Having Power Output Control Patents (Class 60/773)
  • Patent number: 11965467
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion system comprises first and second thrust producing gas turbine engines. The system comprises a controller configured to determine a required overall propulsion system thrust level, and determine an engine core power level contribution from each aircraft gas turbine engine such that the overall propulsion system produces a minimum overall noise level and meets the required overall propulsion system thrust level. In meeting the minimum overall noise level, at least the first and second gas turbine engines are operated at different engine core power settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Peter Swann, Kevin M Britchford
  • Patent number: 11933231
    Abstract: A method for tuning a gas turbine engine includes performing a sensitivity step process on a tuning parameter. An operating parameter is monitored. The gas turbine is operating in a first operational state and the operating parameter has an initial condition. The tuning parameter is selected for adjustment. The tuning parameter is adjusted by a predefined amount. The adjustment includes applying an incremental bias adjustment to a fuel flow fraction schedule. The gas turbine engine transitions to a second operational state, wherein the operating parameter has an adjusted condition. The adjusted condition and the initial condition of the operating parameter are applied to a cost function. It is then determined that the cost function results in a cost function value indicative of a decreased cost. The incremental bias adjustment and the cost function value is written to a bias look-up table and are associated with the selected tuning parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Power Systems Mfg., LLC
    Inventors: Wenping Wang, Matthew Yaquinto, Nicolas Demougeot, Alex Steinbrenner, Cory Dodson, Jaime Serrano
  • Patent number: 11873723
    Abstract: This steam turbine plant comprises: a boiler; a steam turbine; a condenser; a condensate pump; a main steam line that is capable of guiding, to the steam turbine, steam generated in the boiler; a bypass line that is branched from the main steam line and is connected to the condenser; a condensate line that is capable of guiding, to the condensate pump, water in the condenser; a condensate outlet valve that is provided in the condensate line; a water supply line that is capable of guiding, to the boiler, water having a pressure which has been increased in the condensate pump; a first connection unit that is, in the condensate line, branched from a position which is closer to the condenser than the condensate outlet valve is; and a second connection unit that is, in the condensate line, branched from a position which is closer to the condensate pump than the condensate outlet valve is. The first connection unit has a first connection seating that is connectable with a first line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Daiki Fujimura, Takafumi Niwa, Ayumu Kuroshima, Motohiro Goshima
  • Patent number: 11859544
    Abstract: In a closed system that recirculates exhaust gas from a gas turbine engine, recirculated exhaust gas should be mixed into inlet gas in a manner that produces a uniform distribution within the mixed gas, while preventing an excessive pressure drop at the point of mixing, and without needing excessive duct length. Otherwise, the performance of the gas turbine engine may be detrimentally affected. Accordingly, a mixer box is disclosed that injects recirculated exhaust gas into a flow path of inlet gas in a uniform manner. The mixer box may comprise mixer(s) that extend the flow path of the recirculated exhaust gas into the flow path of the inlet gas along two axes. Each mixer may comprise surface apertures and/or interior channels designed to promote uniform ejection of the recirculated exhaust gas from the mixers into the flow path of inlet gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: John Lockyer, Jiang Luo, Stephen Theron, Stephen Burke
  • Patent number: 11852102
    Abstract: Power device based on alkali-water reaction, having a reaction chamber to carry out a chemical reaction between water and alkali element, having an exhaust nozzle to exhaust the reaction products generated in the reaction chamber, with a siphon tube connected to the exhaust nozzle, a nozzle shutter plate sealing the exhaust nozzle, and an external pressure inlet. The device has a water reservoir to store transfer water to the reaction chamber and an alkali reservoir to store and transfer an alkali element to the reaction chamber, and transfer device connecting the reaction chamber to both reservoirs to transmit the pressure generated in reaction chamber by part of the reaction products to the reservoirs, providing the transfer of water and alkali element from both reservoirs to the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID, TECNESIS 3000 SLU, IDA, COVERTRUCK SL
    Inventors: Juan Jose Guerrero Padron, Alberto Abanades Velasco, Jesus Sanchez Garcia
  • Patent number: 11821366
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine fuel supply system can include a fuel delivery system, a thermal management system, a fuel manifold, and one or more sensors that identify one or more fuel parameters. A fuel control system adjusts parameters of the fuel based on data received from the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon W. Miller, Robert Jon McQuiston, Stefan Joseph Cafaro, Eric Richard Westervelt, Michael A. Benjamin, Joel M. Haynes, Hejie Li
