Fuel And Air Premixed Prior To Combustion Patents (Class 60/737)
  • Patent number: 8590311
    Abstract: An improved mixing tube design and fuel nozzle that allows for a more uniform and thorough mixing of fuel and air being fed to the combustor of a gas turbine engine, wherein each of a plurality of mixing tubes comprises a pair of concentric hollow cylinders that define a ring-like, annular path for the flow of fuel between the two hollow cylinders in each mixing tube, a plurality of air injection slots formed in the concentric hollow cylinders defining corresponding air flow paths from the outside into the interior of each mixing tube, and one or more fuel injection ports formed in selected ones of the plurality of air injection slots that allow for the flow of fuel from the annular path formed by the hollow cylinders into the air flow path, resulting in significantly better mixing and improved thermodynamic behavior of the fuel and air mixture downstream of the nozzle and upstream of the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nishant Govindbhai Parsania, Gregory Allen Boardman
  • Patent number: 8590492
    Abstract: The present invention provides an auxiliary power system to provide supplemental power by compressed hydrogen. The system includes a motor configured to be driven by the compressed hydrogen. The motor includes a cartridge for the generation of hydrogen. The cartridge is configured to generate high pressure and high temperature hydrogen. The motor is configured such that hydrogen generated by the cartridge is directed through a manifold and moves pistons in a cylinder block such that the cylinder block rotates. A clutch assembly is provided to transmit power from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Hydrogen Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Peter James Lohr, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20130305734
    Abstract: The present application provides a micro-mixer fuel plenum for mixing a flow of fuel and a flow of air in a combustor. The micro-mixing fuel plenum may include an outer barrel and a number of mixing tubes positioned within the outer barrel. The mixing tubes may include one or more heat transfer features thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Keener, Thomas Edward Johnson, Carl Robert Barker
  • Publication number: 20130298562
    Abstract: A fuel injector having an injector body, a mixing circuit, and at least one injector is provided. The injector body has a plurality of manifolds, an inlet, and an outlet. The manifolds are configured for receiving fuel, and the inlet is configured for receiving air. The mixing circuit is positioned within the injector body. The mixing circuit is configured for receiving fuel from at least one of the manifolds, and air from the inlet to create an air-fuel mixture that exits the outlet. The least one fuel injector is positioned radially outwardly from the mixing circuit. The at least one injector receives fuel from at least one of the plurality of manifolds and injects fuel to the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jun Cai, Mark Allan Hadley, Jayaprakash Natarajan, Lucas John Stoia
  • Publication number: 20130298561
    Abstract: A system includes a multi-tube fuel nozzle having an inlet plate and a plurality of tubes adjacent the inlet plate. The inlet plate includes a plurality of apertures, and each aperture includes an inlet feature. Each tube of the plurality of tubes is coupled to an aperture of the plurality of apertures. The multi-tube fuel nozzle includes a differential configuration of inlet features among the plurality of tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael John Hughes
  • Patent number: 8578718
    Abstract: The present invention provides a motor powered by an expandable, combustible gas. The motor includes a cartridge for the generation of hydrogen. The cartridge is configured to generate high pressure and high temperature hydrogen. The motor is configured such that hydrogen generated by the cartridge is directed into a series of expandable chambers defined by at least one flywheel. The flywheel is connected to a shaft such that power generated by the hydrogen can be transmitted out of the motor. The motor is configured such that power can be generated by expansion of the hydrogen and subsequent combustion of the hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Hydrogen Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Peter James Lohr, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20130283802
    Abstract: A combustor includes an end cap that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor, wherein the end cap comprises an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface. A shroud circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the end cap, wherein the shroud at least partially defines a fuel plenum between the upstream surface and the downstream surface. A combustion chamber downstream from the end cap defines a longitudinal axis. A plurality of tubes extend from the upstream surface through the downstream surface of the end cap to provide fluid communication through the end cap to the combustion chamber. A transition duct circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the combustion chamber downstream from the end cap and curves tangentially from the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Won-Wook Kim, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan
