Fuel Flusher Or Drainer Patents (Class 60/39.094)
  • Patent number: 11814972
    Abstract: A system comprises a gas turbine engine including a compressor, combustor, gas turbine, the combustor including a plurality of late lean fuel injectors; and wash system configured to be attached to and in fluid communication with the a plurality of late lean fuel injectors of the combustor. The wash system includes a water source supplying water; a first fluid source supplying a first fluid; a mixing chamber in communication with the water source and first fluid source; a water pump to pump water to the mixing chamber; a first fluid pump to pump the first fluid to the mixing chamber; a fluid line in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and at least one of the plurality of late lean fuel injectors so fluid from the mixing chamber is injected into the combustor at late lean fuel injectors. The wash system is operated with the gas turbine engine off-line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Justin Todd Eggart, Colin Noel Stevens, Sanji Ekanayake
  • Patent number: 11629613
    Abstract: A method of controlling a gas turbine engine includes the steps of: detecting a shaft break event in a shaft connecting a compressor of the gas turbine engine to a turbine of the gas turbine engine; and in response to this detection, activating a shaft break mitigation system which introduces a fluid into a gas flow of the gas turbine engine downstream of the turbine, or increases an amount of a fluid being provided into the gas flow of the gas turbine engine downstream of the turbine, whereby the fluid reduces an effective area of a nozzle for the gas flow so as to reduce the mass flow rate of the gas flow through the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Natalie C Wong
  • Patent number: 11543321
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for leak detection from a thief hatch. An example thief hatch includes a vent control stem coupled to first and second sealing plates, the first and second sealing plates to control fluid flow through the thief hatch based on translation of the vent control stem, and an indicator extending from the vent control stem to provide a visual indication of a condition of the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies Tulsa, LLC
    Inventors: Vlad Cristinel Hanceanu, Istvan Bartha, Silviu Vasile Rebreanu, Cristian Amza
  • Patent number: 11542870
    Abstract: A gas supply system is provided herein. The gas supply system includes a fuel oxygen reduction unit having a circuit defining a gas flowpath for a flow of a stripping gas. A reservoir is in selective fluid communication with the fuel oxygen reduction unit and is configured to store a portion of the stripping gas from the circuit. The reservoir is further configured to be in selective fluid communication with the fuel system component when installed in a vehicle to provide the stored portion of the stripping gas to the fuel system component in response to detection of a purge condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey Douglas Rambo
  • Patent number: 11536201
    Abstract: Methods and systems of operating a gas turbine engine in a low-power condition are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes supplying fuel to a combustor by supplying fuel to a first fuel manifold and a second fuel manifold of the gas turbine engine. The method also includes, while supplying fuel to the combustor by supplying fuel to the first fuel manifold: stopping supplying fuel to the second fuel manifold; and supplying pressurized air to the second fuel manifold to flush fuel in the second fuel manifold into the combustor and hinder coking in the second fuel manifold and associated fuel nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: James Robert Jarvo, Cédric Saintignan, Joseph Daniel Maxim Cirtwill, Kian McCaldon, Marc-Andre Tremblay, David Waddleton
  • Patent number: 11525410
    Abstract: Fuel systems of gas turbine engines of aircraft, and associated methods are provided. The fuel systems and methods can permit reverse purging of one or more fuel manifolds of a gas turbine engine to prevent coking in some modes of operation. A fuel system includes first and second fuel manifolds fluidly connectable to a combustor of the gas turbine engine. A valve is operatively disposed between the second fuel manifold and a fuel supply line for controlling fuel supply to the second fuel manifold. A reservoir includes a movable piston disposed therein and dividing the reservoir into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is fluidly connectable to the fuel supply line or to a fuel purge line via the valve. The second chamber is in fluid communication with the second fuel manifold to receive residual fuel from the second fuel manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: James Robert Jarvo, Cédric Saintignan, Hytham Mokhtar
  • Patent number: 11300295
