With Fuel Supply Manifold For Separate Injectors Patents (Class 60/739)
  • Patent number: 11840994
    Abstract: The fuel injection conduits in a multipoint device surrounding a so-called pilot central injection device include tubes of circumferential orientation. By separating the injection conduits from each other, it is possible to attribute to them different head losses which compensate the differences in length that the fuel has to travel: a uniform flow of fuel may be hoped for, for each of the injection holes. The tubes are individual but joined to form a crown that is unitary or composed of two almost symmetrical unitary portions, which lends itself well to manufacture by addition of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Sébastien Alain Christophe Bourgois, Romain Nicolas Lunel, Haris Musaefendic
  • Patent number: 11629641
    Abstract: Fuel distribution manifolds and combustors are provided. A fuel distribution manifold includes a main body and a fuel circuit that is defined within the main body. The fuel circuit includes an inlet section extending generally axially from an inlet to a first branch section and a second branch section. The first branch section and the second branch section diverge circumferentially away from each other as they extend axially from the inlet section to a respective first outlet and a respective second outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajendra Paniharam, Diana Alonso, Elizabeth Grace Hildebrand
  • Patent number: 11466860
    Abstract: A fuel supply assembly for a gas turbine engine comprises a plurality of fuel injectors configured for mounting circumferentially to an engine casing of the gas turbine engine and to be serially interconnected. At least one pair of the plurality of the fuel injectors has a first fuel injector including a first manifold adapter having a first outlet defined around a first outlet axis, and a first stem connected to the first manifold adapter at the first outlet and extending longitudinally along a first stem axis; and a second fuel injector including a second manifold adapter having a second outlet defined around a second outlet axis, and a second stem connected to the second manifold adapter at the second outlet, the first and second outlet axes being disposed circumferentially between the first and second stem axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Oleg Morenko, Aleksandar Kojovic, Bryan Micheal Bond
  • Patent number: 11286803
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling device (21) extending circumferentially around a turbine engine casing (1), such as, for example, a turbine casing (7), comprising a support (24) extending axially and intended to be attached to the casing (18), at least one cooling tube (23) extending circumferentially, at least one attachment member (25) comprising a radially inner portion (36) at least partially surrounding the tube (23), and a radially outer portion (37) attached to the support (24), the radially outer portion (37) of the attachment member (25) being attached to the support (24) through connecting means (30) formed by L-shaped sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Simon Nicolas Morliere, Julian Nicolas Girardeau, Sébastien Jean Laurent Prestel, Ghislain Hervé Abadie, Benjamin Franklin François Gillot
  • Patent number: 11225907
    Abstract: A low emissivity cover for a manifold pipe having an inner ring and an outer ring together which circumscribe the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Evren Ozcan, Scott Alan Schimmels
  • Patent number: 11204167
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor includes a combustion chamber coupled to a nozzle unit that is radially partitioned into plural regions. Each region includes a nozzle casing; a nozzle supplied with fuel and air to produce a mixed gas of the fuel and the air and configured to be inserted into the nozzle casing and to inject the mixed gas into the combustion chamber; a fuel supply section coupled to an outer peripheral surface of the nozzle casing to supply the fuel to the nozzle through the outer peripheral surface; a fuel plenum formed in the nozzle casing to receive the fuel from the fuel supply section; and an air plenum formed in the nozzle casing toward the combustion chamber to receive a portion of the air supplied to the nozzle unit, the portion of air introduced to the air plenum through a first opening formed in the nozzle casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Geun Cheol Kim
  • Patent number: 11112116
    Abstract: The present invention reduces thermal stress that is applied to the weld zone of a cavity formed in the structural material of a burner. The burner includes the cavity distributing a fuel to fuel nozzles. The cavity is demarcated by a groove formed in the structural material of the burner so as to create a level difference at an opening, and a cover fitted into the level difference to close the groove. The cover is formed by a web covering the opening in the groove and a flange extending in the depth direction of the groove to be fitted into the level difference, and is joined by welding to the structural material in such a manner as to have an L-shaped cross-section. When viewed in a cross-section orthogonal to the groove, a cover-side inner surface that is an inner surface of the flange forming a lateral surface of the cavity is flush with a groove-side inner surface that is an inner surface of the groove forming a lateral surface of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Power, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Tsukidate, Kunihiro Oga, Yoshitaka Terada, Koichi Nishida
  • Patent number: 11085633
