Patents by Inventor Michael Anthony Cocca

Michael Anthony Cocca 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: 10626755
    Abstract: A system includes a controller communicatively coupled to a compressor. The controller is configured to sense an exhaust temperature of a gas turbine system fluidly coupled to the compressor and derive a setpoint based on the sensed exhaust temperature. The controller is also configured to actuate an inlet bleed heat valve based on the derived setpoint and an ambient temperature. The inlet bleed heat valve directs a compressor fluid from the compressor into a fluid intake system fluidly coupled to the compressor upstream of the compressor and configured to intake a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Julio Enrique Mestroni, George Vargese Mathai, Michael Anthony Cocca
  • Patent number: 10544739
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a compressor protection subsystem; a hibernation mode subsystem; and a control subsystem that controls the compressor subsystem and the hibernation subsystem. At partial loads on the turbine system, the compressor protection subsystem maintains an air flow through a compressor at an airflow coefficient for the partial load above a minimum flow rate coefficient where aeromechanical stresses occur in the compressor. The air fuel ratio in a combustor is maintained where exhaust gas emission components from the turbine are maintained below a predetermined component emission level while operating at partial loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Michael Anthony Cocca, Thomas John Freeman, Michael Wesley Yarnold, Ryan Eric Obenhoff, Sanji Ekanayake, Douglas Corbin Warwick, Joseph Philip Klosinski
  • Patent number: 9970354
    Abstract: A power plant includes a compressor, a combustor downstream from the compressor and a turbine disposed downstream from the combustor. The compressor includes a compressor extraction port. The turbine includes a turbine extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and which provides a flow path for a stream of combustion gas to flow out of the turbine. An exhaust duct is disposed downstream from the turbine and receives exhaust gas from the turbine. An ejector coupled to the turbine extraction port and to the compressor extraction port cools the stream of combustion gas upstream from the exhaust duct. The cooled combustion gas flows into the exhaust duct at a higher temperature than the exhaust gas and mixes with the exhaust gas within the exhaust duct to provide a heated exhaust gas mixture to a heat exchanger downstream from the exhaust duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Michael Anthony Cocca, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Patent number: 9964035
    Abstract: A power plant includes a turbine having a plurality of turbine stages and an extraction port in fluid communication with one or more of the turbine stages. The extraction port provides a flow path for a stream of combustion gas to flow out of the turbine. An exhaust duct is disposed downstream from the turbine and receives exhaust gas from the turbine. The exhaust duct is fluid communication with the extraction port. A coolant injection system injects a coolant into the stream of combustion gas to provide cooled combustion gas to the exhaust duct. The cooled combustion gas flows into the exhaust duct at a temperature that is higher than a temperature of the exhaust gas, thereby increasing the temperature of the exhaust gas within the exhaust duct. The increase in thermal energy may be used to produce steam downstream from the exhaust duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Michael Anthony Cocca, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Jason Brian Shaffer
  • Patent number: 9890709
    Abstract: A method and system to extract gas from a gas turbine having at least one gas extraction mechanism placed at the turbine section that extracts exhaust gas directly from the turbine stages through the turbine casing, providing a first exhaust gas path that extends from the turbine section through the exhaust section to the exhaust gas outlet, and a second exhaust gas path for extracted exhaust gas extending directly from the turbine stages inside the turbine casing to a duct outside of the turbine casing. The gas extraction system and method can be applied to a cogeneration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Michael Anthony Cocca, Alston Ilford Scipio, Patrick C. Bowling, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Publication number: 20170191426
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a compressor protection subsystem; a hibernation mode subsystem; and a control subsystem that controls the compressor subsystem and the hibernation subsystem. At partial loads on the turbine system, the compressor protection subsystem maintains an air flow through a compressor at an airflow coefficient for the partial load above a minimum flow rate coefficient where aeromechanical stresses occur in the compressor. The air fuel ratio in a combustor is maintained where exhaust gas emission components from the turbine are maintained below a predetermined component emission level while operating at partial loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Michael Anthony Cocca, Thomas John Freeman, Michael Wesley Yarnold, Ryan Eric Obenhoff, Sanji Ekanayake, Douglas Corbin Warwick, Joseph Philip Klosinski