  • Publication number: 20130283803
    Abstract: A device for injecting a mixture of air and fuel into a turbine engine combustion chamber, the device including a mechanism for centering a fuel injector, which mechanism is movable radially in a support mechanism fastened to a wall of the chamber, the support mechanism carrying a retaining mechanism for axially retaining the centering mechanism on a side opposite from the chamber wall, the retaining mechanism being fastened in releasable manner to the support mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Jacques Marcel Arthur BUNEL, Gilles ULRYCK
  • Publication number: 20130283810
    Abstract: A combustion nozzle includes at least one passage having a mixing section and an exit section. The mixing section includes an air inlet, and a fuel inlet. The mixing section has a first length and a first diameter. The exit section has a second length different from the first length, and a second diameter different from the first diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Uyigue Omoma Idahosa, Keith Robert McManus, Anthony Robert Brand, Hasan Karim, Michael John Hughes
  • Patent number: 8561409
    Abstract: A quarl of a burner for a gas turbine engine is provided. Fuel and air is mixed and provided to the burner. The quarl is arranged to house a main flame. Stability is achieved by a quarl, which is formed from a plurality of quarl sections, wherein each quarl section includes the configuration of the conical shell of a truncated cone and are distributed consecutively one after the other in the downstream direction of the burner, wherein a most narrow part of the shell of a downstream quarl section surrounds the widest part of the shell of the closest upstream quarl section and wherein an annular channel for premixed air and fuel is arranged between two consecutive quarl sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Vladimir Milosavljevic
  • Publication number: 20130269350
    Abstract: Present embodiments are directed toward reducing low flow or no flow situations in a head end of a turbine combustor. Embodiments include a system having a turbine combustor. The turbine combustor includes a fuel nozzle having an inner shell and an outer shell, and a feed cap disposed about the fuel nozzle and having an outer wall and a back plate. The back plate joins respective upstream ends of the outer shell of the fuel nozzle and the outer wall of the feed cap. The turbine combustor is configured to flow a first pressurized air via an air path extending along the outer wall of the feed cap, the back plate of the feed cap, and into the fuel nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Bradley Donald Crawley, Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Mohan Krishna Bobba
  • Publication number: 20130269358
    Abstract: A method of controlling a power plant that includes a working fluid and a recirculation loop, wherein the power plant includes a combustion system having an upstream combustor operably connected to a high-pressure turbine and a downstream combustor operably connected to a low-pressure turbine. The method includes: recirculating the working fluid through the recirculation loop; controlling a compressed oxidant amount supplied to the upstream combustor and the downstream combustor; controlling a fuel amount supplied to the upstream combustor and the downstream combustor; controlling the power plant such that each of the upstream combustor and the downstream combustor periodically operates at a preferred stoichiometric ratio; and selectively extracting the working fluid from a first extraction point associated with the upstream combustor and a second extraction point associated with the downstream combustor based upon which combustors operates at the preferred stoichiometric ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Lisa Anne Wichmann, Stanley Frank Simpson
  • Patent number: 8555646
    Abstract: Disclosed is a premixer for a combustor including an annular outer shell and an annular inner shell. The inner shell defines an inner flow channel inside of the inner shell and is located to define an outer flow channel between the outer shell and the inner shell. A fuel discharge annulus is located between the outer flow channel and the inner flow channel and is configured to inject a fuel flow into a mixing area in a direction substantially parallel to an outer airflow through the outer flow channel and an inner flow through the inner flow channel. Further disclosed are a combustor including a plurality of premixers and a method of premixing air and fuel in a combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christian Xavier Stevenson, Patrick Benedict Melton, William David York
  • Patent number: 8555650
