Air Bleed Patents (Class 60/785)
  • Patent number: 8955334
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the startup of a gas turbine are described. A gas discharge component may be configured to discharge gas from a compressor component associated with the gas turbine. A fuel control component may be configured to control a fuel flow provided to a combustor component associated with the gas turbine. A drive component may be configured to supply a rotational force to a shaft associated with the gas turbine. At least one control device may be configured to (i) direct the gas discharge component to discharge gas from the compressor component, (ii) direct the fuel control component to adjust the fuel flow, and (iii) direct the drive component to rotate the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Patrick Hansen, Christopher Edward LaMaster, Timothy Edward DeJoris, David August Snider
  • Publication number: 20150033756
    Abstract: A gas turbine including: a turbine package, a gas turbine, a ventilation system for cooling the interior of the turbine package, and a lubricating oil circuit. The lubricating oil circuit comprises a lubricating oil pump, a lubricating oil tank, a primary lubricating oil cooler, and a secondary lubricating oil cooler. The secondary lubricating oil cooler is arranged in the turbine package, in a position lower than a rotary shaft of the gas turbine. The ventilation system is arranged and designed such that at least part of a package cooling airflow contacts the secondary lubricating oil cooler to remove heat from the lubricating oil circulating in the secondary lubricating oil cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Marco Lazzeri, Simone Bei, Filippo Viti, Roberto Merlo, Daniele Marcucci
  • Patent number: 8943793
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rear section (11) of an aircraft nacelle, that comprises two halves (13a, 13b) defining: a central portion (C) for receiving a turbojet engine (7), a cool-air annular passage (31) provided around said central portion (C), and at least one six-hour cavity (15) provided under said central portion (C). The rear section is characterized in that it comprises at least one duct (29a, 29b) for the fluidic communication between said annular passage (31) and said six-hour cavity (15) for maintaining the temperature inside the six-hour cavity (15) within a relatively low range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Aircelle
    Inventors: Eric Lecossais, Thierry Ledocte, Pascal Gerard Rouyer, Felix Carimali
  • Patent number: 8944754
    Abstract: A gas-turbine engine with at least one compressor and at least one bleed-air tapping device, which includes an annular duct in a radially outer wall of a flow duct, and with an annular closing element, which is arranged in the region of the annular duct and can be moved in a substantially axial direction from a closed position to an open position, with the closing element having an annular flow divider projection which in the open position projects in the flow duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Sacha Pichel
  • Publication number: 20150027129
    Abstract: In order to improve the cooling of an air-cooled gas turbine in the partial load operating mode it is proposed to provide a connecting line between two cooling air lines with different pressure levels, which connecting line leads from the second cooling air line at a relative high pressure level to the first cooling air line at a relative low pressure level. In this context, a cooling device for cooling an auxiliary cooling air stream, flowing from the second cooling air line into the first cooling air line, and an adjustment element are arranged in the connecting line. In addition to a gas turbine, a method for operating such a gas turbine is the subject matter of the disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Karsten FRANITZA, Peter MARX, Ulrich Robert STEIGER, Andrea BRIGHENTI
  • Publication number: 20150027130
    Abstract: A valve includes a body with bleed ports and a ring. The ring surrounds the body and includes two adjacent ring segments. The ring is movable between an open position and a closed position, the latter of which prevents flow through the ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Edward LeBlanc, Kevin J. Cummings
  • Patent number: 8938973
    Abstract: An aircraft air system includes a gas turbine engine, a bleed air duct directing compressed air bled from a compressor to an inner compartment within the aircraft, and an air contamination detector located downstream of the gas turbine engine compressor. The air contamination detector includes a visual indicator which detects the presence of a fluid contaminant within the bleed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Kevin Allan Dooley, Kiritkumar Patel
  • Patent number: 8938975
    Abstract: An inner combustion chamber casing of a turbomachine, which is intended to be placed downstream of a centrifugal compressor, is provided. The casing has the shape of a disc, pierced by a central circle, and includes on its disc at least one guide vane of the drawn-off air. The guide vane extends longitudinally over the disc between the periphery of the disc and the central circle and spreads out axially from the disc so as to form with the downstream face of the centrifugal compressor a guide channel for the air which is drawn off upon exit from the said compressor. The guide vane has a curved shape orienting in a radial direction at the level of its most central end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Laurent Donatien Behaghel, Frederic Dallaine, Delphine Leroux, Benjamin Philippe Pierre Pegouet
  • Patent number: 8935926
    Abstract: An impeller includes a plurality of vanes formed around a hub, each of the plurality of vanes defines an offset between a leading edge and a trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joel H. Wagner, Shankar S. Magge, Keith A. Santeler
