Patents by Inventor Michael John Bowman

Michael John Bowman 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: 20180179961
    Abstract: A turbine engine assembly including a rotating detonation combustor configured to combust a fuel-air mixture formed at least partially from a primary fuel including methane. The assembly also includes a fuel reformer configured to produce a secondary fuel, wherein the fuel reformer is further configured to channel a flow of secondary fuel towards the rotating detonation combustor such that the fuel-air mixture further includes the secondary fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Lavertu, Jr., Kapil Kumar Singh, Venkat Eswarlu Tangirala, Michael John Bowman, Joel Meier Haynes, Anthony John Dean
  • Patent number: 9926800
    Abstract: A seal includes a housing having a back plate and a front plate. A supporting bristle layer is disposed adjacent to the back plate, and bristles in the supporting bristle layer have a first diameter. A sealing bristle layer is disposed adjacent to the supporting bristle layer, and bristles in the sealing bristle layer have a second diameter. A shielding/protecting bristle layer is disposed adjacent to the sealing bristle layer, and bristles in the shielding/protecting bristle layer have a third diameter. The second diameter is smaller than both the first diameter and the third diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Bernard Arthur Couture, Jr., Michael John Bowman, William Edward Adis, Michael Dennis Mack, Kim James Clark
  • Patent number: 9651032
    Abstract: A submersible liquid-vapor generator (LVG) includes an evaporator portion in heat transfer communication with a heat energy source. The LVG also includes a magnetic field apparatus coupled in flow communication with the evaporator portion. The LVG further includes a condenser portion coupled in flow communication with the magnetic field apparatus. The LVG also includes a hybrid working fluid including nanoparticles. The evaporator portion, the magnetic field portion, and the condenser portion at least partially define a hybrid working vapor flow path. The LVG further includes an electrically non-conductive wick structure coupled in flow communication with the evaporator portion and the condenser portion. The wick structure at least partially defines a hybrid working liquid flow path extending between the condenser portion and the evaporator portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stanton Earl Weaver, James William Bray, Michael John Bowman
  • Patent number: 9528384
    Abstract: A brush seal is provided having a brush housing having a back plate and a front plate, a first layer of bristles disposed adjacent to the back plate, where at least one of the first layer of bristles has a first diameter. A second layer of bristles are disposed adjacent to the first layer of bristles, and at least one of the second layer of bristles has a second diameter. A third layer of bristles are disposed adjacent to the second layer of bristles, and at least one of the third layer of bristles has a third diameter. The first diameter and the third diameter are larger than the second diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Bernard Arthur Couture, Jr., Michael John Bowman, William Edward Adis, Michael Dennis Mack, Kim James Clark
  • Patent number: 9488060
    Abstract: A turbine engine assembly is provided. The turbine engine assembly includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly having a rotor disk coupled to a plurality of rotor blades, the plurality of rotor blades extending radially outward from the rotor disk. The assembly also includes a casing that at least partially circumscribes the plurality of rotor blades. The assembly also includes a dynamic sealing device coupled to the stator assembly. The at least one dynamic sealing device is configured to insert a seal between the casing and the plurality of rotor blades to facilitate reducing a clearance gap defined between the plurality of rotor blades and the casing while the rotor assembly is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Michael John Bowman
  • Publication number: 20160298482
    Abstract: A seal includes a housing having a back plate and a front plate. A supporting bristle layer is disposed adjacent to the back plate, and bristles in the supporting bristle layer have a first diameter. A sealing bristle layer is disposed adjacent to the supporting bristle layer, and bristles in the sealing bristle layer have a second diameter. A shielding/protecting bristle layer is disposed adjacent to the sealing bristle layer, and bristles in the shielding/protecting bristle layer have a third diameter. The second diameter is smaller than both the first diameter and the third diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Bernard Arthur Couture, JR., Michael John Bowman, William Edward Adis, Michael Dennis Mack, Kim James Clark
  • Publication number: 20160160845
    Abstract: A submersible liquid-vapor generator (LVG) includes an evaporator portion in heat transfer communication with a heat energy source. The LVG also includes a magnetic field apparatus coupled in flow communication with the evaporator portion. The LVG further includes a condenser portion coupled in flow communication with the magnetic field apparatus. The LVG also includes a hybrid working fluid including nanoparticles. The evaporator portion, the magnetic field portion, and the condenser portion at least partially define a hybrid working vapor flow path. The LVG further includes an electrically non-conductive wick structure coupled in flow communication with the evaporator portion and the condenser portion. The wick structure at least partially defines a hybrid working liquid flow path extending between the condenser portion and the evaporator portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Stanton Earl Weaver, James William Bray, Michael John Bowman
