Re-expansion Patents (Class 60/791)
  • Patent number: 11668239
    Abstract: A system includes a temperature control system configured to couple to an air intake section of a gas turbine system. The temperature control system includes a variable heating system having one or more heaters configured to heat an airflow in the air intake section when the airflow is cooled by an evaporative cooling system. The temperature control system is configured to control the variable heating system to vary an amount of heat supplied by the one or more heaters based on at least one temperature measurement relative to a temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bradly Aaron Kippel, Scott Arthur Day
  • Patent number: 11519337
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit (APU) includes, in serial flow communication: an engine compressor, a combustor and a turbine, the turbine rotatable about an engine axis. A first shaft operatively connects the turbine to the engine compressor and extends non-parallel to the engine axis. A second shaft operatively connects the turbine to a load and extends non-parallel to the engine axis. A method of operating an APU is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Timothy Redford, David Menheere
  • Patent number: 11396848
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a turbine engine that provides a modulated thrust control malfunction accommodation (TCMA). The fuel supply system can include a fuel line that fluidly connects a fuel tank and the turbine engine. A fuel pump and a fuel metering valve can be fluidly connected to the fuel line. A bypass line can fluidly connect to the fuel line. Flow through the bypass line can be controlled using a bypass valve and a balancing pressure valve. The TCMA can then modulate the fuel flow using the valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: David Justin Brady
  • Patent number: 11313285
    Abstract: A method for actively calculating a capability of an electronically controlled valve is provided. The method including the steps of: a) operating the electronically controlled valve in accordance with a task; b) testing the electronically controlled valve in order to determine a range of movement of the electronically controlled valve in accordance with an initial gain, wherein the testing of the electronically controlled valve occurs after the valve has been operated in accordance with the task; c) determining a new gain required for providing a predetermined range of movement of the electronically controlled valve; and d) repeating steps a-c at least once, wherein the new gain is used to operate the valve in accordance with the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tyler J. Selstad
  • Patent number: 11286867
    Abstract: In a fuel control system (10) for a gas turbine engine (1) having a gas generator (4) and a turbine (6) driven by the gas generator (4): a main fuel regulator (12) determines a demand (Wfdem) of fuel flow (Wf) to be introduced in the gas turbine engine (1), based on an input request (PLA); and a first limiter stage (14), operatively coupled to the main fuel regulator (12), causes an adjustment of the fuel flow (Wf) based on engine safety operating limits. The first limiter stage (14) is provided with a Ngdot limiter (20) to cause an adjustment of the fuel flow (Wf) when the gas generator speed rate of change (Ngdot) is determined to overcome acceleration/deceleration scheduled safety limits; the Ngdot limiter (20) implements a predictor (23), to perform a prediction (Wfdot) of the fuel flow rate of change (Wfdot), or fuel flow (Wf), allowing the gas generator speed rate of change (Ngdot) to track a scheduled reference value (Ngdotref).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: GE Avio S.r.l.
