Ignition Or Fuel Injection After Starting Patents (Class 60/776)
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Patent number: 12241407Abstract: The method is for controlling a deflagration combustion process in a pistonless combustor. The method includes scavenging combustion products of the previous cycle, introducing air into the combustor thereby initiating a flow pattern having a first flow component within the combustor. Air is introduced into the pistonless combustor in a nonparallel angle in relation to the previous air input and thereby creating a second flow component to the flow pattern for increasing speed of combustion propagation. Fuel mixed into the air is introduced for creating a fuel-air mixture flowing within the flow pattern, and igniting the fuelair mixture within the pistonless combustor thereby increasing pressure within the pistonless combustor.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2020Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Finno Exergy OyInventors: Timo Eramaa, Heikki Salminen
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Patent number: 12215635Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes a staged combustion system having pilot fuel injectors and main fuel injectors. The gas turbine engine further includes a fuel delivery regulator arranged to control delivery of fuel to the pilot and main fuel injectors, and a fuel characteristic determination module configured to determine one or more fuel characteristics of the fuel being supplied to the staged combustion system. A controller is configured to determine a staging point defining the point at which the staged combustion system is switched between pilot-only operation and pilot-and-main operation, the staging point being determined based on the determined one or more fuel characteristics, the controller being configured to control the staged combustion system according to the determined staging point.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2023Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Peter Swann, Craig W Bemment, Christopher P Madden
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Patent number: 12215870Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a compressor section, a combustor for combusting a fuel, and a turbine. Compressed air flows through a combustion liner of the combustor in a bulk airflow direction. The combustor includes a primary fuel nozzle and a secondary fuel nozzle. The secondary fuel nozzle is downstream of the primary fuel nozzle in the bulk airflow direction. The primary fuel nozzle is configured to inject a primary portion of the fuel into a primary combustion zone, and the secondary fuel nozzle is configured to inject a secondary portion of the fuel into a secondary combustion zone. The secondary combustion zone is located downstream of the primary combustion zone in the bulk airflow direction. The fuel may be one of diatomic hydrogen fuel and a hydrogen enriched fuel.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2023Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Manampathy G. Giridharan, Pradeep Naik
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Patent number: 12196177Abstract: Wind turbine control based on optimizing and non-optimizing controller routines is disclosed. A first controller implements a model predictive control (MPC) routine for calculating a predicted first control value. A second controller implements a non-optimizing control routine for calculating a second control value. An actuator controller unit determines an actuator control signal by combining the predicted first control value and the second control value.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2019Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventor: Tobias Gybel Hovgaard
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Patent number: 12129788Abstract: An assembly is provided for a turbine engine. This assembly includes a housing, a combustor and a steam injector. The housing includes an air plenum. The combustor is disposed within the air plenum. The combustor includes a combustor wall and a combustion chamber. The combustor wall is disposed between the combustion chamber and the air plenum. The combustor wall includes a quench aperture that extends through the combustor wall from the air plenum to the combustion chamber. The steam injector projects partially into or through the quench aperture.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2023Date of Patent: October 29, 2024Assignee: RTX CorporationInventors: Stephen K. Kramer, Lance L. Smith, Gregory Boardman, Zhongtao Dai
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Patent number: 12110116Abstract: A method of operation is provided during which a heating fluid is directed through a first passage into a combustor section to heat a component within the combustor section when an aircraft engine is in a first standby mode. The aircraft engine includes a flowpath, a compressor section, the combustor section, a turbine section and an exhaust section. The flowpath extends through the compressor section, the combustor section, the turbine section and the exhaust section from an inlet into the flowpath to an exhaust from the flowpath. The heating fluid is directed through a second passage into the exhaust section when the aircraft engine is in a second mode. The heating fluid is directed through the second passage bypasses the turbine section.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2023Date of Patent: October 8, 2024Assignee: RTX CorporationInventors: Ryan A. Mitchell, Robert B. Fowler
