Process Patents (Class 60/772)
  • Patent number: 8915087
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for transferring heat from a transition nozzle. The transition nozzle includes a transition portion, a nozzle portion integrally formed with the transition portion, and at least one surface feature configured to transfer heat away from the transition portion and/or the nozzle portion. The transition portion is oriented to channel the combustion gases towards the nozzle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronald James Chila, David Richard Johns
  • Patent number: 8915089
    Abstract: A system is provided for detecting and controlling flashback and flame holding in a combustor of a gas turbine. The system includes at least one flame indicator disposed in a combustor and at least one detector disposed downstream from the flame indicator. The flame indicator may be configured to produce light when exposed to a flame and the detector may be configured to detect the light produced by the flame indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Geoffrey David Myers, Timothy Joseph Rehg, Timothy Andrew Healy, Anthony Wayne Krull
  • Patent number: 8915086
    Abstract: A system for controlling combustion dynamics is provided. The system includes a combustor having a combustion chamber and an inlet for feeding a fuel-air mixture into the combustion chamber. The system also includes a dome plate at an upstream end of the combustion chamber. The system further includes a liner along a length of the combustion chamber. The system also includes an actuator configured to control one or more recirculating zones in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chukwueloka Obiora Umeh, Joel Meier Haynes, Jeffrey Scott Goldmeer
  • Publication number: 20140366547
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel apparatus and methods for augmenting the power of a gas turbine engine, improving gas turbine engine operation, and reducing the response time necessary to meet changing demands of a power plant. Improvements in power augmentation and engine operation include additional heated compressed air injection, steam injection, water recovery, exhaust tempering, fuel heating, and stored heated air injection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Robert J. Kraft, Scott Auerbach, Peter A. Sobieski, Sergio A. Arias-Quintero
  • Publication number: 20140366548
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan, a compressor, a combustor, and a fan drive turbine rotor. The fan drive turbine drives the fan through a gear reduction. The gear reduction includes at least two double helical gears in meshed engagement. Each of the at least two double helical gears are disposed to rotate about respective axes, and each have a first plurality of gear teeth axially spaced from a second plurality of gear teeth by a spacer. Each of the first plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the spacer and each of the second plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the spacer. Each first end of the first plurality of gear teeth is circumferentially offset from each first end of the second plurality of gear teeth. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Michael E. McCune
  • Publication number: 20140366546
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustor adjacent the compressor, a turbine adjacent the combustor, a shaft, a motor, a variable frequency drive, a stored energy source and a ride thru unit. The motor is coupled to the shaft. The variable frequency drive is electrically connected to the motor and to an AC power source. The ride thru unit electrically connects to the variable frequency drive, the AC power source and the stored energy source. The ride thru unit includes at least one DC to DC voltage converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Rachel Bruno, Daniel Fingleton, Scott Hitoshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20140366549
    Abstract: A method of operating a turbine unit, wherein recirculated exhaust gas is contacted with a cooling and absorption liquid in a packed bed. An exhaust gas treatment system for a turbine unit, wherein an exhaust gas recirculation line comprises a gas cooling and cleaning device having a packed bed for contacting the exhaust gas with a cooling and absorption liquid. A combined cycle power generating system, wherein an exhaust gas recirculation line comprises a gas cooling and cleaning device having a packed bed for contacting the exhaust gas from a gas turbine with a cooling and absorption liquid and wherein water utilized as a cooling medium for condensation of steam originating from a steam turbine, and the cooling and absorption liquid, are passed to a cooling tower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Wuyin WANG, Richard Joel CURRAN, Frank SANDER, Klara BERG, Richard CARRONI, Gian Luigi AGOSTINELLI
  • Publication number: 20140360200
    Abstract: What is described is a method for operating a gas turbine power plant, in which fresh air is delivered to a compressor inlet and is accelerated in the compressor inlet and a recirculated first exhaust gas substream is delivered into a region of the compressor inlet in which the fresh air is accelerated to an extent such that the difference between total pressure and static pressure in the fresh air is greater than or equal to a pressure difference which is required in order to suck a target mass flow of the recirculated first exhaust gas substream into the compressor inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Eribert BENZ, Jaan Hellat, Hans Wettstein, Robin Payne
