And Cooling Patents (Class 60/806)
  • Publication number: 20140096538
    Abstract: A turbine blade generally includes a platform having a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side slash face and a suction side slash face. A platform cooling circuit extends within the platform. The platform cooling circuit may extend from the suction side of the platform to the pressure side of the platform. The platform cooling circuit generally defines a fluid flow path that directs a cooling medium from the platform suction side to the platform pressure side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: General Electric Company
  • Publication number: 20140096502
    Abstract: A burner for a gas turbine is provided. The burner has a pilot combustor, a supply module providing pilot fuel and air into a pilot combustion room enclosed by a pilot burner housing having a tapered exit throat discharging radicals and heat generated in a pilot combustion zone into a main combustion room. An equalizer has holes for main flow air entering a cavity in a radial direction with regard to a burner axis defined by centers of pilot combustion zone and main combustion zone. A fuel injector is downstream the equalizer to supply flow fuel into flow air. A swirler is downstream the injector to give flow distribution to the flow fuel and air entering the main combustion room. A channel leads from the equalizer to the swirler arranged circumferentially around the pilot burner housing to direct the main air flow from the equalizer in axial and circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Andreas Karlsson, Vladimir Dusan Milosavljevic, Magnus Persson
  • Patent number: 8689568
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a wall having first and second wall surfaces and a cooling hole extending through the wall. The cooling hole includes an inlet located at the first wall surface, an outlet located at the second wall surface, a metering section extending downstream from the inlet and a diffusing section extending from the metering section to the outlet. The diffusing section includes a first lobe diverging longitudinally and laterally from the metering section, a second lobe diverging longitudinally and laterally from the metering section, an upstream end located at the outlet, a trailing edge located at the outlet opposite the upstream end and generally opposite first and second sidewalls. Each sidewall has an edge extending along the outlet between the upstream end and the trailing edge. Each edge diverges laterally from the upstream end and converges laterally before reaching the trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Atul Kohli, Matthew S. Gleiner, Mark F. Zelesky, JinQuan Xu
  • Publication number: 20140090402
    Abstract: A heat shield is disclosed. The heat shield may comprise a body having a back surface and an opposite front surface, wherein an opening in the body communicates through the front and back surfaces. The heat shield may further comprise at least one radial rail disposed on the back surface and extending radially outward from the opening for directing cooling air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nurhak Erbas-Sen, Frank J. Cunha
  • Patent number: 8683813
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component includes a wall having first and second wall surfaces and a cooling hole extending through the wall. The cooling hole includes an inlet at the first wall surface, an outlet at the second wall surface, a metering section extending downstream from the inlet and a diffusing section extending from the metering section to the outlet. The diffusing section includes a first lobe diverging longitudinally and laterally from the metering section, a second lobe adjacent the first lobe and diverging longitudinally from the metering section, a third lobe adjacent the second lobe and diverging longitudinally and laterally from the metering section, and a transition region having an end adjacent the outlet and a portion that extends between the lobes and the outlet. The first and third lobes each include a curved outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: JinQuan Xu, Mark F. Zelesky, Atul Kohli, Matthew S. Gleiner
  • Patent number: 8683814
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component includes a gas path wall having a first and second opposing surfaces and a baffle positioned along the gas path wall. The baffle has impingement holes for directing cooling fluid onto the first surface of the gas path wall. A cooling hole is formed in the gas path wall and extends from a metering section having an inlet in the first surface through a transition to a diffusing section having an outlet in the second surface. A longitudinal ridge extends along the cooling hole between the transition and the outlet. The longitudinal ridge divides the diffusing section of the cooling hole into first and second lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: JinQuan Xu
  • Publication number: 20140083114
    Abstract: A turbine blade for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil that extends in a first radial direction from a platform. A root extends from the platform in a second radial direction and has opposing lateral sides that provide a firtree-shaped contour. The contour includes first, second and third lobes on each of the lateral sides and that tapers relative to the radial direction away from the platform. The first, second and third lobes each provide contact surfaces arranged at about 45° relative to the radial direction. A contact plane on each lateral side at an angle of about 11° relative to the radial direction defining a contact point on each of the contact surfaces. The first, second and third lobes each include first, second and third grooves that are substantially aligned with one another along an offset plane spaced a uniform offset distance from the contact plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20140083116
