Patents by Inventor Sarah Lori Crothers
Sarah Lori Crothers 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).
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Patent number: 10180108Abstract: A system for operating a gas turbine includes a controller configured to execute logic stored in a memory that causes the controller to determine two or more of a frequency, a coherence, a phase, and an amplitude, of a combustion instability; to compare two of more of the frequency, the coherence, the phase, and the amplitude of the combustion instability to a respective predetermined limit; and to adjust at least one parameter of the gas turbine if two or more of the frequency, the coherence, the phase, and the amplitude of the combustion instability are actionable relative to their respective predetermined limits. A related method of operating the gas turbine is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Scott Arthur Day
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Patent number: 10113747Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a system with a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine includes a first combustor having a first fuel injector and a second combustor having a second fuel injector. The gas turbine engine further includes a first fuel conduit extending from a first orifice to a first fuel outlet of the first fuel injector. The first fuel conduit has a first acoustic volume between the first orifice and the first fuel outlet. The gas turbine engine further includes a second fuel conduit extending from a second orifice to a second fuel outlet of the second fuel injector. The second fuel conduit has a second acoustic volume between the second orifice and the second fuel outlet, and the first acoustic volume and the second acoustic volume are different from one another.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Hasan Karim, Joel Meador Hall
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Patent number: 10018071Abstract: In one embodiment, a turbine system includes a number of sensors, each of the number of sensors disposed in a respective location of the turbine system, and a controller including a memory storing one or more processor-executable routines and a processor. The processor configured to access and execute the one or more routines encoded by the memory wherein the one or more routines, when executed cause the processor to receive one or more signals from the number of sensors during any stage of operation of the turbine system, and convert the one or more signals to audio output.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Paige Marie Sopcic, Jason Dean Fuller, Daniel Joseph Flavin
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Publication number: 20180135456Abstract: A turbine system includes a number of sensors, each sensor disposed in a respective location of the turbine system and generating a respective signal, a controller capable of generating a controller output, the controller output being at least partially derived from the respective signal from the number of sensors, and an electronic device including memories storing processor-executable routines, and one or more processors configured to access and execute the one or more routines encoded by the one or more memories wherein the one or more routines, when executed, cause the one or more processors to receive one or more inputs, the inputs being at least one of the respective signals from one of the number of sensors, the controller output, or some combination thereof, and generate an audio output using one or more models that incorporate the one or more inputs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Daniel Joseph Flavin, Sarah Lori Crothers, Paige Marie Sopcic, Jason Dean Fuller
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Patent number: 9964045Abstract: A system includes a control system. The control system includes a coherence derivation system configured to derive a coherence between respective outputs of each of a plurality of combustors coupled to a gas turbine system, and a phase derivation system configured to derive a phase difference between the respective outputs of each of the plurality of combustors coupled to the gas turbine system. The control system is configured to derive an indication of an impending lean blowout (LBO) or an actual LBO of at least one of the plurality of combustors based at least in part on the coherence derivation, the phase derivation, or a combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Scott Arthur Day, Scott Alan Kopcho
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Publication number: 20180094536Abstract: In one embodiment, a turbine system includes a number of sensors, each of the number of sensors disposed in a respective location of the turbine system, and a controller including a memory storing one or more processor-executable routines and a processor. The processor configured to access and execute the one or more routines encoded by the memory wherein the one or more routines, when executed cause the processor to receive one or more signals from the number of sensors during any stage of operation of the turbine system, and convert the one or more signals to audio output.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2016Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Paige Marie Sopcic, Jason Dean Fuller, Daniel Joseph Flavin
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Patent number: 9845956Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a system with a gas turbine engine including a first combustor and a second combustor. The first combustor includes a first end cover with a first geometry and the second combustor includes a second end cover with a second geometry. The first geometry has one or more geometric differences relative to the second geometry.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2014Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Willy Steve Ziminsky, Sarah Lori Crothers
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Patent number: 9845732Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine having a first combustor and a second combustor. The first combustor includes a first fuel conduit having a first plurality of injectors. The first plurality of injectors are disposed in a first configuration within the first combustor along a first fuel path, and the first plurality of injectors are configured to route a fuel to a first combustion chamber. The system further includes a second combustor having a second fuel conduit having a second plurality of injectors. The second plurality of injectors are disposed in a second configuration within the second combustor along a second fuel path, and the second plurality of injectors are configured to route the fuel to a second combustion chamber. The second configuration has at least one difference relative to the first configuration.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2014Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Joseph Vincent Citeno, Christian Xavier Stevenson
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Publication number: 20170356650Abstract: In one embodiment, a turbine system includes a combustion system comprising a plurality of combustion cans, a number of sensors, each of the number of sensors coupled to a respective combustion can of the number of combustion cans, and a controller. The controller includes a memory storing one or more processor-executable routines and a processor configured to access and execute the one or more routines encoded by the memory. The one or more routines, when executed cause the processor to receive one or more signals from the number of sensors, convert the one or more signals to audio output, and output the converted audio output via one or more audio output devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2016Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventors: Jason Dean Fuller, Sarah Lori Crothers, Paige Marie Sopcic, Daniel Joseph Flavin
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Publication number: 20170356344Abstract: Systems and methods for frequency separation in a gas turbine engine are provided herein. The systems and methods for frequency separation in a gas turbine engine may include determining a hot gas path natural frequency, determining a combustion dynamic frequency, and modifying a compressor discharge temperature to separate the combustion dynamic frequency from the hot gas path natural frequency. Specifically, the compressor discharge temperature may be modified by adjusting the inlet guide vanes of the compressor or by adjusting a temperature of air entering the compressor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Matthew Durham Collier, Scott Edward Sherman, Joseph Vincent Citeno
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Patent number: 9745896Abstract: Systems and methods for frequency separation in a gas turbine engine are provided herein. The systems and methods for frequency separation in a gas turbine engine may include determining a hot gas path natural frequency, determining a combustion dynamic frequency, and modifying a compressor discharge temperature to separate the combustion dynamic frequency from the hot gas path natural frequency.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Matthew Durham Collier, Scott Edward Sherman, Joseph Vincent Citeno
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Patent number: 9709279Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine that includes a first combustor and a second combustor. The first combustor includes a first oxidant flow path and a first perforated structure comprising a first plurality of oxidant ports, wherein the first perforated structure is disposed in the first oxidant flow path. The second combustor includes a second oxidant flow path and a second perforated structure comprising a second plurality of oxidant ports. The second perforated structure is disposed in the second oxidant flow path and the first perforated structure has at least one difference relative to the second perforated structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Lucas John Stoia, William Francis Carnell, Jr.