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle apparatus includes: an outer body having an exterior surface and a plurality of openings in the exterior surface. An inner body is disposed inside the outer body, cooperating with the outer body to define an annular space. A main injection ring is disposed in the annular space and includes an array of fuel posts extending outward therefrom, each fuel post including a perimeter wall defining a lateral surface and a recessed floor. Each fuel post is aligned with one of the openings and separated from the opening by a perimeter gap defined between the opening and the lateral surface. A main fuel gallery extends within the main injection ring. The main injection ring includes plurality of main fuel orifices, each main fuel orifice communicating with the main fuel gallery and extending through one of the fuel posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Benjamin, Joshua Tyler Mook, Sean James Henderson, Ramon Martinez
  • Patent number: 11242801
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing fuel leakage in a gas turbine engine are provided. A fuel accumulation system includes a control valve section fluidly coupled to a fuel manifold passage and an accumulator valve section fluidly coupled at a first side to the control valve section. The control valve section is configured to control expansion of a fluid flowing in the fuel manifold passage. The accumulator valve section is configured to receive fluid expanded in the fuel manifold passage via the control valve section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard Allen Ellsworth, Frederick Ehrwulf van Alen, Thomas Vander Ng
  • Patent number: 11156163
    Abstract: A fluid injection system can include a main flow line, a primary flow line connected to the main flow line, and a primary flow valve disposed between the primary flow line and the main flow line and configured to allow injectant flow to the primary flow line from the main flow line in an open primary flow valve state, and to prevent injectant flow to the primary flow line from the main flow line in a closed primary flow valve state. The system can include a secondary flow line connected to the main flow line and a secondary flow valve disposed between the secondary flow line and the main flow line and configured to selectively allow injectant flow to the secondary flow line from the main flow line in an open secondary flow valve state, and to prevent injectant flow to the secondary flow line from the main flow line in a closed secondary flow valve state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Susca, Steve Doerner, Charles E. Reuter
  • Patent number: 11028779
    Abstract: Core housings for gas turbine engines are described. The core housings include a housing surface defining an exterior surface of the core housing, a housing aperture arranged on the housing surface, the housing aperture configured to enable fluid communication between an external environment and an interior of the core housing, a drainage hole arranged upstream relative to the housing aperture, the drainage hole configured to enable draining of a fluid from an interior of the core housing to the external environment, and a redirection device arranged to receive a fluid from the drainage hole and direct such fluid away from the housing aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dmitriy B. Sidelkovskiy, James Evans
  • Patent number: 10968837
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for air recovery are disclosed. The diverted pressurized air may be used to supply a hydrostatic purge to the unutilized portion of a turbine engine fuel manifold circuit to ensure that exhaust gases from the utilized side of the fuel manifold circuit do not enter the portion of the alternative fuel manifold circuit rack. The assembly used to remove compressor section pressurized air may include a flow control orifice, line pressure measuring instrumentation, non-return valves, isolation valves and hard stainless-steel tubing assemblies. In some embodiments, a turbine compressor section diverter system may include a small air receiver used to increase the volume of air supplying the manifold to aid in potential pressure and flow disruptions from a turbine engine compressor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: BJ Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Tony Yeung, Ricardo Rodriguez-Ramon, Joseph Foster
  • Patent number: 10914202
    Abstract: A water/steam system for a combined cycle power plant and related method for operating said system are provided. The system comprises a heat recovery steam generator providing a flue gas stream path for extracting heat from a flue gas stream exhausted from a gas turbine, the heat recovery steam generator having a low pressure section including a low pressure evaporator arranged along the flue gas stream path for generating low pressure steam at a low pressure input level for a main input of a low pressure steam turbine. To use heat at low temperatures, the low pressure section may include a sub low pressure subsection with a sub low pressure evaporator for generating sub low pressure steam, at a sub low pressure level below the low pressure input level. The sub low pressure evaporator is disposed in the flue gas stream path downstream of a low pressure economizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Mariah Couzzicarneiro, Joerg Dietzmann
