Patents by Inventor Paul Robert Fernandez

Paul Robert Fernandez 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: 10975774
    Abstract: The present application provides a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine may include a compressor, a compressor wash system in communication with the compressor, a condensate or boiler feed water system in communication with the compressor, and a dosing system in communication with the condensate or boiler feed water system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Paul Robert Fernandez, Rebecca Evelyn Hefner, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Patent number: 10934893
    Abstract: A combustor assembly lift system (200) comprises an exterior lift frame (220) comprising a base portion (222) and an arm portion (224), wherein the arm portion extends away from a base portion to form an interior, and, an interior combustor assembly engagement frame (240) at least partially disposed in the interior of the exterior lift frame and configured to temporarily secure to at least a portion of a combustor assembly. The interior combustor assembly engagement frame is connected to the base portion of the exterior lift frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Ansley Michelle Heard, Jesse Ellis Barton, Paul Robert Fernandez, Adrian Adam Klejc
  • Patent number: 10415476
    Abstract: A power plant includes a first gas turbine and a second gas turbine. The first gas turbine includes a turbine extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and an exhaust duct that receives exhaust gas from the turbine outlet. The power plant further includes a first gas cooler having a primary inlet fluidly coupled to the turbine extraction port, a secondary inlet fluidly coupled to a coolant supply system and an outlet in fluid communication with the exhaust duct. The first gas cooler provides a cooled combustion gas to the exhaust duct which mixes with the exhaust gas to provide an exhaust gas mixture to a first heat exchanger downstream from the exhaust duct. At least one of a compressor and a turbine of the second gas turbine are in fluid communication with the outlet of the first gas cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Patent number: 10415432
    Abstract: A power plant includes a gas turbine including a turbine extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and an exhaust duct that receives exhaust gas from the turbine outlet. The power plant further includes a first gas cooler having a primary inlet fluidly coupled to the turbine extraction port, a secondary inlet fluidly coupled to a coolant supply system and an outlet in fluid communication with the exhaust duct. The first gas cooler provides a cooled combustion gas to the exhaust duct which mixes with the exhaust gas to provide an exhaust gas mixture to a heat exchanger downstream from the exhaust duct. The power plant further includes a fuel heater in fluid communication with the outlet of the first gas cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Joseph Philip Klosinski, Paul Robert Fernandez, David Clayton Poole
  • Patent number: 10247110
    Abstract: A method and system for transitioning a gas turbine from burning gaseous fuel to liquid fuel and purging the liquid fuel therefrom after transfer back to the gaseous fuel are disclosed herein. The method includes pressurizing a volume of liquid fuel in an accumulator with a first volume of motive gas. A valve is opened in response to low gaseous fuel pressure in the gas turbine to permit the volume of liquid fuel to flow through a conduit to the gas turbine. A volume of flushing medium is pressurized in the accumulator with a second volume of motive gas. The valve is opened to permit at least a portion of the volume of flushing medium to flow through the conduit to flush any of the volume of liquid fuel remaining in the conduit after the gas turbine consumes the volume of liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Alston I. Scipio, David Terry Trayhan, Jr., Sanji Ekanayake, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Patent number: 10174639
    Abstract: The present application provides a power generation system. The power generation system may include a gas turbine engine for creating a flow of combustion gases, a steam turbine, and a steam turbine preheating system. The steam turbine preheating system may receive an extraction of the flow of combustion gases and delivers the extraction to the steam turbine to preheat the steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, George Vargese Mathai, Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Patent number: 10156192
    Abstract: The present application provides a multiple fuel delivery system for use with a gas turbine engine. The multiple fuel delivery system may include a first fuel tank with a first fuel therein, a second fuel tank with a second fuel therein, a mixing chamber, and a flow divider downstream of the mixing chamber. The first fuel tank may be in communication with the mixing chamber via a first fuel pump and the second fuel tank may be in communication with the mixing chamber via a second fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Paul Robert Fernandez, Thomas John Freeman, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Publication number: 20180306064
