Combustor Or Fuel System Patents (Class 60/800)
  • Patent number: 9127553
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses, methods, and systems for transition piece contouring. In an embodiment, a high thermal stress section of a transition piece and a low thermal stress section of a transition piece is a determined. The low thermal stress section of the transition piece may be contoured to intercept hot gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Martin DiCintio, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia
  • Patent number: 9109447
    Abstract: A combustion system including a transition piece and method of forming the transition piece using a cast nickel-based superalloy is provided. The transition piece includes a body defining a flowpath and enclosure, the body having a circular inlet section for receiving combustion product from the combustor and an outlet end for flowing the combustor products into a first stage nozzle of a gas turbine. The transition piece comprises a one-piece single casting construction of the circular inlet section, the body, and the outlet end. The transition piece is formed from a nickel-based superalloy. The transition piece has a thick-to-thin ratio of wall thickness of thick transition to wall thickness of thin transition of about 1.1 to about 2.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Weston McMahan, Arthur Peck, Nicholas Vlessis
  • Patent number: 9097211
    Abstract: An example gas turbine engine includes an engine casing and an engine liner within the engine casing. One of the engine casing or the engine liner includes a first attachment structure. The other of the engine casing or the engine liner defines a track guide. A slideable member is moveable within the track guide between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The slideable member includes a second attachment structure engageable with the first attachment structure to secure the engine liner relative the engine casing when the slideable member is in the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gonzalo F. Martinez, Gary J. Dillard
  • Publication number: 20150128610
    Abstract: A sealing component (61) for a turbine (15) positionable at an interface between a transition section (21) for carrying exhaust gas and a turbine inlet section (32). A U-shaped section (45) includes first and second legs (67, 69). When the sealing component is positioned at the interface, the legs extend about the turbine axis. A seal flange (75) connects to the U-shaped section. The positioned sealing component extends about the axis and in a direction away from the first leg. The seal flange faces the inner surface (76) of the flange. A flexible strip (79), positioned radially outward with respect to the seal flange, extends about the axis and extends along the axis between the U-shaped section and the flange. The flexible strip acts as a spring member pressing against the outer surface (96) of the flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Anil L. Salunkhe, Dustin C. Boudin
  • Publication number: 20150107264
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine ducting arrangement (10), including: an annular chamber (14) configured to receive a plurality of discrete flows of combustion gases originating in respective can combustors and to deliver the discrete flows to a turbine inlet annulus, wherein the annular chamber includes an inner diameter (52) and an outer diameter (60); an outer diameter mounting arrangement (34) configured to permit relative radial movement and to prevent relative axial and circumferential movement between the outer diameter and a turbine vane carrier (20); and an inner diameter mounting arrangement (36) including a bracket (64) secured to the turbine vane carrier, wherein the bracket is configured to permit the inner diameter to move radially with the outer diameter and prevent axial deflection of the inner diameter with respect to the outer diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: David J. Wiebe, Richard C. Charron, Jay A. Morrison
  • Patent number: 9010127
    Abstract: A transition piece aft frame assembly is provided, and includes a transition piece aft frame and a heat shield. The transition piece aft frame has an aft face. At least a portion of the aft face is exposed to an exhaust gas stream. The heat shield is connected to the transition piece aft frame. The heat shield is oriented to generally deflect the exhaust gas stream away from the aft face of the transition piece aft frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, William Lawrence Byrne, David William Cihlar, Donald Timothy Lemon, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Patent number: 8997496
    Abstract: An exhaust includes a wall that has a first composite material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second composite material having a second coefficient of the thermal expansion that is less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gerard D. Pelletier, Charles P. Logan, Bryan William McEnerney, Jeffrey D. Haynes
  • Patent number: 8997501