    Inventors: Stefano Ettorre, Pierpaolo Forte, Giuseppe Donini
  • Patent number: 11168828
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a casing including a plurality of interconnected casing segments defining an outer surface of the casing. One of the casing segments is a gearbox segment enclosing a gearbox and having a gearbox flange extending radially outwardly from the outer surface of the casing. The engine includes a bearing housing enclosing at least one bearing and having an annular body with an inner segment disposed within the casing. The annular body having an extension segment extending radially outwardly from the inner segment to a bearing housing flange disposed radially-outwardly of the outer surface of the casing. The bearing housing flange is engageable with the gearbox flange to removably mount the gearbox segment to the bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Ian A. Macfarlane
  • Patent number: 11149578
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a turbomachine, a primary fan, and an electric machine. The turbomachine includes a first turbine and a second turbine, with at least one of the first turbine or second turbine operably connected to the electric machine and the second turbine driving the primary fan. The propulsion system additionally includes an auxiliary propulsor assembly configured to be mounted at a location away from the turbomachine and the primary fan. The electric machine is in electrical communication with the auxiliary propulsor assembly for transferring power with the auxiliary propulsor assembly during operation of the propulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Narendra Digamber Joshi, Michael Solomon Idelchik
  • Patent number: 11125239
    Abstract: A reverse flow gas turbine engine has a low pressure (LP) spool and a high pressure (HP) spool arranged sequentially in an axial direction. The LP spool comprises an LP compressor disposed forward of an LP turbine and drivingly connected thereto via an LP compressor gear train. The HP spool comprises an HP compressor in flow communication with the LP compressor, and an HP turbine disposed forward of the HP compressor and drivingly connected thereto via an HP shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Ghislain Plante, Patrick Valois
  • Patent number: 11073019
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a metallic shaft for connecting components of a gas turbine engine. Example embodiments include a metallic shaft (400) for connecting components of a gas turbine engine, the shaft (400) having a longitudinal axis (410) and comprising: a first section (401) extending from a first end (403) of the shaft (400) to a joint (405), the first section (401) composed of a material having a first thermal expansion coefficient along the longitudinal axis (410); a second section (402) extending from a second opposing end (404) of the shaft to the joint (405), the second section (402) composed of a material having a second thermal expansion coefficient along the longitudinal axis (410) that is different to the first thermal expansion coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Gareth M Armstrong, Michael P Keenan
  • Patent number: 11067004
    Abstract: A fluid system for a gas turbine engine includes a first supply line, a hydraulic accessory actuable by a fluid, and a second supply line fluidly connected the hydraulic accessory and to the first supply line upstream of the component. An accumulator is fluidly connected to the second supply line upstream of the hydraulic accessory. The accumulator is operable to fill a reservoir with the fluid from the first supply line via the second supply line, and to deliver the fluid to the hydraulic accessory via the second supply line. The first supply line may be a fuel or lubricant main supply line of the engine. A method of actuating a hydraulic accessory is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Nicholas Ngoly, Simon Hartropp, Andrew Walz, Roger Lachance
  • Patent number: 10982597
    Abstract: Isolation seals for gas turbine engines are described. The isolation seals include an elastomer body configured to be attached to a first case structure at a first end and a second case structure at a second end and a seal shield configured to be attached to the first case structure, the seal shield having a shielding member configured to define a protected space between the shielding member and the elastomer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brandon T. Slaney, Michael Joseph Murphy, Gary D. Roberge
  • Patent number: 10975776
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a correction factor for a fuel flow of a fuel system of an engine is determined. A nominal fuel flow is determined based on a metering valve stroke. The correction factor is applied to the nominal fuel flow to produce an estimated fuel flow to control combustion in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tyler J. Selstad
  • Patent number: 10961922
    Abstract: A power turbine control system for a gas turbine engine may comprise a controller comprising one or more processors in communication with the gas turbine engine. The processors may comprise an engine control module configured to receive a torque request signal and generate a torque achieved signal. A rate of change of power turbine speed estimation module may generate an estimated rate of change of power turbine speed signal. A dynamic inversion power turbine governor module may generate the torque request signal based on the torque achieved signal and estimated rate of change of power turbine speed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Meisner, Chaohong Cai, Timothy J. Crowley
