Fuel Preheated Upstream Of Injector Patents (Class 60/736)
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Patent number: 12173653Abstract: A fuel conditioning system includes a heater for selectively adjusting an operating temperature of the fuel and a controller communicatively coupled to the heater. The controller configured to determine a dew point temperature of the fuel and maintain the operating temperature of the fuel at least at the determined dew point temperature of the fuel.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2023Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLCInventors: Jesus Daniel Castillo Campos, Jose Carlos Sanchez Herrera, Joe F. Schornick, Tuy C Huynh
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Patent number: 12103699Abstract: Aircraft propulsion systems have aircraft systems including at least one hydrogen tank and an aircraft-systems heat exchanger and engine systems includes at least a main engine core, a high pressure pump, a hydrogen-air heat exchanger, and a turbo expander. The main engine core includes a compressor section, a combustor section having a burner, and a turbine section arranged along an engine shaft. Hydrogen is supplied from the at least one hydrogen tank through a hydrogen flow path, passing through the aircraft-systems heat exchanger, the high pressure pump, the hydrogen-air heat exchanger, and the turbo expander, prior to being injected into the burner for combustion. The turbo expander is configured to impart power to the engine shaft.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2022Date of Patent: October 1, 2024Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Brian M. Holley, Joseph B. Staubach, Marc J. Muldoon, Charles E. Lents
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Patent number: 12092042Abstract: A method of operating a fuel system for a vehicle having an engine, the fuel system comprising a fuel delivery system, the fuel delivery system including a liquid hydrogen delivery assembly and a regulator assembly, the regulator assembly having a buffer tank, the method including: providing a first flow of hydrogen fuel from a liquid hydrogen fuel tank through the liquid hydrogen delivery assembly to the regulator assembly, wherein providing the first flow of hydrogen fuel includes pumping the first flow of hydrogen fuel through the liquid hydrogen delivery assembly using a pump at a first fuel flowrate; receiving data indicative of a commanded fuel flowrate to the engine, wherein the commanded fuel flowrate is higher than the first fuel flowrate; and providing stored hydrogen fuel from a gaseous fuel storage to the engine.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2022Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Constantinos Minas, Lisa Tang
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Patent number: 12012897Abstract: A jet engine is provided which can efficiently pressurize fuel. A jet engine 2 includes a pump 110 that heats fuel, a heating conduit 120 that heats the pressurized fuel, a fuel turbine 130 that provides mechanical power to the pump, and an electric rotating machine 140. When a given condition is not satisfied, the electric rotating machine 140 provides mechanical power to the fuel turbine 130. When the given condition is satisfied, the fuel that has passed through the heating conduit 120 before combustion flows into the fuel turbine 130 to provide mechanical power to the fuel turbine 130.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2020Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Shotaro Nako, Takuto Haniu, Tomohisa Wada, Shojiro Furuya
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Patent number: 11982235Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel system for a gas turbine engine having a core exhaust and a combustion section. The system comprises a fuel pump for fluid communication with a fuel reservoir; a driving turbine for driving the fuel pump; and an air feed to drive the driving turbine, the air feed being fluidly connectable to the core exhaust of the gas turbine engine. Also disclosed is a fuel system comprising: a fuel pump for fluid communication with a fuel reservoir; a fuel line from the fuel pump for fluid communication with the combustion section of the gas turbine engine; and an air feed to a heat exchanger, the air feed being fluidly connectable to the core exhaust of the gas turbine engine, wherein the fuel line is in thermal communication with the air feed within a heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2023Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: Rolls-Royce plcInventor: Jonathan E. Holt
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Patent number: 11859548Abstract: In a gas turbine and a control method thereof, and a combined cycle plant, the gas turbine includes a compressor that compresses air, a combustor that mixes and combusts compressed air compressed by the compressor and fuel, a turbine that obtains rotational power using combustion gas generated by the combustor, a compressed air cooling heat exchanger that cools the compressed air to produce air for heat exchange, air temperature adjusting heat exchangers that exchange heat between the air and the compressed air, a heat exchange amount adjusting device that adjusts a heat exchange amount of each of the compressed air cooling heat exchanger and the air temperature adjusting heat exchangers, and a control device that controls the heat exchange amount adjusting device, in which the control device controls the heat exchange amount adjusting device based on a temperature of the air to be taken into the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Daisuke Asaki, Masashi Terauchi
