Plural Distinct Fuels Patents (Class 60/39.463)
  • Patent number: 11959420
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a combustor of a gas turbine engine including a primary fuel tank configured to store a primary fuel, a secondary fuel tank configured to store a secondary fuel, a swirler configured to produce a main flame within a combustion chamber of the combustor, and a fuel nozzle configured to produce a pilot flame within the combustion chamber of the combustor. The fuel nozzle includes a nozzle outlet that is located proximate to an end of the swirler or at the end of the swirler, the end of the swirler being located at an inlet of the combustor. The fuel delivery system also includes a primary fuel line fluidly connecting the primary fuel tank to the fuel nozzle and a secondary fuel line fluidly connecting the secondary fuel tank to the swirler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Timothy S. Snyder
  • Patent number: 11905883
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel supply circuit (1) for a combustion chamber (2) of a turbomachine (10), comprising: —a fuel supply pump (3) configured to provide a fuel flow at a predetermined flow rate, —a plurality of fuel injectors (4), and —a ramp (5) for connecting the pump (3) to the injectors (4), said circuit further comprising a device for the heat treatment of the fuel (6), having a chamber (60) connected to a fuel inlet (61) linked to the pump (3) and to a fuel outlet (62) linked to the ramp (5), wherein heating elements (60) are located in said chamber and are configured to heat the fuel flow to a predetermined temperature so as to cause coking of the fuel within the chamber (60) of the device (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventor: Nicolas Marie Keruzore
  • Patent number: 11898493
    Abstract: A system includes an air manifold, a fuel manifold, and a plurality of fuel injectors. At least one of the fuel injectors includes a heat exchanger portion for supplying compressed, cooled air form the heat exchanger portion to the air manifold. An air valve is operatively connected to an outlet of the air manifold for controlling release of air from the air manifold. A controller is operatively connected to the air valve, wherein the controller includes machine readable instructions configured to control the air valve to regulate flow of air through the air valve based on fuel temperatures in the fuel channel. The machine readable instructions can be configured to cause the controller to flow air through the air valve in a heat exchange mode if a fuel temperature in the fuel injectors is below a predetermined fuel temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Gregory A. Zink, Brandon P. Williams, Lev A. Prociw
  • Patent number: 11898519
    Abstract: A heating system for a component within a compartment of a spacecraft includes a fuel source, a gas generator, and a heat sink. The fuel source includes hydrazine. The gas generator is in fluid communication with the fuel source. The gas generator includes a catalyst. The catalyst is configured to decompose the hydrazine and generate an exhaust gas. The heat sink is thermally coupled to the gas generator and configured to receive heat from the exhaust gas of the gas generator. The heat sink is thermally coupled to the component within the compartment of the spacecraft to transfer heat from the exhaust gas to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Benjamin Hopkins, Richard Wayne Warwick, Brian Paul Dempsey, Carey Lee Parish
  • Patent number: 11859565
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes: a combustor that combust the fuel and having an exit, a combustor exit temperature (T40) is the average temperature of flow and a combustor exit pressure (P40) is the total pressure there; a turbine including a rotor having a leading edge and a trailing edge, and wherein a turbine rotor entry temperature (T41) is an average temperature of flow at the leading edge and a turbine rotor entry pressure (P41) is the total pressure there; and a compressor having an exit, wherein a compressor exit temperature (T30) is the average temperature of flow at the exit from the compressor and a compressor exit pressure (P30) is the total pressure there (all at cruise conditions). A method of determining at least one fuel characteristic includes changing a fuel supplied to the engine; and determining a change in a relationship between T30 or P30, T40 and T41, or of P40 and P41, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Benjamin J Keeler, David M Beaven, Craig W Bemment, Paul W Ferra, Kevin R Mcnally, Andrea Minelli, Martin K Yates
  • Patent number: 11852082
    Abstract: A method of controlling a fuel blend for a turbine engine is provided. The method includes supplying a first fuel and a second fuel to a mixer and mixing, in the mixer, the first and second fuels together to obtain a fuel blend. The method also includes receiving, at a fuel blend analyzer downstream from the mixer, a measurement indicative of a composition of the fuel blend. The method further includes combusting the fuel blend in a combustor. The method also includes receiving a combustion signal indicative of combustion behavior. The method further includes controlling, based on at least one of the fuel blend measurement and the combustion signal, by a controller, at least one of a flow of the first fuel and a flow of the second fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: George F. Frey, Jocelyn E. Passty
