With Exhaust Treatment Patents (Class 60/39.5)
  • Patent number: 8370044
    Abstract: A gas turbine comprises a plurality of target exhaust temperature determination modules, the plurality of target exhaust temperature modules comprising a nitrogen oxide (NOx) compliance module configured to determine an exhaust temperature at which an exhaust of the gas turbine complies with a maximum permitted level of NOx; at least one bias module, the at least one bias module configured to apply a bias to an output of at least one of the plurality of target exhaust temperature determination modules; and a controller configured to operate the gas turbine to produce the exhaust temperature determined by the NOx compliance module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas Edward Dean, Derrick Walter Simons, Abhijit Prabhakar Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 8365511
    Abstract: A tip turbine engine assembly includes an engine support structure with a rear case, exit guide vanes, an exhaust mixer, and engine mounts. The rear case is disposed about an engine centerline. The exit guide vanes extend radially inwardly from the rear case. The exhaust mixer extends in a flow path of a combustor to mix a high energy gas stream from the combustor with bypass air from a bypass fan. The engine mounts are located on the periphery of the rear case for mounting the engine to an aircraft. The rear case, exit guide vanes, exhaust mixer, and engine mounts form a unitary engine support structure which is installable as a single piece into an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, James W. Norris, Brian Merry
  • Publication number: 20130019583
    Abstract: A diffuser (30) expanding a gas flow (F) upstream of a heat recovery steam generator (32) of a combined cycle power plant (34). An outer wall (44) of the diffuser includes a smoothly lofted backward facing step (46) effective to fix a location of a flow recirculation bubble (56) under conditions conducive to flow separation. The step has a varying step height (Hpeak, HvaIley) about a circumference of the step edge (62). The varying step height segments the recirculation bubble into small cells (66) located downstream of each peak (58) of the step height and reducing a reattachment length (L) of the bubble, thereby facilitating a reduction of the overall length of the diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Kin Pong Lo, John K. Eaton
  • Patent number: 8356992
    Abstract: An oxyfiring system and method for capturing carbon dioxide in a combustion process is disclosed. The oxyfiring system comprises (a) an oxidation reactor for oxidizing a reduced metal oxide; (b) a decomposition reactor wherein a decomposition fuel is combusted and oxidized metal oxide sorbents are reduced with oxygen being released and a flue gas with an oxygen enriched carbon dioxide stream is produced; (c) a fuel combustion reactor for combusting a primary fuel and the oxygen enriched carbon dioxide stream into a primary flue gas; and (d) separation apparatus for separating a portion of the primary flue gas so that a carbon dioxide enriched stream can be prepared. The method comprises providing a primary fuel and an oxygen enriched carbon dioxide stream to a fuel combustion reactor. The primary fuel and oxygen enriched carbon dioxide stream are combusted into a primary flue gas stream which is split into a first flue gas portion and a second flue gas portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Raja A Jadhav
  • Patent number: 8347634
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant with a gas turbine engine integrated with a dirty fuel combustor in the turbine exhaust and the hot gas stream from the dirty combustor is mixed together and then passed through a heat recovery steam generator to produce steam, the steam being passed through a steam turbine to drive a second electric generator. Some of the turbine exhaust is passed directly into the HRSG while the remaining turbine exhaust is passed into the combustor and burned with the dirty fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph D. Brostmeyer
  • Publication number: 20120317989
    Abstract: The present application thus provides a gas turbine engine system. The gas turbine engine system may include a gas turbine engine, a nitrogen oxides reduction system in communication with a flow of combustion gases downstream from the gas turbine engine, and a nitrogen oxides controller to control the ratio of nitrogen dioxide to nitrogen oxides in the flow of combustion gases entering the nitrogen oxides reduction system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Robert Frank Hoskin
  • Patent number: 8327647
