Patents by Inventor William Thomas Ross
William Thomas Ross 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: 10823418Abstract: A combustor for a turbine engine includes an inner combustion liner and an outer combustion liner together defining at least in part an interior. The interior includes a combustion chamber and a main portion. The combustor also includes an inlet combustion liner at least partially defining the combustion chamber of the interior and including an inlet assembly. The inlet assembly includes at least two cavity air tubes arranged along the axial direction, each cavity air tube extending between an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of each cavity air tube in airflow communication with the combustion chamber for providing the combustion chamber with a flow of air.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2017Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joseph Zelina, Sarah Marie Monahan, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Venkat Eswarlu Tangirala, Sibtosh Pal, William Thomas Ross
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Publication number: 20180252410Abstract: A combustor for a turbine engine includes an inner combustion liner and an outer combustion liner together defining at least in part an interior. The interior includes a combustion chamber and a main portion. The combustor also includes an inlet combustion liner at least partially defining the combustion chamber of the interior and including an inlet assembly. The inlet assembly includes at least two cavity air tubes arranged along the axial direction, each cavity air tube extending between an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of each cavity air tube in airflow communication with the combustion chamber for providing the combustion chamber with a flow of air.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2017Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Joseph Zelina, Sarah Marie Monahan, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Venkat Eswarlu Tangirala, Sibtosh Pal, William Thomas Ross
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Patent number: 9719681Abstract: A system for supplying fuel includes a fuel manifold, a water manifold, and a fluid junction between the fuel manifold and the water manifold. A turbulator downstream from the fluid junction receives a fluid flow from the fluid junction. A method for supplying fuel includes flowing fuel through a fuel manifold, flowing water through a water manifold, and combining a portion of the water from the water manifold with the fuel from the fuel manifold to create emulsion fuel. The method further includes flowing the emulsion fuel through a turbulator.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2011Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hua Zhang, Douglas Frank Beadie, Gregory Allen Boardman, Geoffrey David Myers, William Thomas Ross
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Patent number: 9500369Abstract: A fuel nozzle and a method for operating a combustor are disclosed. The method includes flowing a fuel and an oxidizer through a fuel nozzle, the fuel nozzle comprising an inner tube, an intermediate tube, and an outer tube each configured for flowing one of the fuel or the oxidizer therethrough. At least one of the inner tube, the intermediate tube, or the outer tube includes a plurality of swirler vanes. The method further includes imparting a swirl to the fuel and the oxidizer in the fuel nozzle, and exhausting the fuel and the oxidizer from the fuel nozzle into a combustion zone.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2012Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Predrag Popovic, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, William Thomas Ross, Vladimir Belvaev
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Patent number: 9371989Abstract: A combustor nozzle includes a first and second liquid fuel passages that terminate at first and second fuel ports. A first diluent passage terminates at a first diluent outlet radially surrounding the second fuel ports. A second diluent passage terminates at a second diluent outlet between the first diluent outlet and the second fuel ports. A third diluent passage surrounds at least a portion of the first and second diluent passages. A method for supplying fuel to a combustor includes flowing a liquid fuel through a first fuel passage and flowing an emulsified liquid fuel through a second fuel passage. The method further includes flowing a first diluent through a shroud surrounding the second fuel passage to a first diluent passage surrounding at least a portion of the second fuel passage and flowing a second diluent through a second diluent passage radially disposed between the first diluent passage and the second fuel passage.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2011Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Geoffrey David Myers, William Thomas Ross
