Fuel And Air Premixed Prior To Combustion Patents (Class 60/737)
  • Patent number: 9134030
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahesh Bathina, Vaibhav Nadkarni, Arjun Singh
  • Patent number: 9121279
    Abstract: A system and method for tuning a gas turbine combustion system having a plurality of seals positioned between the combustion system and the turbine inlet is disclosed. The system and method provide ways of permitting a predetermined amount of compressed air to bypass the combustion system and enter the turbine so as to control emissions and dynamics of the combustion system. The seals contain a plurality of holes to meter airflow passing therethrough and are positioned such that they can be removed from the engine and modified to increase or decrease the amount of air passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Sherman Craig Creighton, Charles Ellis, David John Henriquez, Peter Stuttaford
  • Patent number: 9121612
    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 from the upstream surface through the downstream surface. A divider inside a tube bundle defines a diluent passage that extends axially through the downstream surface, and a diluent supply in fluid communication with the divider provides diluent flow to the diluent passage. A method for reducing combustion dynamics in a combustor includes flowing a fuel through tube bundles, flowing a diluent through a diluent passage inside a tube bundle, wherein the diluent passage extends axially through at least a portion of the end cap into a combustion chamber, and forming a diluent barrier in the combustion chamber between the tube bundle and at least one other adjacent tube bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Thomas Edward Johnson, Baifang Zuo, William David York
  • Patent number: 9115896
    Abstract: A fuel-air mixer for use with a combustor is provided. The fuel-air mixer includes an outer ring, an intermediate hub disposed coaxially within the outer ring such that a first plenum is formed therebetween, and an inner hub disposed coaxially within the intermediate hub such that a second plenum is formed therebetween. A first swirler including a plurality of first swirler vanes is positioned between the outer ring and the intermediate hub, wherein the first swirler is configured to rotate fluid flowing therethrough in a first direction. A second swirler including a plurality of second swirler vanes is positioned between the intermediate hub and the inner hub, wherein the second swirler is configured to rotate fluid flowing therethrough in a second direction. A plurality of fuel injection conduits are also defined within the fuel-air mixer for channeling fuel to the first and second plenums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ahmed A. Abdel-Hafez, Ahmed Mostafa EL Kady, Nan Zong, Richard Bradford Hook, Jr., Steven Handelsman
  • Patent number: 9097130
    Abstract: A seal assembly for use between an injector and a combustion chamber in a gas turbine. A liner at least partially defines the combustion chamber, and the liner has at least one tubular liner collar, through which an injector is inserted. In one embodiment, the liner collar has a partially convex outer diameter and a floating collar is positioned at least partially around the liner collar. The floating collar has a retention member having a first end fixed to the floating collar and a second end configured to abut the convex outer diameter of liner collar, wherein the retention member maintains the floating collar at a radial distance from the injector less than a radial distance between the liner collar and the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, Richard Martin DiCintio, Lucas John Stoia
  • Patent number: 9097425
    Abstract: A fuel mixing device for an annular combustion chamber of a turbine engine, including a member for centering a turbine engine injector head, at least one air intake ring including blades allowing swirling of air, a bowl including an annular row of air intake orifices, an annular cavity communicating with the air intake orifices, and channels arranged through the blades to feed air to the annular cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Didier Hippolyte Hernandez, Romain Nicolas Lunel
  • Patent number: 9097426
    Abstract: A lance is presented for introducing fuel into a second burner of a combustion chamber of a gas turbine installation with sequential combustion, having a first and a second combustion chamber. The lance includes a foot and a shank which projects from it. In an installed state of the lance the foot extends perpendicularly or at an angle to a main flow direction of the burner. The shank extends centrally in the burner and generally parallel to the main flow direction. At least one projecting arm, having at least one nozzle for introducing fuel, is arranged such that it extends from the shank. A respective end of the at least one arm is oriented in the main flow direction and extends generally parallel to the main flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Ernest Geoffrey Engelbrecht, Anurag Jhalani, Bettina Paikert, Richard Carroni, Michal Bialkowski, Madhavan Narasimhan Poyyapakkam