    Abstract: A combustion device includes: a combustion liner in which a combustion chamber is formed; a main burner provided at a top portion of the combustion liner and including a premix passage configured to annularly inject a pre-mixed gas of a fuel and air into the combustion chamber and a radial swirler configured to introduce the fuel and the air to the premix passage in a radially inward direction; and a fuel injection pipe configured to inject the fuel to the radial swirler from an entrance side of the radial swirler, and the radial swirler is divided into a plurality of swirler stages by dividing plates in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kashihara, Yasushi Yoshino
  • Patent number: 8555645
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle centerbody is provided that includes a cylindrical cross-sectional area, and a baffle co-axially aligned within the centerbody. The baffle includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced apertures configured to channel an airflow radially outward such that the channeled airflow impinges a centerbody inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Beverly Stephenson Duncan, Michael Anthony Benjamin, George Chia-Chun Hsiao, Hukam Chand Mongia
  • Patent number: 8555649
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle air swirler assembly has a slotted cap to provide stress-relief. The stress-relief slits in the cap have an axial and a tangential component to impart a swirl to the air leaking therethrough in the same direction as that of the air exiting the swirler body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Bhawan B. Patel, Oleg Morenko, Nagaraja Rudrapatna
  • Patent number: 8549860
    Abstract: A method for the combustion of hydrogen-rich, gaseous fuels in combustion air in a burner of a gas turbine includes injecting the hydrogen-rich, gaseous fuel at least partially isokinetically with respect to the combustion air such that the partially hydrogen-rich, gaseous fuel is injected at least partially in the same direction and at least partially at the same velocity as the combustion air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Richard Carroni, Stefano Bernero, Fernando Biagioli, Thierry Lachaux
  • Patent number: 8549862
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided fuel staging for a trapped vortex (TVC) combustion apparatus comprising an inlet premixer, for injecting fuel-air mixture into the inlet of the combustion apparatus and a vortex premixer, for injecting fuel-air mixture into the recirculating vortex. The combustion apparatus may be part of an engine, such as a gas turbine engine. The method comprises varying the relative proportion of mixture introduced through the inlet and vortex premixers as a function of load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Lean Flame, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald W. Kendrick
  • Publication number: 20130255263
    Abstract: An air blocker ring assembly includes a proximal end and a distal end, a blocker ring, and a blocker ring support. The blocker ring support includes at least one flange radially overlapping a portion of the blocker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Jonathan C. Wilson, Bruno E. Struck
  • Patent number: 8545215
    Abstract: A fuel injector is provided and includes an outer body, a converging tubular body including a converging section, defining a converging annular passage therein and being disposed within the outer body to define an outer annular passage between an interior surface of the outer body and an exterior surface of the converging tubular body, the annular passages each being receptive of a fluid at respective inlets thereof such that the fluid is directed to flow toward respective outlets thereof and a fuel line to deliver fuel through at least the converging tubular body at the converging section to the converging annular passage in a substantially tangential direction relative to a circumferential curvature of the converging tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Reena Bhagat
  • Patent number: 8539773
    Abstract: A fuel/air mixing tube for use in a fuel/air mixing tube bundle is provided. The fuel/air mixing tube includes an outer tube wall extending axially along a tube axis between an inlet end and an exit end, the outer tube wall having a thickness extending between an inner tube surface having a inner diameter and an outer tube surface having an outer tube diameter. The tube further includes at least one fuel injection hole having a fuel injection hole diameter extending through the outer tube wall, the fuel injection hole having an injection angle relative to the tube axis. The invention provides good fuel air mixing with low combustion generated NOx and low flow pressure loss translating to a high gas turbine efficiency, that is durable, and resistant to flame holding and flash back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Willy Steve Ziminsky, Thomas Edward Johnson, Benjamin Paul Lacy, William David York, Jong Ho Uhm, Baifang Zuo
  • Publication number: 20130239581
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application include a combustor assembly. The combustor assembly may include a combustion chamber, a first plenum, a second plenum, and one or more elongate air/fuel premixing injection tubes. Each of the elongate air/fuel premixing injection tubes may include a first length at least partially disposed within the first plenum and configured to receive a first fluid from the first plenum. Moreover, each of the elongate air/fuel premixing injection tubes may include a second length disposed downstream of the first length and at least partially disposed within the second plenum. The second length may be formed of a porous wall configured to allow a second fluid from the second plenum to enter the second length and create a boundary layer about the porous wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20130232977
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine includes an annular passage configured to flow a fuel and a disk concentric with and disposed at a second end of the annular passage. The disk extends radially outward from the second end. A plurality of passages extend through the disk and are configured to impart swirl to a working fluid flowing through the passages. A shroud including an upstream end axially separated from a downstream end surrounds the disk and extends downstream from the disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Prabhu Kumar Ippadi Siddagangaiah, Karthick Kaleeswaran
  • Publication number: 20130232978
    Abstract: A fuel-air premixer for a combustor of a turbine engine includes a central passage along an axis. The central passage is operable to communicate an unswirled airflow. An outer annular passage is located around the axis and includes a multiple of first swirl vanes that are operable to communicate a first swirled airflow in a first direction. An inner annular passage is located around the axis between the central passage and the outer annular passage. The inner annular passage includes a multiple of second swirl vanes that are operable to communicate a second swirled airflow in a second direction different than the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Zhongtao Dai, Jeffrey M. Cohen, Kevin E. Green
  • Publication number: 20130232979
    Abstract: A system includes a multi-tube fuel nozzle including a fuel nozzle head and multiple tubes. The fuel nozzle head includes an outer wall surrounding a chamber, and the outer wall includes a downstream wall portion that faces a combustion region. The multiple tubes extend through the chamber to the downstream wall portion, and each tube includes an air inlet into the tube, a fuel inlet including a protrusion extending radially into the tube in a crosswise direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the tube, and an outlet from the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Arjun Singh
  • Patent number: 8528338
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating an air-staged diffusion nozzle for a gas turbine combustor to cool the nozzle tip and improve mixing of gas fuel and air within a downstream burner space. Air is mixed with the gas-fuel in an outer swirler and expanded in a downstream burner tube space. Compressed air from a cooling air cavity in the nozzle flows through an inner swirler, passing downstream from the tip of the nozzle to the burner tube space, cooling the nozzle tip and improving the mixing of the gas-fuel with air, thereby reducing emissions from the gas turbine and reducing soot formation in startup. Direction and rotation of the discharged air from the nozzle tip into the burner space may be arranged to promote nozzle tip cooling and gas-fuel mixing with air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anand Prafulchandra Desai, Karthick Kaleeswaran, Venugopal Polisetty
  • Patent number: 8528340
    Abstract: A flow sleeve for use in a turbine engine including a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section downstream from the combustion section. The flow sleeve includes a sleeve wall defining a pre-mixing passage of the combustion section and has a forward end proximate to a cover plate of the combustion section and an opposed aft end. The sleeve wall includes a first wall section extending axially from the sleeve wall forward end and a second wall section extending from the first wall section between the forward and aft ends of the sleeve wall toward the aft end of the sleeve wall. A cavity is formed between the first wall section and the second wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Ritland
  • Patent number: 8528839
    Abstract: A combustor nozzle includes a single-piece swirler. The single-piece swirler includes a center body extending axially along the single-piece swirler, a first fuel passage inside the center body, and a plurality of vanes extending radially from the center body. A method for fabricating a combustor nozzle includes casting a single-piece swirler having a center body and a plurality of vanes extending radially from the center body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Mark Bailey, William Lawrence Byrne, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Patent number: 8528337
    Abstract: An injection system for fuel and air that includes a number of lobes positioned adjacent to each other. Each of the lobes has a trailing end. A number of jets may be positioned adjacent to the trailing end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Gilbert Otto Kramer
  • Publication number: 20130227928
