Patents by Inventor Eribert Benz

Eribert Benz 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: 11174784
    Abstract: An exemplary gas turbine power plant includes a gas turbine with a compressor having a compressor inlet. A combustion chamber follows the compressor and a turbine follows the combustion chamber. A cross section of the compressor inlet includes an inner sector and an outer sector in relation to the axis of rotation of the compressor. A plurality of feed ducts introduces oxygen-reduced gas into the inner sector of the compressor inlet. The plurality of feed ducts is arranged in the compressor inlet so as to be distributed in a circumferential direction on a circle concentrically with respect to the axis of the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZEERLAND AG
    Inventors: Jaan Hellat, Eribert Benz, Frank Graf, Torsten Wind, Felix Guethe, Klaus Doebbeling
  • Patent number: 10100728
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for operating a gas turbine power plant with flue gas recirculation, in which variable compressor inlet guide vanes are controlled as a function of flue gas recirculation ratio and/or as a function of a process parameter which is indicative for the flue gas recirculation. A controller setpoint position of the variable compressor inlet guide vanes can be controlled as a function of a position of a control element for controlling flue gas recirculation flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Frank Sander, Stefan Rofka, Eribert Benz
  • Patent number: 9970353
    Abstract: In a method for operating a gas turbine, NOx is removed from the exhaust gases of the gas turbine by means of a selective catalysis device with the addition of NH3. The method achieves an extremely low NOx content while simultaneously achieving economic consumption of NH3 and avoiding NH3 in the exhaust gas by maintaining the NOx content of the exhaust gas at a constant level via a regulated return of a portion of the exhaust gas in varying operating conditions of the gas turbine, and by adjusting the addition of the NH3 in the selective catalysis device to the constant NOx level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Felix Guethe, Eribert Benz, Frank Graf
  • Patent number: 9964003
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a power plant including a gas turbine, a heat recovery boiler arrangement with at least a boiler inlet, and an outlet side with a first exit connected to a stack and a second exit connected to a flue gas recirculation, which connects the second exit to the compressor inlet of the gas turbine. The heat recovery boiler arrangement includes a first boiler flue gas path from the boiler inlet to the first boiler exit, and a separate second boiler flue gas path from the boiler inlet to the second boiler exit. Additionally, a supplementary firing and a subsequent catalytic NOx converter are arranged in the first boiler flue gas path. Besides the power plant a method to operate such a power plant is an object of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Eribert Benz, Klaus Döbbeling, Michael Hoevel
  • Publication number: 20180119612
    Abstract: An exemplary gas turbine power plant includes a gas turbine with a compressor having a compressor inlet. A combustion chamber follows the compressor and a turbine follows the combustion chamber. A cross section of the compressor inlet includes an inner sector and an outer sector in relation to the axis of rotation of the compressor. A plurality of feed ducts introduces oxygen-reduced gas into the inner sector of the compressor inlet. The plurality of feed ducts is arranged in the compressor inlet so as to be distributed in a circumferential direction on a circle concentrically with respect to the axis of the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Jaan HELLAT, Eribert Benz, Frank Graf, Torsten Wind, Felix Guethe, Klaus Doebbeling
  • Patent number: 9869246
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine power plant, and a gas turbine power plant in which fresh air is delivered to a compressor inlet and is accelerated in the compressor inlet and a recirculated first exhaust gas substream is delivered into a region of the compressor inlet in which the fresh air is accelerated to an extent such that the difference between total pressure and static pressure in the fresh air is greater than or equal to a pressure difference which is required in order to suck a target mass flow of the recirculated first exhaust gas substream into the compressor inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Eribert Benz, Jaan Hellat, Hans Wettstein, Robin Payne
  • Patent number: 9863316
    Abstract: An improved intake arrangement, for a compressor having a compressor blading, includes a manifold divided by a barrier into two sections, to convey, from one section, a flue gas stream, and, from other section, an air stream. Further, the intake arrangement includes a converging section configured to the manifold and extends convergingly to the compressor defining an inlet to the compressor blading. The converging section includes inner and outer ring members disposed coaxially to each other, between which there extends, coaxially and convergingly, the barrier to at least up to a certain distance within the converging section, defining a converging nozzle therebetween. The converging nozzle includes a mixing feature adapted to enhance mixing of the flue gas and air streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Robin Payne, Eribert Benz
