Patents by Inventor Douglas S. Byrd

Douglas S. Byrd 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: 9239013
    Abstract: A method for assembling a rotary machine includes providing at least one combustor assembly that includes at least one fuel nozzle. The method also includes coupling at least one fuel source to the at least one combustor assembly. The method further includes coupling at least one solvent-based purge system in flow communication with the at least one combustor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Douglas S. Byrd
  • Publication number: 20150159558
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for dispensing turbine engine anticorrosive protection. In an embodiment, a method may include selecting an anticorrosion fluid for a gas turbine engine and applying the anticorrosion fluid to the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Douglas S. Byrd, Dale J. Davis, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Publication number: 20150159509
    Abstract: Methods and systems for dispersing anticorrosive treatment for a turbine engine may incorporate an inlet bleed heat system. In an embodiment, a method may include selecting an anticorrosion fluid for a turbine engine and distributing the anticorrosion fluid via a vaporizing system fluidly connected with the turbine engine, wherein the vaporizing system is used to transform the anticorrosion fluid into a vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston I. Scipio, Douglas S. Byrd, Dale J. Davis, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Patent number: 8572944
    Abstract: A portion of the exhaust generated by a turbomachine is recirculated through an inlet portion by an exhaust gas recirculation system. The system reduces the level of constituents within the exhaust before the exhaust is recirculated. The turbomachine may be utilized to drive the exhaust gas through the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rahul J. Chillar, Douglas S. Byrd, Robert W. Taylor, Joell R. Hibshman, II
  • Patent number: 8443584
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sam D. Draper, Douglas S. Byrd, Carl G. Schott, Rahul J. Chillar, Amit S. Toprani
  • Patent number: 8424877
    Abstract: A method and systems for a purged seal for an annular space are provided. The purged seal includes a first baffle element that extends from an inner surface of the annular space into the annular space at an oblique angle and a second baffle element that extends from an outer surface of the annular space above the first baffle element in a direction opposite gravity flow into the annular space wherein the second baffle element extends at an oblique angle. The system also includes a third baffle element that extends from the inner surface above the first baffle element in a direction of gravity flow into the annular space wherein the third baffle element extends into the annular space at an oblique angle with respect to the inner surface and wherein a distal end of the third baffle element is positioned proximate a distal end of the second baffle element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Constantin Dinu, James Michael Storey, Aaron John Avagliano, Douglas S. Byrd, Shaoping Shi, Judeth Brannon Corry, Allyson Joy Jimenez Huyke
  • Patent number: 8402737
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sam D. Draper, Douglas S. Byrd, Carl G. Schott, Rahul J. Chillar, Amit S. Toprani
  • Patent number: 8397484
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sam D. Draper, Douglas S. Byrd, Carl G. Schott, Rahul J. Chillar, Amit S. Toprani
  • Patent number: 8397483
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sam D. Draper, Douglas S. Byrd, Carl G. Schott, Rahul J. Chillar, Amit S. Toprani
  • Patent number: 8365530
    Abstract: A system for conditioning an airstream entering an air-breathing machine includes an air conditioning system (ACS) configured for adjusting a physical property of the airstream, wherein the ACS comprises a module. The module includes a non-media conditioning system configured for adjusting a physical property of the airstream if an ambient condition is within a range, wherein the non-media conditioning system comprises nozzles adapted for spraying a fluid onto the airstream. The module also includes a media conditioning system configured for adjusting a physical property of the airstream to provide additional output of the air-breathing machine, wherein the media conditioning system comprises a direct exchange medium and a fluid distribution manifold. The ACS operates in a direct evaporative mode if the fluid is approximately greater than a dew point temperature and operates in a direct chilling mode if the fluid is approximately less than a dew point temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jianmin Zhang, Douglas S. Byrd, James P. Tomey
  • Patent number: 8322361
