Patents by Inventor Nathan J. Kirksey

Nathan J. Kirksey 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: 20230304664
    Abstract: It is important to accurately measure the emissions of a turbomachine for a variety of reasons. However, continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) can be expensive to install and maintain. Accordingly, a digital platform is disclosed that hosts physics-based and/or statistical models that can be tailored to specific turbomachines and calibrated over the life of the turbomachine. The model for a turbomachine can be applied to data collected from the turbomachine to predict the emissions of the turbomachine. This enables monitoring of emissions, remotely and without the need of a CEMS. In addition, the platform may utilize the predicted emissions for alerts, compliance monitoring, health monitoring, control of the turbomachine, reporting, and/or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry P. SEPULVEDA, Brandon W. STEIN, Jamaal A. SANDERS, Stephen E. THERON, Nathan J. KIRKSEY, Ivan R. CARLOS, Christian DI NORSCIA, Karunakaran Thirumangalam NADADUR
  • Patent number: 11680709
    Abstract: A fuel injector is disclosed for reducing flashback. In an embodiment, the fuel injector may comprise an injector head with purge holes on a radial wall along a radial axis between an assembly axis of the fuel injector and a plurality of vanes arranged circumferentially around the assembly axis. In addition, the plurality of vanes may comprise fuel outlets connecting interior fuel passages to spaces between the vanes. The introduction of these purge holes near the bases of the vanes and the configuration and positioning of the fuel outlets in the vanes and elsewhere in the fuel injector may alter the stoichiometry (e.g., fuel-air ratio) within the premix passage of the fuel injector to reduce flashback. A plurality of such fuel injectors may be used in the combustor of a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael J. Ramotowski, Paul Economo, Christian Di Norscia, Donald J. Cramb, Nathan J. Kirksey
  • Publication number: 20230065831
    Abstract: Known micromixers for fuel injection (e.g., in a gas turbine engine) experience early burning or have limited operability. Accordingly, a micromixer is disclosed that utilizes an air nozzle, in combination with one or more fuel jets, to produce short flames that minimize the emission of nitrogen oxides, while providing additional benefits, such as mechanical robustness, aerodynamic efficiency, resistance to flame damage, suitability for additive manufacturing, wider operating ranges, operation with a variety of gaseous fuels, and/or amenability to control using conventional mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Gareth W. OSKAM, Georgina J. MCGEE, Yonduck SUNG, Gregory Michael BALOW, Rajeshriben PATEL, Nathan J. KIRKSEY
  • Publication number: 20220128237
    Abstract: A fuel injector is disclosed for reducing flashback. In an embodiment, the fuel injector may comprise an injector head with purge holes on a radial wall along a radial axis between an assembly axis of the fuel injector and a plurality of vanes arranged circumferentially around the assembly axis. In addition, the plurality of vanes may comprise fuel outlets connecting interior fuel passages to spaces between the vanes. The introduction of these purge holes near the bases of the vanes and the configuration and positioning of the fuel outlets in the vanes and elsewhere in the fuel injector may alter the stoichiometry (e.g., fuel-air ratio) within the premix passage of the fuel injector to reduce flashback. A plurality of such fuel injectors may be used in the combustor of a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael J. Ramotowski, Paul Economo, Christian Di Norscia, Donald J. Cramb, Nathan J. Kirksey