  • Patent number: 9856792
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a gas turbine, in which an oxygen-reduced gas and fresh air are delivered to a compressor of the gas turbine in a radially staged manner, the fresh air being delivered via an outer sector of the inlet cross section in relation to the axis of rotation of the compressor, and the oxygen-reduced gas being delivered via an inner sector of the inlet cross section in relation to the axis of rotation of the compressor. The invention relates, further, to a gas turbine power plant with a gas turbine having a compressor inlet which is followed by the flow duct of the compressor and which is divided into an inner sector and an outer sector, a feed for an oxygen-reduced gas being connected to the inner sector of the compressor inlet, and a fresh air feed being connected to the outer sector of the compressor inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Jaan Hellat, Eribert Benz, Frank Graf, Torsten Wind, Felix Guethe, Klaus Doebbeling
  • Patent number: 9664110
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a gas turbine which includes a compressor with annular inlet area, at least two burners, a combustion chamber and a turbine. According to the method, at least one first partial intake flow, consisting of oxygen-reduced gas which has an oxygen concentration which is lower than the average oxygen concentration of the compressor intake flow, and at least one second partial intake flow, consisting of fresh air, are fed to the compressor in an alternating manner in the circumferential direction of the inlet area. In addition, the invention relates to a gas turbine power plant with a gas turbine, the compressor inlet of which includes at least one first segment and at least one second segment which are arranged in an alternating manner around a compressor inlet in the circumferential direction, wherein a feed for an oxygen-reduced gas is connected to the first segment and a fresh air feed is connected to the second segment of the compressor inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Felix Guethe, Madhavan Narasimhan Poyyapakkam, Frank Graf, Bruno Schuermans, Eribert Benz
  • Patent number: 9650956
    Abstract: An intake arrangement for a compressor in a gas turbine power plant includes at least a passageway having an elongated portion, and a circular portion at an end of the elongated portion. The circular portion may be arranged in proximity to the compressor at around a compressor inlet. The passageway may be divided at least circumferentially and radially across the entire elongated portion and at least partially across the circular portion to configure a plurality of flue gas and air inlet segments for respectively conveying flue gas and air streams therethrough. The flue and air gas streams from each of the respective plurality of flue gas and air inlet segments, converge to be blended into a target mass stream for being conveyed into the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Eribert Benz, Robin Payne
  • Publication number: 20170059164
    Abstract: The present disclosure refers to a method for operating a gas turbine with a sequential combustor arrangement having: a first burner, a first combustion chamber, and a second combustor. A fuel gas is separated into a rich fuel having a concentration of higher hydrocarbons which is higher than the concentration of higher hydrocarbons of the fuel gas supplied to the plant, and a lean fuel having a concentration of higher hydrocarbons which is lower than the concentration of higher hydrocarbons of the fuel gas. A first fuel and a second fuel mixed from at least one of the rich fuel, the lean fuel, and the fuel gas are fed to different combustors of the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Klaus KNAPP, Eribert BENZ, Jürgen HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20160362984
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a blading member assembly for a fluid flow machine, wherein the blading member assembly includes at least one airfoil member and one platform member. The method includes manufacturing a platform member blank, manufacturing an airfoil member blank, and processing at least one of said blanks thus obtaining the at least one airfoil member and at least one platform member, and subsequently joining the at least one platform member and the at least one airfoil member, thus providing the blading member assembly. The method, for instance, provides larger flexibility in arranging cooling openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Herbert BRANDL, Eribert BENZ, Rene KOEHNKE, Ioannis PARALIKAS
  • Patent number: 9500127
    Abstract: The power plant includes a gas turbine unit adapted to feed flue gases into a diverter where they are divided into a recirculated flow and a discharged flow. The recirculated flow is fed into a mixer together with fresh air to form a mixture that is fed to the gas turbine unit. The gas turbine unit includes a combustion chamber where a fuel is burnt together with the mixture. A control unit is provided, that is supplied with information regarding the fuel C2+ and/or H2 content and is connected to at least the diverter to drive it and online regulate the recirculated flow mass flow rate in relation to the fuel C2+ and/or H2 content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Rofka, Frank Sander, Eribert Benz, Felix Güthe, Dragan Stankovic
