Catalyst Patents (Class 60/777)
  • Patent number: 11946422
    Abstract: A method of operating a combustion system (16) for a gas turbine (10), the combustor system (16) comprises a main fuel supply (72, 73), a pilot fuel supply (74), a combustion chamber (38). The method comprises the steps supplying a first fuel flow through the main fuel supply (72) and the pilot fuel supply (74), monitoring a composition of the first fuel, monitoring combustion instability, reducing the first fuel flow through the pilot fuel supply (74) to zero when the first fuel composition has a) a hydrogen content ?5% by volume and/or b) a high-HC content ?5% by volume and the combustion instability <a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ghenadie Bulat, Kristopher Calladine
  • Patent number: 11674422
    Abstract: An aftertreatment system includes a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, a heater, and a controller that determines a rise in temperature of exhaust gas at an outlet of the heater for a plurality of power levels, predicts a first temperature of the exhaust gas at the outlet of the heater based on the rise in temperature, predicts a second temperature of the exhaust gas at a location of the SCR system based on the first temperature, compares the second temperature for each of the plurality of power levels with a target temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the SCR system, selects one of the plurality of power levels based on the comparison, and adjusts operation of the heater based on the selected one of the plurality of power levels to achieve the target temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the SCR system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Colin L. Norris, Bryon D. Staebler, Jeffrey Diwakar Abraham, Thomas R. Nelson, Santhosh Kumar Pettem, Dylan Lawrence Schneider
  • Patent number: 11543131
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for injecting fuel and compressed air into a combustion chamber of a gas turbine combustor is provided. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle body disposed in the combustor and having a coolant outlet on one end of which an inside of the nozzle body communicates with the combustion chamber, a spray nozzle disposed in the nozzle body and including a plurality of first nozzle tubes each having a first flow path formed therein to allow combustion air to flow into the combustion chamber and a fuel hole formed to supply fuel, and a second nozzle tube having through-holes to allow the first nozzle tubes to pass therethrough and a second flow path formed to supply fuel, and a diaphragm disposed inside of the nozzle body and including a plurality of coolant flow holes through which a coolant supplied to the nozzle body is supplied towards one end of the nozzle body and a plurality of tube holes through which the first nozzle tubes pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: DOOSAN ENERBILITY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Han Jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 11296328
    Abstract: Provided is a catalyst which does not corrode at high potentials or in acidic electrolytes of fuel cells, is stable, effectively participates in electrode reactions not only in a three-phase interface of a gas phase (humidified reaction gas) and a liquid phase formed in catalyst particles present on the surface in contact with an electrolyte membrane but also in a three-phase interface in catalyst particles in a catalyst layer present at positions away from the electrolyte membrane, has a high utilization efficiency of catalyst particles, has a high oxygen reduction ability, provides high characteristics, and is inexpensive compared to platinum. A fuel cell thus obtained has high characteristics and a long life, and is relatively inexpensive and excellent in economic efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignees: Environmental Science Institute, LTD, SUZUTOYO SEIKO CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kumiko Yoshii, Hideo Ueno
  • Patent number: 10724438
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for heating pre-combustor air in a gas turbine engine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a gas turbine engine configured for heating the pre-combustor air comprises a compressor for pressurizing air received in the gas turbine engine; an electric heater configured to heat the compressed air; a combustor in which the heated compressed air is received, mixed with fuel and ignited for generating combustion gas; and a turbine for extracting energy from the combustion gas. Joule heating may be used to heat the compressed air upstream of the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Enzo Macchia
  • Patent number: 10648348
    Abstract: A coated ceramic matrix composite component and a gas turbine assembly are provided. The coated ceramic matrix composite component comprises a substrate comprising an endface surface and a hot gas path surface. The hot gas path surface is arranged and disposed to contact a hot gas path when the component is installed in the gas turbine assembly. The endface surface is disposed at an endface angle to the hot gas path surface and opposing at least one adjacent component when the component is installed in the gas turbine assembly. The coated ceramic matrix composite component further comprises an environmental barrier coating on at least a portion of the endface surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, Joshua Lee Margolies