  • Patent number: 11821368
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a combustor of a gas turbine engine including a primary fuel tank configured to store a primary fuel, a secondary fuel tank configured to store a secondary fuel, a swirler configured to produce a main flame within a combustion chamber of the combustor, and a fuel nozzle configured to produce a pilot flame within the combustion chamber of the combustor. The fuel nozzle includes a nozzle outlet that is located proximate to an end of the swirler or at the end of the swirler, the end of the swirler being located at an inlet of the combustor. The fuel delivery system also includes a primary fuel line fluidly connecting the primary fuel tank to the fuel nozzle and a secondary fuel line fluidly connecting the secondary fuel tank to the swirler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Timothy S. Snyder
  • Patent number: 11808219
    Abstract: A fuel system can include a first fuel circuit, a second fuel circuit, and an inert gas purge system operatively connected to both the first fuel circuit and the second fuel circuit to purge at least a portion of either or both of the first and/or second fuel circuit. The first fuel can be a liquid fuel and the second fuel can be a gaseous fuel. The first fuel circuit can include a first fuel manifold configured to fluidly communicate a first fuel supply with at least one dual fuel nozzles downstream of the first fuel manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Owen Ho-Yin Wong, John Galas, Sean Durand
  • Patent number: 11788477
    Abstract: An aircraft has first and second fuel sources containing fuels with different characteristics, and one or more gas turbine engines powered by the fuels and each having a staged combustion system having pilot and main fuel injectors and being operable in pilot-only and pilot-and-main ranges of operation. The gas turbine engines each have a fuel delivery regulator arranged to control fuel delivery to the pilot and main fuel injectors. The method includes: obtaining a proposed mission description; obtaining nvPM impact parameters for the gas turbine engines, the impact parameters being associated with each operating condition of the proposed mission; calculating an optimised set of one or more fuel characteristics for each flight condition of the proposed flight defined in the flight description based on the nvPM impact parameters; and determining a fuel allocation based on the optimised set of one or more fuel characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Peter Swann, Christopher P Madden, Craig W Bemment
  • Patent number: 11739700
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion system includes a hydrocarbon fuel store, a hydrogen fuel store, an engine system capable of producing thrust by combusting hydrocarbon fuel and/or combusting or oxidising hydrogen fuel, a conveying system to convey hydrocarbon and hydrogen fuel from the fuel stores to the engine system and a control system to control the respective flow rates of the fuel within the conveying system. The control system adapts the fractions of the total fuel energy flow rate to the engine system represented by the hydrocarbon and hydrogen fuel energy flow rates in order to reduce climate warming impact caused by at least one of carbon dioxide, water vapour and condensation trails and/or increase climate cooling impact caused by condensation trails produced by the aircraft propulsion system compared to a dual-fuel propulsion system in which a reserve of hydrocarbon fuel is entirely combusted before any of a reserve of hydrogen fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Peter Swann, Jonathan E Holt
  • Patent number: 11708796
    Abstract: The present application discloses a method of determining one or more fuel characteristics of an aviation fuel used for powering a gas turbine engine of an aircraft. The method comprises: determining one or more performance parameters of the gas turbine engine during a first time period of operation of the gas turbine engine; and determining one or more fuel characteristics of the fuel based on the one or more performance parameters. A method of operating an aircraft, a fuel characteristic determination system, and an aircraft are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Peter Swann, David M Beaven, Craig W Bemment, Alastair G Hobday, Benjamin J Keeler, Christopher P Madden, Martin K Yates
  • Patent number: 11685658
    Abstract: Techniques for providing carbon dioxide include generating thermal energy, an exhaust fluid, and electrical power from a power plant; providing the exhaust fluid and the generated electrical power to an exhaust fluid scrubbing system to separate components of the exhaust fluid; capturing heat from a source of heat of an industrial process in a heating fluid; transferring the heat of the industrial process captured in the heating fluid to a carbon dioxide source material of a direct air capture (DAC) system; providing the generated electrical power from the power plant to the DAC system; providing the thermal energy from the power plant to the DAC system; and separating, with the transferred portion of the heat of the industrial process and the provided thermal energy, carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source material of the DAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Christopher GilroySmith, Jacques Gagne, Robert Nelson, Christopher Gregory Malone