  • Patent number: 10858998
    Abstract: An engine fuel system is disclosed for managing drainage of fuel in response to an engine shut-down condition. For normal operation, a piston of a piston assembly is maintained in a first position by pressurized fuel in a volume on a first side of the piston. In response to engine shut-down, pressure is removed from the first side of the piston and fuel in the volume on the first side of the piston is drained into a return conduit that is part of the fuel system's thermal management system. Displacement of the piston in response to removal of pressure on the first side of the piston creates a volume on a second side of the piston for drainage of fuel from a fuel manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lubomir A. Ribarov, Leo J. Veilleux, Jr., James S. Elder
  • Patent number: 10697638
    Abstract: A fuel injection device includes: a pilot fuel injector disposed at a radially center position; a main fuel injector having an annular shape and disposed so as to encircle the pilot fuel injector; a fuel injection portion that injects a fuel into a combustion chamber; a fuel supply unit that supplies a fuel to the fuel injection portion; a fuel introduction portion secured to a combustor housing that has the combustion chamber therein and introduces a fuel into the fuel supply unit; and an injector housing that is supported by the fuel introduction portion and covers front portions of the pilot fuel injector and the main fuel injector. The fuel supply unit has a base supported by the fuel introduction portion, and an annular body supported by the injector housing via a support pin so as to be radially movable relative to the injector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignees: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kobayashi, Ryusuke Matsuyama, Kenta Yamaguchi, Hideki Ogata, Takeo Nishiura, Hitoshi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 10473060
    Abstract: A method and fuel supply system for supply of a combustion chamber with at least one combustible fluid are provided. The fuel supply system includes a combustion chamber, at least one supply circuit, and at least one purge circuit, the purge circuit coupled to the at least one supply circuit, the purge circuit including at least two isolation valves defining a cavity between, a source of relatively high temperature purge air coupled in flow communication to the cavity through one of the at least two isolation valves, a source of relatively low temperature ventilation air coupled in flow communication to the cavity, and a vent coupled in flow communication to the cavity, the at least one purge circuit configured to channel a flow of relatively low temperature ventilation air from the source relatively low temperature ventilation air through the cavity to the vent during operation of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Pierre Montagne
  • Patent number: 10465908
    Abstract: A combustion staging system includes a splitting unit which receives a metered fuel flow and controllably splits the received fuel flow into pilot and mains flows. Pilot and mains fuel manifolds distribute fuel from the splitting unit to the pilot and mains stages. The splitting unit selects and deselects pilot-only operation. Both pilot and mains manifolds are selectable for pilot and mains operation. A cooling flow recirculation line has a delivery section arranged to provide a cooling flow of fuel to the mains manifold when it is deselected during pilot-only operation. Cooling flow enters the delivery section from a high pressure fuel zone of the engine and exits the return section to a low pressure fuel zone of the engine. A controller adjusts the splitting unit during pilot-only operation to partially select the mains manifold thereby increasing the pressure in the mains manifold to meet a target fuel pressure therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Andrew Stevenson, Graham Thompson
  • Patent number: 10408131
    Abstract: A combustion staging system includes a splitting unit receiving a metered fuel flow and controllably splitting the received flow into pilot and mains flows. Pilot and mains fuel manifolds distribute fuel. A cooling flow recirculation line provides a cooling flow to the mains manifold during pilot-only operation, and a return section to collect mains manifold cooling flow. The cooling flow enters a delivery section and exits the return section. A fuel recirculating control valve on the delivery section has an open position so that the cooling flow enters the delivery section during pilot-only operation; a shut off position prevents the cooling flow entering the delivery section through the cooling flow orifice during pilot and mains operation. A supplementary valve bleeds or feeds cooling flow. The mains manifold cooling flow pressure is determined by the cooling flow and pressure raising orifices flow numbers, and a control setting of the supplementary valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Graham Thompson, Daniel Waters
