Having Catalyst In Combustion Zone Patents (Class 60/723)
  • Patent number: 12012918
    Abstract: A fuel supply component with coking mitigation includes a housing having a main fuel inlet and a main fuel outlet. The main fuel inlet and outlet define a main fuel flow path therebetween. The housing includes a de-oxygenated fuel inlet in fluid communication with the main fuel flow path downstream from the main fuel inlet. The de-oxygenated fuel inlet is configured and adapted to supply de-oxygenated fuel to the main fuel flow path to mitigate insoluble fuel elements from diffusing and adhering to a wall of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Murtuza Lokhandwalla
  • Patent number: 11722092
    Abstract: A thermophotovoltaic generator incorporating a two-stage combustor for providing heat to a thermophotovoltaic cell. Combustor parts include a partial oxidation reactor, which functions catalytically to convert a hydrocarbon fuel and a first supply of an oxidant into a gaseous partial oxidation product; and further include downstream thereof, a deep oxidation reactor including a premixer plenum fluidly connected to a heat spreader comprising a porous matrix, such as a ceramic foam. Functionally, the deep oxidation reactor converts the gaseous partial oxidation product and a second supply of oxidant into complete combustion products. Heat produced by the two-stage combustor generates radiative energy from a photon emitter, which is directly converted to electricity in a photovoltaic diode cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: PRECISION COMBUSTION, INC.
    Inventors: Subir Roychoudhury, Richard Mastanduno, Francesco Macri, Bruce Crowder
  • Patent number: 11359541
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods wherein a dilute hydrocarbon stream can be oxidized to impart added energy to a power production system. The oxidation can be carried out without substantial combustion of the hydrocarbons. In this manner, dilute hydrocarbon streams that would otherwise be required to undergo costly separation processes can be efficiently utilized for improving the power production system and method. Such systems and methods particularly can utilize dilute hydrocarbon stream including a significant amount of carbon dioxide, such as may be produced in hydrocarbon recovery process, such as enhanced oil recovery or conventional hydrocarbon recovery processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: 8 RIVERS CAPITAL, LLC
    Inventors: Brock Alan Forrest, Jeremy Eron Fetvedt, Peter Michael McGroddy
  • Patent number: 11233255
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a starting burner (100a; 100b) for a fuel cell system (1000a; 1000b), having a catalyst (10) with a catalyst inlet (11) and a catalyst outlet (12), a catalyst area (13) being formed between the catalyst inlet (11) and the catalyst outlet (12), and the catalyst area (13) being surrounded by a catalyst wall (14) in a passage direction (D) from the catalyst inlet (11) to the catalyst outlet (12), and an operating fluid guide section (20) for supplying an operating fluid (F1) to the catalyst inlet (11), wherein the operating fluid guide section (20) is arranged outside the catalyst (10) at least in sections along the catalyst wall (14). The invention also concerns a fuel cell system (1000) with the starting burner (100a; 100b) and a method for heating a service fluid (F1) in the fuel cell system (1000a; 1000b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: AVL List GmbH, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jörg Mathé, Michael Reissig, Thomas Krauss, Julian Makinson, Bernd Reiter, Vincent Lawlor, Tatsuya Yaguchi, Tetsushi Noda, Takeshi Shiomi
  • Patent number: 11156362
    Abstract: A combustor with axially staged fuel injection includes an endcover and a fuel injector that extends axially downstream from the endcover. The fuel injector includes a cylindrical shell formed by an outer wall and an inner wall. A first plurality of outlets is circumferentially spaced across the inner wall. A first plurality of premix channels is defined between the outer wall and the inner wall. Each premix channel of the first plurality of premix channels is in fluid communication with a fuel supply, a compressed air supply and a respective outlet of the first plurality of outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Patent number: 10865988
    Abstract: A plate for supporting a plurality of nozzle tubes in a combustion casing of a combustor stably supports the nozzle tubes and adsorbs displacement due to thermal expansion or natural vibrations, thereby reducing combustor maintenance and extending the lifetime of the combustor. The plate includes an inner frame having a plurality of through holes for respectively receiving the plurality of nozzle tubes; a fixing frame fixed on an inner circumferential surface of the combustion casing and configured to support the inner frame; and a mechanical buffer disposed between the fixing frame and the inner frame. The fixing frame has an inner circumferential surface in which a fixing recess having a U-shaped cross-section is formed to receive the mechanical buffer and an outer edge of the inner frame and to receive the mechanical buffer. A method of assembly the nozzle tube support plate facilitates its initial installation and subsequent maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Byeong Ha Jeon, Moon Soo Cho
  • Patent number: 10087844
    Abstract: A bundled tube fuel nozzle assembly includes a fuel injector and a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes that provide for fluid communication through a forward plate, a fuel plenum and an aft plate of the bundled tube fuel nozzle assembly. Each tube includes an inlet defined at an upstream end of the tube and an outlet defined at a downstream end of the tube. The fuel injector is disposed upstream from the inlets of each of the tubes. The upstream end of each tube is noncircular and includes at least one side portion that abuts a complementary upstream end side portion of an immediately adjacent tube of the plurality of tubes. The downstream end of each tube may be circular and is spaced apart from the downstream ends of immediately adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael John Hughes, Stanley Kevin Widener, Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Patent number: 9644844
