Patents by Inventor Thomas John Freeman

Thomas John Freeman 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: 12247517
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine system having a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The system further includes a power management system configured to supply an injection fluid into a host fluid of the gas turbine system to manage power production of the gas turbine system, wherein the injection fluid comprises a gas mixture comprising oxygen. The system further includes a model-based controller configured to control operation of the gas turbine system, wherein the model-based controller has one or more models including consideration of the injection fluid supplied by the power management system into the host fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLC
    Inventors: Juergen Gerhard Hoffmann, Harold Lamar Jordan, Thomas John Freeman
  • Publication number: 20240167425
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine system having a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The system further includes a power management system configured to supply an injection fluid into a host fluid of the gas turbine system to manage power production of the gas turbine system, wherein the injection fluid comprises a gas mixture comprising oxygen. The system further includes a model-based controller configured to control operation of the gas turbine system, wherein the model-based controller has one or more models including consideration of the injection fluid supplied by the power management system into the host fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Juergen Gerhard Hoffmann, Harold Lamar Jordan, Thomas John Freeman
  • Patent number: 10544739
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a compressor protection subsystem; a hibernation mode subsystem; and a control subsystem that controls the compressor subsystem and the hibernation subsystem. At partial loads on the turbine system, the compressor protection subsystem maintains an air flow through a compressor at an airflow coefficient for the partial load above a minimum flow rate coefficient where aeromechanical stresses occur in the compressor. The air fuel ratio in a combustor is maintained where exhaust gas emission components from the turbine are maintained below a predetermined component emission level while operating at partial loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Michael Anthony Cocca, Thomas John Freeman, Michael Wesley Yarnold, Ryan Eric Obenhoff, Sanji Ekanayake, Douglas Corbin Warwick, Joseph Philip Klosinski
  • Patent number: 10422287
    Abstract: A power generation system includes one or more processors and memory storing instructions that cause the one or more processor to execute a series of steps. That is, the one or more processors receive data indicative of a plurality of inputs associated with the power generation system, such that the plurality of inputs include a flow rate of a valve coupled between an inlet of a compressor in the power generation system and an exhaust of the compressor, where the valve fluidly couples a first fluid exiting the exhaust of the compressor to the inlet of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rebecca Kathryn Jaiven, Andrew David Ogden, Thomas John Freeman
  • Patent number: 10364754
    Abstract: A power generation system includes a processor and memory storing instructions that cause the processor to receive a first set of sensor data indicative of one or more ambient conditions with respect to the power generation system, determine whether one of the one or more ambient conditions is above a respective threshold, and send a signal to a valve to open when the one of the one or more ambient conditions is below the respective threshold, such that the valve is configured to fluidly couple a first fluid exiting a compressor to an inlet of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rebecca Kathryn Jaiven, Andrew David Ogden, Thomas John Freeman
  • Patent number: 10156192
    Abstract: The present application provides a multiple fuel delivery system for use with a gas turbine engine. The multiple fuel delivery system may include a first fuel tank with a first fuel therein, a second fuel tank with a second fuel therein, a mixing chamber, and a flow divider downstream of the mixing chamber. The first fuel tank may be in communication with the mixing chamber via a first fuel pump and the second fuel tank may be in communication with the mixing chamber via a second fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Paul Robert Fernandez, Thomas John Freeman, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Publication number: 20180266332
    Abstract: A power generation system includes a processor and memory storing instructions that cause the processor to receive a first set of sensor data indicative of one or more ambient conditions with respect to the power generation system, determine whether one of the one or more ambient conditions is above a respective threshold, and send a signal to a valve to open when the one of the one or more ambient conditions is below the respective threshold, such that the valve is configured to fluidly couple a first fluid exiting a compressor to an inlet of the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Rebecca Kathryn Jaiven, Andrew David Ogden, Thomas John Freeman
  • Patent number: 9863285
    Abstract: A power generation system may include a generator; a gas turbine system for powering the generator, the gas turbine system including a turbine component, an integral compressor and a combustor to which air from the integral compressor and fuel are supplied, the combustor arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the turbine component, and the integral compressor having a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of at least one of the combustor and the turbine component, creating an excess air flow. A first control valve system controls flow of the excess air flow along an excess air flow path to a supplemental gas turbine system. The excess air flow may be combusted with a fuel and supplied to the supplemental gas turbine system. An eductor may be positioned in the excess air flow path for using the excess air flow as a motive force to augment the excess air flow with additional gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Thomas John Freeman, John David Memmer, Timothy Joseph Rehg, Alston Ilford Scipio
  • Patent number: 9822670
    Abstract: A power generation system may include: a first gas turbine system including a first turbine component, a first integral compressor and a first combustor to which air from the first integral compressor and fuel are supplied. The first integral compressor has a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of the first combustor and/or the first turbine component, creating an excess air flow. A second gas turbine system may include similar components to the first except but without excess capacity in its compressor. A turbo-expander may be operatively coupled to the second gas turbine system. Control valves may control flow of the excess air flow from the first gas turbine system to at least one of the second gas turbine system and the turbo-expander, and flow of a discharge of the turbo-expander to an inlet of at least one of the first integral compressor and the second compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Thomas John Freeman, Kihyung Kim, Alston Ilford Scipio, Leslie Yung Min Tong
  • Publication number: 20170191426
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a compressor protection subsystem; a hibernation mode subsystem; and a control subsystem that controls the compressor subsystem and the hibernation subsystem. At partial loads on the turbine system, the compressor protection subsystem maintains an air flow through a compressor at an airflow coefficient for the partial load above a minimum flow rate coefficient where aeromechanical stresses occur in the compressor. The air fuel ratio in a combustor is maintained where exhaust gas emission components from the turbine are maintained below a predetermined component emission level while operating at partial loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Michael Anthony Cocca, Thomas John Freeman, Michael Wesley Yarnold, Ryan Eric Obenhoff, Sanji Ekanayake, Douglas Corbin Warwick, Joseph Philip Klosinski
