Having Bleed Air To Cool Or Heat Motor Or Component Thereof (e.g., Active Clearance Control, Etc.) Patents (Class 60/782)
  • Publication number: 20130327057
    Abstract: A heat shield for a combustor liner includes first linear film cooling slots through the heat shield and second linear film cooling slots through the heat shield. The first linear film cooling slots are run in a row and each of the first linear film cooling slots is angled from the row in a first direction. The second linear film cooling slots also run in the row and each of the second linear film cooling slots is angled from the row in a second direction opposite the first direction. The second linear film cooling slots alternate with the first linear film cooling slots in the row. The first and second linear film cooling slots are connected to form a single, multi-cornered film cooling slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Nurhak Erbas-Sen
  • Publication number: 20130327055
    Abstract: A transition piece for a gas turbomachine includes a body having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines a flow duct, a plurality of openings that extend through the body, and an active control element provided at one or more of the plurality of openings. The active control element is configured and disposed to selectively establish a dimension of the one or more of the plurality of openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Biju Nanukuttan
  • Publication number: 20130327056
    Abstract: A shell for a combustor liner includes a cold side, a hot side, a row of cooling holes and a jet wall. The jet wall projects from the hot side for creating a wall shear jet of increased velocity cooling flow in a tangential direction away from the row of cooling holes and along an adjacent heat shield cold side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Nurhak Erbas-Sen
  • Publication number: 20130318996
    Abstract: A cooling assembly for a bucket of a turbine system includes a shroud assembly operably coupled to an outer casing of a turbine section. Also included is an airfoil having at least one cavity, wherein the at least one cavity is configured to receive a cooling flow from a cooling source through at least one channel disposed within the shroud assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Stephen Paul Wassynger
  • Publication number: 20130318995
    Abstract: An eductor assembly comprises a primary nozzle configured to discharge turbine exhaust gas therefrom. The eductor assembly further comprises a cooler plenum having an inlet and an outlet and a surge plenum at least partially surrounding the cooler plenum and the nozzle, the surge plenum for conducting a surge flow. Cooling air flows through a vent between the cooler plenum and the surge plenum when there is no surge flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Yogendra Yogi Sheoran, Bruce Dan Bouldin, John Zimmerer, Mario Hidalgo
  • Patent number: 8596035
    Abstract: Apparatus for reducing air mass flow through the compressor in a single shaft gas turbine engine having an extended operating range including part load conditions, to provide low emissions combustion. The apparatus includes one or more nozzles positioned for injecting compressed air into the inlet region of the compressor. The nozzles are oriented to direct the compressed air tangentially to, and in the same angular direction as, the direction of rotation to create a swirl in the inlet air flow to the compressor inducer. The apparatus also includes conduits in flow communication between the compressor diffuser and the nozzles, one or more valves operatively connected to control the flow of compressed air from the diffuser to the nozzles, and a controller operatively connected to the valves to cause compressed air flow to the nozzles during operation at part load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Opra Technologies B.V.
    Inventor: R. Jan Mowill
  • Publication number: 20130291553
    Abstract: An air intake system suitable for a supersonic vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a channel comprising an inlet and a side wall and a plenum coupled to the side wall. The plenum is configured to accept a flow of coolant. In certain embodiments, the coolant is the waste coolant from an on-board electronics cooling system. The system also includes a porous region in the side wall configured to allow a flow of bleed air from the channel through the porous region of the side wall into the plenum so as to aid the transition to supersonic flow. In certain embodiments, the flow of the bleed air is reduced at supersonic speeds by pressurization of the plenum with the coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Brad C. Leland, Andrew J. Tworek, Chan Cho
  • Patent number: 8572984
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising a nacelle and a breather duct. The breather duct provides communication between a component of the engine within the nacelle and the exterior of the nacelle and opens at an exhaust port on the external surface of the nacelle. There is a clean air outlet slot located downstream of the exhaust port and arranged to expel, in use, a sheet flow of clean air to form an aerodynamic barrier between the external surface of the nacelle and a flow of breather air expelled from the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Christopher T J Sheaf, Zahid M Hussain
  • Publication number: 20130283815
    Abstract: A cooling structure for a servo valve includes a shroud to enclose at least a portion of the servo valve; and a base connected to the shroud to define a cooling chamber surrounding the servo valve, the base including an inlet port to receive cooling air, a flow channel connecting to the inlet port and a plurality of flow passages connecting the flow channel to the cooling chamber to allow cooling air flow from the inlet port into the cooling chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Scott W. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20130283813