  • Patent number: 11635027
    Abstract: A torch igniter system for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a housing defining a combustion chamber, an ignition source disposed at least partially in the combustion chamber, a fuel injector, a first fluid path connecting a first fuel source to the fuel injector, a second fluid path connecting an air source to the fuel injector, and a third fluid path connecting a second fuel source to the combustion chamber. The fuel injector is configured to inject fuel, air, or a mixture of fuel and air into the combustion chamber and to impinge on the ignition source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Brandon P. Williams
  • Patent number: 11404879
    Abstract: This application provides methods and systems for rapid load support for grid frequency transient events. Example electric power systems may include a turbine, a generator coupled to the turbine, where the generator is configured to provide power to an electrical grid, and a controller configured to detect a grid event, determine a rate of change of frequency (rate of change of frequency) value, determine a predicted post-grid event governor set point based on the rate of change of frequency value, and initiate a change to at least one turbine operating parameter based on the predicted post-grid event governor set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sreedhar Desabhatla, Scott William Szepek
  • Patent number: 11391209
    Abstract: A combined cycle heat engine (10). The engine (10) comprises a first gas turbine engine (11) comprising a first air compressor (14), a first combustion system (16, 20) and a first turbine system (18, 22), and a second gas turbine engine (32) comprising a second air compressor (36) and a second turbine system (40). The engine further comprises a heat exchanger (38) configured to transfer heat from an exhaust of the first turbine system (18, 22) to compressed air from the second air compressor (36). The first combustion system comprises a first combustor (16) provided downstream of the first air compressor (14) and upstream of the first turbine system (18, 22), and a second combustor (20) downstream of a first turbine section (18) of the first turbine system and upstream of a second turbine section (22) of the first turbine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Ahmed M Y Razak
  • Patent number: 10907833
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine comprises a combustion chamber having a pilot injector at one end and at least one main injector spaced radially from the pilot injector. The main injector includes a fluid flow path with a plug that restricts flow at least at an interior portion of the flow path. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Zhongtao Dai, Adam Takashi Holley, Randal G. McKinney
  • Patent number: 10816201
    Abstract: A liner panel for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a rail which at least partially defines an impingement cavity. The rail includes a notch which faces toward the impingement cavity. A method of cooling a wall assembly within a combustor for of a gas turbine engine includes directing air through a support shell and a liner panel to form a pressure drop across the support shell that is less than about 80% of a pressure drop across the combustor and to also form a pressure drop across the liner panel greater than about 20% of the pressure drop across the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Drake
  • Patent number: 10718525
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dual-fuel operation of a gas turbine combustor are provided. An exemplary gas turbine combustor may comprise one or more components, such as a cylindrical combustion liner, a flow sleeve, a main mixer, a radial inflow swirler, a combustor dome, and a fuel cartridge assembly, one or more of which may be configured to supply either a gaseous or a liquid fuel to the combustion liner, depending on whether gaseous fuel operation or liquid fuel operation of the combustor is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen W. Jorgensen, Joshua R. McNally, Douglas Pennell, Donald Gauthier, Pawel Matys, Marc Paskin, Thomas R. Ruck, Peter John Stuttaford, Bernard Tam-Yen Sam
  • Patent number: 10690056
    Abstract: A segmented annular combustion system includes an alternating arrangement of fuel nozzles and integrated combustor nozzles. The fuel nozzles deliver fuel to the primary combustion zones. The integrated combustor nozzles include an inner liner segment, an outer liner segment, and a fuel injection panel extending between the liner segments. The fuel injection panel includes injection outlets on one or both side walls to deliver a combustible mixture to the secondary combustion zones. Each fuel injection panel, which provides a boundary between adjacent primary and secondary combustion zones, includes an aft end that defines a turbine nozzle. The segmented annular combustion system is part of a gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Stanley Kevin Widener, Michael John Hughes, James Scott Flanagan, Joseph Vincent Citeno, Kevin Weston McMahan
  • Patent number: 10677167
    Abstract: A fuel manifold (10) configured to form a base support structure (12) to support a plurality of fuel nozzles (14) including a pilot fuel nozzle is provided. A restraining element (30) is arranged in the base support structure (12) to support the pilot fuel nozzle. Restraining element (30) is integrally formed with the base support structure. The restraining element being integrally formed with the base support structure is effective to arrange for an incremental thickness (34) in a portion (39) of a wall (34) interposed between the inner diameter (36) of restraining element (30) and respective proximate edges (40) of a number of pilot bolt holes (32) disposed around the restraining element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Erick J. Deane, Miguel Bascones, Charalambos Polyzopoulos, Abhijeet Tiwary
  • Patent number: 10634358
    Abstract: A system and method for igniting liquid fuel in a gas turbine combustor is provided. A liquid fuel cartridge, which is located within the head end, is in flow communication with a liquid fuel supply. A gaseous fuel nozzle is located proximate the liquid fuel cartridge and in flow communication with an auxiliary gaseous fuel supply. A controller is in communication with the liquid fuel supply, the auxiliary gaseous fuel supply, and an igniter located proximate or within the head end. The controller is configured to sequentially: initiate a gaseous fuel flow from the auxiliary gaseous fuel supply to the gaseous fuel nozzle; initiate the igniter to combust the gaseous fuel flow; initiate a liquid fuel flow from the liquid fuel supply to the liquid fuel cartridge; and terminate the gaseous fuel flow from the auxiliary gaseous fuel supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lucas John Stoia, Mark William Pinson, Geoffrey David Myers
  • Patent number: 10295188
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a central member arranged on axis of fuel injector and a first member arranged around central member. A first swirler is arranged between central member and first member. A pilot fuel injector is arranged to supply fuel onto inner surface of first member. A second member is arranged between downstream end of first member and downstream end of shroud. A second swirler is arranged between upstream end of first member and upstream end of shroud and between downstream end of first member and upstream end of second member. A third swirler is arranged between downstream end of shroud and second member. A main fuel injector is arranged to supply fuel into an annular passage between first member and second member and a fourth swirler extends through first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Jonathan F Carrotte, Christopher L Ford
  • Patent number: 10234142
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a combustion engine includes an injector head including a nozzle, a premixer, and a distributor structured to distribute a plurality of different fuels to different sets of fueling orifices in the premixer. A pilot assembly of the fuel injector is coupled to the premixer and includes a first fueling passage for a first fuel and a second fueling passage for a second fuel. Multiple sets of fueling orifices are positioned within the fuel injector, the fueling orifice sets being selectively connectable to a plurality of different fuel supplies, and both located and sized so as to accommodate a wide range of flow rates to enable a combustion engine coupled with the fuel injector to operate on fuels having a range of Wobbe numbers and compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Rajeshriben Patel, James Scott Piper, Raymond Alvarez, Rasoul Paydar, Ram Srinivasan, Edouard Bahous
  • Patent number: 10107499
    Abstract: A fuel plenum for a fuel nozzle assembly includes a gaseous fuel conduit, a conduit passage, and a liquid fuel conduit. Said gaseous fuel conduit received at a first end of said fuel plenum. Said fuel plenum is configured to distribute gaseous fuel received from said gaseous fuel conduit. Said conduit passage extends from the first end to a second end of said fuel plenum. Said conduit passage is at least partially defined by at least one interior wall of said fuel plenum. Said liquid fuel conduit defined by an outer wall and a portion of said liquid fuel conduit extending through said conduit passage. Said liquid fuel conduit outer wall is offset from said at least one interior wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kaitlin Marie Graham, Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Patent number: 9500369
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Predrag Popovic, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, William Thomas Ross, Vladimir Belvaev
  • Patent number: 9400113