  • Patent number: 8931284
    Abstract: A flow discharge device, such as a compressor bleed outlet discharging into a bypass duct of a gas turbine engine, comprises an outlet panel 46 which is perforated by openings 48, 50 disposed in an array which tapers in the downstream direction with respect to the flow B in the bypass duct. The configuration of the array of openings 48, 50 creates a plume 60 of tapering form, which enables the bypass flow B to come together downstream of the plume 60 with minimal wake generation, to provide a shield of cooler air so as to avoid contact between the hot gas plume 60 and a wall of 27 of the bypass duct 22. The resulting aerofoil-shaped cross section of the plume 60 also reduces any blocking effect in the bypass duct 22, with consequent performance benefits for the engine fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Zahid M Hussain, Jonathan G Bird
  • Patent number: 8925330
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flow discharge device (30) for discharging a flow of gas (F) from a first gaseous fluid (A) into a second gaseous fluid (B) which is of a lower pressure than the first gaseous fluid. The discharge device comprises a valve (34) disposed between the first and second gaseous fluids and arranged to regulate the discharge flow (F) and a swirler means (50) disposed between the valve (34) and the second gaseous fluid. The swirler means (50) comprises a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced vanes (61, 63, 65). In use the swirler means (50) swirls the discharge flow (F). This acts to reduce the energy, and therefore the pressure of the discharge flow. This results in quieter operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Britchford, Nicolas L. Balkota
  • Patent number: 8920128
    Abstract: Embodiments of a gas turbine engine cooling system for deployment within a gas turbine engine are provided, as are embodiment of a method for producing a gas turbine engine cooling system. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine cooling system includes an impeller having a hub, a plurality of hub bleed air passages, and a central bleed air conduit. The plurality of hub bleed air passages each have an inlet formed in an outer circumferential surface of the hub and an outlet formed in an inner circumferential surface of the hub. The central bleed air conduit is fluidly coupled to the outlets of the plurality of hub bleed air passages and is configured to conduct bleed air discharged by the plurality of hub bleed air passages to a section of the gas turbine engine downstream of the impeller to provide cooling air thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Matwey, David K. Jan, Srinivas Jaya Chunduru
  • Patent number: 8915085
    Abstract: A bleed assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The assembly includes: a duct having an inlet and an outlet; a bleed valve that controls the flow of bleed fluid into the inlet; and a dome-shaped diffuser screen which covers the outlet. The diffuser screen has a plurality of through-holes for passage of the bleed fluid. Each through-hole has one or more nearest-neighbour through-holes at a nearest-neighbour spacing. At the periphery of the diffuser screen, the average nearest-neighbour spacing of the through-holes at a given radial distance from the centre of the diffuser screen increases with increasing radial distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Quentin L. Balandier, John P. Vardy
  • Patent number: 8910485
    Abstract: The present application provides a stoichiometric exhaust gas recovery turbine system. The stoichiometric exhaust gas recovery turbine system may include a main compressor for compressing a flow of ambient air, a turbine, and a stoichiometric exhaust gas recovery combustor. The stoichiometric exhaust gas recovery combustor may include a combustion liner, an extended flow sleeve in communication with the main compressor, and an extraction port in communication with the turbine. The extended flow sleeve receives the flow of ambient air from the main compressor so as to cool the combustion liner and then the flow of ambient air splits into an extraction flow to the turbine via the extraction port and a combustion flow within the combustion liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Sam David Draper, Kyle Wilson Moore
  • Patent number: 8910465
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique gas turbine engine heat exchange system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and heat exchange systems for gas turbine engines. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas J. Snyder
  • Patent number: 8904805
    Abstract: An environmental control system includes a higher pressure tap to be associated with a higher compression location in a main compressor section associated with a gas turbine engine. A lower pressure tap is associated with a lower pressure location, which is at a lower pressure than the higher pressure location. The lower pressure tap communicates to a first passage leading to a downstream outlet and a second passage leading into a compressor section of a turbocompressor. The higher pressure tap leads into the turbine section of the turbocompressor such that air in the higher pressure tap drives the turbine section to in turn drive the compressor section of the turbocompressor. A combined outlet of the compressor section of the turbocompressor and the turbine section intermix and pass downstream to be delivered to an aircraft use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Harold W. Hipsky, Gabriel L. Suciu, Christopher M. Dye
  • Patent number: 8899050