  • Patent number: 10184351
    Abstract: A gas turbine with a burner, which gas turbine has at least one fuel feed line and at least one fuel outflow line, wherein a flushing water line is connected fluidically to the fuel feed line, and wherein a leakage oil tank is connected fluidically via a drainage line to the fuel outflow line and the connection of the fuel outflow line and the drainage line is provided at a point downstream of at least one closure valve in the fuel outflow line, wherein a bypass line is connected fluidically to the fuel outflow line upstream of the closure valve, which bypass line connects the fuel outflow line fluidically to the leakage oil tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jürgen Meisl, James Smith
  • Patent number: 10176648
    Abstract: A method of notifying an authorization to shut down completely an aircraft gas turbine engine, the method being applied after detecting that the engine has passed to an idling speed, and including a) an evaluation step of using a value of a first operating parameter of the engine to evaluate a value for a second parameter T45MG wherein a thermal behavior of a part of the engine that might be subjected to coking; b) a comparison step (E30) of comparing the value of the second parameter T45MG with a predefined threshold value T45thresh corresponding to a value of the second parameter that does not lead to coking of the part; and c) a notification step of notifying authorization to shut down completely the engine if the value of the second parameter T45MG is lower than the value of the predefined threshold T45thresh, else reiterating steps a) to c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES
    Inventors: Olivier Pierre Descubes, Jean-Michel Pierre Claude Py
  • Patent number: 10167741
    Abstract: An aircraft nacelle may comprise an inner fixed structure and an outer sleeve. The aircraft nacelle may comprise an O-duct thrust reverser. A drain gutter may be located in the inner fixed structure. The drain gutter may comprise a labyrinth configuration. The drain gutter may drain fluids in an aft direction through the inner fixed structure. The fluids may exit through a drain fin located at a station plane aft of the outer sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventor: Anthony Lacko
  • Patent number: 10101238
    Abstract: A ventilation and leak detection system for use in an enclosure includes a ventilation duct extending at least partially through an interior chamber defined in the enclosure. The ventilation duct includes at least one inlet end positioned within a lower portion of the interior chamber and an outlet end. The at least one inlet end includes at least one opening defined therein and sized to enable air and fuel within the enclosure to be drawn into the ventilation duct to ventilate the enclosure. The system further includes a detection unit coupled in flow communication with the ventilation duct proximate to the outlet end for detecting fuel entrained within flow drawn into the ventilation duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rodolfo Bermudez, Martin Lopez, Heriberto Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10054010
    Abstract: A drainage system includes at least one inflow pipe, a first outflow pipe, and a pressure vessel connected to the inflow pipe and the first outflow pipe separately. A throttle orifice plate and at least one switching valve are connected in series on each inflow pipe, and a throttle orifice plate and at least one switching valve are connected in series on the outflow pipe. The drainage system further includes a pressure release device, a check valve is also connected in series on each said inflow pipe, and a pressure measurement device is also connected to the pressure vessel. The pressure release device is an automatic pressure control valve connected to the pressure vessel. The drainage system for a gas turbine can remove condensate during operation of the gas turbine, thereby ensuring safe operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Gilbert Braun, Shi Yun Tang
  • Patent number: 10012148
    Abstract: A method of purging a combustor is provided. The method includes opening an isolation valve configured to regulate a flow rate of a fluid sent to at least one fuel nozzle of a combustor. The method also includes opening a control valve located upstream of the isolation valve after opening the isolation valve, wherein the isolation valve and the control valve are located within a fluid supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth Eugene Selfridge, Joshua Adam Bagwell
  • Patent number: 9957891
    Abstract: Cooling flow recirculation in fuel manifolds, such as fuel manifolds associated with gas turbine engines is disclosed. An example system for jet pump driven recirculation of manifold cooling flow according to at least some aspects of the present disclosure may include a flow split valve having a spool valve disposed therein, the flow split valve having a pilot manifold and a main manifold attached thereto; a jet pump fluidically coupled to the pilot manifold, the jet pump being arranged to drive recirculation of a cooling flow through the main manifold via a cooling flow circuit in a pilot only mode of operation; and/or a fuel nozzle in fluid communication with the pilot manifold and the main manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Frederick Ehrwulf Van Alen
