US4893468A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Emissions control for gas turbine engine
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1987-11-30
•
Granted: 1990-01-16
•
Expires: 2007-11-30
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for controlling the output emissions of a gas turbine engine provides an emissions combustor wherein the gas is burned locally and then thoroughly mixed with cooler unburned portions while propagating the resulting a very hot flame front is propagated over the whole gas stream flow. The emissions combustor serves to reduce the carbon monoxide content of the output. NOX can be eliminated by steam injection into the engine main combustor in combination with the emissions combustor. Combustion efficiency, which is reduced through the steam injection in the main combustor is recovered through the use of the emissions combustor. The emissions combustor can be placed at numerous locations, either as part of a main combustor staging, downstream of a high pressure turbine, or in a supplementary burner after a power turbine.
Inventors
- 👤 William R. Hines
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:29
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23R; F23R3/00; F23R3/28; F23R3/34; F02; F02C; F02C3/00; F02C3/20; F02C3/30; F05; F05D; F05D2200/00; F05D2200/20; F05D2200/26; F05D2200/261
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of controlling combustion emissions of a gas turbine engine including a main combustor operating at a first temperature to provide a gas stream, comprising the steps of locally burning portions of the gas stream at a temperature less than the first temperature in an emissions combustor to provide very hot locally heated portions of the gas stream, and thoroughly mixing the locally heated portions of the gas stream with those portions of the gas stream which are not locally burned and which are cooler portions of the gas stream, while propagating a resulting hot flame front over the gas stream flow to thereby reduce the carbon monoxide emissions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of controlling combustion emissions of a gas turbine engine including a main combustor operating at a first temperature to provide a gas stream, comprising the steps of locally burning portions of the gas stream at a temperature less than the first temperature in an emissions combustor to provide very hot locally heated portions of the gas stream, and thoroughly mixing the locally heated portions of the gas stream with those portions of the gas stream which are not locally burned and which are cooler portions of the gas stream, while propagating a resulting hot flame front over the gas stream flow to thereby reduce the carbon monoxide emissions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein said steps are conducted at a pressure location of the engine sufficiently low to avoid the generation of NOX emissions in the emissions combustor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as in claim 1, and further comprising the step of injecting steam into the emissions combustor to prevent further generation of NOX emissions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein the main combustor operates on a first working fluid and including the step of introducing a second fluid into the main combustor sufficient to reduce the NOX emissions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein the main combustor includes a dome, and comprising the step of injecting steam into the main combustor dome sufficient to reduce the NOX emissions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein the emissions combustor is a supplementary burner located after a power turbine of the engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein the engine further includes a high pressure turbine, and wherein the emissions combustor is downstream of the high pressure turbine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein the engine further includes a compressor, and a high pressure turbine, and wherein the emissions combustor is a combustor stage in series with the main combustor and located upstream of the high pressure turbine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as in claim 5, wherein the emissions combustor generates sufficient heat to provide excess steam and further comprising the step of injecting the excess steam into the engine to recover any loss in combustion efficiency resulting from reduction of the NOX emissions in the main combustor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein the very high temperatures are up to approximately 3,000 degrees F.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
An emissions combustor for a gas turbine engine for controlling the carbon monoxide emissions of the gas engine including a main combustor operating at a first temperature to provide a gas stream, said emissions combustor comprising: a housing; means for locally burning in the housing portions of the gas stream at a temperature less than the first temperature to provide locally heated portions of the gas stream; and means for thoroughly mixing the locally heated portion of the gas stream, with unheated cooler portions of the gas stream in the housing, while propagating a resulting hot flame in the housing over the whole gas stream flow.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
An emissions combustor for a gas turbine engine for controlling the carbon monoxide emissions of the gas engine including a main combustor operating at a first temperature to provide a gas stream, said emissions combustor comprising: a housing; means for locally burning in the housing portions of the gas stream at a temperature less than the first temperature to provide locally heated portions of the gas stream; and means for thoroughly mixing the locally heated portion of the gas stream, with unheated cooler portions of the gas stream in the housing, while propagating a resulting hot flame in the housing over the whole gas stream flow.