    Abstract: To provide a multifuel gas turbine combustor capable of combusting gases containing hydrogen in a high concentration with a low NOx while maintaining a low emission performance brought about by the pre-mixture combustion in the main burner, the gas turbine combustor includes a main burner (12) for supplying to and combusting a premixed gas (M), containing a first fuel (F1), within a first combustion region (S1) of a combustion chamber (10), and a supplemental burner (20) for supplying to and combusting a second fuel (F2) of a composition different from that of the first fuel (F1) within a second combustion region (S2) defined downstream of the first combustion region (S1) within the combustion chamber (10). The first fuel (F1) is of a hydrocarbon system and the second fuel (F2) is a gas containing hydrogen in a concentration exceeding the stable combustion limiting concentration of the hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Ogata, Takeo Oda, Yasuhiro Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9366445
    Abstract: A system for supporting fuel nozzles inside a combustor includes a ring that circumferentially surrounds the fuel nozzles inside the combustor, a support plate that extends radially inside at least a portion of the ring, and a first connection between the support plate and at least one of the fuel nozzles inside the combustor. A second connection is between the support plate and the ring. A method for supporting fuel nozzles in a combustor includes surrounding the fuel nozzles with a ring, connecting a support plate to the ring, and connecting the support plate to at least one fuel nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lucas John Stoia, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Patent number: 9366440
    Abstract: Fuel nozzles for gas turbines are provided that include liquid fuel cartridges. In one embodiment, a fuel nozzle includes a fuel plenum plate separating an air plenum from a fuel plenum. The fuel nozzle also includes a plurality of mixing tubes extending through the fuel plenum from the fuel plenum plate to a face plate. Each mixing tube includes an air inlet configured to receive air from the air plenum, a fuel inlet disposed in a tube wall within the fuel plenum to direct fuel from the fuel plenum into the mixing tube to produce a fuel-air mixture, and a fuel-air outlet configured to discharge the fuel-air mixture away from the face plate into a combustion region. The fuel nozzle further includes a liquid fuel cartridge extending through the air plenum and the fuel plenum to the face plate. The liquid fuel cartridge includes a liquid fuel passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Patent number: 9353688
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine fuel supply system includes a primary gear pump, a secondary gear pump, and a pump bypass valve. The primary gear pump always actively delivers fuel to the downstream fuel system, and is sized to supply 100% of the burn flow needed at a select low demand condition. The secondary gear pump is sized to make up the remainder of the flow at high demand conditions, and actively delivers fuel to the downstream fuel system only during those conditions. To supply discharge fuel pressures in excess of gear pump capability, a supercharger pump is disposed upstream of the primary and secondary gear pumps. The pump bypass valve is configured to regulate fuel pressure at the primary gear pump outlet to one of a plurality of preset differential pressures above one of a plurality of fuel load pressures and prevents reverse pressurization of the gear pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Paul W. Futa, Edward Zielinski, Larry Portolese, David Tuttle
  • Patent number: 9347377
    Abstract: The invention provides a gas-turbine fuel nozzle that includes a plurality of fuel supply channels to which fuel is supplied, a plurality of fuel/sweep-fluid supply channels to which fuel or a sweep fluid for sweeping the fuel is supplied, and a plurality of injection holes that are provided at downstream ends of the fuel supply channels or the fuel/sweep-fluid supply channels and that inject the fuel guided from the fuel supply channels or the fuel/sweep-fluid supply channels; a sweep-fluid supply channel that is connected to the fuel/sweep-fluid supply channels to guide the sweeping; and sweep-fluid cooling means for cooling the sweep-fluid to a temperature lower than a self-ignition temperature of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Murakami, Kazuya Higashi, Yukimasa Nakamoto, Satoko Fujii, Takeyuki Shimizu, Keigo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9322557
    Abstract: A combustor includes a tube bundle that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor. The tube bundle includes an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface. A plurality of tubes extends from the upstream surface through the downstream surface, and each tube provides fluid communication through the tube bundle. A baffle extends axially inside the tube bundle between adjacent tubes. A method for distributing fuel in a combustor includes flowing a fuel into a fuel plenum defined at least in part by an upstream surface, a downstream surface, a shroud, and a plurality of tubes that extend from the upstream surface to the downstream surface. The method further includes impinging the fuel against a baffle that extends axially inside the fuel plenum between adjacent tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Thomas Edward Johnson, William David York
