Patents by Inventor René Waelchli
René Waelchli 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: 10151250Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a gas turbine assembly, which includes a compressor, a combustor and a gas turbine. The method includes operating the gas turbine assembly at a partial load with respect to a base load of the gas turbine assembly; bypassing a portion of blow-off air from the compressor; and introducing the portion of blow-off air into an exhaust gas duct after the gas turbine. The gas turbine assembly, when operating at partial load, can maintain the air-to-fuel ratio approximately constant and hence to control the combustion flame temperature at a level where emissions are kept below the permission limit.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2015Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AGInventors: Klaus Doebbeling, Anton Nemet, Martin Zajadatz, Rene Waelchli
-
Publication number: 20170030268Abstract: The invention relates to a surge control method for a gas turbine engine. The method includes providing a gas turbine engine having a compressor, a combustor, downstream of the compressor, with a hot gas path, a turbine downstream of the combustor, with a hot gas path. The method further includes monitoring the gas turbine engine for a potential surge condition, controlling a blow-off flow from the compressor, based on the monitoring for the control purpose of avoiding the surge condition, and directing the blow-off flow to at least one of the hot gas paths so as to bypass at least a portion of the combustor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBHInventors: Adrien Franz STUDERUS, Ulrich Robert STEIGER, Ralf JAKOBY, René WÄLCHLI
-
Publication number: 20150204247Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a gas turbine assembly, which includes a compressor, a combustor and a gas turbine. The method includes operating the gas turbine assembly at a partial load with respect to a base load of the gas turbine assembly; bypassing a portion of blow-off air from the compressor; and introducing the portion of blow-off air into an exhaust gas duct after the gas turbine. The gas turbine assembly, when operating at partial load, can maintain the air-to-fuel ratio approximately constant and hence to control the combustion flame temperature at a level where emissions are kept below the permission limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2015Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Klaus DOEBBELING, Anton Nemet, Martin Zajadatz, Rene Waelchli
-
Publication number: 20140013765Abstract: The invention relates to a surge control method for a gas turbine engine. The method includes providing a gas turbine engine having a compressor, a combustor, downstream of the compressor, with a hot gas path, a turbine downstream of the combustor, with a hot gas path. The method further includes monitoring the gas turbine engine for a potential surge condition, controlling a blow-off flow from the compressor, based on the monitoring for the control purpose of avoiding the surge condition, and directing the blow-off flow to at least one of the hot gas paths so as to bypass at least a portion of the combustor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Adrien Franz Studerus, Ulrich Robert Steiger, Ralf Jakoby, René Wälchli
-
Patent number: 8092150Abstract: A method for axial thrust control of a gas turbine, and a gas turbine with a device for controlling axial thrust are provided. A gas turbine, with regard to aerodynamic forces and pressure forces, which exert an axial force upon the rotor, is configured such that at no-load and low partial load it has a negative thrust, and at high load it has a positive thrust. In order to ensure a resulting positive thrust upon the thrust bearing within the entire load range of the gas turbine, an additional thrust is applied in a controlled manner. The additional thrust for example can be controlled in dependence upon the gas turbine load. The resulting thrust force at full load is consequently less than in the case of a conventionally designed gas turbine without thrust balance.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2008Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.Inventors: Stefan Rofka, Rene Waelchli, Sven Olmes, Thomas Zierer
-
Publication number: 20090067984Abstract: A method for axial thrust control of a gas turbine, and a gas turbine with a device for controlling axial thrust are provided. A gas turbine, with regard to aerodynamic forces and pressure forces, which exert an axial force upon the rotor, is configured such that at no-load and low partial load it has a negative thrust, and at high load it has a positive thrust. In order to ensure a resulting positive thrust upon the thrust bearing within the entire load range of the gas turbine, an additional thrust is applied in a controlled manner. The additional thrust for example can be controlled in dependence upon the gas turbine load. The resulting thrust force at full load is consequently less than in the case of a conventionally designed gas turbine without thrust balance.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.Inventors: Stefan Rofka, Rene Waelchli, Sven Olmes, Thomas Zierer
-
Patent number: 7237386Abstract: A process is provided for the control of the amount of cooling air of a gas turbine set. Suitable means are provided in the cooling system to enable the amount of cooling air to be varied. The control of this means takes place in dependence on an operating parameter (X). This operating parameter is made dependent on the fuel type used.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2004Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Jürgen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, René Wälchli
-