  • Patent number: 9074764
    Abstract: A burner with a burner head is provided. The burner includes a mixing tube for premixing combustion air and fuel. The mixing tube is provided with a pilot burner system in its downstream part. The pilot burner system includes an annular mixing cavity with an entrance for assist air and pilot fuel and outlet nozzles. The mixing cavity is provided with at least two swirler wings arranged in the vicinity of each outlet nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Karl Henrik Gunnar Hull, Håkan Brodin, Xiufang Gao, Magnus Persson, Zeljko Vujicic, Patric Österlund
  • Patent number: 9052112
    Abstract: A combustor includes an end cap. The end cap includes a first surface and a second surface downstream from the first surface, a shroud that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the first and second surfaces, a plate that extends radially within the shroud, a plurality of tubes that extend through the plate and the first and second surfaces, and a first purge port that extends through one or more of the plurality of tubes, wherein the purge port is axially aligned with the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Michael John Hughes
  • Patent number: 9038392
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor includes inner and outer liners that are concentric and cylindrical, and an end liner closing between upstream ends thereof and forming a hollow cylindrical combustion chamber therein, and a swirling air flow forming device introducing combustion air about the end liner from outside and forming a swirling air flow, a fuel ejector ejecting fuel in the swirling direction to form a premixed swirling flow, and an igniter igniting the premixed swirling flow to form a tubular flame surface. The combustion chamber includes a primary combustion chamber, a secondary combustion chamber disposed downstream of the primary combustion chamber, and an annular restrictor reducing the outer diameter of the primary combustion chamber and disposed therebetween. A diluting air hole, supplying diluting air along a flow of the combustion gas passing through the restrictor, is disposed downstream of the restrictor in the inner liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignees: IHI Corporation, Tokyo Metropolitan University
    Inventors: Saburo Yuasa, Takashi Sakurai, Motohide Murayama, Katsuhiro Minakawa
  • Publication number: 20150135717
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor including a cluster-type burner is adapted to stabilize a combustion state by supplying a desired flow rate of combustion air to inner circumferential and outer circumferential fuel nozzle regions. A burner section of the combustor includes a plurality of fuel nozzles 2 and a premixing plate 4 in which are formed a plurality of premixing passages 3 each positioned at a downstream side of the corresponding one of the fuel nozzles 2, injected fuel from the plurality of fuel nozzles 2 being mixed with air in the premixing passage 3 before being supplied to a combustion chamber and burnt therein. The burner section also includes guide vanes 34, 35, 36 that rectify a flow of air and guide this air flow from an upstream side of the fuel nozzles 2 to fuel injecting ports of the fuel nozzles 2; wherein the guide vanes guide a desired amount of air to the fuel injecting ports of the fuel nozzles and stabilize combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Yasuhiro WADA, Toshifumi SASAO, Takeo SAITO
  • Publication number: 20150135716
    Abstract: A liquid fuel cartridge assembly for a gas turbine combustor comprising an elongated stem provided with a fuel injector tip at an aft end of said stem, said injector tip provided with a pilot fuel passage extending to a pilot fuel orifice; a plurality of air channels surrounding said pilot fuel passage and in communication with plural air holes; an annular main fuel passage surrounding said plurality of air channels and in communication with plural fuel exit holes; and a plurality of substantially radially oriented air supply holes in said stem upstream but proximate to a forward end of said tip in communication with said plurality of air channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leonid Yulievich Ginessin, Borys Borysovich Shershnyov
  • Patent number: 9032703
    Abstract: In a gas turbine engine that includes a compressor and a combustor, wherein the combustor includes a primary fuel injector within a fuel nozzle and a secondary fuel injector that is upstream of the fuel nozzle and configured to inject fuel into a flow annulus of the combustor, a method for detecting a flame holding condition about a fuel injector. The method may include the steps of: detecting an upstream pressure upstream of the secondary fuel injector; detecting a downstream pressure downstream of the secondary fuel injector; determining a measured pressure difference between the upstream pressure and the downstream pressure; and comparing the measured pressure difference to an expected pressure difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Krull, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Garth Curtis Frederick, David Kaylor Toronto
  • Patent number: 9032736