  • Patent number: 9909499
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a system and method to drain a fuel manifold wherein a fuel drainage and purge system includes a fuel manifold and a drainage line extending from the fuel manifold. The drainage line is configured to flow a liquid-gas mixture from the fuel manifold. The fuel drainage and purge system also includes a drain valve disposed along the drainage line, a vent line extending from the drainage line upstream of the drain valve, a vent valve disposed along the vent line, and a drainage trap arranged along the drainage line downstream of the drain valve. The drainage trap is configured to separate the liquid-gas mixture into a liquid stream and a gaseous stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Tho Vankhanh Nguyen, Tuy Cam Huynh, Luis Alejandro Gutierrez Gonzalez, Jose Luis Campos Orozco, Imran Ali Khan, Horacio Solis Godinez
  • Patent number: 9840608
    Abstract: The use of tetrahydrobenzoxazines I where R1 is a hydrocarbyl radical and R2, R3, R4 and R5 are each independently hydrogen atoms, hydroxyl groups or hydrocarbyl radicals, and where R2 to R5 may also form a second and a third tetrahydrooxazine ring, with the proviso that at least one of the substituents has from 4 to 3000 carbon atoms and the remaining substituents, when they are hydrocarbyl radicals, each have from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, as stabilizers for stabilizing inanimate organic material, especially turbine fuels, against the action of light, oxygen and heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Arno Lange, Helmut Mach, Hans Peter Rath, Dietmar Posselt
  • Patent number: 9790862
    Abstract: Each fuel injector has a main nozzle and pilot nozzle. A main fuel manifold to supply fuel to the main nozzle of each fuel injector and pilot fuel manifold to supply fuel to the pilot nozzle of each fuel injector. The main fuel manifold includes plurality of flexible main fuel pipes. Also, plurality of cross-piece connectors including a stem and four arms. The stem of each connector mounted on one fuel injector. The first and third arms extend in opposite directions from the stem and second and fourth arms extend in opposite directions from the stem. Each fuel pipe interconnects the first arm of one connector with a third arm of an adjacent connector and each connector so the first and third arms are at an angle relative perpendicular to the axis of the annular combustion chamber casing so the main fuel manifold extends around the combustion chamber casing sinusoidally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Simon Leslie Fuller, Liam Thomas Anthony Fretwell
  • Patent number: 9718531
    Abstract: A drain for expelling fluids from an interior of an aircraft to an exterior of the aircraft, the drain including a drain tube disposed at the interior of the aircraft having a first end disposed in fluid communication with an aircraft equipment to be drained and an opposite second end, wherein the drain tube terminates at the second end at a location within the interior of the aircraft, a seal which extends between the second end of the drain tube and an outer skin of the aircraft, delimiting a drainage cavity, and a drainage pathway extending from the cavity through the outer skin to the exterior of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Guy Gaudreau, Philippe Désy, Guillaume Sourbes
  • Patent number: 9638422
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes an injector body having a feed arm with a nozzle body mounted thereto. A fuel conduit fluidly connects a fuel inlet portion of the feed arm to a fuel circuit in the nozzle body to form a fuel path through the injector body and an insulative gap is defined between the fuel conduit and an inside of the feed arm wall to thermally insulate the fuel path of the injector body. An aperture through the feed arm wall provides fluid communication between the insulative gap and ambient conditions existing on an outside of the feed arm wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Hall, Mark Alan Caples
  • Patent number: 9429044
    Abstract: A supercritical heat recovery steam generator includes a duct defining an interior area and having a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The duct is configured to convey gas from the gas inlet to the gas outlet. A portion of the duct between the gas inlet and the gas outlet defines an exhaust gas flow segment of the interior area. A supercritical evaporator is disposed in the interior area and a reheater is disposed in the interior area. The reheater and the supercritical evaporator are disposed in the exhaust gas flow segment, adjacent to each other with respect to the flow of the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventor: Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9416732