    Abstract: A low carbon emissions, combined cycle power plant utilizes vortex nozzles (38) operative at cryogenic temperatures to separate out carbon dioxide (39) from the flue gases. Complexity of the plant is minimized by operating a gas turbine engine component (10) of the plant at a turbine exhaust pressure of at least 2 bar, so that downstream components of the plant, including a heat recovery steam generator (19A), a gas cooling system (30, 33, 36), and the inlets of the vortex nozzles, all operate at the same pressure of at least two bar. To increase carbon dioxide concentration in the flue gases (37) that pass through the vortex nozzles (38), and thereby increase efficiency of carbon dioxide removal from the flue gases, up to 50% of the flue gases that exit the heat recovery steam generator (19A) may be recirculated to a location (L, FIG. 4)) in the compressor of the gas turbine engine where the pressure of the compressor air matches the flue gas pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Guidati, Camille Pedretti
  • Patent number: 8322126
    Abstract: An exhaust device is disclosed that includes a duct that turns an exhaust flow from a gas turbine engine from a first direction to a second direction. A diverter cup is disposed within the duct and serves to split the exhaust flow into two streams as well as introduce cooling air through an ejector pump at the downstream end of the diverter cup. A splitter is disposed downstream of the diverter cup and serves to split the cooling air into two streams which are thereafter mixed with the split exhaust flow. A diffuser is created in the exhaust device between the duct and the splitter. Various cooling slots are also provided in the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Bies, Stephen A. Bergeron, Bryan H. Lerg, Emil R. Dejulio
  • Publication number: 20120260668
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant is provided and includes a gas turbine engine to generate power, a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) to produce steam from high energy fluids produced from the generation of power in the gas turbine engine, a steam turbine engine to generate additional power from the steam produced in the HRSG and a thermal load reduction system to reduce thermal loading of components of the HRSG and/or the steam turbine engine during at least startup and/or part load operations, which includes an eductor by which a mixture of compressor discharge air and entrained ambient air is injectable into the HRSG and/or an attemperator to cool superheated steam to be transmitted to the steam turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Lee Rogers, Rahul Jaikaran Chillar, Robert Frank Hoskin, Julio Enrique Mestroni, Vijay Raghavendran Nenmeni
  • Publication number: 20120260667
    Abstract: A power plant is provided and includes a gas turbine engine to generate power, a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) to produce steam from high energy fluids produced from the generation of power in the gas turbine engine, a steam turbine engine to generate additional power from the steam produced in the HRSG and a thermal load reduction system to reduce thermal loading of components of the HRSG and/or the steam turbine engine during at least startup and/or part load operations, which includes an eductor by which a mixture of compressor discharge air and entrained ambient air is injectable into the HRSG and/or an attemperator to cool superheated steam to be transmitted to the steam turbine engine and a detector disposed within the HRSG to facilitate identification of hot spots therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Rahul Jaikaran Chillar, Wulang Edwien Chriswindarto, Sanji Ekanayake, Julio Enrique Mestroni, Vijay Raghavendran Nenmeni, Achalesh Kumar Pandey, David Lee Rogers, Morgan Carthledge Salter, Ajit Srivastava
  • Patent number: 8277769
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for recycling carbon dioxide emissions from a fossil-fuel power plant into useful carbonated species The process primarily comprises the steps of: a) burning the fossil fuel, thereby generating heat and a hot exhaust gas containing CO2; and b) converting the heat into energy. The process is characterized in that it further comprises the steps of: c) cooling the exhaust gas; and d) biologically transforming the CO2 contained in the cooled exhaust gas into carbonated species, thereby obtaining a low CO2 exhaust gas and producing useful carbonated species. The low CO2 exhaust gas obtained in step d) can be released in the atmosphere without increasing the problem of greenhouse effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: CO2 Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Sylvie Fradette, Jean Ruel
  • Patent number: 8275533
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided and includes a combustor having a first interior in which a first fuel is combustible, a turbine into which products of at least the combustion of the first fuel are receivable, a transition zone, including a second interior in which a second fuel and the products of the combustion of the first fuel are combustible, a plurality of fuel injectors which are configured to supply the second fuel to the second interior in any one of a single axial stage, multiple axial stages, a single axial circumferential stage and multiple axial circumferential stages, a compressor, by which air is supplied to the first and second interiors for the combustion therein, and a control system configured to control relative amounts of the air to the first and second interiors and relative amounts of the first and second fuels supplied to the first and second interiors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Krishna Kumar Venkataraman, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Geoffrey David Myers
