Patents by Inventor Thomas Ruck

Thomas Ruck 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).

  • Publication number: 20210341434
    Abstract: A photoacoustic detector includes an emitter, an acoustic resonator having a single-pass cavity with a transparent wall, and an acoustic sensor. The emitter is arranged adjacent to the transparent wall and is configured to emit modulated electromagnetic radiation that enters the acoustic resonator through the transparent wall in a direction that intersects with a longitudinal axis of the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Rudolf Bierl, Thomas Ruck
  • Publication number: 20150369126
    Abstract: A method for recirculation of exhaust gas from a combustion chamber of a combustor of a gas turbine back to the supply side of the combustor provides a partial flow of the exhaust gas in the combustion chamber directly extracted from the combustion chamber and internally fed back to an entrance of the combustor through an internal channel of the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Hanspeter KNÖPFEL, Thomas RUCK, Michele PERETI
  • Patent number: 8007273
    Abstract: A premixing burner has a swirl generator with at least two burner shells (1) which jointly enclose an axia conically widening swirl space and delimit tangential air inlet slits (3) through which combustion supply air passes into the swirl space in which an axially propagating swirl flow is formed, and with fuel injection devices at least partially along the tangentially running air inlet slits (3). The fuel injection devices include a fuel line (6) separate from the burner shell (1) and which is firmly attached to the burner shell (1) so as to be longitudinally movable with respect to the burner shell (1) and releasable perpendicularly to the surface of the burner shell (1). In the burner shell (1), orifices (4) are provided, into which issue fuel injectors (7) which are provided along the fuel line (6) and which project beyond the circumferential edge of the fuel line (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas Ruck, Slawomir Slowik, Christian Steinbach, Martin Andrea Von Planta
  • Patent number: 7632091
    Abstract: A premix burner for producing an ignitable fuel/air mixture has a swirl generator with at least two burner shells (B) which complement one another to form a throughflow body, which in each case have a first burner shell section (1) with a partial cone shape and together enclose an axially conically widening swirl space and which mutually define, in the axial cone longitudinal direction, tangential air inlet slots (LS), through which the combustion feed air (L) passes into the swirl space, in which an axially spreading swirl flow forms, and includes fuel feeds which are arranged at least in sections along the tangentially running air inlet slots (LS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Christian Steinbach, Martin Andrea Von Planta, Thomas Ruck, Weiqun Geng
  • Publication number: 20080229752
    Abstract: A lance (3) for introducing a fuel into a mixing path (2) of a burner (1) which is provided with a swirler for producing a swirled combustion air flow, especially a burner of a turbine plant, includes a lance head (5), a fuel feed (8) and an oxidator feed (10). The lance head (5) projects into the mixing path (2), has at least one fuel nozzle (6) for injection of the fuel into the mixing path (2), and also has at least one oxidator outlet orifice (7) for introducing an oxidator into the mixing path (2). The fuel feed (8) extends in the lance (3) and is connected to the at least one fuel nozzle (6). The oxidator feed (10) extends in the lance head (5) and is connected to the at least one oxidator outlet orifice (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Ruck, Christian Steinbach, Martin Von Planta
  • Publication number: 20080216482
    Abstract: A lance for introducing fuel into a combustion chamber of a burner, in particular of a turbine plant is provided. The lance includes a lance head, a fuel feed, an oxidator feed and a control device. The lance head projects into the combustion chamber and includes a fuel nozzle and an oxidator outlet orifice. The fuel feed extends in the lance and is connected to the fuel nozzle. The oxidator feed extends in the lance head and is connected to the oxidator outlet orifice. The control device controls a flow cross sectional area of the oxidator feed. The control device has a control piston installed in the lance head with stroke adjustability for stroke-dependent controlling of the flow cross sectional area of the oxidator feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Stefano Bernero, Thomas Ruck, Christian Steinbach, Martin von Planta
  • Publication number: 20080070176
    Abstract: A premix burner for producing an ignitable fuel/air mixture has a swirl generator with at least two burner shells (B) which complement one another to form a throughflow body, which in each case have a first burner shell section (1) with a partial cone shape and together enclose an axially conically widening swirl space and which mutually define, in the axial cone longitudinal direction, tangential air inlet slots (LS), through which the combustion feed air (L) passes into the swirl space, in which an axially spreading swirl flow forms, and includes fuel feeds which are arranged at least in sections along the tangentially running air inlet slots (LS).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Christian Steinbach, Martin Von Planta, Thomas Ruck, Weiqun Geng
  • Publication number: 20080032246