  • Patent number: 11821371
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor rotor shaft assembly, an accessory gearbox, and a bowed-rotor mitigation drive device drivingly coupled with the accessory gearbox. The bowed-rotor mitigation drive device is driven during an engine startup phase so as to induce a mechanical load (mechanical energy) to the bowed-rotor mitigation drive device. The mechanical load (mechanical energy) is retained within the bowed-rotor mitigation drive device during operation of the gas turbine engine. The mechanical load (mechanical energy) retained within the bowed-rotor mitigation drive device is periodically released by the bowed-rotor mitigation drive device in a plurality of periods so as to provide, in each period, a driving force to the accessory gearbox, which provides the driving force to the compressor rotor shaft assembly to periodically rotate the compressor rotor shaft assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Kudum Shinde, Surender Reddy Bhavanam, Weize Kang
  • Patent number: 11815032
    Abstract: A controller for a gas turbine arranged to supply a load is described. The gas turbine includes a fuel supply arranged to supply fuel at a fuel flow rate to a combustor. The fuel supply includes a first fuel supply and a second fuel supply. The controller is arranged to control a proportion of the fuel flow rate supplied via the first fuel supply based, at least in part, on the fuel flow rate. A gas turbine includes such a controller and a method controls such a gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Nishant Parsania
  • Patent number: 11788426
    Abstract: Clearance control schemes for controlling a clearance defined between a first component and a second component of a gas turbine engine are provided. In one aspect, an engine controller of the gas turbine engine implements a clearance control scheme, which includes receiving data indicating a clearance between the first component and the second component, the clearance being at least one of a measured clearance captured by a sensor and a predicted clearance specific to the gas turbine engine at that point in time; comparing the clearance to an allowable clearance; determining a clearance setpoint for a clearance adjustment system based on a clearance difference determined by comparing the clearance to the allowable clearance; and causing the clearance adjustment system to adjust the clearance to the allowable clearance based on the clearance setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Harry Kirk Mathews, Jr., Eric Richard Westervelt
  • Patent number: 11781481
    Abstract: A hybrid electric propulsion system including: a gas turbine engine comprising a low speed spool, a high speed spool, and a combustor; a lubrication circuit comprising a bearing compartment, a supply pump, and a scavenger pump; an electric motor configured to augment rotational power of the low speed spool or the high speed spool; and a controller operable to: control the electric motor based upon a pressure differential between an interior of the bearing compartment and an exterior of the bearing compartment and to drive rotation of the low speed spool and/or the high speed spool via the electric motor responsive to a thrust command while fuel flow to the combustor is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Winter, Denman H. James, Richard W. Monahan
  • Patent number: 11767795
    Abstract: There are describes methods and systems for operating an engine coupled to a fuel system having a fuel manifold configured to supply fuel to a combustor of the engine. The method comprises receiving a gaseous fuel flow request indicative of a change in demand for gaseous fuel to the engine; applying a fuel loss bias to the gaseous fuel flow request to obtain a biased fuel flow request, the fuel loss bias associated with a change in mass flow rate of the gaseous fuel from the fuel manifold to the combustor in response to the change in demand; and causing the gaseous fuel to flow into the combustor in accordance with the biased fuel flow request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Thomas Dillon, Todd Miller
  • Patent number: 11746711
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a fuel system for a gas turbine engine of an aircraft, including a main inlet feed conduit fluidly connected to a primary manifold feed conduit and a secondary manifold feed conduit. A primary manifold fluidly connects the primary manifold feed conduit to a plurality of primary fuel injectors, and a secondary manifold fluidly connects the secondary manifold feed conduit to a plurality of secondary fuel injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Lu Xuening, Ezzat MeshkinFam, Sean Durand, Antwan Shenouda
  • Patent number: 11745888
    Abstract: An aircraft hybrid propulsion system comprises an internal combustion engine, an electric motor a propulsor and a combining gearbox. The internal combustion engine is coupled to a first input of the combining gearbox, the electric motor is coupled to a second input of the combining gearbox, and the propulsor is coupled to an output of the combining gearbox, such that the propulsor is driveable in use by either or both of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. Each of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor is coupled to its respective input by a respective clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce plc, Rolls-Royce Deutschland, Ltd & Co.