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for use with a turbine engine is provided. The fuel nozzle includes a housing coupled to a combustor liner defining a combustion chamber. The housing is at least partially positioned within an air plenum and comprises an endwall that at least partially defines the air plenum. The fuel nozzle includes a plurality of mixing tubes extending through the housing for channeling a fuel to the combustion chamber, a cooling fluid plenum at least partially defined within the housing by the housing endwall, and a plurality of apertures defined within the housing endwall for channeling a cooling fluid from the cooling fluid plenum to the air plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Thomas Edward Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130227951
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine may include a center body disposed about a longitudinal axis, and a premix barrel positioned radially outwardly from the center body to define an annular passageway between the center body and the premix barrel. The annular passageway may extend from an upstream end that is configured to be fluidly coupled to a compressor to a downstream end that is configured to be fluidly coupled to a combustor. The premix barrel may include a first portion at the upstream end and a second portion at the downstream end. The first portion may include a stainless steel material, and the second portion may include a nickel based superalloy material. The second portion may be coupled to the first portion by a laser clad coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventors: Alexander Ilich Krichever, Robert Anthony Corr, II, Peter Barker, Bruno Enriquez Struck, John Preston Montague
  • Patent number: 8522553
    Abstract: A system for conditioning a working fluid in a combustor includes a primary combustion chamber, a liner circumferentially surrounding the primary combustion chamber, and a primary nozzle in fluid communication with the primary combustion chamber. A secondary combustion chamber located outside of the primary combustion chamber includes a shroud that defines a fluid passage, a secondary nozzle, and means for igniting fuel in the secondary combustion chamber. A method for conditioning a working fluid in a combustor includes flowing the working fluid through a primary combustion chamber and flowing at least a portion of the working fluid through a secondary combustion chamber located outside of the primary combustion chamber. The method further includes flowing a fuel through the secondary combustion chamber, combusting the fuel, and flowing the combustion gases from the secondary combustion chamber into the primary combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 8522556
    Abstract: In an air-staged diffusion nozzle for a gas turbine combustor, air is mixed with the gas fuel and expanded in a downstream burner tube. Introduction of air, passing downstream from the tip of the nozzle to the burner tube space forces hot gases away from and cools the nozzle tip. Air flow through an inner swirler or through cooling holes on the nozzle tip may be arranged to establish a cooling flow volume and direction that advantageously interacts with gas fuel-air flow from an outer swirler to improve fuel-air mixing in the burner tube, helping to reduce emissions and soot formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anand Prafulchandra Desai, Karthick Kaleeswaran, Venugopal Polisetty
  • Patent number: 8522561
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a turbine engine has a central body member with a pilot, a surrounding barrel housing, a mixing duct and an air inlet duct. The fuel nozzle additionally has a main fuel injection device located between the air inlet duct and the mixing duct. The main fuel injection device is configured to introduce a flow of fuel into the barrel member to create a fuel/air mixture which is then premixed with a swirler. The fuel/air mixture then further mixes in the mixing duct and exits the nozzle into a combustor for combustion. The geometry of the fuel nozzle ensures that pressure waves from the combustor do not create a time varying fuel to air equivalence ratio in the flow through the nozzle that achieves a resonance with the pressure waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. C. Rogers, Christopher Z. Twardochleb, James W. Blust, Mario E. Abreu, Donald J. Cramb
  • Publication number: 20130219896
    Abstract: A power plant control system monitors a flame holding boundary indicator, such as Damköhler number, to determine a lowest amount of a quenching agent that can prevent flame holding in a predefined region of a gas turbine. In embodiments, the amount of quenching agent used may be minimized to reduce operating costs while ensuring safe operation of the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Gilbert Otto Kraemer
  • Publication number: 20130219897