  • Publication number: 20120222426
    Abstract: An integrated power generation system for reducing carbon dioxide emissions is provided. The integrated system comprises a gas turbine having an air inlet, a fuel inlet and an exhaust gas outlet; a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) boiler having an inlet connected to the exhaust gas outlet of the gas turbine, a fuel inlet, an optional air inlet, and a flue gas outlet; and a carbon dioxide capture system connected to the flue gas outlet of the SAGD boiler. A method for capturing the carbon dioxide exhausted from a gas turbine and a SAGD boiler is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventor: Scott Macadam
  • Publication number: 20120216547
    Abstract: An exemplary fossil fuel fired power plant is disclosed with minimum impact of the CO2 capture system on a power part of the plant. A power plant is disclosed which is ready for the retrofit of a CO2 capture plant, and a method is disclosed for retrofitting an existing plant into a power plant with CO2 capture. A power plant part is disclosed which can provide steam and power to operate CO2 capture system, and provide a CO2 capture system, which has the capacity to remove CO2 from flue gas flow of the power part, and of the additional power plant part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Hongtao LI, Holger Gerhard Nagel, Celine Mahieux, Francois Droux
  • Patent number: 8245492
    Abstract: A power plant and method of operation are provided. The power plant comprises at least one main air compressor and at least one gas turbine assembly. Each gas turbine assembly comprises a turbine combustor for mixing a compressed ambient gas with a recirculated low oxygen content gas flow and a fuel stream to form a combustible mixture for burning to form the recirculated low oxygen content gas flow. A turbine is arranged to be driven by the recirculated low oxygen content gas flow from the turbine combustor. The assembly includes a recirculation loop for recirculating the recirculated low oxygen content gas flow from the turbine to a turbine compressor and a gas flow extraction stream for extracting a portion of the recirculated low oxygen content gas flow for delivery to a carbon monoxide catalyst unit. A portion of the compressed ambient gas is directed to the carbon monoxide catalyst unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Samuel David Draper
  • Patent number: 8240152
    Abstract: Control systems and a method for controlling a load point of a gas turbine engine are provided. A control system includes a controller that receives a temperature signal and a pressure signal associated with exhaust gases from the gas turbine engine. The controller is further configured to generate the fuel control signal. The controller is further configured to generate an actuator control signal such that flow restriction member is moved from the first operational position to the second operational position to restrict the flow path such that the exhaust gases have a temperature level within a desired turndown temperature range, the pressure level in the exhaust gases is less than a threshold pressure level, and the load point of the gas turbine engine is adjusted to toward a target load point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Constantin Dinu
  • Publication number: 20120198810
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a strut airfoil for use in an exhaust diffuser. The strut airfoil described herein generally is asymmetric. The strut airfoil has a curved leading edge, a curved tail edge, and two surfaces connecting the leading edge and tail edge. This disclosure also relates to gas turbines that contain an exhaust diffuser with struts that are covered with a strut airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company, a New York Corporation
    Inventors: Asif Iqbal Ansari, Deepesh D. Nanda
  • Publication number: 20120186261
    Abstract: In one aspect, an exhaust diffuser for a gas turbine is disclosed. The exhaust diffuser may generally include an inner casing and an outer casing spaced radially apart from the inner casing so as to define a passage for receiving exhaust gases of the gas turbine. Additionally, the exhaust diffuser may include a fluid outlet configured to inject a fluid into the exhaust gases flowing through the passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Amit Surendra Toprani, Samuel David Draper
  • Publication number: 20120180493