    Abstract: A multipoint fuel injection system includes a plurality of fuel manifolds. Each manifold is in fluid communication with a plurality of injectors arranged circumferentially about a longitudinal axis for multipoint fuel injection. The injectors of separate respective manifolds are spaced radially apart from one another for separate radial staging of fuel flow to each respective manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventor: Lev Alexander Prociw
  • Patent number: 9546789
    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, a fuel nozzle housing including a first outer wall extending circumferentially about a central axis, wherein the plurality of multi-tube fuel nozzles are disposed in the fuel nozzle housing, an inlet flow conditioner removably coupled to a first end portion of the first outer wall, wherein the inlet flow conditioner includes a plurality of air openings, and an aft plate assembly removably coupled to a second end portion of the first outer wall, wherein the aft plate assembly includes an aft plate having a plurality of tube apertures, and the plurality of tubes extend to the plurality of tube apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Keener, Jason Thurman Stewart
  • Patent number: 9188285
    Abstract: A system in one embodiment includes a mixing module, an oxidation module, and a heat exchanger. The mixing module is configured to receive and mix a boil-off gas stream from a cryotank. The oxidation module is configured to receive the mixed stream, and to oxidize the boil-off gas in the mixed stream to produce an exhaust stream. The heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between streams passing through a first passage configured to receive at least a portion of the exhaust stream, and a second passage configured to receive a fluid including the boil-off gas. The heat exchanger is configured to heat the fluid including the boil-off gas and cool the at least a portion of the exhaust stream. The fluid including the boil-off gas is heated by the heat exchanger upstream of the oxidation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chiranjeev Kalra, William Dwight Gerstler, Laura Michele Hudy, Michael Jay Epstein, Vaibhav Bahadur
  • Patent number: 9035226
    Abstract: An exoatmospheric vehicle uses a control system that includes a thrust system to provide thrust to control flight of the vehicle. A regenerative heat system is used to preheat portions of the thrust system, prior to their use in control of the vehicle. The heat for preheating may be generated by consumption of a fuel of the vehicle, such as a monopropellant fuel. The fuel may be used to power a pump (among other possibilities), to pressurize the fuel for use by thrusters of the thrust system. The preheated portions of the thrust system may include one or more catalytic beds of the thrust system, which may be preheated using exhaust gasses from the pump. The preheating may reduce the response time of the thrusters that have their catalytic beds preheated. Other thrusters of the thrust system may not be preheated at all before operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Wayne C Jouse, Mark S Muktoyuk
  • Publication number: 20150121891
    Abstract: A low-concentration methane gas oxidation system includes a single heat source device, and an oxidation device which catalytically oxides a low-concentration methane gas by using heat from the single heat source device. The oxidation device includes a plurality of oxidation lines each including each of a plurality of branching low-concentration gas supply passages which branch, in parallel, from a supply passage which supplies the low-concentration methane gas, and each of a plurality of catalyst oxidizers provided on each of the plurality of branching low-concentration gas supply passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi KAJITA, Yoshihiro YAMASAKI
  • Patent number: 8984886
    Abstract: A method for operating a catalytic reforming assembly. The method includes injecting a quantity of oxidizer gas and a quantity of combustion gas into a reformer to form a mixture. The mixture is channeled across a catalyst bed to form a reformate gas stream. A temperature of the catalyst bed is measured using at least one temperature sensor. A level of the oxidizer gas in the reformate stream is measured using at least one oxidizer gas sensor. A health of the catalyst bed is determined based on at least one of a catalyst bed temperature measurement and an oxidizer gas level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chetan Babu Velkur, Hasan Karim
  • Patent number: 8931283
    Abstract: A reformer for use in a gas turbine engine specially configured to treat a supplemental fuel feed to the combustor that includes a reformer core containing a catalyst composition and an inlet flow channel for transporting the reformer fuel mixture, air and steam (either saturated or superheated) into a reformer core. An outlet flow channel transports the resulting reformate stream containing reformed and thermally cracked hydrocarbons and substantial amounts of hydrogen out of the reformer core for later combination with the main combustor feed. Because the catalytic partial oxidation reaction in the reformer is highly exothermic, the additional heat is transferred (and thermally integrated) using one or more heat exchange units for a first and/or second auxiliary gas turbine fuel stream that undergo thermal cracking and vaporization before combining with the reformate. The combined, hydrogen-enriched feed significantly improves combustor performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Hasan Karim, Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Patent number: 8863530
    Abstract: A device comprising a combustion toroid for receiving combustion-induced centrifugal forces therein to continuously combust fluids located therein and an outlet for exhaust from said combustion toroid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Power Generation Technologies Development Fund L.P.