    Abstract: A method for operating a burner comprising a burner axis and at least one jet nozzle is provided. The nozzle or nozzles include a central axis, a jet nozzle outlet, a wall that runs in a radial direction starting from the central axis and that faces the burner axis and a volumetric fluid flow that includes a fuel and flows through the jet nozzle or nozzles to the jet nozzle outlet. An air film is formed at the jet nozzle outlet between the volumetric fluid flow including the fuel and the wall that faces the burner axis by means of air that is injected into the jet nozzle or nozzles along the wall that faces the burner axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Matthias Hase
  • Publication number: 20150128607
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor assembly has a fuel/air mixer assembly with a plurality of fuel/air mixer elements. Each fuel/air mixer element defines an air flow passage therethrough. A fuel injector is coupled to the fuel/air mixer assembly. The fuel injector has a tip portion with a plurality of fuel outlets arranged to direct fuel into the air flow passages of the air/fuel mixer elements. Each of the fuel/air mixer elements has at least one outlet arranged to supply fuel to the element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Fei Philip Lee
  • Patent number: 9027349
    Abstract: A combustor of the prior art that defines the outlet position and direction of an air hole and suppresses adhesion of flame to an air hole outlet can reduce a discharge amount of NOx by increasing a distance over which fuel and air are mixed with each other. However, such a combustor is not sufficiently discussed for measures to suppress the occurrence of combustion oscillation resulting from the variation of a flame surface. A combustor 2 according to the present invention includes a combustion chamber 5 to which fuel and air are supplied; air holes 32 adapted to supply air to the combustion chamber 5; fuel nozzles 25 adapted to supply gaseous fuel to the air holes 32; and orifices 24 adapted to allow the gaseous fuel supplied to the air holes 32 to cause a pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Miura, Tomomi Koganezawa, Satoshi Dodo, Takeo Saito
  • Publication number: 20150121882
    Abstract: A mixer assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided, including a main mixer with fuel injection holes located between at least one radial swirler and at least one axial swirler, wherein the fuel injected into the main mixer is atomized and dispersed by the air flowing through the radial swirler and the axial swirler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Zhongtao Dai, Jeffrey M. Cohen, Catalin G. Fotache, Lance L. Smith, Donald J. Hautman
  • Patent number: 9021811
    Abstract: A swirler for mixing fuel and air is provided. The swirler includes a plurality of vanes positioned radially around a central axis of the swirler and a plurality of mixing channels for mixing the fuel and the air. At least one mixing channel of the plurality of mixing channels is defined by opposite walls of two adjacent vanes of the plurality of vanes and is comprising at least one fuel injection opening and is further comprising at least one dimple for generating a vortex of the air. Further, a combustion chamber incorporating such a swirler and a gas turbine incorporating such a combustion chamber are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Kam-Kei Lam
  • Patent number: 9021812
    Abstract: A combustor dome and heat-shield assembly comprises a heat-shield having a first opening therethrough. A swirler extends through the first opening and captures the heat-shield. A dome having a second opening therethrough and has an upstream side and a downstream side. The swirler extends through the second opening from the downstream side to the upstream side to capture the heat-shield on the downstream side, and a retaining clip engages the swirler to secure the swirler and the heat-shield on the dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald B. Pardington, Paul Yankowich, Nagaraja S. Rudrapatna, Thomas Frank Johnson
  • Patent number: 9021781
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a combustor of a gas turbine includes an annular main body. A fluid circuit extends at least partially through the main body. An axially extending inner body extends within the main body. The inner body at least partially defines an inner chamber that extends at least partially through the inner body. The inner chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid circuit. A retractable igniter extends linearly outward from the inner chamber when the fluid circuit is charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kaitlin Marie Graham, James Scott Flanagan, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue
  • Patent number: 9010119
    Abstract: A premixing nozzle of a combustor is provided and includes a gas premixer module, a centerbody, which is breech-loadable into the gas premixer module and a deformable, compliant interface between the gas premixer module and the centerbody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Geoffrey David Myers
  • Patent number: 9003802