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant includes a first compressor that produces a compressed working fluid and a turbine downstream of the first compressor. The turbine includes stationary components and rotating components and produces an exhaust. A heat exchanger downstream of the turbine receives the exhaust from the turbine, and a second compressor downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of the turbine receives the exhaust from the heat exchanger and provides a flow of exhaust to the turbine. A method for reducing oxygen emissions from a gas turbine includes flowing an exhaust from a turbine to a heat exchanger and removing heat from the exhaust. The method further includes increasing the pressure of the exhaust to produce a pressurized exhaust and flowing the pressurized exhaust back to the turbine to remove heat from the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel David Snook, Andrew Mitchell Rodwell
  • Patent number: 8220248
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generation process in which a portion of the carbon dioxide generated by gaseous fuel combustion is recycled back to the power generation process, either pre-combustion, post-combustion, or both. The power generation process of the invention may be a combined cycle process or a traditional power generation process. The process utilizes sweep-based membrane separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc
    Inventors: Johannes G. Wijmans, Timothy C. Merkel, Richard W. Baker, Xiaotong Wei
  • Patent number: 8220247
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generation process in which a portion of the carbon dioxide generated by gaseous fuel combustion is recycled back to the power generation process, either pre-combustion, post-combustion, or both. The power generation process of the invention may be a combined cycle process or a traditional power generation process. The process utilizes sweep-based membrane separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes G. Wijmans, Timothy C. Merkel, Richard W. Baker, Xiaotong Wei
  • Patent number: 8220274
    Abstract: A system and method of maintaining an optimal temperature range for a catalyst section in a HRSG comprising placing a portion of the exhaust stream in a heat exchanger and superheater, diverting a second portion around the heat exchanger and superheater, combining the two portions and contacting the two portions with a catalyst section. Alternatively, a system of heat exchangers are employed to address the fluctuating exhaust temperature caused by the intermittent use of the duct burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bono, Rajashekharam V. Malyala, Alec Miller, Stephen J. Golden
  • Publication number: 20120167546
    Abstract: A method involves operating a combined-cycle power plant (10), which has a gas turbine (11) with a compressor (12) and a turbine (13), a heat recovery steam generator (17) which is connected downstream to the gas turbine (11) and is for producing steam in a water/steam cycle, and also at least one once-through cooler (21), through which flows compressed air which is compressed in the compressor (12) and intended for cooling the gas turbine (11), and, cooling down, converts feed-water (24) which is fed from the heat recovery steam generator (17) into steam, and discharges the steam to the heat recovery steam generator (17). The combined-cycle power plant is switched between a first operating mode, in which only the gas turbine cycle is used for power generation, and a second operating mode, in which the gas turbine cycle and the water/steam cycle are used for power generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Gijsbertus Oomens, Christoph RUCHTI, Francois DROUX
  • Patent number: 8209951
    Abstract: A power generation system having an exhaust gas attemperating device and method for controlling a temperature of exhaust gases is provided. The exhaust gas attemperating device includes a first conduit and a venturi member. The first conduit is configured to receive at least a portion of exhaust gases from a gas turbine. The venturi member is disposed in the first conduit and defines a flow path therethrough for receiving the exhaust gases in the first conduit. The first conduit and the venturi member have an aperture extending therethrough communicating with the flow path, such that the exhaust gases flowing through the flow path draws ambient air through the aperture into the flow path for reducing a temperature of the exhaust gases flowing through the first conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Joell Randolph Hibshman, II
  • Publication number: 20120159962
    Abstract: The present invention provides a water self-sufficient turbine system comprising: (a) a combustion turbine comprising a combustion chamber disposed between an upstream compressor coupled to a downstream turbine section; (b) a water recovery unit configured to contact a first liquid desiccant with a water-rich exhaust gas stream produced by the combustion turbine, and produce a water-enriched liquid desiccant and a water-depleted exhaust gas stream; and (c) a desiccant regenerator unit configured to contact the water-enriched liquid desiccant with hot compressed air to separate water from the water-enriched liquid desiccant to provide water-rich compressed air and to regenerate the first liquid desiccant; wherein the combustion turbine is configured to supply hot compressed air to the desiccant regenerator unit and receive water-rich compressed air from the desiccant regenerator unit, and wherein the desiccant regenerator unit is configured to supply the first liquid desiccant to the water recovery unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ching-Jen Tang, Andrew Philip Shapiro, Donald Gordon Laing, Harish Chandra Dhingra