    Inventor: Ernst Bergen
  • Publication number: 20140260313
    Abstract: A micro-mixer/combustor to mix fuel and oxidant streams into combustible mixtures where flames resulting from combustion of the mixture can be sustained inside its combustion chamber is provided. The present design is particularly suitable for diffusion flames. In various aspects the present design mixes the fuel and oxidant streams prior to entering a combustion chamber. The combustion chamber is designed to prevent excess pressure to build up within the combustion chamber, which build up can cause instabilities in the flame. A restriction in the inlet to the combustion chamber from the mixing chamber forces the incoming streams to converge while introducing minor pressure drop. In one or more aspects, heat from combustion products exhausted from the combustion chamber may be used to provide heat to at least one of fuel passing through the fuel inlet channel, oxidant passing through the oxidant inlet channel, the mixing chamber, or the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Jihad A. Badra, Assaad R. Masri
  • Patent number: 8820085
    Abstract: Provided is a lean fuel sucking gas turbine system including a compressor for compressing a mixed gas having a fuel and air mixed to a concentration of an inflammable limit or lower, thereby producing a compressed gas, a first catalyst combustor for burning the compressed gas by a catalyst reaction, a turbine adapted to be driven by a combustion gas from a second catalyst combustor, and a reproducer for heating the compressed gas to be introduced into the first catalyst combustor with an exhaust gas from the turbine. Between the turbine and the reproducer, there is arranged a duct burner for flame-burning a first auxiliary fuel in the exhaust gas. Thus, it is possible to attain efficient operation of the system while simplifying the entire constitution and to prevent the blow-by of the mixed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Kajita
  • Patent number: 8801428
    Abstract: A combustor includes an end cap having upstream and downstream surfaces and a cap shield surrounding the upstream and downstream surfaces. First and second sets of premixer tubes extend from the upstream surface through the downstream surface. A first fuel conduit supplies fuel to the first set of premixer tubes. A casing circumferentially surrounds the cap shield to define an annular passage, and a second fuel conduit supplies fuel through the annular passage to the second set of premixer tubes. A method for supplying fuel to a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through first and second sets of premixer tubes, flowing a first fuel into the first set of premixer tubes, and flowing a second fuel through an annular passage surrounding the end cap and into the second set of premixer tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Gregory Allen Boardman
  • Patent number: 8755941
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Larry William Swanson, Douglas Frank Beadie, Neil Colin Widmer, Hua Zhang, Gilbert Otto Kraemer
  • Patent number: 8683804
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a fuel nozzle that includes a fuel injector that includes a fuel port and a premixer tube. The premixer tube includes a wall disposed about a central passage, multiple air ports extending through the wall into the central passage, and a catalytic region. The catalytic region includes a catalyst, disposed inside the wall along the central passage, configured to increase a reaction of fuel and air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, David Martin Johnson, Ronald James Chila, Nishant Govindbhai Parsania, Hasan Karim, Joseph Citeno
  • Patent number: 8678814
    Abstract: Control and regulation system of a combustion unit (10) of the type comprising a combustion chamber (11) and a catalyst (40), the control and regulation system comprising: -an acquisition device of signals proportional to functioning parameters characteristic of the functioning state of the combustion unit (10), an electronic data processing unit (30) connected to the signal acquisition device from which it receives signals, a control and regulation program associated with said electronic data processing unit (30), a first fuel distribution valve (20), a second air distribution valve (21), a data base associated with said electronic data processing unit (30), the electronic data processing unit (30) receives signals from the signal acquisition device, processes them and regulates the opening of the first valve (20) and second valve (21) to minimize the polluting emissions of CO and Nox of the combustion unit (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benoit Fecamp, Ever Avriel Fadlun, Stefano Groppi
  • Patent number: 8636247
    Abstract: A gas generator assembly includes a propellant chamber housing an amine based propellant. A reaction chamber is coupled with the propellant chamber. The reaction chamber includes a reaction chamber housing, and a porous reaction matrix within the reaction chamber housing. The reaction matrix includes a catalyzing agent, and the catalyzing agent is configured to non-combustibly catalyze the amine based propellant into one or more pressurized gases. An injector is in communication with the propellant chamber. The injector is configured to deliver the amine based propellant to the porous reaction matrix. A discharge nozzle is coupled with the reaction chamber and is configured to accelerate and discharge the one or more pressurized gases. In one example, the gas generator is coupled with one or more of an impulse turbine assembly and an electric generator to form a micro power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Danforth, Richard D. Loehr, Kevin P. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8540508