    Abstract: An annular dual-flow check valve for controlling the flow through concentric channels that have a common outlet, comprising: an outer body and an inner body that define the concentric channels, which include an outer channel and an inner channel formed therein; a spring activated annular poppet that resides in the outer channel and has a range of motion in the axial direction; and an opening through the inner body that connects the outer channel to the inner channel; wherein: the axial movement of the annular poppet is regulated by the pressure of the flow upstream of the annular poppet in the outer channel; and the axial range of motion of the annular poppet includes at least two axial positions: a closed position where the annular poppet substantially covers the opening and a open position where at least a portion of the opening is not covered by the annular poppet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dean M. Erickson, Douglas S. Byrd
  • Patent number: 8316875
    Abstract: An assembly for delivering a supply of liquid fuel and a supply of purge air to a gas turbine engine, the assembly comprising: an annular dual-flow check valve for controlling the flow through concentric channels that have a common outlet, the annular dual-flow check valve comprising: an outer body and an inner body that define the concentric channels, which include an outer channel and an inner channel formed therein; a spring activated annular poppet that resides in the outer channel and has a range of motion in the axial direction; and an opening through the inner body that connects the outer channel to the inner channel; wherein the axial movement of the annular poppet is regulated by the pressure of the flow upstream of the annular poppet in the outer channel; and the axial range of motion of the annular poppet includes at least two axial positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dean M. Erickson, David W. Smith, Douglas S. Byrd, Hua Zhang, Daniel B. Holcombe
  • Publication number: 20120181355
    Abstract: A system includes a gasification fuel injector. The gasification fuel injector includes a body having a tip portion, a first conduit extending through the body toward the tip portion, a second conduit extending through the body toward the tip portion, and a flow control device disposed in the first conduit upstream of the tip portion. The flow control device is configured to limit a first flow through the first conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Judeth Brannon Corry, Paul Stephen Dimascio, Douglas S. Byrd
  • Publication number: 20120167547
    Abstract: A method for assembling a rotary machine includes providing at least one combustor assembly that includes at least one fuel nozzle. The method also includes coupling at least one fuel source to the at least one combustor assembly. The method further includes coupling at least one solvent-based purge system in flow communication with the at least one combustor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Douglas S. Byrd
  • Patent number: 8196907
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an air conditioning system (ACS) for conditioning the airstream entering an air-consuming machine, such as, but not limiting of, a gas turbine. Conditioning may be considered a process that adjusts at least one physical property of the airstream. The physical property may comprise: a wet-bulb temperature, a dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity, density, or the like. In an embodiment of the present invention, the major components of the ACS may be located in a single structure, which may be considered a module. Depending on the application of the ACS, multiple modules may be physically and/or operationally integrated on the air-consuming machine. An alternate embodiment of the ACS may comprise a module having multiples stages. Here, each stage may operate independently other stages. Furthermore, each stage may use a separate fluid from other stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jianmin Zhang, Douglas S. Byrd, James P. Tomey
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110146288
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention applies a physics based approach to determine the mass flowrate of the fuel required for a robust ignition mode. This approach uses a closed-loop controls methodology. Here, a turbine control system receives a plurality of operating data. The turbine control system utilizes at least one algorithm, which applies an energy balance to the received operating data. The operating data may include, but is not limited to, airflow data, data from the fuel system, data related to the shaft work, exhaust data, and data related to the heat loss. This energy balance is used to determine the required mass flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Douglas S. Byrd, Joseph R. Law
  • Publication number: 20110138767
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Sam D. Draper, Douglas S. Byrd, Carl G. Schott, Rahul J. Chillar, Amit S. Toprani
  • Publication number: 20110138768
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Sam D. Draper, Douglas S. Byrd, Carl G. Schott, Rahul J. Chillar, Amit S. Toprani
  • Publication number: 20110131981
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Sam D. Draper, Douglas S. Byrd, Carl G. Schott, Rahul J. Chillar, Amit S. Toprani