    Inventors: Giles E. Harvey, Gideon Daniel Venter
  • Patent number: 11746709
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel metering device with a movable metering element, comprising at least two iterations of the following steps: a detection (E1) of a possible change in the operating state among two position sensors of the metering element, if no change in the operating state is detected, a determination (E2_1) of the position of the metering element from an average of the measurements of the sensors or otherwise a determination (E2_2) from the non-defective sensor, a determination (E4) of a fuel flow rate setpoint, a conversion (E5) of the flow rate setpoint, a determination (E6) of a command of displacement of the metering element, a control (E7) of the position of the metering element, and if a change in the operating state is detected, the calculation of an instantaneous fuel flow rate from the position of the metering element, and, during the second iteration of the method, the determination of the flow rate setpoint according to instantaneous flow rate to match the position setpoint t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Florent Jeannesson, Boris Seewald, Hang-Mi Tran
  • Patent number: 11746712
    Abstract: A controller for a gas turbine, wherein the gas turbine includes the compressor arranged to operate at a rotational speed n, the combustor and the fuel supply including the first fuel supply and the second fuel supply, wherein the compressor is arranged to provide air to the combustor at a steady state air mass flow rate mss and wherein the fuel supply is arranged to supply fuel at a fuel mass flow rate mtotal to the combustor. The controller is arranged to, responsive to a load change ?L to the load L, control the compressor to provide air to the combustor at a new air mass flow rate mTR, wherein the new air mass flow rate mTR is within a range between a first threshold mLBO and a second threshold mSUR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Vili Panov
  • Patent number: 11732639
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system includes a heat engine configured to drive a heat engine shaft. An electric motor is configured to drive a motor shaft. A transmission system includes at least one gear box. The transmission system is configured to receive rotational input power from each of the heat engine shaft and the motor shaft and to convert the rotation input power to output power. The motor shaft includes a disconnect mechanism to allow the heat engine to rotate with the electric motor stopped. The heat engine shaft includes a disconnect mechanism to allow the electric motor to rotate with the heat engine stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eric LaTulipe, Jean Thomassin, Todd A. Spierling, Robert A. Bayles
  • Patent number: 11719117
    Abstract: In a gas turbine engine of the type having a high-pressure (HP) spool and a low-pressure (LP) spool, methods of increasing surge margin and compression efficiency at a given thrust are provided. One method increases compression efficiency and comprises transferring mechanical power from the HP spool to the LP spool to reduce a corrected speed of a HP compressor therein and raise a working line of a LP compressor therein. Another method increases surge margin and comprises transferring mechanical power from the LP spool to the HP spool to increase a corrected speed of a HP compressor therein and lower a working line of a LP compressor therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Caroline L Turner
  • Patent number: 11708795
    Abstract: A fuel system includes a fuel metering unit having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet defining a flow path therebetween. The fuel system includes a bleed valve in fluid communication with the flow path of the fuel metering unit. The fuel system includes a controller in communication with the fuel metering unit and the bleed valve to send data thereto and/or receive data therefrom. The bleed valve is configured and adapted to open or close depending on a command from the controller. The flow path is configured and adapted to be in selective fluid communication with a fuel system interstage through the bleed valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Naison E. Mastrocola, Ryan Prescott Susca
  • Patent number: 11708819
    Abstract: A system includes a generator using a fluid mixture obtained via a generator inlet, a compressor having a compressor inlet that is connected to a generator outlet by a first set of conduits, a second set of conduits connected to the compressor outlet and the generator inlet, and a sensor in communication with the second set of conduits, where a portion of the fluid mixture includes gas from a hydrocarbon well, and where exhaust fluid of the generator is provided to the compressor. A process includes obtaining a target fluid property and a fluid measurement using the sensor and modifying a parameter of a fluid control device to modify a first flow rate of the flow of the exhaust fluid through the second set of conduits relative to a second flow rate of the flow of the gas provided by the hydrocarbon well through the first set of conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: DROPTECH, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Kirch
  • Patent number: 11620892
