Porous Patents (Class 60/754)
  • Publication number: 20090133404
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine assembly includes a combustor configured to combust an air-fuel mixture to produce combustion gases in a first direction; a transition liner coupled to the combustor and adapted to receive the combustion gases from the combustor and to redirect the combustion gases in a second direction; and a turbine coupled to the transition liner and adapted to receive the combustion gases from the transition liner. The transition liner has a plurality of effusion holes that include a first group that extend at least partially in a tangential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Lai, David G. Walhood, Hiroshi Kawamura, Albert K. Wong, Mark A. Kuper
  • Publication number: 20090120095
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor liner has at least one circumferential row of air holes adapted to supply air in a radial direction into a combustion chamber within the liner. One or more of the air holes have a thimble fixed therein, the thimble having a substantially circular body and a pair of lips extending from an interior end of the thimble in diametrically opposed upstream and downstream directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Berry, Russell P. DeForest, Abhijit Som
  • Publication number: 20090100840
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of turbomachines and concerns a combustion chamber (4) for which the dilution supply is optimised. The invention relates more particularly to optimisation of the position of the dilution holes (30a, 30b) present on the walls (7a, 7b) of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Jacques Campion, Michel Pierre Cazalens, Patrice Andre Commaret, Pascale Rollet
  • Publication number: 20090100839
    Abstract: The invention applies to the field of turbomachines and relates to a combustion chamber in which the supply of dilution air and cooling air is optimized. The invention is concerned more particularly with optimizing the position of the dilution holes present on the walls of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Michel Pierre Cazalens, Patrice Andre Commaret, Romain Nicolas Lunel
  • Publication number: 20090084110
    Abstract: A combustor liner assembly includes a liner and a first group of cooling holes formed in the liner and having an increasing density in a downstream direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Rodolphe Dudebout, Paul R. Yankowich, Frank J. Zupanc, Ronald B. Pardington
  • Patent number: 7509809
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor liner having a plurality of holes defined therein for directing air into the combustion chamber. The plurality of holes provide a greater cooling air flow in fuel nozzle regions than in other areas of the combustor liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Bhawan Patel, Russell Parker
  • Patent number: 7506512
    Abstract: A cooling scheme for a dome comprises an effusion array drilled directly through a single walled dome. In one embodiment, the layout of the holes comprises two regions, a region close to the fuel injector where the holes follow a tangential path around the injector, and a second region where the direction of the holes is radially outward from the injector axis. A film of cooling air may be applied on the interior side of the combustor dome via an air swirler, which projects air radially outward from the injector axis. The first series of cooling holes supplement this air supply so that cooling efficacy is extended along the dome surface and is directed in a counter-rotating manner with respect to the main air swirler. The second series of dome cooling holes infuse further cooling flux that reduces the temperature in the corner regions between fuel injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jurgen C. Schumacher, Frank J. Zupanc, Rodolphe Dudebout
  • Publication number: 20090071162
    Abstract: A tip turbine engine (40) provides a peripheral combustor (30) with a more efficient combustion path through the combustor and through the tip turbine blades (34). In the combustor, the core airflow is received generally axially from compressor chambers in hollow fan blades (28) and then turned radially outwardly into a combustion chamber (112), where it is then mixed with the fuel and ignited. The combustor has a combustion path extending axially from a forward end of its combustion chamber through a combustion chamber outlet (122) and through a turbine (32) mounted to the fan. Thus, when the core airflow begins to expand in a high-energy gas stream, it has a substantially axial path from the combustion chamber through the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, James W. Norris, Craig A. Nordeen, Brian Merry
  • Publication number: 20090071161
    Abstract: A combustion system includes a combustor having a forward annular liner having a first plurality of effusion holes, and an aft annular liner having a second plurality of effusion holes and forming a combustion chamber with the forward annular liner. The first plurality of effusion holes and the second plurality of effusion holes are adapted to receive compressed air from a compressor and contribute to a single toroidal recirculation air flow pattern in the combustion chamber. The combustion system further includes a rotary fuel slinger further adapted to receive a flow of fuel from a fuel source and to centrifuge the received fuel into the combustion chamber; and an igniter extending at least partially into the combustion chamber to ignite the fuel and compressed air in the combustion chamber, to thereby generate combusted gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Ian L. Critchley, Frank J. Zupanc
  • Publication number: 20090071163