  • Patent number: 10954862
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly comprising a drive gearbox (10) for an aircraft (1) and an accessory (30), the gearbox comprising: a connecting shaft (110) adapted to be driven by the propulsion system, a main shaft (120) adapted to be driven by the connecting shaft (110), and two bevel gears (122, 123) which are integral with the main shaft (120) and have different diameters (d122, d123), the accessory comprising: a high-speed accessory shaft (31) comprising a bevel gear (310), a low-speed accessory shaft (32) comprising a bevel gear (320), such that each gear (310, 320) on the accessory shafts (31, 32) meshes with one of the two bevel gears (122, 123) on the main shaft (120), so that the two accessory shafts (31, 32) rotate at different speeds relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Maxence Guillemont, Lionel Bauduin, Samuel Raymond Germain Becquerelle, Julien Viel
  • Patent number: 10815899
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has an in-line mounted accessory gear box (AGB) and an accessory drivingly connected to the AGB, the accessory being oriented transversally to the engine centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Lazar Mitrovic, Jean Dubreuil, Eric Durocher, Keith Morgan, Michel Desjardins
  • Patent number: 10677159
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a low pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, a turbine, and a gearbox. The high pressure compressor includes a plurality of stages split into a forward portion and an aft portion. One or both of the forward portion and the aft portion of the high pressure compressor are driven by the turbine through a gearbox such that the forward portion and the aft portion may rotate at different speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Justin Paul Smith
  • Patent number: 10578031
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a malfunction in a first turboshaft engine, referred to as an inoperative engine (4), of a twin-engine helicopter, and for controlling a second turboshaft engine, referred to as a healthy engine (5), each engine (4, 5) comprising protective stops regulated by a regulation device which define a maximum power regime, characterised in that it comprises: a step (10) of detecting an indication of failure of said inoperative engine (4); a step (11) of modifying said protective stops of said healthy engine (5) into protective stops which correspond to a maximum power single-engine regime, in the case of the detected indication of failure; a step (12) of confirming a failure of said inoperative engine (4); a step (13) of controlling an increase in the flow rate of fuel supply of said healthy engine (5), in the event of a confirmed failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES
    Inventors: Fabien Lescher, Jean Philippe Jacques Marin, Philippe Etchepare
  • Patent number: 10502142
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for a gas turbine engine with an axial centerline. This assembly includes a gearbox, a first torque transmission apparatus and a second torque transmission apparatus. The gearbox includes a plurality of first gears and a plurality of second gears. The first gears are meshed together and respectively rotatable about parallel first gear axes. The second gears are meshed together and respectively rotatable about parallel second gear axes. Each of the first gear axes and each of the second gear axes is non-parallel with the axial centerline. The first torque transmission apparatus is configured to drive the first gears. The second torque transmission apparatus is configured to drive the second gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Hung Duong, Jonathan F. Zimmitti, William G. Sheridan, Michael E. McCune, Brian Merry
  • Patent number: 10487697
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide compression system is disclosed. The system comprises at as a first compressor stage and a second compressor stage arranged in series, at least one inter-stage heat exchanger arranged to receive a compressed gas containing carbon dioxide flowing from the first compressor stage into the second compressor stage and to remove waste heat from the compressed gas, and an energy conversion unit, wherein at least part of the waste heat is recovered and transformed into mechanical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.P.S.
    Inventors: Matteo Berti, Francesco Bellantone, Marco De Iaco, Paolo Del Turco, Manuele Bigi
  • Patent number: 10480408
    Abstract: A system platform includes a gas turbine engine coupled to a high power generator. The high power generator, driven by the gas turbine engine, supplies power to high power subsystems of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Erik A. Munevar
  • Patent number: 10222065
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a liner and a combustor dome. The combustor dome and liner together at least in part define a combustion chamber. The combustor dome includes a transition portion and a forward wall. The transition portion extends from the forward wall towards the liner. Additionally the transition portion may define an angle relative to the forward wall and/or may define a radius of curvature between the forward wall of the combustor dome and a flat of the transition portion of the combustor dome for increasing an aerodynamic efficiency of the combustor dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Andrew Hannwacker, Stephen John Howell, John Carl Jacobson
