Injectors In Distinct Radially Spaced Parallel Flow Combustion Products Generators Arranged To Combine Discharges Patents (Class 60/747)
  • Patent number: 8769954
    Abstract: A fluid manifold apparatus includes: (a) an array of spaced-apart manifold fittings, each manifold fitting aligned in a predetermined angular orientation. Each manifold fitting includes: (i) a tubular neck; (ii) a pair of spaced-apart tubular arms extending away from a first end of the neck; and (iii) a coupling connected to a second end of the neck; and (b) a plurality of curved tubes, each tube being coupled to one arm of each of two adjacent manifold fittings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Fiebig, Joshua Brown, Joseph Nath
  • Patent number: 8756934
    Abstract: A combustor generally includes a shroud that that defines at least one inlet passage extends circumferentially inside the combustor. A first plate extends radially inside the shroud downstream from the inlet passage. The first plate defines at least one inlet port, at least one outlet port and at least partially defines at least one fuel nozzle passage. The shroud at least partially surrounds a sleeve that extends around the fuel nozzle passage. A tube at least partially surrounded by the sleeve may extend through the fuel nozzle passage. The tube, the sleeve, and the first plate may at least partially define an outlet passage. A first fluid flow path generally extends from the at inlet passage to the inlet port, and a second fluid flow path extends generally from the outlet port to the outlet passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Bryan Wesley Romig, Lucas John Stoia
  • Patent number: 8739543
    Abstract: A method for operating a burner including a burner outlet opening with at least two sectors, each sector is assigned at least one fuel nozzle, is provided. The method is characterized in that fuel is supplied separately to the fuel nozzles of different sectors. Also described is a burner which includes at least two sectors wherein each sector is assigned at least one fuel nozzle. The burner includes at least two separate fuel supply lines and a device for adjusting the fuel mass flow which flows through the respective fuel supply line. The fuel supply lines supply fuel to the fuel nozzles of different sectors. Also described is a gas turbine which is fitted with at least one burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eberhard Deuker, Anil Gulati, Andreas Heilos
  • Patent number: 8739550
    Abstract: The present invention provides a combustor for an aerospace gas turbine engine comprising two stages wherein each stage defines an inlet and an exit. The second stage inlet is in fluid communication with the first stage exit such that a first flowpath is defined and it passes substantially through the second stage. A plurality of flow channel tubes is positioned within the second stage and each flow channel tube passes sealingly through a header plate positioned upstream of the second stage inlet thereby defining a second flowpath that also passes substantially through the second stage. The first flowpath exit and the second flowpath exit are positioned adjacent and proximate to one another to provide for the generation of microflames or microflame jets exiting the second stage from between and around the flow channel tube exits. The first stage of the combustor provides a gasifier and a reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Shahrokh Etemad, Benjamin D. Baird, Subir Roychoudhury, William C. Pfefferle
  • Patent number: 8733106
    Abstract: An integrated plate is provided for use with a combustor including a casing, a fuel plenum extending circumferentially about the casing, and a fuel nozzle extending axially through the casing. The integrated plate includes a plurality of fuel injection pegs that extend radially between the fuel plenum and the fuel nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carl Robert Barker, Thomas Edward Johnson, Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Patent number: 8707671
    Abstract: A fuel control method for a gas turbine with a combustor being formed of at least two groups of a pluralities of main nozzles for supplying fuel, and that supplies fuel from the main nozzles of all groups upon ignition of the combustor (S1), and supplies fuel from three main nozzles of a group A during subsequent acceleration of the gas turbine (S3). Because fuel is injected from a small number of the main nozzles during acceleration, the fuel flow rate per one main nozzle is increased, thereby increasing the fuel-air ratio (fuel flow rate/air flow rate) in a combustion region and improving the combustion characteristics. Accordingly, the generation of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon is reduced, whereby no bypass valve is required and manufacturing costs are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sosuke Nakamura, Satoshi Tanimura, Shinji Akamatsu, Shinsuke Nakamura, Takashi Sonoda, Akihiko Saito, Makoto Kishi
  • Patent number: 8695348
