The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 24, 1993
Filed:
Oct. 07, 1992
Stephen E Mumford, Longwood, FL (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A method and system for auto-igniting the pilot section of a gas turbine combustor prior to down-loading the turbine from base load operation. A liquid fuel is employed that has an auto-ignition temperature which is less than the temperature of air which enters into the recirculation zone of the pilot section. The liquid fuel is injected into the recirculation zone and auto-ignites, causing natural gas fuel which is also being injected into the pilot section to burst into flame, creating a diffusion flame in the pilot section. This permits operation of the pilot section in a premix mode where natural gas fuel mixes with air without a flame during base load operation, thus providing for low production of NOx emissions, while ensuring maintenance of a flame in the combustor when the flame in the main burn section of the combustor is extinguished to allow for turbine unloading.