Patents by Inventor Christian Xavier Stevenson

Christian Xavier Stevenson 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).

  • Publication number: 20120096866
    Abstract: A nozzle for a combustor is disclosed. The nozzle includes a center body, a burner tube provided around the center body and defining a fuel-air mixing passage therebetween, and an outer peripheral wall provided around the burner tube and defining an air flow passage therebetween. The nozzle further includes a nozzle tip connected to the center body. The nozzle tip includes a pilot fuel passage configured to deliver a flow of pilot fuel to a combustion zone, and a plurality of transfer passages. The plurality of transfer passages are configured to deliver a flow of air for combustion with the flow of pilot fuel in the combustion zone and further configured to deliver a flow of transfer fuel to the combustion zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Patent number: 8157189
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle comprises a body member having an upstream wall opposing a downstream wall, a baffle member having an upstream surface and a downstream surface, a first chamber, a second chamber, a fuel inlet communicative with the first chamber operative to emit a first gas into the first chamber, and a plurality of mixing tubes, each of the mixing tubes having a tube inner surface, a tube outer surface, a first inlet communicative with an aperture in the upstream wall operative to receive a second gas, a second inlet communicative with the tube outer surface and the tube inner surface operative to translate the first gas into the mixing tube, a mixing portion operative to mix the first gas and the second gas, and an outlet communicative with an aperture in the downstream wall operative to emit the mixed first and second gasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Christian Xavier Stevenson, William David York, Willy Steve Ziminsky
  • Patent number: 8147121
    Abstract: A pre-mixing apparatus for a turbine engine includes a main body having an inlet portion, an outlet portion and an exterior wall that collectively establish at least one fluid delivery plenum, and a plurality of fluid delivery tubes extending through at least a portion of the at least one fluid delivery plenum. Each of the plurality of fluid delivery tubes includes at least one fluid delivery opening fluidly connected to the at least one fluid delivery plenum. With this arrangement, a first fluid is selectively delivered to the at least one fluid delivery plenum, passed through the at least one fluid delivery opening and mixed with a second fluid flowing through the plurality of fluid delivery tubes prior to being combusted in a combustion chamber of a turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Balachandar Varatharajan, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Ertan Yilmaz, Patrick Benedict Melton, Baifang Zuo, Christian Xavier Stevenson, David Kenton Felling, Jong Ho Uhm
  • Patent number: 8141363
    Abstract: A nozzle includes a nozzle body and a cavity defined at least in part by the nozzle body. A plenum extends through the nozzle body into the cavity. At least one passage through the plenum provides fluid communication between the plenum and the cavity. Orifices through the nozzle body and circumferentially spaced around the nozzle body provide fluid communication through the nozzle body. A method for cooling a face of a nozzle having a nozzle body that defines a cavity includes flowing a fuel through the cavity and inserting a plenum through the nozzle body into the cavity. The method further includes flowing a fluid through the plenum so that the fluid impinges on the face of the nozzle to remove heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Thomas Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 8141334
    Abstract: A combustor for a combustion turbine engine that includes: a chamber defined by an outer wall and forming a channel between windows defined through the outer wall toward a forward end of the chamber and at least one fuel injector positioned toward an aft end of the chamber; and a multilayer screen filter comprising at least two layers of screen over at least a portion of the windows and at least one layer of screen over the remaining portion of the windows. The windows include a forward end and a forward portion, and an aft end and an aft portion. The multilayer screen filter is positioned over the windows such that, in operation, a supply of compressed air entering the chamber through the windows passes through at least one layer of screen. The multilayer screen filter is configured such that the aft portion of the windows include at least two layers of screen, and the forward portion of the windows includes one less layer of screen than the aft portion of the windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Baifang Zuo, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Patent number: 8123150
    Abstract: A nozzle is provided and includes a circuit by which fuel is delivered to a nozzle part and a valve, interposed between the circuit and the nozzle part and upon which the fuel impinges, an opening and closing of the valve being passively responsive to a fuel pressure in the circuit such that the valve thereby modulates a size of an area through which a corresponding quantity of the fuel flows from the circuit to the nozzle part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Joseph Citeno, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Baifang Zuo
  • Publication number: 20120023895
    Abstract: A combustor for a combustion turbine engine, the combustor that includes: a chamber defined by an outer wall and forming a channel between windows defined through the outer wall toward a forward end of the chamber and at least one fuel injector positioned toward an aft end of the chamber; a screen; and a standoff comprising a raised area on an outer surface of the outer wall near the periphery of the windows; wherein the screen extends over the windows and is supported by the standoff in a raised position in relation to the outer surface of the outer wall and the windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Baifang Zuo, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20120023949
