Patents by Inventor Hans-Peter Knopfel

Hans-Peter Knopfel 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: 9765975
    Abstract: A combustion chamber of a gas turbine including first and second premixed fuel supply devices connected to a combustion device having first zones connected to the first premixed fuel supply devices and second zones connected to the second premixed fuel supply devices. The second fuel supply devices are shifted along a combustion device longitudinal axis with respect to the first fuel supply devices. The first zones are axially upstream of the second premixed fuel supply devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Hans Peter Knöpfel, Adnan Eroglu
  • Patent number: 9181873
    Abstract: A method is provided for CO2 separation from a combined-cycle power plant with exhaust-gas recirculation and CO2 separation. The hot-gas flow is split into a recirculation flow and an exhaust-gas flow before the final turbine stage in the turbine. A first partial flow remains in the turbine and carries out expansion work in the conventional form, before its waste heat is dissipated, for example in a waste-heat boiler, and the gases are recirculated into the inlet flow of the gas turbine. A second partial flow is diverted before the final turbine stage, and emits its waste heat in an HRSG/heat exchanger, before CO2 is separated from the exhaust-gas flow at an increased pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Jürgen Hoffmann, Hans Peter Knopfel, Hans E. Wettstein
  • Patent number: 8434312
    Abstract: In a method for the low-CO emissions part load operation of a gas turbine with sequential combustion, the air ratio (?) of the operative burners (9) of the second combustor (15) is kept below a maximum air ratio (?max) at part load In order to reduce the maximum air ratio (?), a series of modifications in the operating concept of the gas turbine are carried out individually or in combination. One modification is an opening of the row of variable compressor inlet guide vanes (14) before engaging the second combustor (15). For engaging the second combustor, the row of variable compressor inlet guide vanes (14) is quickly closed and fuel is introduced in a synchronized manner into the burner (9) of the second combustor (15). A further modification is the deactivating of individual burners (9) at part load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Adnan Eroglu, Klaus Knapp, Peter Flohr, Hans Peter Knöpfel, Weiqun Geng
  • Publication number: 20120073305
    Abstract: A combustion chamber of a gas turbine including first and second premixed fuel supply devices connected to a combustion device having first zones connected to the first premixed fuel supply devices and second zones connected to the second premixed fuel supply devices. The second fuel supply devices are shifted along a combustion device longitudinal axis with respect to the first fuel supply devices. The first zones are axially upstream of the second premixed fuel supply devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Hans Peter Knöpfel, Adnan EROGLU
  • Publication number: 20120031101
    Abstract: A method is provided for CO2 separation from a combined-cycle power plant with exhaust-gas recirculation and CO2 separation. The hot-gas flow is split into a recirculation flow and an exhaust-gas flow before the final turbine stage in the turbine. A first partial flow remains in the turbine and carries out expansion work in the conventional form, before its waste heat is dissipated, for example in a waste-heat boiler, and the gases are recirculated into the inlet flow of the gas turbine. A second partial flow is diverted before the final turbine stage, and emits its waste heat in an HRSG/heat exchanger, before CO2 is separated from the exhaust-gas flow at an increased pressure level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Jürgen HOFFMANN, Hans Peter KNOPFEL, Hans E. WETTSTEIN
  • Publication number: 20120017601
    Abstract: In a method for the low-CO emissions part load operation of a gas turbine with sequential combustion, the air ratio (?) of the operative burners (9) of the second combustor (15) is kept below a maximum air ratio (?max) at part load In order to reduce the maximum air ratio (?), a series of modifications in the operating concept of the gas turbine are carried out individually or in combination. One modification is an opening of the row of variable compressor inlet guide vanes (14) before engaging the second combustor (15). For engaging the second combustor, the row of variable compressor inlet guide vanes (14) is quickly closed and fuel is introduced in a synchronized manner into the burner (9) of the second combustor (15). A further modification is the deactivating of individual burners (9) at part load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Adnan Eroglu, Klaus Knapp, Peter Flohr, Hans Peter Knöpfel, Weiqun Geng
  • Patent number: 6155820
    Abstract: In a burner for operating a heat generator, which burner essentially comprises a swirl generator (100), a transition piece (200) arranged downstream of the swirl generator, and a mixing tube (20), transition piece (200) and mixing tube (20) form the mixing section of the burner, this mixing section being arranged upstream of a combustion space (30). In the region of the tangential combustion-air-directing inflow ducts (101b-104b), fuel-directing ducts (121-124), the cross section of flow of which is designed for a low-calorific fuel (116), extend along the swirl generator (100). The fuel-directing ducts (121-124) end at a distance upstream of the transition of the tangential inflow ducts (101b-104b) into an interior space of the swirl generator (100), whereby partial mixing between the two media (115, 117) takes place before the mixture flows into the interior space (118). In addition, this setting-back provides sufficient space for other fuel-directing lines (111-114) in this region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Klaus Dobbeling, Hans Peter Knopfel, Thomas Ruck