    Abstract: A premixing burner for generating an ignitable fuel/air mixture has a swirl generator with at least two burner shells (1) which complement one another to form a throughflow body and which jointly enclose an axial conically widening swirl space and delimit, with respect to one another in the axial longitudinal extent of the cone, tangential air inlet slits (3) through which combustion supply air passes into the swirl space in which an axially propagating swirl flow is formed, and with fuel injection devices, which are provided at least partially along the tangentially running air inlet slits (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Ruck, Slawomir Slowik, Christian Steinbach, Martin Von Planta
  • Patent number: 7140183
    Abstract: A burner (24) which is useful for operating a heat generator includes a first upstream swirl generator (17) capable of swirling a combustion air stream, a device for injecting at least one fuel into the combustion air stream from the upstream swirl generator (17), an exit ring (1) located at the downstream end of the burner (24) at the edge to the combustion chamber (2) where the fuel is burnt, and preferentially a mixing section (20, 21) downstream from the upstream swirl generator (17) having a downstream end, having at least one transfer duct (20) for transferring downstream a flow of combustion air and fuel formed in the upstream swirl generator (17), and having a mixing tube (21) downstream from the at least one transfer duct (20) and receiving flow from the at least one transfer duct (20), wherein the downstream end of the mixing section borders the combustion chamber (2) and is formed by the exit ring (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas Ruck, Sasha Savic, Torsten Strand
  • Publication number: 20050164138
    Abstract: A burner (24) which is useful for operating a heat generator includes a first upstream swirl generator (17) capable of swirling a combustion air stream, a device for injecting at least one fuel into the combustion air stream from the upstream swirl generator (17), an exit ring (1) located at the downstream end of the burner (24) at the edge to the combustion chamber (2) where the fuel is burnt, and preferentially a mixing section (20, 21) downstream from the upstream swirl generator (17) having a downstream end, having at least one transfer duct (20) for transferring downstream a flow of combustion air and fuel formed in the upstream swirl generator (17), and having a mixing tube (21) downstream from the at least one transfer duct (20) and receiving flow from the at least one transfer duct (20), wherein the downstream end of the mixing section borders the combustion chamber (2) and is formed by the exit ring (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Ruck, Sasha Savic, Torsten Strand
  • Patent number: 6834504
    Abstract: The invention relates to a premix burner with high flame stability for use in a heat generator, preferably in the combustion chamber of a gas turbine. Modern, lean-operated premix burners enable very low noxious emissions, but sometimes operate very close to the extinction limit. To increase the stability of the lean premix combustion by increasing the distance between flame temperature and extinction limit temperature the invention proposes to equip the burner in the mixing zone (200) with a net-like structure (201) for the premixing of combustion air and fuel. According to a preferred embodiment, the net-like structure (201) consists of a plurality of layers of individual wire mesh fabrics (202) arranged at a distance from each other. The wire mesh fabrics (202) are preferably equipped with an oxidation-promoting, catalytically active surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Timothy Griffin, Peter Jansohn, Thomas Ruck
  • Publication number: 20040018459
    Abstract: The invention relates to a premix burner with high flame stability for use in a heat producer, preferably in the combustion chamber of a gas turbine. Modern lean operated premix burners make possible very low pollutant emissions, but sometimes operate very close to the extinction limit. To increase the stability of the lean premix combustion by increasing the distance between the flame temperature and the extinction limit temperature, it is proposed according to the invention to arrange a downstream combustion gas mixing section (300) for the burner, which mixing section (300) projects at least partially into the combustion chamber (50) and enables combustion gases from the combustion chamber (50) access to the fuel/air mixture (144) by means of combustion gas inlet openings (311). The added combustion gases (145) are mixed with the fuel/air mixture (144), and in this manner increase its temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Ruck, Hans Peter Knoepfel
  • Patent number: 6679061
    Abstract: Described is a premix burner arrangement as well as a method for operating the same, comprising a pilot fuel feeding means for operating a combustion chamber of a gas turbine arrangement, a premix burner, wherein at least one fuel addition unit as well as supply air openings have been provided in such a way that gaseous and/or liquid fuel can be mixed with combustion supply air inside the premix burner and form a fuel/air mixture, which exits from the premix burner downstream in the direction towards the combustion chamber positioned after the premix burner arrangement and which can be ignited inside the combustion chamber in the form of a spatially largely stationary flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Christian Steinbach, Timothy Albert Griffin, Peter Jansohn, Thomas Ruck
  • Patent number: 6640545