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Patent number: 12111057Abstract: A mixer for blending fuel and air in a combustor of a turbine engine. The mixer includes a central body having a central passageway and a central axis. The mixer includes a plurality of tubes positioned radially around the central axis and circumferentially around a periphery of the mixer. Each of the tubes of the mixer includes opposed openings and a tangential opening. Each of the tubes of the mixer includes a cylindrical interior mixing passage configured to receive air flow from the opposed openings and the tangential opening and a fuel flow. The opposed openings are configured to spread the fuel flow laterally and the tangential opening is configured to spread the fuel flow tangentially.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2023Date of Patent: October 8, 2024Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Pradeep Naik, Manampathy G. Giridharan, Vishal Sanjay Kediya, Gregory A. Boardman
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Patent number: 12078350Abstract: A combustion section defines an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The combustion section includes a casing that defines a diffusion chamber. A combustion liner is disposed within the diffusion chamber and defines a combustion chamber. The combustion liner is spaced apart from the casing such that a passageway is defined between the combustion liner and the casing. A fuel cell assembly is disposed in the passageway. The fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell that extends between an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end receives a flow of air and fuel and the outlet end provides output products to the combustion chamber. The fuel cell extends at an angle between the inlet end and the outlet end relative to a radial projection line.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2022Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Seung-Hyuck Hong, Richard L Hart, Honggang Wang, Anil Raj Duggal, Michael Anthony Benjamin
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Patent number: 12078357Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein useful to thrust augmentation in a gas turbine engine. In some embodiments, the systems include augmentors that incorporate a rotating detonation architecture. An exhaust system of a gas turbine engine includes an augmentor and a peripheral wall surrounding an exhaust system core. The augmentor comprises a detonation chamber disposed within the exhaust system core. The detonation chamber includes a channel formed in the peripheral wall. A core inlet path delivers a core air-fuel mixture and a pilot inlet path delivers a pilot air-fuel mixture to the detonation chamber. The core air-fuel mixture combusts in the detonation chamber along the midline the detonation chamber. The pilot air-fuel mixture detonates in the detonation chamber adjacent the peripheral wall to create a rotating detonation wave that supports the combustion reaction occurring along the midline of the detonation chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2022Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric J. Ruggiero, Aaron J. Glaser
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Patent number: 12072261Abstract: Method for monitoring an ignition system of an aircraft turbine engine, the ignition system including a combustion chamber fitted with a spark plug and an ignition casing, the turbine engine including an accelerometer and an acoustic sensor. The method includes steps of: acquiring accelerometric and acoustic data representative of spark plug breakdown noises from signals generated by the accelerometer and the acoustic sensor, detecting breakdown peak times from the accelerometric data and the acoustic data, correlating the breakdown peak times detected from the accelerometric data and the breakdown peak times detected from the acoustic data, and establishing a diagnosis of the health of the ignition casing and a diagnosis for the spark plug on the basis of the correlation results.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2021Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINESInventors: Josselin Xavier Coupard, François Maurice Marcel Demaison, Valentin Francis Joël Facquet, Marion Marguerite Jedruszek
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Patent number: 12065969Abstract: Disclosed is an exhaust duct (1) for a gas turbine engine (50), comprising a silencer section (12). At least two plate-shaped silencer baffles (20) are provided inside the silencer section (12). At least one of the plate-shaped silencer baffles is configured as a heat exchange device in that it comprises at least one internal cavity (22) suitable for receiving a heat exchange fluid and leakproof with respect to the interior of the exhaust duct, wherein the at least one internal cavity is fluidly connected to the outside of the exhaust duct at an inlet port and an outlet port (23, 24). This device is useful for recuperating exhaust heat from exhaust gases of the gas turbine engine without the expense and additional space required for providing a heat recovery steam generator.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2021Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: General Electric Technology GMBHInventors: Bouria Mohamed Faqihi, Deoras Prabhudharwadkar, Jalal Zia, Fadi Ghaith