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor for generating compressed air. The compressor includes a rotor defined by a plurality of axial disks including a first disk and a second disk. A first row of blades extends radially outwardly from the first disk, and a second row of blades extends radially outwardly from the second disk. A row of cantilevered vanes is located at an axial location between the first row of blades and the second row of blades. A bleed path extends at least partially through the second disk and includes an entrance at an axial location between the first row of blades and at least a portion of the row of cantilevered vanes. The entrance communicates with a compressed air flowpath through the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: VINCENT P. LAURELLO, Kok-Mun Tham
  • Publication number: 20130283814
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine. The turbine includes a rotor, a stator, and a cooling insert. The rotor includes multiple turbine blades. The stator surrounds the rotor and includes an inner wall surrounding the multiple turbine blades, an outer wall surrounding the inner wall, and a cooling chamber between the inner wall and the outer wall. The cooling insert extends through an opening in the outer wall into the cooling chamber. The insert includes a side wall extending around an axis, an end wall crosswise to the axis, a set of lateral ports extending through the side wall, and end ports extending through the end wall. The cooling insert is configured to direct a cooling fluid through the set of lateral ports and end ports into the cooling chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Richard Johns, Don Conrad Johnson
  • Patent number: 8555654
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has in flow series a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section. The engine includes a turbine section rotor disc, and a stationary wall forward of a front face or rearward of a rear face of the rotor disc. The wall defines a cavity between the stationary wall and the rotor disc, and has a plurality of air entry nozzles through which cooling air can be delivered into the cavity at an inlet swirl angle. The engine further includes a cooling air supply arrangement which accepts a flow of compressed air and supplies the compressed air to the nozzles for delivery into the cavity. The cooling air supply arrangement and the nozzles are configured such that the inlet swirl angle of the air delivered into the cavity can be varied between a first inlet swirl angle and a second inlet swirl angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, PLC
    Inventors: Leo V. Lewis, Timothy J. Scanlon
  • Patent number: 8549865
    Abstract: A plug for regulating a flow of gas in a system is disclosed. The plug includes a housing disposed on a temperature boundary in a system. The housing defines a passage for flowing gas therethrough. The plug further includes at least one pressure-actuated valve disposed in the passage and movable between an open position and a closed position. The at least one pressure-actuated valve moves from the open position to the closed position as the pressure of the gas increases and moves from the closed position to the open position as the pressure of the gas decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Manikandan Thiyagarajan, Anantha Ramesh Rangaswamy, Pugalenthi Nanda Gopal
  • Patent number: 8549864
    Abstract: A system for modulating the amount of air supplied through a pressure boundary in a gas turbine is disclosed that includes a passageway located on the pressure boundary. Additionally, a temperature activated valve is mounted within the passageway and is configured to activate at a predetermined temperature threshold. Specifically, the temperature activated valve activates from a closed position to an open position when the local temperature at the temperature activated valve reaches or exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold to allow air to flow through the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Henry Langdon, II, Gary Charles Liotta
  • Publication number: 20130255273
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a compressor operative to output an airstream and a diffuser having an inlet to receive the airstream and an outlet to output the airstream. The outlet has an area larger than the inlet to diffuse the airstream. The gas turbine system also includes a fuel nozzle operative to receive fuel and emit the fuel in a combustor and at least one bleed duct having an inlet between the compressor and the outlet of the diffuser. The at least one bleed duct is operative to direct bleed air from downstream of the compressor to the fuel nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Geoffrey David Myers
  • Publication number: 20130247583
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for removing particulate matter from gas turbine engines during operation are provided. Gas turbine engines are also provided. The particulate matter is suspended in a primary gas flow stream passing through an engine flowpath. A flowpath surface of the engine flowpath is electrostatically charged to a first polarity to thereby impart an electrostatic charge of the first polarity to the particulate matter. A bleed discharge duct is electrostatically charged to a second polarity and intersects the engine flowpath to define a bleed air flowpath. The second polarity is opposite to the first polarity. A bleed port is in fluid communication with the bleed discharge duct and has an outlet exterior of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Yates Wong
  • Publication number: 20130247584
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes at least one combustor and an exhaust frame; a compressor adapted to supply air to the combustor and to supply bleed air to the exhaust frame. A cooling air supply duct is arranged to supply ambient air to the exhaust frame and at least one ejector is. arranged to supply the bleed air to the cooling air supply duct upstream of the exhaust frame. A control valve is configured to control the supply of compressor bleed air to the cooling air supply duct and to the exhaust frame as a function of turbine exhaust temperature and/or turbine load conditions and cooling requirements at the various turbine load conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ravi Shankar Venkata KASIBHOTLA, Sanyaswara Rao GANTI
