And Cooling Patents (Class 60/806)
  • Patent number: 7712317
    Abstract: A flow control system comprises includes a fluidic control device having a main fluid path for a flow of fluid through the device, and a control fluid path for a control flow of fluid through the device. At least part of the control fluid path coincides with at least part of the main fluid path to control the flow of fluid out of the fluidic control device. A valve is associated with the control fluid path. The valve is movable between an open condition to allow fluid to flow along the control fluid path to effect the aforesaid control of the fluid flow out of the fluidic control device, and a closed condition to inhibit or prevent fluid flow along the control fluid path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Timothy J. Scanlon
  • Patent number: 7712316
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes turbine blades having film cooling holes at an outer face of an airfoil wherein the film cooling holes are designed to be better filled with air. In a disclosed embodiment, the film cooling holes include a meter section extending along a direction having a main component extending from a blade tip to a blade root. In addition, a diffused section communicates with the meter section at a face of the airfoil. The diffused section is spaced toward the blade tip from the meter section. In this manner, centrifugal force ensures the diffused section is also filled with air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Brandon W. Spangler
  • Patent number: 7708518
    Abstract: A system and method for actively managing blade tip clearances in a turbine engine, particularly under steady state operating conditions such as at base load, involves routing a portion of air from a rotor cooling air circuit to a vane carrier or other stationary support structure surrounding the turbine blades. Because the temperature of the air is less than the temperature of the stationary support structure, the stationary support structure will thermally contract when the air is passed in heat exchanging relation therewith. In one embodiment, the air can be passed through one or more passages extending through at least a portion of the stationary support structure. The contraction of the stationary support structure reduces the blade tip clearance because the blades do not contract. Thus, fluid leakage through the clearances is minimized, which in turn can increase engine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Abdullatif M. Chehab
  • Publication number: 20100101234
    Abstract: An evaporative cooler for cooling a gas stream, in particular an air stream, including a number of cooling elements located in a flow channel, is provided. A liquid, preferably water, is supplied by a feed device and will be vaporized or evaporated. In one aspect, the surface of at least one of the cooling elements has hydrophilic properties, at least in one sub-region designed to form a liquid film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Jens Birkner, Walter David, Rudolf Gensler, Arne Grassmann, Knut Halberstadt, Beate Heimberg, Bora Kocdemir, Rainer Nies, Jörg Schürhoff, Werner Stamm
  • Publication number: 20100101233
    Abstract: A reverse flow heat exchanger is combined with a thermal energy sink to generate a temperature ladder. This system is used to cool a fluid more efficiently and/or to a lower temperature than would be possible without the reverse flow heat exchanger. The cooled fluid is optionally used to cool a sensor, a superconductor, a circuit, a cooling surface, or the like. The cooled fluid is optionally combined with a catalyst to remove unwanted constituents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventor: Lincoln Evans-Beauchamp
  • Publication number: 20100080685
    Abstract: A cooling system for a turbine engine, as well as a methodology for controlling the cooling system, is described. A valve member is disposed between a cooling fluid passage and a wheel space of the turbine engine and operates to admit cooling fluid to the wheel space for cooling thereof. The valve assembly is responsive to a condition in the wheel space and varies the flow of additional cooling fluid to the wheel space based on that condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Rex Allen Morgan, Michael Alan Davi, Clement Gazzillo, Harold Lamar Jordan, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100071382
    Abstract: A transition member between a combustion section and a turbine section in a gas turbine engine. The transition member includes a casing inner wall and a plurality of spanning members. The spanning members extend radially outwardly from a radially outer surface of the casing inner wall. Each of the spanning members included a slot formed therein. Each slot is in communication with a first aperture formed in the radially inner surface of the casing inner wall and a plurality of second apertures formed in an aft side of the spanning member for effecting a passage of the cooling fluid from a first cooling fluid channel to an inner volume defined within the radially inner surface of the casing inner wall. The slots include a component in the radial direction and a component in the axial direction such that the first aperture is not radially aligned with the second apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: George Liang
  • Patent number: 7677048