  • Patent number: 9453460
    Abstract: The invention pertains to fluegas recirculation in gas turbines, and specifically to an intake section upstream of the inlet of a compressor of a gas turbine unit with fluegas recirculation. The intake section includes at least one section with a flow path defined by sidewalls in which the fresh airflow of the intake air is flowing along a principal airflow direction, including at least one mixing duct extending into the flow path from at least one sidewall. The mixing duct includes an intake at the at least one sidewall for receiving recirculated fluegas, as well as including at least one outlet opening distanced from said sidewall for blowing recirculated fluegas out of the mixing duct into the airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Eribert Benz, Niclas Lars Olof Lindqvist, Ali Mustapha Tabikh, Lars Filip Lundin
  • Publication number: 20160177749
    Abstract: A blading member for a fluid flow machine, for example, for use in gas turbine engines. The blading member includes a platform member and an airfoil member. The platform member and airfoil member are designed to allow for easy assembly/disassembly and replacement of members independent of other members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Herbert BRANDL, Eribert BENZ
  • Patent number: 9297311
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a gas turbine power plant having a gas turbine, a heat recovery steam generator and an flue gas splitter which splits flue gases into a first flue gas flow for recirculation into an inlet flow of the gas turbine and into a second flue gas flow for discharge to an environment. An oxygen-depleted gas can be used in an open cooling system for cooling hot gas parts of the gas turbine. A split compressor intake can be provided for separate feed of recirculated flue gas and fresh air into a compressor intake. Compressor blades can include a separating band which blocks intermixing of recirculated flue gas and fresh air during compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Jaan Hellat, Stefan Rofka, Michael Hoevel, Eribert Benz, Andre Burdet, Frank Sander, Felix Guethe
  • Patent number: 9200540
    Abstract: A power plant includes a gas turbine unit adapted to feed flue gases into a diverter where they are divided into a recirculated flow that is fed into a mixer together with fresh air to form a mixture that is fed to a gas turbine unit compressor inlet, and a discharged flow, that is fed into a CO2 capture unit. A monitoring system for the mixture oxygen content at the compressor inlet is provided. The monitoring system includes a recirculated flow mass flow rate sensor, a recirculated flow oxygen concentration sensor, mixture mass flow rate sensors, a control unit arranged to process information detected by the recirculated flow mass flow rate sensor, recirculated flow oxygen concentration sensor and mixture mass flow rate sensor, to determine an oxygen concentration upstream of the compressor inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Stefan Rofka, Frank Sander, Eribert Benz
  • Patent number: 9097187
    Abstract: An exemplary method is disclosed for operating a gas turbine power plant with exhaust gas recirculation, in which the exhaust gas recirculation is, for example, disengaged during starting and shutting down of the gas turbine, and in which the engaging or disengaging of the exhaust gas recirculation can be carried out in dependence upon an operating state of the gas turbine. An exemplary gas turbine power plant with exhaust gas recirculation is also disclosed which can include a control element, the closing speed of which is such that the control element can be closed within a time which is less than a time for exhaust gases to flow from the turbine through an HRSG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Stefan Rofka, Jürgen Hoffmann, Eribert Benz, Frank Sander, Martin Nicklas
  • Publication number: 20150128608
    Abstract: A power plant including a gas turbine, a heat recovery boiler arrangement. The gas turbine includes a compressor inlet with a fresh air intake sector and an intake section for recirculated flue gas. A common control element for the control of the fresh air flow and of the recirculated flue gas flow is arranged in the compressor and/or in the compressor intake. Besides the power plant, a method to operate such a power plant is an object of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Eribert BENZ, Frank SANDER, Robin PAYNE
  • Publication number: 20150121892
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a power plant including a gas turbine, a heat recovery boiler arrangement with at least a boiler inlet, and an outlet side with a first exit connected to a stack and a second exit connected to a flue gas recirculation, which connects the second exit to the compressor inlet of the gas turbine. The heat recovery boiler arrangement includes a first boiler flue gas path from the boiler inlet to the first boiler exit, and a separate second boiler flue gas path from the boiler inlet to the second boiler exit. Additionally, a supplementary firing and a subsequent catalytic NOx converter are arranged in the first boiler flue gas path. Besides the power plant a method to operate such a power plant is an object of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Eribert BENZ, Klaus DÖBBELING, Michael HOEVEL