  • Publication number: 20130247580
    Abstract: A system for recirculating a hot gas flowing through a gas turbine generally includes a transition piece having a downstream surface, a stationary nozzle having a leading edge surface adjacent to the transition piece downstream surface, a gap defined between the transition piece downstream surface and the stationary nozzle leading edge surface, and a projection having an inner arcuate surface radially separated from an outer surface. The projection generally extends from the stationary nozzle leading edge surface towards the transition piece downstream surface and at least partially decreases the gap. A seal extends across the gap and may be in contact with the transition piece and the stationary nozzle leading edge surface. A recirculation zone may be at least partially defined between the projection inner arcuate surface, the stationary nozzle leading edge surface and the transition piece downstream surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Victor John Morgan, Thomas James Brunt, Richard William Johnson
  • Patent number: 8528344
    Abstract: A bleed structure for a bleed passage in a gas turbine engine includes a first wall portion defining a first side of an opening for the passage, and a second wall portion defining a second side, opposite the first side of the opening. The first and second wall portions end at different positions in an extension direction of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventors: Hans MÃ¥rtensson, Martin Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8522528
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed an apparatus configured to diffuse a flow of bleed air. The apparatus having an inlet collar configured to receive the flow of bleed air in a direction substantially along a longitudinal axis of the apparatus. The apparatus further having an end wall longitudinally spaced apart from the inlet collar and configured to block the flow of bleed air in a direction substantially along the longitudinal axis. The apparatus also having a first diffuser wall spaced concentrically relative to a second diffuser wall, each of the first and second diffuser walls positioned between the inlet collar and the end wall and including a plurality of perforations configured to permit the flow of bleed air to exit the apparatus at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie John Faulder, Philip H. Schneider, Vin-King Yang, John Richard Wiltshire, Jeffrey Eugene Tarczy, Neil Pryke
  • Patent number: 8522529
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion unit including a turbojet and a heat exchanger located above the turbojet and drawing a cooling air stream and a hot air stream in the turbojet. Wherein the cooling air intake and hot air intake surfaces in the housing are directed forward of the turbojet and have normal lines inclined relative to the axis of the turbojet. The embodiment also concerns an aircraft equipped with at least one such propulsion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Martinou, Herve Marche
  • Publication number: 20130219920
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a heat exchanger, a diffuser case, a passageway and a nozzle assembly. The heat exchanger exchanges heat with a bleed airflow to provide a conditioned airflow. The diffuser case includes a plenum that receives the conditioned airflow. The passageway is fluidly connected between the heat exchanger and the diffuser case, and the conditioned airflow is communicated through the passageway and into the plenum. The nozzle assembly is in fluid communication with the plenum of the diffuser case to receive the conditioned airflow from the plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Ioannis Alvanos
  • Publication number: 20130219918
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a buffer cooling system having a first heat exchanger, a first passageway, a second passageway and a third passageway. The first heat exchanger exchanges heat with a bleed airflow to provide a conditioned airflow. The first passageway communicates a first portion of the conditioned airflow to a high pressure compressor of the gas turbine engine, the second passageway communicates a second portion of the conditioned airflow to a high pressure turbine of the gas turbine engine, and the third passageway communicates a third portion of the conditioned airflow to a low pressure turbine of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Ioannis Alvanos, Camelia Galos
  • Publication number: 20130219916
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a method for conditioning air received by a power generation system includes flowing ventilation air through a turbine system to control a temperature of the turbine system and receiving the ventilation air from the turbine system and mixing the ventilation with an ambient air to form an intake air to be directed to a compressor, wherein a temperature of the ventilation air is greater than the ambient air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bhachandra Arun Desai, Huong Van Vu
  • Publication number: 20130219917
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a heat exchanger, a bearing compartment, and a nozzle assembly in fluid communication with the bearing compartment. The heat exchanger exchanges heat with a bleed airflow to provide a conditioned airflow. The bearing compartment is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. A first passageway communicates the conditioned airflow from the heat exchanger to the bearing compartment. A second passageway communicates the conditioned airflow from the bearing compartment to the nozzle assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, loannis Alvanos
  • Publication number: 20130219919