  • Patent number: 9303873
    Abstract: A system including a plurality of multi-tube fuel nozzles each having a plurality of tubes extending in an axial direction, wherein each tube of the plurality of tubes includes an air inlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel-air mixture outlet, and a fuel nozzle housing, including an outer wall extending circumferentially about a central axis, a plurality of radial walls extending from the outer wall inwardly toward the central axis, a plurality of fuel nozzle receptacles disposed within the outer wall, wherein the plurality of radial walls separate the plurality of fuel nozzle receptacles from one another, and the plurality of multi-tube fuel nozzles are disposed in the plurality of fuel nozzle receptacles a mounting structure including a plurality of radial support arms extending outwardly from the outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Christopher Paul Keener, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Patent number: 9291352
    Abstract: A system including a multi-tube fuel nozzle, including a plurality of tubes extending in an axial direction relative to a central axis of the multi-tube fuel nozzle, wherein each tube of the plurality of tubes includes an air inlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel-air mixture outlet; and an inlet flow conditioner, including a plate extending in a radial direction relative to the central axis of the multi-tube fuel nozzle; an outer wall extending circumferentially about the plate, wherein the outer wall is coupled to the plate; and a plurality of air openings in the plate, the outer wall, or a combination thereof, wherein the plurality of air openings are disposed upstream from the air inlets in the plurality of tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Christopher Paul Keener, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Patent number: 9267690
    Abstract: A turbomachine combustor nozzle includes a monolithic nozzle component having a plate element and a plurality of nozzle elements. Each of the plurality of nozzle elements includes a first end extending from the plate element to a second end. The plate element and plurality of nozzle elements are formed as a unitary component. A plate member is joined with the nozzle component. The plate member includes an outer edge that defines first and second surfaces and a plurality of openings extending between the first and second surfaces. The plurality of openings are configured and disposed to register with and receive the second end of corresponding ones of the plurality of nozzle elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lucas John Stoia, Patrick Benedict Melton, Thomas Edward Johnson, Christian Xavier Stevenson, John Drake Vanselow, James Harold Westmoreland
  • Patent number: 9243804
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of interconnected mixing assemblies configured to mix a first fuel and water to generate a first mixture, and mix a second fuel and the water to generate a second mixture. The first and second fuel mixtures are configured to combust in a plurality of combustors of a gas turbine. The interconnected mixing assemblies include first and second fuel passages, a water passage, first and second mixers, first and second fuel valves, and first and second water valves disposed in an integrated housing. The first fuel valve has a first fuel flow coefficient between approximately 1.0 to 1.5, the second fuel valve has a second fuel flow coefficient between approximately 3.0 to 5.0, the first water valve has a first water flow coefficient between approximately 0.4 to 0.55, and the second water valve has a second water flow coefficient between approximately 3.5 to 5.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Tailai Hu, Sudhakar Todeti, Kenneth Eugene Selfridge
  • Patent number: 9188335
    Abstract: A system for reducing combustion dynamics and NOx in a combustor includes a tube bundle that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor, wherein the tube bundle comprises an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface. A shroud circumferentially surrounds the upstream and downstream surfaces. A plurality of tubes extends through the tube bundle from the upstream surface through the downstream surface, wherein the downstream surface is stepped to produce tubes having different lengths through the tube bundle. A method for reducing combustion dynamics and NOx in a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through a plurality of tubes radially arranged between an upstream surface and a downstream surface of an end cap that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor, wherein the downstream surface is stepped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Thomas Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 9182125