  • Patent number: 10184404
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a gearbox. The gearbox includes a housing at a forward part of a core compartment of a gas turbine engine. A plurality of accessory drives are each configured to rotatably couple the gas turbine engine accessory gearbox to one of a plurality of accessory components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cloft, Robert L. Gukeisen
  • Patent number: 9982676
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a compressor, a turbine, and a transmission is disclosed. The turbine is coupled to the compressor to drive rotation of multiple stages of the compressor. The transmission is configured to transmit rotational power from the turbine to at least one stage of the compressor to drive rotation of the at least one stage of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Eifert, Craig E. Heathco, Robert W. Cedoz, Robert T. Duge
  • Patent number: 9951633
    Abstract: A transition duct defining an airflow pathway between a low pressure compressor and a high pressure compressor of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The transition duct may comprise an inner wall and an outer wall located radially outward of the inner wall with respect to a central axis of the gas turbine engine. It may further comprise a first bend configured to turn the airflow radially inward with respect to the central axis, and a turning vane located at the first bend between the inner wall and the outer wall. The turning vane may be configured to assist the first bend in turning the airflow radially inward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wesley K. Lord
  • Patent number: 9689314
    Abstract: A turbomachine intermediate casing including an internal hub designed to accept a turbomachine compressor shaft, an outer shell ring, and a plurality of radial arms connecting the hub and the shell ring, one of the arms including an internal housing of radial shaft for driving auxiliary machines, the casing further includes a bevel gearbox for the radial shaft arranged in the outer shell ring, the gearbox being formed as one with the outer shell ring, and the bevel gearbox includes a housing for gears between a radial shaft and an accessories gearbox, the housing including an opening opening to the periphery of the outer shell ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Kevin Morgane Lemarchand, Michel Gilbert Roland Brault
  • Patent number: 9638062
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bearing. A bearing support includes a first wall that extends between the first and second ends and is operatively supported by the bearing at a first end. An engine case is secured to the second end radially outward of the first end. A flexible support is provided by a second wall integral with and extending transversely from the first wall. The second wall has a first flange and a gear train component is secured to the first flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Todd A. Davis
  • Patent number: 9580183
    Abstract: A method of powering a rotary-wing aircraft includes selectively coupling and uncoupling a first power turbine to change a power distribution between the rotor system and the secondary propulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Rajendra K. Agrawal, Gregory E. Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 9316159
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine with a transmission having a first rotatable member coupled to an engine spool, a second rotatable member coupled to a compressor rotor, and coupled rotatable members defining at least first and second alternate transmission paths between the first and second members. Each transmission path defines a different fixed transmission ratio of a rotational speed of the second member on a rotational speed of the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Dubreuil, Stephen Kenny
  • Patent number: 9297314
    Abstract: A nacelle for incorporation into a gas turbine engine has an inner wall defining a bypass duct, and an outer wall. At least one drive shaft extends through the inner wall. The at least one drive shaft is connected to a gas turbine engine receiving the nacelle. The at least one drive shaft is connected to drive at least two accessory gear boxes, with the at least two accessory gear boxes being received between the inner and outer walls of the nacelle. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cloft, Robert L. Gukeisen, Claude Mercier
  • Patent number: 9284890
    Abstract: A method of determining an exit temperature of a gas exiting a combustor of a gas turbine includes determining a mass flow and a temperature of fuel being delivered to the combustor; determining a mass flow and a temperature of air being delivered to the combustor, determining a temperature dependence of the specific heat capacity of a burnt mixture of the fuel and the air being delivered to the combustor; and determining an exit temperature of the burnt mixture exiting the combustor. The exit temperature is determined based on the determined mass flow and temperature of the fuel, the determined mass flow and temperature of the air, and the determined temperature dependence of the specific heat capacity of the burnt mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Vili Panov
  • Patent number: 9194329
