Patents by Inventor Steven Craig Kluge
Steven Craig Kluge 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: 9719378Abstract: A system and a method are provided that may be used to control the temperature of steam being reheated by a moisture separator reheater (MSR). One embodiment provides a system including a steam turbine, a moisture separator reheater coupled to the steam turbine, and a controller programmed to control a temperature of steam leaving the moisture separator reheater based at least in part on sensor feedback. The controller is programmed to facilitate substantially smooth linear temperature ramping.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steven Craig Kluge, Michael James Molitor
-
Publication number: 20170081981Abstract: A system and a method are provided that may be used to control the temperature of steam being reheated by a moisture separator reheater (MSR). One embodiment provides a system including a steam turbine, a moisture separator reheater coupled to the steam turbine, and a controller programmed to control a temperature of steam leaving the moisture separator reheater based at least in part on sensor feedback. The controller is programmed to facilitate substantially smooth linear temperature ramping.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Steven Craig Kluge, Michael James Molitor
-
Patent number: 9080466Abstract: A method and a system for limiting steam flow entering a steam turbine are provided. The method and system may intentionally unbalance the steam flow apportioned between sections of the steam turbine. The steam turbine comprises at least: a first section, a second section, and a rotor disposed within each section. The method may receive a speed/load command, or the like, which provides reference strokes for a first valve, associated with the first section; and a second valve, associated with the second section. The method may also determine an operational parameter that may limit the reference strokes relative to the speed/load command. The operational parameter may determine the allowable steam flow for each section of steam turbine, independent of the speed/load command.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2010Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steven Craig Kluge, Dean Alexander Baker, Dileep Sathyanarayana, Steven Di Palma
-
Patent number: 8857184Abstract: A method for increasing the operational flexibility of a turbomachine during a startup phase is provided. The turbomachine may include a first section, a second section, and a rotor disposed within the first section and the second section. The method may determine an allowable range of a physical parameter associated with the first section and/or the second section. The method may modulate a first valve and/or a second valve to allow steam flow into the first section and the second section respectively, wherein the modulation is based on the allowable range of the physical parameter. In addition, the physical parameter allows the method to independently apportion steam flow between the first section and the second section of the turbomachine, during the startup phase.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2010Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dileep Sathyanarayana, Steven Craig Kluge, Dean Alexander Baker, Steven Di Palma
-
Patent number: 8760127Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a system for controlling a temperature of a generator is provided, wherein the system includes a fluid supply in fluid communication with the generator and a heat exchange apparatus in fluid communication with the fluid supply, the generator and a cooling fluid source. The system also includes a first sensor configured to determine a first temperature of a fluid flowing from the heat exchange apparatus to the generator, a second sensor configured to determine a second temperature of the fluid flowing from the generator to the fluid supply and a controller configured to determine an operating limit temperature for the fluid based on the determined first and second temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Balamurugan Sridharan, James Daniel Antalek, Steven Craig Kluge, Rebinth Jose Robin, John Russell Yagielski
-
Patent number: 8662820Abstract: A method for increasing the operational flexibility of a turbomachine during a shutdown phase is provided. The turbomachine may include a first section, a second section, and a rotor disposed within the first section and the second section. The method may determine an allowable range of a physical parameter associated with the first section and/or the second section. The method may modulate a first valve and/or a second valve to allow steam flow into the first section and the second section respectively, wherein the modulation is based on the allowable range of the physical parameter. In addition, the physical parameter allows the method to independently apportion steam flow between the first section and the second section of the turbomachine, during the shutdown phase.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dileep Sathyanarayana, Steven Craig Kluge, Dean Alexander Baker, Steven Di Palma
-
Publication number: 20130333386Abstract: A system and a method are provided that may be used to control the temperature of steam being reheated by a moisture separator reheater (MSR). One embodiment provides a system including a steam turbine, a moisture separator reheater coupled to the steam turbine, and a controller programmed to control a temperature of steam leaving the moisture separator reheater based at least in part on sensor feedback. The controller is programmed to facilitate substantially smooth linear temperature ramping.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steven Craig Kluge, Michael James Molitor
-
Patent number: 8499561Abstract: A system and a method are provided that may be used to control the temperature of steam being reheated by a moisture separator reheater (MSR). The temperature of a steam being reheated by a MSR may be sensed, and controller embodiments may use the sensed temperature to control the transfer of heat from various MSR components into the reheated steam. By using such control embodiments, the MSR may provide optimally heated steam to other power plant components, thus increasing the performance, efficiency, and safety of a power plant.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2009Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steven Craig Kluge, Michael James Molitor
