Patents by Inventor Martin B. Cutrone

Martin B. Cutrone 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).

  • Catalytic combustor with lean direct injection of gas fuel for low emissions combustion and methods of operation
    Patent number: 5850731
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine includes a diffusion flame combustion zone, a catalytic combustion zone and a post-catalytic combustion zone. At start-up or low-load levels, fuel and compressor discharge air are supplied to the diffusion flame combustion zone to provide combustion products for the turbine. At mid-range operating conditions, the products of combustion from the diffusion flame combustion zone are mixed with additional hydrocarbon fuel for combustion in the presence of a catalyst in the catalytic combustion zone. Because the fuel/air mixture in the catalytic reactor bed is lean, the combustion reaction temperature is too low to produce thermal NO.sub.x. Under high-load conditions, a lean direct injection of fuel/air is provided in a post-catalytic combustion zone where auto ignition occurs with the reactions going to completion in the transition between the combustor and turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Beebe, Stephen L. Hung, Martin B. Cutrone
  • Catalytic combustor with lean direct injection of gas fuel for low emissions combustion and methods of operation
    Patent number: 5826429
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine includes a diffusion flame combustion zone, a catalytic combustion zone and a post-catalytic combustion zone. At start-up or low-load levels, fuel and compressor discharge air are supplied to the diffusion flame combustion zone to provide combustion products for the turbine. At mid-range operating conditions, the products of combustion from the diffusion flame combustion zone are mixed with additional hydrocarbon fuel for combustion in the presence of a catalyst in the catalytic combustion zone. Because the fuel/air mixture in the catalytic reactor bed is lean, the combustion reaction temperature is too low to produce thermal NO.sub.x. Under high-load conditions, a lean direct injection of fuel/air is provided in a post-catalytic combustion zone where auto ignition occurs with the reactions going to completion in the transition between the combustor and turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Beebe, Stephen L. Hung, Martin B. Cutrone