Patents by Inventor Kevin Widener

Kevin Widener 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).

  • Publication number: 20180355750
    Abstract: A passive flow modulation device according to an embodiment includes: a pressure sensitive main valve controlling a flow of a cooling fluid from a first area to a second area through an orifice; and a temperature sensitive pilot valve coupled to the pressure sensitive main valve, the temperature sensitive pilot valve configured to open at a predetermined temperature in the first area, causing a pressurization of the pressure sensitive main valve, wherein the pressurization of the pressure sensitive main valve actuates the pressure sensitive main valve to an open position, allowing the cooling fluid to flow from the first area to the second area through the orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Carlos Miguel Miranda, Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10107498
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide injection systems for fuel and air. According to one embodiment, an injection system can include a mixing zone embedded within a surface of a turbine nozzle and positioned between a first outlet and a second outlet, the turbine nozzle separating a combustor of a power generation system from a turbine stage of the power generation system, wherein the first outlet is oriented substantially in opposition to the second outlet; a first injection conduit for delivering a carrier gas to the mixing zone through the first outlet; and a second injection conduit for delivering a fuel to the mixing zone through a second outlet; wherein the carrier gas and the fuel intermix within the mixing zone upon leaving the first injection conduit and the second injection conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 10094569
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising: a reaction chamber positioned between a first turbine stage of a power generation system and a turbine stage of the power generation system, wherein the turbine stage comprises a turbine nozzle and a turbine blade row; a plurality of injectors positioned on a wall of the reaction chamber; and a conduit in fluid communication with the plurality of injectors, wherein the conduit delivers at least one of fuel from a fuel supply line to the reaction chamber through the plurality of injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman, Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10094571
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus including: a first injector located on a surface of a turbine nozzle of a turbine stage positioned downstream of a reheat combustor, wherein the turbine stage includes the turbine nozzle and a turbine blade row; a second injector located on a wall of the reheat combustor; and at least one conduit in fluid communication with each of the first injector and the second injector, wherein the at least one conduit delivers at least one of a fuel from a fuel supply line and a carrier gas to an aft section of the reheat combustor through at least one of the first injector and the second injector, and wherein the aft section is positioned downstream of a combustion reaction zone in the reheat combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman, Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10094570
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus including: an injector in fluid communication with an aft section of a reheat combustor in a power generation system, the aft section being positioned downstream of a combustion reaction zone in the reheat combustor, and positioned upstream of a turbine stage of the power generation system, wherein the turbine stage includes a turbine nozzle and a turbine blade row; and a conduit in fluid communication with the injector, wherein the conduit delivers at least one of a fuel from a fuel supply line and a carrier gas to the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman, Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10087844
    Abstract: A bundled tube fuel nozzle assembly includes a fuel injector and a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes that provide for fluid communication through a forward plate, a fuel plenum and an aft plate of the bundled tube fuel nozzle assembly. Each tube includes an inlet defined at an upstream end of the tube and an outlet defined at a downstream end of the tube. The fuel injector is disposed upstream from the inlets of each of the tubes. The upstream end of each tube is noncircular and includes at least one side portion that abuts a complementary upstream end side portion of an immediately adjacent tube of the plurality of tubes. The downstream end of each tube may be circular and is spaced apart from the downstream ends of immediately adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael John Hughes, Stanley Kevin Widener, Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Publication number: 20180266330
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine including a primary compressor, a combustion section disposed downstream from the primary compressor and a turbine disposed downstream from the combustion section. A pipe assembly defines an extraction-air circuit between an extraction port of the primary compressor and an inlet port of the turbine. The gas turbine further includes an extraction-air conditioning system. The extraction-air conditioning system includes a secondary compressor having an inlet and an outlet. Both the inlet and the outlet are fluidly coupled to the extraction-air circuit at respective locations defined along the pipe assembly between the extraction port of the primary compressor and the inlet port of the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Publication number: 20180216827
    Abstract: A flow modulator for a fuel nozzle, including: a fixed outer tube, the fixed outer tube including a set of apertures; a movable inner tube concentrically positioned within the fixed outer tube, the movable inner tube including a set of apertures; and a pneumatically actuated component for displacing the movable inner tube within the fixed outer tube to selectively align the set of apertures of the fixed outer tube with the set of apertures of the movable inner tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventor: Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Publication number: 20180216539
    Abstract: A bypass valve for a combustor, including: a housing; an opening in the housing; a pneumatically actuated component within the housing; a passage coupling the opening in the housing and a duct of the combustor; a chamber formed by the housing and the pneumatically actuated component, the chamber containing a volume of air; and a control valve for controlling a pressure within the chamber to selectively displace the pneumatically actuated component to open and close the passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, Carlos Miguel Miranda
  • Publication number: 20180135532
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine, including: a fuel nozzle; and a passively-actuated valve for selectively directing a supply of fuel to at least one fuel passage in the fuel nozzle based on a characteristic of the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, Carlos Miguel Miranda
  • Publication number: 20180135531