  • Patent number: 10260368
    Abstract: A method for starting a combustion system having a first ignition device and an at least second ignition device, a processing unit and a sensor system. To obtain a reliable ignition the method includes as a starting sequence at least the following: monitoring during a working condition of the combustion system, an operational state of the first and the at least second ignition device by the sensor system; identifying a predefined state of the first and/or the at least second ignition device by the processing unit; and as a further step: in case of an identification of the predefined state changing in at least one parameter of at least one of the ignition devices by the processing unit. A combustion system is equipped to be operable with the method as well as to a flow engine with such a combustion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Kam-Kei Lam
  • Patent number: 9624583
    Abstract: An article may include a substrate defining a surface imperfection and a coating deposited over the substrate. The coating does not substantially reproduce the surface imperfection, and the coating comprises mullite and at least one rare earth silicate, rare earth oxide, alumina, boron oxide, alkali metal oxide, alkali earth metal oxide, silicon, barium strontium aluminosilicate, barium aluminosilicate, strontium aluminosilicate, calcium aluminosilicate, magnesium aluminosilicate, or lithium aluminosilicate. In some examples, the coating may be a first coating deposited from a slurry over the substrate, and a second coating may be deposited over the first coating. In other examples, a first coating that substantially reproduces the surface imperfection may be deposited over the substrate, and the coating that does not substantially reproduce the surface imperfection may be deposited over the first coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Kang N. Lee, David J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9567101
    Abstract: This invention concerns a fuel delivery system for an aircraft engine, including a fuel delivery regulator arranged to receive fuel from a plurality of fuel sources for supply to the engine. An engine operating condition sensor reading is received by a control unit arranged to control operation of the regulator. The control unit actuates the regulator based on a received signal from the engine operating condition sensor in order to vary the volume of fuels from the plurality of fuel sources supplied to the engine during at least a portion of the landing/take-off (LTO) cycle relative to a further portion of the aircraft flight. The different fuels may include kerosene and an alternative fuel, such as a biofuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Peter Swann
  • Patent number: 9279364
    Abstract: A system for the gradual oxidation of fuel is disclosed. The system includes an oxidizer that has a reaction chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The reaction chamber is configured to receive a fluid comprising an oxidizable fuel through the inlet. The oxidizer is configured to maintain a flameless oxidation process. The system also includes a heating chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the heating chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet of the reaction chamber. The heating chamber is configured to receive the fluid from the reaction chamber and selectably heat the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ener-Core Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Hamrin, Steve Lampe
  • Patent number: 9188009
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a rotor having at least one rotor bore cavity and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is fluidically connected to a conditioning air source and to the rotor bore cavity for flowing air from the conditioning air source to the rotor bore cavity. The heat exchanger is also fluidically connected to a hot fluid source and a cool fluid source for selectively heating and cooling conditioning air flowing to the rotor bore cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Cagdas Yilmaz, Paul E. Coderre
  • Patent number: 8984886
    Abstract: A method for operating a catalytic reforming assembly. The method includes injecting a quantity of oxidizer gas and a quantity of combustion gas into a reformer to form a mixture. The mixture is channeled across a catalyst bed to form a reformate gas stream. A temperature of the catalyst bed is measured using at least one temperature sensor. A level of the oxidizer gas in the reformate stream is measured using at least one oxidizer gas sensor. A health of the catalyst bed is determined based on at least one of a catalyst bed temperature measurement and an oxidizer gas level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chetan Babu Velkur, Hasan Karim
  • Patent number: 8931283