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a combustor assembly. The combustor assembly may include one or more fuel plenums. The combustor assembly may also include one or more fuel distribution plates disposed within the fuel plenums. Moreover, the combustor assembly may include a number of mixing tubes disposed at least partially within the fuel plenums and extending through the fuel distribution plates. In certain aspects, the mixing tubes may each include a reduced diameter about the fuel distribution plates to form an annulus therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Michael Leinonen, George Kalinovich
  • Patent number: 9182124
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine may include an injector housing having a central cavity configured to be fluidly coupled to a combustor of the turbine engine. The central cavity may also be configured to direct a first fuel into the combustor substantially unmixed with air. The fuel injector may also include an annular air discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the downstream end of the central cavity. The air discharge outlet may be configured to discharge compressed air into the combustor circumferentially about the first fuel from the central cavity. The fuel injector may also include an annular fuel discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the air discharge outlet at the downstream end. The fuel discharge outlet may be configured to discharge a second fuel into the combustor circumferentially about the compressed air from the air discharge outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventor: Gareth W. Oskam
  • Patent number: 9163839
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application can provide systems and methods for a micromixer combustion head end assembly. The micromixer may include one or more base nozzle structures. The base nozzle structures may include coaxial tubes. The coaxial tubes may include an inner tube and an outer tube. The micromixer may also include one or more segmented mixing tube bundles at least partially supported by a respective base nozzle structure. Moreover, the micromixer may include an end cap assembly disposed about the one or more segmented mixing tube bundles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Harold Westmoreland, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Patent number: 9151503
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application can provide systems and methods for a coaxial fuel supply for a micromixer. According to one embodiment, the micromixer may include an elongated base nozzle structure, a number of mixing tubes in communication with the elongated base nozzle structure, and an air inlet configured to supply the plurality of mixing tubes with air. The elongated base nozzle structure may be configured to supply a fuel to the mixing tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, James Harold Westmoreland
  • Patent number: 9133767
    Abstract: A fuel injecting assembly for a combustor of a gas turbine engine has a gas supply structure, steam supply structure and oil fuel nozzle that are substantially separated to allow relative movement between a respective end section, end portion and end part due to thermal expansion and contraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC
    Inventors: Ulrich Woerz, Jianfan Wu
  • Patent number: 9068750
    Abstract: The present application and the resulting patent provide a pre-nozzle mixing cap assembly positioned about a cap member of a combustor for mixing a flow of air and a flow of fuel. The pre-nozzle mixing cap assembly may include a fuel plenum in communication with the flow of fuel and a number of tubes in communication with the flow of air and extending through the fuel plenum. Each of the tubes may include a number of fuel holes therein such that the flow of fuel in the fuel plenum passes through the fuel holes and mixes with the flow of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Patent number: 9068749
    Abstract: A swirler for a gas turbine engine fuel injector comprises a swirler body extending from an upstream end to a downstream end. A fuel injector extends into the body, and has a downstream end for injecting fuel in a downstream direction. A first flow path directs air in a first circumferential direction about a central axis of the swirler body. A second flow path directs air to intermix with the air in the first flow path, and then to mix with fuel injected by the fuel injector. The first and second flow paths are positioned to inject air upstream of the downstream end of the fuel injector where fuel is injected. The first flow path is provided in a greater volume than the volume provided in the second flow path. The second flow path directs air at a location downstream of the first flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Albert K. Cheung
  • Patent number: 9016039
    Abstract: A combustor includes a combustion chamber that defines a longitudinal axis. A primary reaction zone is inside the combustion chamber, and a secondary reaction zone inside the combustion chamber is downstream from the primary reaction zone. A center fuel nozzle extends axially inside the combustion chamber to the secondary reaction zone, and a plurality of fluid injectors circumferentially are arranged inside the center fuel nozzle downstream from the primary reaction zone. Each fluid injector defines an additional longitudinal axis out of the center fuel nozzle that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lucas John Stoia, Patrick Benedict Melton, Bryan Wesley Romig
