Patents by Inventor Jean-Francois Lebel

Jean-Francois Lebel 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: 10036317
    Abstract: One example of a gas turbine engine can include a first compressor and a first turbine connected to the first compressor by a first shaft. The engine can include a reheat combustor, which is disposed downstream of the first turbine, and a second turbine, which is disposed downstream of the reheat combustor. The engine can further include a second compressor, which is connected to the second turbine by a second shaft and is disposed upstream of the first compressor. The first and second turbines can be disconnected from one another, and the first and second compressors can be disconnected from one another. The second compressor may have an outlet including a flow to the first compressor, such that the first and second turbines provide a shaft worksplit. The reheat combustor can be configured to receive fuel and generate a reheat exit temperature, so as to control an apparent capacity of the second turbine based on a plurality of parameters of the second compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TURBINE COMPANY (UK) LIMITED
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Lebel
  • Patent number: 9885251
    Abstract: A method of modulating the cooling of a gas turbine component is disclosed. The method includes determining a target component temperature at which the gas turbine component can be maintained without the gas turbine component experiencing a failure over the course of an indicated life of the gas turbine component; scheduling a cooling air value to the target component temperature; and determining one or more of a demanded cooling air temperature and a demanded cooling air mass flow rate based on the scheduled cooling air value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Lebel, Alex Davies, Frank Haselbach, Paul Fletcher
  • Patent number: 9624829
    Abstract: One example of a gas turbine engine may include a gas generator, a reheat combustor that is disposed downstream of the gas generator, and a power turbine that is disposed downstream of the reheat combustor and includes a plurality of nozzle guide vanes. The reheat combustor is configured to increase a fuel flow so as to increase a temperature of the reheat combustor and match a required exhaust temperature. The nozzle guide vanes are configured to increase a real capacity at a power turbine inlet in proportion with the required exhaust temperature. A constant apparent capacity at a gas generator exit upstream of the reheat combustor remains constant, in response to proportionately increasing the temperature and the real capacity with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TURBINE COMPANY (UK) LIMITED
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Lebel, Carl Carson
  • Publication number: 20140271119
    Abstract: A method of modulating the cooling of a gas turbine component is disclosed. The method includes determining a target component temperature at which the gas turbine component can be maintained without the gas turbine component experiencing a failure over the course of an indicated life of the gas turbine component; scheduling a cooling air value to the target component temperature; and determining one or more of a demanded cooling air temperature and a demanded cooling air mass flow rate based on the scheduled cooling air value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce PLC, Rolls-Royce Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Lebel, Alex Davies, Frank Haselbach, Paul Fletcher
  • Publication number: 20140250903
    Abstract: One example of a gas turbine engine may include a gas generator, a reheat combustor that is disposed downstream of the gas generator, and a power turbine that is disposed downstream of the reheat combustor and includes a plurality of nozzle guide vanes. The reheat combustor is configured to increase a fuel flow so as to increase a temperature of the reheat combustor and match a required exhaust temperature. The nozzle guide vanes are configured to increase a real capacity at a power turbine inlet in proportion with the required exhaust temperature. A constant apparent capacity at a gas generator exit upstream of the reheat combustor remains constant, in response to proportionately increasing the temperature and the real capacity with respect to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Lebel, Carl Carson
  • Publication number: 20140250904
    Abstract: One example of a gas turbine engine can include a first compressor and a first turbine connected to the first compressor by a first shaft. The engine can include a reheat combustor, which is disposed downstream of the first turbine, and a second turbine, which is disposed downstream of the reheat combustor. The engine can further include a second compressor, which is connected to the second turbine by a second shaft and is disposed upstream of the first compressor. The first and second turbines can be disconnected from one another, and the first and second compressors can be disconnected from one another. The second compressor may have an outlet including a flow to the first compressor, such that the first and second turbines provide a shaft worksplit. The reheat combustor can be configured to receive fuel and generate a reheat exit temperature, so as to control an apparent capacity of the second turbine based on a plurality of parameters of the second compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Lebel
  • Publication number: 20070021899
    Abstract: A method for operating a multi-stage combustor of a gas turbine engine comprises: (a) determining a combustor air entry temperature; (b) determining the combustor air entry flow rate; and (c) controlling the fuel split ratio to stages of the combustor on the basis of the combustor air entry flow rate and the combustor air entry temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Ian Griffin, Arthur Rowe, Andrew Stevenson, Jean-Francois Lebel, Caroline Mohamed, Timofei Breikin, David Sherwood