    Abstract: A combustor of the present invention includes: a plurality of nozzles which is arranged around the central axis of a combustor and of which each base end is connected to an oil supply tube; a nozzle tube base which supports the plurality of nozzles and includes an oil chamber supplying fuel to the nozzles via an oil inflow portion provided in each oil supply tube; a first guide portion which faces the center of the combustor inside the oil chamber and guides the oil remaining inside the oil chamber to the oil inflow portion; and a second guide portion which faces the base end of the combustor inside the oil chamber and guides the oil remaining inside the oil chamber to the oil inflow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Omae, Kenta Taniguchi, Yoshitaka Terada, Takashi Onozuka
  • Patent number: 8661822
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a variable geometry resonator configured to couple to a fluid path upstream from a combustor of a turbine engine. The variable geometry resonator is configured to dampen pressure oscillations in the fluid path and the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ilya Slobodyanskiy, John Lipinski, Shiva Srinivasan, Dmitry Tretyakov
  • Patent number: 8666632
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a plurality of fuel injectors grouped operatively by stages in a multistage combustor. A fuel system for the gas turbine engine includes at least one fuel metering module per stage of the multistage combustor. Each fuel metering module includes a pump, a flow meter, a pressure sensor, a controller, and a motor, which work together to control fuel output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Thaddeus J. Zebrowski, Richard E. Versailles
  • Patent number: 8661825
    Abstract: A unitary fuel injection manifold for a secondary fuel nozzle improves fuel-air mixing and offers flexibility to alter the mixing profile through adaptability to a variety of number, types, and orientation of discharge outlets to the combustion air mixing space around the secondary fuel nozzle. An aerodynamic surface with reduced extension into the mixing space reduces pressures drop and interference with design airflow. Manifold integrity is enhanced by elimination of fillet welds to mount external pegs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Divyang Rajendra Desai, Sandeep Gopalakrishna, Kodukulla Venkat Sridhar, Amit Monga
  • Patent number: 8650881
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gas turbine combustion system includes supplying an ultra low calorific fuel to a combustor of the combustion system through a first fuel circuit, controlling a supply of the ultra low calorific fuel through a second fuel circuit as required to control the volumetric flow of the ultra low calorific fuel through the combustor, and combusting the ultra low calorific fuel in the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Willy Steve Ziminsky, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8640463
    Abstract: A swirler for fuel injection in a gas turbine engine includes a frustoconical swirler body. A first and a second air flow path direct air in generally opposed circumferential directions into the swirler. These air paths intermix and create turbulence. As this turbulence encounters fuel droplets, the fuel is atomized, and uniformly distributed within the air flow. A shear layer is created adjacent an inner surface of the swirler body. In a separate feature, a third air flow path is directed into the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Albert K. Cheung
  • Patent number: 8631656
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor includes an annulus with one or more circular rows of burners and a means for providing a number of equiangular spaced apart flame temperature nonuniformities around the annulus during engine operation. The number of the flame temperature nonuniformities being equal to a circumferential acoustic mode to be attenuated in the combustor (i.e three, five, or seven). Fuel lines and/or water lines in supply communication with the burners and metering orifices in a portion of the fuel lines and/or the water lines may be used to produce the flame temperature nonuniformities. The annulus of the burners may have an equal number of equiangular spaced apart first and second arcuate segments of the burners and a means for operating the burners in the first segments and operating the burners in the second segments at different first and second flame temperatures respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Allen Michael Danis, Mark Anthony Mueller, Timothy James Held, Steven Marakovits
  • Patent number: 8607573
    Abstract: A combustor includes a chamber mixing and burning fuel and air and an air hole plate disposed on a wall surface of the chamber. The air hole plate includes a plurality of rows disposed concentrically of a plurality of air holes jetting coaxial jets of fuel and air into the chamber. A first fuel nozzle and a second fuel nozzle are disposed near a fuel hole for jetting fuel into an air hole row on an inner peripheral side. The first fuel nozzle is structured to suppress turbulence of surrounding air flow and the second fuel nozzle is structured to promote turbulence of a surrounding air flow. In accordance with the aspect of the present invention, good flame stability can be maintained while further reducing NOx in a combustor using coaxial jets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Miura, Hiroshi Inoue, Kazuhito Koyama, Takeo Saito