    Abstract: A system includes a combustor transition piece configured to mount between a combustor and a turbine of a gas turbine engine. The combustor transition piece includes a hollow body with an internal flow passage extending from an upstream end portion to a downstream end portion. The combustor transition piece also includes an aft frame coupled to the downstream end portion of the hollow body, an aft flange coupled to the aft frame, and a mounting lug removably coupled to the aft frame at a first joint. The mounting lug is configured to removably couple to a mounting bracket at a second joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David William Cihlar, Patrick Benedict Melton, John Drake Vanselow
  • Patent number: 8991192
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly for use in a combustor apparatus of a gas turbine engine. An outer housing of the fuel nozzle assembly includes an inner volume and provides a direct structural connection between a duct structure and a fuel manifold. The duct structure defines a flow passage for combustion gases flowing within the combustor apparatus. The fuel manifold defines a fuel supply channel therein in fluid communication with a source of fuel. A fuel injector of the fuel nozzle assembly is provided in the inner volume of the outer housing and defines a fuel passage therein. The fuel passage is in fluid communication with the fuel supply channel of the fuel manifold for distributing the fuel from the fuel supply channel into the flow passage of the duct structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Wiebe, Timothy A. Fox
  • Patent number: 8978383
    Abstract: A fuel manifold assembly for a gas turbine engine is described and includes an annular manifold body and an annular heat shield assembly mounted to and surrounding the manifold body. The heat shield assembly has an inner surface facing the manifold body and spaced apart therefrom by an inner air gap, which substantially surrounds the manifold body, defined therebetween. The heat shield assembly has an outer surface facing away from the manifold body and spaced apart from the inner surface by an outer air gap substantially surrounding the inner air gap. At least the outer air gap is formed by a double wall configuration of the heat shield assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Bhawan B. Patel, Oleg Morenko
  • Patent number: 8973376
    Abstract: An interface (10) is provided between a combustor basket (12) and a transition (14) of a gas turbine engine (16). The interface (10) includes a tongue (18) formed in one of the combustor basket (12) and the transition (14), and a groove (20) formed in another of the combustor basket (12) and the transition (14). The tongue (18) is received within the groove (20) to define the interface (10). A sealing arrangement is also provided and includes an annular combustion outlet (12??) and an annular transition inlet (14??), with a labyrinth seal (72??) positioned between an end (68??) of the annular combustion outlet and an end (70??) of the annular transition inlet to form a labyrinth path (34??) there between. An inner diameter (24??) of the annular combustion outlet (12??) is axially aligned with an inner diameter (22??) of the annular transition outlet (14??).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Adam M. Foust, David J. Gloekler
  • Publication number: 20150052910
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus having an elongated body configured to be inserted into a tubular structure extending between a first combustor and a second combustor of a gas turbine engine. A movable arm may be positioned proximate to a first end of the elongated body, and the movable arm may be configured to engage a surface of the first combustor when the elongated body is placed within the tubular structure. A drive member may be accessible near a second end of the elongated body, and the drive member may be configured to rotate within the elongated body and to drive the movable arm along a longitudinal axis of the elongated body toward the second end to separate the tubular structure from the second combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Devin Patrick Perkins, William Lawrence Byrne
  • Patent number: 8955332
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor including a fuel nozzle for injecting mixed gas of fuel and air, a cylindrical liner for burning and reacting the mixed gas of fuel and air in a combustion chamber, a transition piece which is a flow path for leading combustion gas generated in the liner to turbine blades, and a transition piece flow sleeve for wrapping an outside surface of the transition piece, wherein a plurality of air introduction holes for introducing air into the transition piece flow sleeve are formed in regions of the transition piece flow sleeve excluding regions which are corner portions of the transition piece flow sleeve in a sectional direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Saitou, Yasuyuki Watanabe, Shouhei Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8950192
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a turbine section; an annular combustor disposed upstream of the turbine section and configured to discharge a hot gas flow on an outlet side to the turbine section; an outer shell delimiting the combustor and splittable at a parting plane; a plenum enclosing the outer shell; a rotor; a turbine vane carrier encompassing the rotor; a plurality of stator vanes disposed on the vane carrier, and at least two sealing segments forming a ring, each of the at least two sealing segments having an inner edge and a head and a foot section and being movably mounted on the inner edge by the foot section to the outer shell and by the head section to the turbine vane carrier so as to mechanically connect the combustor to the turbine vane carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Remigi Tschuor, Russell Bond Jones, Luis J. Rodriguez, Hartmut Haehnle, Marion Duggan (-Oneil)