    Abstract: A fuel injector device for an annular combustion chamber of a turbine engine, including a pilot circuit feeding an injector and a multipoint circuit feeding injection orifices formed in a front face of an annular ring mounted in an annular chamber, together with a thermal insulation mechanism insulating the front face and including an annular cavity formed around the injection orifices between the front face of the annular ring and a front wall of the annular chamber and configured to be filled in operation with air or with coked fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Didier Hippolyte Hernandez, Emilie Lachaud, Thomas Olivier Marie Noel
  • Publication number: 20150089954
    Abstract: Burners having a fuel plenum in a base are disclosed. One disclosed example apparatus includes a base of a burner, the base comprising a fuel plenum and coupled to fuel nozzles, where at least one of the fuel nozzles is in fluid communication with the fuel plenum. The disclosed example apparatus also includes a burner head of the burner comprising nozzle passages in fluid communication with an airflow path, where the burner head defines a pilot combustion space that opens towards a flame tube of the burner, and is in fluid communication with the airflow path, and where each nozzle passage is to receive a fuel nozzle to provide fuel to entrain with air from the airflow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Axel Widenhorn, Roland Stoll, Dominik Lebküchner, Thilo Kissel
  • Publication number: 20150089952
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine is provided. The combustor includes a pre-combustion chamber having a centre axis and a swirler which is mounted to the pre-combustion chamber. The swirler surrounds the pre-combustion chamber in a circumferential direction with respect to the centre axis. The swirler has a bottom surface which forms a part of a slot through which oxidant/fuel mixture is injectable into the pre-combustion chamber, wherein the bottom surface is located in a bottom plane. The swirler further includes a fuel injector which is arranged to the bottom surface such that a fuel is injectable into the slot with a fuel injection direction, wherein a first component of the fuel injection direction is non-parallel to the normal (n) of the bottom plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Suresh Sadasivuni
  • Patent number: 8991188
    Abstract: A cooling circuit for a fuel nozzle in a gas turbine includes an end cap cavity receiving passive purge flow from a compressor of the turbine, and fuel nozzle swozzles disposed in a swozzle shroud that impart swirl to incoming fuel and air. Purge slots are formed in the swozzle shroud and through the fuel nozzle swozzles in fluid communication with the end cap cavity. The purge slots are positioned upstream of a quat fuel injection passage, and the passive purge flow enters fuel nozzle tip cavities of the fuel nozzle to provide tip cooling and tip purge volume without mixing the passive purge flow with quat fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Mark Bailey, Robert Rohrssen
  • Patent number: 8991187
    Abstract: The present application provides for a combustor for combusting a flow of fuel and a flow of air. The combustor may include a number of fuel nozzles, a lean pre-nozzle fuel injection system positioned upstream of the fuel nozzles, and a premixing annulus positioned between the fuel nozzles and the lean pre-nozzle fuel injection system to premix the flow of fuel and the flow of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael John Hughes, Jonathan Dwight Berry, Jason Thurman Stewart, Almaz Valeev, Chunyang Wu
  • Publication number: 20150082770
    Abstract: A dual-fuel burning gas turbine combustor having a diffusive combustion burner to burn a liquid fuel and a gaseous fuel placed at the axis of the gas turbine combustor and a plurality of pre-mixing combustion burners to burn a liquid fuel and a gaseous fuel placed on an outer circumferential side of the diffusive combustion burner, each pre-mixing combustion burner having a liquid fuel nozzle, a plurality of gaseous fuel spray holes, a plurality of air holes, and a pre-mixing chamber to mix gaseous fuel and air, wherein each pre-mixing combustion burner has a double pipe sleeve at a connected portion between end cover and the pre-mixing combustion burner, and the double pipe sleeve has an inner sleeve having a gaseous fuel flow path, an outer sleeve positioned on an outer circumferential side of the inner sleeve, and a circular spacing formed between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Shota IGARASHI, Hirokazu TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 8984889
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas-turbine engine including a burner head, a combustion chamber disposed downstream of the burner head, a swirler for creating a swirling flow of air in the combustion chamber, and a fuel nozzle disposed in the burner head. The fuel nozzle is disposed giving rise to a first angle of exit of the fuel from a downstream face of the burner head of >±0° with respect to a longitudinal axis of the combustor, this first angle lying in a first plane passing through the longitudinal axis. The fuel also exits at a second angle from the downstream face of >±0° with respect to the first plane, the second angle lying in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Nigel Wilbraham