    Abstract: A nozzle for a fuel injector of a gas turbine engine, the nozzle having an insulating air gap adjacent a conduit for carrying fuel, the air gap formed between a pair of concentrically arranged annular walls, wherein the pair of annular walls are arranged to move independently to accommodate differential thermal expansion, the nozzle further including: a channel extending circumferentially around a surface a first of the pair of annular walls, facing a second of the pair of annular walls; and a sealing member received in the channel, to close the insulating gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Mark Glover
  • Patent number: 11041626
    Abstract: A combustion chamber system has pilot and main fuel manifolds, and pilot and main fuel nozzles. Each pilot nozzle is connected to the pilot manifold. Each main nozzle is connected to the main manifold. A greater total amount of fuel is supplied to the pilot nozzles than to the main nozzles. A greater amount of fuel is supplied to pilot nozzles at, or in, a first region of the combustion chamber than to pilot fuel nozzles at, or in, a second region. A greater amount of fuel is supplied to the main nozzles at, or in, the first region than to the main nozzles at, or in, the second to improve combustion efficiency, weak extinction and relight of the combustion chamber in a first mode of operation. A greater total amount of fuel is supplied to the main nozzles than to the pilot nozzles in a second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Hua Wei Huang, Jochen Rupp, Michael Whiteman
  • Patent number: 10948188
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a combustor of a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The fuel injector includes a fuel delivery system for receiving and distributing fuel and an injector body. The injector body includes a primary fuel gallery, a pilot fuel gallery, a primary perforated plate, and a pilot distributor plate. The primary fuel gallery is formed as an annular cavity in the injector body and extends around an assembly axis. The primary fuel gallery and the pilot fuel gallery are in flow communication with the fuel delivery system. The primary perforated plate is disposed within the primary fuel gallery and divides the primary fuel gallery. The primary perforated plate having a first perforation to restrict flow. The pilot distributor plate is disposed within the center body assembly and radially inward of the first portion of the primary gallery, adjacent to portions of the tube stem. The pilot distributor plate having a pilot distributor passage to restrict flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Christian Di Norscia, Edouard Bahous, Michael J. Ramotowski, Ram Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 10907549
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for a part load CO reduction operation and a low-CO emissions operation of a gas turbine with sequential combustion. The gas turbine essentially includes at least one compressor, a first combustor which is connected downstream to the compressor. The hot gases of the first combustor are admitted at least to an intermediate turbine or directly or indirectly to a second combustor. The hot gases of the second combustor are admitted to a further turbine or directly or indirectly to an energy recovery. At least one combustor runs under a caloric combustion path having a can-architecture, and wherein the air ratio (?) of the combustion at least of the second combustor is kept below a maximum air ratio (?max).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Michael Düsing, Adnan Eroglu
  • Patent number: 10598097
    Abstract: A combustion staging system includes a splitting unit receiving a metered fuel flow and controllably splitting the received flow into pilot and mains flows for injecting at pilot and mains fuel stages performing staging combustor control. Pilot and mains fuel manifolds distribute fuel from the unit, which can select pilot-only and pilot and mains operations. A cooling flow recirculation line provides a cooling flow to the mains manifold during pilot-only operation, and a return section to collect mains manifold cooling flow. A fuel recirculating control valve open position allows the cooling flow to enter a delivery section during pilot-only operation; a shut off position prevents the cooling flow from entering the delivery section during pilot and mains operation. The unit can divert a mains flow portion into the delivery section during pilot and mains operation, the diverted portion re-joining the rest of the mains flow in the mains fuel stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Christopher Doody
  • Patent number: 10563868
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and structure of coupling a flameholder assembly to a hot section of a propulsion system, such as an afterburning exhaust section. The propulsion system includes an outer casing and an inner casing defining a flameholder assembly disposed radially within the outer casing. The method includes providing a housing defining a retaining rod and groove into which a structural member attaches; providing a retaining plate defining an opening through which the structural member is extended; coupling the structural member to the retaining rod of the housing and the outer casing of the propulsion system; and coupling the retaining plate to the housing and the inner casing of the propulsion system such that the structural member is retained between the housing and the retaining plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Apostolos Pavlos Karafillis, Kevin Kenneth Pruzinsky
  • Patent number: 10465909