    Abstract: A combustor for a combustion turbine engine that includes: a chamber defined by an outer wall and forming a channel between windows defined through the outer wall toward a forward end of the chamber and at least one fuel injector positioned toward an aft end of the chamber; and a multilayer screen filter comprising at least two layers of screen over at least a portion of the windows and at least one layer of screen over the remaining portion of the windows. The windows include a forward end and a forward portion, and an aft end and an aft portion. The multilayer screen filter is positioned over the windows such that, in operation, a supply of compressed air entering the chamber through the windows passes through at least one layer of screen. The multilayer screen filter is configured such that the aft portion of the windows include at least two layers of screen, and the forward portion of the windows includes one less layer of screen than the aft portion of the windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Baifang Zuo, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Patent number: 8104286
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle including a swirler assembly that includes a shroud, a hub, and a plurality of vanes extending between the shroud and the hub. Each vane includes a pressure sidewall and an opposite suction sidewall coupled to the pressure sidewall at a leading edge and at a trailing edge. At least one suction side fuel injection orifice is formed adjacent to the leading edge and extends from a first fuel supply passage to the suction sidewall. A fuel injection angle is oriented with respect to the suction sidewall. The suction side fuel injection orifice is configured to discharge fuel outward from the suction sidewall. At least one pressure side fuel injection orifice extends from a second fuel supply passage to the pressure sidewall and is substantially parallel to the trailing edge. The pressure side fuel injection orifice is configured to discharge fuel tangentially from the trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Baifang Zuo, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20120011854
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of primary nozzles configured to diffuse or premix fuel into an air flow through the combustor; and a secondary nozzle configured to premix fuel with the air flow. Each premixing nozzle includes a center body, at least one vane, a burner tube provided around the center body, at least two cooling passages, a fuel cooling passage to cool surfaces of the center body and the at least one vane, and an air cooling passage to cool a wall of the burner tube. The cooling passages prevent the walls of the center body, the vane(s), and the burner tube from overheating during flame holding events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey KHAN, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Chunyang Wu, Baifang Zuo, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20110240769
    Abstract: A nozzle is provided and includes a circuit by which fuel is delivered to a nozzle part and a valve, interposed between the circuit and the nozzle part and upon which the fuel impinges, an opening and closing of the valve being passively responsive to a fuel pressure in the circuit such that the valve thereby modulates a size of an area through which a corresponding quantity of the fuel flows from the circuit to the nozzle part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Joseph Citeno, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Baifang Zuo
  • Patent number: 8007274
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly is provided. The assembly includes an outer nozzle body having a first end and a second end and at least one inner nozzle tube having a first end and a second end. One of the nozzle body or nozzle tube includes a fuel plenum and a fuel passage extending therefrom, while the other of the nozzle body or nozzle tube includes a fuel injection hole slidably aligned with the fuel passage to form a fuel flow path therebetween at an interface between the body and the tube. The nozzle body and the nozzle tube are fixed against relative movement at the first ends of the nozzle body and nozzle tube, enabling the fuel flow path to close at the interface due to thermal growth after a flame enters the nozzle tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Benjamin Paul Lacey, William David York, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20110179795
    Abstract: The system may include a turbine engine. The turbine engine may include a fuel nozzle. The fuel nozzle may include an air path. The fuel nozzle may also include a fuel path such that the fuel nozzle is in communication with a combustion zone of the turbine engine. Furthermore, the fuel nozzle may include a resonator. The resonator may be disposed in the fuel nozzle directly adjacent to the combustion zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Willy Steve Ziminsky, William David York, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20110162371
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating a secondary fuel nozzle for a turbomachine combustor including delivering a flow of pilot fuel through a pilot fuel channel toward a combustion zone and delivering a flow of air through a plurality of transfer passages arranged around the pilot fuel channel toward the combustion zone. The flow of pilot fuel and the flow of air are combusted in the combustion zone, and a flow of transfer fuel is delivered through the plurality of transfer passages for combustion. A secondary fuel nozzle includes a pilot fuel channel extending along the fuel nozzle to deliver a flow of pilot fuel to a combustion zone. A plurality of transfer passages are arranged around the pilot fuel channel and are configured to deliver a flow of air for combustion with the flow of pilot fuel and to deliver a flow of transfer fuel to the combustion zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Willy Steve Ziminsky
