Patents by Inventor Douglas Edward Dean

Douglas Edward Dean 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: 10830443
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for tuning combustion dynamics in a combustor. In one embodiment of the disclosure, a method includes providing, via at least one sensor, combustion dynamics amplitude data associated with a combustor. Method may allow monitoring, by an equipment controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the combustion dynamics amplitude data. The method may allow detecting at least one change in acoustic pressure amplitude associated with combustion in the combustor. In response to detecting the change in the acoustic pressure amplitude, the method proceeds with determining a fuel split change to at least two fuel circuits configured to supply fuel to the combustor, and applying the fuel split change to the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Akilezkrishnamurthy Arthanari, Mihir Lal, James Harper, Douglas Edward Dean, Abhijit Prabhakar Kulkarni
  • Publication number: 20180149363
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for tuning combustion dynamics in a combustor. In one embodiment of the disclosure, a method includes providing, via at least one sensor, combustion dynamics amplitude data associated with a combustor. Method may allow monitoring, by an equipment controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the combustion dynamics amplitude data. The method may allow detecting at least one change in acoustic pressure amplitude associated with combustion in the combustor. In response to detecting the change in the acoustic pressure amplitude, the method proceeds with determining a fuel split change to at least two fuel circuits configured to supply fuel to the combustor, and applying the fuel split change to the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Akilezkrishnamurthy Arthanari, Mihir Lal, James Harper, Douglas Edward Dean, Abhijit Prabhakar Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 8370044
    Abstract: A gas turbine comprises a plurality of target exhaust temperature determination modules, the plurality of target exhaust temperature modules comprising a nitrogen oxide (NOx) compliance module configured to determine an exhaust temperature at which an exhaust of the gas turbine complies with a maximum permitted level of NOx; at least one bias module, the at least one bias module configured to apply a bias to an output of at least one of the plurality of target exhaust temperature determination modules; and a controller configured to operate the gas turbine to produce the exhaust temperature determined by the NOx compliance module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas Edward Dean, Derrick Walter Simons, Abhijit Prabhakar Kulkarni
  • Publication number: 20100332103
    Abstract: A gas turbine comprises a plurality of target exhaust temperature determination modules, the plurality of target exhaust temperature modules comprising a nitrogen oxide (NOx) compliance module configured to determine an exhaust temperature at which an exhaust of the gas turbine complies with a maximum permitted level of NOx; at least one bias module, the at least one bias module configured to apply a bias to an output of at least one of the plurality of target exhaust temperature determination modules; and a controller configured to operate the gas turbine to produce the exhaust temperature determined by the NOx compliance module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Douglas Edward Dean, Derrick Walter Simons, Abhijit Prabhakar Kulkarni
  • Publication number: 20100287948
    Abstract: Control of gas turbine speed and acceleration during unloaded rotation may limit stresses on components and facilitate timely operational performance. Operation of a torque converter driving a gas turbine shaft from a starter motor provides control over acceleration and speed of the gas turbine shaft. Hydraulic coupling between the input and output of the torque converter is adjusted by draining and refilling the working fluid in a body of the torque converter to control acceleration and speed of the rotor shaft during a first speed range. Vane positioning within the torque converter may be alternated between discrete speed settings to control acceleration and speed of the rotor shaft during a second speed range. A turbine control system with an acceleration schedule may provide control signals for these functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Sam David Draper, Douglas Edward Dean, Alan Meier Truesdale, Joseph Michael Harvey