  • Patent number: 6152726
    Abstract: A burner for operating a heat generator includes a rotation generator (100) for a combustion air stream (115), a device for injecting at least one fuel (112, 116) into the combustion air stream, a number of transition channels (201) for transferring a flow formed in the rotation generator into a mixing pipe (20) located downstream from these transition channels, and a pilot burner system (300) in the lower part of the mixing pipe (20), in which the pilot burner system (300) is in active connection with rotation generators (400) located at the end side of the mixing pipe (20). The interaction between the pilot burner system and rotation generators ensures maximized flame stability in the combustion chamber (30), and a general minimization of pollutant emissions, while increasing the load range for lower pollutants towards smaller loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Thomas Ruck, Hans-Peter Knopfel
  • Patent number: 6126439
    Abstract: In a premix burner, the swirl-stabilized interior space (18) has a conical inner body (13) running in the direction of flow. The outer casing of the interior space (18) is pierced by tangentially arranged air-inlet ducts (11a, 12a) through which a combustion-air flow (16) flows into the interior space (18). The swirl flow (23) forming in the interior space (18) is enriched with a fuel via at least one fuel lance (17). The mixture of the two media is then formed in the downstream mixing tube (21). The mixing tube (21) then merges into a combustion space (31) via a jump in cross section, a backflow zone (32) forming in the region of the plane of the jump in cross section, which backflow zone (32) ensures the stability of the combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Hans Peter Knopfel, Giacomo Bolis
  • Patent number: 6059565
    Abstract: A burner for operating a heat generator, the burner including a swirl generator for a combustion-air flow and a mechanism for injecting at least one fuel into the combustion-air flow, a mixing section arranged downstream of the swirl generator and having a number of transition passages for passing a flow formed in the swirl generator into a mixing tube arranged downstream of the transition passages. The combustion-air flow into the swirl generator flows against turbulence generators, which are located upstream of the injection of the fuel into the combustion-air flow, and the turbulence generators include individual bars set transversely to the combustion-air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power (Switzereland) Ltd
    Inventors: Hans Peter Knopfel, Thomas Ruck
  • Patent number: 6027331
    Abstract: In a burner for operating a combustion chamber, which burner essentially comprises a swirl generator (100), a transition piece (200) arranged downstream of the swirl generator, and a mixing tube (20), transition piece (200) and mixing tube (20) forming the mixing section of the burner and being arranged upstream of a combustion space (30). The swirl generator (100) itself comprises at least two hollow, conical sectional bodies (140, 141, 142, 143) which are nested one inside the other in the direction of flow, the respective center axes of these sectional bodies running mutually offset in such a way that the adjacent walls of the sectional bodies form inlet ducts (120), tangential in their longitudinal extent, for a combustion-air flow (115).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Klaus Dobbeling, Hans Peter Knopfel, Thomas Ruck
  • Patent number: 6019596
    Abstract: In a burner for operating a combustion chamber, which burner essentially comprises a swirl generator (100), a transition piece (200) arranged downstream of the swirl generator, and a mixing tube (20), transition piece (200) and mixing tube (20) forming the mixing section of the burner and being arranged upstream of a combustion space (30), there are means (302, 303, 304) in the lower region of the mixing tube (20) which bring about cooling of the base plate (305) forming a front wall. The air quantity (307) used here is passed into the flow (40) of the mixing tube (20). A leaner mixing and lower NOx emissions are thereby achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Hans Peter Knopfel, Thomas Ruck
  • Patent number: 6009840
    Abstract: When a boiler plant (100), which is equipped with an air plenum (104), is in operation, during the startup phase the admission pressure in this air plenum (104) is lowered in terms of time and amount via a blowoff device (106) with respect to combustion air (7) and startup air (105) made available from this air plenum (104). The air coefficient to the burner is consequently reduced. This ensures that, by means of such a near-stoichiometric fuel/air mixture, favorable ignition conditions are provided in the burner and the pollutant emissions during the startup phase are greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Jurgen Haumann, Hans Peter Knopfel, Thomas Sattlemayer
  • Patent number: 5961315
    Abstract: In a boiler plant for heat generation, which consists essentially of a combustion space and of a burner acting on the head side of the combustion space, this combustion space is divided into two parts (17,102a) by the insertion of an annular disk (103). A limited internal backflow zone (24) forms in the front part (17) in interaction with this disk (103). This disk (103) then causes external backflow zones (106) fed by recirculated flue gases (30) to form within the front part (17) of the combustion space, the flue gases of said external backflow zones being introduced into the combustion process of the burner, said backflow zones (24, 106) being in each case separated locally from one another. Better flame stabilization, lower pulsations and markedly lower pollutant emissions can thereby be achieved when the burner is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Jurgen Haumann, Hans Peter Knopfel, Thomas Sattelmayer