-
Publication number: 20120249090Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a system for controlling a temperature of a generator is provided, wherein the system includes a fluid supply in fluid communication with the generator and a heat exchange apparatus in fluid communication with the fluid supply, the generator and a cooling fluid source. The system also includes a first sensor configured to determine a first temperature of a fluid flowing from the heat exchange apparatus to the generator, a second sensor configured to determine a second temperature of the fluid flowing from the generator to the fluid supply and a controller configured to determine an operating limit temperature for the fluid based on the determined first and second temperatures.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Balamurugan Sridharan, James Daniel Antalek, Steven Craig Kluge, Rebinth Jose Robin, John Russell Yagielski
-
Publication number: 20120156004Abstract: A method for increasing the operational flexibility of a turbomachine during a shutdown phase is provided. The turbomachine may include a first section, a second section, and a rotor disposed within the first section and the second section. The method may determine an allowable range of a physical parameter associated with the first section and/or the second section. The method may modulate a first valve and/or a second valve to allow steam flow into the first section and the second section respectively, wherein the modulation is based on the allowable range of the physical parameter. In addition, the physical parameter allows the method to independently apportion steam flow between the first section and the second section of the turbomachine, during the shutdown phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventors: Dileep Sathyanarayana, Steven Craig Kluge, Dean Alexander Baker, Steven Di Palma
-
Publication number: 20120151925Abstract: A method and a system for limiting steam flow entering a steam turbine are provided. The method and system may intentionally unbalance the steam flow apportioned between sections of the steam turbine. The steam turbine comprises at least: a first section, a second section, and a rotor disposed within each section. The method may receive a speed/load command, or the like, which provides reference strokes for a first valve, associated with the first section; and a second valve, associated with the second section. The method may also determine an operational parameter that may limit the reference strokes relative to the speed/load command. The operational parameter may determine the allowable steam flow for each section of steam turbine, independent of the speed/load command.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventors: Steven Craig Kluge, Dean Alexander Baker, Dileep Sathyanarayana, Steven DI Palma
-
Publication number: 20120151921Abstract: A method for increasing the operational flexibility of a turbomachine during a startup phase is provided. The turbomachine may include a first section, a second section, and a rotor disposed within the first section and the second section. The method may determine an allowable range of a physical parameter associated with the first section and/or the second section. The method may modulate a first valve and/or a second valve to allow steam flow into the first section and the second section respectively, wherein the modulation is based on the allowable range of the physical parameter. In addition, the physical parameter allows the method to independently apportion steam flow between the first section and the second section of the turbomachine, during the startup phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventors: Dileep Sathyanarayana, Steven Craig Kluge, Dean Alexander Baker, Steven Di Palma
-
Publication number: 20120151918Abstract: A method for increasing the operational flexibility of a turbomachine is provided. The turbomachine may include a first section, a second section, and a rotor disposed within the first section and the second section. The method may determine an allowable range of a physical parameter associated with the first section and/or the second section. The method may modulate a first valve and/or a second valve to allow steam flow into the first section and the second section respectively, wherein the modulation is based on the allowable range of the physical parameter. In addition, the physical parameter allows the method to independently apportion steam flow between the first section and the second section of the turbomachine, during the loading process.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventors: Dileep Sathyanarayana, Steven Craig Kluge, Dean Alexander Baker, Steven Di Palma
-
Publication number: 20110056201Abstract: A system and a method are provided that may be used to control the temperature of steam being reheated by a moisture separator reheater (MSR). The temperature of a steam being reheated by a MSR may be sensed, and controller embodiments may use the sensed temperature to control the transfer of heat from various MSR components into the reheated steam. By using such control embodiments, the MSR may provide optimally heated steam to other power plant components, thus increasing the performance, efficiency, and safety of a power plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2009Publication date: March 10, 2011Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steven Craig Kluge, Michael James Molitor
-
Patent number: 7025559Abstract: A method for operating a rotary machine is provided. The rotary machine includes a stationary member and a rotatable member wherein the rotatable member is configured to rotate at least partially within the stationary member. The method includes determining an off-normal operating condition of the rotary machine facilitating undesirable contact between the rotatable member and the stationary member, monitoring a parameter associated with the off-normal operating condition, and preventing operation of the rotary machine while the monitored parameter is within a predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2004Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Forrest Loy, Gregory Edward Cooper, Steven Craig Kluge, Dean Alexander Baker, Vivek Venugopal Badami, Peter J. Eisenzopf