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130305739
    Abstract: Certain embodiments include a first individual sector configured to fit together with a plurality of individual sectors to form a combustor cap assembly of a turbine combustor, wherein the first individual sector is configured to fixedly attach to a first fuel nozzle of a plurality of fuel nozzles, the first individual sector comprises a first substantially enclosed cavity configured to surround the first fuel nozzle, and the first substantially enclosed cavity is configured to receive a cooling air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Publication number: 20130255270
    Abstract: A method and system for providing fuel to primary and secondary fuel nozzles in a gas turbine engine fuel system comprises generating a fuel flow and routing primary fuel from the fuel flow to a primary fuel nozzle. Backpressure on the fuel flow is maintained using a valve. The valve is opened at increased fuel flow to route secondary fuel from the fuel flow to a secondary fuel nozzle. The valve is progressively opened under increasing fuel flows to reduce a pressure drop across the valve produced by the secondary fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Gibbons, Gerald P. Dyer
  • Patent number: 8544276
    Abstract: An object is to provide a low cost gas turbine combustor. The gas turbine combustor has a plurality of main nozzles annularly supported on a nozzle pipe base (11), and the main nozzles each have an oil fuel path for supplying oil fuel and a gas fuel path for supplying gas fuel. A plurality of the oil fuel paths are provided to penetrate the nozzle pipe base (11), and a plurality of lengths of upright piping (21) are provided to be connected to the oil fuel paths, respectively, and be erected on the nozzle pipe base (11). A plurality of lengths of connection piping (22) for interconnecting the lengths of the upright piping (21) in a polygonal shape at a minimum distance are provided outside the nozzle pipe base (11). An oil fuel supply section (14) is connected to one of the lengths of the connection piping (22) to distribute oil fuel to each of the oil fuel paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Terada, Tetsu Konishi, Katsuyoshi Omae
  • Publication number: 20130239575
    Abstract: A system for supplying a working fluid to a combustor includes a combustion chamber and a flow sleeve that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the combustion chamber. A tube provides fluid communication for the working fluid to flow through the flow sleeve and into the combustion chamber, wherein the tube comprises an axial centerline. A first set of injectors are circumferentially arranged around the tube and angled radially with respect to the axial centerline of the tube, wherein the first set of injectors provide fluid communication for the working fluid to flow through a wall of the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Patrick Benedict Melton, Russell DeForest, Lucas John Stoia, Richard Martin DiCintio
  • Patent number: 8534040
    Abstract: A nozzle includes a center body that defines an axial centerline. A shroud circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the center body to define an annular passage between the center body and the shroud. A plenum is inside the center body and substantially parallel to the axial centerline, and an igniter is inside the center body and generally adjacent to the plenum. A method for igniting a combustor includes flowing a fuel through a center body axially aligned in a nozzle and flowing a working fluid through an annular passage, wherein the annular passage is substantially parallel to and radially outward of the center body. The method further includes projecting at least one of a beam, spark, or flame from an igniter located inside the center body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Krull, Geoffrey David Myers, James Harold Westmoreland, III
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8495881
    Abstract: A system comprises a turbine combustor cap. The turbine combustor cap includes a plurality of segments. Each segment of the plurality of segments has edges abutting at least two fuel nozzle receptacles. Moreover, each segment of the plurality of segments does not completely surrounding any one fuel nozzle receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kara Johnston Edwards, Kevin Weston McMahan, Thomas Edward Johnson, Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Publication number: 20130180251
    Abstract: A burner arrangement includes a carrier and at least two burners which are mounted on the carrier in a flow direction Each burner includes a cylindrical housing having a lance which is arranged centrally therein and having a fuel duct and which is supported on the housing via swirl blades. An attachment is arranged on the side leading to a combustion chamber At least one fuel nozzle is disposed in the attachment and is connected to the fuel duct. The at least two fuel nozzles of the at least two burners have a different functional characteristic and/or spray form, and the at least two fuel nozzles of the at least two burners with a different functional characteristic and/or spray form include at least one full jet nozzle and at least one pressure swirl nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Matthias Hase, Jürgen Meisl