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for burning a fluid fuel, in which fuel is reacted in a catalytic reaction, whereupon catalytically pre-reacted fuel continues to be burned in a secondary reaction. A swirling component is impressed onto the pre-reacted fuel, allowing the secondary reaction to be ignited in a spatially controlled manner, resulting in complete burnout. The invention further relates to a burner for burning a fluid fuel, in which the fuel outlet of a catalytic burner is disposed upstream of the fuel outlet of a primary burner in the direction of flow of the fuel within a flow channel such that the fuel is catalytically reacted. The catalytic burner is provided with a number of catalytically effective elements which are arranged such that a vortex is created in the flow channel. The invention can be applied particularly to combustion chambers of gas turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bernd Prade
  • Patent number: 8528334
    Abstract: An injector for a gas turbine combustor including a catalyst coated surface forming a passage for feed gas flow and a channel for oxidant gas flow establishing an axial gas flow through a flow conditioner disposed at least partially within an inner wall of the injector. The flow conditioner includes a length with an interior passage opening into upstream and downstream ends for passage of the axial gas flow. An interior diameter of the interior passage smoothly reduces and then increases from upstream to downstream ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Partha Dutta, Kenneth O. Smith, Frank J. Ritz
  • Patent number: 8516818
    Abstract: A combustion system for performing stable combustion and flame stabilization at high altitudes is described. A primary liquid hydrocarbon fuel is atomized and vaporized within the main combustor chamber to produce a primary fuel vapor. When the combustion system operates at a high altitude, a secondary gaseous fuel is fed into the inlet air port such that the secondary fuel mixes with air, thereby enabling the mixture of the air and the secondary fuel to combust in a catalytic reactor to produce high temperature, oxygen-rich gases that flow into the main combustor chamber. Proper proportional amounts of the two fuels are determined as a function of altitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: James Charles Sisco, Jack Kerrebrock, Jeremy Scott Hollman
  • Publication number: 20130205754
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to a rocket propulsion oxidizer compound that is a solution, is a homogenous and stable liquid at room temperature and includes nitrous oxide and nitrogen tetroxide. In addition, an apparatus is provided for burning a fuel and nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide. The apparatus has a combustor, a catalyst, a nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide supply passage for directing the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide to a contact position with the catalyst, and a fuel supply passage for supplying the fuel to the combustor. The catalyst acts to facilitate decomposition of the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide, while the combustor burns the fuel, the decomposed nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide and/or nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide decomposed in the reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Robert L. Sackheim, Joseph R. Herdy
  • Patent number: 8495880
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system are disclosed that include a heat source, an endothermic process module, and a fuel source configured to supply fuel to the endothermic process module and to receive isomerized fuel from the endothermic process module. A controller includes logic instructions operable to receive information regarding temperature of fuel received by the endothermic process module, and regulate application of heat from the heat source to the fuel at the endothermic process module. The endothermic process module includes a catalyst that increases the thermal carrying capacity of the fuel by isomerizing fuel from the fuel source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Edward H. Allen
  • Publication number: 20130125548
    Abstract: An injector for a gas turbine combustor including a catalyst coated surface forming a passage for feed gas flow and a channel for oxidant gas flow establishing an axial gas flow through a flow conditioner disposed at least partially within an inner wall of the injector. The flow conditioner includes a length with an interior passage opening into upstream and downstream ends for passage of the axial gas flow. An interior diameter of the interior passage smoothly reduces and then increases from upstream to downstream ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INC.