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine with a turbine section having at least a first stage turbine blade and a last stage turbine blade. The first stage turbine blade includes cooling fluid passages therein in which a compressed cooling fluid, usually from the compressor section of the gas turbine engine, is passed through for cooling of the first stage blade. The last stage turbine blade includes cooling fluid passages therein, but draws the cooling air from an outside ambient pressure source instead of from a compressor. The rotation of the last stage turbine blade and rotor disk provides for a centrifugal force to drive the cooling air into the blade and through the blade for cooling thereof. No additional compression of the last stage cooling fluid is required. A cover plate with a plurality of impellers covers a back side of the last stage rotor disk and provides for an additional means to pump the ambient cooling fluid into the last stage blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Brostmeyer, Jack W. Wilson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7669425
    Abstract: A cooling fluid reuse system for a turbine engine for capturing spent cooling fluids from row one turbine vanes and directing those fluids into a mixing chamber to be mixed with liner cooling fluids and used in a combustor. The cooling fluid reuse system may be formed from a fluid channel extending from the a cooling fluid collection channel in the first row of turbine vanes, through a rotor cooling fluid collection chamber in the rotor assembly, through a cooling fluid manifold, and into the at least one mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: George Liang
  • Patent number: 7665310
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an engine core extending along a core axis, a cooling-air delivery duct on the engine core, and a removable nacelle cowl overlying the engine core. A cooling-air nacelle-cowl duct delivers cooling air to the cooling-air delivery duct. At least a portion of the length of the cooling-air nacelle-cowl duct is integral with the nacelle cowl and not directly supported on the engine core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Daniel Jean-Louis Laborie
  • Publication number: 20100031673
    Abstract: A section of a gas turbine engine including a radial spoke is provided. The spoke includes an aerodynamic shape with a leading side and a trailing side and, extending from the leading side to the trailing side, a first side and a second side, opposite the first side. The spoke also includes at least one flow guiding element arranged on at least the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventor: John David Maltson
  • Patent number: 7654085
    Abstract: A system of an internal combustion engine which is induced by an air flow amplifier via a turbine and centrifugal compressor, one side of which is mechanically and pneumatically connected to the turbine and the other side with an air intake of the internal combustion engine. The operation of the engine induction system can be enhanced by using an intercooler that supplies a cooled primary flow of compressed air to the air amplifier. The use of the engine induction system without a turbocharger and, hence, without hot exhaust gases, makes it possible to utilize light magnesium alloys for parts of the turbine and compressor and thus to reduce the weight of the system as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventors: Elijah Dumas, Elisha Dumas, Howard Dumas
  • Publication number: 20100018219
    Abstract: A device (30) for optimizing the cooling in a gas turbine of the type comprising at least one compressor, equipped with a combustion chamber (10) and an outer casing (16) and inner casing (32), at least one turbine wheel (14), equipped with a series of blades 12), and at least one high-pressure rotor (38), equipped with one or more supporting bearings (34), the compressor being capable of generating cooling air sent to the turbine wheel (14) through a suitable channel (20). On the outer surface of the device (30), there are one or more grooves (26) which allow the passage of additional flow-rates of air from the compressor towards the channel (20), in order to increase the overall cooling air flow towards said turbine wheel (14). The device (30) can be easily installed without the necessity of dismantling the outer casing (16), and is assembled on pre-existing machines in substitution of the vent tube (22) of the seals (36) of the supporting bearings (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Moreno Baldaccini, Roberto De Prosperis
  • Publication number: 20090314006
    Abstract: One embodiment of a heat exchange system is disclosed having a heat exchange compressor and multiple evaporators capable of operating at different heat transfer requirements. The heat exchange compressor may be a single-stage or multi-stage compressor. In one form the evaporators return working fluid in separate streams to the heat exchange compressor. The heat exchange compressor may be integrated with a gas turbine engine and includes a number of inlets that correspond to a number of separate evaporators. Each inlet can be configured to receive working fluid at different locations within a pressure and velocity flow field created in the compressor. The heat exchange compressor may be driven by a shaft of the gas turbine engine and may be positioned at a variety of locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventor: Larry Allen Junod
  • Publication number: 20090293496
