Patents by Inventor Michael John Mariani
Michael John Mariani 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: 9429075Abstract: A method of operating a fuel heating system is provided. The method includes performing pre-ignition diagnostic checks on a plurality of components of the fuel heating system, wherein at least one inlet damper and at least one outlet damper of an exhaust flow circuit are each in a closed position. The method also includes purging the fuel heating system of unburned hydrocarbons. The method further includes operating the fuel heating system in a normal operating condition. The method yet further includes operating the fuel heating system in a cool down condition, wherein the at least one inlet damper is in the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2013Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rushi Mahesh Amin, Douglas Scott Byrd, Dean Matthew Erickson, Michael John Mariani, Christina Renee Pompey, Korey Frederic Rendo, Bryan Edward Sweet
-
Publication number: 20140208766Abstract: A method of operating a fuel heating system is provided. The method includes performing pre-ignition diagnostic checks on a plurality of components of the fuel heating system, wherein at least one inlet damper and at least one outlet damper of an exhaust flow circuit are each in a closed position. The method also includes purging the fuel heating system of unburned hydrocarbons. The method further includes operating the fuel heating system in a normal operating condition. The method yet further includes operating the fuel heating system in a cool down condition, wherein the at least one inlet damper is in the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Rushi Mahesh Amin, Douglas Scott Byrd, Dean Matthew Erickson, Michael John Mariani, Christina Renee Pompey, Korey Frederic Rendo, Bryan Edward Sweet
-
Publication number: 20140150438Abstract: A system for operating a thermal power plant during off-peak demand intervals includes a gas turbine having a compressor, a combustor connected to a fuel control system, a turbine and a sensor configured to sense ambient conditions around the gas turbine. The fuel control system and the sensor are in communication with a controller. The controller is configured to receive a user input that corresponds to a value for an operational boundary condition of the thermal power plant and to monitor ambient conditions through the sensor. The controller is further configured to generate a predicted emissions level value for the gas turbine based on the monitored ambient conditions and to generate a command signal to adjust at least one operational parameter of the gas turbine based at least in part on the predicted emissions level value and the value of the operational boundary condition of the thermal power plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: George Allen Ellis, Jonathan Carl Thatcher, Robert Walter Arnold, Michael John Mariani, Chad Ernest Findlay
-
Patent number: 8712665Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for providing unchoked control of gas turbine fuel control valves. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for active control of a gas flow control valve. The method may include receiving a desired fuel command and an inlet pressure parameter, and determining a gas flow gain based at least in part on the inlet pressure parameter. The method may also include determining a valve flow coefficient based at least in part on the desired fuel command and the gas flow gain, and controlling the gas flow control valve based at least in part on the valve flow coefficient.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2010Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Scott William Szepek, Michael John Mariani, Robert Loeven
-
Publication number: 20120234413Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention incorporate a relatively slow acting valve to throttle the fuel flow through the compressor. Embodiments of the present invention seek to reduce the need for recirculating compressed fuel that is not needed by the turbomachine. This may increase the net power output and efficiency of a turbomachine-fuel gas compressor system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2011Publication date: September 20, 2012Inventors: Robert Joseph Loeven, II, Fabien Thibault Codron, Michael John Mariani, Erhan Karaca
-
Patent number: 8151740Abstract: A system and method for providing fuel mixes a first fuel with a second fuel at a mixing point to create a mixed fuel having a first calorie content. A control valve is located upstream of the mixing point. A process system downstream of the mixing point processes the mixed fuel to create a processed mixed fuel having a second calorie content. A first control signal is reflective of the first calorie content of the mixed fuel. A second control signal is reflective of the second calorie content of the processed mixed fuel. A third control signal is reflective of the operating level of the combustion engine. A controller connected to the control valve operates the control valve based on the first, second, and third control signals.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Joseph Loeven, II, Fabien Thibault Codron, Michael John Mariani
-
Patent number: 8126629Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a gas turbine engine system are provided. The system includes a gas turbine engine that includes at least one combustor configured to receive a flow of fuel from a flow control device and a fuel control system. The fuel control system includes a piping system configured to channel the flow of fuel from a fuel source to the flow control device, a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a property of the flow of fuel wherein the property of the flow of fuel is variable over time, and a controller including a processor. The processor is programmed to receive the generated signal, using a flow model of the piping system and the received signal, iteratively track the progress of a plurality of discrete volumes flowing through the piping system, and control the flow of fuel using the flow control devices.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2008Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Lauren Jeanne Buchalter, Bryan Edward Sweet, Scott William Szepek, Michael John Mariani