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a heat exchanger, a mid-turbine frame, a passageway that extends through at least a portion of the mid-turbine frame and a first nozzle assembly. The heat exchanger exchanges heat with a bleed airflow to provide a conditioned airflow. The mid-turbine frame is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. The conditioned airflow is communicated through the passageway and is received by the first nozzle assembly to condition gas turbine engine hardware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, loannis Alvanos
  • Publication number: 20130219915
    Abstract: A fuel air heat exchanger for a gas turbine engine having fuel and air conduits in heat exchange relationship with one another, and a distribution conduit in heat exchange relationship with a component to be cooled. The distribution conduit is in fluid communication with the outlet of each air conduit. The heat exchanger also includes a secondary air inlet in fluid communication with the distribution conduit and a flow selection member selectively movable between first and second configurations. In the first configuration, the flow selection member closes the fluid communication between the secondary inlet and the distribution conduit. In the second configuration, the flow selection member opens the fluid communication between the secondary air inlet and the distribution conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Lev Alexander PROCIW, Eduardo Hawie
  • Patent number: 8516826
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bleed air supply system and a safety device for closing a valve in at least one of the several bleed air supply lines depending on an alarm signal that indicates an opening in at least one of the several bleed air supply lines. To stop the supply of bleed air irrespective of the type of the bleed air source, the safety device comprises a filter device for generating the alarm signal depending on the ground connection signal and on an opening signal from an opening signal device that indicates any opening of the bleed air supply line that is connected to the high-pressure ground connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations
    Inventors: Norbert Rostek, Jürgen Rehbock
  • Patent number: 8516827
    Abstract: A bleed valve bleeds hot gases from a compressor into a bypass duct of a gas turbine engine. The valve comprises a diffuser having opposing walls and a divider located between the walls and which define at least two passages through which a bleed fluid flows and into a fluid flow through the bypass duct. The passages are angled towards each other to force the two gas flows together to form a high aspect ratio plume. This plume has a relatively large surface area that that improves mixing with the bypass flow to cool it and prevented otherwise hot bleed flows from impinging on heat sensitive components adjacent the bypass duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Stuart J. Kirby
  • Patent number: 8516828
    Abstract: An assembly and method for providing buffer air and/or ventilation air within a gas turbine engine, the assembly includes an accessory gearbox and a centrifugal compressor. The accessory gearbox is connected to a driven shaft of the gas turbine engine. The centrifugal compressor is driven by the accessory gearbox during operation of the gas turbine engine to receive and compress a bleed air to produce the buffer air and/or the ventilation air. The buffer air and/or the ventilation air is communicated within the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Jorn A. Glahn
  • Publication number: 20130213054
    Abstract: A gas turbine inlet system includes a first passage that delivers inlet air to a compressor, a second passage that delivers fuel to a combustor, and a heat pump that transfers heat from the inlet air to the fuel by consuming electric power. The heat transfer causes the turbine inlet air temperature to drop and fuel temperature to increase with favorable effects on both turbine output and heat rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Genaral Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanyaswara Rao Ganti, Hariharan Sundaram, Mayur Abhay Keny, Anantha Ramesh, Pugalenthi Nandagopal
  • Patent number: 8511096
    Abstract: High bleed flow muffling systems are disclosed. Example muffling devices according to at least some aspects of the present disclosure may include a first orifice plate and a second orifice plate at least partially defining a plenum arranged to receive the flow of a compressible fluid. The first orifice plate and the second orifice plate may be arranged to produce cross-impinging flow such that flow through the orifices of the first orifice plate into the plenum is directed at the wall of the second orifice plate and such that flow through the orifices of the second orifice plate is directed at the wall of the first orifice plate. Some example embodiments may include an inlet flow restrictor disposed upstream of the first and second orifice plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christina Granger Morrissey Haugen, Kevin Samuel Klasing, Christopher Jon Potokar, Robert Proctor
  • Patent number: 8511095
    Abstract: A flow discharge device, such as a bleed assembly in a gas turbine engine, comprises a discharge outlet member having a skirt which is accommodated telescopically in a housing so as to be displaceable with respect to wall of a duct from a retracted position in which slots in the skirt lie outside the duct, and an extended position in which the slots open into the duct for the discharge of a secondary fluid into the flow in the duct. The discharge outlet member is moved to the extended position by the pressure of the secondary fluid acting on a silencer element. A spring returns the discharge outlet member to the retracted position when the flow of the secondary fluid is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Mullender, Brian A. Handley, Zahid M. Hussain
  • Patent number: 8505310