    Abstract: A turbine rotor blade for a turbine section of an engine is provided. The rotor blade includes a platform and an airfoil extending from the platform into a mainstream gas path of the turbine section. The airfoil includes a pressure side wall, a suction side wall joined to the pressure side wall at a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a tip cap extending between the suction side wall and the pressure side wall. The rotor blade further includes an internal cooling circuit having a tip cap passage configured to deliver cooling air to the tip cap and a flow accelerator positioned within the tip cap passage of the internal cooling circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Cregg Crites, Steve Halfmann, Mark C. Morris, Ardeshir Riahi
  • Publication number: 20140083115
    Abstract: An article includes a substrate having a surface arranged to receive radiation. A thermal barrier coating system is disposed on the surface and includes a ceramic-based coating. A dielectric mirror coating system is disposed on the ceramic-based coating such that the ceramic-based coating is located between the dielectric mirror coating system and the substrate. The dielectric mirror coating system includes a plurality of higher refractive index layers interleaved in an alternating stacked arrangement with a plurality of lower refractive index layers. Each of the plurality of higher refractive index layers and the plurality of lower refractive index layers has a thickness that is about ¼ of a preselected wavelength of the radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark A. Von Nieda
  • Publication number: 20140083109
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for generating power in combined low emission turbine systems and capturing and recovering carbon dioxide from the exhaust. In one or more embodiments, the exhaust from multiple turbine systems is combined, cooled, compressed, and separated to yield a carbon dioxide-containing effluent stream and a nitrogen-containing product stream. Portions of the recycled exhaust streams and the product streams may be used as diluents to regulate combustion in each combustor of the turbine systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Russell H. Oelfke, Richard A. Huntington, Sulabh K. Dhanuka, Dennis M. O'Dea, Robert D. Denton, Omar Angus Sites, Franklin F. Mittricker
  • Patent number: 8677763
    Abstract: A turbine engine has a compressor for delivery of compressed air to a combustor. The combustor delivers hot combustion gas through an outlet to a turbine. The turbine includes a nozzle assembly, downstream turbine blades, and shroud assemblies adjacent radially distal ends of turbine rotor blades. The nozzle and shroud assemblies include internal cooling passages for receiving compressed air from the compressor and, cooling air apertures opening through walls of the vanes and shrouds into the hot gas path to release film cooling air. The number of apertures, the aperture area, and the aperture pattern are varied in relation to the circumferential temperature profile of the combustion gas with a higher aperture area and/or higher number of apertures in high temperature regions and a lower aperture area and/or lower number of apertures in low temperature regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Anca Hatman
  • Patent number: 8677761
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling compressor extraction air flows from a compressor of a turbine system during engine turn down are provided. In one embodiment, a method for controlling compressor extraction air flows from a compressor of a turbine system during turn down includes a control unit monitoring one or more operating parameters of a turbine system associated with an exit temperature of a combustor of the turbine system. The method further includes the control unit detecting one or more operating parameters meeting or exceeding a threshold associated with a decrease in the exit temperature of the combustor. In response to detecting one or more operating parameter meeting or exceeding the threshold, a control signal is transmitted to at least one variable orifice located in the turbine system causing at least one variable orifice to alter at least one extraction air flow from the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Leach, Jason Nathaniel Cook, Chi Ming Ho
  • Patent number: 8677766
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a pre-swirl structure coupled to a shaft cover structure and located radially between a supply of cooling fluid and a flow path. The pre-swirl structure defines a flow passage and includes a plurality of swirl members in the flow passage. A flow direction of cooling fluid passing through the flow passage is altered by the swirl members such that the cooling fluid has a velocity component in a direction tangential to the circumferential direction. The bypass passages provide cooling fluid into a turbine rim cavity associated with a first row vane assembly to prevent hot gas ingestion into the turbine rim cavity from a hot gas flow path associated with a turbine section of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent P. Laurello, Keith D. Kimmel, Todd Ebert
  • Patent number: 8671696
    Abstract: A turbine arrangement is provided for use in a gas turbine engine that includes a combustion chamber and a nozzle. The turbine arrangement includes a source of liquid and a turbine blade assembly that is rotatable about a central shaft. The blade assembly further includes a plurality of turbine blades, the blade having a forward edge that faces the combustion chamber and an opposite rear edge. A hollow interior of at least one blade is in fluid communication with the source of liquid. The blade (e.g. a rear edge thereof) including a plurality of openings in communication with the hollow interior and sized to produce liquid droplets for discharge downstream of the turbine blade to generate a gas (e.g., steam) due to contact with hot gases generated by the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventor: Leonard M. Andersen