    Abstract: A fuel system for a gas turbine engine includes an engine fuel manifold, a hydraulic actuator, and a drain piston assembly. The hydraulic actuator actuates in response to a change in pressures within the hydraulic actuator. The drain piston assembly is fluidically connected to both the hydraulic actuator and the engine fuel manifold. The drain piston assembly receives fuel from the engine fuel manifold and sends fuel to the hydraulic actuator during engine shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Haugsjaahabink, Charles E. Reuter
  • Patent number: 9410486
    Abstract: This system for supplying a turbine with liquid fuel comprises a liquid fuel inlet (3), a piping assembly (4) connecting the inlet to the turbine, and draining means for draining at least a portion of the said piping assembly. The draining means comprise water inlet means (9) and a system of controllable valves suitable for injecting water into at least one of the said portions of the piping assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Products France SNC
    Inventors: Maher Aboujaib, Daniel Deloge
  • Patent number: 9404423
    Abstract: A fuel staging system is described which comprises a staging valve 28 operable to divide a metered fuel supply between a pilot delivery line 18 and a mains delivery line 16, and a recirculation valve 54 connected to the mains delivery line 16 and operable to permit a recirculation fuel flow to be supplied to the mains delivery line 16 when the staging valve 28 occupies a position in which substantially no fuel is delivered to the mains delivery line 16 through the staging valve 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CONTROLS AND DATA SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Griffiths, Jonathan David Pye
  • Patent number: 9366188
    Abstract: A purge process of a gas turbine supply pipe network provided with fuel (diesel or natural gas) at least partly containing synthesis gas comprises of injection of inert gas in intervalve portions or collectors of the pipe network likely to contain fuel when the fuel supply is stopped. The injection of gas is implemented in the said portions of the network according to a sequence of respective injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: GE ENERGY PRODUCTS FRANCE SNC
    Inventor: Pierre Montagne
  • Patent number: 9261025
    Abstract: A method for purging fuel from a fuel system of a gas turbine engine on shutdown of the engine comprises, in one aspect, terminating a fuel supply to the fuel system and using the residual compressed air to create a reversed pressure differential in the fuel system relative to a forward pressure differential of the fuel system used to maintain fuel supply for engine operation, and under the reversed pressure differential substantially purging the fuel remaining in the system therefrom to a fuel source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Patent number: 9194298
    Abstract: A fuel boost module for a gas turbine engine having a base, a fuel inlet configured to receive fuel from a fuel supply, a fuel outlet configured to deliver fuel to the gas turbine engine, a filter assembly configured to filter the fuel, a fuel controller configured to regulate pressure of the fuel that will be delivered to the gas turbine engine, a boost pump configured to pressurize the fuel, and a main pump configured to pressurize the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: James Allen Thompson, Paul Alan LeBlanc, Neil V. Fry
  • Patent number: 9175606
    Abstract: A method for flushing a section of a fuel system of a burner of a gas turbine is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a feed line for feeding fuel from a fuel source to the burner, providing a first feed point close to the burner and a second feed point remote from the burner in the feed line in each case for feeding a medium into the feed line, feeding the medium via the first feed point, and discharging, via the burner, the fuel which is in the feed line between the first feed point and the burner, and also feeding the medium via the second feed point, and discharging, via the first feed point, the fuel which is in the feed line between the second feed point and the first feed point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Carsten Bassmann, Volker Ertle, Michael Nienhaus, Horst Uwe Rauh, Damian Razowski, Uwe Scheuer, Ulrich Wagner
  • Publication number: 20150107217
    Abstract: A vent for use in a gaseous fuel supply circuit of a gas turbine is provided. The vent includes an inlet in flow communication with the gaseous fuel supply circuit, a first outlet in flow communication with the gaseous fuel supply circuit and configured to release gaseous fuel at atmospheric pressure, a first valve coupled between the inlet and the first outlet, wherein the first valve includes a second outlet configured to channel the gaseous fuel towards a combustion device. The system also includes a second valve coupled between the inlet and the second outlet, and a control device configured to selectively open and close the first and second valves based on a pressure of the gaseous fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Yann Tapie, Cedric Vasselon, Olivier Schweiger, Olivier Chapuis