  • Patent number: 8479521
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine having an annular combustion chamber includes a plurality of main fuel injection and air swirler assemblies and a plurality of pilot fuel injection and air swirler assemblies disposed in a circumferential ring extending about the circumferential expanse of a forward bulkhead. The plurality of pilot fuel injection and air swirler assemblies are interspersed amongst and disposed in the circumferential ring of main fuel injection and air swirler assemblies. Fuel being supplied to the combustor is selectively distributed between the plurality of main fuel injection and air swirler assemblies and the plurality of pilot fuel injection and air swirler assemblies in response to the level of power demand on the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: James B. Hoke
  • Patent number: 8475160
    Abstract: Clean combustion and equilibration equipment and methods are provided to progressively deliver, combust and equilibrate mixtures of fuel, oxidant and aqueous diluent in a plurality of combustion regions and in one or more equilibration regions to further progress oxidation of products of incomplete combustion, in a manner that sustains combustion while controlling temperatures and residence times sufficiently to reduce CO and NOx emissions to below 25 ppmvd, and preferably to below 3 ppmvd at 15% O2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Vast Power Portfolio, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Campbell, David Hagen
  • Patent number: 8464538
    Abstract: A trapped vortex combustor includes a trapped vortex cavity having a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of fluidic mixers are disposed circumferentially along the first surface and the second surface of the trapped vortex cavity. At least one fluidic mixer includes a first open end receiving a first fluid stream, a coanda profile in the proximity of the first open end, a fuel plenum to discharge a fuel stream over the coanda profile, and a second open end for receiving the mixture of the first fluid stream and the fuel stream and discharging the mixture of the first fluid stream and the fuel stream in the trapped vortex cavity. The coanda profile is configured to enable attachment of the fuel stream to the coanda profile to form a boundary layer of the fuel stream and, to entrain the incoming first fluid stream to the boundary layer of the fuel stream to form a mixture of the first fluid stream and the fuel stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrei Tristan Evulet, Gustavo Adolfo Ledezma, Corey Bourassa
  • Patent number: 8438852
    Abstract: A combustor section is provided and includes one or more annular quaternary fuel manifolds mounted within an annular passage defined between a casing and a cap assembly of a combustor through which air and/or a fuel/air mixture flows upstream from a fuel nozzle support, the manifold including a body to accommodate quaternary fuel therein, the body defining injection holes through which the quaternary fuel is injected into a section of the passage at a location upstream from the fuel nozzle support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Almaz Valeev, Chunyang Wu, Leonid Borisovich Zvedenuk
  • Patent number: 8418475
    Abstract: In order to reduce a manufacturing cost and a running cost, casings each housing a combustion oscillation detecting device are attached in an alternating manner to cross-flame tubes by which a plurality of combustors arranged annularly in a combustor casing are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tanimura, Sosuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8408002
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor includes a pilot burner, a plurality of main burners disposed around the main burners on the radially outer side. Each of the main burners (2) includes an extension tube disposed at the downstream end. The outlet of the extension tube is shaped to have a radial edge which is parallel to the radial direction. In this manner, occurrence of flashback is effectively prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Moriwaki, Masataka Ohta, Keijiro Saitoh, Satoshi Tanimura, Shinji Akamatsu, Norihiko Nagai
  • Patent number: 8402763
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine includes a plurality of nozzles provided in an array; a baffle plate configured to provide a desired air flow distribution to the array of nozzles; and a casing comprising a plurality of holes in an outer surface. The casing extends from a headend of the combustor to the baffle plate. A method of distributing an air flow in a combustor of a gas turbine includes providing an air flow to the outer surface of the casing; directing the air flow around the baffle plate; and distributing the air flow through the baffle plate to the array of nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Mulherin, John Charles Intile