  • Publication number: 20140360199
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a gas turbine, in which an oxygen-reduced gas and fresh air are delivered to a compressor of the gas turbine in a radially staged manner, the fresh air being delivered via an outer sector of the inlet cross section in relation to the axis of rotation of the compressor, and the oxygen-reduced gas being delivered via an inner sector of the inlet cross section in relation to the axis of rotation of the compressor. The invention relates, further, to a gas turbine power plant with a gas turbine having a compressor inlet which is followed by the flow duct of the compressor and which is divided into an inner sector and an outer sector, a feed for an oxygen-reduced gas being connected to the inner sector of the compressor inlet, and a fresh air feed being connected to the outer sector of the compressor inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Jaan HELLAT, Eribert Benz, Frank Graf, Torsten Wind, Felix Guethe, Klaus Doebbeling
  • Publication number: 20140360889
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems, devices, and methods for treating, remediating, or abating carbon-containing wastes generate at least one of clean water; non-toxic, non-hazardous ash; or power. Some embodiments are modular, permitting rapid deployment, flexible configuration, and easy transportation. Embodiments of the systems treat carbon-containing aqueous waste, carbon containing waste, or a combination thereof. The systems, devices, and methods are particularly suited to treating hydrocarbon containing waste generated in oil and natural gas drilling and hydrofracturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Coyte R. Jones, Robert C. Jones
  • Patent number: 8904803
    Abstract: A gas turbine, computer software and a method for controlling an operating point of the gas turbine that includes a compressor, a combustor and at least a turbine is provided. The method comprises: determining an exhaust pressure at an exhaust of the turbine; measuring a compressor pressure discharge at the compressor; determining a turbine pressure ratio based on the exhaust pressure and the compressor pressure discharge; calculating a primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold reference curve as a function of the turbine pressure ratio, where the primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold curve includes points at which an operation of the gas turbine is changed between a primary mode to a lean-lean mode; and controlling the gas turbine to change between the primary mode and the lean-lean mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventor: Claudio Botarelli
  • Patent number: 8904802
    Abstract: A turbomachine combustor assembly includes a combustor body, and a combustor liner arranged within the combustor body and defining a combustion chamber. The combustor liner includes a venturi portion arranged within the combustion chamber. A fluid passage is defined between the combustor body and the combustor liner, and at least one turbulator is arranged in the fluid passage. The at least one turbulator is configured and disposed to create vortices in the fluid passage. A vortex modification system is arranged at the fluid passage and is configured and disposed to disrupt the vortices in the fluid passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sridhar Venkat Kodukulla, Ronald James Chila, Sarah Lori Crothers, Shreekrishna Jayakumar Rao, Shivakumar Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20140352315
    Abstract: In an aircraft including a gas turbine engine having a compressor including a compressor booster, a turbine, and a nacelle, a system for cooling compressor discharge air provided to the turbine to cool the turbine includes a heat exchanger provided in a nacelle compartment of the gas turbine engine configured to cool the compressor discharge air by exchanging heat from the compressor discharge air to a cooling fluid; and a cooling fluid circuit configured to circulate cooling fluid through the heat exchanger and a heat sink, wherein the heat sink is at least one of an inlet of the nacelle compartment, an inlet of the compressor booster, or outlet guide vanes of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Carlos Enrique Diaz
  • Publication number: 20140352316
    Abstract: The present application provides a combustor with a radial penetration. The combustor may include a combustion chamber, a liner surrounding the combustion chamber, a flow sleeve surrounding the liner, a penetration tube extending through the liner and the flow sleeve with the radial penetration positioned within the penetration tube, a flange extending from the penetration tube about the flow sleeve, and a ferrule positioned about the flange and the radial penetration so as to limit leakage about the radial penetration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde, Lucas John Stoia, Christopher Paul Willis
  • Publication number: 20140352314