    Abstract: An axial compressor providing a thermal adjustment of a housing of a compressor of a stationary gas turbine to the rotor is provided. A partial flow is decoupled from the compressor air flow for cooling gas turbine components. The contact of the partial flow decoupled from the compressor with the interior side of the housing is substantially limited, or even avoided, by a separating element in a collection chamber annularly encompassing the flow path in order to prevent the premature thermal heating of the gas turbine or of the housing during cold starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Madjid Alasti, Hans Maghon
  • Publication number: 20140345294
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bleed structure which includes a forward wall and a rear structural wall to define a deposit space downstream of the bleed structure for a hail event of a predetermined duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Justin R. Urban, Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Patent number: 8893509
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has an exhaust diffuser. A first path extends radially through the outer and inner cones of the diffuser and has a radially inward end and a radially outward end, the inward end fluidly connected to the central cavity. An air supply or ejector is fluidly connected to the radially outward end of the first path, for drawing air by using the compressed air through the first path into the central cavity. A first opening is defined in the inner cone to fluidly connect between the exhaust channel and the central cavity. The first path and the first opening are so positioned that the cooling air is delivered from the air supply through the first path, the central cavity, and the first opening into the exhaust channel as it makes thermal contact with an object positioned in the central cavity to cool the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Tanimura
  • Patent number: 8893510
    Abstract: An air injection system for use in a gas turbine engine includes at least one outlet port through which air is extracted from the engine only during less than full load operation, at least one rotor cooling pipe, which is used to inject the air extracted from the outlet port(s) into a rotor chamber, a piping system that provides fluid communication between the one outlet port(s) and the rotor cooling pipe(s), a blower system for extracting air from the engine through the outlet port(s) and for conveying the extracted air through the piping system and the rotor cooling pipe(s) into the rotor chamber, and a valve system. The valve system is closed during full load engine operation to prevent air from passing through the piping system, and open during less than full load engine operation to allow air to pass through the piping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Kok-Mun Tham, Ching-Pang Lee, Brian H. Terpos, Dustan M. Simko
  • Patent number: 8893511
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Geoffrey David Myers
  • Patent number: 8893512
    Abstract: A compressor bleed cooling fluid feed system for a turbine engine for directing cooling fluids from a compressor to a turbine airfoil cooling system to supply cooling fluids to one or more airfoils of a rotor assembly is disclosed. The compressor bleed cooling fluid feed system may enable cooling fluids to be exhausted from a compressor exhaust plenum through a downstream compressor bleed collection chamber and into the turbine airfoil cooling system. As such, the suction created in the compressor exhaust plenum mitigates boundary layer growth along the inner surface while providing flow of cooling fluids to the turbine airfoils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric E. Donahoo, Christopher W. Ross
  • Publication number: 20140338360
    Abstract: An example turbomachine structure includes a case having a radially extending port, and at least one rib configured to direct flow through and past the port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: United Technologies Corporation
  • Publication number: 20140325991
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a propulsion unit with a compressor and a bleed air device for providing bleed air from the propulsion unit, a fuel tank for a fuel, at least one fuel cell, a reactor for reforming fuel from the fuel tank to a hydrogen-containing fuel gas, and at least one feed unit with a bleed air inlet, a fuel inlet, an oxidizing agent outlet, and a fuel outlet. The feed unit can selectively and not simultaneously feed an oxidizing agent by means of the oxidizing agent outlet or fuel by means of the fuel outlet into the reactor. The feed unit is connected to the bleed air device and designed to provide the oxidizing agent based on bleed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Kan-Ern Liew, Juergen Steinwandel
  • Publication number: 20140318143
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a shaft, a first bearing structure and a second bearing structure that support the shaft. Each of the first bearing structure and the second bearing structure includes a bearing compartment that contains a lubricant and a seal that contains the lubricant within the bearing compartments. A buffer system is configured to pressurize the seals to prevent the lubricant from escaping the bearing compartments. The buffer system includes a first circuit configured to supply a first buffer supply air to the first bearing structure, a second circuit configured to supply a second buffer supply air to the second bearing structure, and a controller configured to select between at least two bleed air supplies to communicate the first buffer supply air and the second buffer supply air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jorn A. Glahn, William K. Ackermann, Clifton J. Crawley, Philip S. Stripinis
  • Patent number: 8869538
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is disclosed having a compressor, combustor, and turbine and a flow path therethrough. A flow path member is disposed between an inner surface of the flow path and a rotating shaft that couples the compressor and turbine. The flow path member directs a cooling fluid along a path to cool a portion of the gas turbine engine between the inner surface and the rotating shaft. The flow path member is retained to permit radially free motion and can also be retained to permit axially free motion. The flow path member can have feed holes that permit the cooling fluid to pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sujit Nanda, Todd S. Taylor, Brad Farris