  • Patent number: 8387394
    Abstract: A gas-turbine burner having a plurality of main swirl generators, each having an inlet flow opening formed by the main swirl generator edge, is provided. In order to achieve a uniform flow of combustion air through the main swirl generator, the gas-turbine burner has an inlet-flow guide means with a flow guide surface which runs from one of the inlet-flow openings to an adjacent inlet-flow opening, to which the main swirl generator edges which form the inlet-flow openings are connected, and the flow guide surface widens from there radially upwards. The main swirl generators are central-symmetrically arranged around a pilot burner and the flow guide surface runs radially outside the main swirl generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Hase, Michael Huth, Robert Angel, Drew Ehlert, James Marshall, Yevgeniy Shteyman
  • Patent number: 8381526
    Abstract: A combustor includes a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path places a diffuser in indirect fluid communication with a combustor cap assembly by way of an intervening lower combustor annular passageway. The second flow path places the diffuser in direct fluid communication with the combustor cap assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Constantin Dinu, Carl Robert Barker, Krishna Kumar Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 8316644
    Abstract: The invention relates to a burner, in particular a gas turbine burner, comprises: at least one swirler, the swirler having at least one air inlet opening, at least one air outlet opening positioned downstream to the air inlet opening and at least one swirler air passage extending from the at least one air inlet opening to the at least one air outlet opening which is delimited by swirler air passage walls, the air passage walls comprising downstream wall sections adjoining the at least one air outlet opening; and a fuel injection system which comprises fuel injection openings arranged in at least one swirler air passage wall so as to inject fuel into the swirler air passage; in which at least the downstream section of one air passage wall is corrugated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Nigel Wilbraham
  • Publication number: 20120291447
    Abstract: A combustor nozzle includes a first and second liquid fuel passages that terminate at first and second fuel ports. A first diluent passage terminates at a first diluent outlet radially surrounding the second fuel ports. A second diluent passage terminates at a second diluent outlet between the first diluent outlet and the second fuel ports. A third diluent passage surrounds at least a portion of the first and second diluent passages. A method for supplying fuel to a combustor includes flowing a liquid fuel through a first fuel passage and flowing an emulsified liquid fuel through a second fuel passage. The method further includes flowing a first diluent through a shroud surrounding the second fuel passage to a first diluent passage surrounding at least a portion of the second fuel passage and flowing a second diluent through a second diluent passage radially disposed between the first diluent passage and the second fuel passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Geoffrey David Myers, William Thomas Ross
  • Publication number: 20120260664
    Abstract: An arrangement for a combustion chamber the arrangement comprising a combustion chamber, an injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber and an igniter for supplying a spark for igniting fuel so injected, wherein the injector has a passage through which air is supplied to the combustion chamber in use, the igniter being positioned upstream of the combustion chamber such that a spark generated by the igniter is conveyed along the passage by the injector air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Stephen C. HARDING
  • Patent number: 8281596
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a turbomachine includes combustor housing and a flow sleeve arranged between the combustor housing and a combustor liner. The flow sleeve defines a first annular fluid passage, and a second annular fluid passage. A quaternary cap is mounted to the combustor housing. The quaternary cap includes a first fluid plenum fluidly connected to the first annular fluid passage, a second fluid plenum fluidly connected to the second annular fluid passage, and a plurality of vanes fluidly connected to each of the first and second fluid plenums. Each of the plurality of vanes includes a body portion having a first fluid channel coupled to the first fluid plenum, and a second fluid channel coupled to the second fluid plenum. The first fluid channel extends completely through the body portion and the second fluid channel extends partially into the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Erich Daniel Charters, Abdul Rafey Khan, Patrick Benedict Melton, John Drake Vanselow
  • Patent number: 8281595