    Abstract: A portion of cooling air for cooling the turbine section of a gas turbine engine is tapped and passed through a heat exchanger. The portion of the cooling air is cooled in the heat exchanger, and the heat taken out of the portion of the cooling air is utilized to generate electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: James W. Norris, James D. Hill
  • Publication number: 20090272124
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling channel for a component conveying hot gas for the purposes of conveying a coolant along a direction of flow with a dowrnstream and an upstream side, with a plurality of inlet apertures for a coolant, with a number of inlet apertures that vary their configuration at least partly among themselves is arranged at least in one section of the cooling channel. As a result, the heat-transfer coefficient is substantially increased at points particularly requiring cooling and therefore the cooling is substantially improved. The cooling channel is characterized by a particularly low pressure loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Robert W. Dawson, Roland Liebe
  • Patent number: 7603863
    Abstract: A secondary combustion system for a stage one turbine nozzle. The secondary combustion system may include a supply tube extending into the stage one nozzle, a number of injectors extending from the supply tube to an outer surface of the stage one nozzle, and an air gap surrounding each of the number of injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7600382
    Abstract: Efficiency and/or power are increased in a turbine engine by using a self-contained, passive heat transfer device, such as a heat pipe, to transfer heat from working fluid in one section of the engine to working fluid in another section of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Inventor: Stephen Alden Ralls, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090252593
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for cooling a transition piece of a combustor includes at least one wrapper disposed at the transition piece located outboard of the transition piece. At least one support boss is located between the at least one wrapper and the transition piece. The at least one support boss, the at least one wrapper, and transition piece define at least one cooling flow channel for directing flow for cooling the transition piece. A method of cooling a transition piece of a combustor includes flowing cooling flow into at least one cooling flow channel located at the transition piece, the at least one cooling flow channel defined by the transition piece, at least one wrapper located at the transition piece and located outboard of the transition piece, and at least one support boss located between the at least one wrapper and the transition piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald James Chila, David Purnell
  • Publication number: 20090235671
    Abstract: A power generation system and method in which a fuel gas is introduced into a combustor and at least a portion of the fuel gas is combusted in the combustor, producing an exhaust gas having no appreciable available oxygen. The exhaust gas is introduced as a working fluid into a gas turbine, thereby generating power. Cooling of the power generation system is accomplished using a cooling fluid selected from the group consisting of synthesis gas, natural gas, natural gas/steam mixture, flue gas, flue gas/steam mixture, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Iosif K. RABOVITSER, Serguei NESTER, Stanley WOHADLO, Mehmet TARTAN
  • Patent number: 7587887
    Abstract: An advanced humid air turbine power plant capable of suppressing condensation of moisture in a cooling channel, which is provided to cool a high-temperature component of a gas turbine, in a start up stage, a coast down stage, and a load varying state of the gas turbine. In the advanced humid air turbine power plant comprising a compressed air supply line for supplying compressed air generated by a compressor to the high-temperature component of the gas turbine, and a humidified air supply line for supplying humidified air generated in a humidifying tower to the high-temperature component of the gas turbine, the power plant further comprises valves capable of adjusting respective air flow rates in the compressed air supply line and the humidified air supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Horiuchi, Shinya Marushima, Hidefumi Araki, Shigeo Hatamiya
  • Patent number: 7581401
    Abstract: A method for cooling a turbine assembly component of a gas turbine engine in a combined-cycle power generation system. The method includes channeling cooling fluid that is extracted from a source external to the gas turbine engine to the turbine assembly component, and cooling the turbine assembly component using the cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Anthony West, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, David Martin Johnson
  • Publication number: 20090211920
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for a system for maintaining hydrogen purity in an electrical power generator. The purity system includes: a generator, a hydrogen generator configured to provide hydrogen gas to the generator, a purity monitor for detecting the level of hydrogen purity in the generator and providing a signal when the purity drops below a predetermined threshold. The system automatically compensates for gas loss or contamination to maintain the desired level of efficiency in the electrical generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Proton Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: A. John Speranza, Luisa Gudino