    Abstract: The combustor of the present invention is provided with a combustor basket to which air A is supplied from outside, first nozzles which are installed in a plural number annularly along an inner circumference of the combustor basket to individually supply premixed gas M of the air (A) with a fuel (f) into the combustor basket, and a transition piece, a base end of which is connected to the combustor basket, and which burns the premixed gas (M) supplied from the first nozzles to form a flame front (F) which spreads to an outer circumference toward the leading end in an axial direction. Each of the first nozzles supplies the premixed gas (M) by changing the fuel concentration around the center axis of the first nozzle so that the flame front (F) is made uniform in temperature in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Sosuke Nakamura, Yoshikazu Matsumura, Hikaru Katano
  • Publication number: 20130219898
    Abstract: A combustor according to the invention includes a combustor basket to which air A is supplied from the outside, a plurality of first nozzles that are annularly provided along the inner periphery of the combustor basket and that supply premixed gas M of the air and fuel to the inside of the combustor basket, and a transition piece in which the combustor basket is connected to a base end thereof and which burns the premixed gas supplied from the first nozzles, thereby forming a flame front spread to the outer periphery side toward the leading end in an axial direction, wherein each first nozzle supplies the premixed gas with fuel concentration changed around the center axis of the first nozzle such that the flame front has a uniform temperature in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
  • Patent number: 8516820
    Abstract: A fuel injector assembly for use in a turbine engine having a combustion section and a turbine section downstream from the combustion section. The fuel injector assembly includes a flow sleeve defining a pre-mixing passage of the combustion section and including a sleeve wall having a forward end proximate to a cover plate of the combustion section and an opposed aft end. An annular cavity in fluid communication with a source of fuel is formed in the sleeve wall adjacent the aft end. A fuel dispensing structure is associated with the cavity and includes at least one fuel distribution aperture for distributing fuel from the cavity to the pre-mixing passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Ramier, William R. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20130213045
    Abstract: A porous metallic mat is provided. The porous metallic mat includes a plurality of fibers and a protective coating. The plurality of fibers is sintered into a mat configuration. The protective coating is provided on the porous metallic mat. The protective coating includes a diffusion aluminide configured to provide oxidation resistance to the porous metallic mat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Arun K. Bhattacharya, Jose M. Aurrecoechea
  • Patent number: 8511092
    Abstract: A fuel injection head for a fuel nozzle used in a gas turbine combustor includes a substantially hollow body formed with an upstream end face, a downstream end face and a peripheral wall extending therebetween. A plurality of pre-mix tubes or passages extend axially through the hollow body with inlets at the upstream end face and outlets at the downstream end face. An exterior surface of the downstream end face is formed with three-dimensional surface features that increase a total surface area of the exterior surface as compared to a substantially flat, planar downstream end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Thomas Edward Johnson, Kwanwoo Kim, Baifang Zuo
  • Patent number: 8511087
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gas turbine fuel injector and swirler assembly, including: a delivery tube structure arranged on a central axis of the fuel injector and swirler assembly, a first fuel supply channel arranged in the delivery tube structure, a shroud surrounding the delivery tube structure, swirl vanes arranged between the delivery tube structure and the shroud, a radial passage in each swirl vane, communicating with the first fuel supply channel, a set of apertures open between the radial passage and the exterior surface of said each swirl vane, wherein a second fuel supply channel is arranged in the delivery tube structure extending to a downstream end of the delivery tube structure and a mixer with lobes for fuel injection is arranged at the downstream end. Further disclosed is an assembly method for assembling a fuel injector and swirler assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Atkiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Timothy A. Fox, Steven Williams, Ulrich Wörz, Jaap Van Kampen
  • Patent number: 8511086
    Abstract: A system for reducing combustion dynamics in a combustor includes an end cap having an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface, and tube bundles extend through the end cap. A diluent supply in fluid communication with the end cap provides diluent flow to the end cap. Diluent distributors circumferentially arranged inside at least one tube bundle extend downstream from the downstream surface and provide fluid communication for the diluent flow through the end cap. A method for reducing combustion dynamics in a combustor includes flowing fuel through tube bundles that extend axially through an end cap, flowing a diluent through diluent distributors into a combustion chamber, wherein the diluent distributors are circumferentially arranged inside at least one tube bundle and each diluent distributor extends downstream from the end cap, and forming a diluent barrier in the combustion chamber between at least one pair of adjacent tube bundles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Thomas Edward Johnson, Baifang Zuo, William David York