  • Publication number: 20120159956
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to power generation methods and secondary processes requiring high radiant and emissivity homogeneous combustion to maximize production output. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a top cycle power generator with combustion exhaust modified to have radiant flux in excess of 500 kW per square meter and emissivity greater than 0.90, and supercritical CO2 power generating cycle to maximize exergy efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Gurin
  • Publication number: 20120159957
    Abstract: The present invention provides a water self-sufficient turbine system comprising: (a) a combustion turbine comprising a combustion chamber disposed between an upstream compressor coupled to a downstream turbine section; (b) a water recovery unit configured to contact a first liquid desiccant with a water-rich exhaust gas stream produced by the combustion turbine, and produce a water-enriched liquid desiccant and a water-depleted exhaust gas stream; and (c) a desiccant regenerator unit configured to contact the water-enriched liquid desiccant with hot compressed air to separate water from the water-enriched liquid desiccant to provide water-rich compressed air and to regenerate the first liquid desiccant; wherein the combustion turbine is configured to supply hot compressed air to the desiccant regenerator unit and receive water-rich compressed air from the desiccant regenerator unit, and wherein the desiccant regenerator unit is configured to supply the first liquid desiccant to the water recovery unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ching-Jen Tang, Andrew Philip Shapiro, Donald Gordon Laing, Harish Chandra Dhingra
  • Publication number: 20120151935
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine includes compressing an air stream in a compressor and generating a post combustion gas by combusting a compressed air stream exiting from the compressor in a combustor. The post combustion gas is expanded in a first turbine. The expanded combustion gas exiting from the first turbine is split into a first stream and a second stream. The first stream of the expanded combustion gas is combusted in a reheat combustor. The reheat combustor is cooled using the second stream of the expanded combustion gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Bunker, Andrei Tristan Evulet
  • Patent number: 8191349
    Abstract: A turbine system comprises a compressor for compressing air to generate a compressed flow, an air separation unit for receiving and separating at least a portion of the compressed flow into oxygen and a low-oxygen stream, a combustor for receiving and combusting at least a portion of the low-oxygen stream, a portion of the compressed flow and a fuel to generate a high temperature exhaust gas, and a turbine for receiving and expanding the high temperature exhaust gas to generate electricity and a reduced temperature low-NOx exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrei Tristan Evulet, Ahmed Mostafa Elkady
  • Publication number: 20120131897
    Abstract: The present application provides a gas compression system for use with a gas stream. The gas compression system may include a number of compressors for compressing the gas stream, one or more ejectors for further compressing the gas stream, a condenser positioned downstream of the ejectors, and a waste heat source. A return portion of the gas stream may be in communication with the ejectors via the waste heat source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Matthias Finkenrath, Vittorio Michelassi
  • Patent number: 8186144
    Abstract: A dual-flow turbomachine (10), essentially comprising a fan (14), a compressor (20), a combustion chamber (21), a turbine (22) and an exhaust casing (24), which comprises an auxiliary air compressor (48) driven by a Stirling engine (53) mounted downstream of the combustion chamber (21) and having a hot chamber in thermal contact with the flow (B) of hot gases leaving the turbine and a cold chamber in thermal contact with a flow (A) of cold gases generated by the fan (14) and flowing around the turbine (22) and the exhaust casing (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Laurent Donatien Behaghel, Pascal Coat, Arnaud Jean-Marie Pierrot, Stephane Rousselin
  • Patent number: 8186142
    Abstract: Systems and a method for controlling a temperature of an exhaust gas stack are provided. The system includes a first heat exchanger positioned upstream in exhaust gas flow communication to an exhaust gas inlet to the stack, a second heat exchanger positioned upstream in exhaust gas flow communication to the first heat exchanger, and a water side conduit configured to direct a flow of relatively hot water from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger such that a temperature of a flow of exhaust gas flowing through the first exchanger is maintained within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Prakash Narayan, Shinoj Vakkayil Chandrabose, Pemmi Bhaskar