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Patent number: 12018841Abstract: A method of operating a gas turbine engine including a combustor. The combustor includes a combustion chamber and a plurality of fuel spray nozzles configured to inject fuel into the chamber. The nozzles include a first and second subset of fuel spray nozzles. The combustor is operable in a condition wherein the first subset is supplied with more fuel than the second. A ratio of the number of nozzles in the first subset to the second is 1:2 to 1:5. The method includes operating the engine so a reduction of 20-80% in an average of particles/kg of nvPM in the exhaust when the engine is operating at 85% available thrust for given operating conditions and when the engine is operating at 30% is obtained when fuel provided to the nozzles is a sustainable aviation fuel instead of a fossil-based hydrocarbon fuel. Also, a gas turbine engine for an aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2023Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Christopher P Madden, Craig W Bemment, Andrew T Smith, Peter Swann
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Patent number: 12013115Abstract: Embodiments herein provide a combustion system comprising a combustion chamber having a catalyst bed, and a vessel for storing a propellant at a predefined pressure. The vessel comprising a first valve for controlling a flow of the propellant over the catalyst bed inside the combustion chamber and an input provided at the first valve, for injecting the propellant inside the combustion chamber at a predefined duration of injection for each cycle of injection. A predefined quantity of the propellant is injected in each cycle of the injection. The combustion system further comprises one or more glow plugs for maintaining a predefined temperature within the catalyst bed and an ignition glow plug for providing a source of ignition for combustion of the propellant inside the combustion chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Arindrajit Chowdhury, Abhishek Gupta, Ashtesh Kumar
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Patent number: 12007115Abstract: A fuel injector assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a swirler and a fuel nozzle. The swirler has an outer wall having a SOW inner wall surface, an inner wall having a SIW inner wall surface and a SIW outer wall surface, an outer passage, and an inner passage. The SIW inner wall surface includes first and second sections. The first section extends between a first airflow inlet and the second section, and the second section extends between the first section and an inner wall distal end. The first section tapers radially inward, and the second section extends parallel the center axis. The outer wall circumscribes the inner wall and extends axially along the center axis to a distal outer wall end, and the distal end wall is axially recessed within the swirler from the distal outer wall end. The fuel nozzle projects into the inner passage.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2023Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Baris A. Sen, Zhongtao Dai, Wookyung Kim, Stephen K. Kramer
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Patent number: 11971452Abstract: A device and a method for nondestructively detecting a transient characteristic of a conductive screw of a turbo-generator rotor are provided. The device includes a personal computer (PC), an extremely-steep pulse generator, an ultra-high-frequency double-isolation transformer, and a pulse emitting and coupling module, which are connected in sequence. The pulse emitting and coupling module is connected to a load. A synchronous pulse receiving non-inductive divider circuit synchronously receives a characteristic waveform from the load, and the synchronous pulse receiving non-inductive divider circuit is connected to an ultra-high-speed analog/digital (A/D) module through a nonlinear saturation amplifying circuit that amplifies a signal. The PC receives a signal from the ultra-high-speed A/D module. The load includes a positive or negative excitation lead loop that is in a 180° symmetrical and instantaneous short-circuit state and a rotor shaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: HANGZHOU HENUOVA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuewu Zhang, Jianxi Liu, Yanxing Bao, Weihua Zha, Qianyi Zhang, Dongbing Liu, Weixing Yang, Xu Han, Miaoye Li, Zirui Wang, Junliang Liu, Jie Luo, Weitao Shen, Yu Fu, Han Gao
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Patent number: 11920792Abstract: An apparatus is provided for a turbine engine. This apparatus includes a fuel-air mixer, and the fuel-air mixer includes an inner passage, a sidewall, a steam passage, a fuel nozzle and an air swirler. The inner passage extends axially along an axis within the fuel-air mixer. The sidewall extends circumferentially around and axially along the inner passage. The steam passage is embedded within the sidewall and extends along the inner passage. The fuel nozzle is configured to direct fuel into the inner passage. The air swirler is configured to direct swirled air into the inner passage for mixing with the fuel.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2023Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventor: Gregory Boardman
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Patent number: 11920518Abstract: A cryogenic fuel supply system includes a storage tank, a mixing chamber, an auxiliary heating device, a heat exchanger, and flow distribution devices, and a controller. The storage tank stores cryogenic fuel in a liquid state. The mixing chamber receives various flows of cryogenic fuel in a supercritical or gaseous state, the mixing chamber being connected to a combustion chamber to supply the combustion chamber with cryogenic fuel in the supercritical or gaseous state. The auxiliary heating device heats the cryogenic fuel. The heat exchanger assembly includes a cryogenic fuel/oil heat exchanger and a heat exchanger between the cryogenic fuel and the air circulating in a primary duct of the turbine engine. A flow distribution device is upstream of the auxiliary heating device, and one or more flow distribution devices are disposed upstream of the heat exchanger assembly. The controller controls opening and closing of the flow distribution devices.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: SAFRANInventor: Hugo Pierre Mohamed Jouan
