the fuel flow through the distribution holes and the annulus areas of the distribution plate to provide a uniform fuel/air composition in each of the mixing tubes.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2012Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Christopher Paul Keener
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Patent number: 9534784Abstract: A combustor heat shield assembly comprises a circumferential array of heat shield panels individually mounted to an inner surface of a combustor shell. Each heat shield panel has opposed front and back faces, the back face facing the inner surface of the combustor shell and being spaced therefrom to define an air gap. The front and back faces have a perimeter including opposed lateral edges extending between opposed circumferentially extending edges. The lateral edges of adjacent heat shield panels have complementary non-linear profiles defining an asymmetric heat shield panel interface.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2013Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Nigel Caldwell Davenport, Eduardo David Hawie
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Patent number: 9512733Abstract: A diffuser-nozzle assembly for mounting at an outlet from a compressor in a turbomachine, the assembly including a nozzle including two substantially cylindrical walls, a radially inner wall and a radially outer wall that are connected together by radial vanes. The walls of the nozzle are extended downstream beyond the radial vanes and the radial spacing therebetween varies downstream from the vanes to be at a minimum substantially in register with the vanes and at a maximum between the vanes.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2009Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Jean-Pierre Francois Lombard, Eric Mercier, Francois Pierre Georges Maurice Ribassin
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Patent number: 9464655Abstract: A push-lock pin for connecting a plate to surface includes a cylindrical pin housing and a shaft within the housing. The shaft has a ball-lock mechanism and a push-down pop-up mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2012Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Donald W. Peters
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Patent number: 9458767Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a turbine nozzle segment for a turbine section of a gas turbine. The turbine nozzle segment includes an inner platform, an outer platform and an airfoil that extends therebetween. The airfoil includes a forward portion and an aft portion that is disposed downstream from the forward portion. The turbine nozzle segment further includes a fuel injection insert that extends between the inner platform and the outer platform downstream from the aft portion of the airfoil. The fuel injection insert includes a fuel circuit that extends within the fuel injection insert, and a plurality of fuel injection ports disposed within the fuel injection insert. The plurality of fuel injection ports provide for fluid communication with the fuel circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Thomas Raymond Farrell
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Patent number: 9400114Abstract: A gas turbine comprises a compressor discharge casing that is coupled to an outer turbine shell. The compressor discharge casing includes a combustor opening that extends through the compressor discharge casing and an outer mating surface that circumferentially surrounds the combustor opening. The outer turbine shell defines an inner mating surface. A combustion module extends through the combustor opening. The combustion module includes a forward end that is circumferentially surrounded by a mounting flange and an aft end that is circumferentially surrounded by an aft frame. The mounting flange extends circumferentially around the combustor opening. The mounting flange is coupled to the outer mating surface of the compressor discharge casing and the aft frame is coupled to the inner mating surface of the outer turbine shell.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia, Richard Martin DiCintio, Christopher Paul Willis
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Patent number: 9382850Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine having a combustor, and a fuel blending system. The fuel blending system further includes a first fuel supply configured to supply a first fuel, a second fuel supply configured to supply a second fuel, a first fuel circuit, a second fuel circuit, and a controller. The first fuel circuit may be configured to blend the first fuel and the second fuel to form a first to form a first fuel mixture. The second fuel circuit may be configured to blend the first fuel and the second fuel to form a second fuel mixture. The controller may be configured to regulate blending of the first fuel mixture and the second fuel mixture based on a measured operating parameter of the combustor.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2013Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Arvind Venugopal Menon, Alan Meier Truesdale, Abhijit Prabhakar Kulkarni, Predrag Popovic