  • Publication number: 20170167376
    Abstract: A power plant includes a turbine having a plurality of turbine stages and an extraction port in fluid communication with one or more of the turbine stages. The extraction port provides a flow path for a stream of combustion gas to flow out of the turbine. An exhaust duct is disposed downstream from the turbine and receives exhaust gas from the turbine. The exhaust duct is fluid communication with the extraction port. A coolant injection system injects a coolant into the stream of combustion gas to provide cooled combustion gas to the exhaust duct. The cooled combustion gas flows into the exhaust duct at a temperature that is higher than a temperature of the exhaust gas, thereby increasing the temperature of the exhaust gas within the exhaust duct. The increase in thermal energy may be used to produce steam downstream from the exhaust duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Michael Anthony Cocca, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Jason Brian Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20170167378
    Abstract: A power plant includes a compressor, a combustor downstream from the compressor and a turbine disposed downstream from the combustor. The compressor includes a compressor extraction port. The turbine includes a turbine extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and which provides a flow path for a stream of combustion gas to flow out of the turbine. An exhaust duct is disposed downstream from the turbine and receives exhaust gas from the turbine. An ejector coupled to the turbine extraction port and to the compressor extraction port cools the stream of combustion gas upstream from the exhaust duct. The cooled combustion gas flows into the exhaust duct at a higher temperature than the exhaust gas and mixes with the exhaust gas within the exhaust duct to provide a heated exhaust gas mixture to a heat exchanger downstream from the exhaust duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Michael Anthony Cocca, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Publication number: 20170058769
    Abstract: A system for operating a combustor in a non-Premix mode of operation includes a combustor comprising a plurality of primary fuel nozzles annularly arranged around a center fuel nozzle, a fuel supply system that is fluidly coupled to the plurality of primary fuel nozzles and the center fuel nozzle, a steam injection system that is fluidly coupled to the fuel supply system and to at least one of the plurality of primary fuel nozzles or the center fuel nozzle and a controller. The controller is electronically coupled to the fuel supply system and the steam injection system. The controller is programmed to initiate the steam injection system to inject a flow of superheated steam into a flow of fuel from the fuel supply system upstream from at least one of the plurality of primary fuel nozzles or the center fuel nozzle during a non-Premix mode of operation of the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Doyle Vandale, Michael Anthony Cocca, James Harper
  • Publication number: 20170058771
    Abstract: A system and method for generating steam during gas turbine low-load operating conditions is disclosed herein. The system includes a gas turbine having a compressor, a combustor, a turbine and at least one bleed air extraction port in fluid communication with the compressor, a compressor discharge casing or the combustor. The system further includes a premix duct burner downstream from the turbine and upstream from a heat recovery steam generator of the gas turbine. During operation, the premix duct burner increases temperature of combustion gases flowing from the turbine and into the heat recovery steam generator and compressed air flows out of the bleed air extraction port so as to reduce pressure within the compressor, the compressor discharge casing or the combustor during low-load gas turbine operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Doyle Vandale, Michael Anthony Cocca, Joseph Phillip Klosinski
  • Publication number: 20170058784
    Abstract: A system and related method for maintaining emissions compliance while operating a gas turbine in turndown mode are disclosed herein. The system includes a gas turbine including a compressor, a combustor, a turbine and an exhaust section. The combustor comprises a plurality of axially staged fuel injectors positioned downstream from a plurality of primary fuel nozzles and a center fuel nozzle. The gas turbine further comprises a bleed air extraction port that is in fluid communication with at least one of the compressor, a compressor discharge casing or the combustor. The system further includes a controller programmed to bleed compressed air from the bleed air extraction port and to energize the plurality of axially staged fuel injectors during turndown operation of the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Doyle Vandale, Michael Anthony Cocca, Joseph Phillip Klosinski, Mihir Kumar Lal, James Harper