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Patent number: 11920526Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a core engine that includes a core flow path where a core flow is compressed in a compressor section, communicated to a combustor section, mixed with a hydrogen-based fuel and ignited to generate a gas flow that is expanded through a turbine section. A fuel system is configured to supply a hydrogen based fuel to the combustor through a fuel flow path. A condenser is arranged along the core flow path and configured to extract water from the gas flow. An intercooling system receives a portion of water from the condenser for cooling a portion of the core flow at a first location within the compressor section. Heated water from the intercooling system is exhausted to a second location within the core flow path downstream of the first location.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Neil J. Terwilliger, Nathan A. Snape, Joseph B. Staubach
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Patent number: 11898501Abstract: A method for controlling a gas turbine, having a measurement step, a prediction step which is carried out after the measurement step, and a control step which is carried out after the prediction step. In the measurement step, a state variable of a combustion within a gas turbine is measured. In the prediction step, a future combustion dynamic is predicted using the measured state variable. In the control step, a control signal is output using the prediction of the future combustion dynamic.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Markus Kaiser, Kai Heesche
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Patent number: 11898496Abstract: A fuel system of an aircraft engine, having: a boost pump having an input and an output; one or more selector valves; a first component pump having an input fluidly coupled to the output of the boost pump and an output of the first component pump is configured to direct fuel to a first component via the one or more selector valves; and a second component pump having an input that is selectively coupled to either the input or the output of the boost pump by the one or more selector valves, and an output of the second component pump is fluidly coupled to a second component and selectively coupled to the first component by the one or more selector valves.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Ryan Prescott Susca, Morgan O'Rorke, Adrian L. Stoicescu
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Patent number: 11873994Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system comprising a recuperated gas turbine engine with a catalytic combustor, and methods of operating the same, the catalytic combustor comprising: (a) an upstream section comprising an electrical heater and (b) a downstream catalyst section, wherein the upstream section and the downstream catalyst section are disposed adjacent to and in fluid communication with one another.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignees: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company, Delta Motorsport LimitedInventors: Nick Carpenter, Guy Chandler, Jeremy Gidney, Scott Herring, Chris Morgan, Timothy O'Connell, Mark Wilksch
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Patent number: 11859817Abstract: A system and method of igniting a coal air-fuel mixture, including a burner having a burner tube operable to carry a flowing mixture of fuel and air to a furnace for combustion therein and a first flow directing device disposed within the tube, operable to direct a first portion of the flowing fuel and air mixture to a location in the burner tube. The system also includes a laser igniter within the burner tube, the laser igniter including a laser tube having a first end with a laser light input and a second end with a light output, and a laser light source operably coupled to the laser light input. The laser light source, including a laser. The laser ignitor directing photons from the light output at the location in the burner tube to ignite at least a part of the first portion of the fuel.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Sameer Dinkar Vartak, Sreenivasa Rao Gubba, Kamesh Lakshmi Narayanan, Arun Kumar Sridharan, Ankur Maheshwari, Dragisa Ristic, Moorthi Subramaniyan
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Patent number: 11852041Abstract: A power generation installation in which exhaust gas from a gas turbine is fed to a thermal energy accumulator, wherein energy in the thermal energy accumulator can be employed for various purposes, a method for operating such an installation, and a method for the modification of existing installations. The thermal energy accumulator has sufficient capacity to permit the operation of a steam turbine in isolation for the storage of thermal energy from exhaust gas in the thermal energy accumulator.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2020Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Matthias Migl, Ronald Schwarz, Denis Tschetschik