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly for a combustor of a gas turbine including: a nozzle body having a front and an inner tube defining a fuel passage extending through the nozzle body, wherein the front proximate to a combustion section of the combustor; an outer casing around the inner tube, wherein an air passage is defined between the outer casing and the inner tube; a gas conduit arranged in the air passage and having an outlet proximate to the front of the nozzle body, wherein fuel starts flowing through the expandable conduit only after a flashback condition occurs in the combustor, and a premix fuel passage and port discharging fuel to a premix section of the combustor, wherein the gas conduit has an inlet open to the premix fuel passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Stanley Kevin Widener, John Wilber
  • Patent number: 8276388
    Abstract: An annular expansion ring centered on a main axis and suitable for being mounted on a fuel injector coaxial with the ring is disclosed. The ring presents holes that are distributed around the main axis and open out into its upstream face to enable air to pass towards the zone that is downstream from the ring. The ring includes a conical annular groove that converges downstream, that is open downstream, and that has the holes opening out into the upstream portion thereof. The axis of each of the holes makes an angle relative to the main axis that is strictly greater than the angle between the generator line of the cone defining the annular groove and the main axis, such that the air exiting from the holes impacts against the inner wall of the annular groove, i.e. its wall that is closer to the main axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Alain Cayre, Christophe Pieussergues, Jackie Raymond Julien Prouteau, Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis
  • Publication number: 20120234010
    Abstract: A burner assembly having a fuel distribution ring, number of fuel nozzles which are mounted on the fuel distribution ring in the direction of low is provided. The fuel distribution ring has a ring-shaped surface in the direction of flow and wherein the fuel distribution ring center and an opposite outer outer side and wherein there is at least one slot on the surface between the fuel nozzles and the at least one slot extends on the surface from the outside to the inside. There is at least one recess arranged on the surface and the at least one recess also partially includes the outside of the fuel distributor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Andreas Böttcher, Tobias Krieger, Daniel Vogtmann, Ulrich Wörz
  • Publication number: 20120227408
    Abstract: An injector with swirling flow mitigation includes an injector body defining a longitudinal axis. A fluid circuit is defined in the injector body and includes a plurality of flow channels defined in a cylindrical region around the longitudinal axis and being in fluid communication with an outlet orifice for passage of fluids out from the flow channels into a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis. A flow splitter is defined in each of the flow channels proximate the outlet orifice. Each flow splitter is configured and adapted to mitigate formation of swirling flow on fluids passing through the outlet orifice from the flow channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Philip E.O. Buelow, Neal A. Thomson
  • Patent number: 8261555
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a compressor, a combustor operatively connected to the compressor, an end cover mounted to the combustor, and an injection nozzle assembly operatively connected to the combustor. The injection nozzle assembly includes a first end portion that extends to a second end portion, and a plurality of tube elements provided at the second end portion. Each of the plurality of tube elements defining a fluid passage includes a body having a first end section that extends to a second end section. The second end section projects beyond the second end portion of the injection nozzle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Thomas Edward Johnson, Kwanwoo Kim
  • Patent number: 8256226
    Abstract: A burner for use in a gas turbine engine includes a burner tube having an inlet end and an outlet end; a plurality of air passages extending axially in the burner tube configured to convey air flows from the inlet end to the outlet end; a plurality of fuel passages extending axially along the burner tube and spaced around the plurality of air passage configured to convey fuel from the inlet end to the outlet end; and a radial air swirler provided at the outlet end configured to direct the air flows radially toward the outlet end and impart swirl to the air flows. The radial air swirler includes a plurality of vanes to direct and swirl the air flows and an end plate. The end plate includes a plurality of fuel injection holes to inject the fuel radially into the swirling air flows. A method of mixing air and fuel in a burner of a gas turbine is also provided. The burner includes a burner tube including an inlet end, an outlet end, a plurality of axial air passages, and a plurality of axial fuel passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Patent number: 8234872
