Patents by Inventor Stephen Kent Fulcher

Stephen Kent Fulcher 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: 9840939
    Abstract: In one or more of the inventive aspects, when a gas turbine system of a power plant operates at part load, a moisture content of fuel gas provided to the gas turbine system may be controlled so as to minimize combustion dynamics and/or to comply with emission requirements. The fuel gas moisture content may be controlled by modulating a flow of heated water to a fuel moisturizer. By using heated water from a heat recovery steam generator to moisturize the fuel gas, heat energy from the water may be transferred to the fuel gas, and the overall mass flow may be enhanced to thereby increase overall combined cycle efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Thomas, Stephen Kent Fulcher
  • Publication number: 20160010509
    Abstract: In one or more of the inventive aspects, when a gas turbine system of a power plant operates at part load, a moisture content of fuel gas provided to the gas turbine system may be controlled so as to minimize combustion dynamics and/or to comply with emission requirements. The fuel gas moisture content may be controlled by modulating a flow of heated water to a fuel moisturizer. By using heated water from a heat recovery steam generator to moisturize the fuel gas, heat energy from the water may be transferred to the fuel gas, and the overall mass flow maybe enhanced to thereby increase overall combined cycle efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen THOMAS, Stephen Kent Fulcher
  • Publication number: 20140060072
    Abstract: A method of starting a gas turbine system is provided. The method includes approximating a temperature of at least one turbine system component. Also included is selectively determining a flow rate for a fuel to be delivered to a combustor for combustion therein, wherein the flow rate is dependent upon the temperature of the at least one turbine system component. Further included is delivering the fuel to the combustor at the flow rate selectively determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven William Backman, Michael Bull, Markus Feigl, Stephen Kent Fulcher
  • Publication number: 20130086920
    Abstract: A device for supplying flow to a combustor includes a flow sleeve configured to circumferentially surround the combustor, wherein the flow sleeve defines a first annular passage around the combustor. A first section of the first annular passage converges at a first convergence rate. A second section of the first annular passage downstream from the first section converges at a second convergence rate that is less than the first convergence rate. A method for supplying flow to a combustor includes flowing a first portion of a working fluid substantially axially through a first annular passage, converging the first annular passage at a first convergence rate, and converging the first annular passage at a second convergence rate downstream from the first convergence rate, wherein the second convergence rate is less than the first convergence rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Wei Chen, David Leach, Stephen Kent Fulcher, John M. Matthews
  • Publication number: 20100186415
    Abstract: In a combustor for a turbine a cover sleeve is disposed between the aft end portion of the combustor liner and a resilient seal structure to define an air flow passage therebetween. The cover sleeve has at a forward end thereof a plurality of air inlet feed holes for directing cooling air into the air flow passage. A radially outer surface of the combustor liner aft end portion defining the air flow passage includes a plurality of turbulators projecting towards but spaced from the cover sleeve and a plurality of supports extending to and engaging the cover sleeve to space the cover sleeve from the turbulators to define the air flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jerome D. BROWN, Mert Berkman, Stephen Kent Fulcher, Andre Smith