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Patent number: 11846236Abstract: Methods and systems of operating a gas turbine engine in a low-power condition are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes supplying fuel to the combustor by supplying fuel to the first fuel manifold via a first flow divider valve and supplying fuel to the second fuel manifold via a second flow divider valve. While supplying fuel to the combustor by supplying fuel to the first fuel manifold, the method includes stopping supplying fuel to the second fuel manifold and supplying pressurized gas to the second fuel manifold via the second flow divider valve to flush fuel in the second fuel manifold into the combustor and hinder coking in the second fuel manifold and associated nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Cédric Saintignan, Joseph Daniel Maxim Cirtwill, Kian McCaldon, David Waddleton, Marc-André Tremblay, Ignazio Broccolini, Stephen Tarling
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Patent number: 11835235Abstract: A combustor includes a combustor liner defining a combustion chamber and a fuel and air mixing body connected to the combustor liner to deliver mixed fuel and air into the combustion chamber. The mixing body includes an inner housing member centered on a center axis and an intermediate housing member. A mixing passage is defined between the inner and intermediate housing members. The mixing passage extends along a direction from an upstream end to a downstream end with a circumferential component, a component in an axially downstream direction, and a radially inward component with at least one air inlet into the mixing passage. A fuel supply extends into the mixing passage at a location downstream of the air inlet. The mixing passage extends downstream to supply fuel and air into the combustion chamber. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2023Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventor: Jakub Strzȩpek
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Patent number: 11724817Abstract: An aircraft including a combustion engine with a combustion chamber an injection device for injecting fuel in the combustion chamber and an air separation device adapted to separate air into an oxygen-enriched gas mix and an nitrogen-enriched gas mix, wherein the oxygen-enriched gas mix is injected into the combustion chamber with the fuel while the nitrogen-enriched gas mix is used to inert at least some portions of the aircraft in the environment of said combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SLInventors: Pablo Manuel Calderon Gomez, Carlos Casado-Montero
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Patent number: 11708793Abstract: An embodiment of a torch ignitor system for combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a torch ignitor, the torch ignitor having a combustion chamber oriented about an axis, the combustion chamber having axially upstream and downstream ends defining a flow direction through the combustion chamber, along the axis. The torch ignitor system also includes a cap defining the axially upstream end of the combustion chamber and oriented about the axis, wherein the cap is configured to receive a fuel injector and at least one glow plug, a tip at a downstream end of the combustion chamber, and a passage for pressurized oxygen containing gas passing through the cap from an exterior of the combustion chamber and in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. An embodiment of a method for starting a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.Inventors: Jason Ryon, Brandon Phillip Williams
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Patent number: 11708769Abstract: The present application discloses a method of determining one or more fuel characteristics of an aviation fuel suitable for powering a gas turbine engine of an aircraft. The method comprises: determining, during use of the gas turbine engine, one or more exhaust content parameters by performing a sensor measurement on an exhaust of the gas turbine engine; and determining one or more fuel characteristics of the fuel based on the one or more exhaust parameters. Also disclosed is a fuel characteristic determination system, a method of operating an aircraft, and an aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2022Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Peter Swann, David M Beaven, Craig W Bemment, Alastair G Hobday, Benjamin J Keeler, Christopher P Madden, Martin K Yates
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Patent number: 11668241Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 17, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brandon W. Miller, Robert Jon McQuiston, Stefan Joseph Cafaro, Eric Richard Westervelt, Michael A. Benjamin, Joel M. Haynes, Hejie Li
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Patent number: 11649966Abstract: A turbine engine having a combustion section. The combustion section can have a combustor, at least one fuel cup, and at least one ignition tube. The combustor can include a combustor liner and a dome wall, which together at least partially define a combustion chamber. The at least one fuel cup can include a swirler and a fuel injector. The at least one ignition tube can include an outlet directly fluidly coupled to the combustion chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2022Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ajoy Patra, Pradeep Naik, Perumallu Vukanti, Michael T. Bucaro, R Narasimha Chiranthan, Manampathy G. Giridharan, Michael A. Benjamin, Clayton S. Cooper