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a fuel nozzle for a gas turbine engine. The fuel nozzle includes a sleeve defining a plurality of radially oriented air inlet ports. The sleeve defines a sleeve outlet at the downstream end of the fuel nozzle and a longitudinally extended annular inner wall inward of the sleeve in the radial direction. The inner wall defines a fluid passage and an inner wall outlet, in which the inner wall outlet is disposed toward the downstream end of the inner wall. At least a portion of the plurality of radially oriented air inlet ports is outward of the inner wall along the radial direction. The fuel nozzle further includes a plurality of fuel injectors surrounding the sleeve, in which the sleeve and each of the fuel injectors are connected to an aft body at the downstream end and a forward body at the upstream end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Bassam Sabry Mohammad Abdelnabi
  • Patent number: 10458331
    Abstract: Fuel injectors for gas turbine engines are provided herein. The fuel injectors include a nozzle configured to dispense fuel into a combustor of a gas turbine engine, a fuel conduit fluidly connecting a fuel source to the nozzle, and a heat pipe having a vaporization section and a condensation section, wherein the vaporization section is in thermal communication with the nozzle and the condensation section is in thermal communication with a cooling source of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: JinQuan Xu
  • Patent number: 10428738
    Abstract: A fuel distribution manifold for a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The fuel distribution manifold includes a manifold body, a stage divider, and a plurality of manifold outlet ports. The stage divider subdivides an internal volume of the manifold body into a primary stage volume and a secondary stage volume. A majority of the plurality of manifold outlet ports extends from the manifold body between the primary inlet port and the stage divider, each being fluidly connected to the primary stage volume. A remainder of the plurality of manifold outlet ports extends from the manifold body between the secondary inlet port and the stage divider, each being fluidly connected to the secondary stage volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Anthony P. Batakis, Dietmar Karl Sauer
  • Patent number: 10287985
    Abstract: A stationary gas turbine having at least one at least partially annular gas supply line, which is supported by a retainer, wherein the gas turbine has in the interior thereof a main flow direction of the working fluids, and wherein the retainer has at least one floor retainer supported against the floor and a face retainer attached to the housing of the gas turbine on the side opposite the floor retainer, and wherein both the floor retainer and the face retainer support the gas supply line against motion both in the main flow direction and perpendicularly thereto, wherein the face retainer has a spring system, which in particular compensates the change in the extent of the housing during operation of the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Reusch, Ruiqian Fei, Werner Hesse, Daniel Murrenhoff
  • Patent number: 10240533
    Abstract: A fuel system for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of duplex nozzles arranged on each side of top dead center and a plurality of simplex nozzles. A primary manifold is operable to communicate fuel to a primary flow jet in each of the plurality of duplex nozzles and a secondary manifold is operable to communicate fuel to a secondary flow jet in each of the plurality of duplex nozzles and a secondary flow jet in each of the plurality of simplex nozzles. An equalizer valve that is in communication with both the primary manifold and the secondary manifold distributes fuel at various pressures to both the primary and secondary manifolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Hoke, Timothy S. Snyder, David Kwoka, Robert M. Sonntag
  • Patent number: 10240534
    Abstract: A fuel supply manifold of a gas turbine engine, a method for assembling a fuel supply manifold for a gas turbine engine, and a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The fuel supply manifold for the gas turbine engine man include a plurality of fuel supply tubes, a fitting connecting at least two members of the plurality of fuel supply tubes, a bracket attached to the fitting, a bearing housing having a ball bearing, a bushing attached to a diffuser case of the gas turbine engine, wherein the bushing is surrounded by the ball bearing, and a removable fastener to connect the bearing housing to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert F. Sheil, Thomas Bruce Avis, Peter Tu
  • Patent number: 10094566
    Abstract: A system having a gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine and a combustor coupled to the turbine. The combustor includes a combustion chamber, one or more fuel nozzles upstream from the combustion chamber, and a head end having an end cover assembly. The end cover assembly includes an oxidant inlet configured to receive an oxidant flow, a central oxidant passage, and at least one fuel supply passage. The central oxidant passage is in fluid communication with the oxidant inlet, and the central oxidant passage is configured to route the oxidant flow to the one or more fuel nozzles. The at least one fuel supply passage is configured to receive a fuel flow and route the fuel flow into the one or more fuel nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Bradford David Borchert, Jesse Edwin Trout, Scott Robert Simmons, Almaz Valeev, Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy, Igor Petrovich Sidko, Leonid Yul'evich Ginesin
  • Patent number: 9951693