  • Patent number: 7574864
    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 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Iris Oltmanns, legal representative, Peter Tiemann
  • Publication number: 20090199568
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes a combustor having a combustion chamber in which an air and fuel mixture is combusted to produce combustion gases. The engine assembly further includes a transition scroll coupled to the combustor for receiving the combustion gases. The transition scroll includes an interior surface, an exterior surface, and effusion cooling holes for providing cooling air to the interior surface. The engine assembly further includes a turbine coupled to the transition scroll for receiving and extracting energy from the combustion gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jurgen C. Schumacher, Ian L. Critchley, David G. Walhood, Stony W. Kujala, Gregory O. Woodcock
  • Patent number: 7568335
    Abstract: In a gas turbogroup, which comprises a compressor, a first combustion chamber, a first turbine, a second combustion chamber, and a second turbine, the first combustion chamber is arranged downstream of the compressor, the first turbine is arranged downstream of the first combustion chamber, the second combustion chamber is arranged downstream of the first turbine, and the second turbine is arranged downstream of the second combustion chamber, wherein the second combustion chamber has a convectively cooled wall. A cooling air feed line for the second combustion chamber branches from the main flow path of the gas turbogroup downstream of the compressor and upstream of the first combustion chamber. A return line for heated cooling air leads from the second combustion chamber upstream of the first turbine to the main flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Rolf Althaus
  • Patent number: 7555892
    Abstract: The invention proposes a cooling system (42) for a gas turbine (1), with an annular duct extending axially in the compressor (5). In the annular duct, a ring (15) of compressor guide blades (14, 28, 33) and a ring (17) of moving blades (16) fastened to a rotor disk (19) of the rotor (3) are provided, with at least one cooling-air extraction point (34), arranged on the rotor (3), for diverting a cooling-air stream into a cooling-duct system arranged in the rotor (3), and with a turbine unit (8), in which, when the gas turbine (1) is in operation, components subjected to thermal stress by a hot gas (20) can be cooled by the divertible cooling-air stream, and also with a feed line (46) for feeding a liquid (45) into the cooling-air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Volker Vosberg
  • Patent number: 7536864
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system. The system includes a compressor with a first compressor stage and a second compressor stage, a turbine with a first turbine stage and a second turbine stage, a first flow path connecting the first compressor stage and the first turbine stage, a second flow path connecting the second compressor stage and the second turbine stage, a crossover flow path connecting the first flow path and the second flow path, and an ejector positioned about the crossover flow path and the first flow path. The ejector may be a variable motive nozzle ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher E. Wolfe, Douglas F. Beadie, Kenneth N. Whaling, David W. Ball, Kevin T. McGovern, Ravi Praveen Eluripati, Omprakash Samudrala
  • Patent number: 7533534
    Abstract: A method and device for decoupling combustor attenuation and pressure fluctuation from turbine attenuation and pressure fluctuation in a gas turbine engine. The engine has: a compressor; a combustor; and a turbine, that generate a flow of hot gas from the combustor to the turbine. An aerodynamic trip is disposed in at least one of; a combustor wall; and an inner shroud of the nozzle guide vane ring, and is adapted to emit jets of compressed air from cross flow ports into the flow of hot gas from the combustor. The air jets from the cross flow ports increase turbulence and equalize temperature distribution in addition to decoupling the attenuation and pressure fluctuations between the combustor and the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Hisham Alkabie
  • Publication number: 20090104028
    Abstract: An apparatus for distributing a fluid in a gas flow path inside a turbomachine, comprising: a device for introducing the fluid into the gas flow path; and wherein the device is positioned within the gas flow path. A method for installing an apparatus that will distribute a fluid in a gas flow path inside a turbomachine, the method comprising: machining a casing groove along an inner surface of a casing; machining at least one port into the casing that is in fluid communication with the casing groove; machining an internal cavity in at least one stator blade that is in fluid communication with the casing groove; machining at least one orifice, that is in fluid communication with the internal cavity, on an orifice surface of the stator blade; and coupling a fluid supply to the at least one port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard Robert Trewin, Jason Paul Mortzheim, Edip Sevincer, Kevin Richard Kirtley, Roointon Erach Pavri, Xiaoyue Liu
  • Publication number: 20090077974