  • Publication number: 20140060084
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure including, among other things, an airfoil that extends between a leading edge and a trailing edge and a cooling circuit disposed inside of the airfoil. The cooling circuit includes at least one core cavity that extends inside of the airfoil, a baffle received within the at least one core cavity, a plurality of pedestals positioned adjacent to the at least one core cavity and a first plurality of axial ribs positioned between the plurality of pedestals and the trailing edge of the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Shawn J. GREGG, Dominic J. MONGILLO, Michael Leslie Clyde PAPPLE, Russell J. BERGMAN, Mohammed ENNACER
  • Patent number: 8661780
    Abstract: A gas turbine plant is provided with exhaust gas recirculation and includes a main gas turbine having a main compressor and main turbine driving a main generator, and a combustion chamber, with an outlet connected to the inlet of the main gas turbine, has a fuel feed, and via the recuperator's high-pressure side obtains combustion air from the main gas turbine's compressor outlet. The outlet of the main turbine and the inlet of the main compressor are connected via the recuperator's low-pressure side and a cooler for exhaust gas recirculation. On the recuperator's low-pressure side, a charging unit, with a compressor and a turbine is arranged, and draws in air via an air intake and by the outlet of its compressor is connected to the recuperator's low-pressure side outlet and by the inlet of its turbine is connected to a surplus-gas extraction line on the recuperator's low-pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Hans Wettstein, Manfred Wirsum, Steffen Schulz
  • Patent number: 8661828
    Abstract: A turbomachine including an annular combustion chamber, a sectorized turbine nozzle arranged at an outlet from the chamber, and a sealing mechanism interposed axially between the chamber and the nozzle, the sealing mechanism including an annular gasket that is axially resilient. The gasket includes a first axial bearing mechanism for bearing against a downstream end of the chamber and a downstream annular lip that is sectorized, each sector of the downstream lip being in alignment with a sector of the nozzle and including a second axial bearing mechanism for bearing against an upstream end of the nozzle sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Christophe Pieussergues, Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis
  • Publication number: 20140053571
    Abstract: A cooling circuit of a gas turbine passes an airflow through a combustor section that includes a plurality of mixing tubes for transporting a fuel/air mixture and a perforated plate including a plurality of impingement holes and a plurality of tube holes for accommodating the mixing tubes. The tube holes and the mixing tubes form a plurality of annulus areas between the perforated plate and the mixing tubes. The impingement holes and the annulus areas are configured to pass the airflow through the perforated plate. A flow management device modifies an effective size of the annulus areas to control a distribution of the airflow through the impingement holes and the annulus areas of the perforated plate to enhance cooling efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Paul KEENER, Jason Thurman STEWART, Thomas Edward JOHNSON, Jonathan Dwight BERRY
  • Patent number: 8649954
    Abstract: A system for controlling angular position of stator blades including: a mechanism for calculating a set angular position of the blades according to one of speeds; and a module for correcting the set position including: a mechanism for determining the angular position of the blades; a mechanism for measuring fuel flow rate of the turbine engine; a memory unit in which consecutive angular positions of the blades are combined with the fuel flow rates of the turbine engine measured at the angular positions; and a mechanism for determining a correcting angle according to the difference between the fuel flow rates measured between two consecutive angular position of the blades. A method for optimizing the common angular position can utilize the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: David Julien Boyer, Cedrik Djelassi, Julien Alexis Louis Ricordeau
  • Patent number: 8631639
    Abstract: A turbine power generation system with enhanced cooling provided by a stream of carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide source and a method of using a stream of carbon dioxide to cool hot gas path components. The turbine power generating system includes a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, a generator, and at least one shaft linking the compressor and turbine and generator together such that mechanical energy produced from the turbine is used to drive the compressor and the generator. Carbon dioxide that is sequestered from the exhaust of the turbine may be stored and injected back into the turbine to cool hot gas path components of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andres Garcia-Crespo, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., George Martin Gilchrist, III, Amit Toprani
  • Patent number: 8631638