  • Patent number: 8984887
    Abstract: A combustor includes an end cap having an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface and a cap shield circumferentially surrounding the upstream and downstream surfaces. A first circuit of tubes extends from the upstream surface through the downstream surface. A first fuel plenum is in fluid communication with the first circuit of tubes. A second circuit of tubes extends from the upstream surface through the downstream surface. A second fuel plenum downstream from the first fuel plenum is in fluid communication with the second circuit of tubes. A method for supplying fuel to a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through tubes, flowing fuel or diluent from a first fuel plenum through a first circuit of tubes, and flowing fuel or diluent from a second fuel plenum through a second circuit of tubes, wherein the second fuel plenum is downstream from the first fuel plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Patent number: 8984888
    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 tube assemblies includes an upstream portion and a downstream portion. Each tube assembly includes a plurality of tubes that extend from the upstream portion to the downstream portion or from the upstream portion through the downstream portion. 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 extends from a fluid source to the downstream portion of the tube assembly. The fluid supply member includes a first end portion located in the downstream portion of the tube assembly, wherein the first end portion has at least one first opening for channeling fluid through the tube assembly to facilitate reducing a temperature therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Thomas Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 8978384
    Abstract: A swirler assembly in a gas turbine combustor includes a hub, a shroud, and a plurality of vanes connected between the hub and the shroud. The vanes include a high pressure side on which air and fuel impinge the vanes and a low pressure side. An air circuit is provided in each of the plurality of vanes receiving discharge air from a compressor. Each of the air circuits includes an air entry passage into the vanes and an air exit passage on the low pressure side of the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Mark Bailey, Abdul Rafey Khan, Mohan Krishna Bobba
  • Patent number: 8973368
    Abstract: A mixer assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided, including a main mixer with fuel injection holes located between at least one radial swirler and at least one axial swirler, wherein the fuel injected into the main mixer is atomized and dispersed by the air flowing through the radial swirler and the axial swirler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Zhongtao Dai, Jeffrey M. Cohen, Catalin G. Fotache, Lance L. Smith, Donald J. Hautman
  • Publication number: 20150059346
    Abstract: A device for injecting air and fuel into a combustion chamber of a turbine engine, the device including a fuel injector, at least one first element mounted on the fuel injector, and at least one second element mounted on an end wall of the combustion chamber. The first element includes a radial rim that is movable in a radial groove of the second element, which groove is defined by a sheath and by a closure ring welded to an inside of the sheath. The closure ring includes a radial wall and a cylindrical rim extending from the radially outer periphery of the radial wall towards a radial wall of the sheath and bearing via its corresponding free end against the radial wall of the sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Jacques Marcel Arthur Bunel, Frederic Marius Mathieu, Gilles Ulryck
  • Patent number: 8966907
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Bradley Donald Crawley, Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Mohan Krishna Bobba
  • Patent number: 8966909
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing combustion dynamics includes first and second combustors arranged about an axis, and each combustor includes a plurality of tubes that extend axially through at least a portion of the combustor and a combustion chamber downstream from the plurality of tubes. A fuel injector extends through each tube to provide fluid communication into each tube at a fourth axial distance from the combustion chamber. The fourth axial distance in the first combustor is different than the fourth axial distance in the second combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sarah Lori Crothers, Gilbert Otto Kraemer
  • Patent number: 8966905