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Patent number: 11255546Abstract: Combustor assemblies and methods for assembling combustor assemblies are provided. For example, a combustor assembly comprises an annular inner liner and an annular outer linear, each extending generally along an axial direction. The outer liner includes an outer flange extending forward from its upstream end. The combustor assembly also comprises a combustor dome extending between an inner liner upstream end and the outer liner upstream end and including an inner flange extending forward from a radially outermost end of the combustor dome. The inner liner, outer liner, and combustor dome define a combustion chamber therebetween, and the combustor dome and a portion of the outer liner together define an annular cavity of the combustion chamber. The inner and outer flanges define an airflow opening therebetween, and a chute member is positioned within the airflow opening to define an air chute for providing a flow of air to the annular cavity.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2019Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Aaron Michael Dziech, Megan Elizabeth Scheitlin
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Patent number: 11255268Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a main compressor section having a downstream most location, and a turbine section, with both the main compressor section and the turbine section housing rotatable components. A first tap taps air compressed by the main compressor section at an upstream location upstream of the downstream most location. The first tap passes through a heat exchanger, and to a cooling compressor. Air downstream of the cooling compressor is selectively connected to reach at least one of the rotatable components. The cooling compressor is connected to rotate at a speed proportional to a rotational speed in one of the main compressor section and the turbine section. A valve system includes a check valve for selectively blocking flow downstream of the cooling compressor from reaching the at least one rotatable component. A dump valve selectively dumps air downstream of the cooling compressor. A method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2018Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventor: Joseph Turney
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Patent number: 11248536Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes a gas turbine controller. The gas turbine controller is configured to receive a plurality of sensor signals from a fuel composition sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, or a combination thereof, included in a gas turbine engine system. The controller is further configured to execute a gas turbine model by applying the plurality of sensor signals as input to derive a plurality of estimated gas turbine engine parameters. The controller is also configured to execute a flame holding model by applying the plurality of sensor signals and the plurality of estimated gas turbine engine parameters as input to derive a steam flow to fuel flow ratio that minimizes or eliminates flame holding in a fuel nozzle of the gas turbine engine system.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2016Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Karl Dean Minto, Douglas Frank Beadie, Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy
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Patent number: 11002195Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a main compressor section with a downstream most location. A turbine section has a high pressure turbine. A tap line is connected to tap air from a location upstream of the downstream most location in the main compressor section. The tapped air is connected to a heat exchanger and then to a cooling compressor. The cooling compressor compresses air downstream of the heat exchanger, and is connected to deliver air into the high pressure turbine. A bypass valve is positioned downstream of the main compressor section, and upstream of the heat exchanger. The bypass valve selectively delivers air directly to the cooling compressor without passing through the heat exchanger under certain conditions.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Brian D. Merry, Gabriel L. Suciu, Michael G. McCaffrey
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Patent number: 10859089Abstract: An integrated oil system manifold is provided, which includes a reverse rotation protection element, a main pump check valve, an auxiliary pump check valve, and a pressure relief valve, wherein the reverse rotation protection element, the main pump check valve, the auxiliary pump check valve, and the pressure relief valve are integrated with a housing of the integrated oil system manifold. Furthermore, a temperature control element, a filter, a heat exchanger, an integral main pump assembly, and an integral auxiliary pump assembly may also be included in the integrated manifold. An associated method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2017Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: ATLAS COPCO COMPTEC LLCInventors: Ross Morgan Snyder, Jeffrey Russell Whitehouse
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Patent number: 10767485Abstract: A gas turbine engine is disclosed. The gas turbine engine includes a first rotor supporting a first plurality of circumferentially spaced rotor blades and a second rotor disposed axially downstream of the first rotor and supporting a second plurality of circumferentially spaced rotor blades, a first bore cavity between the first rotor and the second rotor, a first fluid passageway configured to provide cooled air to the first bore cavity and a first anti-vortex component positioned proximate the first bore cavity and configured to increase pressure of the cooled air as the cooled air traverses radially outward from the first bore cavity.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Matthew E Bintz, Enzo DiBenedetto, Paul E Coderre