    Abstract: A reformer for use in a gas turbine engine specially configured to treat a supplemental fuel feed to the combustor that includes a reformer core containing a catalyst composition and an inlet flow channel for transporting the reformer fuel mixture, air and steam (either saturated or superheated) into a reformer core. An outlet flow channel transports the resulting reformate stream containing reformed and thermally cracked hydrocarbons and substantial amounts of hydrogen out of the reformer core for later combination with the main combustor feed. Because the catalytic partial oxidation reaction in the reformer is highly exothermic, the additional heat is transferred (and thermally integrated) using one or more heat exchange units for a first and/or second auxiliary gas turbine fuel stream that undergo thermal cracking and vaporization before combining with the reformate. The combined, hydrogen-enriched feed significantly improves combustor performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Hasan Karim, Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Patent number: 8739550
    Abstract: The present invention provides a combustor for an aerospace gas turbine engine comprising two stages wherein each stage defines an inlet and an exit. The second stage inlet is in fluid communication with the first stage exit such that a first flowpath is defined and it passes substantially through the second stage. A plurality of flow channel tubes is positioned within the second stage and each flow channel tube passes sealingly through a header plate positioned upstream of the second stage inlet thereby defining a second flowpath that also passes substantially through the second stage. The first flowpath exit and the second flowpath exit are positioned adjacent and proximate to one another to provide for the generation of microflames or microflame jets exiting the second stage from between and around the flow channel tube exits. The first stage of the combustor provides a gasifier and a reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Shahrokh Etemad, Benjamin D. Baird, Subir Roychoudhury, William C. Pfefferle
  • Publication number: 20140123672
    Abstract: A system is provided with a turbine combustor having a first diffusion fuel nozzle, wherein the first diffusion fuel nozzle is configured to produce a diffusion flame. The system includes a turbine driven by combustion products from the diffusion flame in the turbine combustor. The system also includes an exhaust gas compressor, wherein the exhaust gas compressor is configured to compress and route an exhaust gas from the turbine to the turbine combustor along an exhaust recirculation path. In addition, the system includes a first catalyst unit disposed along the exhaust recirculation path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Huntington, Sulabh K. Dhanuka, Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy
  • Patent number: 8683804
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a fuel nozzle that includes a fuel injector that includes a fuel port and a premixer tube. The premixer tube includes a wall disposed about a central passage, multiple air ports extending through the wall into the central passage, and a catalytic region. The catalytic region includes a catalyst, disposed inside the wall along the central passage, configured to increase a reaction of fuel and air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, David Martin Johnson, Ronald James Chila, Nishant Govindbhai Parsania, Hasan Karim, Joseph Citeno
  • Patent number: 8636247
    Abstract: A gas generator assembly includes a propellant chamber housing an amine based propellant. A reaction chamber is coupled with the propellant chamber. The reaction chamber includes a reaction chamber housing, and a porous reaction matrix within the reaction chamber housing. The reaction matrix includes a catalyzing agent, and the catalyzing agent is configured to non-combustibly catalyze the amine based propellant into one or more pressurized gases. An injector is in communication with the propellant chamber. The injector is configured to deliver the amine based propellant to the porous reaction matrix. A discharge nozzle is coupled with the reaction chamber and is configured to accelerate and discharge the one or more pressurized gases. In one example, the gas generator is coupled with one or more of an impulse turbine assembly and an electric generator to form a micro power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Danforth, Richard D. Loehr, Kevin P. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8540508
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for burning a fluid fuel, in which fuel is reacted in a catalytic reaction, whereupon catalytically pre-reacted fuel continues to be burned in a secondary reaction. A swirling component is impressed onto the pre-reacted fuel, allowing the secondary reaction to be ignited in a spatially controlled manner, resulting in complete burnout. The invention further relates to a burner for burning a fluid fuel, in which the fuel outlet of a catalytic burner is disposed upstream of the fuel outlet of a primary burner in the direction of flow of the fuel within a flow channel such that the fuel is catalytically reacted. The catalytic burner is provided with a number of catalytically effective elements which are arranged such that a vortex is created in the flow channel. The invention can be applied particularly to combustion chambers of gas turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bernd Prade
