Patents by Inventor Dean A. Matthews

Dean A. Matthews 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: 8801370
    Abstract: A impingement cooling system for heavy duty turbines that includes a manifold affixed to a casing of the heavy-duty turbine, wherein the manifold includes a plurality of impingement holes in the surface of the manifold and a blower that provides air flow across the plurality of impingement holes of the manifold to cool the casing of the heavy-duty turbine to control the clearance between a tip of a turbine blade and a shroud of the heavy-duty turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dean Matthew Erickson, Hua Zhang, Jason Seale
  • Publication number: 20140208766
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel heating system is provided. The method includes performing pre-ignition diagnostic checks on a plurality of components of the fuel heating system, wherein at least one inlet damper and at least one outlet damper of an exhaust flow circuit are each in a closed position. The method also includes purging the fuel heating system of unburned hydrocarbons. The method further includes operating the fuel heating system in a normal operating condition. The method yet further includes operating the fuel heating system in a cool down condition, wherein the at least one inlet damper is in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Rushi Mahesh Amin, Douglas Scott Byrd, Dean Matthew Erickson, Michael John Mariani, Christina Renee Pompey, Korey Frederic Rendo, Bryan Edward Sweet
  • Patent number: 8783040
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a combustion turbine engine, comprising: a fuel line having a fuel compressor and parallel branches downstream of the fuel compressor: a cold branch that includes an after-cooler; and a hot branch that bypasses the after-cooler; a rapid heating value meter configured to measure the heating value of the fuel from the fuel source and transmit heating value data relating to the measurements; means for controlling the amount of fuel being directed through the cold branch and the amount of fuel being directed through the hot branch; and a fuel-mixing junction at which the cold branch and the hot branch converge; wherein the fuel-mixing junction resides in close proximity to a combustor gas control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dean Matthew Erickson, Timothy Russell Bilton
  • Publication number: 20140102071
    Abstract: A system for heating fuel in a combined cycle gas turbine includes a fuel heat exchanger downstream from a turbine outlet, and the fuel heat exchanger has an exhaust gas inlet, an exhaust gas outlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel outlet. A first exhaust gas plenum has a first exhaust gas inlet connection between the turbine outlet and a heat exchanger and a first exhaust gas outlet connection upstream from the exhaust gas inlet. A second exhaust gas plenum has a second exhaust gas inlet connection downstream from at least a portion of the heat exchanger and a second exhaust gas outlet connection upstream from the exhaust gas inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Wesley Ball, JR., Korey Frederic Rendo, Dean Matthew Erickson, Diego Fernando Rancruel, Leslie Yung-Min Tong
  • Publication number: 20140102105
    Abstract: A system for heating combustor fuel includes a turbine exhaust plenum and a heat exchanger downstream from the turbine exhaust plenum. The heat exchanger has an exhaust inlet, an exhaust outlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel outlet. An exhaust recirculation plenum has a recirculation inlet connection downstream from the exhaust outlet and a recirculation outlet connection upstream from the exhaust inlet. The system further includes structure for controlling a recirculated exhaust flow from the exhaust outlet into the exhaust recirculation plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Durgaprasad Janapaneedi, Korey Frederic Rendo, Dean Matthew Erickson, Timothy Russell Bilton, Christina Renee Pompey
  • Publication number: 20140080403
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a ventilation unit configured to exhaust drawn-in air from an enclosure, and a detection unit integrated with the ventilation unit and configured to detect a vapor. Embodiments are directed to a collection mechanism configured to collect liquid, a detection unit configured to sample vapor emitted from the liquid of the collection mechanism, and a ventilation unit integrated with the detection unit and configured to exhaust the vapor subsequent to the vapor having been sampled by the detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dean Matthew Erickson, Gary Cletus Mobley, JR., Len Alan Wolf
  • Publication number: 20130319852