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat shield arrangement for a hot gas (m)-guiding component, which comprises a number of heat shield elements arranged side-by-side on a supporting structure while leaving a gap there between. A heat shield element can be mounted on the supporting structure whereby forming an interior space which is delimited in areas by a hot gas wall to be cooled, with an inlet channel for admitting a coolant into the interior space. According to the invention, a coolant discharge channel is provided for the controlled discharge of coolant from the interior space and, from the interior space, leads into the gap. Coolant can be saved and efficiently used by the specific coolant discharge via the coolant discharge channel, and reduction in pollutant emissions can also be achieved. The heat shield arrangement is particularly suited for linking a combustion chamber of a gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Stefan Dahlke, Heinrich Putz
  • Publication number: 20090077979
    Abstract: A combustor 10 is furnished with steam cooling piping 11. Steam is flowed by the following route, steam supply piping 20?steam cooling piping 11?steam discharge piping 70, to cool the combustor 10 with steam. When a gas turbine is stopped, valves V73, V71, V51, etc. are closed to construct a closed piping line composed of the pipings 20, 11 and 70. Then, the valve V71 is opened for evacuation by a condenser 90. Then, the valve V71 is closed, and the valve V51 is opened to charge nitrogen into the pipings 20, 11, 70. Then, the valve V51 is closed. By this procedure, residual steam within the steam cooling piping 11 can be reliably removed, and replaced by nitrogen. Thus, during stoppage of the gas turbine, residual steam can be removed reliably and promptly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Morihiko Masaki
  • Patent number: 7503179
    Abstract: An exemplary thermal air exhaust system includes circumferentially extending exhaust passages to exhaust thermal control air from an annular region between an outer casing and a distribution manifold encircling an axially extending portion of the casing after the thermal control air has been sprayed on at least one thermal control ring attached to the outer casing and/or onto the outer casing by spray tubes with spray holes. Baffles attached to base panels of the distribution manifold and contoured to form the exhaust passages between the baffles and base panels. The exhaust passages having exhaust passage inlets formed by radially facing exhaust holes through the baffles and exhaust passage outlets formed by circumferentially facing exhaust passage outlets between the baffles and the base panels. Thermal control air is sprayed on at least one thermal control ring and/or onto the outer casing and then circumferentially exhausted through the exhaust passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Anthony Estridge, Roger Francis Wartner, Michael Terry Bucaro
  • Publication number: 20090056303
    Abstract: The amount of water to be injected in an intercooler is controlled to cool the compressed gas to the saturation temperature. It is difficult to adjust the amount of the water to be injected, however, since the temperature of the compressed gas at an intercooler outlet is actually higher than the saturation temperature. An intercooling system is configured so as to cool a gas to the saturation temperature without controlling the amount of water injection and thereby maintain the reliability of the compressor while improving the cooling efficiency. The intercooling system is located between a plurality of compression stages of a gas compressor to cool the gas that has been in the compressor. A desired amount of liquid is sprinkled to cool the compressed gas while restraining inflow of the liquid into the compression stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Hidefumi ARAKI, Takanori Shibata, Shigeo Hatamiya, Moriaki Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7490472
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for inter alia to increase the energy and cost efficiency of a gas power plant or a thermal heat plant with CO2 capturing. The power plant comprises gas turbine plants (12,12?) comprising compressor units (13,13?) and turbine units (14,14?) and further comprises a combustor (10). The combustor (10) is working in principle with to separate gas part streams where one gas part stream flows internally through the flame tube (40) of the combustor (10), while the other gas part stream is flowing along the exterior of the flame tube (40). The first gas part stream comprises additional air and re-circulated, un-cleaned flue gas from the combustor (10), said gases being combusted together with fuel inside the flame tube (40). The second gas part stream comprises cleaned flue gas which is heated up at the exterior of the flame tube (40) while the flame tube (40) is cooled down. The invention comprises also a power plant, a combustor and a CO2 capture plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Statoil ASA
    Inventors: Arne Lynghjem, Jon Jakobsen, Henrik Kobro, Arnfinn Lund
  • Patent number: 7478994
    Abstract: An airfoil, and in a disclosed embodiment a rotor blade, has film cooling holes formed at a leading edge. A supplemental film cooling channel is positioned near the leading edge, but spaced toward the trailing edge from the leading edge. The supplemental film cooling channel directs film cooling air onto a suction wall. The supplemental film cooling channel air is generally directed to a location on the suction wall that has raised some challenges in the past. In a disclosed embodiment, the airfoil is provided with a thermal barrier coating, and the supplemental film cooling air protects this thermal barrier coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Edward F. Pietraszkiewicz, David M. Kontrovitz, Jeffrey R. Levine, Young Chon, Dominic Mongillo, Bret Teller
