General Electric Company

Daniel David Snook

Edward Durell Benjamin

Lisa Anne Wichmann

David John Humanchuk

Noémie Dion Ouellet

Samuel David Draper

Peter Gaines Cleveland

Scott Allen Rittenhouse

Ariel K Harter

Gunnar Leif Siden

Thomas William Vandeputte

John Herbert Dimmick

Ariel Caesar Prepena Jacala

Bruce Loren Smith

Carlos Alberto Collado

Robert Romany By

Noemie Dion Ouellet

Robert Craig Akin

Leissner Ferdinand Poth, Iii

Rachel Jane Obermeyer

Iii Leissner Ferdinard Poth

Noemie Dion Ouellett

Edward D Benjamin

Ambient air is compressed into a compressed ambient gas flow with a main air compressor. The compressed ambient gas flow having a compressed ambient gas flow rate is delivered to a turbine combustor and mixed with a fuel stream having a fuel stream flow rate and a portion of a recirculated low oxygen content gas flow to form a combustible mixture. The combustible mixture is burned and forms the recirculated low oxygen content gas flow that drives a turbine. A portion of the recirculated low oxygen content gas flow is recirculated from the turbine to the turbine compressor using a recirculation loop. The compressed ambient gas flow rate and the fuel stream flow rate are adjusted to achieve substantially stoichiometric combustion. An excess portion, if any, of the compressed ambient gas flow is vented. A portion of the recirculated low oxygen content gas flow is extracted using an extraction conduit.

Control method for stoichiometric exhaust gas recirculation power plant

A system adapted for clearance control for a gas turbine including an outer turbine casing, an inner turbine casing and a plenum defined between the inner and outer turbine casings is disclosed. The clearance control system may include an impingement box disposed within the plenum. The impingement box may define a plurality of impingement holes. In addition, the clearance control system may include a first conduit in flow communication with the interior of the impingement box and a second conduit in flow communication with the plenum at a location exterior to the impingement box.

Clearance control system for a gas turbine

A system for supporting a nozzle assembly includes a first member connected to a stationary component and a second member extending from the first member radially through at least a portion of the nozzle assembly. A distal end of the second member is radially displaced from the first member and configured to contact the nozzle assembly. A method for supporting a nozzle assembly includes connecting a first member to a stationary component and extending a second member from the first member radially through at least a portion of the nozzle assembly. The method further includes contacting a distal end of the second member to the nozzle assembly, wherein the distal end is radially displaced from the first member.

System and method for supporting a nozzle assembly

At least one main air compressor makes a compressed ambient gas flow. The compressed ambient gas flow is delivered to a turbine combustor at a pressure that is greater than or substantially equal to an output pressure delivered to the turbine combustor from a turbine compressor as at least a first portion of a recirculated gas flow. A fuel stream is delivered to the turbine combustor, and a combustible mixture is formed and burned, forming the recirculated gas flow. A turbine power is produced that is substantially equal to at least a power required to rotate the turbine compressor. At least a portion of the recirculated gas flow is recirculated through a recirculation loop. An excess portion of the recirculated gas flow is vented or a portion of the recirculated gas flow bypasses the turbine combustor or both.

Method of operating a stoichiometric exhaust gas recirculation power plant

At least one main air compressor makes a compressed ambient gas flow. The compressed ambient gas flow is delivered to both master and slave turbine combustors at a pressure that is greater than or substantially equal to an output pressure delivered to each turbine combustor from each turbine compressor as at least a first portion of a recirculated gas flow. A fuel stream is delivered to each turbine combustor, and combustible mixtures are formed and burned, forming the recirculated gas flows. A master and slave turbine power are produced, and each is substantially equal to at least a power required to rotate each turbine compressor. At least a portion of the recirculated gas flow is recirculated through recirculation loops. At least a second portion of the recirculated gas flow bypasses the combustors or an excess portion of each recirculated gas flow is vented or both.

Power plant and method of operation

A power plant arrangement and method of operation are provided. The power plant arrangement comprises at lease one main air compressor and one or more gas turbine assemblies. Each assembly comprises a turbine combustor for mixing a portion of a compressed ambient gas flow with a portion of a recirculated low oxygen content gas flow and a fuel stream, and burning the combustible mixture to form the recirculated low oxygen content flow. The assembly further comprises a turbine compressor, fluidly connected to the turbine combustor, and connected to a turbine shaft that is arranged to be driven by rotation of a turbine. The assembly also comprises a recirculation loop for recirculating at least a portion of the recirculated low oxygen content gas flow from the turbine to the turbine compressor.

Power plant and method of use

Ambient air is compressed into a compressed ambient gas flow and delivered to a turbine combustor. At least one of an exhaust port, a bypass conduit, or an extraction conduit is opened to vent the power plant. A turbine shaft is rotated at an ignition speed and a fuel stream is delivered to the turbine combustor for mixing with the compressed ambient gas flow to form a combustible mixture. The combustible mixture is burned and forms a recirculated gas flow that drives the turbine. The recirculated gas flow is recirculated using the recirculation loop. The turbine is operated at a target operating speed and then reaches substantially stoichiometric combustion. At least a portion of the recirculated gas flow is extracted using an extraction conduit that is fluidly connected to the turbine compressor.