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 11, wherein said means for locally burning comprise a plurality of nozzle outlets for introducing fuel into the housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 12, and further comprising swirl cups positioned around said nozzle outlets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 12, wherein said nozzle outlets introduce steam along with the fuel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 11, wherein said means for mixing comprise a plurality of mixing chutes positioned within said housing, said mixing chutes comprising flow paths for the heated portion of the gas stream, flow paths for the unheated cooler portions of the gas stream, and merging sections for thoroughly mixing the heated portions with the unheated cooler portions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 15, wherein said flow paths for the unheated cooler portions are adjacent structural portions of the housing, and the flow paths for the heated portions are spaced from structural portions of the housing to thereby keep the housing structure cool.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 15, wherein said housing comprises an outer annulus, and wherein said flow paths for the heated portions of the gas stream are outwardly flared, substantially conical sections annularly positioned about the housing, adjacent conical sections being separated by converging spillways defining the flow paths for the unheated cooler portions of the gas stream, and wherein said means for locally burning comprise a fuel nozzle outlet at a center of each conical section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 17, wherein said housing further comprises an inner annulus, concentric with said outer annulus, and having a substantially similar internal construction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 18, wherein the conical sections of the outer annulus are adjacent to spillways of the inner annulus.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 18, wherein both said inner and outer annulus feed into a common output annulus.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 17, and comprising cooling louvers along said spillways.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 21, wherein said louvers are upwardly struck from the spillway surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 11, and further comprising a steam injection means for injecting steam into the gas engine to control NOX emissions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 23, and wherein said steam injection means is coupled to the main combustor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 23, and wherein said steam injection means is coupled to said housing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
54 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 11, wherein the gas turbine engine further includes in series down stream of the main combustor, a high pressure turbine, a power turbine and output boilers, and wherein the emissions combustor is located upstream of the output boiler whereby the power output of the gas turbine is increased.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
56 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 11, wherein the gas turbine engine further includes in series downstream of the main combustor, a high pressure turbine and a power turbine, and wherein the emissions combustor is located upstream of the power turbine whereby the thermal efficiency of the turbine is increased in addition to increasing power output.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
56 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 11, wherein the gas turbine engine further includes in series downstream of the main combustor, a high pressure turbine, a power turbine and an output regenerative air-to-gas means, and wherein the emissions combustor is located upstream of the regenerative means whereby the power output of the gas turbine is increased.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
63 words
An emissions combustor as in claim 11, wherein the gas turbine engine further includes in series downstream of the main combustor, a high pressure turbine and a power turbine and an output regenerative air-to-gas means, and wherein the emissions combustor is located upstream of the power turbine whereby the thermal efficiency of the gas turbine is increased in addition to increasing power output.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
103 words
An emissions combustor for a gas turbine engine for controlling the carbon monoxide emissions of the gas engine including a main combustor operating at a first temperature to provide a gas stream, said emissions combustor comprising: a housing; means for locally burning in the housing portions of the gas stream at an emissions combustor temperature to provide locally heated portions of the gas stream; and means for thoroughly mixing the locally heated portion of the gas stream, with unheated cooler portions of the gas stream in the housing, while propagating a resulting hot flame in the housing over the whole gas stream flow
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
103 words
An emissions combustor for a gas turbine engine for controlling the carbon monoxide emissions of the gas engine including a main combustor operating at a first temperature to provide a gas stream, said emissions combustor comprising: a housing; means for locally burning in the housing portions of the gas stream at an emissions combustor temperature to provide locally heated portions of the gas stream; and means for thoroughly mixing the locally heated portion of the gas stream, with unheated cooler portions of the gas stream in the housing, while propagating a resulting hot flame in the housing over the whole gas stream flow
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The emissions combustor of claim 30 further comprising means for introducing steam into said emissions combustor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2243467A
Cited
US2476031A
Cited
US2605610A
Cited
US3054257A
Cited
US2799991A
Cited
US3038308A
Cited
US3151453A
Cited
US3238719A
Cited
US3750402A
Cited
US3693347A
Cited
US3765178A
Cited
US4519563A
Cited
US4128994A
Cited
US3931707A
Cited
US4006589A
Cited
US4148185A
Cited
US4134260A
Cited
US4498287A
Cited
US4598553A
Cited
US4569195A
Cited
US4631914A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-15 | 1993-07-17 | 1994-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-15 | 1997-07-17 | 1998-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-15 | 2001-07-17 | 2002-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |