Patents by Inventor Claudio Botarelli

Claudio Botarelli 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: 11333075
    Abstract: A method for safe gas turbine startup is disclosed. The method comprises a first step wherein a fuel metering valve (33) arranged along a fuel delivery line is tested for possible leakages. If the leakage test is successfully passed, a subsequent turbine startup step can be performed. Further disclosed is a gas turbine engine (3) comprising a fuel supply system (20) comprised of a fuel delivery line (21) and a valve arrangement (23) positioned along said fuel delivery line (21). The valve arrangement (23) further comprises sequentially arranged shut off valves (25, 29, 31) and a fuel metering valve (33), positioned downstream of the shut off valves (25, 29, 31). A pressure measuring arrangement (43, 45, 47) is further provided, adapted to measure fuel pressure in at least one portion of the fuel delivery line (21) upstream of the fuel metering valve (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: NUOVO PIGNONE TECNOLOGIE SRL
    Inventors: Eugenio Quartieri, Claudio Botarelli, Nicola Vanni, Daniele Bruni, Andrea Carnieri, Bruno Giunta
  • Publication number: 20200141321
    Abstract: A method for safe gas turbine startup is disclosed. The method comprises a first step wherein a fuel metering valve (33) arranged along a fuel delivery line is tested for possible leakages. If the leakage test is successfully passed, a subsequent turbine startup step can be performed. Further disclosed is a gas turbine engine (3) comprising a fuel supply system (20) comprised of a fuel delivery line (21) and a valve arrangement (23) positioned along said fuel delivery line (21). The valve arrangement (23) further comprises sequentially arranged shut off valves (25, 29, 31) and a fuel metering valve (33), positioned downstream of the shut off valves (25, 29, 31). A pressure measuring arrangement (43, 45, 47) is further provided, adapted to measure fuel pressure in at least one portion of the fuel delivery line (21) upstream of the fuel metering valve (33).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Eugenio QUARTIERI, Claudio BOTARELLI, Nicola VANNI, Daniele BRUNI, Andrea CARNIERI, Bruno GIUNTA
  • Publication number: 20200116086
    Abstract: A method of starting a gas turbine and related apparatus, the method including keeping a main fuel line in a sealed state while allowing fuel to flow from a fuel source to at least one nozzle of a nozzle array via an auxiliary fuel line; firing a gas turbine while keeping the main fuel line in the sealed state; and after combustion has started: opening the main fuel line to commence a flow of fuel from the fuel source to the at least one nozzle of the nozzle array via the main fuel line, sealing the auxiliary fuel line, and after the auxiliary fuel line is sealed, increasing the flow of fuel from the fuel source to the at least one nozzle of the nozzle array via the main fuel line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Giuseppe D'Alessandro, Marta Mampreso, Carlo Trombi, Andrea Mossi, Cristina Sanchez Sosa, Claudio Botarelli
  • Patent number: 9140195
    Abstract: Gas turbine, software and method for controlling an operating point of the gas turbine that includes a compressor, a combustor and at least a turbine is provided. The method includes determining a turbine exhaust pressure at an exhaust of the turbine; measuring a compressor pressure discharge at the compressor; determining a turbine pressure ratio based on the turbine exhaust pressure and the compressor pressure discharge; calculating an exhaust temperature at the exhaust of the turbine as a function of the turbine pressure ratio; identifying a reference exhaust temperature curve in a plane defined by the exhaust temperature and the turbine pressure ratio; and controlling the gas turbine to maintain the operating point on the reference exhaust temperature curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.P.A.