  • Patent number: 8528334
    Abstract: An injector for a gas turbine combustor including a catalyst coated surface forming a passage for feed gas flow and a channel for oxidant gas flow establishing an axial gas flow through a flow conditioner disposed at least partially within an inner wall of the injector. The flow conditioner includes a length with an interior passage opening into upstream and downstream ends for passage of the axial gas flow. An interior diameter of the interior passage smoothly reduces and then increases from upstream to downstream ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Partha Dutta, Kenneth O. Smith, Frank J. Ritz
  • Publication number: 20130205754
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to a rocket propulsion oxidizer compound that is a solution, is a homogenous and stable liquid at room temperature and includes nitrous oxide and nitrogen tetroxide. In addition, an apparatus is provided for burning a fuel and nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide. The apparatus has a combustor, a catalyst, a nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide supply passage for directing the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide to a contact position with the catalyst, and a fuel supply passage for supplying the fuel to the combustor. The catalyst acts to facilitate decomposition of the nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide, while the combustor burns the fuel, the decomposed nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide and/or nitrous oxide/nitrogen tetroxide decomposed in the reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Robert L. Sackheim, Joseph R. Herdy
  • Patent number: 8495858
    Abstract: A method of operating a gas turbine power plant including an auxiliary power output for reducing power plant emissions. A heat recovery steam generator receives an expanded working medium from a gas turbine and removes heat from the expanded working medium to form a reduced temperature exhaust gas and to generate steam from the heat removed from the expanded working medium. A steam turbine and generator assembly operates on the steam to produce an auxiliary plant output. A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system is provided for receiving the reduced temperature exhaust gas; and an auxiliary fan is powered by the auxiliary plant output to supply dilution air for further reducing the temperature of the exhaust gas to prior to passing the exhaust gas through the SCR system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald J. Feller, Alan K. Kortgoede, Gilberto Miranda-Velazquez
  • Publication number: 20130125548
    Abstract: An injector for a gas turbine combustor including a catalyst coated surface forming a passage for feed gas flow and a channel for oxidant gas flow establishing an axial gas flow through a flow conditioner disposed at least partially within an inner wall of the injector. The flow conditioner includes a length with an interior passage opening into upstream and downstream ends for passage of the axial gas flow. An interior diameter of the interior passage smoothly reduces and then increases from upstream to downstream ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INC.
    Inventors: Partha Dutta, Kenneth O. Smith, Frank J. Ritz
  • Patent number: 8397509
    Abstract: A catalytic engine comprises a catalytic reformer and a turbine, and it employs the process steps of introducing a reactant mixture of fuel, air, water and recycled exhaust gas into a reaction zone, reacting said fuel mixture over oxidation catalysts in the reaction zone by adjusting the CO2/C, H2O/C, O2/C ratios and the % fuel of the reactant mixture to maintain the reactor at a temperature between 150-1100° C. and a pressure between 1 to 100 atmosphere, and feeding said refromate stream from said reaction zone to drive a downstream turbine, a turbocharger or any kind of gas turbine. This catalytic engine can be connected to an electrical generator to become a stationary or mobile power station, which can be used in transportation, industrial, utility and household applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Patent number: 8381531
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine may include a pilot assembly extending along a longitudinal axis. The pilot assembly may be configured to direct a pilot fuel-air mixture to a combustor of the gas turbine engine. The fuel injector may also include a rich catalyst module circumferentially disposed about the pilot assembly. The catalyst module may be configured to simultaneously direct a stream of compressed air and a stream of first fuel-air mixture therethrough without intermixing. The fuel injector may also include a post mix zone disposed downstream of the catalyst module. The post mix zone may be configured to mix the compressed air and the first fuel air mixture to create a main fuel-air mixture. The fuel injector may further include an air swirler disposed downstream of the post mix zone. The air swirler may be configured to direct the main fuel-air mixture to the combustor without intermixing with the pilot fuel-air mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Waseem Ahmad Nazeer, Kenneth Owen Smith, Frank John Ritz