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Patent number: 11635208Abstract: Provided is a combustion nozzle including a center cylinder having a cylinder shape, a middle cylinder coaxially disposed with the center cylinder and surrounding the center cylinder, an outer cylinder coaxially disposed with the middle cylinder and surrounding the middle cylinder, and a perforated plate disposed inside the center cylinder to create turbulent flow therethrough. In addition, the combustion nozzle further includes inner vanes disposed between the center cylinder and the middle cylinder and outer vanes disposed between the middle cylinder and the outer cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Inventor: Jung Jin Choi
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Patent number: 11592177Abstract: A mixing assembly for a combustor includes: a pilot mixer including a pilot housing extending along a mixer centerline and a pilot fuel nozzle; a main mixer surrounding the pilot mixer; a fuel manifold between the pilot and main mixers; a mixer foot extending from a main housing of the main mixer; a main swirler body surrounding the main housing defining a mixing channel between the main housing and the main swirler body; and a main fuel ring in the mixing channel connected to the main housing by main fuel vanes, at least one of the main fuel ring and main fuel vanes including fuel injection ports for discharging fuel into the mixing channel, wherein the fuel injection ports are disposed non-uniformly relative to the mixer centerline, so as to produce a static pressure difference therebetween in response to mixer air flow passing around the main fuel ring.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Hari Ravi Chandra, Jayanth Sekar, Gurunath Gandikota, Michael A. Benjamin
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Patent number: 11549687Abstract: A combustion staging system for fuel injectors of a multi-stage combustor of a gas turbine engine. The system includes plural fuel injectors, each having respective pilot and mains injection stages. It further includes a splitting unit which, to perform staging control of the combustor, receives a metered fuel flow and, for pilot and mains operation, controllably splits the received fuel flow into a pilot flow for injecting at the pilot stages of the injectors and a mains flow for injecting at the mains stages of the injectors, and for pilot-only operation, controllably splits the received fuel flow into a first part of the pilot flow for injecting at the pilot stages of a first portion of the injectors and a second part of the pilot flow for injecting at the pilot stages of a second portion of the injectors.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLCInventors: Michael Griffiths, Daniel J. Bickley
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Patent number: 11543129Abstract: A combined combustor and recuperator is formed with the recuperator surrounding the combustor. Cold gas conduits (14, 16, 20) through the recuperator follow along involute paths toward the combustor. Hot has conduits (26) through the recuperator follow counterflow paths along corresponding involute curves outward from the combustor. The openings (18) in the combustion chamber wall through which cold gas enters the combustion chamber may be directed to impart flow direct to the cold gas to support particular desired behaviour of the cold gas in the portions of the combustion chamber concerned, e.g. supporting a stable vortex flame, enhancing mixing, providing a protective barrier layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2017Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: HIETA TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Simon Lloyd Jones, Calum Smith
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Patent number: 11512853Abstract: A fuel injector includes a forward end wall and an aft end wall. The fuel injector further includes side walls that extend between the forward end wall and the aft end wall. The forward end wall, the aft end wall, and the side walls collectively define an opening for passage of air. At least one fuel injection member is disposed within the opening and extends between the end walls. A fuel circuit is defined within the fuel injector. The fuel circuit includes an inlet plenum defined within the forward end wall of the fuel injector. The fuel circuit further includes a fuel passage that extends from, and is in fluid communication with, the inlet plenum. The fuel passage is defined within the at least one fuel injection member. The fuel passage has a cross-sectional area that varies along a length of the fuel injection member.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew Grady Godfrey, Marissa Singley Garcia, Jun Cai
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Patent number: 11459959Abstract: A method of starting a gas turbine and related apparatus, the method including keeping a main fuel line in a sealed state while allowing fuel to flow from a fuel source to at least one nozzle of a nozzle array via an auxiliary fuel line; firing a gas turbine while keeping the main fuel line in the sealed state; and after combustion has started: opening the main fuel line to commence a flow of fuel from the fuel source to the at least one nozzle of the nozzle array via the main fuel line, sealing the auxiliary fuel line, and after the auxiliary fuel line is sealed, increasing the flow of fuel from the fuel source to the at least one nozzle of the nozzle array via the main fuel line.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Giuseppe D'Alessandro, Marta Mampreso