    Abstract: A system and method for modification of cooling holes in a combustion liner to prevent cracking. The invention provides a portable combustion liner modification system for a gas turbine able to allow for the correct placement of cooling holes on the combustion liner preventing cracks from forming around the mixing hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: MARK JAMES CLEARY
  • Patent number: 7500347
    Abstract: A variable geometry combustor having a combustor liner that defines at least one dilution port in order to provide air to a dilution zone within the combustor. At least one valve is positioned adjacent the dilution port for controlling the flow of air through the dilution port wherein the valve is settable to maintain one of a plurality of different open configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Noel A Sanders, Carl C Bourne, Anthony J Moran, Paul Fletcher, Philip P Walsh
  • Publication number: 20090013695
    Abstract: Floatwall panel assemblies and related systems are provided. A floatwall panel assembly includes a panel formed of porous ceramic material, the porous ceramic material exhibiting a porosity gradient along at least one of a length, a width and a depth of the panel, the panel lacking a substrate, formed of a material other than porous ceramic material, for supporting the porous ceramic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: James A. Dierberger, Kevin W. Schlichting, Melvin Freling
  • Publication number: 20080314044
    Abstract: A combustor includes an inner liner; an outer liner circumscribing the inner liner and forming a combustion chamber with the inner liner; a combustor dome coupled to the inner and outer liners; and a plurality of heat shields coupled to combustor dome. Each of the heat shields includes a heat shield plate defined by a first edge facing the inner liner and a second edge facing the outer liner; and a plurality of baffles extending from the heat shield plate. Each of the plurality of baffles includes two ribs and a connection portion connecting the two ribs to form a closed portion and an opposite open portion. The open portion of each of the plurality of baffles faces the first edge or the second edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bronson, Rodolphe Dudebout
  • Patent number: 7464554
    Abstract: A combustor heat shield panel has interior and exterior surfaces with a number of circuitous non-interconnected cooling gas passageways having inlets on the exterior surface and outlets on the interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Albert K. Cheung, Nikolaos Napoli, Irving Segalman
  • Patent number: 7451600
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor liner having a plurality of holes defined therein for directing air into the combustion chamber. The plurality of holes provide improved cooling efficiency in regions of the combustor dome corresponding to predetermined hotspots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Bhawan Patel, Parthasarathy Sampath, Russell Parker
  • Publication number: 20080271457
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor liner, including a shell having a first end adjacent to an upstream end of the combustor and a second end adjacent to a downstream end of the combustor, where the shell also has a hot side, a cold side, and a centerline axis therethrough. A plurality of small, closely-spaced film cooling holes are formed in the shell through which air flows for providing a cooling film along the hot side of the shell. Each cooling hole has a non-uniform diameter as it extends through the shell. In particular, each cooling hole includes a first opening located at the cold side of the shell having a first diameter and a second opening located at the hot side of the shell having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter of the second opening is larger than the first diameter of the first opening. It is preferred that the shape of each cooling hole be substantially frusto-conical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marie Ann McMasters, David Louis Burrus, George Chia-Chun Hsiao, Hongtao Zhang, Hukam Chand Mongia
  • Publication number: 20080264065
    Abstract: A gas-turbine combustion chamber wall for a gas-turbine has a combustion chamber wall 9, on the inner side of which several tiles 10 are arranged, with an interspace 14 being formed between the tiles 10 and the combustion chamber wall 9, into which cooling air is introduced via impingement-cooling holes 8 provided in the combustion chamber wall 9 and from which the cooling air flows into the combustion chamber via effusion-cooling holes 11, 23 provided in the tile 10. The tile 10 includes a surface structure 19, 22 on the side facing the combustion chamber wall 9. The area of the impingement-cooling holes 8 and the area of the effusion-cooling holes 11 do not coincide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Miklos Gerendas
  • Patent number: 7373772
    Abstract: A transition piece body, having an inlet end for receiving combustion products from a turbine combustor and an outlet end for flowing the gaseous products into a first stage nozzle, has dilution holes in zones respectively adjacent the transition piece body inlet and outlet ends. The volume of dilution air flowing into the gas stream is substantially equal at the inlet and outlet ends of the transition piece. The locations and sizes of the openings are given in the respective X, Y, Z coordinates and hole diameters in Table I. The X and Y coordinates lie in the circular plane of the transition body at its inlet end and the Z coordinates extend in the direction of gas flow from the origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Derrick Walter Simons, Aja Kumar Gupta, Carey Edward Romoser
  • Patent number: 7363763
