Patents by Inventor William Theadore Fisher
William Theadore Fisher 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).
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Patent number: 10344677Abstract: Systems and methods for preheating fuel in a gas turbine engine are provided. In one embodiment, a system may include a gas turbine engine, a fuel line in fluid communication with the gas turbine engine, a gas turbine compartment disposed about the gas turbine engine, and a first conduit in fluid communication with the gas turbine compartment. The first conduit may include ventilation discharge air from the gas turbine compartment. The system also may include a first heat exchanger in communication with the fuel line and the first conduit. The first heat exchanger may be configured to exchange heat between the fuel and the ventilation discharge air from the gas turbine compartment.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2014Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Joseph Klosinski, William Theadore Fisher
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Patent number: 10337357Abstract: The present application provides a power generation system. The power generation system may include a gas turbine engine, a steam turbine, and a steam turbine preheating system. The steam turbine preheating system may include a steam generator that creates a flow of steam to preheat the steam turbine from an extraction of the gas turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: George Vargese Mathai, Joseph Philip Klosinski, Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, William Theadore Fisher
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Publication number: 20180216499Abstract: The present application provides a power generation system. The power generation system may include a gas turbine engine, a steam turbine, and a steam turbine preheating system. The steam turbine preheating system may include a steam generator that creates a flow of steam to preheat the steam turbine from an extraction of the gas turbine engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2017Publication date: August 2, 2018Inventors: George Vargese Mathai, Joseph Philip Klosinski, Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, William Theadore Fisher
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Publication number: 20180073440Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and storage medium for storing code related to controlling turbine shroud clearance for operational protection. The disclosure includes a multi-stage turbine and a protection system. The multi-stage turbine includes a stage of airfoils with a distal shroud, a casing adjacent the distal shroud and defining a clearance distance between the distal shroud and the casing, and a clearance control mechanism that controllably adjusts the clearance distance based upon receiving a clearance control signal. The protection system has an operational limit value related to a failure mode and provides the clearance control signal to the clearance control mechanism. The protection system receives operational data related to the multi-stage turbine and modifies the clearance control signal based on the operational limit value to increase the clearance distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2016Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: George Vargese Mathai, William Theadore Fisher, Joseph Philip Klosinski, Alston Ilford Scipio
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Publication number: 20160273393Abstract: A power generation system includes: 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 combustor arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the first turbine component, and the first integral compressor having 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 a second turbine component, a second compressor and a second combustor to which air from the second compressor and fuel are supplied, the second combustor arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the second turbine component. A control valve system controls flow of the excess air flow from the first gas turbine system to the second gas turbine system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, William Theadore Fisher, Mark Stefan Maier, Robert Michael Orenstein, Alston Ilford Scipio
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Publication number: 20160273396Abstract: A power generation system includes: 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 combustor arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the first turbine component, and the first integral compressor having a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of the first combustor and/or the first gas 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 control valve system controls flow of the excess air flow from the first gas turbine system to the second gas turbine system. A heat exchanger may be coupled to the excess air flow path for exchanging heat with the excess air flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, William Theadore Fisher, Joseph Philip Klosinski, Mark Stefan Maier, George Vargese Mathai, Ryan Eric Obenhoff, Robert Michael Orenstein, Alston Ilford Scipio, Gordon Raymond Smith
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Publication number: 20160273397Abstract: A power generation system includes: 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 combustor arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the first turbine component, and the first integral compressor having 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 control valve system controls flow of the excess air flow from the first gas turbine system to the second gas turbine system. A supplemental compressor may be coupled to the excess air flow path for augmenting the excess air flow with additional air.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Dale Joel Davis, William Theadore Fisher, Robert Michael Orenstein, Alston Ilford Scipio
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Publication number: 20160273401Abstract: A power generation system may include a gas turbine system including a first turbine component, an integral compressor and a combustor to which air from the integral compressor and fuel are supplied. The combustor is arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the turbine component, and the integral compressor has a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of the combustor and/or 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 process air demand. An eductor positioned in the excess air flow path uses the excess air flow as a motive force to augment the excess air flow with additional air, creating an augmented excess air flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, William Theadore Fisher, Joseph Philip Klosinski, Peter Wallace Robson, Alston Ilford Scipio
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Publication number: 20150345401Abstract: Systems and methods for preheating fuel in a gas turbine engine are provided. In one embodiment, a system may include a gas turbine engine, a fuel line in fluid communication with the gas turbine engine, a gas turbine compartment disposed about the gas turbine engine, and a first conduit in fluid communication with the gas turbine compartment. The first conduit may include ventilation discharge air from the gas turbine compartment. The system also may include a first heat exchanger in communication with the fuel line and the first conduit. The first heat exchanger may be configured to exchange heat between the fuel and the ventilation discharge air from the gas turbine compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2014Publication date: December 3, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Joseph Klosinski, William Theadore Fisher
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Patent number: 8738326Abstract: A method of performance calculation and comparison is provided and includes collecting, at a central location, data relating to a performance characteristic of a machine, calculating at the central location and from the collected data, the performance characteristic of the machine and comparing the calculated performance characteristic with a target performance characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Phani Raghavender Gurijala, William Theadore Fisher, Rajan Gupta, Mallikarjan Puttappa Narayanpur, Ryan Margate Pastrana, Eric Thomas Pool, Subramaniam Krishnakumar Sastry, Janna Christiaanse Walsh, Difei Wang
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Publication number: 20140123666Abstract: A system to improve gas turbine output and extend the life of hot gas path components includes a subsystem for estimating an amount of water or steam to be added to the flow of air to achieve the desired hot gas path temperature. The system includes a water or steam injection component adapted to inject the amount of water or steam to the flow of air to generate a flow of humid air and an injection subsystem adapted to inject the flow of humid air into a nozzle at the turbine stage are also included. The system includes a temperature sensor disposed at a turbine stage, and a subsystem for determining a desired hot gas path temperature at the turbine stage. An extraction conduit is coupled to a compressor stage and is adapted to extract a flow of air.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2013Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, William Theadore Fisher, Stephen Paul Wassynger, Timothy Tah-teh Yang
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Publication number: 20130191076Abstract: A monitoring and diagnostic (M&D) center includes continuous monitoring systems (CMS) for one or more remote sites. Measurement data taken at the remote site(s) is used to generate and analyze output. An on-site validation tool performs diagnostics and prognostics with output generated over different periods of time with different algorithms to generate recommendations regarding hardware upgrades, design improvements, or modified maintenance schedule.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2012Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Xiaomo Jiang, William Theadore Fisher, Craig Joseph Foster, Difei Wang, Michael Wesley Yarnold
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Publication number: 20120245892Abstract: A method of performance calculation and comparison is provided and includes collecting, at a central location, data relating to a performance characteristic of a machine, calculating at the central location and from the collected data, the performance characteristic of the machine and comparing the calculated performance characteristic with a target performance characteristic.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2011Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Phani Raghavender Gurijala, William Theadore Fisher, Rajan Gupta, Mallikarjan Puttappa Narayanpur, Ryan Margate Pastrana, Eric Thomas Pool, Subramaniam Krishnakumar Sastry, Janna Christiaanse Walsh, Difei Wang