  • Patent number: 9003801
    Abstract: An electronic control apparatus is applied to a gas turbine including a cylindrical combustor, a plurality of fuel injection valves, and an ignition plug. Air compressed by a compressor is supplied to the combustor. The plurality of fuel injection valves are aligned in a circumferential direction in the combustor and are capable of injecting fuel into the combustor. The ignition plug is provided in the combustor and is capable of igniting a fuel-mixture within the combustor. The electronic control apparatus controls the operation of the plurality of fuel injection valves so that when the gas turbine is started up, fuel injection opening times of the #6 and #12 fuel injection valves which are positioned far from the ignition plug are later than fuel injection opening times of the #1 and #7 fuel injection valves which are positioned close to the ignition plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Tate
  • Patent number: 8991190
    Abstract: A method for transferring fuel includes flowing water to at least one nozzle of a main fuel circuit. Also included is flowing oil to the at least one nozzle of the main fuel circuit. Further included is flowing liquid fuel to the at least one nozzle of the main fuel circuit, wherein flowing water to the at least one nozzle of the main fuel circuit occurs prior to flowing oil to the at least one nozzle of the main fuel circuit and flowing liquid fuel to the at least one nozzle of the main fuel circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Douglas Frank Beadie, Gregory Allen Boardman, Geoffrey David Myers
  • Patent number: 8950425
    Abstract: A combined fuel and purge air valve for a turbine engine has an onboard residual fuel reservoir to relieve pressure transients in the fuel circuit during purge air mode operation. The fuel reservoir also operates to effectively seal the fuel circuit with fuel present in the valve chamber by venting any purge air that should happen to leak past the primary seals. A 3-way spool valve controls the transition between start-up and sustained fuel operation modes as well as the purge air operation mode. A movable shuttle controls the communication of the fuel circuit with the fuel reservoir and ensures that the fuel reservoir is open in the purge air mode and closed off in the fuel modes. Pilot air activates the shuttle and spool valve and fuel pressure provides biasing forces. Fuel is distributed through an array of outlet ports, and the valve is cooled by an integral coolant jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Jansen's Aircraft Systems Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Harvey B. Jansen
  • Patent number: 8935911
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel spray apparatus for a gas turbine engine, including: a pilot part configured to spray a fuel to be used for a diffusion combustion; a main part provided so as to surround the pilot part and configured to inject a pre-mixed gas only upon a high power operation; and a shield body constituting a purge air passage which is configured to take therein an air flowed on an upstream side relative to a fuel injection port of the main part as a purge air, and to blow off a fuel dripping from the fuel injection port toward a main air passage of the main part. The purge air passage is provided in a position opposite to a main fuel passage communicated with the fuel injection port across the shield body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Nonaka, Masayoshi Kobayashi, Hideki Ogata
  • Patent number: 8905348
    Abstract: A casing for installation in more than one circumferential position, includes a shell into which fluid may drain, a pre-installation bottom dead center of the shell, a first post-installation bottom dead center of the shell wherein the first post-installation bottom dead center of the shell is circumferentially rotated a first number of degrees in a first direction from the pre-installation bottom dead center of the shell. The non-limiting embodiment further discloses a first ramp disposed between the first post-installation bottom dead center of the shell and the pre-installation bottom dead center of the shell for directing fluid from the first post-installation bottom dead center of the shell to the pre-installation bottom dead center of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Clarkson, Thomas J. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20140352314