    Abstract: A combustion device includes a plurality of mixing devices into which a fluid containing oxygen and a fuel are introduced and mixed to form a mixture. The combustion device also includes a combustion chamber in which the mixture formed in the mixing devices is burnt. Each mixing device has a conical body with a lance projecting into the conical body, where the fuel is injectable into the conical body. Tips of the lances of different mixing devices have different distances from corresponding open ends of the respective conical bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Marta De La Cruz Garcia, Nicolas Noiray, Ghislain Singla
  • Patent number: 8966906
    Abstract: A system for supplying pressurized fluid to a combustor of a gas turbine is disclosed. The system may include an end cover and a fuel nozzle extending from the end cover. The fuel nozzle may include a downstream end. Additionally, the system may include a cap assembly configured to receive at least a portion of the fuel nozzle. The cap assembly may include an upstream wall spaced apart from the downstream end, a downstream wall disposed proximate to the downstream end and a cap chamber defined between the upstream and downstream walls. Moreover, a conduit may extend through the end cover and the upstream wall such that a discharge end of the conduit is in flow communication with the cap chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Patent number: 8966908
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a turbine engine may include a body member disposed about a longitudinal axis, and a barrel member located radially outwardly from the body member. The fuel injector may also include an annular passageway extending between the body member and the barrel member from a first end to a second end. The first end may be configured to be fluidly coupled to a compressor of the turbine engine and the second end may be configured to be fluidly coupled to a combustor of the turbine engine. The fuel injector may also include a perforated plate positioned proximate the first end of the passageway. The perforated plate may be configured to direct compressed air into the annular passageway with a first pressure drop. The fuel injector may also include at least one fuel discharge orifice positioned downstream of the perforated plate. The at least one fuel discharge orifice may be configured to discharge a fuel into the annular passageway with a second pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher Zdzislaw Twardochleb, Hongyu Wang, James Wilfrid Blust, Mario E. Abreu
  • Patent number: 8959921
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of primary nozzles configured to diffuse or premix fuel into an air flow through the combustor; and a secondary nozzle configured to premix fuel with the air flow. Each premixing nozzle includes a center body, at least one vane, a burner tube provided around the center body, at least two cooling passages, a fuel cooling passage to cool surfaces of the center body and the at least one vane, and an air cooling passage to cool a wall of the burner tube. The cooling passages prevent the walls of the center body, the vane(s), and the burner tube from overheating during flame holding events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Chunyang Wu, Baifang Zuo, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Patent number: 8959923
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulf Nilsson, Peter Senior
  • Patent number: 8959922
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle including a nozzle tube and a nozzle outlet opening is provided. The nozzle tube is connected to a fuel feed line for feeding a fuel to the nozzle tube, wherein the fuel is fed from the nozzle outlet opening to an annular air stream surrounding the fuel nozzle, wherein a first nozzle tube section that extends up to the nozzle outlet opening is designed in a floral pattern in such a way that the fuel may be fed substantially coaxially into the air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Giacomo Colmegna, Ulrich Wörz, Jaap Van Kampen
  • Patent number: 8955325
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for increasing the burn efficiency of fuel in a jet engine by charging the intake air molecules and inversely charging the fuel molecules, while reducing the fuel droplet size using a fuel-atomizing transducer in the air/fuel path. Generally speaking, an apparatus (and method) for increasing fuel burning efficiency in a jet engine is described, comprising: an intake air high voltage charger; a fuel injector downstream of the intake air charger; a fuel atomizer formed from an acutely angled transducer in a flow path of the fuel, wherein the atomized fuel is charged to an opposite voltage to that of the intake air; and an ignitor for igniting the atomized charged fuel and charged intake air for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Stuart H. Rubin
  • Patent number: 8955326
    Abstract: In a fuel injection device at a base of a combustion chamber, a mixing air inlet screw is manufactured with its peripheral holes extending only over a sector of a circle directed towards the air's propagation cone, wherein the remainder of the periphery of the screw is closed. It is then possible to reduce load loss of the injection system while obtaining an improved quality of the mix supplied to the chamber. Such a device can be used in gas turbines fitted with centrifugal compressors and in which the air flow towards the combustion chamber must therefore be made convergent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Sébastien Alain Christophe Bourgois, Didier Hippolyte Hernandez, Matthieu François Rullaud