  • Patent number: 5961313
    Abstract: In a method of operating a swirl-stabilized burner operated with gaseous and/or liquid fuels (12, 16), in which combustion air (7) or a mixture of recycled flue gas (30) and fresh air (29), which mixture is formed by injector delivery, and fuel (12, 16) are intensively mixed by means of a swirl generator (37) and then burned, in the course of which a backflow zone (24), which stabilizes the flame, is formed, starting air (38), which has at least a radial velocity component, is injected during the starting action at the downstream end of the swirl generator (37) in such a way as to be directed from the margin of the burner into the center. The injection of the starting air (38) is switched off after the end of the starting action, so that the burner works in such a way as to be unaffected in normal operation. The invention improves the ignition conditions, increases the flame stabilization, and reduces the pollutant emissions when the burner is being started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Jurgen Haumann, Hans Peter Knopfel, Thomas Sattelmayer
  • Patent number: 5954496
    Abstract: In a burner for operating a combustion chamber, which burner essentially comprises a swirl generator (100) and a mixing section (220) arranged downstream of the swirl generator, this mixing section acting upstream of a combustion chamber (30), the swirl flow induced by the swirl generator (100) is directed via transition passages (201) into the mixing section (220). At the outlet of a mixing tube (20) belonging to the mixing section (220), the burner front (70) of the mixing tube (20) is provided with at least one torus-like notch (71) on the combustion-chamber side. Thus the stability of the backflow zone (50) can be intensified, which has a positive effect on the combustion from all aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Klaus Dobbeling, Hans Peter Knopfel, Donald Frank Walker
  • Patent number: 5954490
    Abstract: A burner for operating a combustion chamber, which burner essentially comprises a swirl generator (100), a transition piece (200) arranged downstream of the swirl generator, and a mixing tube (20), transition piece (200) and mixing tube (20) forming the mixing section of the burner and being arranged upstream of a combustion space (30). At the end of the mixing tube (20) in its region leading out to a downstream combustion space (30), the mixing tube (20) has a first radius (R.sub.1) which runs convexly relative to the burner axis (60). This radius (R.sub.1) merges into a second radius (R.sub.2) which extends up to the outlet plane (70) of the mixing tube (20) and runs concavely relative to the burner axis (60), the covered sector (.beta..sub.1 +.beta..sub.2) of the two radii (R.sub.1, R.sub.2) being 90.degree. at most. With this configuration, enlargement and stabilization of the backflow zone (50) as well as axial orientation of the marginal flow are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Hans Peter Knopfel, Thomas Ruck
  • Patent number: 5954495
    Abstract: In a burner for operating a combustion chamber, which burner essentially comprises a swirl generator (100), a transition piece (200) arranged downstream of the swirl generator, and a mixing tube (20), transition piece (200) and mixing tube (20) forming the mixing section of the burner and being arranged upstream of a combustion space (30), a pilot-burner system (300) is arranged in the lower region of the mixing tube (20), which pilot-burner system (300), at minimized pollutant emissions, stabilizes the flame front, in particular in the transient load ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Hans Peter Knopfel, Thomas Ruck
  • Patent number: 5934555
    Abstract: A pressure atomizer nozzle comprises a nozzle body (30) in which is formed a turbulence and/or swirl chamber (39) and having a nozzle bore (33). At least one first feed channel (41, 41a) for the liquid (37) to be atomized connects to the chamber as a first feed stage for feeding said liquid (37) under pressure. At least one second feed channel (38) connects to the chamber as a second feed stage for feeding part of the liquid (37) to be atomized or for feeding a second liquid (37') to be atomized. The second feed channel feeds liquid into the chamber under pressure and with a swirl. The two stage pressure atomizer nozzle allows, for example, simple adaptation of the fuel spray cone angle to the respective operating conditions of a gas turbine burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Klaus Dobbeling, Peter Jansohn, Hans Peter Knopfel, Christian Steinbach
  • Patent number: 5921766
    Abstract: In a burner of the double-cone design for burning liquid (12) and gaseous fuels (16), the at least two sectional cone bodies (1, 2) overlap at least partly, the overlap angle (.delta.) increasing in the direction of flow of the burner, and the distance between the fuel injectors (15) and the air-inlet plane (21) into the burner increasing simultaneously with the increase in the overlap angle (.delta.). As a result, the air-inlet plane (21) and the fuel-injection plane (22) no longer coincide. Improved premixing of the gaseous fuel (16) with the combustion air is achieved by the invention, which leads to lower NOx emissions of the burner and to lower thermal loading of the burner front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Klaus Dobbeling, Hans Peter Knopfel, Dieter Winkler