  • Patent number: 8336314
    Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for use in a gas thruster is presented. At least one heater micro structure (20) is arranged in a stagnation chamber (12) of the gas thruster. The heater microstructure (20) comprises a core of silicon or a silicon compound coated by a surface metal or metal compound coating. The heater microstructure (20) is manufactured in silicon or a silicon compound and covered by a surface metal coating. The heater microstructure (20) is mounted in the stagnation chamber (12) before or after the coverage of the surface metal or metal compound coating. The coverage is performed by heating the heater microstructure and flowing a gas comprising low quantities of a metal compound. The compound decomposes at the heated heater microstructure (20), forming the surface metal or metal compound coating. The same principles of coating can be used for repairing the heater microstructure (20) in situ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: NanoSpace AB
    Inventors: Tor-Arne Gronland, Pelle Ransten, Hakan Johansson, Johan Bejhed
  • Patent number: 8316647
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for protecting a catalyst within a combustor. In one embodiment, a catalytic reactor includes a protective coating that may be chemically removed or mechanically removed while the catalytic reactor is disposed in a combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Cristina Colindres Kraemer
  • Patent number: 8307653
    Abstract: A catalytic oxidation module for a catalytic combustor of a gas turbine engine is provided. The catalytic oxidation module comprises a plurality of spaced apart catalytic elements for receiving a fuel-air mixture over a surface of the catalytic elements. The plurality of catalytic elements includes at least one primary catalytic element comprising a monometallic catalyst and secondary catalytic elements adjacent the primary catalytic element comprising a multi-component catalyst. Ignition of the monometallic catalyst of the primary catalytic element is effective to rapidly increase a temperature within the catalytic oxidation module to a degree sufficient to ignite the multi-component catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Elvira V. Anoshkina, Walter R. Laster
  • Patent number: 8225613
    Abstract: A combustion system for performing stable combustion and flame stabilization at high altitudes is described. A primary liquid hydrocarbon fuel is atomized and vaporized within the main combustor chamber to produce a primary fuel vapor. When the combustion system operates at a high altitude, a secondary gaseous fuel is fed into the inlet air port such that the secondary fuel mixes with air, thereby enabling the mixture of the air and the secondary fuel to combust in a catalytic reactor to produce high temperature, oxygen-rich gases that flow into the main combustor chamber. Proper proportional amounts of the two fuels are determined as a function of altitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: James Charles Sisco, Jack Kerrebrock, Jeremy Scott Hollman
  • Patent number: 8215117
    Abstract: A catalytic reactor for a gas turbine engine comprising an air inlet, a premixing zone, a reacting zone comprising a reactive portion and a nonreactive portion, a post reaction mixing zone, a first fuel injection system for introducing fuel into the reactive portion, and a second fuel injection system for introducing fuel into the nonreactive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Meredith B. Colket, Alexander Chen
  • Patent number: 8186152
    Abstract: Disclosed is a turbomachine including at least one exhaust pathway along which exhaust is directed and released to ambient and at least one exhaust processor capable of removing regulated substances from the exhaust. One or more ambient air inlets are located at the at least one exhaust pathway upstream of the at least one exhaust processor. The at least one exhaust pathway is configured such that ambient air is capable of being urged into the at least one exhaust pathway through the one or more ambient air inlets by an acceleration of the exhaust along the at least one exhaust pathway. The ambient air urged into the at least one exhaust pathway reduces a temperature of the exhaust to increase effectiveness of the at least one exhaust processor. Further disclosed is a method for releasing turbomachine exhaust to ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, David Wesley Ball, Jr., Thomas Francis Taylor
  • Patent number: 8151574
