Benjamin P Lacy

US Patent:

7578130, Aug 25, 2009

Filed:

May 20, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/123876

Inventors:

Gilbert Otto Kraemer - Greer SC, US
Balachandar Varatharajan - Cincinnati OH, US
Shiva Srinivasan - Greer SC, US
John Joseph Lynch - Wilmington NC, US
Ertan Yilmaz - Albany NY, US
Kwanwoo Kim - Greer SC, US
Benjamin Lacy - Greer SC, US
Sarah Crothers - Greenville SC, US
Kapil Kumar Singh - Rexford NY, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F02C 1/00

US Classification:

60737

Abstract:

Methods and systems for combustion dynamics reduction are provided. A combustion chamber may include a first premixer and a second premixer. Each premixer may include at least one fuel injector, at least one air inlet duct, and at least one vane pack for at least partially mixing the air from the air inlet duct or ducts and fuel from the fuel injector or injectors. Each vane pack may include a plurality of fuel orifices through which at least a portion of the fuel and at least a portion of the air may pass. The vane pack or packs of the first premixer may be positioned at a first axial position and the vane pack or packs of the second premixer may be positioned at a second axial position axially staggered with respect to the first axial position.

US Patent:

7810333, Oct 12, 2010

Filed:

Oct 2, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/537730

Inventors:

Gilbert O. Kraemer - Greer SC, US
Benjamin Lacy - Greer SC, US
John Joseph Lipinski - Simpsonville SC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F02C 1/00
F02G 3/00

US Classification:

60737

Abstract:

A method of operating a turbine engine includes providing at least one combustor having a chamber defined therein. The assembly includes at least one combustor wall defining the chamber and a first fluid passage defining a first fluid inlet within the wall. The first fluid passage is coupled in flow communication with the chamber and is configured to inject a first fluid stream. The assembly further includes at least one second fluid passage defining at least one second fluid inlet within the wall. The second fluid inlet is adjacent to the first fluid inlet and is coupled in flow communication with the chamber. The method also includes injecting the first fluid stream and injecting the second fluid stream into the chamber at an oblique angle with respect to the first fluid stream, thereby intersecting and mixing the second fluid stream with the first fluid stream.

US Patent:

7874157, Jan 25, 2011

Filed:

Jun 5, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/133455

Inventors:

Andrei Tristan Evulet - Clifton Park NY, US
Balachandar Varatharajan - Cincinnati OH, US
Gilbert Otto Kraemer - Greer SC, US
Ahmed Mostafa ElKady - Niskayuna NY, US
Benjamin Paul Lacy - Greer SC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

F02C 1/00
F02G 3/00

US Classification:

60740, 60746

Abstract:

A low emission combustor includes a combustor housing defining a combustion chamber. A secondary nozzle is disposed along a centerline of the combustion chamber and configured to inject air or a first mixture of air and fuel on a downstream side of the combustion chamber. The secondary nozzle includes an air inlet configured to introduce a first fluid including air, a diluent, or combinations thereof into the secondary nozzle. At least one fuel plenum is configured to introduce a second fluid including a fuel, another diluent, or combinations thereof into the secondary nozzle and over a predetermined profile proximate to the fuel plenum. The predetermined profile is configured to facilitate attachment of the second fluid to the profile to form a fluid boundary layer and to entrain incoming first fluid through the fluid boundary layer to promote mixing of the first fluid and the second fluid and fuel to produce the first fluid. A plurality of primary fuel nozzles are disposed proximate on an upstream side of the combustion chamber and located around the secondary nozzle and configured to inject air or a second mixture of air and fuel to an upstream side of the combustion chamber.

US Patent:

7886545, Feb 15, 2011

Filed:

Apr 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/741502

Inventors:

Benjamin Paul Lacy - Greer SC, US
Gilbert Otto Kraemer - Greer SC, US
Balachandar Varatharajan - Clifton Park NY, US
Ertan Yilmaz - Albany NY, US
John Joseph Lipinski - Simpsonville SC, US
Willy Steve Ziminsky - Simpsonville SC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F02C 3/06
F02C 3/14

US Classification:

60804, 60733, 60746, 60747, 60 3937, 60752, 60760

Abstract:

A method for assembling a gas turbine combustor system is provided. The method includes providing a combustion liner including a center axis, an outer wall, a first end, and a second end. The outer wall is orientated substantially parallel to the center axis. The method also includes coupling a transition piece to the liner second end. The transition piece includes an outer wall. The method further includes coupling a plurality of lean-direct injectors along at least one of the liner outer wall and the transition piece outer wall such that the injectors are spaced axially apart along the wall.

