Patents by Inventor Laxmikant Merchant
Laxmikant Merchant 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).
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Patent number: 11761407Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) mixer for use in a power generation system is provided. The EGR mixer includes a mixing chamber defining a flow direction and a working fluid inlet coupled with the mixing chamber for introducing a working fluid into the mixing chamber along the flow direction. The EGR mixer also includes exhaust gas injection ducts extending across the mixing chamber downstream from the working fluid inlet. Each of the exhaust gas injection ducts is oriented to receive exhaust gases being recirculated within the power generation system and to inject the exhaust gases into the mixing chamber in a direction that intersects the flow direction to generate a turbulent flow within the mixing chamber. The EGR mixer also includes an outlet coupled with the mixing chamber for directing a mixture of the exhaust gases and the working fluid to a compressor within the power generation system.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Laxmikant Merchant
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Publication number: 20230243500Abstract: An exhaust plume control structure includes a mounting member configured to mount to an exhaust flow source. A diverter member is coupled to the mounting member to radially direct an initial exhaust flow exiting from the exhaust flow source radially outward. A plurality of peripherally spaced, radially extending vanes are coupled to the mounting member and radially outward of the diverter member to separate the radially outward directed initial exhaust flow into a plurality of additional exhaust flows. Each vane has a radially diverging cross-section. Each of the plurality of additional exhaust flows has a same radial exit velocity. The structure reduces exhaust flow velocity and may provide back pressure to the initial exhaust flow. The structure has a sound power level of less than 115 dBA. A power generating plant including the structure is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2022Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Etienne Marie Luc Mangin, Laxmikant Merchant
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Publication number: 20230193825Abstract: An inlet filter housing includes a plurality of components that collectively form a complete filtering and conditioning system for filtering and conditioning a fluid along a housing flow path. Each component is fitted within an external structure of an International Organization of Standards (ISO) shipping container, which provides a rectangular cuboid enclosure. Each component includes operative structure of at least one of: a) only a portion of an axial extent of the filtering and conditioning system, and b) only a portion of a lateral cross-sectional area of the housing flow path.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Laxmikant Merchant, Dinesh Venugopal Setty, Mukesh Niddodi Kamath, Prithviraj Pandian
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Publication number: 20230160479Abstract: A three-way valve for a liquid fuel supply system includes a housing defining a liquid fuel inlet, a purge gas inlet, and at least one drain port. The liquid fuel inlet is sized to receive liquid fuel therethrough for selectively channeling the liquid fuel to a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The purge gas inlet is sized to receive purge gas therethrough for selectively purging liquid fuel from said three-way valve. The at least one drain port is oriented to selectively channel liquid fuel from said three-way valve when purge gas is purging liquid fuel from said three-way valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2021Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventors: Jeevankumar Krishnan, Laxmikant Merchant, Anil Kumar Dasoji, Rajarshi Saha
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Publication number: 20220357249Abstract: The present application provides a hazardous gas detection system to determine hazardous gas concentrations and/or temperatures within a flow of exhaust air in an exhaust duct of a gas turbine compartment. The hazardous gas detection system may include one or more sensors positioned within or in communication with the exhaust duct and a static mixer positioned upstream of the one or more sensors to promote mixing of the flow of exhaust air.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: Laxmikant MERCHANT, Abhishek MISHRA
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Patent number: 11473501Abstract: An anti-icing system for a gas turbine system includes multiple nozzle assemblies. Each nozzle assembly of the multiple nozzle assemblies includes a nozzle having one or more outlets that are configured to inject a heated fluid in a radially outward direction and a cap having an annular wall that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the nozzle. The cap is configured to direct the heated fluid to flow in an upstream direction into an airflow to facilitate mixing of the heated fluid with the airflow.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Francisco Gomez, Laxmikant Merchant
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Patent number: 11459951Abstract: An anti-icing system for a gas turbine system includes multiple nozzles, wherein each nozzle of the multiple nozzles includes one or more outlets that are configured to inject a heated fluid into an airflow within an air intake conduit. The anti-icing system also includes multiple plates disposed upstream of the one or more outlets, wherein each plate of the multiple plates extends laterally across the air intake conduit and is vertically spaced apart from one or more adjacent plates to define one or more vertically-extending gaps. The multiple plates are configured to direct the airflow through the one or more vertically-extending gaps to spread the airflow upstream of the one or more outlets to facilitate mixing of the heated fluid and the airflow.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Francisco Gomez, Laxmikant Merchant