    Abstract: A system includes an air flow conditioner configured to mount in an air chamber separated from a combustion chamber of a turbine combustor. The air flow conditioner comprises a perforated annular wall configured to direct an air flow in both an axial direction and a radial direction relative to an axis of the turbine combustor. In addition, the air flow conditioner is configured to uniformly supply the air flow into air inlets of one or more fuel nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Jason Thurman Stewart
  • Patent number: 8230687
    Abstract: A fuel injector tube includes a one piece, unitary, polygonal tube having an inlet end and an outlet end. The fuel injector tube further includes a fuel passage extending from the inlet end to the outlet end along a longitudinal axis of the polygonal tube, a plurality of air passages extending from the inlet end to the outlet end and surrounding the fuel passage, and a plurality of fuel holes. Each fuel hole connects an air passage with the fuel passage. The inlet end of the polygonal tube is formed into a fuel tube. A fuel injector includes a plurality of fuel injector tubes and a plate. The plurality of fuel tubes are connected to the plate adjacent the inlet ends of the plurality of fuel injector tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Willy Steve Ziminsky
  • Patent number: 8225612
    Abstract: A fuel spraying apparatus of a gas turbine engine includes a first fuel spraying section configured to spray fuel for diffusion combustion and a second fuel spraying section configured to spray fuel for premixed combustion. The second fuel spraying section is disposed so as to surround the first fuel spraying section. The apparatus further includes an air curtain generating section disposed between the first fuel spraying section and the second fuel spraying section. The air curtain generating section is configured to generate an air curtain which defines an outer edge of a diffusion combustion area in a combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeo Oda, Hiroyuki Ninomiya, Hideki Ogata
  • Patent number: 8209986
    Abstract: A protection system for a pre-mixing apparatus for a turbine engine, includes: a main body having an inlet portion, an outlet portion and an exterior wall that collectively establish a fuel delivery plenum; and a plurality of fuel mixing tubes that extend through at least a portion of the fuel delivery plenum, each of the plurality of fuel mixing tubes including at least one fuel feed opening fluidly connected to the fuel delivery plenum; at least one thermal fuse disposed on an exterior surface of at least one tube, the at least one thermal fuse including a material that will melt upon ignition of fuel within the at least one tube and cause a diversion of fuel from the fuel feed opening to at least one bypass opening. A method and a turbine engine in accordance with the protection system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Thomas Edward Johnson, William David York
  • Publication number: 20120117976
    Abstract: A nozzle includes a center body that defines an axial centerline. A shroud circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the center body to define an annular passage between the center body and the shroud. A plenum is inside the center body and substantially parallel to the axial centerline, and an igniter is inside the center body and generally adjacent to the plenum. A method for igniting a combustor includes flowing a fuel through a center body axially aligned in a nozzle and flowing a working fluid through an annular passage, wherein the annular passage is substantially parallel to and radially outward of the center body. The method further includes projecting at least one of a beam, spark, or flame from an igniter located inside the center body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Krull, Geoffrey David Myers, James Harold Westmoreland, III
  • Patent number: 8177547
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for starting a burner for combusting synthesis gases, wherein said burner comprises first and second fuel passages, the first fuel passage encompasses the second fuel passage in a substantially concentric manner and the gas transferred to the burner is mixed with combusting air and is combusted. According to said invention, in order to start the burner, the second fuel passage is first loaded with a synthesis gas to a predefined burner power at a first starting phase and the first fuel passage is loaded with the synthesis gas at a second starting phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Berthold Köstlin, Frank Hannemann, Andreas Heilos, Gerhard Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20120073305
    Abstract: A combustion chamber of a gas turbine including first and second premixed fuel supply devices connected to a combustion device having first zones connected to the first premixed fuel supply devices and second zones connected to the second premixed fuel supply devices. The second fuel supply devices are shifted along a combustion device longitudinal axis with respect to the first fuel supply devices. The first zones are axially upstream of the second premixed fuel supply devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Hans Peter Knöpfel, Adnan EROGLU