    Abstract: A combustor assembly lift system (200) comprises an exterior lift frame (220) comprising a base portion (222) and an arm portion (224), wherein the arm portion extends away from a base portion to form an interior, and, an interior combustor assembly engagement frame (240) at least partially disposed in the interior of the exterior lift frame and configured to temporarily secure to at least a portion of a combustor assembly. The interior combustor assembly engagement frame is connected to the base portion of the exterior lift frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Sandra Beverly KOLVICK, Jeffrey Scott LEBEGUE, Ansley Michelle HEARD, Jesse Ellis BARTON, Paul Robert FERNANDEZ, Adrian Adam KLEJC
  • Publication number: 20180216497
    Abstract: The present application provides a power generation system. The power generation system may include a gas turbine engine for creating a flow of combustion gases, a steam turbine, and a steam turbine preheating system. The steam turbine preheating system ay receive an extraction of the flow of combustion gases and delivers the extraction to the steam turbine to preheat the steam turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, George Vargese Mathai, Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9874143
    Abstract: A power plant includes a first gas turbine and a second gas turbine. The first gas turbine includes a turbine extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and an exhaust duct that receives exhaust gas from the turbine outlet. The power plant further includes a first gas cooler having a primary inlet fluidly coupled to the turbine extraction port, a secondary inlet fluidly coupled to a coolant supply system and an outlet in fluid communication with the exhaust duct. The first gas cooler provides a cooled combustion gas to the exhaust duct which mixes with the exhaust gas to provide an exhaust gas mixture to a first heat exchanger downstream from the exhaust duct. The first gas cooler is also in fluid communication with a combustor of the second gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9771877
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a system having: at least one computing device configured to tune a set of gas turbines (GTs) by performing actions including: commanding each GT in the set of GTs to a base load level, based upon a measured ambient condition for each GT; commanding each GT in the set of GTs to adjust a respective output to match a nominal mega-watt power output value, and subsequently measuring an actual fuel flow value for each GT; adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual fuel flow value and a nominal fuel flow value at the ambient condition; commanding each GT in the set of GTs to a part load level, the part load level representing a fraction of the base load level, and subsequently measuring an actual fuel flow value for each GT at the part load level; and calibrating the set of GTs based upon a difference between the measured actual fuel flow value at the part load level and the measured actual fuel flow value
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Scott Arthur Day, Paul Robert Fernandez, Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr., Rex Allen Morgan
  • Patent number: 9759131
    Abstract: Methods and systems for imparting corrosion resistance to gas turbine engines are disclosed. Existing and/or supplemental piping is connected to existing compressor section air extraction piping and turbine section cooling air piping to supply water and anti-corrosion agents into areas of the gas turbine engine not ordinarily and/or directly accessible by injection of cleaning agents into the bellmouth of the turbine alone and/or repair methods. An anti-corrosion mixture is selectively supplied as an aqueous solution to the compressor and/or the turbine sections of the gas turbine engine to coat the gas turbine engine components therein with a metal passivation coating which mitigates corrosion in the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Dale Joel Davis, Sanji Ekanayake, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20170167307
    Abstract: A power plant includes a gas turbine including a turbine extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and an exhaust duct that receives exhaust gas from the turbine outlet. The power plant further includes a first gas cooler having a primary inlet fluidly coupled to the turbine extraction port, a secondary inlet fluidly coupled to a coolant supply system and an outlet in fluid communication with the exhaust duct. The first gas cooler provides a cooled combustion gas to the exhaust duct which mixes with the exhaust gas to provide an exhaust gas mixture to a heat exchanger downstream from the exhaust duct. The power plant further includes a fuel heater in fluid communication with the outlet of the first gas cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Joseph Philip Klosinski, Paul Robert Fernandez, David Clayton Poole
  • Publication number: 20170167380
    Abstract: A power plant includes a first gas turbine and a second gas turbine. The first gas turbine includes a turbine extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and an exhaust duct that receives exhaust gas from the turbine outlet. The power plant further includes a first gas cooler having a primary inlet fluidly coupled to the turbine extraction port, a secondary inlet fluidly coupled to a coolant supply system and an outlet in fluid communication with the exhaust duct. The first gas cooler provides a cooled combustion gas to the exhaust duct which mixes with the exhaust gas to provide an exhaust gas mixture to a first heat exchanger downstream from the exhaust duct. At least one of a compressor and a turbine of the second gas turbine are in fluid communication with the outlet of the first gas cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20170167374