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a CO alarm for a battery type generator, comprising a MCU control unit U2, configured to analyze and process signals, which is in a deep sleep state when the generator is not running, and enters a sleep plus timing wake-up working state after the engine is running; a CO sensor detection unit U3 connected to the MCU control unit, configured to convert the CO concentration in the environment into a corresponding electrical signal and output to the MCU control unit U2 for processing; an alarm indication unit U4 connected to the MCU control unit, configured to give an alarm prompt for the CO concentration and an alarm failure prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Shaoxing Dushang Yicheng Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wangfu Zhang
  • Patent number: 11608797
    Abstract: A hybrid electric gas turbine engine system includes a first compressor and an auxiliary compressor. The first compressor is configured to output first compressed air. The auxiliary compressor is configured to operate in parallel with the first compressor to output second compressed air. A controller is configured to selectively activate the first compressor or the auxiliary compressor based on an operating condition of the hybrid electric gas turbine engine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lance L. Smith, Neil Terwilliger
  • Patent number: 11591955
    Abstract: A method for operating a power plant having a gas turbine, a heat recovery steam generator, a steam turbine, an auxiliary heat source, and a control system, wherein the method includes controlling the power plant such that the heat recovery steam generator receives an input of heat from the gas turbine; determining the gas turbine is operating at its maximum capacity or at an upper end of its control range and the power plant is operating at less than a target value for a power plant capacity; determining a target pressure value immediately upstream of the steam turbine, wherein the target pressure value is derived from a primary pressure for the steam turbine and a steam turbine capacity for the steam turbine; based upon the target pressure value, controlling the heat store to release heat into the heat recovery steam generator to achieve the predefined power plant capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Henning, Wolfgang Wiesenmüller, Maria Zeis
  • Patent number: 11572192
    Abstract: A system and method for adaptively controlling a cooldown cycle of an auxiliary power unit (APU) that is operating and rotating at a rotational speed includes reducing the rotational speed of the APU to a predetermined cooldown speed magnitude that ensures combustor inlet temperature has reached a predetermined temperature value, determining, based on one or more of operational parameters of the APU, when a lean blowout of the APU is either imminent or has occurred, and when a lean blowout is imminent or has occurred, varying one or more parameters associated with the shutdown/cooldown cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Robert Mallette, Bradley Volkmann
  • Patent number: 11560853
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core including a first, lower pressure, turbine, a first compressor, and a first core shaft connecting the first turbine to the first compressor; and a second, higher pressure, turbine, a second compressor, and a second core shaft connecting the second turbine to the second compressor, and a fan located upstream of the engine core and including a plurality of fan blades extending from a hub. A turbine to fan tip temperature change ratio of a low pressure turbine temperature change to a fan tip temperature rise is in the range from 1.46 to 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Craig W Bemment, Pascal Dunning
  • Patent number: 11560854
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a turbomachine, comprising a fuel circuit comprising pressurizer at the output of the circuit, a pump arranged to send into the circuit a fuel flow rate which is an increasing function of the rotational speed of a shaft of the pump, and a control circuit arranged to control the device to comply with a flow rate setpoint at the output of the fuel circuit. The system further comprises a feedforward corrector circuit configured to calculate an increment of the flow rate setpoint as a function of the engine speed of the turbomachine and of a variation in the engine speed of the turbomachine, and to add this increment to the flow rate setpoint. A method of regulating the pump is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Huguette De Wergifosse, Loïc Michel Pierre Pora
  • Patent number: 11555756
    Abstract: Embodiments of system and methods for supplying fuel, enabling communications, and conveying electric power associated with operation of a hydraulic fracturing unit of a plurality of hydraulic fracturing units are disclosed and may include a fuel line connection assembly configured to be connected to the first hydraulic fracturing unit and to supply fuel from a fuel source to a gas turbine engine connected to the hydraulic fracturing unit. A system also may include a communications cable assembly configured to be connected to the hydraulic fracturing unit and to enable data communications between the hydraulic fracturing unit and a data center or another hydraulic fracturing unit. A system further may include a power cable assembly configured to be connected to the hydraulic fracturing unit and to convey electric power between the hydraulic fracturing unit and a remote electrical power source or the plurality of hydraulic fracturing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: BJ Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Tony Yeung, Ricardo Rodriguez-Ramon, Patrick Thomson