  • Publication number: 20110107769
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a compressor, a turbine operatively coupled to the compressor, and a combustion assembly fluidly linking the compressor and the turbine. The combustion assembly includes at least one injector having a burner tube including an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion that define a mixing zone. A swirler arranged within the mixing zone. The swirler includes a plurality of vanes, with at least one of the plurality of vanes having a wall section including an outer surface and an inner surface that define a hollow interior portion. An insert member is arranged within the hollow interior portion. The insert member includes at least one guide element that is disposed and configured to deliver a fluid flow to the hollow interior portion to flow over the wall section of the at least one of the plurality of vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christian Xavier Stevenson, Thomas Edward Johnson, Kevin Weston McMahan, William David York
  • Publication number: 20110083442
    Abstract: A nozzle includes a nozzle body and a cavity defined at least in part by the nozzle body. A plenum extends through the nozzle body into the cavity. At least one passage through the plenum provides fluid communication between the plenum and the cavity. Orifices through the nozzle body and circumferentially spaced around the nozzle body provide fluid communication through the nozzle body. A method for cooling a face of a nozzle having a nozzle body that defines a cavity includes flowing a fuel through the cavity and inserting a plenum through the nozzle body into the cavity. The method further includes flowing a fluid through the plenum so that the fluid impinges on the face of the nozzle to remove heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: ABDUL RAFEY KHAN, CHRISTIAN XAVIER STEVENSON, THOMAS EDWARD JOHNSON
  • Publication number: 20110067379
    Abstract: A dual fuel combustor nozzle includes a body member including a first end portion that extends to a second end portion through an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion includes an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion with the inner wall portion defining a first fuel plenum. The dual fuel nozzle also includes an inner nozzle member arranged within the first fuel plenum. The inner nozzle member includes a first end section that extends to a second end section through an intermediate section. The intermediate section defines a second fuel plenum. The second end section being spaced from the second end portion of the body member so as to define a pre-emergence zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Baifang Zuo
  • Publication number: 20110057056
    Abstract: A monolithic fuel injection head for a fuel nozzle includes a substantially hollow vesicle body formed with an upstream end face, a downstream end face and a peripheral wall extending therebetween, an internal baffle plate extending radially outwardly from a downstream end of the bore, terminating short of the peripheral wall, thereby defining upstream and downstream fuel plenums in the vesicle body, in fluid communication by way of a radial gap between the baffle plate and the peripheral wall. A plurality of integral pre-mix tubes extend axially through the upstream and downstream fuel plenums in the vesicle body and through the baffle plate, with at least one fuel injection hole extending between each of the pre-mix tubes and the upstream fuel plenum, thereby enabling fuel in the upstream plenum to be injected into the plurality of pre-mix tubes. The fuel injection head is formed by direct metal laser sintering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Willy Steve ZIMINSKY, Thomas Edward JOHNSON, Benjamin LACY, William David YORK, Christian Xavier STEVENSON
  • Publication number: 20110005189
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor fuel nozzle. The turbine combustor fuel nozzle includes a swirl vane. The turbine combustor fuel nozzle also includes an injection hole configured to inject fluid in a downstream region of the swirl vane. The injection of fluid in a downstream region of the swirl vane may be in response to detection of a condition indicative of a flame inside the turbine combustor fuel nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20100269507
    Abstract: A burner for use in a gas turbine engine includes a burner tube having an inlet end and an outlet end; a plurality of air passages extending axially in the burner tube configured to convey air flows from the inlet end to the outlet end; a plurality of fuel passages extending axially along the burner tube and spaced around the plurality of air passage configured to convey fuel from the inlet end to the outlet end; and a radial air swirler provided at the outlet end configured to direct the air flows radially toward the outlet end and impart swirl to the air flows. The radial air swirler includes a plurality of vanes to direct and swirl the air flows and an end plate. The end plate includes a plurality of fuel injection holes to inject the fuel radially into the swirling air flows. A method of mixing air and fuel in a burner of a gas turbine is also provided. The burner includes a burner tube including an inlet end, an outlet end, a plurality of axial air passages, and a plurality of axial fuel passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey KHAN, Gilbert Otto KRAEMER, Christian Xavier STEVENSON