    Abstract: A system and method for removing at least carbon from a fuel/air mixture prior to injection of the fuel/air mixture into a combustion system is disclosed. The system fully integrates the combined cycle power plant with carbon scrubbing of the fuel/air mixture to increase overall cycle efficiency while capturing carbon from the cycle. A portion of the compressed air source generated by the gas turbine compressor is provided to a premixer where it is mixed with a natural gas to form a fuel/air mixture. The fuel/air mixture passes through a catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) reactor, which utilizes a precious metal to partially oxidize the hydrocarbons into carbon monoxide. The mixture passes through a shift reactor to complete generation of carbon dioxide and raise hydrogen yield of the fuel/air mixture. Carbon constituents are then removed from the mixture by a separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Alstom Technololgy Ltd
    Inventor: Peter John Stuttaford
  • Patent number: 8146367
    Abstract: A process for the production of synthesis gas by oxidizing a hydrocarbon fuel comprises forming mixture of the fuel and an oxidizing gas and contacting the mixture with a catalyst coated on at least part of a turbine (18) to produce a heated gas and passing the heated gas through the turbine (18) to produce power. Also a turbine (18) having a surface comprising a catalyst for the above process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: David Lawrence Trimm, Nicholas Richard Burke
  • Patent number: 8128398
    Abstract: A burner for a heat generator comprises a swirl generator (1) for a combustion-air flow and means for injecting fuel for producing a main flow (6). A combustion chamber (2) is arranged downstream of the burner. A cavity (3) is arranged between the swirl generator (1) and the combustion chamber (2), in which cavity (3) a secondary flow (10) can be produced, and this secondary flow (10) encloses the main flow (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Flohr, Ephraim Gutmark, Christian Oliver Paschereit
  • Patent number: 8015823
    Abstract: An aircraft system includes a heat source and a passage near the heat source for carrying fluid having a cooling capacity to cool the heat source. The passage includes a catalyst that endothermically cracks the fluid to increase the cooling capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Henry Vanderspurt, Zissis A. Dardas
  • Patent number: 7988447
    Abstract: A formed sheet heat exchanger is provided for exchanging heat between fluids is provided. The apparatus includes flow divider sheets that are positioned in a stacked configuration and extend in a longitudinal direction so that adjacent pairs of the sheets define flow passages therebetween for receiving first and second fluids. Each of the sheets is nonuniform in the longitudinal direction, having a manifold portion and a corrugated portion. The corrugated portions of each adjacent pair of sheets define a plurality of fluid channels therebetween that are connected to the portion of the flow passage defined between the manifold portions. The fluid channels are configured to receive the first or second fluids and transfer thermal energy therebetween through the flow divider sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Scott W. Fowser, Mark D. Horn, Andreas C. Straub, Jon C. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7975489
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a method of detecting catalyst module overheating in a catalytic combustion system is provided. In one example, the method includes detecting one or more signals from at least one probe adapted to obtain values associated with at least one of the outlet gas temperature of a catalyst module and the outlet face temperature of the catalyst module included in a catalytic combustor. The one or more signals are compared with a preselected value associated with catalyst overheating. The detected temperature may be detected over time to determine a rate of change in the temperature. The temperature may be detected with a UV sensor directed to the catalyst outlet face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ajay Joshi, David Yee
  • Patent number: 7841180
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine includes providing at least one combustor assembly defining a combustion chamber. At least one fuel nozzle is positioned at a forward end of the combustion chamber. The at least one fuel nozzle is configured to inject a premixed fuel/air mixture into the combustion chamber. A catalytic material is applied to at least a portion of the at least one fuel nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gilbert O. Kraemer, John Joseph Lipinski, Jonathan Lloyd Male
  • Patent number: 7832210
    Abstract: System for controlling and optimizing the emissions of a catalytic combustor in a single-shaft gas turbine (10), comprising at least one calculation unit for implementing a mathematical model of the operation of the said gas turbine (10), on the basis of a set of predetermined parameters, by means of which the aforesaid emissions can be optimized during variations of the operating conditions of the turbine over a range of external environmental conditions from approximately ?29° C. to +49° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Holdings S.p.A.