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine fuel system has an ecology valve for withdrawing residual fuel from primary and secondary fuel manifolds upon engine shut-down. The ecology valve has primary and secondary reservoirs respectively connected in fluid flow communication with the primary and secondary fuel manifolds. The valve further has a reciprocating piston movable from a retracted position when engine start-up is initiated to an extended position which the piston assumes under normal engine running conditions. The movement of the reciprocating piston between the retracted and extended positions controls the flow of fuel from and to the primary and secondary reservoirs. A cross-bleed passage is defined in the reciprocating piston. The cross-bleed passage connects the primary and secondary reservoirs in fluid flow communication only when the piston is in its extended position. In this way, the cross-bleed flow between the primary and secondary fuel manifolds may be initiated only at the end of the engine start-up phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Pratts & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: FRANCOIS BELLEVILLE
  • Patent number: 8899009
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a first passage to be connected to a source of fuel. The heat exchanger has an outlet to communicate the fuel downstream. A second passage connects to a source of air. The air passes adjacent to the first passage to heat fuel in the first passage. A jet pump is positioned downstream of the second passage to receive air from the second passage. The jet pump includes a tap connected to a housing compartment to drain fluid from the compartment. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Jay M. Francisco, Greg R. Giddings
  • Patent number: 8844295
    Abstract: A method of delivering a purge flow through a gas turbomachine includes generating a purge flow, guiding the purge flow through at least one of a combustor assembly and a turbine portion of the gas turbomachine, determining a cumulative purge volume passing through the one of the combustor assembly and the turbine portion of the gas turbomachine to determine a predetermined purge volume, and discontinuing the purge flow once the predetermined purge volume has passed through the one of the combustor assembly and the turbine portion of the gas turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David August Snider, Christopher John Morawski
  • Patent number: 8820045
    Abstract: A drain assembly for an auxiliary power unit having a hot zone formed by a combustor case comprises a fire enclosure, a drain fitting, a discharge port and a piston seal. The fire enclosure encapsulates the hot zone of the combustor case. The drain fitting connects to the fire enclosure. The discharge port extends from the combustor case into the drain fitting. The piston seal is positioned between the drain fitting and the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian C. DeDe, David Lau, David Ronald Adair, Christine Ingrid Schade
  • Patent number: 8813470
    Abstract: In a method for operating a fuel supply for a heat engine, in a first step the block valve (4) and the control valve (5) are closed, with the vent valve (7) closed. In a second step, the vent valve (7) is opened so that fuel volume (V1) which is present in the fuel line section (1?) and vent line (6?) can drain. In a third step, the vent valve (7) is closed. In a fourth step, the control valve (5) is opened. In a fifth step, the fuel volume (V1) is replenished by a pressure-driven backflow of fuel from the combustion process (3). In a sixth step, the control valve (5) is closed and then the vent valve (7) is opened, for draining of the replenished fuel volume (V1) which has been formed there on account of the action taken according to the fifth step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Hermann Engesser
  • Publication number: 20140230402
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a combustor configured to combust a fuel, and a three-way valve fluidly coupled the combustor and disposed upstream of the combustor. The system also includes a fuel circuit comprising a fuel supply, wherein the fuel circuit is disposed upstream of the three-way valve and is configured to provide the fuel to the three-way valve. The system additionally includes a fuel conduit section fluidly coupling the fuel circuit to the combustor. The system further includes an inert fluid supply configured to provide an inert fluid to the thee-way valve and a compressor discharge (CPD) fluid source configured to provide a purge fluid to the three-way valve. The three-way valve is configured to purge the fuel from a first portion of the fuel conduit section by using the purge fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher John Morawski, Joel Donnell Holt, Richard John Rucigay
  • Patent number: 8783007
    Abstract: The present application provides a liquid fuel system for use with a flow of a liquid fuel and a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The liquid fuel system may include a number of fuel lines in communication with the combustor, a purge air inlet positioned about each of the fuel lines, a number of drain lines with each drain line in communication with a respective fuel line, and a number of drain valves with each drain valve in communication with a respective drain line so as to drain the flow of liquid fuel in the fuel lines via a flow of purge air through the purge air inlet and opening the drain valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Julio Enrique Mestroni, Douglas Byrd, Charles Steber, Rahul J. Chillar, Robert R. Reed