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Patent number: 9709278Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine that includes a first combustor and a second combustor. The first combustor includes a first fuel nozzle disposed in a first head end chamber of the first combustor and a first fuel injector. The first fuel nozzle is configured to inject a first fuel and an oxidant into a first combustion chamber of the first combustor. The second combustor includes a second fuel nozzle disposed in a second head end chamber of the second combustor, a second fuel injector, and a second orifice plate disposed in a second fuel path upstream of the second fuel injector. The second fuel nozzle is configured to inject the first fuel and the oxidant into a second combustion chamber of the second combustor and the second orifice plate is configured to help reduce modal coupling between the first combustor and the second combustor.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Charlotte Cole Wilson
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Patent number: 9689574Abstract: A system and method for reducing modal coupling of combustion dynamics generally include multiple combustors, and each combustor includes multiple fuel nozzle groups for mixing fuel with a compressed working fluid prior to combustion. A fuel circuit is in fluid communication with each fuel nozzle, and orifice plates in the fuel circuit upstream from the fuel nozzles control the fuel split between the fuel nozzles in each combustor and/or between different combustors to produce a frequency difference between combustors.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Alberto Jose Negroni
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Patent number: 9689317Abstract: A system and method for operating a gas turbine include a controller that determines, for at least one combustion instability, a frequency; a quantification of the frequency or a quantification of the frequency through time; and, optionally, a phase and/or an amplitude. The logic also causes the controller to compare the frequency, the quantification of the frequency or the quantification of the frequency through time, the phase, and/or the amplitude of the at least one combustion instability to an associated predetermined limit. When the frequency is actionable relative to its predetermined limit and one of the quantification of the frequency or the quantification of the frequency through time is actionable relative to its respective predetermined limit, at least one parameter of the gas turbine is adjusted. The quantification of the frequency is one of the standard deviation, the coefficient of variation, the index of dispersion, and the variance.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Gregory Allen Boardman
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Patent number: 9650959Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for premixing fuel and air prior to combustion within a combustion chamber. The system includes a plurality of fuel injectors and a plurality of mixing tubes, wherein each mixing tube has a first portion for receiving one of the plurality of fuel injectors and a second portion having a mixing chamber that is configured to mix fuel and air. The length of the mixing chamber varies among the plurality of mixing tubes to allow for different mixing times.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Patrick Benedict Melton, James Harold Westmoreland, Ronald James Chila, Sarah Lori Crothers
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Patent number: 9644845Abstract: A system and method for reducing modal coupling of combustion dynamics among multiple combustors are provided. Each combustor may include one or more fuel nozzles axially aligned with a combustion chamber; one or more fuel injectors downstream from the fuel nozzles; and a set of flow openings integrated with the combustor. The fuel injectors provide fluid communication through a liner that circumferentially surrounds each combustion chamber. The flow rate of compressed working fluid diverted through the fuel injectors may be different and/or variable between the combustors to produce different combustion instability frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Christian Xavier Stevenson, William Francis Carnell, Jr.
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Patent number: 9644846Abstract: A gas turbine engine system including a first combustor having a first fuel nozzle and a second combustor having a second fuel nozzle. The system further includes a first acoustic adjuster having a first drive coupled to a first piston with a first fuel orifice. The first piston is disposed along a first fuel passage leading to the first fuel nozzle of the first combustor. The system further includes a second acoustic adjuster having a second drive coupled to a second piston with a second fuel orifice. The second piston is disposed along a second fuel passage leading to the second fuel nozzle of the second combustor.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Christian Xavier Stevenson, Sarah Lori Crothers
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Publication number: 20170089269Abstract: A system for operating a gas turbine includes a controller configured to execute logic stored in a memory that causes the controller to determine two or more of a frequency, a coherence, a phase, and an amplitude, of a combustion instability; to compare two of more of the frequency, the coherence, the phase, and the amplitude of the combustion instability to a respective predetermined limit; and to adjust at least one parameter of the gas turbine if two or more of the frequency, the coherence, the phase, and the amplitude of the combustion instability are actionable relative to their respective predetermined limits. A related method of operating the gas turbine is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Scott Arthur Day
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Patent number: 9556799Abstract: A system for operating a gas turbine includes a controller configured to execute logic stored in a memory that causes the controller to determine a frequency, a coherence and, optionally, a phase and/or an amplitude, of a combustion instability; to compare the frequency and the coherence, and, optionally, the phase and/or the amplitude, of the combustion instability to a respective predetermined limit; and to adjust at least one parameter of the gas turbine if the frequency, the coherence, and, optionally, the phase and/or the amplitude of the combustion instability is actionable relative to the respective predetermined limit. A related method of operating the gas turbine is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Scott Arthur Day