  • Publication number: 20140311157
    Abstract: A vane carrier temperature control system for use in a gas turbine engine includes a first cooling air source, a second cooling air source, and an air temperature control system. The first cooling air source supplies a first portion of vane carrier cooling air extracted from a compressor section of the engine to a first section of a vane carrier that supports a plurality of rows of vanes within a turbine section of the engine. The second cooling air source supplies a second portion of vane carrier cooling air extracted from the compressor section to a second section of the vane carrier spaced from the first section in an axial direction defined by a direction of hot working gas flow through the turbine section. The air temperature control system controls a temperature of at least one of the first and second portions of vane carrier cooling air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Vincent P. Laurello, Kok-Mun Tham
  • Patent number: 8863529
    Abstract: A compressor of a gas turbine engine may have a bypass that routes a compressed air flow from within the compressor and directs the compressed air flow to a combustor. The bypass may have an inlet positioned just ahead of a downstream stage of the compressor and an outlet positioned to route the compressed air flow from the bypass to a diffuser or directly to a combustor. A valve may be used within the bypass and may be located near the inlet, near the outlet, or both. The valve may have the form of an annular sleeve in some embodiments and may be actuated with an actuator. The various arrangements allow for a compressor having a variable compression ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew J. Starr
  • Publication number: 20140305130
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling bleed air flow into an air cycle machine that includes a bleed air inlet and a conditioned air outlet is provided. The system and method include discharging bleed air from an operating gas turbine engine, sensing exhaust gas temperature (EGT) of the gas turbine engine, sensing conditioned air temperature at the conditioned air outlet, and controlling bleed air flow into the air cycle machine based on the sensed EGT and on the sensed conditioned air temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
  • Publication number: 20140298823
    Abstract: A precooler for an aircraft engine system includes a precooler core and a precooler inlet to direct a compressor bleed flow into the precooler core to cool the compressor bleed flow. The precooler further includes a precooler outlet to direct the compressor bleed flow from the precooler to a selected component of the aircraft engine system and a precooler bleed port through which a portion of the compressor bleed flow is diverted to a secondary component of the aircraft engine system. The precooler bleed port is oriented such that flow entering the precooler bleed port must substantially reverse direction from a direction of the compressor bleed flow through the precooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Bizzarro
  • Patent number: 8850825
    Abstract: A system may include a compressor, a heat exchanger and an ITM. The compressor is configured to receive an air stream and compress the air stream to generate a pressurized stream. The heat exchanger is configured to receive the pressured stream and indirectly heat the pressurized stream using heat from an oxygen stream from an Ion Transport Membrane (ITM). The ITM is configured to receive the heated pressurized stream and generate an oxygen stream and the non-permeate stream, wherein the non-permeate stream is passed to a gas turbine burner and the oxygen stream is passed to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: GTLpetrol LLC
    Inventor: Rodney J. Allam
  • Patent number: 8850827
    Abstract: A control valve is provided that includes a valve body, a valve element, a first radial seal, and a second radial seal. The valve body forms an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid flow passage therebetween. The valve element is disposed at least partially within the valve body, and is movable between at least a closed position and an open position. When the valve element is in the closed position, fluid is restricted from flowing through the fluid flow passage. When the valve element is in the open position, the fluid is allowed to flow through the fluid flow passage. The first radial seal is disposed against the valve body at a first distance from a centerline of the control valve. The second radial seal is disposed against the valve body at a second distance from the centerline, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Franconi
  • Patent number: 8844863
    Abstract: Device for mechanically decoupled retention of components perfused by hot gas in an aircraft, with a coupling member for coupling to a component emitting hot gas and to a component accepting hot gas, with a holder, with a flange, and with a bellows, the holder being fittable to a housing or frame connected to the component emitting hot gas, the bellows being fastened by one end to the flange and by the other end to the holder, and the coupling member being fastened to the flange. By virtue of the device, both an angular misalignment and radial and axial positional misalignment can be equalized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Piesker
  • Publication number: 20140286746