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a gas turbine combustor includes a fuel distribution manifold. A first fuel circuit extends from the fuel distribution manifold in a first circumferential direction around an outer surface of the outer casing and provides for fluid communication from the fuel distribution manifold, through the outer casing and to at least one fuel injector disposed within the outer casing. A second fuel circuit extends from the fuel distribution manifold in a second circumferential direction around the outer surface of the outer casing. The second fuel circuit provides for fluid communication from the fuel distribution manifold, through the outer casing and to at least one fuel injector within the outer casing. In particular configurations, the fuel supply system includes a shield that surrounds at least a portion of the outer casing and at least partially encases the first fuel circuit and the second fuel circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nazar Ahmed Elwasila, Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Ronnie Ray Pentecost, Lucas John Stoia
  • Patent number: 9803498
    Abstract: A nozzle formed of one piece for a jet engine includes a mixing tube, a fuel conduit integrally formed with the mixing tube, and an opening through the fuel conduit and directed radially into the mixing tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gordon F. Jewess, Patrick M. Lydon, Robert O. Barkley, Eric J. Alexander, Davis Bunone
  • Patent number: 9732960
    Abstract: A pigtail assembly of a fuel supply manifold assembly for a gas turbine engine, includes a first coupling assembly defined along a first axis; a second coupling assembly defined along a second axis, the second axis is parallel to the first axis; a first conduit between the first coupling assembly and the second coupling assembly; a third coupling assembly that defines a third axis, the third axis is non-parallel to the second axis; and a second conduit between the second coupling assembly and the third coupling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Kari L. Cutler
  • Patent number: 9664393
    Abstract: A burner of a gas turbine extending along an axis is provided having in axial order: a swirler section, mixing section, outlet section, and main combustion zone. The swirler section has swirler vanes to swirl a stream of fuel and oxygen containing gas entering therein in a circumferential direction. The mixing section conducts the premix of fuel and oxygen containing gas to the outlet section. The outlet section discharges the premix into the combustion zone expanding the flow of premix from a smaller axial cross section of the mixing section to a larger cross section of the combustion zone which streamlines the flow to diverge radially. A surface of the outlet section facing the flow of the premix is provided with first fuel nozzles injecting fuel into the premix into a radial inwardly inclined direction before the flow of the premix enters the outlet section into the combustion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mats Andersson, Alessio Bonaldo
  • Patent number: 9625155
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a fuel injector for a gas turbine engine. The fuel injector has an inlet fitting for receiving fuel. The fuel injector also has an outlet fitting for delivering fuel through a nozzle to a combustor of the gas turbine engine. An injector support extends between the inlet fitting and the outlet fitting and has an internal bore therethrough. A fuel tube extends from the inlet fitting through the internal bore of the injector support to the outlet fitting. The injector support has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the fuel tube. At room temperature the fuel tube is under compressive stress such that the fuel tube is buckled. As a result of differential thermal expansion of the fuel tube and the injector support during engine operation the fuel tube is relieved of compressive stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Caples
  • Patent number: 9567910
    Abstract: A fuel manifold and fuel injector arrangement for a gas turbine engine combustion chamber comprises an annular combustion chamber casing arranged around the combustion chamber. A plurality of circumferentially spaced fuel injectors supply fuel into the combustion chamber and a fuel manifold supplies fuel to each of the fuel injectors. The fuel manifold comprises a plurality of flexible fuel pipes and a plurality of T piece connectors. The stem of each connector is mounted on an outer end of a respective one of the fuel feed arms and each flexible fuel pipe interconnects an arm of one connector with an arm of an adjacent connector. Each connector is arranged such that the arms are arranged at angles to the planes containing the axis of the casing and perpendicular to the axis of the casing respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Simon Fuller
  • Patent number: 9523504
    Abstract: A fuel manifold and fuel injector arrangement comprises an annular fuel manifold and a plurality of fuel injectors. Each fuel injector comprises a fuel injector head and a hollow fuel feed arm. Each fuel injector has a pipe to supply fuel to the fuel injector head. The pipe extends from the fuel feed arm and through a corresponding aperture in the casing. The annular fuel manifold is arranged around the casing and the annular fuel manifold comprises a plurality of connectors. Each connector has a socket aligned with a corresponding aperture in the casing. Each pipe has a plug arranged to be radially slidably mounted in the socket of the corresponding connector of the annular fuel manifold to allow relative radial movement between the casing and the annular fuel manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: David Steele
  • Patent number: 9347667
    Abstract: A starting injector usable in all flight modes without additional cost or weight. The starting injector includes a dual fuel circuit and an air circuit. An injector for a combustion chamber of a gas turbine includes a dual fuel injection circuit including a starting fuel circuit for ignition and then for all the flight modes, and a main fuel circuit for all the flight modes after starting. The circuits include parallel pipes in a common tube having an axis. The pipe of the starting circuit is substantially in communication with a center of a spherical injector body. At the end, the pipe accommodates an injection manifold coupled to a central channel passing through a central wall of a swirler. The pipe of the main circuit is in communication with an annular channel opposite jet channels. An air circuit is guided between two portions shaped as concentric spheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: TURBOMECA
    Inventors: Bernard Joseph Jean Pierre Carrere, Jean-Luc Dabat
  • Patent number: 9188337
    Abstract: A system for supplying a working fluid to a combustor includes a fuel nozzle and a combustion chamber downstream from the fuel nozzle. A flow sleeve circumferentially surrounds the combustion chamber, and fuel injectors provide fluid communication to the combustion chamber. A distribution manifold circumferentially surrounds the fuel injectors and defines an annular plenum. A fluid passage through the distribution manifold provides fluid communication through the distribution manifold. A radial cross-sectional area of the annular plenum varies around the flow sleeve. A method for supplying a working fluid to a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through a combustion chamber, diverting a portion of the working fluid through a distribution manifold that circumferentially surrounds fuel injectors circumferentially arranged around the combustion chamber, and changing at least one of a pressure or flow rate of the diverted portion of the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lucas John Stoia, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Publication number: 20150121883
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a compressor assembly and a combustion assembly in flow communication with the compressor assembly. The combustion assembly includes a plurality of fuel nozzles and a fluid conduit for delivering fuel to the fuel nozzles. The fluid conduit has a plurality of first outlet ports that are spaced apart from one another along the fluid conduit, and the fluid conduit also has a plurality of second outlet ports that are spaced apart from one another along the fluid conduit. The fluid conduit further has a first flow path extending along the fluid conduit in flow communication with the first outlet ports, and the fluid conduit also has a second flow path extending along the fluid conduit in flow communication with the second outlet ports. At least a portion of the first flow path is circumscribed by the second flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Jared Matthew Wolfe, Joshua Daniel Brown, Christopher Francis Poranski, Edward J. Condrac, Raymond Floyd Martell
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150107256
    Abstract: An assembly of a combustor and fuel manifold comprises a fuel manifold having at least an annular portion with a plurality of fuel outlets facing at least partially radially inward. A combustor comprises an annular inner liner and an annular outer liner spaced apart from the inner liner, the inner liner and outer liner concurrently forming an annular combustor chamber therebetween. The inner and outer liners concurrently define an annular receptacle in the annular combustor chamber for receiving the fuel manifold. The inner liner and outer liners are shaped to define an annular gas path in the annular combustor chamber having an upstream portion that is substantially radial and oriented toward a center when the combustor is in a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Lev Alexander Prociw, Darien Sussman, Oleg Morenko
  • Patent number: 9003801
    Abstract: An electronic control apparatus is applied to a gas turbine including a cylindrical combustor, a plurality of fuel injection valves, and an ignition plug. Air compressed by a compressor is supplied to the combustor. The plurality of fuel injection valves are aligned in a circumferential direction in the combustor and are capable of injecting fuel into the combustor. The ignition plug is provided in the combustor and is capable of igniting a fuel-mixture within the combustor. The electronic control apparatus controls the operation of the plurality of fuel injection valves so that when the gas turbine is started up, fuel injection opening times of the #6 and #12 fuel injection valves which are positioned far from the ignition plug are later than fuel injection opening times of the #1 and #7 fuel injection valves which are positioned close to the ignition plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Tate
  • 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: 20150089953
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing fuel leakage in a gas turbine engine are provided. A fuel accumulation system includes a control valve section fluidly coupled to a fuel manifold passage and an accumulator valve section fluidly coupled at a first side to the control valve section. The control valve section is configured to control expansion of a fluid flowing in the fuel manifold passage. The accumulator valve section is configured to receive fluid expanded in the fuel manifold passage via the control valve section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Richard Allen Ellsworth, Frederick Ehrwulf Van Alen, Thomas Vander Ng