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Publication number: 20220195922Abstract: An anti-icing system for a gas turbine system includes multiple nozzle assemblies. Each nozzle assembly of the multiple nozzle assemblies includes a nozzle having one or more outlets that are configured to inject a heated fluid in a radially outward direction and a cap having an annular wall that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the nozzle. The cap is configured to direct the heated fluid to flow in an upstream direction into an airflow to facilitate mixing of the heated fluid with the airflow.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Francisco Gomez, Laxmikant Merchant
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Publication number: 20220195921Abstract: An anti-icing system for a gas turbine system includes multiple nozzles, wherein each nozzle of the multiple nozzles includes one or more outlets that are configured to inject a heated fluid into an airflow within an air intake conduit. The anti-icing system also includes multiple plates disposed upstream of the one or more outlets, wherein each plate of the multiple plates extends laterally across the air intake conduit and is vertically spaced apart from one or more adjacent plates to define one or more vertically-extending gaps. The multiple plates are configured to direct the airflow through the one or more vertically-extending gaps to spread the airflow upstream of the one or more outlets to facilitate mixing of the heated fluid and the airflow.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Francisco Gomez, Laxmikant Merchant
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Patent number: 11319877Abstract: An inlet bleed heat (IBH) system for use in a turbine engine including a silencer assembly. The inlet bleed heat (IBH) system includes a feed pipe for delivering compressor discharge air. The feed pipe includes a plurality of orifices along at least a portion of a length of the feed pipe, and each orifice of the plurality of orifices extends through a wall of the feed pipe for allowing the compressor discharge air to exit the feed pipe. The system also includes a heat shielding component that extends across the feed pipe, wherein the heat shielding component is configured to reduce heat transfer between the feed pipe and the silencer assembly of the turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin, Bradly Aaron Kippel, Laxmikant Merchant, Hua Zhang, Naveen Parmeshwar
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Publication number: 20220082051Abstract: An inlet filter housing includes a plurality of components that collectively form a complete filtering and conditioning system for filtering and conditioning a fluid along a housing flow path. Each component is fitted within an external structure of an International Organization of Standards (ISO) shipping container, which provides a rectangular cuboid enclosure. Each component includes operative structure of at least one of: a) only a portion of an axial extent of the filtering and conditioning system, and b) only a portion of a lateral cross-sectional area of the housing flow path.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2020Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Laxmikant Merchant, Dinesh Venugopal Setty, Mukesh Niddodi Kamath, Prithviraj Pandian
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Patent number: 11248610Abstract: A liquid injection apparatus for use with a compressor having a rotor shaft and a casing part is provided. The liquid injection apparatus includes at least one conduit and at least one nozzle coupled to the conduit(s). The liquid injection apparatus is panel-shaped and has a first panel segment, a second panel segment, and at least one of: a passage defined between the first panel segment and the second panel segment, the passage sized to receive at least one of the rotor shaft and the casing part; and a third panel segment positioned between the first panel segment and the second panel segment. The third panel segment is at least in part detachable from the first panel segment and/or the second panel segment for receiving at least one of the rotor shaft and the casing part between the first panel segment and the second panel segment.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Laxmikant Merchant, Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin, Jeffrey Patrick Mills, Divya Reddy Kothakapu, Weilun Yu, Joshua Adam Bagwell
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Patent number: 11207716Abstract: A system includes a fluid distribution system. The fluid distribution system includes a first water wash nozzle configured to spray a wash fluid into an intake flow received through a bell mouth of a compressor during operation of the compressor in a water wash mode. The first water wash nozzle includes a first inlet end coupled to the bell mouth of the compressor, a first tip disposed opposite the first inlet end, and a first body of the first water wash nozzle extending from the first inlet end to the first tip toward an axis of the compressor. The first water was nozzle further includes a first outlet disposed at the first tip and configured to spray a first portion of the wash fluid into the intake flow during operation of the compressor in the water wash mode and a second outlet disposed along the first body and configured to spray a second portion of the wash fluid into the intake flow during operation of the compressor in the water wash mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2018Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Karthik Mantravadi, Srinivas Avishetti, Shubhra Bhatnagar, Laxmikant Merchant, Joshua Adam Bagwell