  • Patent number: 8931170
    Abstract: A split fuel control module for a gas turbine engine and method of installation. The split fuel control module includes a first frame unit, a second frame unit, a segmented fuel path, and a distributed fuel controller. The first frame unit and the second frame unit are joined together at a frame unit interface. The segmented fuel path includes an upstream fuel interface fixed to the first frame unit and a downstream fuel interface fixed to the second frame unit and detachably coupled to the upstream fuel interface at the frame unit interface. A first portion of the distributed fuel controller is fixed to the first frame unit, and a second portion of the distributed fuel controller is fixed to the second frame unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Matthew Stratton, Gregory Lee Landrum
  • Patent number: 8925326
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine combustor, which includes a combustion liner disposed about a combustion region, a flow sleeve disposed about the combustion liner, an air passage between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, and an aerodynamic mounting assembly disposed in the air passage. The aerodynamic mounting assembly is configured to retain the combustion liner within the flow sleeve. The aerodynamic mounting assembly includes a flow sleeve mount coupled to the flow sleeve and a liner stop coupled to the combustion liner. The flow sleeve mount includes a first portion of an aerodynamic shape and the liner stop includes a second portion of the aerodynamic shape, which is configured to direct an airflow into a wake region downstream of the aerodynamic mounting assembly. The flow sleeve mount and the liner stop couple with one another to define the aerodynamic shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David William Cihlar, Patrick Benedict Melton, Robert Joseph Rohrssen
  • Patent number: 8919137
    Abstract: An assembly for use in a late lean injection system of a combustor of a combustion turbine engine, wherein the combustor includes an inner radial wall, which defines a primary combustion chamber downstream of a primary fuel nozzle, and an outer radial wall, which surrounds the inner radial wall forming a flow annulus therebetween, the assembly comprising: a boss rigidly secured to the inner radial wall, the boss being configured to define a hollow passageway through the inner radial wall; a transfer tube slideably engaged within the boss; a stop formed on the transfer tube; and damping means positioned between the boss and the stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Martin DiCintio, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia
  • Patent number: 8899048
    Abstract: A combustion system for a gas turbine engine includes a housing defining a pressure vessel. A master injector is mounted to the housing for injecting fuel along a central axis defined through the pressure vessel. A plurality of slave injectors is included. Each slave injector is disposed radially outward of and substantially parallel to the master injector for injecting fuel and air in an injection plume radially outward of fuel injected through the master injector. The master injector and slave injectors are configured and adapted so the injection plume of the master injector intersects with the injection plumes of the slave injectors. The slave injectors can be staged for reduced power operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Lev Alexander Prociw, Andy W. Tibbs
  • Patent number: 8875520
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine adapter is provided. In one form the adapter is segmented and may be attached to a gas turbine engine support ring. The adapter can provide a channel that may receive part of a gas turbine engine component such as, but not limited to, a plug nozzle. The adapter can include a load bearing support to counteract axial forces experienced by the plug nozzle during operation of the gas turbine engine. A compressible seal can be provided between the plug nozzle and the adapter. A leaf seal can also be provided to seal between segments of the adapter. The plug nozzle can be discouraged from rotating relative to the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory W. P. Zeaton, David L. Sutterfield, Sean F. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8863527
    Abstract: A combustor liner for a turbine engine is disclosed herein. The combustor liner includes an inner liner surface operable to define at least part of a combustion chamber in a turbine engine. The inner liner surface extends along a portion of a chordal arc on a first side of the chordal arc. The combustor liner also includes a bearing surface operable to support a floating dome panel. At least part of the bearing surface is spaced from the chordal arc on a second side of the chordal arc opposite the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Marcus Timothy Holcomb, Todd Taylor, Randall E. Yount
  • Patent number: 8863528