  • Patent number: 11555455
    Abstract: A hybrid electric propulsion system includes a gas turbine engine having at least one compressor section and at least one turbine section operably coupled to a shaft. The hybrid electric propulsion system includes an electric motor configured to augment rotational power of the shaft of the gas turbine engine. A controller is operable to determine an estimate of hybrid electric propulsion system parameters based on a composite system model and sensor data, determine a model predictive control state and a prediction based on the hybrid electric propulsion system parameters and the composite system model, determine a model predictive control optimization for a plurality of hybrid electric system control effectors based on the model predictive control state and the prediction using a plurality of reduced-order partitions of the composite system model, and actuate the hybrid electric system control effectors based on the model predictive control optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. Crowley, Sorin Bengea, Manuj Dhingra, David Gelwan, Kevin Hendricks, Joshua Adams, Martin Richard Amari, Richard P. Meisner, David Lei Ma
  • Patent number: 11525409
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine at a desired gas turbine production value. The method includes setting a desired gas turbine production value based on a schedule of a reference gas turbine shaft speed with respect to ambient temperature and an exhaust temperature; comparing values of a gas turbine shaft speed to the reference gas turbine shaft speed to determine whether a difference between the gas turbine shaft speed and the reference gas turbine shaft speed is within or outside of a predetermined range; and in response to the difference being outside of the predetermined range, initiating a change in gas turbine shaft speed to cause the gas turbine to operate approximately at the desired gas turbine production value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Erick Novoa Patino, Guillermo Delgado Ramirez, Uriel Eduardo Soria Moreno
  • Patent number: 11519340
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an aircraft turbine engine. The control system includes: a nominal-mode processing chain including a global corrector designed to control a speed of rotation of the turbine engine by delivering a position setpoint for a fuel metering device, and a local corrector designed to control a position of the fuel metering device by delivering a nominal-mode control current, a degraded-mode processing chain including a direct corrector designed to control the speed of rotation of the turbine engine by delivering a degraded-mode control current, and a mode management module designed to deliver, to the fuel metering device, the nominal-mode control current in the absence of failure of a position sensor measuring a position of the fuel metering device, and the degraded-mode control current in the case of failure of the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Sébastien Jean Fernand Deneuve, Christophe Marc Alexandre Le Brun
  • Patent number: 11486302
    Abstract: A turboshaft gas turbine engine comprises, in fluid flow series, a gas-generator compressor, a combustor, a gas-generator turbine, and a free power turbine. The expansion ratios of the turbines are dependent upon an outlet temperature of the combustor, and an expansion relationship between the turbines is defined as the ratio of expansion ratios of the turbines over a running range of non-dimensional power outputs of the gas turbine engine. A second derivative of the expansion relationship is from 0.6 to 1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE plc, ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventors: Rory D Stieger, Mark D Taylor, Erik Janke
  • Patent number: 11485485
    Abstract: A method for stopping an engine of a rotorcraft in overspeed, the rotorcraft comprising at least one engine, the engine comprising a gas generator and a power assembly, the power assembly comprising at least one power turbine rotated by gases originating from the gas generator, the power assembly comprising at least one power shaft rotationally secured to the power turbine, the power assembly rotating about a longitudinal axis at a speed referred to as the “speed of rotation”. The method comprises steps consisting in measuring a current value of the speed of rotation, determining a time derivative of the current value of the speed of rotation, referred to as the “current derivative ( d ? ? N ? ? 2 ? ? i d ? t ) ” , and automatically stopping the engine when the current derivative ( d ? ? N ? ? 2 ? ? i d ? t ) changes sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Guillaume Dumur, Francois-Xavier Gaulmin
  • Patent number: 11473445
