General Electric Patent Applications

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CONVERTER STATIONS

Granted: August 10, 2023
Application Number: 20230253796
A converter station, for a bipole power transmission scheme, includes a first voltage source converter and a second source converter. Each converters have a first terminal as transmission conduit and a second terminal as a return conduit. The second terminal of the return conduit of the first converter is electrically connected to the first terminal of the transmission conduit of the second converter as being a same terminal. Both voltage source converters also includes at least one…

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION REGARDING PARTICULATE MATTER WITHIN AN AIRCRAFT ENGINE

Granted: August 10, 2023
Application Number: 20230251651
Provided is a tangible computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor of an aircraft, causes the hardware processor to execute a method. The method includes receiving, from an engine particulate sensor of the aircraft, a measure of particulate matter in a gas path of the engine during flight of the aircraft. The method also includes presenting to a pilot of the aircraft, a visualization of the particulate matter measure,…

USE OF PARTICULATE SENSOR IN ENGINE POWER ASSURANCE

Granted: August 10, 2023
Application Number: 20230250762
A system includes one or more debris sensors or particulate sensors are used to sense engine inlet debris or particulate matter which are drawn into the engine during flight, in real-time. The system employs that information, in conjunction with other engine health and module health techniques, to identify which gas-path modules of the aircraft engine may require maintenance or repair. In one embodiment, existing engine health technique may be based on various engine operational…

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING FAN BLADE TIP CLEARANCE RELATIVE TO AN ABRADABLE FAN CASE

Granted: August 10, 2023
Application Number: 20230250730
A system and method for inspecting fan blade clearances in a fan stator module are presented. The method includes rotating a fan rotor assembly that includes an attached bracket situated between adjacent fan blades connected to the fan rotor assembly. The bracket includes a laser module and an inclinometer configured to measure a circumferential position of the laser module. The method further includes projecting a laser beam from the laser module to the fan case to determine a distance…

OVERALL ENGINE EFFICIENCY RATING FOR TURBOMACHINE ENGINES

Granted: August 3, 2023
Application Number: 20230243309
A turbomachine engine can include a fan assembly, a vane assembly, a core engine, a gearbox, and an overall engine efficiency rating. The fan assembly can include a plurality of fan blades. The vane assembly can include a plurality of vanes, and the vanes can, in some instances, be disposed aft of the fan blades. The core engine can include a low-pressure turbine. The gearbox includes an input and an output. The input of the gearbox is coupled to the low-pressure turbine of the core…

CORROSION PITTING RESISTANT MARTENSITIC STAINLESS STEEL AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME

Granted: August 3, 2023
Application Number: 20230243011
A method of making a forged, martensitic, stainless steel alloy is provided. The alloy is a forged preform of martensitic, pitting corrosion resistant stainless steel alloy comprising, by weight: 12.0 to 16.0 percent chromium; greater than 16.0 to 20.0 percent cobalt, 6.0 to 8.0 percent molybdenum, 1.0 to 3.0 percent nickel, 0.02 to 0.04 percent carbon; and the balance iron and incidental impurities. The alloy has a microstructure that comprises a retained austenite phase less than or…

CONTOURED WALL HEAT EXCHANGER

Granted: July 20, 2023
Application Number: 20230228494
A heat exchanger and heat exchanger core are provided. The heat exchanger core includes a plurality of columnar passages extending between an inlet plenum of the heat exchanger core and an outlet plenum of the heat exchanger core, the columnar passages formed monolithically in a single fabrication process.

CORROSION PITTING RESISTANT MARTENSITIC STAINLESS STEEL AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME

Granted: July 20, 2023
Application Number: 20230227929
A method of making a forged, martensitic, stainless steel alloy is provided. The alloy is a forged preform of martensitic, pitting corrosion resistant stainless steel alloy comprising, by weight: 12.0 to 16.0 percent chromium; greater than 16.0 to 20.0 percent cobalt, 6.0 to 8.0 percent molybdenum, 1.0 to 3.0 percent nickel, 0.02 to 0.04 percent carbon; and the balance iron and incidental impurities. The alloy has a microstructure that comprises a retained austenite phase less than or…

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO BIPOLE POWER TRANSMISSION SCHEMES

Granted: July 13, 2023
Application Number: 20230223759
A bipole power transmission scheme includes a first converter station positioned in-use remote from a second converter station, and first and second transmission conduits to in-use interconnect the first converter station with the second converter station and thereby permit the first converter station to transmit power to the second converter station. The first converter station includes a first power converter, a second power converter, and a converter station controller which is…

SWITCHING VALVE

Granted: July 13, 2023
Application Number: 20230223865
There is provided a switching valve for a voltage source converter, the switching valve comprising a plurality of modules, each module including at least one switching element and at least one energy storage device, each switching element and each energy storage device in each module arranged to be combinable to selectively provide a voltage source, the switching valve including a regulator programmed to selectively control the switching of the switching elements to select one or more of…