  • Publication number: 20090007570
    Abstract: A method of assembling a turbine engine is provided. The method includes providing a heat exchanger having a curvilinear body. The method also includes coupling the heat exchanger to at least one of a fan casing and an engine casing of the turbine engine. The curvilinear body facilitates reducing pressure losses in airflow channeled into the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Srikanth Ranganathan
  • Publication number: 20080314047
    Abstract: Cooling systems for an aircraft are provided. In an embodiment, a system includes an engine nacelle, an engine, a bypass duct, and a heat exchanger. The engine nacelle includes an airflow inlet. The engine is housed in the engine nacelle in flow communication with the airflow inlet. The bypass duct extends between the engine nacelle and the engine is in flow communication with the airflow inlet. The bypass duct includes an outer wall and an opening formed therein. The heat exchanger is integrated with the engine and is disposed over the opening of the bypass duct outer wall between the bypass duct outer wall and the engine nacelle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Morris G. Anderson, William E. Alford, Michael L. Trego, Ron Haugland, David K. Winstanley
  • Publication number: 20080250792
    Abstract: A method of operating a gas turbine engine having a turbine and a compressor connected via a shaft, a main fuel supply line for supplying fuel to a combustor that is positioned to release expanding hot gases to the turbine, the engine further including a starter/generator connected to the shaft via a gearbox assembly, the method is characterised the step of during engine start up fuel is circulated in a re-circulating fuel circuit positioned on the main fuel supply line and which a first fuel/oil heat exchanger, for cooling the oil, and a fuel accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: YI WANG, PAUL DAVID REES
  • Patent number: 7434402
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to a system and method for actively controlling compressor clearances in a turbine engine by passing a thermal fluid in heat exchanging relation through a compressor vane carrier. During some operational conditions, such as hot restart or spin cool, it may be desirable to heat the vane carrier to enlarge or at least prevent a decrease in compressor clearances. In such cases, a heated thermal fluid can be provided by reclaiming residual exhaust energy from a heat recovery steam generator. At any condition where improved performance is desired, such as at base load operation, the vane carrier can be cooled to minimize compressor clearances. A cooled thermal fluid can be bleed air from an upstream portion of the compressor, water-cooled high pressure bleed air from a downstream portion of the compressor, or feed water from the bottoming cycle in a combined cycle engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: Hubert Edward Paprotna, Adam Matthew Foust
  • Patent number: 7424360
    Abstract: A turbine overspeed control system for use with a gas turbine engine of a gas turbine electrical powerplant. The overspeed control system preferably comprises a first and second overspeed control subsystem. When an overspeed condition of the gas turbine engine is detected, the first overspeed control subsystem acts to remove air from a combustion section of the engine, while the second overspeed control subsystem operates to alter the angle at which an incoming flow of air is supplied to a compressor turbine located therein. The result of operating the first and/or second overspeed control subsystem is a reduction in the speed of the gas turbine engine that is much more rapid than can be accomplished by simply shutting off a fuel supply thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Altek Power Corporation
    Inventor: Bill C. Munson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080202094
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aeroengine comprising: a primary air circuit; a high-pressure compressor fed by said primary air; and a secondary air circuit. The engine further comprising at least one heat exchanger mounted in the primary air circuit upstream from said high-pressure compressor, said heat exchanger comprising a cold secondary circuit and a hot primary circuit, said hot primary circuit being fed with air from said primary air circuit and said cold secondary circuit being fed with air from the secondary air circuit. The cold circuit of the heat exchanger is fed by pipes that open out into the secondary air circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Michel Gilbert Roland BRAULT, Stephane Rousselin, Nicolas Jerome Jean Tantot, Roxane Carmelle Jeanne Yvonne Touret
  • Patent number: 7412834
