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:
Jan. 03, 2012
Filed:
Dec. 03, 2008
Apostolos Pavlos Karafillis, Winchester, MA (US);
Kenneth Allen Loehle, Lynn, MA (US);
Robert Patrick Tameo, Peabody, MA (US);
David Allen Gutz, Danvers, MA (US);
Apostolos Pavlos Karafillis, Winchester, MA (US);
Kenneth Allen Loehle, Lynn, MA (US);
Robert Patrick Tameo, Peabody, MA (US);
David Allen Gutz, Danvers, MA (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and method of operating a centrifugal compressor and active control system includes a centrifugal compressor with compressor blades mounted on an impeller, an annular cavity bounded in part by a shroud adjacent to the blades, and an active control system for controlling a clearance between the shroud and the blades by controlling a cavity pressure in the cavity. An electronic controller for controlling a control pressure valve for pressurizing using a source of compressor discharge pressure air and depressurizing the cavity respectively may open and close the valves using pulse width modulation. Pressure and clearance sensors positioned for measuring the cavity pressure the blade tip clearance respectively in signal supply communication with the electronic controller may be used. The shroud may be supported by radially spaced apart annular radially outer and inner supports connected to a casing by a bolted joint bounding the cavity.