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor has forward bulkhead extending between inboard and outboard walls and cooperating therewith to define a combustor interior volume or combustion chamber. At least one of the walls has an exterior shell and an interior shell including a number of panels. Each panel has interior and exterior surfaces and a perimeter having leading and trailing edges and first and second lateral edges. A number of cooling passageways have inlets on the panel exterior surface and outlets on the panel interior surface. A rail protrudes from the exterior surface and is recessed from the leading edge along a majority of the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph D. Coughlan, III, Monica Pacheco-Tougas, James B. Hoke, Alan J. Goetschius
  • Patent number: 7308794
    Abstract: An improved gas turbine engine combustor with a liner and a dome connected to the liner trough small radius transition portions only, the dome having a plurality of fuel nozzles mounted therein and an interior directly exposed to a combustion region of the combustor, the dome including a plurality of effusion cooling holes provided non-perpendicularly to an entry surface of the holes, the dome being substantially planar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Oleg Morenko, Bhawan Bhai Patel
  • Publication number: 20070283700
    Abstract: A gas-turbine combustion chamber wall for a lean-burning gas-turbine combustion chamber with a combustion chamber casing 2, 3 and several combustion chamber segments arranged in the combustion chamber casing 2, 3 and forming a combustion chamber wall 10. Each of the combustion chamber segments is supplied with cooling air with film cooling via axial and/or radial cooling holes 16, 17, with the cooling holes 16, 17 being axially spaced from each other and with dampening openings 19a being provided in this area for the introduction of cooling air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Miklos Gerendas, Michael Ebel
  • Patent number: 7302801
    Abstract: A combustor assembly includes a combustor chamber having a primary and intermediate zone that provides for reduced flame temperatures. The combustor assembly includes first and second pluralities of injectors. The first plurality of injectors introduces fuel to a primary zone. A second plurality of injectors introduces fuel to an intermediate zone. During operation between initial start up and before the introduction of engine load, fuel is introduced into the primary zone only by the first plurality of injectors. Once engine load is applied to the engine, fuel is introduced into the intermediate zone by the second plurality of injectors. Introduction of additional volume of fuel allows the fuel-air ratio to remain constant regardless of engine operating conditions. The constant fuel-air ratio is maintained at a desired rate to lower flame temperatures and reduce nitrous oxide emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Daih-Yeou Chen
  • Patent number: 7269958
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a sheet metal combustor wall having a plurality of cooling apertures therein immediately upstream of a corner between two intersecting combustor wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Honza Stastny, Robert Sze
  • Patent number: 7260936
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor includes a liner having a dome portion with a plurality of openings defined therein for receiving fuel nozzles and a plurality of holes defined around each opening. The holes directing air into the combustion chamber in a spiral pattern around an axis along which fuel is injected into the combustor by the fuel nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Bhawan Bhai Patel, Oleg Morenko, Parthasarathy Sampath, Honza Stastny, Jian-Ming Zhou
  • Patent number: 7216485
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the airflow in a turbine component having a plurality of airflow holes. The method comprises the step of depositing an overlay metallic coating on the surface of the turbine component in a manner such that at least some of the airflow holes are partially filled such that the volume of the partially filled airflow holes is changed so as to adjust the airflow through the turbine component. Also provided is a turbine component having a plurality of airflow holes, at least some of the airflow holes being partially filled with the overlay metallic coating to change the volume thereof so as to adjust the airflow through the turbine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Caldwell, Thomas John Tomlinson, Robert George Zimmerman, Jr., Raymond William Heidorn, Gilbert Farmer
  • Patent number: 7204089
    Abstract: An inexpensively manufacturable arrangement for the cooling of thermally highly loaded components, for example the combustion chamber of a gas turbine, comprises cavities (4) provided on the thermally loaded inner surface/air exit side (3) of the wall (1) of the component which are supplied with a cooling medium from the outer surface/air inlet side (5) via cooling air openings (6) and which are covered by a heat resistant wire mesh (7) of a certain permeability. The cavity, which acts as pressure accumulator, forms, in connection with the wire mesh, a uniform pressurized-air film (8) for the cooling and heat shielding of the wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Karl Schreiber
  • Patent number: 7186091