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine compressor includes a rotor defining a central axis of rotation and a plurality of blades which project into an annular compressor gas flow passage, and a shroud circumferentially surrounding the rotor and having a radially inner surface adjacent to the blade tips. Bleed holes extend through the shroud adjacent the blade tips, each of the bleed holes having an inlet end disposed in the shroud radially inner surface and an outlet end disposed in a shroud radially outer surface. Bleed air removed from the annular gas flow passage flows through the bleed holes from the inlet to the outlet ends. The outlet end of each bleed hole is located circumferentially upstream of the inlet end relative to a direction of rotational flow in the annular gas flow passage driven by a direction of rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
  • Patent number: 8833053
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided for an aero gas turbine engine. The system has a duct which diverts a portion of a bypass air stream of the engine. A heat exchanger located in the duct receives cooling air for cooling components of the engine. The cooling air is cooled in the heat exchanger by the diverted bypass air stream. After cooling the cooling air, the spent diverted air stream is routed to a tail cone located at the exit of the engine and ejected through a nozzle at the tail cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Adam P Chir, Andrew M Rolt
  • Publication number: 20140250898
    Abstract: Bleed air systems for use with aircrafts and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a turbo-compressor including a compressor has a compressor inlet fluidly coupled to a low-pressure compressor of an aircraft engine and an intermediate port of a high-pressure compressor of the aircraft engine. The compressor inlet to receive fluid from either the low-pressure compressor or the high-pressure compressor based on a first system parameter of the aircraft. A turbine has a turbine inlet fluidly coupled to the intermediate port of the high pressure compressor and a high-pressure port of the high pressure compressor of the aircraft engine. The turbine inlet to receive fluid from either the intermediate port of the high-pressure compressor or the high-pressure port of the high-pressure compressor based on a second system parameter of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Steve G. Mackin, David W. Foutch
  • Patent number: 8831855
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a servo-control loop (3) of an actuator system (2) for actuating variable-geometry components of a turbojet, said method comprising: an estimation step of estimating a plurality of monitoring parameters from operating data of the servo-control loop (2); an evaluation step of evaluating a plurality of indicators from the monitoring parameters; an evaluation step for evaluating at least one signature matrix, each signature matrix being representative of the values of at least some of the indicators; and a detection and location step of detecting and locating a degradation affecting the servo-control loop as a function of said at least one signature matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Jean-Remi Andre Masse, Christian Aurousseau, Regis Michel Paul Deldalle, Xavier Flandrois, Aziz Sif
  • Publication number: 20140245749
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a compressor section received within an inner housing. An is an outer housing is spaced radially outwardly of the inner core housing. A nacelle has an anti-icing system which taps compressed air from the compressor section through an anti-ice valve and to the nacelle. The anti-ice valve is opened at startup of the gas turbine engine to assist compressor stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: United Technologies Corporation
  • Publication number: 20140245747
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine variable bleed apparatus includes a variable bleed valve door disposed in a bleed inlet in a transition duct, rotatable about two or more separate pivot points, operable to open and close an aft bleed slot extending outwardly from transition duct, and operable to open and close a forward bleed slot extending inwardly into transition duct. Door is operable to transition between a first position with aft bleed slot open and forward bleed slot closed to a second position with aft bleed slot closed and forward bleed slot open without fully closing door. Door is rotatable about an axis translatable between the two or more separate pivot points. Transition duct having a transition duct conical angle at least about 10 degrees greater than a booster conical angle of a booster outer shroud upstream of transition duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Byron Andrew Pritchard, JR., Paul Alfred Pezzi, George Gould Cunningham, III, Thomas Ory Moniz, Steven Alan Ross, Raymond Gust Holm
  • Patent number: 8820091
    Abstract: A cooling fluid air injection system for use in a gas turbine engine includes at an external cooling fluid source, at least one rotor cooling pipe, which is used to inject cooling fluid from the source into a rotor chamber, a piping system that provides fluid communication between the source and the rotor cooling pipe(s), a blower system for conveying the cooling fluid through the piping system and the rotor cooling pipe(s) into the rotor chamber, and a valve system. The valve system is closed during full load engine operation to prevent cooling fluid from the source from passing through the piping system, and open during less than full load engine operation to allow cooling fluid from the source to pass through the piping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Kok-Mun Tham, Ching-Pang Lee, Vincent P. Laurello, Abdullatif M. Chehab, David A. Kemp, John A. Fussner, Yan Yin, Bijay K. Sultanian, Weidong Cai
  • Publication number: 20140238042