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Patent number: 10676206Abstract: A system and a method for detecting a failure of a heat exchanger provided on an engine of an aircraft. An out-of-range fuel temperature downstream of an outlet of the heat exchanger is detected. A health of a fuel tank temperature signal indicative of a temperature of at least one fuel tank of the aircraft is monitored. A main oil temperature signal indicative of a temperature of oil in the engine is received. The failure is detected based on the main oil temperature and on the health of the fuel tank temperature signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Patrick Manoukian, Robin Watt, Amandeep Chahal
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Patent number: 10578023Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods, systems and program products for controlling a water bath heater for a fuel gas. Methods according to the present disclosure can include: calculating at least one calculable condition of the fuel gas based on a set of conditions of the fuel gas entering the water bath heater and a type of control valve located downstream of the water bath heater; calculating a target temperature differential for the fuel gas based a set of conditions of the fuel gas entering the water bath heater and the at least one calculable condition; and adjusting an operating parameter of the water bath heater to adjust a temperature of the fuel gas leaving the water bath heater by the target temperature differential.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2017Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hua Zhang, Dean Matthew Erickson
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Patent number: 10465563Abstract: A gas turbine cooling system of the present invention includes a cooler that cools compressed air extracted from an air compressor to make cooling air, a cooling air compressor that supplies the cooling air to a combustion liner of a combustor, and an IGV that regulates a flow rate of the cooling air. The control device of the gas turbine cooling system includes a target value setting part that determines a target value with respect to a flow rate equivalent value of the cooling air according to detected temperature of the cooling air, a correction driving amount calculation part that obtains a correction driving amount which reduces a deviation of detected flow rate equivalent value of the cooling air with respect to the target value, and a drive command output part that outputs a drive command corresponding to the correction driving amount to the IGV.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2013Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventor: Akihito Kunihiro
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Patent number: 10330010Abstract: A compressor section for use in a gas turbine engine comprises a compressor rotor having a hub and a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from the hub and an outer housing surrounding an outer periphery of the blades. A tap taps air at a radially outer first location, passing the tapped air through a heat exchanger, and returning the tapped air to an outlet at a second location which is radially inward of the first location, to provide cooling air adjacent to the hub. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2015Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, Jesse M. Chandler, William K. Ackermann, Matthew R. Feulner, Om P. Sharma
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Patent number: 10221768Abstract: A heat exchanger for use in high pressure environments, such as in a gas turbine engine, includes an outer casing, a tubular element within the outer casing and an inner sleeve within the tubular element. The tubular element has an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer casing and outer surface of the tubular element define a first annular passage through which a first fluid flow path extends. The inner sleeve and inner surface of the tubular element define a second annular passage through which a second fluid flow path extends. The first annular passage is sealed against the outer surface of the tubular element and the second annular passage is sealed within the inner surface of the tubular element.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2015Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventor: Michael John Agg
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Patent number: 9470145Abstract: A system for heating fuel in a combined cycle gas turbine includes a fuel heat exchanger downstream from a turbine outlet, and the fuel heat exchanger has an exhaust gas inlet, an exhaust gas outlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel outlet. A first exhaust gas plenum has a first exhaust gas inlet connection between the turbine outlet and a heat exchanger and a first exhaust gas outlet connection upstream from the exhaust gas inlet. A second exhaust gas plenum has a second exhaust gas inlet connection downstream from at least a portion of the heat exchanger and a second exhaust gas outlet connection upstream from the exhaust gas inlet.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2012Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: David Wesley Ball, Jr., Korey Frederic Rendo, Dean Matthew Erickson, Diego Fernando Rancruel, Leslie Yung-Min Tong