    Inventors: Benoit Fecamp, Ever Avriel Fadlun, Stefano Groppi
  • Publication number: 20100192592
    Abstract: A catalytic oxidation module for a catalytic combustor of a gas turbine engine is provided. The catalytic oxidation module comprises a plurality of spaced apart catalytic elements for receiving a fuel-air mixture over a surface of the catalytic elements. The plurality of catalytic elements includes at least one primary catalytic element comprising a monometallic catalyst and secondary catalytic elements adjacent the primary catalytic element comprising a multi-component catalyst. Ignition of the monometallic catalyst of the primary catalytic element is effective to rapidly increase a temperature within the catalytic oxidation module to a degree sufficient to ignite the multi-component catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Elvira V. Anoshkina, Walter R. Laster
  • Patent number: 7765810
    Abstract: A method of lowered NOx combustion is taught wherein the kinetic rate of NOx formation is reduced for a given combustion temperature in a gas turbine combustor. A supply of fuel is provided along with a supply of ambient air in sufficient quantity to form a fuel/air mixture having an equivalence ratio greater than about 0.55 when mixed with the fuel. The fuel/air mixture is mixed with a supply of cooled combustion gases in sufficient quantity such that the oxygen content of the resulting air mixture is less than about 18 percent. The resulting air mixture is then passed into the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Pfefferle
  • Patent number: 7717700
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid burner (1) for a combustor (7), in particular of a power plant, comprising a housing (2), in which a full oxidation catalyst (9) and a partial oxidation catalyst (10) are arranged. An inlet side of the housing (2) is connected to at least one oxidizer supply (3) and to at least one fuel supply (4, 5). An outlet side of the housing (2) is connected to a combustion chamber (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Carroni, Timothy Griffin
  • Patent number: 7610761
    Abstract: A method and a device for producing an ignitable fuel/air mixture includes a fuel fraction which is hydrogen or a gas mixture containing hydrogen and which is burnt in a burner arrangement for driving a thermal engine, in particular a gas turbine plant. An exemplary method includes combining a fuel flow and of an air flow, so as to form a fuel/air mixture flow, and providing a further air flow, catalyzing part of the fuel/air mixture flow, so as to form a partly catalyzed fuel/air mixture, during an exothermal catalytically assisted reaction of the fuel, the released heat of which is utilized at least partially for heating the further air flow, admixing the heated further air flow to the partly catalyzed fuel/air mixture, so as to form an ignitable fuel/air mixture, and igniting and combusting the ignitable fuel/air mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Carroni, Timothy Griffin, Dieter Winkler
  • Patent number: 7594400
    Abstract: A catalytic oxidation module (28) for a gas turbine engine (10) includes a bundle (50) of tubular elements (30) separating a first fluid flow of a combustion mixture (24) from a second fluid flow (e.g., 26). Each of the tubular elements has an inlet end (42) and an outlet end (44) in fluid communication with a downstream plenum (36) and a respective end portion (60) comprising a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal fingers (58). The fingers of each tubular element are joined at abutting fingers of respective adjacent elements to retain the tubes at the respective end portions with sufficient flexibility to allow relative movement between the adjacent tubular elements. A catalyst (32) is disposed on respective surfaces of a plurality of the tubular elements exposed to at least one of the first fluid flow and second fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Szedlacsek, Gerald Joseph Bruck
  • Patent number: 7523602
    Abstract: In a gas turbine installation having an enclosure for passing cooling air therethrough and around the gas turbine, provision is made for a mixing of the cooling air with the exhaust gases being emitted from the gas turbine to thereby reduce the temperature thereof prior to its passing into the exhaust stack, but only after the primary air has passed through a catalyst bed which is disposed in a position over the gas turbine exhaust opening. The shape of the catalyst bed is preferably A-shaped in cross-section to thereby increase the surface area thereof. In this way, the temperature at the catalyst bed is maintained at an elevated level to obtain superior performance while a subsequent mixing of the primary air with the cooling air results in lower temperatures of the gases passing through the exhaust stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Anant Rambhai Patel, Bernard G. Staib
  • Patent number: 7506516