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine, including: an axial fuel stage fuel injector; and a passively-actuated valve for selectively directing a supply of fuel to the axial fuel stage fuel injector based on a characteristic of the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, Carlos Miguel Miranda
  • Publication number: 20180051882
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine, including: a combustor chamber; a casing enclosing the combustor chamber and defining an area therebetween for passing compressor discharge air into the combustor chamber for use in combustion; and at least one passive bypass valve for selectively extracting a portion of the compressor discharge air from the area between the combustor chamber and the casing to adjust a temperature in the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, Carlos Miguel Miranda
  • Publication number: 20170299187
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an integrated combustor nozzle for a segmented annular combustion system. The integrated combustor nozzle includes an outer liner segment, an inner liner segment, and a fuel injection panel extending radially between the outer liner segment and the inner liner segment. The fuel injection panel includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a plurality of premixing channels between the first and second side walls, each of the premixing channels having an outlet on one of the first and second side walls. The aft end of the fuel injection panel defines a turbine nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Stanley Kevin Widener, Michael John Hughes, Matthew Troy Hafner, Joseph Vincent Citeno
  • Publication number: 20170276357
    Abstract: A segmented annular combustion system includes integrated combustor nozzles, each of which has a fuel injection panel disposed radially between an inner liner segment and an outer liner segment. The fuel injection panel includes an aft end portion, a first side wall, a second side wall, premixing channels defined between the first side wall and the side wall, and injection outlets defined along at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall. The aft end portion defines a turbine nozzle portion. An interior portion between the first side wall and the second side wall includes walls that extend between the first and second side walls, thereby partitioning the interior portion into discrete air cavities. The air cavities and the liner segments may be cooled by impingement inserts or panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Stanley Kevin Widener, Michael John Hughes
  • Publication number: 20170276369
    Abstract: A segmented annular combustion system includes an alternating arrangement of fuel nozzles and integrated combustor nozzles. The fuel nozzles deliver fuel to the primary combustion zones. The integrated combustor nozzles include an inner liner segment, an outer liner segment, and a fuel injection panel extending between the liner segments. The fuel injection panel includes injection outlets on one or both side walls to deliver a combustible mixture to the secondary combustion zones. Each fuel injection panel, which provides a boundary between adjacent primary and secondary combustion zones, includes an aft end that defines a turbine nozzle. The segmented annular combustion system is part of a gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Stanley Kevin Widener, Michael John Hughes, James Scott Flanagan, Joseph Vincent Citeno, Kevin Weston McMahan
  • Publication number: 20170276366
    Abstract: A segmented annular combustion system with dual fuel capability includes an alternating arrangement of fuel injection modules and integrated combustor nozzles. The fuel injection module includes a bundled tube fuel nozzle portion and fuel injection lances, which are fluidly coupled via conduits to respective fuel plenums. A liquid fuel cartridge is disposed within the bundled tube fuel nozzle portion, within one of the plurality of fuel injection lances, or within both the bundled tube fuel nozzle portion and one of the plurality of fuel injection lances. A gas turbine having the segmented annular combustion system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Stanley Kevin Widener, Michael John Hughes, James Scott Flanagan
  • Publication number: 20170191373
    Abstract: A passive flow modulation device according to an embodiment includes: a temperature sensitive element disposed within a first area; a piston coupled to the temperature sensitive element, the piston extending through a wall to a second area, wherein the first area is at a higher temperature than the second area; and a valve arrangement disposed in the second area and actuated by a distal end portion of the piston, the valve arrangement tangentially injecting a supply of cooling air through an angled orifice from the second area into the first area in response an increase in temperature in the first area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Carlos Miguel Miranda, Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Publication number: 20170138267
    Abstract: A bundled tube fuel nozzle assembly includes a fuel injector and a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes that provide for fluid communication through a forward plate, a fuel plenum and an aft plate of the bundled tube fuel nozzle assembly. Each tube includes an inlet defined at an upstream end of the tube and an outlet defined at a downstream end of the tube. The fuel injector is disposed upstream from the inlets of each of the tubes. The upstream end of each tube is noncircular and includes at least one side portion that abuts a complementary upstream end side portion of an immediately adjacent tube of the plurality of tubes. The downstream end of each tube may be circular and is spaced apart from the downstream ends of immediately adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Michael John Hughes, Stanley Kevin Widener, Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Publication number: 20160169520
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus including: a first injector located on a surface of a turbine nozzle of a turbine stage positioned downstream of a reheat combustor, wherein the turbine stage includes the turbine nozzle and a turbine blade row; a second injector located on a wall of the reheat combustor; and at least one conduit in fluid communication with each of the first injector and the second injector, wherein the at least one conduit delivers at least one of a fuel from a fuel supply line and a carrier gas to an aft section of the reheat combustor through at least one of the first injector and the second injector, and wherein the aft section is positioned downstream of a combustion reaction zone in the reheat combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman, Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Publication number: 20160169518
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising: a reaction chamber positioned between a first turbine stage of a power generation system and a turbine stage of the power generation system, wherein the turbine stage comprises a turbine nozzle and a turbine blade row; a plurality of injectors positioned on a wall of the reaction chamber; and a conduit in fluid communication with the plurality of injectors, wherein the conduit delivers at least one of fuel from a fuel supply line to the reaction chamber through the plurality of injectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, JR., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman, Stanley Kevin Widener