  • Publication number: 20130205788
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a premix burner of a combustion chamber of a gas turbine with at least one annular duct for supplying air and fuel, including a radially outer and a radially inner combustion chamber wall relative to a burner central axis and with at least one swirler arranged in the duct, said swirler including several flow-guiding elements distributed around the circumference of the duct cross-section, characterized in that at least one radially inner duct wall is provided in the area of the flow-guiding elements with a concave recess of the annular groove type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventor: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
  • Patent number: 8505304
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for use with a combustion chamber defined within a gas turbine engine and a method for assembling the same are provided. The fuel nozzle includes a swirler assembly and a burner tube that is coupled to a support flange in a detachable manner such that an inner surface of the burner tube circumscribes an outer surface of the swirler assembly during fuel nozzle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. Myers, Scott Simmons, Stephen R. Thomas, Donald Mark Bailey, David Martin Johnson
  • Patent number: 8505302
    Abstract: The present application provides a premixer for a combustor. The premixer may include a fuel plenum with a number of fuel tubes and a burner tube with a number of air tubes. The fuel tubes extend about the air tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Balachandar Naidu, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Ertan Yilmaz, Benjamin Lacy, Christian Stevenson, David Felling
  • Publication number: 20130199189
    Abstract: A fuel injection assembly for use in a turbine engine is provided. The fuel injection assembly includes a plurality of tube assemblies wherein each of the plurality of tube assemblies includes a plurality of tubes. At least one injection system is coupled to at least one tube assembly of the plurality of tube assemblies. The injection system includes a fluid supply member that is positioned a predefined distance upstream from the tube assembly. The fluid supply member includes a first portion that includes at least one first opening for delivering fluid toward the tube assembly for reducing dynamic pressure oscillations within a combustor and/or reducing NOx emission within the combustor during operation of the turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Thomas Edward Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130199188
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application include a combustor assembly. 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: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Ronald Chila, Johnie F. McConnaughhay
  • Patent number: 8499564
    Abstract: A pilot burner (150, 350) for a gas turbine engine delivers an inner non-swirling fuel-oxidant mixture surrounded by an outer swirling fuel-oxidant mixture, thereby providing enhanced mixing with no recirculation zone. At least one fluid-restricting inlet port (166, 366) provides an oxidant to an inner mixing passage (160, 360). The inner mixing passage (160, 360) includes a plurality of fuel outlets (168). An outer annular mixing passage (180) receives oxidant from an upstream port (181) surrounding the inner mixing passage and includes at least one swirler element (186, 386) and fuel outlets (188).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Martin, Robert J. Bland, Anil Gulati
  • Patent number: 8499542
    Abstract: A flow balancing valve for a multistage combustor includes a first pressure feedback line, a first burn line, and a first metering port fluidly connected to the first fuel injector. The flow balancing valve further includes a second pressure feedback line, a second burn line, and a second metering port fluidly connected to the second fuel injector. A metering land is located between and defines sizes of the first metering port and the second metering port. An increase in pressure differential between the first pressure feedback line and the second pressure feedback line causes a compensatory movement in the metering land to balance fuel flow for the first fuel injector and the second fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Thaddeus J. Zebrowski
  • Publication number: 20130186092
    Abstract: A micromixer of a turbine system is provided and the micromixer includes a plurality of pipes each having an inlet and an outlet for receiving flow and dispersing the flow to a combustor. Also provided is a non-uniform inlet arrangement defined by the inlets of the plurality of pipes, wherein at least one of the inlets extends to an axial location distinct from at least one other inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mahesh Bathina, Vaibhav Nadkarni, Arjun Singh