    Abstract: A system providing selective spin modification and reaction in an electrolytic cell. An electrolytic cell is coupled to a magnet that provides a level-splitting magnetic field in a region of electrolyte adjacent to a working electrode, thus establishing a spin resonance for an unpaired electron associated with a chemical species in the region of electrolyte adjacent to the working electrode. The working electrode carries an excitation current produced by a switching source or amplifier. The excitation current produces an alternating magnetic field adjacent to the working electrode that alters the spin state population density for the unpaired electron associated with a chemical species within the electrolyte, thereby enhancing or inhibiting the reaction of the chemical species during subsequent electrolysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: MEHLIN DEAN MATTHEWS
  • Publication number: 20130318993
    Abstract: An approach for utilizing fuel gas to purge a dormant fuel gas circuit is disclosed. In one aspect, there is a fuel gas supply that supplies fuel to fuel gas circuits. Gas control valves, each coupled to one of the fuel gas circuits control the flow of fuel gas thereto from the fuel gas supply. A fuel purge system selectively purges fuel gas circuits from the fuel gas circuits that are dormant with fuel gas from the fuel gas supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dean Matthew Erickson, Robert Lester Brooks, Douglas Scott Byrd, Joseph Robert Law
  • Publication number: 20130319552
    Abstract: Disclosed is a deconstructable water storage tank assembled using modular components including wall panels, a base ring and a membrane for use in large volume fluid transfer operations such as hydraulic fracturing. Also disclosed are methods for assembling the tank for use at a first hydraulic fracturing site, and disassembling and transporting the tank components for redeployment at a second hydraulic fracturing site. A fluid management system is also disclosed utilizing the deconstructable storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Chevron USA Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Craig Svarczkopf, Dean Matthew Grose, Tad William Schirmer, Sean Michael Beecroft, Robert Glenn Hirtz, Albert Eugene Butterfield, IV
  • Patent number: 8535492
    Abstract: A system providing selective spin modification and reaction in an electrolytic cell. An electrolytic cell is coupled to a magnet that provides a level-splitting magnetic field in a region of electrolyte adjacent to a working electrode, thus establishing a spin resonance for an unpaired electron associated with a chemical species in the region of electrolyte adjacent to the working electrode. The working electrode carries an excitation current produced by a switching source or amplifier. The excitation current produces an alternating magnetic field adjacent to the working electrode that alters the spin state population density for the unpaired electron associated with a chemical species within the electrolyte, thereby enhancing or inhibiting the reaction of the chemical species during subsequent electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Mehlin Dean Matthews
  • Patent number: 8528335
    Abstract: A system is provided and includes first and second water supplies at first and second relatively high and low temperatures, respectively, a heat exchanger, coupled to the water supplies, through which fuel and relative amounts of the water supplies at the first and second temperatures flow for fuel heating and a controller, operably interposed between the water supplies and the heat exchanger, to select and/or modulate the relative amounts of the water supplies permitted to flow through the heat exchanger to heat the fuel to a temperature based on a heating requirement to meet a modified wobbe index (MWI) rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Russell Bilton, Dean Matthew Erickson, Brian Michael Gallagher, Ravi Praveen Eluripati, Rakesh Sivasankaran
  • Patent number: 8459033
    Abstract: The present application provides a gas turbine engine system for combusting a flow of fuel. The gas turbine engine system may include a combustor and a fuel system for providing the flow of fuel to the combustor. The fuel system may include a fuel heat exchanger so as to provide the flow of fuel to the combustor at a substantially constant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dean Matthew Erickson, Brian Gallagher, Mihir Lal, Scott Day
  • Patent number: 8425223
    Abstract: An apparatus, a system and a method by which fuel gas to drive a heat source is heated are provided. The apparatus includes a first gas passage by which at least a portion of the fuel gas is transported from an inlet to an outlet, the outlet being fluidly coupled to the heat source, a plurality of heat pipes in thermal communication, at respective first ends thereof, with the portion of the fuel gas transported by the first gas passage, and a heating element, fluidly coupled to the heat source to receive exhaust of the heat source, through which respective second ends of the heat pipes extend to be in position to be heated by the exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Jatila Ranasinghe, Dean Matthew Erickson