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Patent number: 9435258Abstract: A system for heating combustor fuel includes a turbine exhaust plenum and a heat exchanger downstream from the turbine exhaust plenum. The heat exchanger has an exhaust inlet, an exhaust outlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel outlet. An exhaust recirculation plenum has a recirculation inlet connection downstream from the exhaust outlet and a recirculation outlet connection upstream from the exhaust inlet. The system further includes structure for controlling a recirculated exhaust flow from the exhaust outlet into the exhaust recirculation plenum.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2012Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Durgaprasad Janapaneedi, Korey Frederic Rendo, Dean Matthew Erickson, Timothy Russell Bilton, Christina Renee Pompey
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Patent number: 9291351Abstract: A combustion chamber including a first fuel injector and a second fuel injector, the first and second fuel injectors being arranged to inject fuel into a mainstream flow of air with the second fuel injector arranged downstream of the first fuel injector. A method of mixing fuel and air in a combustion chamber, including injecting fuel into a mainstream flow of air with a first fuel injector; injecting fuel into the mainstream flow of air with a second fuel injector, which is arranged downstream of the first fuel injector; injecting fuel into the mainstream flow with the first fuel injector such that the resulting mixture between the first and second fuel injectors has an equivalence ratio less than the lean flame stability limit; and injecting fuel into the mainstream flow with the second fuel injector such that a combustion zone is provided downstream of the second fuel injector.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventor: Stephen C. Harding
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Patent number: 9279346Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for determining online stress and life consumption of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method for assessing components of a HRSG is provided. The method includes receiving HRSG design parameters; determining thermal stress data associated with the one or more HRSG components based at least in part on one or more historical, real-time, or calculated temperature sensor data associated with the one or more HRSG components; and determining cycle-related life consumption data associated with the one or more HRSG components based at least in part on the HRSG design parameters and the determined thermal stress data.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2012Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: William B. Julian, Ashok D. Acharya, Joel Donnell Holt, Robert John Gdaniec
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Patent number: 9261279Abstract: A gas/liquid fuel nozzle assembly includes a premixing tube bundle having an array of mixing tubes, a fuel plenum delivering fuel to the mixing tubes, a cartridge tube disposed within the fuel plenum, and a liquid fuel cartridge disposed in the cartridge tube. The liquid fuel cartridge is spaced from the cartridge tube to define an annulus. The cartridge tube and the fuel plenum are constructed in fluid communication such that gas fuel in the plenum is injected into the annulus.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2012Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: James Harold Westmoreland, Gregory Allen Boardman, Patrick Benedict Melton
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Patent number: 9074773Abstract: A combustor assembly is disclosed. The combustor assembly may include an annular trapped vortex cavity located adjacent to a downstream end of a bundle of air/fuel premixing injection tubes. The annular trapped vortex cavity may include an opening at a radially inner portion of the annular trapped vortex cavity adjacent to the head end of the bundle of premixing tubes. The annular trapped vortex cavity may also include one or more air injection holes and one or more fuel sources disposed about the annular trapped vortex cavity such that the one or more air injection holes and the one or more fuel sources are configured to drive a vortex within the annular trapped vortex cavity.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2012Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Ronald Chila, Johnie F. McConnaughhay
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Patent number: 9051056Abstract: A fuel heat management system including a fuel line for conveying fuel, and a fuel/oil heat exchanger which receives fuel flowing through the fuel line. The fuel heat management system further comprises an oil line for circulating oil from an engine oil system to the fuel/oil heat exchanger and back to the engine oil system. The fuel/oil heat exchanger brings the oil and the fuel into heat exchange relationship. The fuel heat management system further includes an air/oil heat exchanger which receives oil flowing through the oil line, the air/oil heat exchanger bringing the oil and air into heat exchange relationship. The fuel heat management system further includes an air/fuel heat exchanger which receives fuel flowing through the fuel line, the air/fuel heat exchanger bringing the fuel and air into heat exchange relationship.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2011Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventor: Robert E. Leese