    Abstract: A steam turbine plant is provided with: a boiler; a fuel valve; a low-temperature steam generation source; a steam turbine; a main steam line that guides steam generated in the boiler to the steam turbine; a main steam adjustment valve that is provided to the main steam line; a low-temperature steam line that guides low-temperature steam from the low-temperature generation source to a position closer to the steam turbine-side than the main steam adjustment valve in the main steam line; a low-temperature steam valve provided to the low-temperature steam line; and a control device. During a stopping process of the steam turbine plant, the control device sends a command to close the fuel valve, and then sends a command to open the low-temperature steam valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Daiki Fujimura, Susumu Sekine
  • Patent number: 11459961
    Abstract: A method for operating a power plant, having at least one gas turbine engine and at least one fuel gas compressor, includes supplying fuel gas through a utility supply line, compressing the fuel gas to a plant supply pressure in the operating fuel gas compressor, and supplying the compressed fuel gas to a plant supply line. The gas turbine engine is operated at a set power output according to a power demand signal. If a failure of an operating fuel gas compressor is detected, the power output of the gas turbine engine is reduced to an emergency power output (which is lower than the set power output), and the power output of the gas turbine engine is restricted to the emergency power output. The reduction of the power output is performed in one single step and is controlled by at least one feedforward control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Andreas Duscha
  • Patent number: 11454170
    Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system may include a plurality of electric pumps configured to pump fluid into a wellbore associated with a well at a high pressure; at least one turbine generator electrically coupled to the plurality of electric pumps so as to generate electricity for use by the plurality of electric pumps, each turbine generator having at least one air intake channel; and an air chiller system associated with the at least one turbine generator, the air chiller system comprising: a chiller unit configured to chill a fluid; and at least one coil in fluid communication with the chiller unit and positioned adjacent to the at least one air intake channel, wherein the air chiller system is configured to increase a power output of the at least one turbine generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLC
    Inventors: Jared Oehring, Brandon N. Hinderliter
  • Patent number: 11435080
    Abstract: A combustor includes at least one fuel nozzle extending from the end cover and at least partially surrounded by the forward casing. The combustor further includes a fuel injection assembly. The fuel injection assembly includes a fuel injector that extends through the outer sleeve, the annulus, and the combustion liner to the secondary combustion zone. A fuel supply conduit positioned outside of the outer sleeve. The fuel supply conduit extends to the fuel injector. The fuel injection assembly further includes a shielding assembly coupled to the outer sleeve and at least partially surrounding the fuel supply conduit. The shielding assembly includes a venturi nozzle having a circumferentially converging portion and a circumferentially diverging portion. At least one fuel sweep opening is defined in the outer sleeve and disposed within the shielding assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dana Morgan, Shreekrishna Rao, Lucas John Stoia, Elizabeth Leigh Exley, Mohan Krishna Bobba, Emily Klara Happ
  • Patent number: 11391184
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a plant control apparatus includes a first stop controller configured to, when stopping a plant, stop a steam turbine to start to drop rotating speed of a second shaft of the steam turbine from rated speed, and start to drop rotating speed of a first shaft of a gas turbine from the rated speed while continuing combustion of a combustor after the stop of the steam turbine. The apparatus further includes a second stop controller configured to shut off fuel of the combustor to stop the gas turbine when the rotating speed of the first shaft drops to first speed. The second stop controller stops the gas turbine such that the rotating speed of the first shaft catches up with the rotating speed of the second shaft at second speed that is equal to or lower than the first speed and a clutch is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, TOSHIBA PLANT SYSTEMS & SERVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mohammed Ameen Abbas Alzuraiqi, Masayuki Tobo, Yuta Iwata, Mizu Kajihara, Shinobu Chiba
  • Patent number: 11378032
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an engine are disclosed. A method for controlling an engine includes receiving a predetermined quantity of sensor values from a memory operatively connected to a sensor, each of the sensor values indicative of an operating condition of an inlet of a diesel particulate filter of the engine sensed by the sensor at a successive instance in time. A parameter of the operating condition of the inlet at a next instance of time may be estimated based on the predetermined quantity of sensor values. The estimation of the parameter may be used as a boundary condition to adjust an operational model of the engine stored in the memory. The adjusted operational model may be used to determine an engine command for the engine that optimizes operation of the engine. The engine may be operated based on the engine command determined using the adjusted operational model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Sylvain J. Charbonnel