    Abstract: A method of cooling a gas turbine engine component having a perforate metal wall includes providing a plurality of pores in the wall, wherein the pores extend substantially perpendicularly through the wall, and wherein the pores are covered and sealed closed at first ends thereof by a thermal barrier coating disposed over a first surface of the wall, and providing a plurality of film cooling holes in the wall, wherein the holes extend substantially perpendicularly through the wall and the thermal barrier coating. The method also includes providing cooling fluid to the plurality of pores and the plurality of film cooling holes along a second surface of the wall, channeling the cooling fluid through the pores for back side cooling an inner surface of the thermal barrier coating, and channeling the cooling fluid through the holes for film cooling an outer surface of the thermal barrier coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Ronald Scott Bunker, Harvey Michael Maclin, Ramgopal Darolia
  • Patent number: 7155913
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbomachine annular combustion chamber (1) comprising an outer axial wall (2), an inner axial wall (4), and a chamber bottom end (8) connecting the said walls, the chamber bottom end being provided with several passages (34,36,72) enabling initiation of a cooling air film (D2) along the hot inner surface (30) of the outer axial wall and initiation of a cooling air film (D1) along the hot inner surface (32) of the inner axial wall, the outer axial wall and the inner axial wall being multi-perforated roughly over their full length in order to enable reinforcement of the cooling air films. According to the invention, the outer axial wall and the inner axial wall are provided, in an upstream part, with a first zone (54,40) of perforations (38) formed such that cooling air is introduced inside the combustion chamber in reverse flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Snecma Moteurs
    Inventors: Frederic Beule, Michel Desaulty
  • Patent number: 7146816
    Abstract: A combustor liner for shielding an engine from heat generated in a combustion zone includes a sheet with a cool surface for intercepting a cooling air stream and a hot surface enclosing the combustion zone, the combustor liner further including an array of effusion holes extending from the cool surface to the hot surface to allow a portion of the cooling air stream to pass through the effusion holes into the combustion zone, where a portion of the array includes a plurality of upstream-pointed effusion holes oriented such that each upstream-pointed effusion hole has an orientation obtuse to a direction of main flow in the combustion zone so as to control the momentum of cooling air passing into the combustion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Morris G. Anderson, Hiroshi Kawamura, Luis M. Flamand
  • Patent number: 7140185
    Abstract: A heatshielded article includes a support 18 and at least one heatshield 20 secured adjacent to the support. The heatshield includes a shield portion 28 spaced from the support. The shield portion includes a hot side 30 and an uncoated cold side 32. A projection projects from an origin 36 at the shield portion to a terminus 38 remote from the shield portion. The terminus includes a protective coating 64 along at least a portion of its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Steven W. Burd
  • Patent number: 7124588
    Abstract: A combustion chamber of a gas turbine includes starter film cooling of a combustion chamber wall 4 and several circularly arranged burners 7 with local maxima and minima in the intensity of the starter film 3 being provided around the circumference of the combustion chamber wall 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Miklos Gerendas, Michael Ebel
  • Patent number: 7121096
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine comprising a combustion chamber wall having formed therein at least one hole for admitting air into the combustion chamber and at least one air intake chute aligned with said hole. The air intake chutes are attached to the combustor wall in regions which, during operation, will be regions of low stress concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Michael Westlake, Samuel M. Sampson
  • Patent number: 7096668
    Abstract: An interface region between a combustion liner and a transition duct of a gas turbine combustor is disclosed having improved cooling such that component life is increased and metal temperatures are lowered. An aft end of a combustion liner is telescopically received within the transition duct such that a combustion liner seal is in contact with an inner wall of the transition duct inlet ring. Increasing the dedicated cooling air supply to the combustion liner aft end, coupled with a modified combustion liner aft end geometry, significantly reduces turbulence and flow re-circulation, thereby resulting in lower metal temperatures and increased component life. Multiple embodiments of the interface region are disclosed depending on the amount of cooling required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Inventors: Vincent C. Martling, Zhenhua Xiao
  • Patent number: 7093441
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor has inboard and outboard walls. A forward bulkhead extends between the walls and cooperates therewith to define a combustor interior volume. In longitudinal section, a first portion of the combustor interior volume converges from fore to aft and a second portion, aft of the first portion converges from fore to aft more gradually than the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Burd, Albert K. Cheung, John T. Ols, Reid D. Smith, Irving Segalman
  • Patent number: 7093439
    Abstract: The present invention relates to heat shield panels or liners to be used in combustors for gas turbine engines. The heat shield panels each comprise a hot side and a cold side and at least one isolated cooling chamber on the cold side. Each cooling chamber has a plurality of cooling film holes for allowing a coolant, such as air, to flow from the cold side to the hot side. A combustor having an arrangement of heat shield panels or liners is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Monica Pacheco-Tougas, Joseph D. Coughlan, III, James B. Hoke, Alan J. Goetschius