  • Patent number: 8955327
    Abstract: A combustor includes a combustor wall defining a combustion zone and a fuel nozzle. The fuel nozzle includes a forward face, an aft face downstream from the forward face and adjacent to the combustion zone, a plurality of mixing tubes extending between the forward face and the aft face, an outer sleeve positioned radially outward of the plurality of mixing tubes, a heat shield positioned radially inward of the outer sleeve, and a baffle plate between the forward face and the aft face. At least one of the plurality of mixing tubes includes a sidewall that includes an injection opening defined therethrough. The baffle plate is oriented to channel fuel between the plurality of mixing tubes and between the baffle plate and the aft face prior to the fuel being channeled through the injection opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carl Robert Barker, Thomas Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 8950187
    Abstract: A premix burner of the multi-cone type for a gas turbine, that includes a plurality of shells, which are arranged around a central burner axis and are parts of a virtual, axially extending common cone, which opens in a downstream direction, whereby the parts are displaced perpendicular to the burner axis such that a tangential slot is defined between each pair of adjacent shells. A disadvantageous transition piece between the shells and a downstream mixing tube is avoided by bordering the downstream ends of the shells by intersecting planes, which are defined by intersecting the shells with a virtual coaxial cylinder of a predetermined radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Ennio Pasqualotto, Hanspeter Knopfel
  • Patent number: 8943830
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Arun K. Bhattacharya, Jose M. Aurrecoechea
  • Patent number: 8943828
    Abstract: This invention relates to a lean premix burner of a gas-turbine engine with an annular central body 2, which, while being essentially concentric to a burner center axis 1, is provided with an annular duct 4 connected to a supply line 3 and with a film applicator 5 which conically widens at the fuel exit side and into whose radially inward area at least one fuel exit opening 6 issues which is connected to the annular duct, characterized in that the film applicator 5 has, adjacently to and downstream of the fuel exit openings 6 in the area facing the fuel exit side 8, a step-like, annular protruding area 7 disposed radially to the burner center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Imon-Kalyan Bagchi, Waldemar Lazik
  • Patent number: 8943832
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for use with a turbine engine is described herein. The fuel nozzle includes a housing that is coupled to a combustor liner defining a combustion chamber. The housing includes an endwall that at least partially defines the combustion chamber. A plurality of mixing tubes extends through the housing for channeling fuel to the combustion chamber. Each mixing tube of the plurality of mixing tubes includes an inner surface that extends between an inlet portion and an outlet portion. The outlet portion is oriented adjacent the housing endwall. At least one of the plurality of mixing tubes includes a plurality of projections that extend outwardly from the outlet portion. Adjacent projections are spaced a circumferential distance apart such that a groove is defined between each pair of circumferentially-apart projections to facilitate enhanced mixing of fuel in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Thomas Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 8943834
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor includes a combustion cylinder, a premixing tube, and a pressure injection unit. Holes are formed in a peripheral wall of the premixing tube in a tangential direction. An inner wall is provided in the peripheral wall while having a gap therefrom. The compressed air in the gap forms a swirl flow. The compressed air and injected fuel supplied into the inner wall form straight flows each with a predetermined cross-section area in the inner wall under no influence of the swirl flow. They are combusted in the combustion cylinder via a protruding wall. The flame is stably retained at an appropriate position apart from the top portion of the combustion cylinder to improve durability without being excessively heated. This may prevent deterioration in durability of the combustion cylinder by the heat by retaining the flame at the appropriate position in the combustion cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignees: Niigata Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamichi Koyama, Shigeru Tachibana
  • Patent number: RE45397
    Abstract: A Brayton cycle internal combustion engine of the open, or constant pressure type, in which rotary power is produced by the pressure of hot gasses against confined, rotor protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventor: Terry Michael Van Blaricom