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Publication number: 20150107254Abstract: A closed circuit fuel heating system is provided for heating at least two types of fuel. The heating system includes a heat transfer subsystem disposed in a gas turbine system exhaust. A first heat exchange subsystem is coupled to a first fuel source and the heat transfer subsystem. The first heat exchange subsystem is provided with a control component for controlling a flow of a working fluid through the first heat exchange subsystem. A second heat exchange subsystem may be coupled to a second fuel source and the heat transfer subsystem. The second heat exchange subsystem is provided with a control component for controlling a flow of the working fluid through the second exchange subsystem. A subsystem for controlling the temperature of the working fluid is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2013Publication date: April 23, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jason Brian Shaffer, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Jean-Marc Carré, Paul Robert Fernandez
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Patent number: 8959923Abstract: An arrangement for preparation of a fuel for combustion including a burner is provided. The arrangement includes a combustion chamber associated with the burner and in which combustion of a fuel is to take place, as well as means for supplying liquid fuel to the arrangement through an internal passage in the burner for the combustion, solid portions of the burner body being heated by the combustion, wherein the internal passage is located inside the solid portions of the burner body for receiving heat energy evaporating the fuel from these body portions, and that it includes means for conveying vaporized fuel to the combustion chamber to take part in the combustion.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2012Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Ulf Nilsson, Peter Senior
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Patent number: 8943827Abstract: A gas turbine engine with a fuel air heat exchanger located in the high pressure plenum. The heat exchanger includes at least one air conduit and at least one fuel conduit in heat exchange relationship with one another, with a fuel flow communication between a fuel source and fuel distribution members of the combustor being provided at least partly through the at least one fuel conduit, and the at least one air conduit defining a fluid flow communication between the high pressure plenum and an engine component to be cooled by the compressed air.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Lev Alexander Prociw, Eduardo Hawie
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Patent number: 8938966Abstract: A device and a method for using overcapacities in the power grid is provided. In case of an oversupply of energy, the energy is transferred to a thermal storage device directly via a heating element and in the discharge case of the thermal storage device the heat is removed from the thermal storage device and made available to a thermodynamic cycle whereby electrical energy is produced. The heat from the thermal storage device is used to preheat air in an air feed line to a combustion chamber, or fuel is pre-heated using heat from the thermal storage device.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2009Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Tobias Jockenhoevel, Norbert König, Rainer Nies, Nicolas Vortmeyer, Erik Wolf
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Patent number: 8931279Abstract: A switchable solar heating device for a gas turbine with a compressor, having a valve for electively bypassing a solar heater arranged between a compressor stage and a turbine stage of the gas turbine. The valve is constructed as a 4-way valve with a compressor port that can be connected to the compressor stage, a turbine port that can be connected to the turbine stage, a solar input port that can be connected to an input of the solar heater, and a solar output port that can be connected to an output of the solar heater.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2009Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Man Diesel & Turbo SEInventor: Hans-Otto Jeske
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Publication number: 20150000298Abstract: Advanced gas turbines and associated components, systems and methods are disclosed herein. A gas turbine configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a rotor operably coupled to a shaft and a stator positioned adjacent to the rotor. A coolant line extends at least partially through the stator to transfer heat out of an air flow within a compressor section of the gas turbine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2013Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: ADVANCED GREEN TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Roy Edward McAlister
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Patent number: 8899047Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 20, 2011Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Tanabe, Eiki Anzawa
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Patent number: 8899009Abstract: A heat exchanger has a first passage to be connected to a source of fuel. The heat exchanger has an outlet to communicate the fuel downstream. A second passage connects to a source of air. The air passes adjacent to the first passage to heat fuel in the first passage. A jet pump is positioned downstream of the second passage to receive air from the second passage. The jet pump includes a tap connected to a housing compartment to drain fluid from the compartment. A method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2011Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Jay M. Francisco, Greg R. Giddings