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Publication number: 20210262363Abstract: An exhaust plume control structure includes a mounting member configured to mount to an exhaust flow source. At least one divider member operatively couples to the mounting member and is positioned in fluid communication with the exhaust flow source. A diverter member operatively couples to the divider member(s) to radially direct an initial exhaust flow from the exhaust plume towards the divider member(s). Each divider member separates the initial exhaust flow into a plurality of exhaust flows. A number of peripherally spaced, radially extending vanes may also separate the exhaust flows into additional exhaust flows. Each of the additional exhaust flows has a slower velocity than the initial exhaust flow. The structure reduces exhaust flow velocity and may provide back pressure to the initial exhaust flow. A power generating plant including the structure is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2020Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Laxmikant Merchant, Sheo Narain Giri
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Patent number: 11022038Abstract: A system includes a fluid distribution system. The fluid distribution system includes multiple spray rings disposed upstream of an inlet of a compressor. The multiple spray rings include a first spray ring disposed about an axis of the compressor in a first plane substantially perpendicular to the axis. The first spray ring includes a first set of nozzles disposed about the axis and configured to spray a first fluid flow toward the compressor inlet. The multiple spray rings further include a second spray ring disposed about the axis of the compressor in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the axis. The second spray ring includes a second set of nozzles disposed about the axis and configured to spray a second fluid flow toward the compressor inlet. The first plane is different than the second plane.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2017Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Laxmikant Merchant, Hua Zhang, Joseph Anthony Cotroneo, Francesco Soranna
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Patent number: 10968828Abstract: An anti-icing system for a gas turbine system includes multiple nozzles arranged in a grid and configured to inject fluid within an air intake system of the gas turbine system upstream of a filter to keep ice from forming on the filter. Each nozzle of the multiple nozzles includes multiple orifices for injecting the fluid via jets. The anti-icing system also includes a nozzle head coupled to a nozzle of the multiple nozzles. The nozzle head is disposed over the multiple orifices and is configured to rotate relative to the nozzle. The nozzle head includes at least one outlet for injecting the fluid from the jets via at least one jet.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2019Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Laxmikant Merchant
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Publication number: 20210025326Abstract: An inlet bleed heat (IBH) system for use in a turbine engine including a silencer assembly. The inlet bleed heat (IBH) system includes a feed pipe for delivering compressor discharge air. The feed pipe includes a plurality of orifices along at least a portion of a length of the feed pipe, and each orifice of the plurality of orifices extends through a wall of the feed pipe for allowing the compressor discharge air to exit the feed pipe. The system also includes a heat shielding component that extends across the feed pipe, wherein the heat shielding component is configured to reduce heat transfer between the feed pipe and the silencer assembly of the turbine engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin, Bradly Aaron Kippel, Laxmikant Merchant, Hua Zhang, Naveen Parmeshwar
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Patent number: 10883387Abstract: A gas turbine system includes an exhaust processing system that may process exhaust gas generated by a gas turbine engine, the exhaust processing system includes an exhaust diffuser that may receive the exhaust gas from a turbine of the gas turbine engine and having an annular passage disposed between an inner annular wall and an outer annular wall, and an air injection assembly disposed within the exhaust diffuser. The air injection assembly includes one or more air injection conduits disposed within the annular passage of the exhaust diffuser and including fluid injection holes that may direct a cooling fluid into a first mixing region of the exhaust diffuser.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2016Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hua Zhang, Laxmikant Merchant, Bradly Aaron Kippel, Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin
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Patent number: 10801406Abstract: An inlet bleed heat (IBH) system for use in a turbine engine including a silencer assembly. The inlet bleed heat (IBH) system includes a feed pipe for delivering compressor discharge air. The feed pipe includes a plurality of orifices along at least a portion of a length of the feed pipe, and each orifice of the plurality of orifices extends through a wall of the feed pipe for allowing the compressor discharge air to exit the feed pipe. The system also includes a heat shielding component that extends across the feed pipe, wherein the heat shielding component is configured to reduce heat transfer between the feed pipe and the silencer assembly of the turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin, Bradly Aaron Kippel, Laxmikant Merchant, Hua Zhang, Naveen Parmeshwar
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Publication number: 20200284193Abstract: An anti-icing system for a gas turbine system includes multiple nozzles arranged in a grid and configured to inject fluid within an air intake system of the gas turbine system upstream of a filter to keep ice from forming on the filter. Each nozzle of the multiple nozzles includes multiple orifices for injecting the fluid via jets. The anti-icing system also includes a nozzle head coupled to a nozzle of the multiple nozzles. The nozzle head is disposed over the multiple orifices and is configured to rotate relative to the nozzle. The nozzle head includes at least one outlet for injecting the fluid from the jets via at least one jet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2019Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventor: Laxmikant Merchant