  • Publication number: 20130008172
    Abstract: The present application provides a gas turbine engine system for combusting a flow of fuel. The gas turbine engine system may include a combustor and a fuel system for providing the flow of fuel to the combustor. The fuel system may include a fuel heat exchanger so as to provide the flow of fuel to the combustor at a substantially constant temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dean Matthew Erickson, Brian Gallagher, Mihir Lal, Scott Day
  • Patent number: 8192608
    Abstract: An anode and cathode for an electrolytic cell configured as a low inductance transmission line to enable control of an interphase at an electrode surface. The anode and cathode are coupled to a switched current source by a low inductance path that includes a parallel plate transmission line, a coaxial transmission line, or both. The switched current source provides fast switching between current sources to provide fast charging and discharging of the double-layer capacitance associated with the electrode surface so that an isotope may be selectively transported to the electrode surface for oxidation or reduction. A photon source may be used to create a population of isotope containing species within the electrolyte. An additional static magnetic field and/or an alternating current magnetic excitation source may be used to modify the composition of the population of species containing the isotope to be separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Mehlin Dean Matthews
  • Patent number: 8152446
    Abstract: A turbine includes: a plurality of turbine blades arranged within a casing, the arrangement including a clearance between tips of the blades and the casing; a plurality of manifolds disposed proximate to the casing opposite the clearance, wherein each of the manifolds includes a plurality of impingement holes in the surface thereof; a source of clearance information; and a source of cooling air for supplying cooling air through a plurality of flow control devices to selected ones of the manifolds according to the clearance information. A system and a method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Kenneth Neil Whaling, Jason Allen Seale, Dean Matthew Erickson, Michael Francis Michalski
  • Patent number: 8142169
    Abstract: An ejector for a turbine engine is described herein. The ejector may include a variable geometry motive nozzle and a variable geometry mixing tube positioned downstream of the variable geometry motive nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Neil Whaling, Dean Matthew Erickson, Hua Zhang, David Wesley Ball, Christina Renee Pompey
  • Patent number: 8123406
    Abstract: A mount includes a mounting bolt attached to a casing; an internal bushing that engages the casing at a distal end of the internal bushing; and an external bushing that engages a manifold and engages the internal bushing. The internal bushing is adjustable with respect to the external bushing thereby allowing the manifold to be adjustable with respect to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dean Matthew Erickson, Mitch Mircea Orza, Michael George Savale, Hua Zhang
  • Patent number: 8083495
    Abstract: An ejector comprising a motive inlet, a motive nozzle separably secured to the motive inlet, a suction chamber about the motive nozzle, a suction fluid inlet to the suction chamber, a mixing tube in fluid communication with the suction chamber and the motive nozzle, a diffuser in fluid communication with the mixing tube and distal the suction chamber and the motive nozzle, and an outlet from the diffuser is provided. A nozzle comprising at least two concentric arc nozzle portions is also provided. An ejector comprising a mixing tube including a flexible layer adapted to compress or stretch, thereby allowing a mixing tube diameter to change is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Neil Whaling, Dean Matthew Erickson, Hua Zhang, David Wesley Ball, Jr., James L. Davis, Michael Savale, Douglas S. Byrd
  • Patent number: 8043486
    Abstract: A system providing selective spin modification and reaction in an electrolytic cell. An electrolytic cell is coupled to a magnet that provides a level-splitting magnetic field in a region of electrolyte adjacent to a working electrode, thus establishing a spin resonance for an unpaired electron associated with a chemical species in the region of electrolyte adjacent to the working electrode. The working electrode carries an excitation current produced by a switching source or amplifier. The excitation current produces an alternating magnetic field adjacent to the working electrode that alters the spin state population density for the unpaired electron associated with a chemical species within the electrolyte, thereby enhancing or inhibiting the reaction of the chemical species during subsequent electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventor: Mehlin Dean Matthews