Power plant start-up method and method of venting the power plant

A turbine blade with a generally hollow airfoil having an outer wall that defines a chamber for receiving cooling air, the airfoil comprising a leading edge that resides in an upstream direction, a trailing edge that resides in a downstream direction, a convex suction side, a concave pressure side, and an insert disposed within the chamber that is configured to initially receive at least a portion of the cooling air entering the chamber and direct the cooling air through a plurality of insert apertures to cool the inner surface of the outer wall, the insert further comprising a configuration that generally conforms to the contour of the outer wall of the chamber but in spaced relation thereto, wherein the chamber and insert narrow as they extend toward the trailing edge, the insert eventually terminating and the chamber eventually terminating at a pin array section, wherein a first distance exists that comprises the generally axial distance between the position of downstream termination point of the insert and the position of an upstream beginning point of the pin array section, wherein the pin array section, at a downstream end, comprises a plurality of openings that define an inlet to a plurality of trailing edge cooling apertures, and wherein the chamber, the insert, and the pin array section are configured such that the first distance is approximately minimized.

Turbine blade cooling with a hollow airfoil configured to minimize a distance between a pin array section and the trailing edge of the air foil

A gas turbine engine nozzle is described. The gas turbine engine nozzle includes at least one nozzle vane having a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled to an inner sidewall and the second end is coupled to an outer sidewall. The gas turbine engine nozzle also includes at least one stress relief pocket defined within at least one of the inner sidewall and the outer sidewall proximate to the at least one nozzle vane. The at least one stress relief pocket is configured to reduce stress on the proximate nozzle vane.

Methods and apparatus for reducing nozzle stress

A retention pin for fastening retaining lugs of an outer sidewall, of a turbine nozzle, within a groove between a forward land and an aft land of a retaining ring. The retention pins fit through coaxial holes in the lug and the lands, securing the radial and circumferential location of the nozzles as well as allowing transitional motion. While maintaining limited contact with both the nozzles and the retaining ring they significantly reduce conductive heat transfer from the nozzle to the retaining ring. By positioning the nozzles, they also set the desired nozzle throat areas for targeted turbine performance. The pins have been designed such that the nozzle cannot disengage within the assembly due to the pin backing out of its nominal axial position, and the pin will not fail due to low cycle fatigue, creep, or yielding, all of which prevent nozzle fallout.

Fully contained retention pin for a turbine nozzle

Gas turbine systems having flexible chordal hinge seals are provided. According to an embodiment, a turbine system comprises: a nozzle segment comprising a stator vane extending between an inner band segment and an outer band segment; an inner support ring adjacent to the inner band segment; and an inner chordal hinge seal in operable communication with the nozzle segment, the inner chordal hinge seal comprising a flexible inner rail extending inwardly from the inner band segment, the inner rail having a projection for sealingly engaging the inner support ring.

Gas turbines having flexible chordal hinge seals

An article of manufacture includes an object having an airfoil core shape. The airfoil core shape has a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y, and Z set forth in TABLE 1 where X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances are joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil core shape.

Airfoil core shape for a turbine nozzle

An outer sidewall retention scheme for a singlet first stage nozzle of a gas turbine. The retention scheme includes a circumferential retaining ring with a main body and a pair of circumferential retaining lands projecting inward radially. A circumferential annular retaining groove is formed between the pair of circumferential retaining lands. A first lug and a second lug mounted on an outer face of the outer sidewall of each nozzle are adapted to fit within the circumferential annular retaining groove of the retaining ring and are supported radially and circumferentially by a first retaining pin and a second retaining pin, each pin passing though the circumferential retaining lands. Each nozzle further includes a chordal hinge rail and seal on the outer sidewall and a chordal hinge rail and seal on the inner sidewall providing axial support for the nozzle.

Outer sidewall retention scheme for a singlet first stage nozzle

An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth TABLE I. The X and Y values are distances in inches, which when connected by smooth continuing arcs define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches The X, Y and Z distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down airfoil section for the nozzle. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelope of +0.130 inch to &#x2212;0.030 inch.

Airfoil shape for a turbine nozzle

Blade load path on a gas turbine disk can be diverted to provide a significant disk fatigue life benefit. A plurality of gas turbine blades are attachable to a gas turbine disk, where each of the gas turbine blades includes a blade dovetail engageable in a correspondingly-shaped dovetail slot in the gas turbine disk. In order to reduce gas turbine disk stress, an optimal material removal area is defined according to blade and/or disk geometry to maximize a balance between stress reduction on the gas turbine disk, a useful life of the gas turbine blade, and maintaining or improving the aeromechanical behavior of the gas turbine blade. Removing material from the material removal area effects the maximized balance.

Growing community of inventors

Moore, SC, United States of America

Daniel David Snook