  • Patent number: 11359553
    Abstract: A control device for a gas turbine include: a target value calculation part configured to calculate a control target value being a target value of an output of the gas turbine; and a command value calculation part configured to calculate a fuel command value on the basis of a deviation between the control target value and an actual output value of the gas turbine. The target value calculation part is configured to: set the control target value to a value which is greater than an output demand value of the gas turbine immediately before a difference between the output demand value and the actual output value becomes not greater than a threshold; and subtract the control target value from the value after the difference becomes not greater than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazushige Takaki, Akihiko Saito, Ryuji Takenaka, Yoshifumi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 11339717
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a gas turbine engine for an aircraft comprising: an engine core comprising a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft; and an environmental control system mounted on the engine core comprising a first air passage arranged to deliver air from outside the engine core to an aircraft cabin and/or for wing anti icing, a subsidiary compressor located in the first air passage and arranged to compress air in the first air passage, the subsidiary compressor being powered by the core shaft, and a second air passage arranged to inject air from the compressor into the first air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Nicholas Howarth, Amarveer S Mann
  • Patent number: 11305885
    Abstract: A system and method for adaptively controlling a cooldown cycle of an auxiliary power unit (APU) that is operating and rotating at a rotational speed includes reducing the rotational speed of the APU to a predetermined cooldown speed magnitude that ensures combustor inlet temperature has reached a predetermined temperature value, determining, based on one or more of operational parameters of the APU, when a lean blowout of the APU is either imminent or has occurred, and when a lean blowout is imminent or has occurred, varying one or more parameters associated with the shutdown/cooldown cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Robert Mallette, Bradley Volkmann
  • Patent number: 11300069
    Abstract: A method for self-generating an engine-specific model in an engine health monitoring system is provided. The method comprises generating a generic engine model including a generic physics-based model for each of a plurality of engine components in the specific engine; capturing a plurality of observed engine component parameters for each of the plurality of engine components and a plurality of observed environmental parameters during one or more pre-planned training missions; and training an engine-specific model using the plurality of observed engine component parameters and the plurality of environmental parameters captured during the one or more pre-planned training missions, wherein the engine-specific model includes an engine-specific physics-based model for each of the plurality of engine components in the specific engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Moeckly, Christopher Gill, Richard Ling
  • Patent number: 11286855
    Abstract: A turbine system includes a compressor section, an inlet cooling system coupled upstream of the compressor section and configured to cool ambient air entering the compressor section, and a turbine section coupled in flow communication with the compressor section and including at least one hot gas path component. The system further includes a controller configured to receive feedback parameters indicative of a temperature of the at least one hot gas path component, estimate a remaining life of the at least one hot gas path component based on the received feedback parameters, determine a desired power output of the turbine system based on the estimated remaining life of the at least one hot gas path component and a cooling capacity of the inlet cooling system, and control operation of the turbine system to cause the turbine system to generate the desired power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ching-Jen Tang, Nilesh Tralshawala
  • Patent number: 11280496
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine that includes a stage of guide vanes, a compressor downstream from the stage of guide vanes, and a combustor downstream from the compressor. The combustor includes a primary combustion zone and a secondary combustion zone downstream from the primary combustion zone. The primary combustion zone includes an exit configured to channel combustion gases towards the secondary combustion zone. A controller is communicatively coupled with the stage of guide vanes, the controller configured to monitor a temperature at the exit of the primary combustion zone, and selectively open and close the guide vanes to maintain the temperature within a predefined temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Loeven, II, Haley Marie Boyd, Jason Dean Fuller