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Patent number: 9267433Abstract: A system includes a turbine fuel supply system. The turbine fuel supply system includes a first turbine fuel mixer configured to mix a first liquid fuel and a first deaerated water to generate a first fuel mixture. The first fuel mixture is configured to combust in a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The turbine fuel supply system also includes a deaerated water flow path configured to route the first deaerated water to the first turbine fuel mixer and a liquid fuel flow path configured to route the first liquid fuel to the first turbine fuel mixer.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2011Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hua Zhang, Douglas Frank Beadie, Geoffrey David Myers, Fabien Thibault Codron, William Thomas Ross
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Patent number: 9157635Abstract: A fuel distribution manifold comprises an outer shell having an inner surface. The outer shell defines an inlet for receiving fuel from a parent supply line, a base opposite the inlet, a central manifold axis that intersects the inlet, and a plurality of outlets for delivering fuel to offspring fuel lines, each outlet defining a respective outlet axis. In one exemplary embodiment, a fuel distribution manifold also comprises a center-body having an outer surface and being positioned within the outer shell wherein the outer surface of the center-body and the inner surface of the outer shell define a flow-path through which fluid flows from the inlet to the plurality of outlets. In another exemplary embodiment, at least one of the outlets is positioned adjacent to the base and oriented so that its respective outlet axis is rotated relatively to a radial direction that intersects the central manifold axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Donald Mark Bailey, Gregory Allen Boardman, William Thomas Ross
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Patent number: 9003806Abstract: A method of operating a combustor having a central nozzle and a plurality of outer nozzles surrounding the central nozzle is provided. The method includes providing a liquid fuel to only the plurality of outer nozzles at a specified total energy input. The method includes decreasing the liquid fuel to the plurality of outer nozzles while simultaneously increasing a gas fuel to the central nozzle and the plurality of outer nozzles to substantially maintain the specified total energy input. The method includes supplying a fuel-air ratio of the gas fuel to the central nozzle that exceeds a threshold value such that a central nozzle flame is anchored. An air-fuel ratio of the gas fuel to the plurality of outer nozzles is less than the threshold value such that a plurality of outer nozzle flames are lifted until a purge flow is supplied to the outer nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gregory Earl Jensen, Mark William Pinson, William Thomas Ross
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Publication number: 20130227956Abstract: A method of operating a combustor having a central nozzle and a plurality of outer nozzles surrounding the central nozzle is provided. The method includes providing a liquid fuel to only the plurality of outer nozzles at a specified total energy input. The method includes decreasing the liquid fuel to the plurality of outer nozzles while simultaneously increasing a gas fuel to the central nozzle and the plurality of outer nozzles to substantially maintain the specified total energy input. The method includes supplying a fuel-air ratio of the gas fuel to the central nozzle that exceeds a threshold value such that a central nozzle flame is anchored. An air-fuel ratio of the gas fuel to the plurality of outer nozzles is less than the threshold value such that a plurality of outer nozzle flames are lifted until a purge flow is supplied to the outer nozzles.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2012Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Gregory Earl Jensen, Mark William Pinson, William Thomas Ross
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Publication number: 20130167954Abstract: A fuel distribution manifold comprises an outer shell having an inner surface. The outer shell defines an inlet for receiving fuel from a parent supply line, a base opposite the inlet, a central manifold axis that intersects the inlet, and a plurality of outlets for delivering fuel to offspring fuel lines, each outlet defining a respective outlet axis. In one exemplary embodiment, a fuel distribution manifold also comprises a center-body having an outer surface and being positioned within the outer shell wherein the outer surface of the center-body and the inner surface of the outer shell define a flow-path through which fluid flows from the inlet to the plurality of outlets. In another exemplary embodiment, at least one of the outlets is positioned adjacent to the base and oriented so that its respective outlet axis is rotated relatively to a radial direction that intersects the central manifold axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2012Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Donald Mark Bailey, Gregory Allen Boardman, William Thomas Ross
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Publication number: 20130098056Abstract: A system includes a turbine fuel supply system. The turbine fuel supply system includes a first turbine fuel mixer configured to mix a first liquid fuel and a first deaerated water to generate a first fuel mixture. The first fuel mixture is configured to combust in a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The turbine fuel supply system also includes a deaerated water flow path configured to route the first deaerated water to the first turbine fuel mixer and a liquid fuel flow path configured to route the first liquid fuel to the first turbine fuel mixer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2011Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Hua Zhang, Douglas Frank Beadie, Geoffrey David Myers, Fabien Thibault Codron, William Thomas Ross