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine fuel system has an ecology valve for withdrawing residual fuel from primary and secondary fuel manifolds upon engine shut-down. The ecology valve has primary and secondary reservoirs respectively connected in fluid flow communication with the primary and secondary fuel manifolds. The valve further has a reciprocating piston movable from a retracted position when engine start-up is initiated to an extended position which the piston assumes under normal engine running conditions. The movement of the reciprocating piston between the retracted and extended positions controls the flow of fuel from and to the primary and secondary reservoirs. A cross-bleed passage is defined in the reciprocating piston. The cross-bleed passage connects the primary and secondary reservoirs in fluid flow communication only when the piston is in its extended position. In this way, the cross-bleed flow between the primary and secondary fuel manifolds may be initiated only at the end of the engine start-up phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Pratts & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: FRANCOIS BELLEVILLE
  • Publication number: 20140352317
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes a fan that provides an air flow to the turbine engine as compressor intake air and as compressor bypass air, a first stage compressor positioned to receive the compressor intake air and output a first stage compressed air, and a boiler positioned to cool the first stage compressed air using a fluid. A second stage compressor is positioned to receive the cooled first stage compressed air. A pump is configured to pump the fluid as a liquid into the boiler, extract energy from the first stage compressed air, and cause the cooling of the first stage compressed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Loebig, Robert Manning
  • Publication number: 20140345287
    Abstract: A system includes a first combustor having a first combustion chamber, a first head end with a first plurality of fuel nozzles, and a first effusion plate. The first effusion plate has a first plurality of openings for the first plurality of fuel nozzles, and the first effusion plate has a first plurality of openings configured to enable air flow into the first combustion chamber. The system includes a second combustor having a second combustion chamber, a second head end with a second plurality of fuel nozzles, and a second effusion plate. The second effusion plate comprises a second plurality of air ports configured to enable air flow into the second combustion chamber, such that the first plurality of air ports in the first effusion plate have differences relative to the second plurality of air ports in the second effusion plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Rahul Ravindra Kulkarni
  • Publication number: 20140345288
    Abstract: A turbomachine assembly for recovering waste heat generally has a compressor section that is configured to generate a compressed fluid flow and to channel the compressed fluid flow within the turbomachine assembly. A turbine section is coupled to the compressor section via a rotating member such that portions of the rotating member are located within the compressor section and the turbine section, respectively. The turbine section is in flow communication with the compressor section such that the compressed fluid flow is received by the turbine section. At least one heat exchanger is positioned at least partly within the turbine section where the heat exchanger receives waste heat energy. The heat exchanger transfers energy from the waste heat into the compressed fluid flow to increase at least one parameter of the compressed fluid flow contributing to the generation of a power output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: TurboGen, LLC
    Inventor: John Kuczaj
  • Publication number: 20140345290
    Abstract: A method for stabilising a network frequency with a gas turbine that can be operated using syngas and an additional fuel is provided. The mass-flow of the additional fuel, supplied to operate the gas turbine, can be increased more quickly than that of the syngas and, in order to stabilise a network frequency, a ratio of the mass-flow of syngas to that of the additional fuel, for operating said gas turbine, is modified by the mass-flow of said additional fuel being modified while the mass-flow of the syngas remains the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Heilos, Holger Hesse, Marc Schafer
  • Publication number: 20140345292
    Abstract: In an aircraft including a gas turbine engine, a system for cooling the gas turbine engine includes a tank provided in a wing of the aircraft, the tank being configured to store a cooling fluid supply; and a heat exchanger provided in the gas turbine engine configured to exchange heat from the compressor discharge air to the cooling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Carlos Enrique Diaz, Jorge Alejandro Carretero Benignos
  • Publication number: 20140345289
    Abstract: A turbomachine combustor assembly includes a combustor body, a combustion chamber defined within the combustor body, one or more combustion nozzles positioned to direct a combustible fluid into the combustion chamber, and a fuel start-up system fluidly connected to the combustion chamber. The fuel start-up system is configured and disposed to combine a liquid fuel and a combustible gas to form an ignition fuel. A pilot nozzle is fluidly connected to the fuel start-up system. The pilot nozzle is configured and disposed to deliver an atomized cloud of the ignition fuel toward the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Borys Borysovich Shershnyov