  • Publication number: 20120102964
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a compressor section, a turbine section operatively connected to the compressor section, a combustor fluidly connected between the compressor section and the turbine section, and a carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction system fluidly connected to the combustor. The CO2 extraction system includes a CO2 separator. The CO2 separator separates a CO2 laden inlet gas stream into a first gas stream and a second gas stream. The first gas stream is substantially free of CO2 and the second gas stream comprises CO2. The first gas stream is directed to the combustor and the second gas stream is passed through a discharge conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Pugalenthi Nandagopal, Chetan Madhav Joshi, Manikandan Thiyagarajan, Anantha Ramesh Rangaswamy
  • Publication number: 20120102910
    Abstract: An exhaust eductor for a gas turbine engine comprises: an engine exhaust chamber with an exhaust chamber inlet that receives engine exhaust from the gas turbine engine and an exhaust chamber outlet that discharges the engine exhaust to establish an exhaust gas flow through the engine exhaust chamber; an air chamber with an air inlet that receives ambient air external to the gas turbine engine; and a mixing baffle that couples the air chamber to the engine exhaust chamber, comprising a first side adjacent the air chamber, a second side adjacent the exhaust chamber, multiple apertures through the mixing baffle that extend from the first side to the second side of the mixing baffle, each aperture having a corresponding canopy that extends from an upstream end of the aperture along the second side of the mixing baffle into the exhaust gas flow for at least a portion of the length of the aperture, to establish an air flow from the air inlet of the air chamber into the exhaust gas flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Jay M. Francisco, Jack V. Vitale
  • Publication number: 20120096869
    Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed to utilize various fuels, including liquid natural gas fuels, to improve engine efficiency in gas turbine engines. In one configuration, a fuel is heated by a heat exchanger utilizing waste exhaust heat of a gas turbine engine. In another configuration, LNG fuel is heated using a pre-cooler for the inlet air stream of a gas turbine engine. In another configuration, fuel is injected into the pressurized air, downstream of the air-to-air intercooler. In yet another configuration, fuel is pumped through the engine's intercooler or a secondary heat exchanger exchanging heat with the compressed air stream between the low-pressure compressor and high-pressure compressor. In another configuration, the fuel is first heated by the intercooler and then further heated by a heat exchanger utilizing waste exhaust heat of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: ICR TURBINE ENGINE CORPORATION
    Inventors: James B. Kesseli, William Vandervalk, John D. Watson
  • Publication number: 20120090328
    Abstract: A power plant includes a gas turbine unit adapted to feed whose flue gases into a boiler of a steam turbine unit, to be then diverted into a recirculated flow and discharged flow. The recirculated flow is mixed with fresh air forming a mixture that is fed into a gas turbine unit compressor. The discharged flow is fed into a CO2 capture unit that is an amine based or chilled ammonia based CO2 capture unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Eribert BENZ, Gian-Luigi AGOSTINELLI, Andreas BRAUTSCH, Gisbert Wolfgang KAEFER, Felix GÃœTHE
  • Patent number: 8156726
    Abstract: A semiclosed diesel fueled Brayton cycle power system is provided using CO2 and steam as the working fluid. Combustion occurs in a combustor between diesel fuel and O2 with CO2 present as a diluent. During combustion, a heated, high pressure working fluid of CO2 and steam is formed. The heated working fluid is expanded in a turbine and power is withdrawn from the fluid. The fluid is then used in a regenerator to heat cooler, compressed CO2 before the compressed CO2 is transferred to the combustor. The expanded working fluid is cooled conventionally by seawater in a cooler, condensing steam in the working fluid to water. The water is separated from the gaseous CO2. The gaseous CO2 is recycled, and the water is used to backfill the system's diesel fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Paul M. Dunn
  • Patent number: 8156725