  • Patent number: 7086232
    Abstract: A liner for a combustor of a gas turbine engine, including a shell having a first end adjacent to an upstream end of the combustor and a second end adjacent to a downstream end of the combustor, wherein at least one discrete region is subject to distress from impingement of hot gases, a plurality of cooling slots formed in the shell through which air flows for providing a cooling film along a hot side of the shell, and a group of cooling holes formed in the shell in the discrete region to augment the cooling film and provide convective bore cooling to the discrete region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George Eric Moertle, Bruce Ernest Mills, James Patrick Holmes, David Albin Lind, Tariz Kay Harris
  • Patent number: 7082766
    Abstract: A can combustor for an industrial turbine includes a transition piece transitioning directly from a combustor head-end to a turbine inlet using a single piece transition piece. In an exemplary embodiment, the transition piece is jointless.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, Kevin Weston McMahan, Thomas Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 7051531
    Abstract: In order to develop a flow control body (6) for separate control of a cooling fluid inflow and a cooling fluid outflow for combustion chambers with a closed cooling system for turbines such that a simplified cooling fluid flow control is made possible in the combustion chamber wall, it is proposed with the invention that the flow control body (6) has a non-rotationally symmetrical cross-sectional shape (7) in a flow control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Iris Oltmanns, legal representative, Peter Tiemann, deceased
  • Patent number: 7036316
    Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a combustor for a gas turbine engine. The method comprises coupling an inner liner to an outer liner such that a combustion chamber is defined therebetween, positioning an outer support a distance radially outward from the outer liner, and positioning an inner support a distance radially inward from the inner liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen John Howell, Allen Michael Danis
  • Patent number: 7010921
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling a combustor liner and transitions piece of a gas turbine include a combustor liner with a plurality of circular ring turbulators arranged in an array axially along a length defining a length of the combustor liner and located on an outer surface thereof; a first flow sleeve surrounding the combustor liner with a first flow annulus therebetween including a plurality of axial channels (C) extending over a portion of an aft end portion of the liner parallel to each other, the cross-sectional area of each channel either constant or varying along the length of the channel, the first flow sleeve having a plurality of rows of cooling holes formed about a circumference of the first flow sleeve for directing cooling air from the compressor discharge into the first flow annulus; a transition piece connected to the combustor liner and adapted to carry hot combustion gases to a stage of the turbine; a second flow sleeve surrounding the transition piece a second plurality of rows of cool
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Charles Intile, James A. West, William Byrne
  • Patent number: 6981358
    Abstract: A reheat combustion system for a gas turbine comprises a mixing tube adapted to be fed by products of a primary combustion zone of the gas turbine and by fuel injected by a lance; a combustion chamber fed by the said mixing tube; and at least one perforated acoustic screen. The or each said acoustic screen is provided inside the mixing tube or the combustion chamber, at a position where it faces, but is spaced from, a perforated wall thereof. In use, the perforated wall experiences impingement cooling as it admits air into the combustion system for onward passage through the perforations of the said acoustic screen, and the acoustic screen damps acoustic pulsations in the mixing tube and combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Valter Bellucci, Peter Flohr, Christian Oliver Paschereit, Bruno Schuermans, Daniele Tabacco
  • Patent number: 6978618
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bulkhead panel for use in a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine. The bulkhead panel comprises a first side and a second side, a plurality of panel holes extending from the first side to the second side through which cooling air flows, and a circumferential inner rail on said first side dividing said first side into a first cavity region having a plurality of the panel holes and a second cavity region having a plurality of the panel holes. Each of the panel holes has an exit nozzle which is angled so as to create a swirling flow of cooling air over the second side of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Monica Pacheco-Tougas, Francis K. Costigan, Matthew D. Stoner
  • Patent number: 6966187
    Abstract: An improved flame tube or “liner” (112) for a combustion chamber (110) of a gas turbine with low emission of pollutants, of the type comprising a cylindrical structure connected to the outlet of a premixing chamber (114) by means of a truncated conical end (120), in which the premixing chamber (114) is supplied with air which is guided by a cavity (116) which is located between the flame tube (112) and outer walls (118) of the combustion chamber (110), this air circulating in the opposite direction to the flow of combustion products; a first cylindrical region (122) of the flame tube (112) is surrounded by a cylindrical casing (136) which creates an annular chamber (138).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Holding S.p.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Modi, Luciano Bonciani, Gianni Ceccherini