    Abstract: An annular combustion chamber for a turbomachine comprises inner and outer annular walls united by a transverse wall, the inner and outer walls are extended at their downstream ends by inner and outer fastener flanges for fastening respectively to inner and outer shells of a turbomachine casing in order to hold the combustion chamber in position, the inner flange being provided with a plurality of holes for feeding cooling air to a high pressure turbine of the turbomachine, the air feed holes through the inner flange being distributed circumferentially over at least two rows disposed in a staggered configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Martine Bes, Didier Hernandez, Gilles Lepretre, Denis Trahot
  • Patent number: 7413399
    Abstract: An apparatus for distributing a fluid in a gas flow path inside a turbomachine, comprising: a device for introducing the fluid into the gas flow path; and wherein the device is positioned within the gas flow path. A method for installing an apparatus that will distribute a fluid in a gas flow path inside a turbomachine, the method comprising: machining a casing groove along an inner surface of a casing; machining at least one port into the casing that is in fluid communication with the casing groove; machining an internal cavity in at least one stator blade that is in fluid communication with the casing groove; machining at least one orifice, that is in fluid communication with the internal cavity, on an orifice surface of the stator blade; and coupling a fluid supply to the at least one port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard Robert Trewin
  • Publication number: 20080190114
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component includes a platform and an airfoil extending from the platform. The platform includes an outer surface. A cover plate is positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the platform. A cooling channel extends between the outer surface and the cover plate and receives cooling air to cool the platform and the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Raymond Surace, Andrew D. Milliken
  • Publication number: 20080141679
    Abstract: A turbomachine comprising a diffuser-distributor assembly comprising a downstream end-piece connected at its downstream end to means for injecting air for ventilating a turbine and delimiting with the impeller of a centrifugal compressor an annular cavity for the circulation of ventilation air taken from the outlet of the compressor, this turbomachine comprising means for taking air from the injection means and means for guiding this air to the radially internal portion of the downstream face of the impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Laurent BEHAGHEL, Jean-Pierre Andre Joseph Mourlan, Gerard Jaques Stangalini
  • Publication number: 20080141680
    Abstract: System for ventilating a combustion chamber wall A system for ventilating a combustion chamber wall in a turbomachine comprising a centrifugal compressor (10) supplying, via a diffuser (12), a combustion chamber (14), this system comprising an annular case (90) arranged radially between the combustion chamber and a downstream end-piece (26) of the diffuser and that comprises a radially external wall (92) for the guidance of an air flow coming out of the diffuser, and a radially internal wall (94) delimiting with the end-piece of the diffuser a channel (88) for the air coming out of the diffuser to pass through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Antoine Robert Alain BRUNET, Patrice Andre Commaret, Didier Hippolyte Hernandez, David Locatelli
  • Publication number: 20080141678
    Abstract: A system for cooling the impeller of a centrifugal compressor in a turbomachine, this compressor (10) supplying an annular diffuser (12) comprising an end-piece (26) that extends downstream and along the impeller of the compressor and that is covered on the upstream side by an annular metal sheet (90) that delimits, with the impeller of the compressor, a first annular passageway (39) to carry away the air taken from the outlet of the compressor and, with the end-piece of the diffuser, a second annular passageway (98) to carry away a portion of the air flow coming out of the diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Antoine Robert Alain BRUNET, Jean-Christophe Leininger, David Locatelli, Romain Nicolas Lunel
  • Patent number: 7383686
    Abstract: A secondary flow, turbine cooling air system for the uniform cooling of high pressure turbine module components such as the turbine shroud, turbine blade tips, turbine nozzle, transion liner, and turbine bearing support housing in a recuperated gas turbine engine is provided. The secondary flow turbine cooling system provides uniform cooling air having a similar pressure and temperature in a recuperated gas turbine engine as the compressor discharge air of a non-recuperated gas turbine engine. A method for uniform cooling of high pressure turbine module components using the secondary flow turbine cooling air system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Larry W. Aycock, John R. Barrett, Howard M. Becker, Michael J. Durden, Robert A. Kime, Brian D. Koch, Robert S. Sandoval
  • Publication number: 20080098749
    Abstract: A cooling fluid reuse system for a turbine engine for capturing spent cooling fluids from row one turbine vanes and directing those fluids into a mixing chamber to be mixed with liner cooling fluids and used in a combustor. The cooling fluid reuse system may be formed from a fluid channel extending from the a cooling fluid collection channel in the first row of turbine vanes, through a rotor cooling fluid collection chamber in the rotor assembly, through a cooling fluid manifold, and into the at least one mixing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventor: George Liang