  • Patent number: 8893469
    Abstract: An assembly includes a gas turbine engine, a compartment wall, and a gutter system. The gas turbine engine has a spool connected to a fan shaft via a gear system. The compartment wall is positioned radially outward from the gear system. The gutter system is positioned radially outward from the gear system for capturing lubricating liquid slung from the gear system and positioned radially inward of the compartment wall. The gutter system includes a gutter and a flow passage fluidically connected to the gutter. The flow passage has a plurality of holes that allow the lubricating liquid to pass through the flow passage into a space between the flow passage and the compartment wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, Francis Parnin, Denman H. James, Robert E. Peters
  • Publication number: 20140338351
    Abstract: A method of tailoring a combustor flow for a gas turbine engine includes controlling an airflow into a swirler to be generally uniform and controlling an airflow into a quench zone to provide a desired pattern factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: United Technologies Corporation
  • Publication number: 20140338350
    Abstract: A gas turbine is configured to operate with a high temperature combustion gas stream. The gas turbine may include a combustor that provides a combustion gas stream including charged particles and at least one turbine stage including at least one high temperature surface that may be driven with a voltage selected to repel the charged particles. The at least one high temperature surface may output a film-cooling layer including cool air, the film-cooling layer being stabilized by Coulombic forces between the voltage and the charged particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: ROBERT E. BREIDENTHAL
  • Publication number: 20140338349
    Abstract: The present application provides a combustion nozzle for use with a gas turbine engine. The combustion nozzle may include a number of mixing tubes, an outer shell surrounding the mixing tubes, and a floating aft plate assembly. The floating plate assembly may enclose the outer shell. The mixing tubes may extend through the aft plate assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: General Electric Company
  • Patent number: 8887509
    Abstract: An assembly includes a reservoir, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The first and second sensors are positioned in the reservoir. The controller is connected to both the first and second sensors. The controller sends a full signal when the first sensor indicates that liquid level in the reservoir is at or above a first level. The controller sends a fill signal when the second sensor indicates that liquid level in the sump is at or below a second level. The controller sends an approximate oil level signal with a value estimated based upon elapsed operating time since the reservoir was at or above the first level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Brett Colin Bonner
  • Patent number: 8887510
    Abstract: A power plant for combustion of carbonaceous fuels with CO2 capture, comprising a pressurized fluidized bed combustion chamber (2), heat pipes (8, 8?) for cooling of the combustion gas in the combustion, a direct contact cooler (15), a cleaned exhaust pipe (18) for withdrawal of the exhaust gas from the direct contact cooler (15) and introduction of the cooled exhaust gas into a CO2 absorber (19), where a lean exhaust pipe (20) is connected to the top of the absorber (19) for withdrawal of lean exhaust gas from the absorber (20), and a rich absorbent pipe (30) is connected to the bottom of the absorber (19) for withdrawal of rich absorbent and introduction of the rich absorbent into a stripping column (32) for regeneration of the absorbent to give a lean absorbent and a CO2 stream that is further treated to give clean CO2, where a water recirculation pipe (16) is connected to the bottom of the direct contact cooler (15) for withdrawal of used cooling water and connected to the top of the direct contact cooler
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sargas AS
    Inventors: Tor Christensen, Hermann De Meyer
  • Publication number: 20140331684
    Abstract: The invention relates to rotary units and rotary mechanisms that are suitable for use in numerous applications. Rotary units typically include rotational components that are configured to rotate. In some embodiments, for example, multiple rotary units are assembled in rotary mechanisms such that neighboring pairs of rotational components counter-rotate or contra-rotate relative to one another during operation of the rotary mechanisms. Rotational components generally include one or more implements that are structured to perform or effect one or more types of work as the rotational components rotate relative to one another in a given rotary mechanism. In certain embodiments, implements are configured to rotate and/or to effect the movement of other components as rotational components rotate. In some embodiments, engines include rotary mechanisms and are used in, for example, ground vehicles, marine vehicles, aircraft, or devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Christopher C. Sappenfield
  • Publication number: 20140331683