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Patent number: 11415036Abstract: Various embodiments include an apparatus for ascertaining a heating temperature of a heating element for an electrically heatable catalytic converter comprising: a catalytic converter housing surrounding the heating element and the catalytic converter; a first temperature sensor arranged in the housing; and a second temperature sensor arranged in the housing downstream of the first temperature sensor with regard to an exhaust gas flow direction within the housing. The first temperature sensor is exposed to radiation from the heating element and the second temperature sensor is shielded from radiation from the heating element.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2018Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventors: Manfred Weigl, Gerhard Haft
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Patent number: 11415044Abstract: An aircraft gas turbine engine system comprises first and second gas turbine engines. The first gas turbine engine has first and second spools. A first power linkage connects the second gas turbine engine to the first spool of the gas turbine engine, and a second power linkage connects the second gas turbine engine to the second spool of the first gas turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Neil Terwilliger, Christopher J. Hanlon
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Patent number: 11391179Abstract: The gas turbine engine can have a structure for holding bearings within a casing, with a shaft being rotatably mounted to the casing via the bearings and via the structure, the structure having a first wall segment and a base structure receiving the bearings, the first wall segment having a proximal end structurally joined to the base structure, the first wall segment extending away from the base structure, and having a portion extending at least partially axially and thereby being radially flexible relative to the second wall segment, the structure providing both structural resistance and radial stretchability.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Guy Lefebvre, Remy Synnott, François Doyon
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Patent number: 11384693Abstract: A through-flow gas turbine engine includes a core comprising multiple spools rotatable about a center axis. An accessory gearbox (AGB) is drivingly engaged to the core and disposed aft of the outlet. A reduction gearbox (RGB) is drivingly engaged to the core and disposed forward of the inlet. The RGB has an RGB output to provide rotational output to a rotatable load. An electric motor is drivingly engaged to the rotatable load. An electric generator is configured to provide electrical power to the electric motor. One of the electric motor and the electric generator is disposed axially between the outlet and the AGB and the other of the electric motor and the electric generator is disposed axially between the inlet and the RGB.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventor: Guy Lefebvre
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Patent number: 11359552Abstract: A control device is a control device for a gas turbine including a plurality of combustors and is configured to select combustors to ignite in accordance with a target load on the basis of a predictor which defines a relationship between a load and the number and arrangement of combustors to ignite and a combustion temperature.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Keita Yunoki, Kei Inoue, Takashi Hiyama, Eisaku Ito
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Patent number: 11306661Abstract: Methods and apparatus to operate a gas turbine engine with hydrogen gas are disclosed. An example combustor nozzle apparatus of a gas turbine engine includes a first circuit to transport a blend of hydrogen gas, inert gas, and/or other combustible gas from a supply to a gas turbine combustor, the blend of hydrogen gas, inert gas, and/or other combustible gas including between 100% hydrogen gas, 100% inert gas, or 100% other combustible gas, a second circuit to transport water from the supply to the gas turbine combustor, and a nozzle tip. The nozzle tip includes a first outlet in connection with the second circuit to provide the water to the gas turbine combustor, and a second outlet in connection with the first circuit, the second outlet concentrically positioned within the first outlet to provide the blend of hydrogen gas, inert gas, and/or other combustible gas to the gas turbine combustor.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eloise Brightwell, Douglas M. Fortuna, Gilbert Henry Badeer, Steven Keith Handelsman
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Patent number: 11296580Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for cooling of an electrical machine. The electrical machine comprises a rotor rotatably arranged around a rotation axis, a stator including a stator winding arranged radially outside of the rotor, a housing enclosing the rotor and the stator, at least one drain hole configured to drain a cooling fluid from the housing, at least one spraying device configured to spray cooling fluid on the stator winding and a pump configured to pump cooling fluid to the spraying device. The arrangement comprises a control unit, which is configured, when the electrical machine is in operation, to receive information of the temperature in at least one position of the stator winding and to control the pump such that it pumps a flow rate of the cooling fluid to the spraying device, which is related to the estimated temperature of the stator winding.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2017Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Scania CV ABInventors: Jörgen Engström, Stefan Karlsson