  • Patent number: 11280226
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system including a drive unit, the drive unit having a drive shaft, a compressor, the compressor operably coupled to the drive shaft, wherein operation of the drive unit drives the compressor, and a waste heat recovery cycle, the waste heat recovery cycle coupled to the drive unit and the compressor, wherein a waste heat of the drive unit powers the waste heat recovery cycle, such that the waste heat recovery cycle transmits a mechanical power to the compressor, is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO COMPTEC, LLC
    Inventor: Jacob Earl Duffney
  • Patent number: 11274610
    Abstract: A method of controlling a combustion system of a gas turbine engine which has a combustor with a primary combustion zone, of which a condition in the primary combustion zone is defined by a primary zone control parameter. The method includes controlling the primary zone control parameter to be substantially constant value over a range of values of compressor inlet air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jadeed Beita, Andrew Dawson
  • Patent number: 11274609
    Abstract: A burner with a control unit, a combustion chamber, a pressure sensor and fuel stages which are arranged to supply fuel with a respective mass flow to the combustion chamber, wherein the mass flows are controlled by the control unit, wherein the pressure sensor is adapted to measure a pressure sequence in the combustion chamber or in the burner and to transfer the pressure sequence to the control unit which is adapted to perform a Fourier transformation on at least one determined timespan of the pressure sequence to result in a pressure spectrum having a maximum within a frequency band and wherein the control unit is adapted to perform a comparison of the maximum with a predefined threshold and to control the mass flows by using the comparison to reduce and/or to control pressure fluctuations in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Philipp Geipel, Annika Lindholm, Rikard Magnusson, Arturo Manrique Carrera
  • Patent number: 11255218
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for starting up a gas turbine engine of a combined cycle power plant. The method includes applying load to the gas turbine engine and increasing the load until a predetermined combustor firing temperature is reached, while keeping the adjustable inlet guide vanes in a start position adapted to reduce the mass flow of air into the compressor; further increasing the load of the gas turbine engine while opening the adjustable inlet guide vanes and keeping the predetermined combustor firing temperature constant until the inlet guide vanes reach an end position adapted to increase the mass flow of air into the compressor; further increasing the load of the gas turbine engine while keeping the adjustable inlet guide vanes in the end position until a predetermined load of the gas turbine engine is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kok-Mun Tham, Christian Keune, Nicolas Benjamin Wappler
  • Patent number: 11193383
    Abstract: A tail bearing housing of a turbomachine comprises an inner casing and an outer casing concentrically arranged along a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of vanes having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first wall extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge and a second wall extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, the first wall and the second wall defining an aerofoil, the vanes being connected at a first end to the outer casing and at a second end to the inner casing. At least one vane of the plurality of vanes is a vent vane comprising a first aperture arranged in the first end and a second aperture arranged in the aerofoil, the second aperture being configured to be in fluid communication with the first aperture through an inner cavity to vent bleed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Robert Goulds
  • Patent number: 11187161
    Abstract: A fuel flow control system is configured to perform a method including: setting a fuel flow demand proportional to compressor discharge pressure; detecting an actual fuel flow; and applying an enhanced schedule for fuel flow demand while fuel flow demand is less than a predefined proportion of actual fuel flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Arthur L Rowe, Alexander MacDonald
  • Patent number: 11168635
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for assessing a health state of an engine. During a fuel control failure event experienced by the engine, pressure data indicative of a pressure within a fuel combustor of the engine and acceleration data indicative of an acceleration of a shaft of the engine are obtained. The pressure data and acceleration data are compared to a predetermined limit associated with plastic deformation of the shaft of the engine. A maintenance issue for the engine is detected when the pressure data and the acceleration data are beyond the predetermined limit. An alert associated with a negative health state for the engine is issued responsive to detecting the maintenance issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Alexandre Lussier, Ioan Sabau