Patents by Inventor George Allen Ellis

George Allen Ellis 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: 8756939
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine comprising at least one shaft. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while the powerplant machine is decelerating from full-speed-no-load (FSNL). Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system of the powerplant machine while the powerplant machine is accelerating to FSNL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, Joseph Robert Law, Bret Stephen Dalton, George Allen Ellis
  • Publication number: 20140150438
    Abstract: A system for operating a thermal power plant during off-peak demand intervals includes a gas turbine having a compressor, a combustor connected to a fuel control system, a turbine and a sensor configured to sense ambient conditions around the gas turbine. The fuel control system and the sensor are in communication with a controller. The controller is configured to receive a user input that corresponds to a value for an operational boundary condition of the thermal power plant and to monitor ambient conditions through the sensor. The controller is further configured to generate a predicted emissions level value for the gas turbine based on the monitored ambient conditions and to generate a command signal to adjust at least one operational parameter of the gas turbine based at least in part on the predicted emissions level value and the value of the operational boundary condition of the thermal power plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George Allen Ellis, Jonathan Carl Thatcher, Robert Walter Arnold, Michael John Mariani, Chad Ernest Findlay
  • Patent number: 8661880
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system associated with multiple powerplant machines of a powerplant. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while at least one of the powerplant machines is in the process of shutting down. Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system by adjusting the speed of a shaft while at least one of the powerplant machines operates at full-speed-no-load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, George Allen Ellis, Steven Michael Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8365583
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine comprising a shaft and integrated with a safety control system. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while the powerplant machine is in the process of shutting down. Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system of the powerplant machine by adjusting the speed of a shaft while operating at full-speed-no-load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, Bret Stephen Dalton, Jay Lynn Johnson, George Allen Ellis
  • Patent number: 8370100
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of determining when to test an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine. As described herein, embodiments of the present invention may be applied to a wide variety of powerplant machines, each comprising a shaft. After determining that test of the overspeed protection system should be performed, embodiments of the present invention may allow for a variety of methods to test the overspeed protection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, Joseph Robert Law, Bret Stephen Dalton, George Allen Ellis
  • Publication number: 20110238358
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of determining when to test an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine. As described herein, embodiments of the present invention may be applied to a wide variety of powerplant machines, each comprising a shaft. After determining that test of the overspeed protection system should be performed, embodiments of the present invention may allow for a variety of methods to test the overspeed protection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, Joseph Robert Law, Bret Stephen Dalton, George Allen Ellis
  • Publication number: 20110232259
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine comprising a shaft and integrated with a safety control system. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while the powerplant machine is in the process of shutting down. Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system of the powerplant machine by adjusting the speed of a shaft while operating at full-speed-no-load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, Bret Stephen Dalton, Jay Lynn Johnson, George Allen Ellis
  • Publication number: 20110232258
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system associated with multiple powerplant machines of a powerplant. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while at least one of the powerplant machines is in the process of shutting down. Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system by adjusting the speed of a shaft while at least one of the powerplant machines operates at full-speed-no-load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, George Allen Ellis, Steven Michael Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20110232297
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine comprising at least one shaft. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while the powerplant machine is decelerating from full-speed-no-load (FSNL). Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system of the powerplant machine while the powerplant machine is accelerating to FSNL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, Joseph Robert Law, Bret Stephen Dalton, George Allen Ellis