    Abstract: An ejector system and method of operation for combining high and low pressure fluid flow streams is disclosed. A nozzle chamber communicates with a high pressure fluid flow stream and a suction chamber communicates with a low pressure fluid flow stream. The outlet of the nozzle chamber exit into the suction chamber and include multiple nozzles such that the high pressure flow stream exits the nozzle chamber in multiple flow streams having multiple surface areas for interlayer drag between the flows. The low pressure fluid flow stream is entrained by the high pressure fluid flow streams exiting the multiple nozzles to define an intermediate pressure flow stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, David Wesley Ball, Jr., Ravi Praveen Eluripati, Christina Renee Pompey, Kenneth Neil Whaling
  • Publication number: 20130192251
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a buffer system that can communicate a buffer supply air to a portion of the gas turbine engine. The buffer system includes a first bleed air supply having a first pressure, a second bleed air supply having a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure, and an ejector that selectively augments the first bleed air supply to prepare the buffer supply air for communication to the portion of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Peter M. Munsell, Philip S. Stripinis
  • Publication number: 20130192249
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, an engine system includes one or more fuel circuits configured to provide gaseous fuel from a fuel source for combustion. The system further comprises a conduit in fluid communication with the one or more fuel circuits, wherein the conduit is configured to receive a first gaseous fuel flow and an oxidant flow for a reaction within the conduit, wherein a temperature of the conduit is controlled by a second gaseous fuel flow along an outer wall of the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Publication number: 20130192250
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a buffer system that can communicate buffer supply air to a portion of the gas turbine engine. The buffer system can include a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit selects between a first bleed air supply having a first pressure and a second bleed air supply having a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure to render a first buffer supply air having an intermediate pressure. The second circuit selects between a third bleed air supply and a fourth bleed air supply to communicate a second buffer supply air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Jorn A. Glahn, Clifton J. Crawley, Philip S. Stripinis, William K. Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20130192252
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a buffer system that communicates a buffer cooling air to at least one bearing structure and at least one shaft of the gas turbine engine. The buffer system includes a first bleed air supply and a conditioning device that conditions the first bleed air supply to render the first buffer supply air at an acceptable temperature to pressurize the at least one bearing structure and cool the at least one shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: William A. ACKERMANN, Peter M. MUNSELL
  • Publication number: 20130192253
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a first zone and a second zone downstream from the first zone. A buffer system can communicate a buffer cooling air to at least the first zone. A bleed source can communicate a bleed air to the second zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: William K. ACKERMANN, Philip S. STRIPINIS
  • Patent number: 8495883
    Abstract: A turbine engine assembly for a generator including a turbine engine having a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. An air bleed line is in communication with the combustor section for receiving combustor shell air from the combustor section and conveying the combustor shell air as bleed air to a plurality of stages of the turbine section. Bleed air is controlled to flow through the air bleed line when an operating load of the turbine engine assembly is less than a base load of the engine to bypass air exiting the compressor section around a combustor in the combustor section and effect a flow of high pressure combustor shell air to the stages of the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam M. Foust, Raymond S. Nordlund, Nitin Chhabra, David A. Little
  • Publication number: 20130187007
    Abstract: Bleed air systems for use with aircrafts and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a turbo-compressor including a compressor having a compressor inlet fluidly coupled to a low-pressure compressor of the aircraft engine and a compressor outlet fluidly coupled to a first system of an aircraft. The turbo-compressor also includes a turbine inlet fluidly coupled to a high-pressure compressor of the aircraft engine and a turbine outlet fluidly coupled to a second system of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Steve G. Mackin, George A. Ludlow
  • Publication number: 20130186100
    Abstract: A system for managing thermal transfer in an aircraft includes a fuel stabilization unit, a fuel-air heat exchanger, and a turbine. The fuel-air heat exchanger is located downstream from the fuel stabilization unit. The fuel-air heat exchanger places deoxygenized fuel in a heat exchange relationship with compressor bleed air to produce heated deoxygenized fuel and cooled bleed air. The turbine is operationally connected to the engine compressor and receives cooled bleed air from the fuel-air heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: William E. Rhoden, Peter L. Jalbert, Rudolph Thomas Beaupre, David Russell Scott
  • Patent number: 8490408
    Abstract: A compressor shroud has a continuous slot defined in a gaspath side surface thereof for communicating through the body of the shroud. Spaced-apart structural bridges span a rear portion of the slot in the shroud to maintain structural rigidity of the shroud. The method of forming the continuous slot is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Copr.