    Abstract: A combustor assembly having a support assembly between a metal support assembly and a ceramic combustor can section that accommodates a thermal expansion difference therebetween. An air fuel mixer and an igniter are mounted to the support assembly secured to the ceramic combustion can which receives the ignition products of the ignited fuel and air mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Shi, David J. Bombara, Jason Lawrence, Richard S. Tuthill, Jeffrey D. Melman
  • Patent number: 8833087
    Abstract: A splitter is disclosed that can be coupled with a splitter support and used within a diffuser of a gas turbine engine. The splitter includes apertures for receiving a portion of the splitter support. The splitter support includes support arms that are adapted to be slidingly received within the apertures of the splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Claude Rice, Stuart Bloom, John R. Louie
  • Patent number: 8833084
    Abstract: A tile is provided for lining the hot side of a wall of a combustor. The tile has a tile body with one or more bosses protruding from the cold side thereof. The or each boss extends, in use, through the wall of the combustor and has a threaded recess formed therein for threadingly connecting with a bolt which is inserted into the recess from the cold side of the combustor wall. The bolt fastens the tile to the combustor wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Michael Lawrence Carlisle
  • Patent number: 8820045
    Abstract: A drain assembly for an auxiliary power unit having a hot zone formed by a combustor case comprises a fire enclosure, a drain fitting, a discharge port and a piston seal. The fire enclosure encapsulates the hot zone of the combustor case. The drain fitting connects to the fire enclosure. The discharge port extends from the combustor case into the drain fitting. The piston seal is positioned between the drain fitting and the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian C. DeDe, David Lau, David Ronald Adair, Christine Ingrid Schade
  • Publication number: 20140223921
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a compressor, an annular combustion chamber, and a turbine, a combustion chamber shell of the combustion chamber adjoining the turbine inlet in a transition region in order to introduce the hot gases generated in the combustion chamber into the downstream turbine such that a thermal expansion-induced relative movement between the combustion chamber and the turbine inlet is possible. Combustion chamber shell support elements distributed on the periphery come into contact with a conical contour on the shaft cover due to the thermal expansion that occurs during operation and are supported on said contour. An improvement with respect to loading and service life is achieved in that the conical contour and the machine axis form an angle that allows the combustion chamber shell support elements to slide onto the conical contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Remigi TSCHUOR, Sinisa Narancic, Guenter Filkorn
  • Patent number: 8769963
    Abstract: A combustor-to-transition seal (301) includes a spring clip assembly (322, 422, 522) and a first spring metal ring (340, 441) or a ring assembly (440,540) that includes the first spring metal ring (441) and a second spring metal ring (442). Such combustor-to-transition seal (301) provides a first seal (321) and a second seal (331, 531) when at a junction of a combustor (108, 308, 508) and a transition (114, 314, 514). In an embodiment, the first spring metal ring (340) has a plurality of apertures (342) through the ring (340) that provide effusion cooling of the ring (340). The plurality of apertures (342) regulates a flow of cooling fluid to maintain an acceptable temperature of the ring (340). In an alternative embodiment, the second spring metal ring (442) has grooves (446) that regulate a flow of cooling fluid to maintain an acceptable temperature of the ring assembly (440).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Ryan
  • Patent number: 8763406
    Abstract: A turbomachine combustion chamber in which a chamber end wall presents an opening for receiving a pre-vaporization bowl, and including a device for injecting air and fuel mounted on the axis thereof, the bowl being floatingly mounted relative to the chamber end wall to move in a predetermined radial direction and flaring downstream so as to form a collar, a deflector forming a thermal shield being made integrally with the bowl beside the chamber end wall so that the floating movement of the bowl-and-deflector assembly takes place in a sliding plane situated between the deflector and the chamber end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Christophe Pieussergues, Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis
  • Patent number: 8756935
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustion chamber including at least one deflector mounted on the chamber end wall and including an opening for a carburetted air supply device. The deflector includes an opening, corresponding to the chamber end wall opening, with an annular cylindrical part for attachment to the wall, the cylindrical part including a mechanical attachment mechanism collaborating with a complementary attachment mechanism on a metal sleeve secured to the wall and a cylindrical centering cup fixed by one end to the sleeve and housed inside the cylindrical part of the deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Sylvain Duval, Didier Hippolyte Hernandez, Romain Nicolas Lunel