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a housing including an inlet case and an intermediate case that respectively provide an inlet case flow path and an intermediate case flow path. A geared architecture is arranged within the inlet case. The geared architecture includes an epicyclic gear train. A fan is rotationally driven by the geared architecture. A shaft provides a rotational axis. A hub is operatively supported by the shaft. First and second bearings support the shaft relative to the intermediate case and the inlet case, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian D. Merry, Gabriel L. Suciu, Karl L. Hasel
  • Patent number: 9091216
    Abstract: Systems and methods for changing a speed ratio between a compressor boost stage (12) and at least one power turbine (16) of a gas turbine engine (10) are described. Such a system may comprise a coupling device (20) configured to selectively transmit energy from the at least one power turbine (16) to the boost stage (12) according to at least a first speed ratio and a second speed ratio. The system may also comprise an auxiliary power device (22, 26) configured to cause a rotational speed of the boost stage (12) to change from a first speed corresponding substantially to the first speed ratio to a second speed corresponding substantially to the second speed ratio when the boost stage (12) is decoupled from the at least one power turbine (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Ian A. Macfarlane
  • Publication number: 20150135722
    Abstract: A two-shaft gas turbine control system and method are provided that can enhance the efficiency and reliability thereof by controlling the amount of intake air spray and the rotational speed of a high-pressure turbine in accordance with the aperture of an inlet guide vane in a state where a two-shaft gas turbine is being operated with the efficiency of its compressor reduced. The control system includes a droplet spray device for spraying droplets to intake air for the compressor and a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Yasuo TAKAHASHI, Takuya TAKEDA
  • Publication number: 20150135725
    Abstract: This invention relates to gas turbine engines of continuous combustion in a high speed gas flow through an open circuit in high heating value gas turbine fuels. It may be used in transportation facilities, such as aviation and power plants, and also as a drive in gas compressor units. The engine contains two or more combustion chambers for high-calorific fuel suitable for combustion in speed gas and air stream. Each combustion chamber after the previous combustion chamber raises the temperature of the working body after the work at the turbine stage to the value optimal for work at next turbine stage. There is a possibility of independent reallocation of immediate bulk flows between the main stream of the working body and supplementary bypass parallel streams of the working body. For this purpose the engine, apart from the multistaged turbine, contains at least two compressor stages of air compression with bends. Each combustion chamber contains its fuel sprayers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Vladimir Iosifovich BELOUS
  • Publication number: 20150114001
    Abstract: A sealing component for reducing secondary airflow in a turbine system includes a first end segment configured to be disposed between, and retained in a radial direction by, a first land on a first rotor disk and a first turbine bucket platform operatively coupled to the first rotor disk. Also included is a second end segment configured to be disposed between, and retained in a radial direction by, a second land on a second rotor disk and a second turbine bucket platform operatively coupled to the second rotor disk. Further included is a main body portion extending axially from the first end segment to the second end segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Denver Potter, Gary Charles Liotta
  • Publication number: 20150101341
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for a part load CO reduction operation and a low-CO emissions operation of a gas turbine with sequential combustion. The gas turbine essentially includes at least one compressor, a first combustor which is connected downstream to the compressor. The hot gases of the first combustor are admitted at least to an intermediate turbine or directly or indirectly to a second combustor. The hot gases of the second combustor are admitted to a further turbine or directly or indirectly to an energy recovery. At least one combustor runs under a caloric combustion path having a can-architecture, and wherein the air ratio (?) of the combustion at least of the second combustor is kept below a maximum air ratio (?max).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Michael DÜSING, Adnan EROGLU
  • Patent number: 8973374
    Abstract: An exemplary gas turbine engine includes a turbine section operative to impart rotational energy to a compressor section. The turbine section includes at least a low-pressure turbine and a high-pressure turbine, and a number of stages in the low pressure turbine is from three to five.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Om P. Sharma, Michael F. Blair, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20140318147
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a fan and a turbine having a fan drive turbine rotor. The fan drive turbine rotor drives a compressor rotor. A gear reduction effects a reduction in the speed of the fan relative to an input speed from the fan drive turbine rotor that drives the compressor rotor. The compressor rotor has a number of compressor blades in at least one of a plurality of rows of the compressor rotor. The blades operate at least some of the time at a rotational speed. The number of compressor blades in at least one row and the rotational speed are such that the following formula holds true for at least one row of the compressor rotor turbine: (number of blades×rotational speed)/60 s?5500 Hz, and the rotational speed is in revolutions per minute. A method of designing a gas turbine engine and a compressor module are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Topol, Bruce L. Morin
  • Publication number: 20140318133
    Abstract: A turbofan engine according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes a gas generator section for generating a gas stream flow with higher energy per unit mass flow than that contained in ambient air, a power turbine converting the gas stream flow into shaft power, the power turbine rotating at a first relative rotational speed, a speed reduction device driven by the power turbine, and a propulsor section including a fan driven by the power turbine through the speed reduction device at a second speed lower than the first speed for generating propulsive thrust as a mass flow rate of air through a bypass flow path, wherein an Engine Unit Thrust Parameter (“EUTP”) defined as net engine thrust divided by a product of the mass flow rate of air through the bypass flow path, a tip diameter of the fan and the first relative rotational speed of the power turbine is less than about 0.15 at a take-off condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: United Technologies Corporation
  • Patent number: 8850788
    Abstract: The burner (1) for a gas turbine includes a duct (2) housing a plurality of tetrahedron shaped vortex generators (3) and a lance (4) to inject a fuel to be combusted. Within the duct (2), a plurality of vortex generators (3) are provided with a plurality of holes (9) for injecting cooling air. The cooling holes (9) define passing through areas that are non-uniformly distributed on a top wall (11) of the vortex generators (3). A method for locally cooling a hot gases flow passing through a burner includes non-uniformly injecting cooling air from a vortex generator into the hot gas flow in the duct, which can reduce the occurrence of flashback in the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Adnan Eroglu, Andrea Ciani, Johannes Buss, Michael Düsing, Urs Benz
  • Publication number: 20140260295
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a rotational speed of the low pressure compressor rotor(s) of a gas turbine engine, including rotating the high pressure compressor rotor(s) with the high pressure turbine rotor(s) through the high pressure spool, rotating the low pressure turbine rotor(s) with a flow of exhaust gases from the high pressure turbine, rotating the low pressure spool with the low pressure turbine rotor(s), rotating a load of the engine with the low pressure spool, driving a rotation of the low pressure compressor rotor(s) with the low pressure spool through a variable transmission defining a variable transmission ratio between rotational speeds of the compressor rotor(s) and the low pressure spool, and adjusting the transmission ratio to obtain a desired rotational speed for the low pressure compressor rotor(s). A method of adjusting rotational speeds of a gas turbine engine and a gas turbine engine are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard ULLYOTT, Lazar MITROVIC, Jean DUBREUIL, Stephen Christopher KENNY, Guy BOUCHARD, Ilya B. MEDVEDEV, Keith MORGAN, Daris Jehangir KARANJIA, Nashed Azer YOUSSEF
  • Publication number: 20140216047
    Abstract: A two-shaft gas turbine having high operability is provided. The two-shaft gas turbine includes: a gas generator having a compressor, a combustor and a high pressure turbine; a power turbine having a low pressure turbine; a load connected to the power turbine; a motor/generator capable of rotatably driving the gas generator and capable of extracting power from the gas generator; electric equipment controlling the rotational driving and the power extraction by delivering electric power between the electric equipment and the motor/generator; and a control device controlling the electric equipment, wherein the combustor has a plurality of combustion regions to which a fuel is supplied through fuel adjustment means which are independent from each other, and the control device controls a delivery amount of the electric power delivered by the electric equipment corresponding to the number of combustion regions to which the fuel is supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro MORISAKI, Naohiro KUSUMI, Noriaki HINO, Tomomichi ITO, Kazuo TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20140202133
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes first and second stages having a rotational axis. A circumferential array of airfoils is arranged axially between the first stage and the second stage. At least one of the airfoils have a curvature provided equidistantly between pressure and suction sides. The airfoils extend from a leading edge to a trailing edge at a midspan plane along the airfoil. An angle is defined between first and second lines respectively tangent to the intersection of the midspan plane and the curvature at airfoil leading and trailing edges. The angle is equal to or greater than about 10°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Praisner, Shankar S. Magge, Matthew B. Estes
  • Publication number: 20140190172
    Abstract: A multi-stage, two-flow, axial flow expander close-coupled to a driven machine, such as a generator. The expander includes one or more expansion stages separated by a series of flow stream dividers that separate each expansion stage into outer and inner expander flowpaths. Working fluid at a first temperature is directed into the outer expander flowpath for expansion, and working fluid at a second, lesser temperature is directed into the inner expander flowpath for expansion. Expansion of the working fluid drives the driven machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: DRESSER-RAND COMPANY