    Inventors: Jason Nichols, Hien Duong, Peter Townsend, Grigory Rukin
  • Patent number: 8484982
    Abstract: A bleed structure for a bleed passage in a gas turbine engine includes a first wall portion defining a first side of an opening for the passage, and a second wall portion defining a second side, opposite the first side of the opening. The first and second wall portions end at different positions in an extension direction of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventors: Hans MÃ¥rtensson, Martin Nilsson
  • Publication number: 20130174572
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft, including a dual-flow turbojet and a mounting structure for mounting this turbojet on the wing surface or on the fuselage of an aircraft. The mounting structure includes an aft aerodynamic fairing including a thermal protection floor to protect the mounting structure from the heat of a primary airstream channelled by an exhaust nozzle of the turbojet, as well as an air inlet provided in a longitudinal aerodynamic wall washed by a secondary airstream of the turbojet and delimiting together with an other similar wall a cavity isolated from the secondary airstream for extracting a cooling airstream from the secondary airstream, and air circulation means fed by the air inlet and having at least one outlet aperture emerging in a space between the thermal protection floor and the exhaust nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (Societe par Actions Simplifiee)
    Inventors: Fabien RAISON, Emmanuelle Dumont
  • Patent number: 8479523
    Abstract: In a gas turbine electric power generator where rotational speed of the gas turbine is synchronized to the electrical frequency of a power distribution grid and the gas turbine includes a compressor component, an air extraction path, and a control system for controlling an amount of compressor air extraction, a method is provided for controlling output power produced by a gas turbine. The method includes initiating compressor air extraction and controlling the amount of compressor air extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jacob Berry
  • Patent number: 8474270
    Abstract: A method of assembling an ejector is provided, wherein the method includes providing a motive nozzle tip having a centerline axis and including a nozzle tip edge having at least one protrusion extending through a plane substantially normal to the centerline axis. The method also includes coupling the motive nozzle tip to the ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carl Gerard Schott, Kevin W. Kinzie, John Joseph Lynch, David W. Ball, Gunnar Leif Siden, Kenneth Neil Whaling
  • Publication number: 20130160424
    Abstract: In a method for operating a combined cycle power plant (10), which has a gas turbine installation (11) and a water-steam cycle (21) connected to the gas turbine installation (11) by a waste heat steam generator (24) and has at least one steam turbine (23), the gas turbine installation (11) includes a compressor (13), a combustion chamber (14), and a turbine (16). To cool the turbine (16), air compressed at the compressor (13) is removed, cooled in at least one cooler (18, 19) flowed through by water, thus generating steam, and introduced into the turbine (16). At least with the gas turbine installation (11) running, prior to or during the start-up of the water-steam cycle (21), waste heat, which is contained in the steam generated in the at least one cooler (18, 19), is used to good effect for pre-heating the installation inside the combined cycle power plant (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130152601
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has, in flow series, a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section. The gas turbine engine further has a system for cooling the turbine section and providing tip clearance control between turbine blades and circumferentially distributed segments forming an annular shroud surrounding the blades outer tips. The turbine section cooling sub-system diverts a first cooling air flow, regulated by a first valve arrangement, from the compressor section to a heat exchanger and then to the turbine section to cool its components. The tip clearance control sub-system supplies a second cooling air flow, regulated by a second valve arrangement, to an engine case where the segments are mounted, which regulates thermal expansion of the case and controls the clearance between the segments and outer tips. The system further includes a closed-loop controller which issues demand signals to the first and second valve arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
  • Publication number: 20130152602
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has, in flow series, a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section. The engine further has a cooling system which diverts a cooling air flow received from the compressor section to a heat exchanger and then to the turbine section to cool a component thereof. The cooling air flow by-passes the combustor and is cooled in the heat exchanger. The cooling system has a valve arrangement which regulates the cooling air flow. The engine further has a closed-loop controller which estimates and/or measures one or more temperatures of the cooled component, compares values derived from the estimated and/or measured temperatures with one or more corresponding targets, and issues a demand signal to the valve arrangement based on the comparison and a value of the demand signal at a previous time step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Rolls-Royce PLC