  • Patent number: 6931728
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a test model of a gas turbine engine combustor dome, and the test model produced thereby. The method entails individually stamping a plurality of dome wall segments and first and second mounting band segments. Each wall segment comprises at least one cup between radially inward and outward edges of the wall segment, and an opening in the cup. At least one wall segment and its two corresponding mounting band segments are placed on a fixture that locates the opening of the wall segment, locates the first and second mounting band segments at the radially-inward and outward edges of the wall segment, and orients the wall segment to establish a dome angle of the fixtured dome assembly. The wall segment and mounting band segments are then joined while the fixtured dome assembly remains on the fixture to form at least a unitary sector of the test model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward Lee Howard, Gilbert Farmer, James Hollice Poynter, Ronald Lee Sheranko, John Robert Staker, Thomas Carl Mills, Gregory Thomas Lucas
  • Patent number: 6925810
    Abstract: A method of repairing a damaged combustion gas transition liner for a gas turbine engine and an improved damage-resistant transition liner that mounts adjacent to the edge of one of the engine's combustion chambers. In a particular embodiment, the gas turbine engine is a reverse flow type and the transition liner has a scalloped, circular shape with a damaged outer edge portion. The outer edge portion of the liner is removed and replaced with a new ring-shaped edge portion. The new ring-shaped edge portion has a layer of damage-resistant material that is more robust than the original liner material. The layer of damage-resistant material is located such that it will be adjacent to the edge of the combustion chamber when the gas turbine engine is reassembled. A new transition liner assembly with the damage-resistant edge also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Glenn Swaffar
  • Patent number: 6840047
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lining for inner walls of combustion chambers having essentially plate-shaped shielding elements arranged on the inner walls so as to leave a gap. To introduce efficient sealing off against the penetration of hot gases, porous flow barriers capable of being inserted into the gap between adjacent shielding elements are used. The flow barriers are effective in reducing the air demand. The reduction in the air demand has a positive effect on the stability of the burner flames, the effectiveness of the machine and the pollutant emissions and makes it possible to have a further increase in performance, while adhering to maximum given material temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Milan Schmahl, Christine Taut, Marc Tertilt
  • Patent number: 6826913
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fluidic system and method for controlling the airflow to a lean premix combustor. The system and method as disclosed allow for reduced power, which results in reduced emissions, while at the same time providing excellent performance. This is accomplished through the use of fluidic means, which do not have the problems associated with hot moving parts of prior art mechanical means. Specifically, the introduction of an airflow downstream from openings in the dilution section cause a local boundary layer separation forcing air into the dilution holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: E. Scott Wright
  • Patent number: 6761956
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component includes a perforate metal wall having pores extending therethrough. The wall has a first surface covered by a thermal barrier coating. The pores have first ends which are covered by the thermal barrier coating, and the pores are ventilated from an opposite second surface of the wall for cooling the thermal barrier coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Robert Edwards Schafrik, Ramgopal Darolia
  • Patent number: 6751961
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bulkhead panel for use in a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine. The bulkhead panel comprises a first side and a second side, a plurality of panel holes extending from the first side to the second side through which cooling air flows, and a circumferential inner rail on said first side dividing said first side into a first cavity region having a plurality of the panel holes and a second cavity region having a plurality of the panel holes. Each of the panel holes has an exit nozzle which is angled so as to create a swirling flow of cooling air over the second side of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Monica Pacheco-Tougas, Francis K. Costigan, Matthew D. Stoner
  • Patent number: 6681577
    Abstract: A combustion case for a gas turbine engine. A typical combustion case is generally cylindrical or conical. Apertures penetrate the case, from the outer surface, through the case, to the inner surface. The apertures act as concentration points for stress. To dissipate the stress, bosses buttress the apertures, with each aperture having two bosses: one on the outer surface of the case, and another on the inner surface of the case. The invention eliminates the latter bosses. The invention dissipates stress by providing an array of T-slots on the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lynn Marie Bolender, Jeffrey John Eschenbach, Edward Patrick Brill, Robert Eugene Uhl, Michael William Hamilton, Steven Jerome Longtin