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Patent number: 8893468Abstract: Fuel is oxidized with air in a pressurized reaction chamber containing water. Water, fuel, or both may be communicated into the reaction chamber in a gaseous state, a liquid state, or both. For example, a liquid mixture that includes the water and/or the fuel can be evaporated to form a gas mixture, and the gas mixture can be communicated into the reaction chamber. Additionally or alternatively, the liquid mixture that includes the water and/or the fuel can be communicated into the reaction chamber and evaporated in the reaction chamber. The water and the fuel may be communicated into the reaction chamber separately or in combination.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Ener-Core Power, Inc.Inventor: Edan D. Prabhu
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Patent number: 8893466Abstract: A fuel flow system for a gas turbine includes a first pump, a main fuel flow path and a second pump. The first pump is connected to an actuator and a metering valve. The main fuel flow path is formed between the first pump and the metering valve. The second pump is connected to the main fuel flow path and supplements the fuel flow from the first pump under certain conditions. The second pump and first pump are in parallel.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventor: Charles E. Reuter
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Patent number: 8881530Abstract: A system may include an insulated water tank configured to store a first heated water from a first plant component during operation of a plant, and a fuel heater comprising a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the first heated water to a fuel for a gas turbine engine during startup of the plant.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2010Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Seyfettin Can Gulen, Tailai Hu
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Patent number: 8858223Abstract: A Glycerin Fueled Afterburning Engine utilizes the power generation unit exhaust heat to pre-heat the glycerin, or similar difficult to combust fuel, and then utilizes regenerative burner heating to fully vaporize and superheat the fuel above the auto ignition temperature. The combustion inlet air is also highly preheated by the recuperative power generation cycle. The actual combustion process is then accomplished by hypergolic ignition from mixing the hot vapor with the hot air. The overall engine process operates on a cycle of (1) air compression, (2) indirect heating of air in an air heater, (3) air expansion, (4) air heating by combustion, and (5) air cooling by heat transfer to the incoming compressed air charge in the recuperator.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2010Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Proe Power Systems, LLCInventor: Richard Alan Proeschel
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Publication number: 20140298817Abstract: A preparation of liquid fuel for combustion, particularly for ignition, in the burners of a gas turbine is proposed. A source of heated liquid fuel, particularly heated pressurized fuel, is arranged in a reservoir. The reservoir is arranged in parallel with a main fuel feed of a combustion system. The reservoir can be filled by the main fuel feed and/or evacuated into the main fuel feed. The reservoir contains a heating means, which heat the liquid fuel filled in the reservoir, particularly while circulating in the reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2012Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventor: Andrew Shepherd
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Patent number: 8844293Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating fuel in an aircraft gas turbine engine, for example to provide fuel anti-icing to the fuel, comprises directing a fuel flow through a heat exchanger associated with a generator power conditioning unit as a sole means for providing anti-icing heating to fuel supplied for engine combustion. The method and apparatus permits the heat exchanger to heat the fuel sufficiently so that other dedicated heating means may be unnecessary.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2011Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventor: Ian A. MacFarlane
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Publication number: 20140260313Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: Jihad A. Badra, Assaad R. Masri
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Patent number: 8820085Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 10, 2009Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shinichi Kajita
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Publication number: 20140238041Abstract: The present application provides a fuel delivery system for a combustor with reduced coherence and/or reduced combustion dynamics. The combustor can assembly may include a first manifold for delivering a first flow of fuel to a first set of fuel injectors and a second manifold for delivering a second flow of fuel to a second set of fuel injectors. The first flow of fuel may have a first temperature and the second flow of fuel may have a second temperature. The first temperature may be higher than the second temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: SARAH LORI CROTHERS, CHRISTAN XAVIER STEVENSON, DAVID LEACH
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Patent number: 8813471Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide to a gas turbine a fuel gas saturated with water heated by a fuel moisturizer, which receives heat form a flash tank. A heat source for the flash tank may originate at a heat recovery steam generator. The increased mass flow associated with the saturated fuel gas may result in increased power output from the associated power plant. The fuel gas saturation is followed by superheating the fuel, preferably with bottom cycle heat sources, resulting in a larger thermal efficiency gain.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2011Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Seyfettin Can Gulen, Jatila Ranasinghe