    Inventors: Partha Dutta, Kenneth O. Smith, Frank J. Ritz
  • Patent number: 8397509
    Abstract: A catalytic engine comprises a catalytic reformer and a turbine, and it employs the process steps of introducing a reactant mixture of fuel, air, water and recycled exhaust gas into a reaction zone, reacting said fuel mixture over oxidation catalysts in the reaction zone by adjusting the CO2/C, H2O/C, O2/C ratios and the % fuel of the reactant mixture to maintain the reactor at a temperature between 150-1100° C. and a pressure between 1 to 100 atmosphere, and feeding said refromate stream from said reaction zone to drive a downstream turbine, a turbocharger or any kind of gas turbine. This catalytic engine can be connected to an electrical generator to become a stationary or mobile power station, which can be used in transportation, industrial, utility and household applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Patent number: 8387389
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a first flow passage and a main combustion arrangement in the first flow passage. The engine further includes a second flow passage and a first catalytic combustion arrangement in the second flow passage, wherein the second flow passage can communicate with the first flow passage at at least one upstream passage junction upstream of the main combustion arrangement and upstream of the first catalytic combustion arrangement, and the second flow passage can communicate with the first flow passage at at least one downstream passage junction downstream of the main combustion arrangement and downstream of the first catalytic combustion arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Avellan, Tomas Grönstedt
  • Publication number: 20130029236
    Abstract: A device used to provide hot exhaust gases for driving a turbine. The device includes a burner, the combustion zone of which is directly mounted on or integrated into the gas inlet (turbine housing) of the turbine. The burner is supplied with at least one combustible gas or gas mixture. The combustion zone includes a porous material with a large specific surface area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2010
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Holger Stark, Ulf-Michael Mex, Gerhard Konrad, Benjamin Steinhauser, Gert Hinsenkamp
  • Patent number: 8356467
    Abstract: A system, such as a turbine power production system, including a plurality of combustion chambers. The combustion chamber may be provided with an ignition system that allows for substantially simultaneous ignition of each of the plurality of the combustors. Generally, a detonation wave may be provided to each of the combustion chambers substantially simultaneously from a single ignition combustion wave chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M Sprouse, Shahram Farhangi
  • Patent number: 8316647
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for protecting a catalyst within a combustor. In one embodiment, a catalytic reactor includes a protective coating that may be chemically removed or mechanically removed while the catalytic reactor is disposed in a combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Cristina Colindres Kraemer
  • Patent number: 8307653
    Abstract: A catalytic oxidation module for a catalytic combustor of a gas turbine engine is provided. The catalytic oxidation module comprises a plurality of spaced apart catalytic elements for receiving a fuel-air mixture over a surface of the catalytic elements. The plurality of catalytic elements includes at least one primary catalytic element comprising a monometallic catalyst and secondary catalytic elements adjacent the primary catalytic element comprising a multi-component catalyst. Ignition of the monometallic catalyst of the primary catalytic element is effective to rapidly increase a temperature within the catalytic oxidation module to a degree sufficient to ignite the multi-component catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Elvira V. Anoshkina, Walter R. Laster
  • Patent number: 8256221
    Abstract: An assembly (45) includes a plurality of separate pie-shaped segments (72) forming a disk (70) around a central region (48) for retaining a plurality of tubes (46) in a concentrically spaced apart configuration. Each segment includes a support member (94) radially extending along an upstream face (96) of the segment and a plurality of annularly curved support arms (98) transversely attached to the support member and radially spaced apart from one another away from the central region for receiving respective upstream end portions of the tubes in arc-shaped spaces (100) between the arms. Each segment also includes a radial passageway (102) formed in the support member for receiving a fluid segment portion (106) and a plurality of annular passageways (104) formed in the support arms for receiving respective arm portions (108) of the fluid segment portion from the radial passageway and for conducting the respective arm portions into corresponding annular spaces (47) formed between the tubes retained by the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark F. Rubio, John C. Glessner
  • Patent number: 8225613