Patent number: 7143573Abstract: A gas turbine set, with a cooling air system through which at least one cooling air mass flow flows from a compressor to thermally highly loaded components of the gas turbine set. Pressure increasing ejectors are arranged in a cooling air duct of the cooling air system for increasing the pressure of flowing cooling air. The ejectors are operable with a working fluid. The working fluid mass flow is less than twenty percent of a driven cooling air mass flow.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2003Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Alstom Switzerland LtdInventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, René Waelchli, Rolf Dittmann
-
Publication number: 20040025491Abstract: For supporting the cooling of an air-cooled gas turbine set, it is proposed to arrange, in the cooling air ducts of the cooling system, means for increasing the pressure of the flowing cooling air. In an embodiment, the cooling system (17) is supplied with high pressure compressor air from the end stages of the compressor (1) of a gas turbine set (1, 2, 3, 4). This cooling system branches into a first branch (18), by means of which the combustor (2) and the first stages, particularly the first guide blade row of the turbine (3), are cooled. A second branch (19) conducts cooling air to the further turbine stages. An ejector (20) is provided for increasing, as needed, the pressure drop available by means of the first branch (18) of the cooling system. Its ejector nozzle (22) is supplied with live steam (9) taken from a waste heat steam generator (51), the live steam supply being adjustable by means of an adjusting member (21).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, Rene Waelchli, Rolf Dittmann
-
Patent number: 6644012Abstract: For supporting the cooling of an air-cooled gas turbine set, it is proposed to arrange, in the cooling air ducts of the cooling system, means for increasing the pressure of the flowing cooling air. In an embodiment, the cooling system (17) is supplied with high pressure compressor air from the end stages of the compressor (1) of a gas turbine set (1, 2, 3, 4). This cooling system branches into a first branch (18), by means of which the combustor (2) and the first stages, particularly the first guide blade row of the turbine (3), are cooled. A second branch (19) conducts cooling air to the further turbine stages. An ejector (20) is provided for increasing, as needed, the pressure drop available by means of the first branch (18) of the cooling system. Its ejector nozzle (22) is supplied with live steam (9) taken from a waste heat steam generator (51), the live steam supply being adjustable by means of an adjusting member (21).Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2001Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: Alston (Switzerland) LtdInventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, René Waelchli, Rolf Dittmann
-
Patent number: 6640550Abstract: A gas turbo set (1, 2, 3) is equipped with at least a cooling air system (20,21). Throttle points (22, 23) are arranged as throttling points in the cooling air flowpath, for the purpose of defining the cooling air mass flow. Said manifolds are bypassed by bypass lines (24). Means (25) are arranged in said bypass lines for adjusting the bypass mass flow. Thus, the cooling air mass flow can be varied without acting on the main cooling air flow as such.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2001Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) LtdInventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, René Waelchli, Rolf Dittmann
-
Publication number: 20030106322Abstract: A gas turbo set (1, 2, 3) is equipped with at least a cooling air system (20,21). Manifolds (22,23) are arranged as throttling points in the cooling air flowpath, for the purpose of defining the cooling air mass flow. Said manifolds are bypassed by bypass lines (24). Means (25) are arranged in said bypass lines for adjusting the bypass mass flow. Thus, the cooling air mass flow can be varied without acting on the main cooling air flow as such.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2001Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, Rene Waelchli, Rolf Dittmann
-
Publication number: 20030084656Abstract: For supporting the cooling of an air-cooled gas turbine set, it is proposed to arrange, in the cooling air ducts of the cooling system, means for increasing the pressure of the flowing cooling air. In an embodiment, the cooling system (17) is supplied with high pressure compressor air from the end stages of the compressor (1) of a gas turbine set (1, 2, 3, 4). This cooling system branches into a first branch (18), by means of which the combustor (2) and the first stages, particularly the first guide blade row of the turbine (3), are cooled. A second branch (19) conducts cooling air to the further turbine stages. An ejector (20) is provided for increasing, as needed, the pressure drop available by means of the first branch (18) of the cooling system. Its ejector nozzle (22) is supplied with live steam (9) taken from a waste heat steam generator (51), the live steam supply being adjustable by means of an adjusting member (21).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2001Publication date: May 8, 2003Inventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, Rene Waelchli, Rolf Dittmann
-
Patent number: 6523346Abstract: The invention gives a process for the control of the amount of cooling air of a gas turbine set (1, 2, 3). Suitable means (32, 33) are provided in the cooling system (26, 27) to enable the amount of cooling air to be varied. The control of this means takes place in dependence on an operating parameter (X). This is determined in a computer unit (22) by suitable combination of measured machine data (p1, p2).Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2001Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) LtdInventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, René Waelchli