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Patent number: 9376961Abstract: A system for controlling air flow rate of a compressed working fluid to a fuel injector of a combustor includes an outer casing that defines a high pressure plenum around a portion of the combustor, an extraction port in fluid communication with the high pressure plenum and an inlet port. The combustor includes a plurality of fuel injectors arranged around a combustion liner, an inner flow sleeve, an outer air shield that surrounds the plurality of fuel injectors and the inner flow sleeve. The outer air shield defines an injection an air plenum between the outer air shield and the inner flow sleeve and an inlet to the injection air plenum. An external fluid circuit provides fluid communication between the extraction port and the inlet port. A baffle extends between the outer casing and the outer air shield to provide flow separation between the inlet and the high pressure plenum.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Lucas John Stoia, Patrick Benedict Melton, Richard Martin DiCintio
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Patent number: 9359952Abstract: A heat recuperator includes a plurality of channel walls composed substantially of thermally-conductive material and supported in spaced-apart relation, defining fluid channels and interstices therebetween. The fluid channels receive at least one primary fluid flow and the interstices receive at least one secondary fluid flow so as to effect heat exchange between the two flows. In use, the plurality of channel walls are deformable by pressure differential between the primary and secondary fluid flows. When at least some of the channel walls are in a deformed state, the plurality of channel walls are stabilized through press fit engagement of mutually opposed contact regions formed in adjacent pairs of the channel walls.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2012Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORPInventors: David Harold Menheere, Andreas Eleftheriou, Daniel T. Alecu, Quantai Liu
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Patent number: 9360217Abstract: A combustion module for a combustor of a gas turbine includes an annular fuel distribution manifold disposed at an upstream end of the combustion module. The fuel distribution manifold includes an annular support sleeve having an inner surface. The combustion module further includes a fuel injection assembly having an annular combustion liner that extends downstream from the fuel distribution manifold and that terminates at an aft frame, and an annular flow sleeve that circumferentially surrounds the combustion liner. The flow sleeve extends downstream from the fuel distribution manifold and terminates at the aft frame. The flow sleeve extends continuously between the support sleeve and the aft frame. A forward portion of the flow sleeve is positioned concentrically within the support sleeve where the forward portion is slidingly engaged with the inner surface of the support sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Richard Martin DiCintio, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia, Christopher Paul Willis, Ronnie Ray Pentecost
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Patent number: 9347666Abstract: A combustor includes a combustor external cylinder, a tubular combustor basket installed in the combustor external cylinder, a compressed air channel defined between the combustor external cylinder and the combustor basket, and a plurality of fuel nozzles installed in the combustor basket. Compressed air flowing along the compressed air channel is approximately reversed in the flow direction at an end of the combustor basket, and is introduced into the plurality of fuel nozzles. Fuel injection pegs made up of an upstream side fuel injection peg injecting upstream side fuel and a downstream side fuel injection peg injecting downstream side fuel, are installed in the compressed air channel. Concentration fluctuation of the upstream side fuel caused by pressure fluctuation in the combustor is configured so as to reduce a peak of concentration fluctuation of the downstream side fuel at a combustion start position of the combustor.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2012Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Sosuke Nakamura, Yoshikazu Matsumura, Hikaru Katano, Katsunori Tanaka, Koichi Nishida
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Patent number: 9322333Abstract: A method for determining a cooling flow parameter of a cooling medium supplied through a gas turbine is disclosed. The method may generally include receiving a signal associated with a first value of a combustion product parameter at a location within a combustion zone of the gas turbine, receiving a signal associated with a second value of a combustion product parameter at a location downstream of the combustion zone, comparing the first and second values of the combustion product parameter and determining a cooling flow parameter of the cooling medium based on the comparison of the first and second values.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2012Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Rex Allen Morgan
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Patent number: 9316174Abstract: A liner assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a liner defining an inner surface exposed to exhaust gases and a duct spaced radially outward of the liner. A hanger assembly supports the liner relative to the duct. The hanger assembly includes a body segment attached to the liner and first and second washers defining a gap therebetween that receives a portion of the body segment. The gap between the washers and the body segment provides for relative movement caused by differences in thermal growth within the liner. An attachment member extending between the body section and the duct includes spherical ends that are seated on the first and second washers to accommodate misalignments during assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: George J. Kramer, Jeffrey S. Smith