  • Patent number: 8745989
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has an annular reverse-flow combustor with a combustor inner liner enclosing a combustion chamber. The inner liner having a dome portion at an upstream end of the combustor and a downstream combustor exit defined between a small exit duct portion and a large exit duct portion. At least one of the dome portion, the small exit duct portion and the large exit duct portion is made of a separately formed hemi-toroidal shell composed of a ceramic matrix composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Lev Alexander Prociw, Aleksander Kojovic, David C. Jarmon, Jun Shi, Shaoluo L. Butler
  • Publication number: 20140144148
    Abstract: A cooled combustor seal having a plurality of channels enabling cooling air to pass from outside of a combustion chamber to cool an area inside the combustion chamber around the seal is disclosed. The channels may be provided through a slider, a housing, and/or a washer of the combustor seal. One set of channels or multiple of sets of channels may be provided in the combustor seal. Each of these sets of channels may be in the slider, housing, or washer. The cooled combustor seal may be used in conjunction with an igniter to purge a cavity between the seal and the igniter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Jause, Kevin Joseph Low, David Kwoka
  • Patent number: 8726675
    Abstract: A scalloped flexure ring. An illustrative embodiment of the flexure ring includes a ring body having a first ring body edge and a generally scalloped second ring body edge and a plurality of spaced-apart ring fingers provided in the second ring body edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William P. Keith, Michael L. Hand
  • Publication number: 20140130505
    Abstract: A cross-fire tube purging arrangement includes a cross-fire tube extending from proximate a combustor chamber to proximate an adjacent combustor chamber for fluidly coupling the combustor chamber and the adjacent combustor chamber. Also included is a compressed air supply arrangement for selectively delivering a compressed air to the cross-fire tube, the compressed air supply arrangement comprising a regulating component for controlling delivery of the compressed air to the cross-fire tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Daniel Doyle Vandale
  • Publication number: 20140123678
    Abstract: A hanger assembly includes a hanger having a threaded bore, a bushing attaching to an outer duct, a rotator cooperating with the hanger so that the hanger may rotate relative to an inner duct, and wherein the bushing engages the hanger during assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Lon H. Preston, III
  • Patent number: 8713945
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a liner, a casing surrounding the liner, a hula seal flexibly connected to an aft end of the liner and a liner aft support mechanism. The liner is configured to receive compressed gas and fuel at an upstream end, the mixture of the compressed gas and the fuel being burned in a combustion core area of the liner to yield hot exhaust gasses. The liner aft end support mechanism is located downstream from an area where a highest temperature on an outer surface of the liner is attained, and upstream to a portion where the hula seal is connected to the liner, and is configured to movably support the liner inside the casing. The liner aft end support mechanism includes at least three individual support elements configured to allow a part of the individual support elements to move in the flow direction relative to at least one of the liner or the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventor: Balasundar Kuppusamy
  • Patent number: 8695351
    Abstract: An annular seal for use between coupled combustor components includes a segmented annular solid edge portion and a plurality of alternating spring fingers and slots extending from the solid edge portion and arranged about a circumference of the solid edge portion, wherein one or more of the plurality of spring fingers or one or more of the plurality of straight and angled slots have non-uniform width dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Donald Timothy Lemon, Mert Enis Berkman, Richard Martin Dicintio
  • Patent number: 8627669
    Abstract: A combustor basket (20) is provided comprising a generally tubular wall (22) defining a cavity (24) and a liner (26) of a ceramic matrix composite material disposed within the cavity (24), wherein an interference fit exists between an outer surface (34) of the liner (26) located in the cavity (24) and an inner surface (28) of the generally tubular wall (22). Advantageously, the novel combustor basket (20) greatly reduces the amount of air or other medium needed to cool the combustor basket body and increases the maximum allowable flame temperature that the combustor basket (20) can withstand. A method of manufacturing the combustor basket (20) is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Ricardo F. Moraes
  • Patent number: 8621870