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8991192
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly for use in a combustor apparatus of a gas turbine engine. An outer housing of the fuel nozzle assembly includes an inner volume and provides a direct structural connection between a duct structure and a fuel manifold. The duct structure defines a flow passage for combustion gases flowing within the combustor apparatus. The fuel manifold defines a fuel supply channel therein in fluid communication with a source of fuel. A fuel injector of the fuel nozzle assembly is provided in the inner volume of the outer housing and defines a fuel passage therein. The fuel passage is in fluid communication with the fuel supply channel of the fuel manifold for distributing the fuel from the fuel supply channel into the flow passage of the duct structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Wiebe, Timothy A. Fox
  • Patent number: 8978383
    Abstract: A fuel manifold assembly for a gas turbine engine is described and includes an annular manifold body and an annular heat shield assembly mounted to and surrounding the manifold body. The heat shield assembly has an inner surface facing the manifold body and spaced apart therefrom by an inner air gap, which substantially surrounds the manifold body, defined therebetween. The heat shield assembly has an outer surface facing away from the manifold body and spaced apart from the inner surface by an outer air gap substantially surrounding the inner air gap. At least the outer air gap is formed by a double wall configuration of the heat shield assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Bhawan B. Patel, Oleg Morenko
  • Publication number: 20150027126
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a gas turbine combustor includes an annular duct that at least partially defines a hot gas path within the combustor. An orifice is at least partially defined by the annular duct and defines a flow path through the annular duct into the hot gas path. A plurality of fuel injectors are arranged circumferentially around the annular duct to provide for fluid communication through the annular duct into the hot gas path. A fuel distribution manifold is disposed adjacent to an outer side of the annular duct. The fuel distribution manifold includes a main body that at least partially defines an inlet for receiving fuel, an outlet that is in fluid communication with the fuel injectors, and a fuel purge passage that provides for fluid communication between the inlet and the orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Publication number: 20150027100
    Abstract: A control system is provided for performing staging control of a multi-stage combustor of a gas turbine engine. The fuel is fed to the combustor by a fuel supply system comprising: a plurality of fuel manifolds distributing fuel to respective stages of the combustor, a fuel metering valve operable to control the rate at which fuel passes to the fuel manifolds, and an actuating arrangement which splits the fuel flow from the fuel metering valve between the fuel manifolds. The control system includes a fuel pressure sensor arrangement which senses the fuel pressure at entry to the actuating arrangement, and/or in one or more of the fuel manifolds. The control system further includes a controller which repeatedly: calculates a fuel split between the fuel manifolds based on the sensed fuel pressure(s), and issues a command signal to the actuating arrangement to implement the calculated fuel pressure-based fuel split.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Yong QIN, Andrew STEVENSON
  • Patent number: 8925322
    Abstract: A turbine fuel supply system is disclosed as including a first sub-system having: a first nozzle for injecting fuel into a combustor of a turbine engine; a first valve controllable to communicate fuel to the first nozzle; and a first fuel manifold for communicating fuel to the first valve from a fuel source; the system further including a controller assembly for raising the pressure of fuel in the first fuel manifold; and the system being characterized in that the first valve is adapted to open in response to a predetermined pressure difference between the first fuel manifold and the pressure in the combustor, thereby allowing fuel to be communicated from the first fuel manifold to the first nozzle. The system may include a first recirculating conduit in fluid communication with the first fuel manifold and the fuel source, the first recirculating conduit allowing fuel not communicated by the first valve to be returned to the fuel source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Mark Scully, Arthur Laurence Rowe
  • Patent number: 8919125
    Abstract: A combustor casing fuel injector in a combustor of a combustion turbine engine, the combustor including a combustor casing that encloses internal structure of the combustor, wherein the combustor casing fuel injector includes a fuel manifold adjacent to an outer surface of the combustor casing. In certain embodiments, the combustor casing fuel injector includes a fuel injector; wherein the fuel injector extends through the combustor casing from a position within the fuel manifold to a predetermined fuel injection location; and wherein the fuel injector includes a protruding injector inlet within the fuel manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Keith Cletus Belsom, Donald Timothy Lemon
  • Patent number: 8899047
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanabe, Eiki Anzawa
  • Patent number: 8899048
    Abstract: A combustion system for a gas turbine engine includes a housing defining a pressure vessel. A master injector is mounted to the housing for injecting fuel along a central axis defined through the pressure vessel. A plurality of slave injectors is included. Each slave injector is disposed radially outward of and substantially parallel to the master injector for injecting fuel and air in an injection plume radially outward of fuel injected through the master injector. The master injector and slave injectors are configured and adapted so the injection plume of the master injector intersects with the injection plumes of the slave injectors. The slave injectors can be staged for reduced power operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Lev Alexander Prociw, Andy W. Tibbs
  • Patent number: 8893500
    Abstract: A dual fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes a central cavity extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end, and a first fuel discharge outlet configured to direct a first fuel into the central cavity at the first end. The fuel injector may also include a first air discharge opening circumferentially disposed about the first fuel discharge outlet and configured to direct a first quantity of air into the central cavity, and a second air discharge opening circumferentially disposed about the central cavity and configured to discharge a second quantity of air into the central cavity downstream of the first air discharge outlet. The fuel injector may further include a second fuel discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the central cavity and configured to discharge a second fuel therethrough. The second fuel may be different from the first fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventor: Gareth W. Oskam
  • Patent number: 8881531
    Abstract: One embodiment is a gas turbine engine premix injector including a mixing duct, a plurality of air inlet slots leading to the duct, a plurality of gaseous fuel inlet apertures leading to the duct, a plurality of vanes positioned in the duct downstream from said air inlets, a plurality of liquid fuel inlet apertures leading to the duct, and a plurality of discharge windows positioned between the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Power Engineering Plc
    Inventors: Thomas Scarinci, Kenneth James Young
  • Publication number: 20140298814
    Abstract: A system for pre-heating a working fluid within a combustor includes a compressor for providing the working fluid to the combustor. An outer casing is disposed downstream from the compressor. The outer casing at least partially defines a high pressure plenum that at least partially surrounds the combustor. A combustion chamber is defined within the combustor downstream from the high pressure plenum. A catalytic combustor is disposed within the high pressure plenum upstream from the combustion chamber so as to provide thermal energy to the working fluid upstream from the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Anthony Conchieri, Roy Marshall Washam, Gilbert Otto Kraemer
  • Publication number: 20140260273
    Abstract: A combustion liner for a gas turbine combustor includes an annular main body having a forward end axially separated from an aft end, and a transitional intersection defined between the forward end and the aft end. The main body extends continuously from the forward end to the aft end. A plurality of fuel injector passages extend radially through the main body upstream from the transitional intersection. The main body comprises a conical section having a circular cross section that diverges between the forward end and the transitional intersection, and a transition section having a non-circular cross section that extends from the transitional intersection to the aft end of the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia, Richard Martin DiCintio
  • Publication number: 20140260274
    Abstract: A fuel distribution manifold for a combustor of a gas turbine includes an annular flange having an outer surface that extends circumferentially around the flange. A primary fuel plenum extends circumferentially within the flange. A first orifice and a second orifice extend radially through the outer surface of the flange to provide for fluid communication into the primary fuel plenum. The first orifice includes an inlet that is adjacent to the outer surface. The second orifice includes an inlet that is adjacent to the outer surface. A fuel distribution cap extends partially across the outer surface of the flange. The fuel distribution cap includes an inlet port. A fuel distribution plenum is at least partially defined within the fuel distribution cap. The fuel distribution plenum is in fluid communication with the inlet port and with the first orifice inlet and the second orifice inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lucas John Stoia, Patrick Benedict Melton, Stanley Kevin Widener, William Michael Poschel
  • Publication number: 20140260309
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine having a combustor, and a fuel blending system. The fuel blending system further includes a first fuel supply configured to supply a first fuel, a second fuel supply configured to supply a second fuel, a first fuel circuit, a second fuel circuit, and a controller. The first fuel circuit may be configured to blend the first fuel and the second fuel to form a first fuel mixture. The second fuel circuit may be configured to blend the first fuel and the second fuel to form a second fuel mixture. The controller may be configured to regulate blending of the first fuel mixture and the second fuel mixture based on a measured composition of the first fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Arvind Venugopal Menon, Alan Meier Truesdale, Abhijit Prabhakar Kulkarni, Predrag Popovic