    Abstract: A method of controlling a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) includes measuring a first regulated output of the HRSG and a second regulated output of the HRSG. The method includes comparing the first regulated output to a first setpoint defining a first target output to generate a first error signal and comparing the second regulated output to a second setpoint defining a second target output to generate a second error signal. The method also includes generating, by a controller implementing a multivariable control algorithm having as inputs the first error signal and the second error signal, control signals to control the HRSG to adjust values of the first regulated output and the second regulated output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Maria Cecilia Mazzaro, Sidharth Abrol, Kelvin Rafael Estrada, Gordan Raymond Smith
  • Patent number: 8875516
    Abstract: A turbomachine combustor includes a combustion chamber; a plurality of micro-mixer nozzles mounted to an end cover of the combustion chamber, each including a fuel supply pipe affixed to a nozzle body located within the combustion chamber, wherein fuel from the supply pipe mixes with air in the nozzle body prior to discharge into the combustion chamber; and wherein at least some of the nozzle bodies of the plurality of micro-mixer nozzles have axial length dimensions that differ from axial length dimensions of other of the nozzle bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Baifang Zuo, William David York, Shivakumar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 8875519
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for in-flight relighting of a turbofan engine involve in one aspect selectively controlling an accessory drag load on one or more windmilling rotors to permit control of the windmill speed to an optimum value for relight conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Patent number: 8875520
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine adapter is provided. In one form the adapter is segmented and may be attached to a gas turbine engine support ring. The adapter can provide a channel that may receive part of a gas turbine engine component such as, but not limited to, a plug nozzle. The adapter can include a load bearing support to counteract axial forces experienced by the plug nozzle during operation of the gas turbine engine. A compressible seal can be provided between the plug nozzle and the adapter. A leaf seal can also be provided to seal between segments of the adapter. The plug nozzle can be discouraged from rotating relative to the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory W. P. Zeaton, David L. Sutterfield, Sean F. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20140318143
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a shaft, a first bearing structure and a second bearing structure that support the shaft. Each of the first bearing structure and the second bearing structure includes a bearing compartment that contains a lubricant and a seal that contains the lubricant within the bearing compartments. A buffer system is configured to pressurize the seals to prevent the lubricant from escaping the bearing compartments. The buffer system includes a first circuit configured to supply a first buffer supply air to the first bearing structure, a second circuit configured to supply a second buffer supply air to the second bearing structure, and a controller configured to select between at least two bleed air supplies to communicate the first buffer supply air and the second buffer supply air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jorn A. Glahn, William K. Ackermann, Clifton J. Crawley, Philip S. Stripinis
  • Publication number: 20140318142
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid bio-fuel mixture comprising: a liquid condensate product of bio-mass fast pyrolysis; a bio-diesel component; and an alcohol component. The liquid bio-fuel mixture is macroscopically single phase. The alcohol component is selected from methanol, a C3 to C10 alcohol, and a mixture of two or more different C1 to C10 alcohols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: ASTON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Anthony Victor Bridgwater, Alejandro Jose Alcala Canales
  • Publication number: 20140318141
    Abstract: Embodiments of hot streak alignment for gas turbine durability include structures and methods to align hot streaks with the leading edges of aligned first stage nozzle vanes in order to improve mixing of the hot streaks with cooling air at a stator nozzle of a first stage turbine and reduce usage of cooling air at first stage non-aligned stator nozzle vanes disposed adjacent to the aligned stator vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: General Electric Company
  • Publication number: 20140318144
    Abstract: An aeroderivative gas turbine, including a gas generator, a gas generator rotor, a power turbine section, and a slow turning device, wherein said slow turning device is designed and arranged to keep said rotor in rotary motion after turbine shut-down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: NUOVO PIGNONE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Marco Lazzeri, Roberto Merlo, Filippo Viti, Antonio Baldassarre
  • Publication number: 20140311154