    Abstract: A compressed air energy storage system and method of capturing CO2 during compressed air energy storage the system and method including a gas inlet pipe, at least one air compressor stage attached to the gas inlet pipe and adapted for compression of a gas, a heat transfer system to cool the gas during or after compression, the heat being recycled throughout the system, at least one absorption bed for separating CO2 from the compressed gas attached to the heat transfer system, at least one compressed gas reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, the reservoir attached at its inlet to the absorption bed, at least one preheater stage attached to the outlet of the compressed gas reservoir for heating a compressed gas after storage in the compressed gas reservoir, and at least one gas expander attached to the preheater stage and adapted for the expansion of the compressed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Karl A. Littau, Raphael Stumpp
  • Patent number: 8157509
    Abstract: A turbine diffuser is disclosed. The turbine diffuser includes a diffuser segment having a forward end and an aft end with a flange disposed at the aft end of the diffuser segment. The diffuser segment is joinable to an adjacent diffuser segment via the flange, which includes a seal retainer that is securedly connectable in a radial direction with a seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Damon Black, Scott Michael Elam, Prashant Kantappa Patil
  • Patent number: 8151571
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling combustion emission parameters associated with a gas turbine combustor. The method can include providing an optical path through a gas turbine exhaust duct, propagating light along the optical path, measuring exhaust species absorption of the light within the gas turbine exhaust duct, and controlling at least one of the combustion parameters based at least in part on the measured exhaust species absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter Martin Maly, Jamison W. Janawitz, William Eberhardt, Mark Holt, Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 8146342
    Abstract: An exhaust eductor system includes a primary exhaust nozzle configured to transport an active flow stream; and a mixing duct at least partially surrounding the primary exhaust nozzle and configured to transport a passive flow stream that is entrained by mixing with the active flow stream from the primary exhaust nozzle. The mixing duct has an interior, and a baffle on the interior of the mixing duct is configured to prevent the mixed flow streams from exiting the mixing duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Z. Daniel Judd
  • Patent number: 8146341
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating heat exchanger elements of HRSG systems with gas turbine exhaust diffusers are provided in the disclosed embodiments. The systems and methods may include integrating heat exchanger elements, such as steam pipes, with various components of an exhaust diffuser. For example, the heat exchanger elements may be integrated with inlet turning vanes, exhaust frame struts, exit guide vanes, associated support structures, and other components of the exhaust diffuser. In addition, the heat exchanger elements may be integrated with multiple components of a single exhaust diffuser. Moreover, the heat exchanger elements may be integrated with the components of the exhaust diffuser within an airfoil, which may encompass both the heat exchanger elements and the individual component of the exhaust diffuser. The use of airfoils may help ensure certain aerodynamic properties of the heated exhaust gas flowing across the exhaust diffuser components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gunnar Leif Siden, Jonathan Glenn Luedke
  • Publication number: 20120073260
    Abstract: A split heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) arrangement including a first HRSG coupled to a turbine and thereby receptive of a portion of the exhaust gases to deliver the portion of the exhaust gases to a compressor, a second HRSG coupled to the turbine and thereby receptive of a remaining portion of the exhaust gases, which includes an NOx catalyst and a CO catalyst sequentially disposed therein to remove NOx and CO from the exhaust gases and an air injection apparatus to inject air into the second HRSG between the NOx catalyst and the CO catalyst to facilitate CO consumption at the CO catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Samuel David Draper
  • Patent number: 8132756
    Abstract: An aircraft engine having a longitudinal axis, including a wall surrounding a gas stream that is ejected at a downstream end of the wall along the longitudinal axis, wherein a plurality of conduits distributed at the periphery of the downstream end of the wall are each capable of ejecting, via an outlet orifice, a fluid jet in the form of a sheet, in such a way that the jets thus ejected each form a fluid perturbation around the ejected gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Universite de Poitiers, Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Jerome Huber, Jean-Paul Bonnet, Joel Delville, Peter Jordan, Francois Strekowski
  • Publication number: 20120058013
