Patents by Inventor Eric J. Kress

Eric J. Kress 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: 6983605
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a combustor system including a lean premix combustor and a water delivery system. The combustor is operable with a fuel/air mixture equivalence ratio less than one and the water delivery system is configured to supply at least one of water or steam to the gas turbine engine such that either the water or the steam is injected into the combustor to control emissions generated by the combustor. As a result, nitrous oxide emissions for specified turbine operating power levels are lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard B. Hook, John M. Davidson, Eric J. Kress, Jack W. Smith, Jr., James W. Stegmaier, Paul V. Heberling, David B. Patterson
  • Patent number: 6385960
    Abstract: An operating system includes a fuel and control sub-system which includes a main gas circuit, a start gas circuit, a dual fuel nozzle, and a plurality of metering valves. The fuel and control sub-system is configured to transition the operation of the engine from operating with a start gas having a high heating value to using a main gas having a low heating value. The sub-system is further configured to inject water into the gas turbine and permits a user to adjust an overall fuel heating value to improve flammability limits and avoid regions of combustor acoustics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric J. Kress, Curtis L. Brown, Douglas M. Fortuna
  • Patent number: 5865024
    Abstract: A dual fuel mixer is disclosed as including a mixing duct having an upstream end, a downstream end, and a centerline axis therethrough, where the mixing duct has a circular cross-section defined by a wall. A shroud surrounds the upstream end of the mixing duct and contains therein a gas manifold in flow communication with a gas fuel supply and control. A set of inner and outer annular counter-rotating swirlers are located adjacent the upstream end of the mixing duct for imparting swirl to an air stream. The outer annular swirler includes hollow vanes with internal cavities which are in flow communication with the gas manifold, the outer swirler vanes also having a plurality of gas fuel passages therethrough in flow communication with the internal cavities to inject gas fuel into the air stream. A hub is provided for separating the inner and outer annular swirlers to allow independent rotation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric J. Kress, Narendra D. Joshi
  • Patent number: 5351477
    Abstract: A dual fuel mixer is disclosed having a mixing duct, a shroud surrounding the upstream end of the mixing duct having contained therein a gas fuel manifold and a liquid fuel manifold in flow communication with a gas fuel supply and a liquid fuel supply, respectively, and control means, a set of inner and outer annular counter-rotating swirlers adjacent the upstream end of the mixing duct, where at least the outer annular swirlers include hollow vanes with internal cavities and gas fuel passages, all of which are in fluid communication with the gas fuel manifold to inject gas fuel into the air stream, the vane cavities also having liquid fuel passages therethrough in fluid communication with the liquid fuel manifold, and a hub separating the inner and outer annular swirlers to allow independent rotation thereof, the hub having a circumferential slot in fluid communication with the liquid fuel passages which injects liquid fuel into the air stream, wherein high pressure air from a compressor is injected into the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Narendra D. Joshi, Eric J. Kress
  • Patent number: 5321951
    Abstract: A carburetor for the combustor of a gas turbine engine wherein a swirler and a venturi cooperate to atomize and mix air and fuel for the combustor, wherein a downstream mounted integrally formed sleeve and splash plate is provided to control the flow of the air/fuel mixture into the combustor. The integral splash plate and sleeve has protuberances formed on its upstream surface to increase the area impinged by cooling air and thereby enhance cooling of the splash plate flange thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen W. Falls, Eric J. Kress, Joseph F. Savelli, James N. Cooper, Byron A. Pritchard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5289687
    Abstract: A double annular combustor having concentrically disposed inner and outer annular combustors is provided with inner and outer domes. A one-piece cowl is provided upstream of the inner and outer domes in order to form a high pressure region. The one-piece cowl has an inner annular portion, an outer annular portion, and a radial middle portion connecting the inner and outer annular portions. The inner and outer annular portions include scalloped areas therein to facilitate insertion and removal of fuel tubes and nozzles. The cowl middle portion includes a shield to isolate the scalloped areas and the fuel tube from the high pressure region, thereby preventing leakage of air flow and consequential pressure loss from the high pressure region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric J. Kress, Joseph F. Savelli, David W. Parry, John M. Koshoffer