    Abstract: A power plant includes a first gas turbine and a second gas turbine. The first gas turbine includes a turbine extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and an exhaust duct that receives exhaust gas from the turbine outlet. The power plant further includes a first gas cooler having a primary inlet fluidly coupled to the turbine extraction port, a secondary inlet fluidly coupled to a coolant supply system and an outlet in fluid communication with the exhaust duct. The first gas cooler provides a cooled combustion gas to the exhaust duct which mixes with the exhaust gas to provide an exhaust gas mixture to a first heat exchanger downstream from the exhaust duct. The first gas cooler is also in fluid communication with a combustor of the second gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20170082034
    Abstract: A method and system for transitioning a gas turbine from burning gaseous fuel to liquid fuel and purging the liquid fuel therefrom after transfer back to the gaseous fuel are disclosed herein. The method includes pressurizing a volume of liquid fuel in an accumulator with a first volume of motive gas. A valve is opened in response to low gaseous fuel pressure in the gas turbine to permit the volume of liquid fuel to flow through a conduit to the gas turbine. A volume of flushing medium is pressurized in the accumulator with a second volume of motive gas. The valve is opened to permit at least a portion of the volume of flushing medium to flow through the conduit to flush any of the volume of liquid fuel remaining in the conduit after the gas turbine consumes the volume of liquid fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Alston I. Scipio, David Terry Trayhan, JR., Sanji Ekanayake, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20160169116
    Abstract: The present application provides a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine may include a compressor, a compressor wash system in communication with the compressor, a condensate or boiler feed water system in communication with the compressor, and a dosing system in communication with the condensate or boiler feed water system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Alston Ilford SCIPIO, Paul Robert FERNANDEZ, Rebecca Evelyn HEFNER, Sanji EKANAYAKE
  • Publication number: 20160138483
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a system having: at least one computing device configured to tune a set of gas turbines (GTs) by performing actions including: commanding each GT in the set of GTs to a base load level, based upon a measured ambient condition for each GT; commanding each GT in the set of GTs to adjust a respective output to match a nominal mega-watt power output value, and subsequently measuring an actual fuel flow value for each GT; adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual fuel flow value and a nominal fuel flow value at the ambient condition; commanding each GT in the set of GTs to a part load level, the part load level representing a fraction of the base load level, and subsequently measuring an actual fuel flow value for each GT at the part load level; and calibrating the set of GTs based upon a difference between the measured actual fuel flow value at the part load level and the measured actual fuel flow value
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, JR., Scott Arthur Day, Paul Robert Fernandez, Harold Lamar Jordan, JR., Rex Allen Morgan
  • Patent number: 9243564
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for use with a flow of heavy fuel oil for a gas turbine engine may include one or more fuel lines in communication with the gas turbine engine and a magnesium mixing system positioned upstream of the one or more fuel lines. The magnesium mixing system may include a flow of magnesium and a flow of a carrier fluid, a carrier mixing chamber to mix the flow of magnesium and the flow of the carrier fluid to form a mixed carrier flow, and a heavy fuel oil mixing chamber to mix the flow of heavy fuel oil and the mixed carrier flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9209730
    Abstract: A system and method is provided that improves the under frequency response of gas turbines by providing a fast-response power augmentation system. The system includes a tank storing a blended mixture of motive fuel such as ethanol or methanol and demineralized water in a predetermined ratio that is provided as a diluent to be injected into the compressor bellmouth, the Compressor Discharge Chamber (CDC), and/or the combustion system via one to three dedicated circuits. To achieve the instantaneous injection of the diluent at the correct pressure and for the appropriate duration to meet the needs of the gas turbine Grid compliance mandate, an accumulator is used as the motive force to drive the augmentation fluid in the dedicated circuits. The injected diluent is microprocessor controlled to either be simultaneous into all three circuits or is sequenced based on a determination of the best turbine control and performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Dale J. Davis, Steven Hartman, Sanji Ekanayake, Paul Robert Fernandez