  • Patent number: 9010083
    Abstract: A combustor nozzle includes an inlet surface and an outlet surface downstream from the inlet surface, wherein the outlet surface has an indented central portion. A plurality of fuel channels are arranged radially outward of the indented central portion, wherein the plurality of fuel channels extend through the outlet surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Thomas Edward Johnson
  • Publication number: 20150082770
    Abstract: A dual-fuel burning gas turbine combustor having a diffusive combustion burner to burn a liquid fuel and a gaseous fuel placed at the axis of the gas turbine combustor and a plurality of pre-mixing combustion burners to burn a liquid fuel and a gaseous fuel placed on an outer circumferential side of the diffusive combustion burner, each pre-mixing combustion burner having a liquid fuel nozzle, a plurality of gaseous fuel spray holes, a plurality of air holes, and a pre-mixing chamber to mix gaseous fuel and air, wherein each pre-mixing combustion burner has a double pipe sleeve at a connected portion between end cover and the pre-mixing combustion burner, and the double pipe sleeve has an inner sleeve having a gaseous fuel flow path, an outer sleeve positioned on an outer circumferential side of the inner sleeve, and a circular spacing formed between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Shota IGARASHI, Hirokazu TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 8984857
    Abstract: Methods and systems for low emission power generation in hydrocarbon recovery processes are provided. One system includes integrated pressure maintenance and miscible flood systems with low emission power generation. An alternative system provides for low emission power generation, carbon sequestration, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), or carbon dioxide sales using a hot gas expander and external combustor. Another alternative system provides for low emission power generation using a gas power turbine to compress air in the inlet compressor and generate power using hot carbon dioxide laden gas in the expander. Other efficiencies may be gained by incorporating heat cross-exchange, a desalination plant, co-generation, and other features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Moses Minta, Franklin F. Mittricker, Peter C. Rasmussen, Loren K. Starcher, Chad C. Rasmussen, James T. Wilkins, Richard W. Meidel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8973366
    Abstract: A system includes a mixing assembly configured to mix a liquid fuel and a water to generate a fuel mixture. The fuel mixture is configured to combust in a combustor of a gas turbine. The mixing assembly includes a liquid fuel passage disposed in an integrated housing. The liquid fuel passage is configured to flow the liquid fuel and to exclude liquid traps. The mixing assembly also includes a water passage disposed in the integrated housing. The water passage is configured to flow the water and to exclude liquid traps. The mixing assembly also includes a mixer disposed in the integrated housing and coupled to the liquid fuel passage and the water passage. The mixer is configured to mix the liquid fuel and the water to form the fuel mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Douglas Frank Beadie, Douglas Scott Byrd, Fabien Thibault Codron, James Frederik den Outer, Mark Jason Fisher
  • Publication number: 20150047364
    Abstract: The invention relates to a burner arrangement for using in a single combustion chamber or in a can-combustor comprising a center body burner located upstream of a combustion zone, an annular duct with a cross section area, intermediate lobes which are arranged in circumferential direction and in longitudinal direction of the center body. The lobes being actively connected to the cross section area of the annular duct, wherein a cooling air is guided through a number of pipes within the lobes to the center body and cools beforehand at least the front section of the center body based on impingement cooling. Subsequently, the impingement cooling air cools the middle and back face of the center body based on convective and/or effusion cooling. At least the back face of the center body includes on the inside at least one damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Xianfeng Gao, Urs Benz, Andre Theuer, Rohit Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 8899047
    Abstract: Provided is a power plant including a gas turbine that uses a fuel gas as a fuel; a fuel gas cooler that cools the fuel gas, which is to be pressurized in a fuel gas compressor and re-circulated, using cooling water; and a dust collection device that separates/removes impurities from the fuel gas that is to be guided to the fuel gas compressor; wherein the power plant further includes heating means that heats the fuel gas that is to be guided to the dust collection device using the fuel gas that has been used to generate an anti-thrust force acting on a rotor of the fuel gas compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanabe, Eiki Anzawa