Patents by Inventor Samuel Ernst-Fortin

Samuel Ernst-Fortin 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: 7770400
    Abstract: A method for controlling the rate of transfer between operation with gas and liquid fuel types to minimize the time in undesirable operational mode, thereby preventing excessive wear and damage to gas turbine hardware. The method includes completing a fuel prefill for the oncoming fuel type through the fuel system and determining if a total fuel demand for the oncoming fuel type is greater than a predetermined flow rate for the oncoming fuel type. The method also includes selecting a fuel transfer rate and transferring from the offgoing fuel type to the oncoming fuel type at the selected fuel transfer rate. Further, the method includes determining if the offgoing fuel flowrate has decreased below a predetermined flow rate for the offgoing fuel type, selecting a final fuel transfer rate and completing the transfer from offgoing fuel type to oncoming fuel type at a selected final fuel transfer rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Iasillo, Jason D. Fuller, Steve W. Backman, Samuel Ernst-Fortin
  • Publication number: 20080154474
    Abstract: A method for controlling the rate of transfer between operation with gas and liquid fuel types to minimize the time in undesirable operational mode, thereby preventing excessive wear and damage to gas turbine hardware. The method includes completing a fuel prefill for the oncoming fuel type through the fuel system and determining if a total fuel demand for the oncoming fuel type is greater than a predetermined flow rate for the oncoming fuel type. The method also includes selecting a fuel transfer rate and transfering from the offgoing fuel type to the oncoming fuel type at the selected fuel transfer rate. Further, the method includes determining if the offgoing fuel flowrate has decreased below a predetermined flow rate for the offgoing fuel type, selecting a final fuel transfer rate and completing the transfer from offgoing fuel type to oncoming fuel type at a selected final fuel transfer rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Robert J. Iasillo, Jason D. Fuller, Steve W. Backman, Samuel Ernst-Fortin