  • Publication number: 20150098806
    Abstract: A turbine engine assembly is provided. The turbine engine assembly includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly having a rotor disk coupled to a plurality of rotor blades, the plurality of rotor blades extending radially outward from the rotor disk. The assembly also includes a casing that at least partially circumscribes the plurality of rotor blades. The assembly also includes a dynamic sealing device coupled to the stator assembly. The at least one dynamic sealing device is configured to insert a seal between the casing and the plurality of rotor blades to facilitate reducing a clearance gap defined between the plurality of rotor blades and the casing while the rotor assembly is operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Michael John Bowman
  • Patent number: 8850789
    Abstract: A power generation system includes a gas turbine system. The turbine system includes a combustion chamber configured to combust a fuel stream a compressor configured to receive a feed oxidant stream and supply a compressed oxidant to the combustion chamber and an expander configured to receive a discharge from the combustion chamber and generate an exhaust comprising carbon dioxide and electrical energy. The system further includes a retrofittable exhaust gas recirculation system including a splitter configured to split the exhaust into a first split stream and a second split stream, a heat recovery steam generator configured to receive the first split stream and generate a cooled first split stream and a purification system configured to receive the first cooled split stream and the second split stream and generate a recycle stream, wherein the recycle stream is mixed with the fresh oxidant to generate the feed oxidant stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrei Tristan Evulet, Ahmed Mostafa ElKady, Michael John Bowman
  • Publication number: 20140102072
    Abstract: Various embodiments include power systems. In a particular embodiment, the power system includes a combined-cycle power system having: a first shaft having a first group of components coaxially mounted thereon, the first group of components including: a first steam turbomachine; a first gas turbomachine; and a reheat combustor; and a second shaft separated from the first shaft, the second shaft having a second group of components coaxially mounted thereon, the second group of components including: a second steam turbomachine; a second gas turbomachine; and a duct fluidly coupled to the second gas turbomachine and the reheat combustor, the duct for providing exhaust from the second gas turbomachine to the reheat combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael John Bowman, Andrew Joseph Travaly
  • Publication number: 20120326392
    Abstract: A brush seal is provided having a brush housing having a back plate and a front plate, a first layer of bristles disposed adjacent to the back plate, where at least one of the first layer of bristles has a first diameter. A second layer of bristles are disposed adjacent to the first layer of bristles, and at least one of the second layer of bristles has a second diameter. A third layer of bristles are disposed adjacent to the second layer of bristles, and at least one of the third layer of bristles has a third diameter. The first diameter and the third diameter are larger than the second diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Bernard Arthur Couture, JR., Michael John Bowman, William Edward Adis, Michael Dennis Mack, Kim James Clark
  • Publication number: 20120326393
    Abstract: A seal is provided having a bristle pack with a first layer of bristles and a second layer of bristles. The bristle pack has at least one segment end. The first layer of bristles is configured to substantially surround the second layer of bristles, and at least one of the first layer of bristles has a first diameter. The second layer of bristles are located substantially in a center portion of the bristle pack, and at least one of the second layer of bristles has a second diameter. The first diameter is larger than the second diameter, and the first layer of bristles located near the at least one segment end are configured to protect the second layer of bristles located near the at least one segment end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Bernard Arthur Couture, JR., Michael John Bowman, William Edward Adis, Michael Dennis Mack, Kim James Clark
  • Patent number: 8251643
    Abstract: A steam turbine and a rotor are disclosed having steam extending internally along at least part of the rotor. The rotor includes an interface and a steam passage system formed in the rotor, the passage system including a first inlet flow passage to the interface, the first inlet flow passage configured to receive steam from a first region of an outer surface of the rotor, a first outlet flow passage from the interface, the first outlet flow passage configured to pass steam to a second region of the rotor, a second inlet flow passage to the interface, the second inlet flow passage configured to receive steam from a third region of the outer surface of the rotor, a second outlet flow passage from the interface, the second outlet flow passage configured to pass steam to a fourth region of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Michael John Bowman, Roy Paul Swintek
  • Patent number: 8051638
    Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided for exhaust gas recirculation. The systems and methods may include receiving, via an intake section, inlet air at an input of a compressor, generating compressed air at the compressor using the received inlet air, and providing the compressed air from the compressor to a combustor, where the combustor produces combustion involving the compressed air and fuel. The systems and methods may also include receiving combustion products associated with the combustion at a turbine component, where the turbine component releases exhaust gases, and recirculating at least a portion of the exhaust gases to the intake section via a recirculation line, where the recirculated exhaust gases raise a temperature of the inlet air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Samer Aljabari, Michael John Bowman, Luciano Joseph Cerone, Scott Mordin Hoyte
  • Patent number: 8043418
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating at least one component from a mixture of a plurality of chemical species is provided. The apparatus comprises a membrane structure comprising a plurality of pores disposed within a matrix material to allow mass transport from a first surface of the membrane structure to a second surface of the membrane structure. The matrix material has a thermal conductivity of at least about 10 W/m/K; and a functional material disposed within at least a portion of the plurality of pores. The functional material has the property of promoting selective transport of at least one species through the membrane structure from the first surface to the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Anthony Ruud, Michael John Bowman, Kalya Vijaya Sarathy, Mohan Manoharan, Anthony Yu-Chung Ku, Vidya Ramaswamy, Patrick Roland Lucien Malenfant
  • Publication number: 20110070069
    Abstract: A steam turbine and a rotor are disclosed having steam extending internally along at least part of the rotor. The rotor includes an interface and a steam passage system formed in the rotor, the passage system including a first inlet flow passage to the interface, the first inlet flow passage configured to receive steam from a first region of an outer surface of the rotor, a first outlet flow passage from the interface, the first outlet flow passage configured to pass steam to a second region of the rotor, a second inlet flow passage to the interface, the second inlet flow passage configured to receive steam from a third region of the outer surface of the rotor, a second outlet flow passage from the interface, the second outlet flow passage configured to pass steam to a fourth region of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Michael John Bowman, Roy Paul Swintek
  • Patent number: 7828938
    Abstract: A hybrid water and power system comprises a power generation device for generating electricity and waste heat and a thermal purification system that utilizes at least a portion of the waste heat to cleanse nonpotable water introduced therein to produce a semi-cleaned water stream and a water filtration system for receiving and processing at least a portion of the semi-cleaned water stream to produce a potable water stream. In one embodiment, a containerized hybrid water and power unit comprises a power generation device, a thermal purification system and a water filtration system, and is housed in a containment vessel. Containerized water and power unit has an input for fuel and nonpotable water and produces both electricity and potable water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Michael John Bowman
  • Patent number: 7690336
    Abstract: A Miller cycle combustion engine capable of operating on multiple fuel types, and a method of operating the engine, is provided. The engine includes a fuel type determiner to determine the fuel type, and a compression adjustor to adjust the compression of a first cylinder of the engine to match the requirement of the determined fuel type. The compression adjustor is a variable valve timing system that provides a maximum compression when a fuel type requiring maximum compression is determined, and that advances or retards the opening of the intake valve to provide lower compression when a fuel type requiring lower compression is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael John Bowman, Louis Andrew Schick
  • Patent number: 7650744
    Abstract: A gas turbine systems of reducing NOX emissions and enhancing operability comprises a compressor; a combustor disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the compressor; a turbine assembly disposed down stream of and in fluid communication with the combustor; an oxygen-enriched gas source disposed in selective fluid communication with the compressor, the combustor, or a combination of the foregoing, wherein the oxygen-enriched gas source is a pressure swing absorption system, an electrolyzer, or a membrane reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Balachandar Varatharajan, Chellappa Balan, Michael John Bowman
  • Patent number: 7595122
    Abstract: An electrolyzer assembly comprises at least one electrolyzer cell including at least two electrodes and an electrolyte interposed therebetween. The electrolyzer assembly further comprises an interconnect structure in intimate contact with at least one of the two electrodes or the electrolyte. The interconnect structure includes at least one flow channel initially defined by a removable sacrificial material, wherein the interconnect structure is configured to provide support for the electrodes and the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chellappa Balan, Michael John Bowman, Kenneth Walter Browall