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan, a compressor section, and a turbine section configured to drive the compressor section and the fan. A buffer system is configured to 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. A method and a buffer system are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Peter M. Munsell, Philip S. Stripinis
  • Patent number: 8813472
    Abstract: A system includes a controller configured to control a semi-closed power cycle system. The controller is configured to receive at least one of a first signal indicative of an oxygen concentration within a first gas flow through a primary compressor, a second signal indicative of power output by the semi-closed power cycle system, a third signal indicative of a temperature of a second gas flow through a turbine, and a fourth signal indicative of a mass flow balance within the semi-closed power cycle system. The controller is also configured to adjust at least one of the first gas flow through the primary compressor, a fuel flow into a combustor, a fraction of the first gas flow extracted from the primary compressor, and an air flow through a feed compressor based on the at least one of the first signal, the second signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Anthony West, Alan Meier Truesdale
  • Patent number: 8794009
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jorn A. Glahn, Clifton J. Crawley, Philip S. Stripinis, William K. Ackermann
  • Patent number: 8789376
    Abstract: An aircraft compound cooling system includes a power thermal management system for cooling one or more aircraft components, an air cycle system, a vapor cycle system, and a turbine cooling circuit for cooling bleed air and cooling turbine components in a high pressure turbine in the engine. An air to air FLADE duct heat exchanger is disposed in a FLADE duct of the engine and a valving apparatus is operable for selectively switching the FLADE duct heat exchanger between the turbine cooling circuit and the air cycle system. A vapor cycle system includes a vapor cycle system condenser that may be in heat transfer cooling relationship with the air cycle system. An air cycle system heat exchanger and an engine burn fuel to air heat exchanger in the vapor cycle system condenser may be used for cooling a working fluid in a refrigeration loop of the vapor cycle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: George Albert Coffinberry
  • Publication number: 20140196469
    Abstract: An aircraft pressurization system, includes an auxiliary compressor for further compressing compressed air received from a low pressure compressor section of a gas turbine engine while the compressed air is below a predetermined pressure level; a bleed passage for fluidically connecting the auxiliary compressor to the low pressure compressor section; and an environmental control system coupled to an output of the auxiliary compressor for conditioning the compressed air to a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adam M. Finney, Louis J. Bruno
  • Publication number: 20140196470
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section, a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor, a fan section configured to be driven by the turbine section via a geared architecture, and a buffer system that communicates buffer air to a portion of the gas turbine engine. The buffer system includes a first circuit configured to selectively mix 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 provide a first buffer supply air having an intermediate pressure compared to the first pressure and the second pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jorn A. Glahn, Clifton J. Crawley, JR., Philip S. Stripinis, William K. Ackermann
  • Patent number: 8769962
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a buffer system that includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit can communicate a first buffer supply air to a first portion of the gas turbine engine and the second circuit can communicate a second buffer supply air to a second portion of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jorn A. Glahn, William K. Ackermann, Clifton J. Crawley, Philip S. Stripinis
  • Publication number: 20140182307
    Abstract: A system includes a bleed system configured to direct a bleed flow from a high pressure region to a low pressure region. The bleed system includes a valve configured to control the bleed flow through the bleed system and a staged bleed conduit configured to incrementally depressurize the bleed flow. The staged bleed conduit includes an inlet coupled to the valve, a first stage configured to depressurize the bleed flow that is coupled to the inlet, a second stage configured to depressurize the bleed flow that is coupled to the first stage, and an outlet coupled to the second stage. The outlet is configured to direct the bleed flow to the low pressure region. The inlet, the first stage, the second stage, and the outlet are disposed along parallel axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Balakrishnan Ponnuraj, Eric Hongzhao Weng, Tu Duc Nguyen, Fernando Lopez-Parra, Pawel Jan Jablecki
  • Patent number: 8756910
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique cooling system for a gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for cooling one or more objects of cooling. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Sean Donovan, William Daniel Feltz, Steven Wesley Tomlinson
  • Publication number: 20140165588
    Abstract: A disclosed bleed air system utilizes high pressure air from a high pressure compressor to drive the turbo compressor to increase a pressure of bleed air drawn from the low pressure compressor. Air drawn from the low pressure compressor is at a lower temperature and pressure than that encountered from the high pressure compressor. The turbo compressor increases the pressure of airflow and provides that airflow into the main bleed air passage to be communicated to systems utilizing the bleed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathan Snape, Brian D. Merry, Allan R. Penda, Gabriel L. Suciu