Patents by Inventor Ricky CONARD

Ricky CONARD 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: 8505309
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the efficiency of a power generation facility utilize heat energy to preheat inlet-air that is supplied to the compressor of a turbine or to preheat fuel that is burned in the turbine. The heat energy used to preheat the inlet-air can be drawn from a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) that produces steam using at least part of the exhaust gas of the turbine. The heat energy can be obtained from one or more predetermined points within the HRSG, such as a feed water line exiting a drum of the HRSG or a feed line connecting an economizer of the HRSG to a drum of the HRSG. The fluid drawn from the predetermined point passes through a heat exchanger or a preheater to remove the heat energy used for preheating. The fluid is then returned to the HRSG immediately downstream from the point from which it was drawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Barrett Gardiner, Brett Thompson, Aaron Vorel, Kihyung Kim, Ricky Conard
  • Publication number: 20120317988
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the efficiency of a power generation facility utilize heat energy to preheat inlet-air that is supplied to the compressor of a turbine or to preheat fuel that is burned in the turbine. The heat energy used to preheat the inlet-air can be drawn from a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) that produces steam using at least part of the exhaust gas of the turbine. The heat energy can be obtained from one or more predetermined points within the HRSG, such as a feed water line exiting a drum of the HRSG or a feed line connecting an economizer of the HRSG to a drum of the HRSG. The fluid drawn from the predetermined point passes through a heat exchanger or a preheater to remove the heat energy used for preheating. The fluid is then returned to the HRSG immediately downstream from the point from which it was drawn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Barrett GARDINER, Brett THOMPSON, Aaron VOREL, Kihyung KIM, Ricky CONARD