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided that provide water to a heat engine via a dammed water source. The water may be tapped for cooling of and/or injection into a heat engine. Further, steam from operation of the heat engine and/or directing exhaust gases of a heat engine into a water flow in an exit channel may be collected and harnessed for power generation in a steam-driven power generator, for industrial heating purposes and other industrial uses, and/or for cooling and subsequent use as potentially more pure water. Additionally, water mist may be sprayed into the exhaust gases for sound suppression purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventor: Rene Carlos
  • Publication number: 20140013762
    Abstract: A combustor (10) according to the invention includes: a combustor basket (14) in which compressed air and fuel are mixed with each other and the mixture is combusted; a transition piece (17) in which a tip portion of the combustor basket (14) is inserted with a gap (C) therebetween; a spring clip (19) that seals the gap between the combustor basket (14) and the transition piece (17); a throttle section (21) that is provided in an opening portion (Ck) of the gap (C) that is opened to the transition piece (17) on the tip side of the combustor basket (14), and narrows an opening area of the opening portion (Ck), compared to the base end side; and cooling device (22) for cooling the throttle section (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Takiguchi, Keijiro Saito, Teruhiro Matsumoto, Kenji Sato, Hidenobu Tamai, Shigemi Mandai
  • Patent number: 8628292
    Abstract: A flow channel with a branch channel perpendicular to a main channel including an edge defining an inlet opening of the branch channel is provided. A chamfer is disposed at the upstream edge of the inlet opening and a straight edge is disposed at the downstream edge of the inlet opening, perpendicular to the main channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: John David Maltson
  • Publication number: 20140000282
    Abstract: A turbine blade for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil including leading and trailing edges joined by spaced apart pressure and suction sides to provide an exterior airfoil surface extending in a radial direction. The trailing edge is arranged on an aft side of the turbine blade. A root supports a platform from which the airfoil extends and a cooling passage extends within the root in the radial direction to the airfoil. A lower wing is arranged beneath the platform on the aft side and extends in an axial direction to provide a U-shaped channel with the platform that extends in a circumferential direction. An impingement hole extends from the U-channel to the cooling passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Mark F. Zelesky, Ricardo Trindade, Bret M. Teller, Scott D. Lewis, Jeffrey S. Beattie, Jeffrey Michael Jacques, Brandon M. Rapp
  • Publication number: 20140000283
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes, among other possible things, a platform having a non-gas path side and a gas path side, an airfoil extending from the gas path side of the platform, and a cover plate positioned adjacent to the non-gas path side of the platform. The cover plate can include a first plurality of openings that communicate a first portion of a cooling air to a first cooling cavity of the platform and a second plurality of openings that can communicate a second portion of the cooling air to the second cooling cavity that is separate from the first cooling cavity. Each of the first cooling cavity and the second cooling cavity can include a plurality of augmentation features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Russell J. Bergman
  • Publication number: 20140000286
    Abstract: A turbine vane for a gas turbine engine includes inner and outer platforms joined by a radially extending airfoil. The airfoil includes leading and trailing edges joined by spaced apart pressure and suction sides to provide an exterior airfoil surface. The inner and outer platforms respectively include inner and outer sets of film cooling holes. One of the inner and outer sets of film cooling holes are formed in substantial conformance with platform cooling hole locations described by one of the sets of Cartesian coordinates set forth in Tables 1 and 2. The Cartesian coordinates are provided by an axial coordinate, a circumferential coordinate, and a radial coordinate, relative to a zero-coordinate. The cooling holes with Cartesian coordinates in Tables 1 and 2 have a diametrical surface tolerance relative to the specified coordinates of 0.200 inches (5.08 mm).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Russell J. Bergman
  • Publication number: 20140000287
    Abstract: A turbine vane for a gas turbine engine includes inner and outer platforms joined by a radially extending airfoil. The airfoil includes leading and trailing edges joined by spaced apart pressure and suction sides to provide an exterior airfoil surface. The inner and outer platforms respectively include inner and outer sets of film cooling holes, wherein one of the inner and outer sets of film cooling holes are formed in substantial conformance with platform cooling hole locations described by one of the sets of Cartesian coordinates set forth in Tables 1 and 2. The Cartesian coordinates are provided by an axial coordinate, a circumferential coordinate, and a radial coordinate, relative to a zero-coordinate. The cooling holes with Cartesian coordinates in Tables 1 and 2 have a diametrical surface tolerance relative to the specified coordinates of 0.200 inches (5.08 mm).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Russell J. Bergman
  • Publication number: 20140000284