    Abstract: A combustion system for performing stable combustion and flame stabilization at high altitudes is described. A primary liquid hydrocarbon fuel is atomized and vaporized within the main combustor chamber to produce a primary fuel vapor. When the combustion system operates at a high altitude, a secondary gaseous fuel is fed into the inlet air port such that the secondary fuel mixes with air, thereby enabling the mixture of the air and the secondary fuel to combust in a catalytic reactor to produce high temperature, oxygen-rich gases that flow into the main combustor chamber. Proper proportional amounts of the two fuels are determined as a function of altitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: James Charles Sisco, Jack Kerrebrock, Jeremy Scott Hollman
  • Patent number: 8215117
    Abstract: A catalytic reactor for a gas turbine engine comprising an air inlet, a premixing zone, a reacting zone comprising a reactive portion and a nonreactive portion, a post reaction mixing zone, a first fuel injection system for introducing fuel into the reactive portion, and a second fuel injection system for introducing fuel into the nonreactive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Meredith B. Colket, Alexander Chen
  • Patent number: 8122719
    Abstract: Apparatus for combustion of a fuel-oxidizer mixture in a combustion chamber of a turbogroup, in particular of a power plant wherein total oxidizer flow is divided into a main oxidizer flow and a secondary oxidizer flow. The main oxidizer flow is lean mixed with a main fuel flow in a premix burner, and the mixture is fully oxidized in the combustion chamber. The secondary oxidizer flow is divided into a pilot oxidizer flow and a heat-exchanging oxidizer flow. The pilot oxidizer flow is rich mixed with a pilot fuel flow, and the mixture is partially oxidized in a catalyst, with hydrogen being formed. Downstream of the catalyst, the partially oxidized pilot fuel-oxidizer mixture and the heat-exchanging oxidizer flow are together introduced into at least one zone which is suitable for stabilizing the combustion of the main fuel-oxidizer mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Timothy Griffin, Dieter Winkler
  • Patent number: 8028528
    Abstract: A combustor assembly includes a convergent segment followed by a divergent segment to advantageously improve combustion. The combustor assembly includes a first segment beginning at a forward end that transitions to a second segment past a transition segment in a direction along a combustor axis toward an aft end. The reduction in cross-sectional area within the first segment provides desirable fuel and air mixing properties. The convergent first segment in combination with the divergent second segment decreases residence time of fuel-air mixture within the combustor chamber that decreases production of undesirable emissions from the combustor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Burd, William Sowa, Albert K. Cheung, Stephen Karl Kramer, Reid Dyer Curtis Smith, James Hoke
  • Patent number: 7997058
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas powered turbine includes a premix section to mix a first selected volume of fuel with a selected oxidizer. The premix section includes an injector plate that includes a porosity according to selected characteristics, such as pore size, pore density, pore distribution, and other selected characteristics. Therefore, the fuel may be provided through the porous plate to the premix area in a selected uniform flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Shahram Farhangi, David R. Matthews
  • Patent number: 7988447
    Abstract: A formed sheet heat exchanger is provided for exchanging heat between fluids is provided. The apparatus includes flow divider sheets that are positioned in a stacked configuration and extend in a longitudinal direction so that adjacent pairs of the sheets define flow passages therebetween for receiving first and second fluids. Each of the sheets is nonuniform in the longitudinal direction, having a manifold portion and a corrugated portion. The corrugated portions of each adjacent pair of sheets define a plurality of fluid channels therebetween that are connected to the portion of the flow passage defined between the manifold portions. The fluid channels are configured to receive the first or second fluids and transfer thermal energy therebetween through the flow divider sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Scott W. Fowser, Mark D. Horn, Andreas C. Straub, Jon C. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7975489
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a method of detecting catalyst module overheating in a catalytic combustion system is provided. In one example, the method includes detecting one or more signals from at least one probe adapted to obtain values associated with at least one of the outlet gas temperature of a catalyst module and the outlet face temperature of the catalyst module included in a catalytic combustor. The one or more signals are compared with a preselected value associated with catalyst overheating. The detected temperature may be detected over time to determine a rate of change in the temperature. The temperature may be detected with a UV sensor directed to the catalyst outlet face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ajay Joshi, David Yee
  • Publication number: 20110113783