    Abstract: The invention relates to a premix burner with high flame stability for use in a heat producer, preferably in the combustion chamber of a gas turbine. Modern lean operated premix burners make possible very low pollutant emissions, but sometimes operate very close to the extinction limit. To increase the stability of the lean premix combustion by increasing the distance between the flame temperature and the extinction limit temperature, it is proposed according to the invention to arrange a downstream combustion gas mixing section (300) for the burner, which mixing section (300) projects at least partially into the combustion chamber (50) and enables combustion gases from the combustion chamber (50) access to the fuel/air mixture (144) by means of combustion gas inlet openings (311). The added combustion gases (145) are mixed with the fuel/air mixture (144), and in this manner increase its temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas Ruck, Hans Peter Knoepfel
  • Patent number: 6625988
    Abstract: A premix burner arrangement with catalytic combustion provides a fuel/air mixture to a combustion chamber of a gas turbine arrangement. The premix burner arrangement includes a premix burner, at least one fuel addition unit, and air inlet openings arranged in such a way that at least one of gaseous and liquid fuel can be mixed with combustion inlet air inside the premix burner to form a fuel/air mixture. The fuel/air mixture exits from the premix burner downstream in the direction towards a combustion chamber positioned after the premix burner arrangement and can be ignited inside the combustion chamber. A catalyzer unit is provided before the entrance of the fuel/air mixture into the combustion chamber. Part of the fuel/air mixture can be introduced into and passed through the catalyzer unit before the catalyzed part of the fuel/air mixture flows together with the remaining portion of the fuel/air mixture into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Wolfgang Weisenstein, Timothy Albert Griffin, Peter Jansohn, Thomas Ruck
  • Publication number: 20030031972
    Abstract: The invention relates to a premix burner with high flame stability for use in a heat generator, preferably in the combustion chamber of a gas turbine. Modern, lean-operated premix burners enable very low noxious emissions, but sometimes operate very close to the extinction limit. To increase the stability of the lean premix combustion by increasing the distance between flame temperature and extinction limit temperature the invention proposes to equip the burner in the mixing zone (200) with a net-like structure (201) for the premixing of combustion air and fuel. According to a preferred embodiment, the net-like structure (201) consists of a plurality of layers of individual wire mesh fabrics (202) arranged at a distance from each other. The wire mesh fabrics (202) are preferably equipped with an oxidation-promoting, catalytically active surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Timothy Griffin, Peter Jansohn, Thomas Ruck
  • Publication number: 20020189257
    Abstract: Described is a premix burner arrangement as well as a method for operating the same, comprising a pilot fuel feeding means for operating a combustion chamber of a gas turbine arrangement, a premix burner, wherein at least one fuel addition unit as well as supply air openings have been provided in such a way that gaseous and/or liquid fuel can be mixed with combustion supply air inside the premix burner and form a fuel/air mixture, which exits from the premix burner downstream in the direction towards the combustion chamber positioned after the premix burner arrangement and which can be ignited inside the combustion chamber in the form of a spatially largely stationary flame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Christian Steinbach, Timothy Albert Griffin, Peter Jansohn, Thomas Ruck
  • Publication number: 20020172905
    Abstract: The invention relates to a premix burner with high flame stability for use in a heat producer, preferably in the combustion chamber of a gas turbine. Modem lean operated premix burners make possible very low pollutant emissions, but sometimes operate very close to the extinction limit. To increase the stability of the lean premix combustion by increasing the distance between the flame temperature and the extinction limit temperature, it is proposed according to the invention to arrange a downstream combustion gas mixing section (300) for the burner, which mixing section (300) projects at least partially into the combustion chamber (50) and enables combustion gases from the combustion chamber (50) access to the fuel/air mixture (144) by means of combustion gas inlet openings (311). The added combustion gases (145) are mixed with the fuel/air mixture (144), and in this manner increase its temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas Ruck, Hans Peter Knoepfel
  • Patent number: 6461151
    Abstract: According to the invention, in burners having a swirl generator (100), a mixing tube (220) and a combustion chamber (30), the transition from the mixing tube (220) to the combustion chamber (30) is designed with a variable radius over the circumference of the mixing tube (220). As a result, it is possible to form the flame in various shapes—from a circle to an ellipse with a ratio of width to height of 3 at most. The number of burners in a gas turbine may thus be advantageously reduced. Burners of existing gas turbines may be converted in a simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Hans Peter Knoepfel, Thomas Ruck
  • Publication number: 20020106599
    Abstract: Described is a premix burner arrangement with catalytic combustion for operating a combustion chamber of a gas turbine arrangement, as well as a method to this effect, having a premix burner, wherein at least one fuel addition unit as well as inlet air openings have been provided in such a way that gaseous and/or liquid fuel can be mixed with combustion inlet air inside the premix burner and form a fuel/air mixture, which exits from the premix burner downstream in the direction towards the combustion chamber positioned after the premix burner arrangement and which can be ignited inside the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Wolfgang Weisenstein, Timothy Albert Griffin, Peter Jansohn, Thomas Ruck