Patents by Inventor Timothy R. Bilton

Timothy R. Bilton 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: 8572975
    Abstract: A combustion turbine engine that includes: a compressor; a combustor that receives fuel from a fuel line; a turbine; a heat exchange portion comprising a portion of the fuel line in heat transfer relationship with a heat source for heating the fuel; a rapid heating value meter disposed to test the heating value of the fuel that is configured to provide heating value test results within approximately 1 minute; a cold leg bypass comprising a fuel line that bypasses the heat exchange portion, the cold leg bypass being connected to the fuel line at an upstream fork and at a fuel mixing junction; and valves for controlling the fuel being directed through the heat exchange portion and the fuel being direct through the cold leg bypass; wherein the length of fuel line between the fuel mixing junction and the combustor is less than 20 meters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy R. Bilton, Dean M. Erickson, Brian M. Gallagher, Korey F. Rendo, John V. Hains
  • Publication number: 20100307157
    Abstract: A method of controlling a combustion turbine engine, wherein the engine includes: a fuel line including a heat exchange portion; a heating value meter; a cold leg bypass comprising an alternate fuel line that bypasses the heat exchange portion, the cold leg bypass being connected to the fuel line at an upstream fork and at a fuel mixing junction, the fuel mixing junction being positioned such that a length of fuel line between it and the inlet to the combustor is short; and valves for controlling the amount of fuel being directed through the heat exchange portion; the method comprising: measuring the heating value of the fuel; determining a target fuel temperature range based on the heating value and a target Modified Wobbe Index range; and controlling the fuel that bypasses the heat exchange portion such that the temperature of the fuel is within the target temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Timothy R. Bilton, Dean M. Erickson, DurgaPrasad R. Nallamotu, Edward L. McGrath, Tailai Hu
  • Publication number: 20100307158
    Abstract: A combustion turbine engine that includes: a compressor; a combustor that receives fuel from a fuel line; a turbine; a heat exchange portion comprising a portion of the fuel line in heat transfer relationship with a heat source for heating the fuel; a rapid heating value meter disposed to test the heating value of the fuel that is configured to provide heating value test results within approximately 1 minute; a cold leg bypass comprising a fuel line that bypasses the heat exchange portion, the cold leg bypass being connected to the fuel line at an upstream fork and at a fuel mixing junction; and valves for controlling the fuel being directed through the heat exchange portion and the fuel being direct through the cold leg bypass; wherein the length of fuel line between the fuel mixing junction and the combustor is less than 20 meters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Timothy R. Bilton, Dean M. Erickson, Brian M. Gallagher, Korey F. Rendo, John V. Hains