    Abstract: A catalytic combustor (28) includes a tubular pressure boundary element (90) having a longitudinal flow axis (e.g., 56) separating a first portion (94) of a first fluid flow (e.g., 24) from a second portion (95) of the first fluid flow. The pressure boundary element includes a wall (96) having a plurality of separate longitudinally oriented flow paths (98) annularly disposed within the wall and conducting respective portions (100, 101) of a second fluid flow (e.g., 26) therethrough. A catalytic material (32) is disposed on a surface (e.g., 102, 103) of the pressure boundary element exposed to at least one of the first and second portions of the first fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald J. Bruck, Walter R. Laster
  • Patent number: 7500349
    Abstract: A power plant comprises a gas turbo group with a heat transfer apparatus, for example a recuperator for the preheating of the combustion air, arranged downstream of the turbine in the smoke gas path of the gas turbo group. A smoke gas purification catalyst is arranged downstream of at least part of the heat transfer apparatus, at a point at which the smoke gas is already cooled as a result of heat exchange to an extent such that irreversible damage to the catalyst due to overheating is avoided. On the other hand, the point is selected such that a temperature necessary for maintaining the catalytic smoke gas purification is ensured. In a preferred embodiment, a temperature measurement point is arranged, at which the temperature of the catalyst or of the smoke gas flowing into the catalyst is determined, so that this temperature can be regulated by means of suitable regulating actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Rolf Althaus
  • Publication number: 20090031731
    Abstract: A method of regulating the Wobbe number of a multi-composition gas fuel supplied to one or more combustors of a gas turbine comprising: (a) providing a control system for regulating fuel and air flow to the one or more combustors; and (b) reforming a fraction of the gas fuel upstream of the one or more combustors to form hydrogen and carbon monoxide to be supplied to the one or more combustors with a remaining fraction of the fuel; wherein the fraction of fuel reformed is adjusted to maintain the Wobbe number of the fuel supplied to the one or more combustors within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Willy S. Ziminsky, Gilbert O. Kraemer, Girard A. Simons, Mark A. Hadley
  • Patent number: 7464555
    Abstract: A gasification power plant 10 includes a compressor 32 producing a compressed air flow 36, an air separation unit 22 producing a nitrogen flow 44, a gasifier 14 producing a primary fuel flow 28 and a secondary fuel source 60 providing a secondary fuel flow 62 The plant also includes a catalytic combustor 12 combining the nitrogen flow and a combustor portion 38 of the compressed air flow to form a diluted air flow 39 and combining at least one of the primary fuel flow and secondary fuel flow and a mixer portion 78 of the diluted air flow to produce a combustible mixture 80. A catalytic element 64 of the combustor 12 separately receives the combustible mixture and a backside cooling portion 84 of the diluted air flow and allows the mixture and the heated flow to produce a hot combustion gas 46 provided to a turbine 48. When fueled with the secondary fuel flow, nitrogen is not combined with the combustor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis M. Bachovchin, Thomas E. Lippert
  • Patent number: 7444820
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine using a rich-lean catalytic combustion system includes a rich catalytic burner and a lean catalytic burner. The rich catalytic burner includes a rich catalytic reactor and a heat exchanger. The rich catalytic reactor catalytically burns a fuel rich mixture to provide a heated fuel. The heat exchanger receives a stream of air that absorbs a portion of the heat from the catalytic burning of the fuel rich mixture to keep the reaction in the rich catalytic reactor at or below a threshold temperature. A resulting heated air from the heat exchanger and the heated fuel are mixed in a mixing zone to provide a heated fuel-air mixture. The lean catalytic burner receives and burns the heated fuel-air mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Meredith B. Colket, III
  • Patent number: 7430869
    Abstract: A system comprising a compressor (10) having an inlet stream (25) and an outlet stream (26), a pre-heater (12) having a process inlet stream (29) and a process outlet stream (31), a catalytic combustor (13) having an inlet stream (32) and an outlet stream (33) and containing an catalyst, and a turbine (14) having an inlet stream (34) and an outlet stream (35), wherein, the outlet stream (26) of the compressor(10) is connected to the process inlet stream (29) of the pre-heater (12), the process outlet stream (31) of the pre-heater (12) is connected to the inlet stream (32) of the catalytic combustor (13). The outlet stream (33) of the catalytic combustor (13) is connected to the inlet stream (34) of the turbine (14). During operation of the system, the inlet stream (25) of the compressor (10) has a substantially constant and low concentration of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Shi Su, Andrew Charles Beath, Clifford William Mallett