    Inventor: Claudio Botarelli
  • Patent number: 8904803
    Abstract: A gas turbine, computer software and a method for controlling an operating point of the gas turbine that includes a compressor, a combustor and at least a turbine is provided. The method comprises: determining an exhaust pressure at an exhaust of the turbine; measuring a compressor pressure discharge at the compressor; determining a turbine pressure ratio based on the exhaust pressure and the compressor pressure discharge; calculating a primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold reference curve as a function of the turbine pressure ratio, where the primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold curve includes points at which an operation of the gas turbine is changed between a primary mode to a lean-lean mode; and controlling the gas turbine to change between the primary mode and the lean-lean mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventor: Claudio Botarelli
  • Patent number: 8820089
    Abstract: Gas turbine, computer readable medium, and method for controlling an operating point of the gas turbine that includes a compressor, a combustor and a turbine is provided. The method includes determining a turbine pressure ratio, calculating a primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold reference curve as a function of the turbine pressure ratio, determining at a first time when an exhaust temperature associated with the operating point is higher than an exhaust temperature of the primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold reference curve for the same turbine pressure ratio, and changing, after a predetermined time after the first time, a split fuel quantity from a first value to a second value if the exhaust temperature associated with the operating point remains higher than the exhaust temperature of the primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold reference curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventor: Claudio Botarelli
  • Patent number: 8713946
    Abstract: Gas turbine and method for controlling an operating point of the gas turbine that includes a compressor, a combustor and at least a turbine. The method includes calculating an exhaust temperature reference curve of the turbine as a function of a turbine pressure ratio; determining whether condition IGVmin+?IGV1?IGVset point?IGVmax+?IGV2, and condition ttx?ttxh+?ttx3, are true; and changing, if both conditions are true, a split fuel quantity from a first value to a second value or otherwise maintaining the first value, the first value characterizing a lean-lean steady state mode and the second value characterizing a premixed secondary mode of a premixed mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventor: Claudio Botarelli
  • Publication number: 20130219910
    Abstract: A gas turbine, computer software and a method for controlling an operating point of the gas turbine that includes a compressor, a combustor and at least a turbine is provided. The method comprises: determining an exhaust pressure at an exhaust of the turbine; measuring a compressor pressure discharge at the compressor; determining a turbine pressure ratio based on the exhaust pressure and the compressor pressure discharge; calculating a primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold reference curve as a function of the turbine pressure ratio, where the primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold curve includes points at which an operation of the gas turbine is changed between a primary mode to a lean-lean mode; and controlling the gas turbine to change between the primary mode and the lean-lean mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventor: Claudio Botarelli
  • Patent number: 8448445
    Abstract: A method is described for the start-up of a gas turbine comprising the phases of effecting a preliminary purging cycle of the discharge duct (28) of the turbine (20), establishing a predetermined minimum value (FSR1) for the flow of gaseous fuel entering the combustor (14) for a period of time which is adequate for effecting a first attempt at ignition and effecting a first attempt at ignition, effecting an intermediate purging cycle of the discharge duct (28), interrupting the flow of gaseous fuel to the combustor (14), and progressively increasing the value (FSRn) of the flow of gaseous fuel entering the combustor (14), effecting further attempts at ignition until the mixture of air/gaseous fuel has been ignited and the consequent start-up of the turbine (20), or until a predetermined maximum value (FSRmax) of the flow of gaseous fuel has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventor: Claudio Botarelli
  • Publication number: 20130042624
    Abstract: Gas turbine, computer readable medium, and method for controlling an operating point of the gas turbine that includes a compressor, a combustor and a turbine is provided. The method includes determining a turbine pressure ratio, calculating a primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold reference curve as a function of the turbine pressure ratio, determining at a first time when an exhaust temperature associated with the operating point is higher than an exhaust temperature of the primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold reference curve for the same turbine pressure ratio, and changing, after a predetermined time after the first time, a split fuel quantity from a first value to a second value if the exhaust temperature associated with the operating point remains higher than the exhaust temperature of the primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold reference curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventor: Claudio Botarelli
  • Publication number: 20130019607
    Abstract: Gas turbine, software and method for controlling an operating point of the gas turbine that includes a compressor, a combustor and at least a turbine is provided. The method includes determining a turbine exhaust pressure at an exhaust of the turbine; measuring a compressor pressure discharge at the compressor; determining a turbine pressure ratio based on the turbine exhaust pressure and the compressor pressure discharge; calculating an exhaust temperature at the exhaust of the turbine as a function of the turbine pressure ratio; identifying a reference exhaust temperature curve in a plane defined by the exhaust temperature and the turbine pressure ratio; and controlling the gas turbine to maintain the operating point on the reference exhaust temperature curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventor: Claudio Botarelli
  • Publication number: 20120279230
    Abstract: Gas turbine and method for controlling an operating point of the gas turbine that includes a compressor, a combustor and at least a turbine. The method includes calculating an exhaust temperature reference curve of the turbine as a function of a turbine pressure ratio; determining whether condition IGVmin+?IGV1?IGVset point?IGVmax+?IGV2, and condition ttx?ttxh+?ttx3, are true; and changing, if both conditions are true, a split fuel quantity from a first value to a second value or otherwise maintaining the first value, the first value characterizing a lean-lean steady state mode and the second value characterizing a premixed secondary mode of a premixed mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventor: Claudio Botarelli
  • Publication number: 20100126179
    Abstract: A method is described for the start-up of a gas turbine comprising the phases of effecting a preliminary purging cycle of the discharge duct (28) of the turbine (20), establishing a predetermined minimum value (FSR1) for the flow of gaseous fuel entering the combustor (14) for a period of time which is adequate for effecting a first attempt at ignition and effecting a first attempt at ignition, effecting an intermediate purging cycle of the discharge duct (28), interrupting the flow of gaseous fuel to the combustor (14), and progressively increasing the value (FSRn) of the flow of gaseous fuel entering the combustor (14), effecting further attempts at ignition until the mixture of air/gaseous fuel has been ignited and the consequent start-up of the turbine (20), or until a predetermined maximum value (FSRmax) of the flow of gaseous fuel has been reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventor: Claudio Botarelli