US Patent:

7886991, Feb 15, 2011

Filed:

Oct 3, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/245266

Inventors:

Baifang Zuo - Simpsonville SC, US
Thomas Edward Johnson - Greer SC, US
Benjamin Paul Lacy - Greer SC, US
Willy Steve Ziminsky - Simpsonville SC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B05B 1/24

US Classification:

239 13, 239125, 239132, 2391325, 239403, 239406, 2394245, 60737, 60742, 60772

Abstract:

An injection nozzle having a main body portion with an outer peripheral wall is disclosed. The nozzle includes a plurality of fuel/air mixing tubes disposed within the main body portion and a fuel flow passage fluidly connected to the plurality of fuel/air mixing tubes. Fuel and air are partially premixed inside the plurality of the tubes. A second body portion, having an outer peripheral wall extending between a first end and an opposite second end, is connected to the main body portion. The partially premixed fuel and air mixture from the first body portion gets further mixed inside the second body portion. The second body portion converges from the first end toward said second end. The second body portion also includes cooling passages that extend along all the walls around the second body to provide thermal damage resistance for occasional flame flash back into the second body.

US Patent:

8104286, Jan 31, 2012

Filed:

Jan 7, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/350134

Inventors:

Baifang Zuo - Simpsonville SC, US
Benjamin Paul Lacy - Greer SC, US
Christian Xavier Stevenson - Inman SC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F02C 7/22
F23R 3/14
F23R 3/28
B05B 7/10

US Classification:

60748, 60742, 239403, 239399, 2989002

Abstract:

A fuel nozzle including a swirler assembly that includes a shroud, a hub, and a plurality of vanes extending between the shroud and the hub. Each vane includes a pressure sidewall and an opposite suction sidewall coupled to the pressure sidewall at a leading edge and at a trailing edge. At least one suction side fuel injection orifice is formed adjacent to the leading edge and extends from a first fuel supply passage to the suction sidewall. A fuel injection angle is oriented with respect to the suction sidewall. The suction side fuel injection orifice is configured to discharge fuel outward from the suction sidewall. At least one pressure side fuel injection orifice extends from a second fuel supply passage to the pressure sidewall and is substantially parallel to the trailing edge. The pressure side fuel injection orifice is configured to discharge fuel tangentially from the trailing edge.

US Patent:

8113002, Feb 14, 2012

Filed:

Oct 17, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/253268

Inventors:

Benjamin Lacy - Greer SC, US
Balachandar Varatharajan - Loveland OH, US
Gilbert Otto Kraemer - Greer SC, US
Ertan Yilmaz - Albany NY, US
Baifang Zuo - Simpsonville SC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenetady NY

International Classification:

F02C 1/00

US Classification:

60748, 60737, 60776

Abstract:

The present application provides a burner for use with a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The burner may include a center hub, a shroud, a pair of fuel vanes extending from the center hub to the shroud, and a vanelet extending from the center hub and/or the shroud and positioned between the pair of fuel vanes.

US Patent:

8117845, Feb 21, 2012

Filed:

Apr 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/741483

Inventors:

Benjamin Paul Lacy - Greer SC, US
Gilbert Otto Kraemer - Greer SC, US
Balachandar Varatharajan - Clifton Park NY, US
Ertan Yilmaz - Albany NY, US
Baifang Zuo - Simpsonville SC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F02C 1/00

US Classification:

60737, 60748

Abstract:

A method for assembling a premixing injector is provided. The method includes providing a centerbody including a center axis and a radially outer surface, and providing an inlet flow conditioner. The inlet flow conditioner includes a radially outer wall, a radially inner wall, and an end wall coupled substantially perpendicularly between the outer wall and the inner wall. Each of the outer wall and the end wall include a plurality of openings defined therein. The outer wall, the inner wall, and the end wall define a first passage therebetween. The method also includes coupling the inlet flow conditioner to the centerbody such that the inlet flow conditioner substantially circumscribes the centerbody, such that the inner wall is substantially parallel to the centerbody outer surface, and such that a second passage is defined between the centerbody outer surface and the inner wall.