-
Patent number: 7966802Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a gas turbine engine system are provided. The system includes a fuel control system. The fuel control system includes a plurality of sensors positioned about the gas turbine engine system and configured to measure at least one parameter associated with the sensor, and a processor programmed to receive a signal from at least one of the plurality of sensors indicative of a composition of the fuel. The processor is further programmed to determine the physical properties of a fuel at an inlet to the flow control devices using a flow model and the at least one signal, determine a corresponding correction to a gas fuel flow gain using the determined physical properties, and automatically control fuel delivery as well as fuel split between the fuel injection points on the combustor using the adjusted flow gain to facilitate permitting a relatively large variation in the fuel composition for use in the gas turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2008Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Scott William Szepek, Bryan Edward Sweet, Lauren Jeanne Buchalter, David Andrew Stats, Michael John Mariani
-
Publication number: 20110130941Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for providing unchoked control of gas turbine fuel control valves. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for active control of a gas flow control valve. The method may include receiving a desired fuel command and an inlet pressure parameter, and determining a gas flow gain based at least in part on the inlet pressure parameter. The method may also include determining a valve flow coefficient based at least in part on the desired fuel command and the gas flow gain, and controlling the gas flow control valve based at least in part on the valve flow coefficient.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2010Publication date: June 2, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Scott William Szepek, Michael John Mariani, Robert Loeven
-
Publication number: 20100304316Abstract: The present invention pertains generally to a system and method for providing fuel having a desired calorie content to a combustion engine over a range of operating levels. The system mixes a first fuel from a first fuel supply pipe with a second fuel from a second fuel supply pipe at a mixing point to create a mixed fuel having a first calorie content. A control valve is located in the second fuel supply pipe upstream of the mixing point. A process system downstream of the mixing point processes the mixed fuel to create a processed mixed fuel having a second calorie content. A first control signal is reflective of the first calorie content of the mixed fuel. A second control signal is reflective of the second calorie content of the processed mixed fuel. A third control signal is reflective of the operating level of the combustion engine. A controller connected to the control valve operates the control valve based on the first, second, and third control signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2009Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: FABIEN THIBAULT CODRON, MICHAEL JOHN MARIANI, ROBERT JOSEPH LOEVEN, II
-
Publication number: 20090271085Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a gas turbine engine system are provided. The system includes a gas turbine engine that includes at least one combustor configured to receive a flow of fuel from a flow control device and a fuel control system. The fuel control system includes a piping system configured to channel the flow of fuel from a fuel source to the flow control device, a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a property of the flow of fuel wherein the property of the flow of fuel is variable over time, and a controller including a processor. The processor is programmed to receive the generated signal, using a flow model of the piping system and the received signal, iteratively track the progress of a plurality of discrete volumes flowing through the piping system, and control the flow of fuel using the flow control devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2008Publication date: October 29, 2009Inventors: Lauren Jeanne Buchalter, Bryan Edward Sweet, Scott William Szepek, Michael John Mariani
-
Publication number: 20090193788Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a gas turbine engine system are provided. The system includes a fuel control system. The fuel control system includes a plurality of sensors positioned about the gas turbine engine system and configured to measure at least one parameter associated with the sensor, and a processor programmed to receive a signal from at least one of the plurality of sensors indicative of a composition of the fuel. The processor is further programmed to determine the physical properties of a fuel at an inlet to the flow control devices using a flow model and the at least one signal, determine a corresponding correction to a gas fuel flow gain using the determined physical properties, and automatically control fuel delivery as well as fuel split between the fuel injection points on the combustor using the adjusted flow gain to facilitate permitting a relatively large variation in the fuel composition for use in the gas turbine engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2008Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventors: Scott William Szepek, Bryan Edward Sweet, Lauren Jeanne Buchalter, David Andrew Stats, Michael John Mariani