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Patent number: 8365534Abstract: A combustor includes an end cover having a nozzle. The nozzle has a front end face and a central axis. The nozzle includes a plurality of fuel passages and a plurality of oxidizer passages. The fuel passages are configured for fuel exiting the fuel passage. The fuel passages are positioned to direct fuel in a first direction, where the first direction is angled inwardly towards the center axis. The oxidizer passages are configured for having oxidizer exit the oxidizer passages. The oxidizer passages are positioned to direct oxidizer in a second direction, where the second direction is angled outwardly away from the center axis. The plurality of fuel passages and the plurality of oxidizer passages are positioned in relation to one another such that fuel is in a cross-flow arrangement with oxidizer to create a burning zone in the combustor.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Predrag Popovic, Abinash Baruah, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, William Thomas Ross
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Publication number: 20120305086Abstract: A system for supplying fuel includes a fuel manifold, a water manifold, and a fluid junction between the fuel manifold and the water manifold. A turbulator downstream from the fluid junction receives a fluid flow from the fluid junction. A method for supplying fuel includes flowing fuel through a fuel manifold, flowing water through a water manifold, and combining a portion of the water from the water manifold with the fuel from the fuel manifold to create emulsion fuel. The method further includes flowing the emulsion fuel through a turbulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Hua Zhang, Douglas Frank Beadie, Gregory Allen Boardman, Geoffrey David Myers, William Thomas Ross
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Publication number: 20120291447Abstract: A combustor nozzle includes a first and second liquid fuel passages that terminate at first and second fuel ports. A first diluent passage terminates at a first diluent outlet radially surrounding the second fuel ports. A second diluent passage terminates at a second diluent outlet between the first diluent outlet and the second fuel ports. A third diluent passage surrounds at least a portion of the first and second diluent passages. A method for supplying fuel to a combustor includes flowing a liquid fuel through a first fuel passage and flowing an emulsified liquid fuel through a second fuel passage. The method further includes flowing a first diluent through a shroud surrounding the second fuel passage to a first diluent passage surrounding at least a portion of the second fuel passage and flowing a second diluent through a second diluent passage radially disposed between the first diluent passage and the second fuel passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Geoffrey David Myers, William Thomas Ross
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Publication number: 20120266604Abstract: A fuel nozzle and a method for operating a combustor are disclosed. The method includes flowing a fuel and an oxidizer through a fuel nozzle, the fuel nozzle comprising an inner tube, an intermediate tube, and an outer tube each configured for flowing one of the fuel or the oxidizer therethrough. At least one of the inner tube, the intermediate tube, or the outer tube includes a plurality of swirler vanes. The method further includes imparting a swirl to the fuel and the oxidizer in the fuel nozzle, and exhausting the fuel and the oxidizer from the fuel nozzle into a combustion zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Inventors: Predrag Popovic, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, William Thomas Ross, Vladimir Belvaev
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Publication number: 20120234011Abstract: A combustor includes an end cover having a nozzle. The nozzle has a front end face and a central axis. The nozzle includes a plurality of fuel passages and a plurality of oxidizer passages. The fuel passages are configured for fuel exiting the fuel passage. The fuel passages are positioned to direct fuel in a first direction, where the first direction is angled inwardly towards the center axis. The oxidizer passages are configured for having oxidizer exit the oxidizer passages. The oxidizer passages are positioned to direct oxidizer in a second direction, where the second direction is angled outwardly away from the center axis. The plurality of fuel passages and the plurality of oxidizer passages are positioned in relation to one another such that fuel is in a cross-flow arrangement with oxidizer to create a burning zone in the combustor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2011Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Predrag Popovic, Abinash Baruah, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, William Thomas Ross