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus bifurcates and regulates cooling airflow provided to a mid-turbine frame. The cooling apparatus includes a flow metering tube and a metering plate. The flow metering tube includes a top portion and a tube portion, wherein the top portion includes a first central aperture that directs a first cooling airflow into the tube portion and a first plurality of apertures located circumferentially around the central aperture that directs a second cooling airflow to a portion outside the tube portion. The metering plate is located on the top portion of the flow metering tube, wherein the metering plate includes a second central aperture aligned with the central aperture of the flow metering tube and a second plurality of apertures located circumferentially around the central aperture, wherein a size of the second central aperture meters the first cooling airflow and a size and number of the second plurality of apertures meters the second cooling airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jonathan Ariel Scott
  • Publication number: 20140000285
    Abstract: A turbine vane for a gas turbine engine includes inner and outer platforms joined by a radially extending airfoil. The airfoil includes leading and trailing edges joined by spaced apart pressure and suction sides to provide an exterior airfoil surface. The airfoil includes an airfoil cooling passage. A platform cooling passage is arranged within at least one of the inner and outer platforms. The platform cooling passage includes multiple cooling regions with one of the cooling regions arranged beneath the airfoil cooling passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Russell J. Bergman, Leonard A. Bach, Brandon W. Spangler
  • Patent number: 8613199
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a supply of cooling fluid, a rotatable shaft, structure defining at least one bypass passage in fluid communication with the supply of cooling fluid for supplying cooling fluid from the supply of cooling fluid, and metering structure located at an outlet of the at least one bypass passage. The metering structure includes at least one flow passageway extending therethrough at an angle to a central axis of the engine for permitting cooling fluid in the bypass passage to pass into a turbine rim cavity. The cooling fluid flowing out of the flow passageway has a velocity component in a direction tangential to the circumferential direction in the same direction as a rotation direction of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith D. Kimmel, Vincent P. Laurello, Todd Ebert
  • Publication number: 20130333393
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a gas turbine system are provided herein. In one embodiment, a method includes the steps of receiving at least one parameter of turbine inlet air and determining, based on the at least one parameter, an expected condensation level at an intercooler disposed downstream of an inlet air chilling system and in-line between a low pressure compressor and a high pressure compressor. The method further includes determining a desired temperature of the turbine inlet air corresponding to substantially no expected condensation at the intercooler and controlling the inlet air chilling system to chill the turbine inlet air to the desired temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Douglas Alan Jones
  • Publication number: 20130327061
    Abstract: A turbomachine bucket assembly includes a rotor member including a body having a center portion and an outer edge portion joined by a web. The rotor member includes one or more cooling fluid conduit having a dimension, and an inlet arranged at the outer edge. A plurality of blades are provided on the rotor member and mechanically linked to the outer edge. Each of the plurality of blades includes an internal cooling passage that is fluidly connected to the one or more cooling fluid conduits. A cooling fluid control element is provided at each of the one or more cooling fluid conduits. The cooling fluid control element is configured and disposed to adjust the dimension of the one or more cooling fluid conduits to alter fluid flow into the plurality of blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Biju Nanukuttan, Joshy John, Herbert Chidsey Roberts, III
  • Publication number: 20130327057
    Abstract: A heat shield for a combustor liner includes first linear film cooling slots through the heat shield and second linear film cooling slots through the heat shield. The first linear film cooling slots are run in a row and each of the first linear film cooling slots is angled from the row in a first direction. The second linear film cooling slots also run in the row and each of the second linear film cooling slots is angled from the row in a second direction opposite the first direction. The second linear film cooling slots alternate with the first linear film cooling slots in the row. The first and second linear film cooling slots are connected to form a single, multi-cornered film cooling slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Nurhak Erbas-Sen
  • Publication number: 20130318996
    Abstract: A cooling assembly for a bucket of a turbine system includes a shroud assembly operably coupled to an outer casing of a turbine section. Also included is an airfoil having at least one cavity, wherein the at least one cavity is configured to receive a cooling flow from a cooling source through at least one channel disposed within the shroud assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Stephen Paul Wassynger
  • Publication number: 20130312425
    Abstract: An airfoil includes an airfoil body having an internal cavity. A thermostatic valve is located at least partially within the internal cavity. The thermostatic valve is configured to passively control fluid flow into the internal cavity in response to a temperature within the internal cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Lane Thornton, Thomas N. Slavens
  • Publication number: 20130305740