    Abstract: A method is provided for fuel injection in a sequential combustion system comprising a first combustion chamber and downstream thereof a second combustion chamber, in between which at least one vortex generator is located, as well as a premixing chamber having a longitudinal axis downstream of the vortex generator, and a fuel lance having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, being located within said premixing chamber. The fuel injected is an MBtu-fuel. In said premixing chamber the fuel and a gas contained in an oxidizing stream coming from the first combustion chamber are premixed to a combustible mixture. The fuel is injected in such a way that the residence time of the fuel in the premixing chamber is reduced in comparison with a radial injection of the fuel from the horizontal portion of the fuel lance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Carroni, Adnan Eroglu
  • Publication number: 20130283818
    Abstract: A turbine system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the turbine system includes a transition duct. The transition duct includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The transition duct further includes an interface feature for interfacing with an adjacent transition duct. The turbine system further includes a convolution seal contacting the interface feature to provide a seal between the interface feature and the adjacent transition duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Scott Flanagan, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Daniel Jackson Dillard, Ronnie Ray Pentecost
  • Publication number: 20130283817
    Abstract: A turbine system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the turbine system includes a transition duct. The transition duct includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The transition duct further includes an interface feature for interfacing with an adjacent transition duct. The turbine system further includes a flexible seal contacting the interface feature to provide a seal between the interface feature and the adjacent transition duct. The flexible seal includes a sheet having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a peripheral edge therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Scott Flanagan, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Daniel Jackson Dillard, Ronnie Ray Pentecost
  • Patent number: 8555655
    Abstract: A turbomachine with at least one combustion chamber and at least one turbine which lies downstream of it. The turbine has at least one support element and a lining element connected to the support element and formed as a heat shield. A gap sealed by means of a seal, is formed between the at least one combustion chamber and the turbine, an exchangeable insert is arranged in the gap on the end face on the support element and protects at least the support element against hot gases which penetrate into the gap, and against oxidation which is associated with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Urs Benz, Jonas Hurter, Thorsten Motzkus
  • Patent number: 8534076
    Abstract: A combustor-turbine seal interface is provided for deployment within a gas turbine engine. In one embodiment, the combustor-turbine assembly a combustor, a turbine nozzle downstream of the combustor, and a first compliant dual seal assembly. The first compliant dual seal assembly includes a compliant seal wall sealingly coupled between the combustor and the turbine nozzle, a first compression seal sealingly disposed between the compliant seal wall and the turbine nozzle, and a first bearing seal generally defined by the compliant seal wall and the turbine nozzle. The first bearing seal is sealingly disposed in series with the first compression seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell Internationl Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory O. Woodcock, Bradley Reed Tucker, Jason Smoke, Stony Kujala, Terrel Kuhn
  • Patent number: 8511059
    Abstract: In an SEV combustor and a method for reducing emissions in an SEV combustor of a sequential combustion gas turbine, an air/fuel mixture is combusted in a first burner and the hot gases are subsequently introduced into the SEV combustor (1) for further combustion. The SEV combustor (1) includes a chamber having a chamber wall (5) defining a mixing portion (8), for mixing the hot gases with a fuel, and a combustion region (9), at least one inlet (2) for introducing the hot gases into the mixing region (8), at least one inlet (12) for introducing a fuel into the mixing region (8) and at least one inlet (10, 13) for introducing steam into the mixing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Madhavan Narasimhan Poyyapakkam, Adnan Eroglu, Richard Carroni, Gregory John Kelsall, Jian-Xin Chen
  • Patent number: 8511099
    Abstract: A combustor system is provided for a gas turbine engine. The combustor system includes an annular combustion chamber, and outer and inner casings housing the combustion chamber. The outer casing is outwardly radially spaced from the combustion chamber and the inner casing being inwardly radially spaced from the combustion chamber. The combustor system further includes an attachment arrangement at the rearward end of the combustion chamber for attaching the combustion chamber to the engine. The attachment arrangement axially restrains the rearward end of the combustion chamber relative to the casings. The combustor system further includes a first stop surface formed at the forward end of the combustion chamber adjacent a selected one of the outer and inner casings, and a corresponding first baulking surface axially forward of the first stop surface formed by the selected casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Alan P. Geary