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Patent number: 11286866Abstract: The gas turbine comprises a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The method comprises: compressing air with the compressor and feeding compressed air continuously to the combustor, feeding fuel to the combustor, continuously firing the mixture of fuel and gas in the combustor, feeding combustion gases from the combustor to the turbine, and supplying at least a portion of the total amount of fuel that is supplied to the combustor intermittently.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2017Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Finno Energy OyInventors: Timo Erämaa, Heikki J. Salminen
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Patent number: 11286436Abstract: Pre-ground plastics of small particle size not more than 2 mm are co-fed into a solid fossil fuel fed entrained flow partial oxidation gasifier. A syngas composition can be made by charging an oxidant and a feedstock composition comprising recycle plastics and a solid fossil fuel to a gasification zone within a gasifier; gasifying the feedstock composition together with the oxidant in said gasification zone to produce said syngas composition; and discharging at least a portion of said syngas composition from said gasifier; wherein the recycled plastics are added to a feed point comprising a solid fossil fuel belt feeding a grinder after the solid fossil fuel is loaded on the belt, a solid fossil fuel belt feeding a grinder before the solid fossil fuel is loaded onto the belt, or a solid fossil fuel slurry storage tank containing a slurry of said solid fossil fuel ground to a size as the size fed to the gasification zone.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventors: William Lewis Trapp, Justin William Murphy, Nathan Mitchell West
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Patent number: 11085321Abstract: A system and method for providing bleed air compensation for a continuous power assurance analysis of a gas turbine engine includes estimating bleed air flow rate from the gas turbine engine, estimating a shift in power turbine inlet temperature based on the estimated bleed air flow rate, and applying the estimated shift in power turbine inlet temperature to the continuous power assurance analysis of the gas turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Richard Ling, Kevin Moeckly, Alfred E. Carstens
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Patent number: 11060729Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly and a gas turbine combustor including the same are provided. The fuel nozzle assembly may include an end plate coupled to one end of an annular casing, and a fuel nozzle configured such that one end thereof is supported by the end plate and the other end thereof extends outward. The fuel nozzle may include a center fuel nozzle and a plurality of side fuel nozzles arranged annularly to surround the center fuel nozzle. The side fuel nozzle may include a nozzle body located at a center thereof, a shroud spaced outward from the nozzle body, and a plurality of swirlers located between the nozzle body and the shroud. Each of the swirlers may include a leading edge directed toward the end plate and a trailing edge located opposite the leading edge. In each of the side fuel nozzles, distances between the leading edges are different from each other.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2020Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Inventors: U Jin Roh, Mu Hwan Chon
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Patent number: 11060725Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a circumferential staging configuration of fuel injectors in a combustor. As a turbine blade revolves within the gas turbine engine it is subjected to lift and drag forces based on the configuration of lit injectors. A configuration of lit injectors that results in the minimum unsteady forces the turbine blade experiences is determined in order to increase the life span of the turbine blade and limit any structural failures.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2017Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO. KGInventor: Marc Furi
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Patent number: 11054137Abstract: Provided is a combustion nozzle including a center cylinder having a cylinder shape, a middle cylinder coaxially disposed with the center cylinder and surrounding the center cylinder, an outer cylinder coaxially disposed with the middle cylinder and surrounding the middle cylinder, and a perforated plate disposed inside the center cylinder to create turbulent flow therethrough. In addition, the combustion nozzle further includes inner vanes disposed between the center cylinder and the middle cylinder and outer vanes disposed between the middle cylinder and the outer cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2018Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Inventor: Jung Jin Choi
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Patent number: 11053863Abstract: A portable fuel preservation system is disclosed. The portable fuel preservation system may comprise a switch box configured to be coupled to an integrated fuel pump and control of a gas turbine engine. The switch box may comprise a circuit configured to cause a metering valve and a solenoid valve of the integrated fuel pump and control to open. A driver may be configured to inject preservation fluid into the integrated fuel pump and control.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2017Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Brian Cabello, Michael Meagher, Steven S. Sperling