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a fuel nozzle that includes a fuel injector that includes a fuel port and a premixer tube. The premixer tube includes a wall disposed about a central passage, multiple air ports extending through the wall into the central passage, and a catalytic region. The catalytic region includes a catalyst, disposed inside the wall along the central passage, configured to increase a reaction of fuel and air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, David Martin Johnson, Ronald James Chila, Nishant Govindbhai Parsania, Hasan Karim, Joseph Citeno
  • Publication number: 20110067401
    Abstract: Provided is a lean fuel sucking gas turbine system including a compressor for compressing a mixed gas having a fuel and air mixed to a concentration of an inflammable limit or lower, thereby producing a compressed gas, a first catalyst combustor for burning the compressed gas by a catalyst reaction, a turbine adapted to be driven by a combustion gas from a second catalyst combustor, and a reproducer for heating the compressed gas to be introduced into the first catalyst combustor with an exhaust gas from the turbine. Between the turbine and the reproducer, there is arranged a duct burner for flame-burning a first auxiliary fuel in the exhaust gas. Thus, it is possible to attain efficient operation of the system while simplifying the entire constitution and to prevent the blow-by of the mixed gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Kajita
  • Patent number: 7841180
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine includes providing at least one combustor assembly defining a combustion chamber. At least one fuel nozzle is positioned at a forward end of the combustion chamber. The at least one fuel nozzle is configured to inject a premixed fuel/air mixture into the combustion chamber. A catalytic material is applied to at least a portion of the at least one fuel nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gilbert O. Kraemer, John Joseph Lipinski, Jonathan Lloyd Male
  • Patent number: 7832210
    Abstract: System for controlling and optimizing the emissions of a catalytic combustor in a single-shaft gas turbine (10), comprising at least one calculation unit for implementing a mathematical model of the operation of the said gas turbine (10), on the basis of a set of predetermined parameters, by means of which the aforesaid emissions can be optimized during variations of the operating conditions of the turbine over a range of external environmental conditions from approximately ?29° C. to +49° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Holdings S.p.A.
    Inventors: Benoit Fecamp, Ever Avriel Fadlun, Stefano Groppi
  • Patent number: 7765810
    Abstract: A method of lowered NOx combustion is taught wherein the kinetic rate of NOx formation is reduced for a given combustion temperature in a gas turbine combustor. A supply of fuel is provided along with a supply of ambient air in sufficient quantity to form a fuel/air mixture having an equivalence ratio greater than about 0.55 when mixed with the fuel. The fuel/air mixture is mixed with a supply of cooled combustion gases in sufficient quantity such that the oxygen content of the resulting air mixture is less than about 18 percent. The resulting air mixture is then passed into the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Pfefferle
  • Publication number: 20100180597
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for protecting a catalyst within a combustor. In one embodiment, a catalytic reactor includes a protective coating that may be chemically removed or mechanically removed while the catalytic reactor is disposed in a combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Cristina Colindres Kraemer
  • Publication number: 20100175379
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a fuel reformer comprising: a fuel inlet; an oxygen inlet; a pre-mixing zone configured to mix the fuel and the oxygen in a pre-mixing device to form a gaseous pre-mix; wherein the pre-mixing device comprises a flow conditioning device configured to pre-condition the fuel stream, wherein the flow conditioning device is disposed upstream of the oxygen inlet; a diffuser disposed downstream of the flow conditioning device; a catalytic partial oxidation zone disposed downstream of the diffuser, wherein the catalytic partial oxidation zone comprises a catalyst composition configured to react the fuel and the oxygen to generate a syngas. The generated syngas is then mixed with rest of the fuel to form a hydrogen-enriched fuel mixture, which is then sent to the combustion chamber of a gas turbine to reduce the NOx emission and extend the lean blow out limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ke Liu, Joel Meier Haynes, Rick Bruce Watson
  • Publication number: 20100176594
    Abstract: An auxiliary power generation apparatus for powering an ancillary electrical load comprises an apparatus comprising a combustor arranged for disposal in an exhaust conduit of a reciprocating engine, a compressor arranged in fluid communication with an inlet of the combustor for the supply of compressed air to the combustor, a turbogenerator arranged for converting combustion product from the combustor into electrical energy, and a controller for controlling the supply of electrical energy to the ancillary electrical load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: Jonathan McGuire