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes a turbine, a compressor for compressing air and a combustor for receiving the compressed air through an inlet passage and operable to burn fuel therewith to deliver hot exhaust gas to the turbine. Also included is a wheel space defined proximate to the combustor. Further included is a cooling air passage extending between the compressor and the wheel space. Yet further included is a valve assembly having a valve member disposed in the cooling air passage and operable to admit a cooling air to the wheel space in response to a condition therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rex Allen Morgan, Michael Alan Davi, Clement Gazzillo, Harold Lamar Jordan
  • Publication number: 20130305739
    Abstract: Certain embodiments include a first individual sector configured to fit together with a plurality of individual sectors to form a combustor cap assembly of a turbine combustor, wherein the first individual sector is configured to fixedly attach to a first fuel nozzle of a plurality of fuel nozzles, the first individual sector comprises a first substantially enclosed cavity configured to surround the first fuel nozzle, and the first substantially enclosed cavity is configured to receive a cooling air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Patent number: 8584470
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component includes first and second wall surfaces, an inlet located at the first wall surface, an outlet located at the second wall surface and a diffusing section positioned between the inlet and the outlet. The diffusing section includes a first lobe, a second lobe adjacent the first lobe and a third lobe adjacent the second lobe. The first lobe and the second lobe meet at a first ridge and the second lobe and the third lobe meet at a second ridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mark F. Zelesky, Atul Kohli, Scott D. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8584469
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a pre-swirl structure. Inner and outer wall structures of the pre-swirl structure define a flow passage in which swirl members are located. The swirl members include a leading edge and a circumferentially offset trailing edge. Cooling fluid exits the flow passage with a velocity component in a direction tangential to the circumferential direction, wherein a swirl ratio defined as the velocity component in the direction tangential to the circumferential direction of the cooling fluid to a velocity component of a rotating shaft in the direction tangential to the circumferential direction is greater than one as the cooling fluid exits the flow passage outlet, and the swirl ratio is about one as the cooling fluid enters at least one bore formed in a blade disc structure. An annular cavity extends between the flow passage and the at least one bore formed in the blade disc structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent P. Laurello, Keith D. Kimmel, Todd Ebert
  • Patent number: 8578720
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a supply of cooling fluid, a rotatable shaft, blade disc structure coupled to the shaft and having at least one bore for receiving cooling fluid, and a particle separator. The particle separator includes particle deflecting structure upstream from the blade disc structure, and a particle collection chamber. The particle deflecting structure deflects solid particles from the cooling fluid prior to the cooling fluid entering the at least one bore in the blade disc structure. The particle collection chamber is upstream from the particle deflecting structure and receives the solid particles deflected from the cooling fluid by the particle deflecting structure. The solid particles deflected by the particle deflecting structure flow upstream from the particle deflecting structure to the particle collection chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Ebert, Keith D. Kimmel, Vincent P. Laurello
  • Patent number: 8572982
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas turbine, for energy generation, with a compressor, arranged coaxially to a rotor, mounted such as to rotate, for the compression of an inlet gaseous fluid, at least partly serving for combustion of a fuel in a subsequent annular combustion chamber, with generation of a hot working medium, with an annular diffuser arranged coaxially to the rotor, between the compressor and the annular combustion chamber, for distribution and deflection of the fluid, whereby a part of the fluid is diverted as cooling fluid for the turbine stages after the combustion chamber, by means of a dividing element, arranged in the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Tiemann, Iris Oltmanns
  • Patent number: 8572975
    Abstract: A combustion turbine engine that includes: a compressor; a combustor that receives fuel from a fuel line; a turbine; a heat exchange portion comprising a portion of the fuel line in heat transfer relationship with a heat source for heating the fuel; a rapid heating value meter disposed to test the heating value of the fuel that is configured to provide heating value test results within approximately 1 minute; a cold leg bypass comprising a fuel line that bypasses the heat exchange portion, the cold leg bypass being connected to the fuel line at an upstream fork and at a fuel mixing junction; and valves for controlling the fuel being directed through the heat exchange portion and the fuel being direct through the cold leg bypass; wherein the length of fuel line between the fuel mixing junction and the combustor is less than 20 meters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy R. Bilton, Dean M. Erickson, Brian M. Gallagher, Korey F. Rendo, John V. Hains
  • Patent number: 8573938