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is disclosed having a working fluid system capable of moving a working fluid. The working fluid system includes a flow union member capable of combining different streams of working fluid. In one form the flow union member is a T-shape, but other embodiments can take on other shapes. The flow union member is configured to receive separate streams of working fluid. One of the separate streams is routed around another of the separate streams and the streams are combined. In one form the outlet of the flow union member includes an annular flow stream of one of the separate streams that surrounds a core flow of the other of the separate flow streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Jennifer Ann Lewis, Duane Allen Morris
  • Publication number: 20140311155
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is disclosed having a working fluid system capable of moving a working fluid. The working fluid system includes a flow splitter capable of splitting the working fluid into different streams. In one form the flow splitter member is a T-shape, but other embodiments can take on other shapes. The flow splitter can include an internal scoop used to split the flow. In one form internal scoop is annular in shape and includes a turn to direct a split flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Jennifer Ann Lewis, Duane Allen Morris
  • Publication number: 20140311153
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a hanger and a combustor liner fixed to the hanger such as, for example, by an annular weld joint. The combustor liner has an inner surface extending along an axis and is operable to define either a radial outer boundary or a radial inner boundary of the combustion chamber. The combustor assembly also includes a heat shield at least partially overlapping and confronting the inner surface of the combustor liner along the axis, with the heat shield releasably engaged with the hanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North America Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel S. Smallwood, Mindi D. Wigal
  • Patent number: 8863529
    Abstract: A compressor of a gas turbine engine may have a bypass that routes a compressed air flow from within the compressor and directs the compressed air flow to a combustor. The bypass may have an inlet positioned just ahead of a downstream stage of the compressor and an outlet positioned to route the compressed air flow from the bypass to a diffuser or directly to a combustor. A valve may be used within the bypass and may be located near the inlet, near the outlet, or both. The valve may have the form of an annular sleeve in some embodiments and may be actuated with an actuator. The various arrangements allow for a compressor having a variable compression ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew J. Starr
  • Patent number: 8868313
    Abstract: A method for controlling the combustion in a gas turbine including measuring, with one or more probes situated adjacent to the combustion chamber of the turbine, the amplitude of the pressure oscillations inside the combustion chamber and the persistence time or cycle of the same oscillations, evaluating the behavior under fatigue conditions of the combustion chamber, by constructing the Wohler curve for a certain material which forms the combustion chamber for a predefined combustion frequency and for the amplitude and cycle values of the pressure oscillations measured, measuring the cumulative damage to the combustion chamber during functioning under fatigue conditions of the turbine using the Palmgren-Miner hypothesis and exerting protection actions of the turbine if the cumulative damage value measured is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Asti
  • Publication number: 20140305127
    Abstract: A system for augmenting gas turbine power output includes a compressed air supply, and a compressed air storage plenum in fluid communication with the compressed air supply. The compressed air storage plenum is configured to store a compressed air from the compressed air supply for later use. The system further includes an inlet plenum sealingly coupled to an inlet of the gas turbine. The inlet plenum is in fluid communication with the compressed air storage plenum so as to route the compressed air from the compressed air storage plenum into the inlet of the compressor during augmented operation of the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Stewart Schroder, Thomas Edward Wickert, Mark Allan Hadley
  • Publication number: 20140305129
    Abstract: Support strut assembly for supporting a casing of a functional unit of gas turbine is provided having a strut body for supporting the casing to ground, a ball pivot element mounted to the strut body and a rocker lever mounted to the ball pivot element. The rocker lever inserts into a bearing bore of a support body as part of the casing or ground, the rocker lever inserts into the bearing bore via clearance fit so a pivotal point is generated at a first contact area between the rocker lever and an inner surface of the bearing bore, the rocker lever pivots within the bearing bore around the pivotal point. An elastomeric springing damping element is mounted to the rocker lever between the rocker lever and the a support body providing centering force and damping pivoting of the rocker lever with respect to the support body around the pivotal point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Colm Keegan, Kevin Scott, Neil Simmons
  • Publication number: 20140305128