  • Publication number: 20160273402
    Abstract: A power generation system may include a generator; a gas turbine system for powering the generator, the gas turbine system including a turbine component, an integral compressor and a combustor to which air from the integral compressor and fuel are supplied, the combustor arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the turbine component, and the integral compressor having a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of at least one of the combustor and the turbine component, creating an excess air flow. A first control valve system controls flow of the excess air flow along an excess air flow path to a supplemental gas turbine system. The excess air flow may be combusted with a fuel and supplied to the supplemental gas turbine system. An eductor may be positioned in the excess air flow path for using the excess air flow as a motive force to augment the excess air flow with additional gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Thomas John Freeman, John David Memmer, Timothy Joseph Rehg, Alston Ilford Scipio
  • Publication number: 20160273399
    Abstract: A power generation system may include: a first gas turbine system including a first turbine component, a first integral compressor and a first combustor to which air from the first integral compressor and fuel are supplied. The first integral compressor has a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of the first combustor and/or the first turbine component, creating an excess air flow. A second gas turbine system may include similar components to the first except but without excess capacity in its compressor. A turbo-expander may be operatively coupled to the second gas turbine system. Control valves may control flow of the excess air flow from the first gas turbine system to at least one of the second gas turbine system and the turbo-expander, and flow of a discharge of the turbo-expander to an inlet of at least one of the first integral compressor and the second compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Thomas John Freeman, Kihyung Kim, Alston Ilford Scipio, Leslie Yung Min Tong
  • Patent number: 9297316
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a compressor protection subsystem; a hibernation mode subsystem; and a control subsystem that controls the compressor subsystem and the hibernation subsystem. At partial loads on the turbine system, the compressor protection subsystem maintains an air flow through a compressor at an airflow coefficient for the partial load above a minimum flow rate coefficient where aeromechanical stresses occur in the compressor. The air fuel ratio in a combustor is maintained where exhaust gas emission components from the turbine are maintained below a predetermined component emission level while operating at partial loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston I. Scipio, Thomas John Freeman, Ryan Eric Obenhoff, Sanji Ekanayake, Michael Anthony Cocca, Mike Yarnold, Douglas Corbin Warwick, Joseph Klosinski
  • Publication number: 20150075265
    Abstract: Measurement devices and methods for evaluating clearances between adjacent components in turbomachines are provided. A measurement device may include a tool and a controller. The tool and controller may determine the clearance by measuring the distance between the adjacent components. The controller may compare the clearance to a predetermined engineering clearance limit and/or a previously measured clearance. A method may include measuring the clearance with a device which includes a controller. The method may further include comparing the clearance in the controller to a predetermined engineering clearance limit and/or a previously measured clearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: John David Memmer, Thomas John Freeman, Robert Flynn, Ariel Harter Lomas, Bradley Steven Carey
  • Publication number: 20140096827
    Abstract: The present application provides a multiple fuel delivery system for use with a gas turbine engine. The multiple fuel delivery system may include a first fuel tank with a first fuel therein, a second fuel tank with a second fuel therein, a mixing chamber, and a flow divider downstream of the mixing chamber. The first fuel tank may be in communication with the mixing chamber via a first fuel pump and the second fuel tank may be in communication with the mixing chamber via a second fuel pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Paul Robert Fernandez, Thomas John Freeman, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Publication number: 20130125557
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a compressor protection subsystem; a hibernation mode subsystem; and a control subsystem that controls the compressor subsystem and the hibernation subsystem. At partial loads on the turbine system, the compressor protection subsystem maintains an air flow through a compressor at an airflow coefficient for the partial load above a minimum flow rate coefficient where aeromechanical stresses occur in the compressor. The air fuel ratio in a combustor is maintained where exhaust gas emission components from the turbine are maintained below a predetermined component emission level while operating at partial loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Alston I. Scipio, Thomas John Freeman, Ryan Eric Obenhoff, Sanji Ekanayake, Michael Anthony Cocca, Mike Yarnold, Douglas Corbin Warwick, Joseph Klosinski
  • Patent number: 7168583
    Abstract: An insulated drinking utensil that extends to contain more liquid and enhance logo/decorative display including an outer casing, inner casing(s), a lid if desired, a handle if desired, and sealing gasket if desired. The extendable drinking container transforms from a normal drinking utensil into a larger drinking utensil capable of holding more and displaying more. This container allows individuals the convenience of turning their everyday mug into a larger container or pitcher. This container allows individuals to show off their favorite team in a new and revolutionary way. This container allows retailers to offer something completely unique to their customers while also conserving precious shelf space normally used for containers with similar storage capacity. This container also allows the end user the luxury of storing a container with a large holding capacity into a small storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Inventor: Thomas John Freeman
  • Publication number: 20040169039
    Abstract: An extendable drinking utensil including an outer casing, inner casing(s), a lid if desired, a handle if desired, a sealing gasket if desired, which all contribute to the enhancement of liquid, or formulation, storage and/or consumption. The extendable drinking transforms from a normal drinking utensil into a larger drinking utensil capable of holding more and displaying more. This invention allows individuals the convenience of turning their everyday coffee mug into a larger container or pitcher. This invention allows advertisers the ability of enhancing positive brand exposure. This invention allows individuals to show off their favorite team in a new and revolutionary way. This invention allows retailers to offer something completely unique to their customers while also conserving precious shelf space normally used for containers with similar storage capacity. This invention also allows the end user the luxury of storing a container with large holding capacity into a small cupboard or onto a small shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas John Freeman