    Abstract: A turbine stator vane with endwall cooling that includes a row of submerged cooling air channels or slots that include a metering hole at an inlet end, a diffusion chamber downstream from the metering hole, and an open slot that channels and discharges the cooling air from the slots as film cooling air for the endwalls. Each submerged cooling air slot can be customized for pressure and flow to control metal temperature and cooling capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: George Liang
  • Patent number: 8572983
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component includes a gas path wall having a first surface and second surface and an impingement baffle having impingement holes for directing cooling fluid onto the first surface of the gas path wall. A cooling hole extends through the gas path wall. The cooling hole continuously diverges from an inlet in the first surface to an outlet in the second surface such that cross-sectional area of the cooling hole increases continuously from the inlet to the outlet. A longitudinal ridge divides the cooling hole into lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: JinQuan Xu
  • Publication number: 20130283814
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine. The turbine includes a rotor, a stator, and a cooling insert. The rotor includes multiple turbine blades. The stator surrounds the rotor and includes an inner wall surrounding the multiple turbine blades, an outer wall surrounding the inner wall, and a cooling chamber between the inner wall and the outer wall. The cooling insert extends through an opening in the outer wall into the cooling chamber. The insert includes a side wall extending around an axis, an end wall crosswise to the axis, a set of lateral ports extending through the side wall, and end ports extending through the end wall. The cooling insert is configured to direct a cooling fluid through the set of lateral ports and end ports into the cooling chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Richard Johns, Don Conrad Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130283815
    Abstract: A cooling structure for a servo valve includes a shroud to enclose at least a portion of the servo valve; and a base connected to the shroud to define a cooling chamber surrounding the servo valve, the base including an inlet port to receive cooling air, a flow channel connecting to the inlet port and a plurality of flow passages connecting the flow channel to the cooling chamber to allow cooling air flow from the inlet port into the cooling chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Scott W. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20130276460
    Abstract: An airfoil includes an airfoil body that defines a longitudinal axis. The airfoil body includes a leading edge and a trailing edge and a first side wall and a second side wall that is spaced apart from the first side wall to define a camber line there between. The first side wall and the second side wall join the leading edge and the trailing edge and at least partially define a cavity in the airfoil body. Multiple ribs extend longitudinally in the cavity and are laterally spaced apart from each other relative to the longitudinal axis. In at least one plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, each of the ribs connects the first side wall and the second side wall along respective minimum distance directions that are perpendicular to the camber line. At least two of the respective minimum distance directions are non-parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Benjamin T. Fisk, Steven Taffet, Gregory M. Dolansky, Anita L. Tracy
  • Publication number: 20130276461
    Abstract: An airfoil includes an airfoil body that defines a longitudinal axis. The airfoil body includes a leading edge and a trailing edge and a first side wall and a second side wall that is spaced apart from the first side wall. The first side wall and the second side wall join the leading edge and the trailing edge and at least partially define a cavity in the airfoil body. A lattice network connects the first side and the second side. The lattice network includes at least one enlarged node spaced apart from the first side wall and the second side wall and ribs that extend from the at least one enlarged node. Each of the ribs connects to one of the first side wall and the second side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Sergio M. Loureiro, Agnes Klucha, Benjamin T. Fisk, Anita L. Tracy
  • Publication number: 20130255278
    Abstract: A turbine casing assembly, comprising an annular seal segment assembly for surrounding the turbine adjacent to the turbine blades. An abradable coating is provided on the inboard surface of the seal segments of the assembly and one or more coolant ducts extend from the outboard surface of the seal segment assembly through respective seal segments and the abradable coating, for carrying a coolant towards the blade tips. One or more annular grooves are formed in the inboard surface of the abradable coating, the or each coolant duct opening into one of the one or more annular grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Anthony Gordon RAZZELL, Adrian Lewis HARDING
  • Publication number: 20130247584
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes at least one combustor and an exhaust frame; a compressor adapted to supply air to the combustor and to supply bleed air to the exhaust frame. A cooling air supply duct is arranged to supply ambient air to the exhaust frame and at least one ejector is. arranged to supply the bleed air to the cooling air supply duct upstream of the exhaust frame. A control valve is configured to control the supply of compressor bleed air to the cooling air supply duct and to the exhaust frame as a function of turbine exhaust temperature and/or turbine load conditions and cooling requirements at the various turbine load conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ravi Shankar Venkata KASIBHOTLA, Sanyaswara Rao GANTI