Patents by Inventor Alexander Haplau-Colan

Alexander Haplau-Colan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8857739
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine is disclosed which is able to operate with high combustion efficiency, and low nitrous oxide emissions during gas turbine operations. The combustor consists of a can-type configuration which combusts fuel premixed with air and delivers the hot gases to a turbine. Fuel is premixed with air through a swirler and is delivered to the combustor with a high degree of swirl motion about a central axis. This swirling mixture of reactants is conveyed downstream through a flow path that expands; the mixture reacts, and establishes an upstream central recirculation flow along the central axis. A cooling assembly is located on the swirler co-linear with the central axis in which cooler air is conveyed into the prechamber between the recirculation flow and the swirler surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Flexenergy Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yimin Huang, Shaun Sullivan, Brian Finstad, Alexander Haplau-Colan
  • Publication number: 20120079827
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine is disclosed which is able to operate with high combustion efficiency, and low nitrous oxide emissions during gas turbine operations. The combustor consists of a can-type configuration which combusts fuel premixed with air and delivers the hot gases to a turbine. Fuel is premixed with air through a swirler and is delivered to the combustor with a high degree of swirl motion about a central axis. This swirling mixture of reactants is conveyed downstream through a flow path that expands; the mixture reacts, and establishes an upstream central recirculation flow along the central axis. A cooling assembly is located on the swirler co-linear with the central axis in which cooler air is conveyed into the prechamber between the recirculation flow and the swirler surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: FLEXENERGY ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Yimin HUANG, Shaun SULLIVAN, Brian FINSTAD, Alexander HAPLAU-COLAN
  • Patent number: 8096132
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine is disclosed which is able to operate with high combustion efficiency, and low nitrous oxide emissions during gas turbine operations. The combustor consists of a can-type configuration which combusts fuel premixed with air and delivers the hot gases to a turbine. Fuel is premixed with air through a swirler and is delivered to the combustor with a high degree of swirl motion about a central axis. This swirling mixture of reactants is conveyed downstream through a flow path that expands; the mixture reacts, and establishes an upstream central recirculation flow along the central axis. A cooling assembly is located on the swirler co-linear with the central axis in which cooler air is conveyed into the prechamber between the recirculation flow and the swirler surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: FlexEnergy Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yimin Huang, Shaun Sullivan, Brian Finstad, Alexander Haplau-Colan
  • Publication number: 20090205339
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine is disclosed which is able to operate with high combustion efficiency, and low nitrous oxide emissions during gas turbine operations. The combustor consists of a can-type configuration which combusts fuel premixed with air and delivers the hot gases to a turbine. Fuel is premixed with air through a swirler and is delivered to the combustor with a high degree of swirl motion about a central axis. This swirling mixture of reactants is conveyed downstream through a flow path that expands; the mixture reacts, and establishes an upstream central recirculation flow along the central axis. A cooling assembly is located on the swirler co-linear with the central axis in which cooler air is conveyed into the prechamber between the recirculation flow and the swirler surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Yimin Huang, Shaun Sullivan, Brian Finstad, Alexander Haplau-Colan
  • Patent number: 6868897
    Abstract: A heat exchange cell for a recuperator includes top and bottom plates sandwiching a matrix finned member and a pair of header finned members. The top and bottom plates each include a pair of manifold openings, and the header finned members each include a curved free edge following the curvature of an associated manifold opening. The header finned member includes a high fin density portion along the free edge and a low fin density portion communicating with the high fin density portion. The dual fin density header finned member thus provides increased structural strength along the free edge and provides a low pressure drop through the low fin density portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Energy Systems Corporation
    Inventors: James S. Nash, Alexander Haplau-Colan
  • Publication number: 20040003916
    Abstract: The invention recites a heat exchanger for the exchange of heat between an internal fluid and an external fluid comprising at least two heat exchange cells. Each heat exchange cell includes a first plate having an outer surface, raised peripheral edges, an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture, and a heat exchange area extending between the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture. Each cell further includes a second plate including raised peripheral edges, an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture, and a heat exchange area extending between the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture. The inlet aperture of the first plate is aligned with the inlet aperture of the second plate to define a cell inlet and the outlet aperture of the first plate is aligned with the outlet aperture of the second plate to define a cell outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: Ingersoll-Rand Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Stephen Nash, Alexander Haplau-Colan, Frederick Wells Hodous
  • Publication number: 20030024696
    Abstract: A plate-fin heat exchanger includes a stacked array of cells. Each cell includes top and bottom sheets defining manifolds and header finned members disposed between the top and bottom sheets. The top and bottom sheets include substantially planar portions, diverging portions angled with respect to the planar portions, and divergence edges defined between the planar and diverging portions. The header finned member extends beyond the divergence edges of the top and bottom sheets and is supported in cantilevered fashion within the manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Ingersoll-Rand Energy Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Haplau-Colan, James S. Nash
  • Publication number: 20020185265
    Abstract: A heat exchange cell for a recuperator includes top and bottom plates sandwiching a matrix finned member and a pair of header finned members. The top and bottom plates each include a pair of manifold openings, and the header finned members each include a curved free edge following the curvature of an associated manifold opening. The header finned member includes a high fin density portion along the free edge and a low fin density portion communicating with the high fin density portion. The dual fin density header finned member thus provides increased structural strength along the free edge and provides a low pressure drop through the low fin density portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Ingersoll-Rand Energy Systems Corporation
    Inventors: James S. Nash, Alexander Haplau-Colan
  • Patent number: 6460613
    Abstract: A heat exchange cell for a recuperator includes top and bottom plates sandwiching a matrix finned member and a pair of header finned members. The top and bottom plates each include a pair of manifold openings, and the header finned members each include a curved free edge following the curvature of an associated manifold opening. The header finned member includes a high fin density portion along the free edge and a low fin density portion communicating with the high fin density portion. The dual fin density header finned member thus provides increased structural strength along the free edge and provides a low pressure drop through the low fin density portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Energy Systems Corporation
    Inventors: James S. Nash, Alexander Haplau-Colan
  • Publication number: 20010025705
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchange cells positioned in a stacked configuration with respect to each other. Each cell includes first and second parting sheets, an internal finned member, and at least one external finned member. The first and second parting sheets include opposing first and second surfaces, an inlet manifold portion, an outlet manifold portion, an internal finned member portion and peripheral edges. The second parting sheet is substantially superimposed by, is spaced apart from and is coupled to the first parting sheet. The second surface of the second parting sheet confronts the second surface of the first parting sheet. The peripheral edges of the first and second parting sheets are attached to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: James S. Nash, Alexander Haplau-Colan
  • Publication number: 20010006103
    Abstract: A heat exchange cell for a recuperator includes top and bottom plates sandwiching a matrix finned member and a pair of header finned members. The top and bottom plates each include a pair of manifold openings, and the header finned members each include a curved free edge following the curvature of an associated manifold opening. The header finned member includes a high fin density portion along the free edge and a low fin density portion communicating with the high fin density portion. The dual fin density header finned member thus provides increased structural strength along the free edge and provides a low pressure drop through the low fin density portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: James S. Nash, Alexander Haplau-Colan