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a temperature of an exhaust gas being introduced to a catalyst is provided. Using an adjustable flow controller, an adjustable amount of tempering fluid is provided to the exhaust gas prior to the exhaust gas proceeding to the catalyst. A sensor senses a parameter indicative of a temperature of the exhaust gas being introduced to the catalyst. A computer processor uses a relationship to relate the parameter to an adjustment of the adjustable flow controller that will adjust the amount of tempering fluid provided to the exhaust gas and change the temperature of the exhaust gas being introduced to the catalyst toward a target temperature. Adjustment of the adjustable flow controller is initiated by the computer processor to change the flow of the tempering fluid, and the relationship between the parameter and the adjustment of the adjustable flow controller is updated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Larry William Swanson, Douglas Frank Beadie, Neil Colin Widmer, Hua Zhang, Gilbert Otto Kraemer
  • Patent number: 8127557
    Abstract: Control systems and a method for controlling a load point of a gas turbine engine are provided. A control system includes a controller that receives a temperature signal and a pressure signal associated with exhaust gases from the gas turbine engine. The controller is further configured to generate the fuel control signal. The controller is further configured to generate an actuator control signal such that flow restriction member is moved from the first operational position to the second operational position to restrict the flow path such that the exhaust gases have a temperature level within a desired turndown temperature range, the pressure level in the exhaust gases is less than a threshold pressure level, and the load point of the gas turbine engine is adjusted to toward a target load point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Constantin Dinu
  • Patent number: 8127526
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an exhaust liner having cold and hot sheets radially spaced from one another and interconnected by a band arranged in a cavity between the hot and cold sheets. In one example, the band is Z-shaped to permit thermal growth of the hot sheets relative to the cold sheets in the axial and radial directions. The hot sheets include axially adjacent portions that provide slots that are in fluid communication with the space. Cooling fluid is provided to the cavity through impingement jets in the cold sheet. The slots are arranged radially between the hot sheet portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Murphy, Jeffrey R. Lavin
  • Patent number: 8117822
    Abstract: The carbon-free gas turbine is a power-producing turbine driven by the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels with oxygen. The carbon-free gas turbine includes at least one combustor for combusting gaseous fuel with oxygen. The at least one combustor includes a housing containing at least one oxygen transport reactor. The oxygen transport reactor includes an outer wall and an inner cylindrical ion transport membrane. The membrane receives pressurized air and separates gaseous oxygen therefrom, transporting the oxygen into a central region thereof for combustion with the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, producing gaseous carbon dioxide and water vapor. A first turbine is driven by the gaseous carbon dioxide and water vapor produced by the at least one combustor and drives a first compressor. The first compressor provides the pressurized air supplied to the at least one combustor. A second turbine is driven by pressurized nitrogen gas resulting from the combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
    Inventors: Mohamed Abdel-Aziz Habib, Amro Mohammad Al-Qutub
  • Patent number: 8109720
    Abstract: An exhaust system for gas turbine engine is provided that reduces turbulence and backflow within the exhaust system and, thus, increases the efficiency of the turbine engine. In various embodiments, the system includes an exhaust plenum that provides a gradual expansion of the exhaust gases. The exhaust plenum may also include one or more flow splitters that further reduce turbulence in the plenum and provide a more uniform gas flow in the plenum and other downstream exhaust components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Laxmikant Merchant, Prabhakaran Saraswathi Rajesh
  • Patent number: 8110012
    Abstract: In a retrofit system for hot solids combustion and gasification, a chemical looping system includes an endothermic reducer reactor 12 having at least one materials inlet 22 for introducing carbonaceous fuel and CaCO3 therein and a CaS/gas outlet 26. A first CaS inlet 40 and a first CaSO4 inlet 64 are also defined by the reducer reactor 12. An oxidizer reactor 14 is provided and includes an air inlet 68, a CaSO4/gas outlet 46, a second CaS inlet 44, and a second CaSO4 inlet 66. A first separator 30 is in fluid communication with the CaS/gas outlet 26 and includes a product gas and a CaS/gas outlet 32 and 34 from which CaS is introduced into said first and second CaS inlets. A second separator 50 is in fluid communication with the CaSO4/gas outlet 46 and has an outlet 52 for discharging gas therefrom, and a CaSO4 outlet from which CaSO4 is introduced into the first and second CaSO4 inlets 62, 66.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: John H. Chiu, Herbert E. Andrus, Gregory N. Liljedahl, Paul R. Thibeault