    Inventor: William C. Maier
  • Patent number: 8763400
    Abstract: A combustor system includes a pylon fuel injection system coupled to a combustion chamber and configured to inject fuel to the combustion chamber. The pylon fuel injection system includes a plurality of radial elements, each radial element having a plurality of first Coanda type fuel injection slots. A plurality of transverse elements are provided to each radial element. Each transverse element includes a plurality of second Coanda type fuel injection slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ronald Scott Bunker
  • Publication number: 20140137563
    Abstract: A method for operating a compressed air energy storage system is provided. The method can include compressing a process gas with a compressor train to produce a compressed process gas and storing the compressed process gas in a compressed gas storage unit. The method can also include extracting the compressed process gas from the compressed gas storage unit to an expansion assembly through a feed line. A valve assembly fluidly coupled to the feed line can be actuated to control a mass flow of the compressed process gas from the compressed gas storage unit to the expansion assembly. The method can further include heating the compressed process gas in a preheater fluidly coupled to the feed line upstream from the expansion assembly, and generating a power output with the expansion assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Jason M. Kerth, George M. Lucas, Stephen S. Rashid
  • Patent number: 8726629
    Abstract: An apparatus performs a power cycle involving expansion of compressed air utilizing high pressure (HP) and low pressure (LP) air turbines located upstream of a gas turbine. The power cycle involves heating of the compressed air prior to its expansion in the HP and LP air turbines. Taking into consideration fuel consumption to heat the compressed air, particular embodiments may result in a net production of electrical energy of ˜2.2-2.5× an amount of energy consumed by substantially isothermal air compression to produce the compressed air supply. Although pressure of the compressed air supply may vary over a range (e.g. as a compressed air storage unit is depleted), the gas turbine may run under almost constant conditions, facilitating its integration with the apparatus. The air turbines may operate at lower temperatures than the gas turbine, and they may include features of turbines employed to turbocharge large reciprocating engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Lightsail Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Coney
  • Publication number: 20140109591
    Abstract: The invention concerns a damper arrangement for reducing combustion-chamber pulsation arising inside a gas turbine, wherein the gas turbine includes at least one compressor, a primary combustor which is connected downstream to the compressor, and the hot gases of the primary combustor are admitted at least to an intermediate turbine or directly or indirectly to a secondary combustor. The hot gases of the secondary combustor are admitted to a further turbine or directly or indirectly to an energy recovery, wherein at least one combustor is arranged in a can-architecture. At least one combustor liner includes air passages, wherein at least one of the air passages is formed as a damper neck. The damper neck being actively connected to a damper volume, and the damper volume is part of a connecting duct extending between a compressor air plenum and the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Mirko Ruben BOTHIEN, Jaan HELLAT, Bruno SCHUERMANS
  • Patent number: 8689560
    Abstract: A gas turbo set including a first turbine, a second turbine, and a combustion chamber connected between the first and second turbines and operated by auto-ignition is provided. The turbines and the combustion chamber are located on a common shaft that may be rotated about an axis. To increase the efficiency of the gas turbo set, the outer periphery of the second turbine is at a greater distance from the axis than that of the first turbine, leading to a reduction in the size and/or the number of turbine blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lennard Helmers, Werner Krebs, Jaap van Kampen
  • Patent number: 8689566
    Abstract: An apparatus performs a power cycle involving expansion of compressed air utilizing high pressure (HP) and low pressure (LP) air turbines located upstream of a gas turbine. The power cycle involves heating of the compressed air prior to its expansion in the HP and LP air turbines. Taking into consideration fuel consumption to heat the compressed air, particular embodiments may result in a net production of electrical energy of ˜2.2-2.5× an amount of energy consumed by substantially isothermal air compression to produce the compressed air supply. Although pressure of the compressed air supply may vary over a range (e.g. as a compressed air storage unit is depleted), the gas turbine may run under almost constant conditions, facilitating its integration with the apparatus. The air turbines may operate at lower temperatures than the gas turbine, and they may include features of turbines employed to turbocharge large reciprocating engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Lightsail Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Coney