  • Patent number: 8479524
    Abstract: A combustion chamber arrangement is described for operating a gas turbine, with a combustion chamber wall which encloses the combustion chamber space and in the region of the combustion chamber outlet encloses a flow passage for hot gases which develop inside the combustion chamber, has a combustion chamber wall edge which freely terminates in the axial flow direction of the hot gases. The combustion chamber wall edge is formed with a profile which blocks or at least inhibits a diffuser effect when a cooling air flow, which is guided axially through the flow passages into the annular spatial area, flows over the combustion chamber wall edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Madhavan Narasimhan Poyyapakkam, Fulvio Magni, Nadir Ince
  • Patent number: 8459041
    Abstract: A turbine system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the turbine system includes a transition duct. The transition duct includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The transition duct further includes an interface member for interfacing with a turbine section. The turbine system further includes a leaf seal contacting the interface member to provide a seal between the interface member and the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Scott Flanagan, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Daniel Jackson Dillard, Ronnie Ray Pentecost
  • Patent number: 8459042
    Abstract: In a gas turbine engine combustor and method for delivering purge gas thereto, a ferrule is generally coupled to the housing and moveable relative thereto. The ferrule has a primary opening through which a combustor component extends into a combustion chamber of the combustor. The ferrule further has a plurality of purge gas openings separate from and in transversely spaced relationship with the primary opening to allow purge gas to flow through the ferrule. In a first position of the ferrule at least one purge gas opening is blocked against the flow of purge gas therethrough and at least one other purge gas opening is unblocked against purge gas flow. In a second position of the ferrule at least one of the blocked purge gas openings of the first ferrule position is unblocked to permit the flow of purge gas therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Steven Joseph Lohmueller
  • Patent number: 8429919
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hula seal for use with a combustor. The hula seal includes a number of legs that define a number of slots. The slots may include a number of expansion slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Karthick Kaleeswaran, Ganesh Pejawar Rao
  • Patent number: 8429916
    Abstract: A combustor for a turbine engine is provided. The combustor includes a first liner and a second liner forming a combustion chamber. The combustion chamber is configured to receive an air-fuel mixture for combustion therein and having a longitudinal axis that defines axial and radial directions. The first liner is a first dual walled liner having a first hot wall facing the combustion chamber and a first cold wall that forms a first liner cavity with the first hot wall, the first liner cavity having first and second ends. A first liner seal is configured to seal the second end of the first liner cavity and to accommodate relative movement of the first hot wall and first cold wall generally in the axial and radial directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Nagaraja S. Rudrapatna, Paul Yankowich, Amy Hanson
  • Patent number: 8418474
    Abstract: A transition duct having a thermally free aft frame and being capable of adjusting the natural frequency is disclosed. The aft frame is capable of permitting movement due to thermal gradients with the transition duct. The transition duct utilizes a spring plate located adjacent to an aft mounting bracket, where the spring plate, based on its thickness can either increase or decrease a frequency of the transition duct. Such an arrangement ensures that the transition duct natural frequency does not coincide with or cross other critical engine and/or combustor frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Hany Rizkalla, Stephen W. Jorgensen, Peter Stuttaford
  • Patent number: 8403634
    Abstract: A retaining seal assembly for use in a gas turbine engine is provided. The retaining seal assembly comprises an outer retaining ring coupled to an aft end of a gas turbine engine combustor. A turbine nozzle is coupled to the outer retaining ring and comprises an outer band. The outer band comprises a leading edge and an opposing trailing edge that defines a slot. A retention seal comprises a first end positioned within the slot, a generally opposing second end that contacts the outer retaining ring, and a body extending between the first end and the second end. The body further comprises an insertion portion positioned within a passage formed in the outer band. The retention seal is fabricated from a resilient material and is configured to facilitate coupling the turbine nozzle to the outer retaining ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian P. Arness, John E. Greene, Sze Bun B. Chan