GAS-INSULATED ELECTRICAL APPARATUS COMPRISING CARBON DIOXIDE, HEPTAFLUOROISOBUTYRONITRILE AND A HIGH CONTENT OF OXYGEN

Granted: July 13, 2023
Application Number: 20230223224
The present application concerns a medium- or high-voltage equipment including a leaktight enclosure in which there are located electrical components and a gas mixture for providing electrical insulation and/or for extinguishing electric arcs that are likely to occur in the enclosure, the gas mixture including heptafluoroisobutyronitrile, carbon dioxide, and a high content of oxygen

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATED CONDITION MONITORING FOR POWER SYSTEM ASSET HEALTH SCORING

Granted: July 13, 2023
Application Number: 20230221693
Systems and methods are disclosed for asset health assessment and fleet management. An example method may include classifying a first power system asset into a first sub-system and a second sub-system. The example method may also include measuring, by a processor of a protection relay and from a first power system asset, electrical, thermal, and/or mechanical data associated with the first power system asset. The example method may also include identifying a first fault feature for the…

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WARMKEEPING SUB-CRITICAL STEAM GENERATOR

Granted: June 29, 2023
Application Number: 20230204206
A system and method for warmkeeping a steam generator such as a sub-critical steam generator is disclosed. Water extraction piping extracts water from a component of one of the water fill circuits of the sub-critical steam generator. A deaerator heating system having an inventory tank of water mixes the extracted water with the water in the tank, and heats the mix of water to a predetermined temperature level to generate heated deaerated feedwater. Feedwater piping forwards the heated…

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING ICING IN THE COMBUSTION INLET AIR PATH OF A GAS TURBINE SYSTEM

Granted: June 29, 2023
Application Number: 20230203990
A system and method for preventing icing in the combustion inlet air path of a gas turbine system. An air intake system of the gas turbine system supplies intake air to a gas turbine engine. The air intake system includes an air filter inlet house to filter the intake air. The air filter inlet house includes at least one filter stage having an array of pulse filters, with each of the pulse filters being hydrophobic. A combustion inlet air path is in fluid communication with the air…

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CHAIN-LINK MODULES FOR VOLTAGE SOURCE CONVERTERS

Granted: June 15, 2023
Application Number: 20230188027
In the field of chain-link modules for voltage source converters, there is a need for an improved chain-link module. A chain-link module, for connection in series with other chain-link modules to form a chain-link converter selectively operable to provide a stepped variable voltage source within a voltage source converter, includes at least one pair of series-connected switching elements that are connected in parallel with a number of series-connected energy storage devices. Each energy…

BOX-SHAPED AIR INTAKE SILENCER WITH VERTICAL BAFFLES FOR GAS TURBINE SYSTEM

Granted: June 15, 2023
Application Number: 20230184164
A box-shaped air intake silencer with vertical baffles for a gas turbine system. The box-shaped silencer has a silencer housing having opposing ends with a first end closed and a second end opened to permit passage of air. Opposing sidewalls extend between the first end and the second end with each of the sidewalls operative to receive a perpendicular flow of intake air. A silencer having vertically, spaced baffles are disposed within the housing. A first end of the baffles face the…

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING WAX PATTERN DURING INVESTMENT CASTING

Granted: May 18, 2023
Application Number: 20230150015
An approach for supporting a wax pattern during investment casting. The approach described herein forms a support structure to support the wax pattern during investment casting. The support structure has a capping structure with a geometry that can match a profile of a lower region of the wax pattern, and at least one support brace extending outward from the support capping structure. The support structure can be placed on a surface of the lower region. The support capping structure can…

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CHAIN-LINK CONVERTERS

Granted: May 11, 2023
Application Number: 20230141230
In the field of chain-link converters operable to provide a stepped variable voltage source, there is a need for an improved method of operating such a chain-link converter. A method of operating a chain-link converter, the chain-link converter including a number of series connected chain-link modules, each chain-link module including at least one switching element and an energy storage device which together are selectively operable to provide a voltage source whereby the chain-link…

LIQUID/FLUID COOLING SYSTEMS FOR HIGH POWER-DENSITY (HPD) TRANSFORMERS

Granted: May 11, 2023
Application Number: 20230142063
A high power-density power converter (500) employs a liquid cooling system (200) to cool its transformers (120). In an embodiment, the coils (135) of a transformer (100) are embedded in a heat-conducting solid (epoxy or resin). The resin-embedded coils (135) are in physical/thermal contact with cold plates (160), which are sandwiched between the coils (135) and/or in contact with exterior surfaces of the coils (135). The cold plates (160) may additionally or alternatively be in…

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CHAIN-LINK CONVERTERS

Granted: May 11, 2023
Application Number: 20230141230
In the field of chain-link converters operable to provide a stepped variable voltage source, there is a need for an improved method of operating such a chain-link converter. A method of operating a chain-link converter, the chain-link converter including a number of series connected chain-link modules, each chain-link module including at least one switching element and an energy storage device which together are selectively operable to provide a voltage source whereby the chain-link…