  • Publication number: 20170058770
    Abstract: A system for decoupling steam production dependency from gas turbine load includes a gas turbine having an inlet system, a compressor, a combustor and a turbine. The combustor includes a plurality of axially staged fuel injectors positioned downstream from a plurality of primary fuel nozzles and a center fuel nozzle. The gas turbine further includes at least one bleed air extraction port that is in fluid communication with at least one of the compressor, a compressor discharge casing or the combustor. The system also includes a diluent injection system that is in fluid communication with the combustor and an exhaust section that is disposed downstream from the turbine. The exhaust section includes an oxidation catalyst system and a heat recovery steam generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Doyle Vandale, Michael Anthony Cocca, Joseph Phillip Klosinski, James Harper
  • Publication number: 20160258327
    Abstract: A system includes a controller communicatively coupled to a compressor. The controller is configured to sense an exhaust temperature of a gas turbine system fluidly coupled to the compressor and derive a setpoint based on the sensed exhaust temperature. The controller is also configured to actuate an inlet bleed heat valve based on the derived setpoint and an ambient temperature. The inlet bleed heat valve directs a compressor fluid from the compressor into a fluid intake system fluidly coupled to the compressor upstream of the compressor and configured to intake a fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Julio Enrique Mestroni, George Vargese Mathai, Michael Anthony Cocca
  • Publication number: 20160123190
    Abstract: A method and system to extract gas from a gas turbine having at least one gas extraction mechanism placed at the turbine section that extracts exhaust gas directly from the turbine stages through the turbine casing, providing a first exhaust gas path that extends from the turbine section through the exhaust section to the exhaust gas outlet, and a second exhaust gas path for extracted exhaust gas extending directly from the turbine stages inside the turbine casing to a duct outside of the turbine casing. The gas extraction system and method can be applied to a cogeneration system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Michael Anthony Cocca, Alston Ilford Scipio, Patrick C. Bowling, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Patent number: 9297316
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a compressor protection subsystem; a hibernation mode subsystem; and a control subsystem that controls the compressor subsystem and the hibernation subsystem. At partial loads on the turbine system, the compressor protection subsystem maintains an air flow through a compressor at an airflow coefficient for the partial load above a minimum flow rate coefficient where aeromechanical stresses occur in the compressor. The air fuel ratio in a combustor is maintained where exhaust gas emission components from the turbine are maintained below a predetermined component emission level while operating at partial loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston I. Scipio, Thomas John Freeman, Ryan Eric Obenhoff, Sanji Ekanayake, Michael Anthony Cocca, Mike Yarnold, Douglas Corbin Warwick, Joseph Klosinski
  • Publication number: 20130125557
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a compressor protection subsystem; a hibernation mode subsystem; and a control subsystem that controls the compressor subsystem and the hibernation subsystem. At partial loads on the turbine system, the compressor protection subsystem maintains an air flow through a compressor at an airflow coefficient for the partial load above a minimum flow rate coefficient where aeromechanical stresses occur in the compressor. The air fuel ratio in a combustor is maintained where exhaust gas emission components from the turbine are maintained below a predetermined component emission level while operating at partial loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Alston I. Scipio, Thomas John Freeman, Ryan Eric Obenhoff, Sanji Ekanayake, Michael Anthony Cocca, Mike Yarnold, Douglas Corbin Warwick, Joseph Klosinski
  • Publication number: 20020099742
    Abstract: A system and method for document preparation includes a workstation, a web browser, databases, and an application server with a relational database and word processing software, the application server disposed between the web browser and the databases. A document is prepared by retrieving one or more data items from the databases in response to user action and emplacing the retrieved data items into a word processing template retrieved from the application server. A relational database in the application server correlates user action to certain data items in the databases and to a certain template in the application server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Basil Antley, Michael Anthony Cocca, Richard Jonh Keck, James Quentin Powers, John Thomas