    Abstract: A combustion chamber including a body with a fuel supply duct for supplying a fuel into the body and a carrier air supply duct for supplying air into the body. An adjusting system adjusts the carrier air mass flow supplied into the body according to the features of the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Madhavan Narasimhan POYYAPAKKAM, Khawar Syed, Klaus Knapp, Torsten Wind
  • Publication number: 20140298816
    Abstract: A simple cycle gas turbomachine includes a compressor portion, and a turbine portion having an outlet. At least one combustor is fluidically connected to the compressor portion and the turbine portion. An exhaust member includes an inlet, fluidically connected to the outlet of the turbine portion, a first outlet and a second outlet. A fuel conditioning system includes a heat exchange member provided with a first circuit having an exhaust gas inlet fluidically connected to the second outlet of the exhaust member and an exhaust gas inlet, a second circuit having an inlet fluidically connected to a source of fuel and an outlet fluidically connected to the at least one combustor. A conditioned fluid conduit is fluidically connected between a source of conditioned fluid and one of the combustor assembly and the first outlet of the exhaust member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Korey Frederic Rendo, David Wesley Ball, JR., Diego Fernando Rancruel, Ameya Chandrakant Joshi, Michael Brian Smith
  • Patent number: 8850825
    Abstract: A system may include a compressor, a heat exchanger and an ITM. The compressor is configured to receive an air stream and compress the air stream to generate a pressurized stream. The heat exchanger is configured to receive the pressured stream and indirectly heat the pressurized stream using heat from an oxygen stream from an Ion Transport Membrane (ITM). The ITM is configured to receive the heated pressurized stream and generate an oxygen stream and the non-permeate stream, wherein the non-permeate stream is passed to a gas turbine burner and the oxygen stream is passed to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: GTLpetrol LLC
    Inventor: Rodney J. Allam
  • Publication number: 20140290261
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine fuel system with a fuel control valve is disclosed. The method includes metering fuel through the fuel control valve with an effective flow area versus command data set. The method also includes detecting that a change in an effective flow area of the fuel control valve has occurred. The method further includes modifying the effective flow area versus command data set to reflect the detected change in the effective flow area of the fuel control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Chad M. Holcomb, Saliha Kenyon Lacoursiere, Roy Thomas Collins
  • Publication number: 20140290264
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a gas turbine power plant with exhaust gas recirculation. In the method a setpoint concentration of one component of the inlet gas and/or of the hot working gas and/or of the exhaust gas of the gas turbine is determined in a first step, in accordance with the operating conditions of the gas turbine, from a combination of a setpoint value of a control loop, a feedforward control signal and a correction value. In a second step, the position of a control element is adjusted in accordance with the setpoint/actual deviation in the concentration of the component. The invention furthermore relates to a gas turbine power plant for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: Michael HÖVEL
  • Publication number: 20140290260
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine. The gas turbine includes a first compressor configured to provide a first portion of a discharge air to a combustor. The gas turbine also includes the combustor configured to combust a mixture of the first portion of the discharge air and fuel to generate an exhaust gas and to provide the exhaust gas to a turbine. The gas turbine also includes an exhaust outlet coupled to the turbine and configured to enable the exhaust gas to exit the gas turbine. The system also includes a nitrogen purification system coupled to the gas turbine. The nitrogen purification system includes a membrane nitrogen generator configured to receive a second portion of the discharge air from the compressor or a portion of the exhaust gas from the exhaust outlet, wherein the membrane nitrogen generator is configured to generate nitrogen from the second portion of the discharge air or the portion of the exhaust gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hatim Anwarhusan Khandwavala, Douglas Scott Byrd, Brian Michael Gallagher, Durgaprasad Janapaneedi
  • Publication number: 20140290262
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gas turbine engine fuel control valve during low flow conditions includes positioning the fuel control valve in an operating position. The method also includes determining a fuel control valve flow sensor flow rate while in the operating position and determining a corrected effective flow area (“Cda”) of the fuel control valve. The method further includes generating Cda versus command data with the corrected Cda and the operating position and inserting the generated Cda versus command data into the nominal Cda versus command data set when nominal Cda versus command data is not known at the operating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Chad M. Holcomb, Saliha Kenyon Lacoursiere, Roy Thomas Collins