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Patent number: 8814958Abstract: A liquid fuel includes a hydrocarbon-based liquid fuel and an additive mixed with the hydrocarbon-based liquid fuel. The additive includes an endothermic fuel-cracking catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2011Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: He Huang
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Patent number: 8763363Abstract: A method of assembling a turbine engine is provided. The method includes providing a heat exchanger having a curvilinear body. The method also includes coupling the heat exchanger to at least one of a fan casing and an engine casing of the turbine engine. The curvilinear body facilitates reducing pressure losses in airflow channeled into the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2007Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Srikanth Ranganathan
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Publication number: 20140165572Abstract: Thermal energy storage containing thermal energy extracted from a bottom cycle heat engine is leveraged to heat fuel gas supplied to a gas turbine engine operating in a top cycle heat engine. Further, an extracted portion of a working fluid generated in a steam generation source of the bottom cycle heat engine can be used along with the thermal energy storage to heat fuel gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Raymond Pang, Kamlesh Mundra
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Patent number: 8739550Abstract: The present invention provides a combustor for an aerospace gas turbine engine comprising two stages wherein each stage defines an inlet and an exit. The second stage inlet is in fluid communication with the first stage exit such that a first flowpath is defined and it passes substantially through the second stage. A plurality of flow channel tubes is positioned within the second stage and each flow channel tube passes sealingly through a header plate positioned upstream of the second stage inlet thereby defining a second flowpath that also passes substantially through the second stage. The first flowpath exit and the second flowpath exit are positioned adjacent and proximate to one another to provide for the generation of microflames or microflame jets exiting the second stage from between and around the flow channel tube exits. The first stage of the combustor provides a gasifier and a reformer.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Shahrokh Etemad, Benjamin D. Baird, Subir Roychoudhury, William C. Pfefferle
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Publication number: 20140130478Abstract: A gas turbomachine includes a compressor portion, a turbine portion operatively connected to the compressor portion, a combustor assembly including at least one combustor fluidically connected to the turbine portion, and an accessory mechanically linked with and driven by the turbine portion. The gas turbomachine also includes a fuel pre-heat system including a fuel pre-heat element having a fuel circuit fluidically connected to the at least one combustor arranged in a heat exchange relationship with a heating medium circuit fluidically connected to at least one of the compressor portion, the turbine portion, and the accessory.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2012Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Bhaskar Pemmi, Joseph John, Indrajit Mazumder
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Publication number: 20140102113Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine and an anti-icing system coupled to the gas turbine. The gas turbine is configured to receive air and fuel and to combust a mixture of the air and the fuel into exhaust gases. The anti-icing system is configured to use heat from the exhaust gases to heat a heat transfer fluid (HTF) and to selectively heat the fuel and the air via the HTF.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2012Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Jose Antonio Cuevas, James Knox Prochaska
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Publication number: 20140102105Abstract: A system for heating combustor fuel includes a turbine exhaust plenum and a heat exchanger downstream from the turbine exhaust plenum. The heat exchanger has an exhaust inlet, an exhaust outlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel outlet. An exhaust recirculation plenum has a recirculation inlet connection downstream from the exhaust outlet and a recirculation outlet connection upstream from the exhaust inlet. The system further includes structure for controlling a recirculated exhaust flow from the exhaust outlet into the exhaust recirculation plenum.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2012Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Durgaprasad Janapaneedi, Korey Frederic Rendo, Dean Matthew Erickson, Timothy Russell Bilton, Christina Renee Pompey
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Publication number: 20140090387Abstract: A fuel heating system for a power plant includes an exhaust structure having an interior region for receiving an exhaust gas therein. Also included is a fluid injection arrangement comprising a first fluid duct for transferring a fluid, the first fluid duct extending at least partially throughout the interior region of the exhaust structure for heating the fluid. Further included is a heat exchanger for receiving the fluid and a liquid fuel, the fluid heating the liquid fuel during passage of the liquid fuel through the heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Joseph John, Veerappan Muthaiah, Chandrasekhar Pushkaran, Prithviraj Pandian