COLIN JOHN ETHERIDGE
Pilots at Los Indios Ct, Chula Vista, CA

5749217, May 12, 1998

Apr 26, 1995

8/427920

Colin J. Etheridge - Chula Vista CA

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

F02C 918

60 3923

The control systems for reducing NOx in the combustion systems of past gas turbine engines has incorporated a variety of expensive and complicated techniques to reduce the NOx level. For example, such systems use schemes for introducing more air into the primary combustion zone, recirculating cooled exhaust products into the combustion zone and injecting water spray into the combustion zone. The present system reduces the formation of NOx within the combustion zone by controlling the air/fuel ratio and more explicitly by controlling the air portion of the air/fuel ratio. The present system includes a device for directing a portion of the flow of compressed air exiting a compressor section into an injection nozzle and into a combustor, a device for reducing the flow of compressed air into the combustor. The system monitors an engine parameter, such as a power turbine inlet gas temperature, sends a signal to a computer which interpreters the signal and directs a second signal to a power cylinder which causes a throttling mechanism to move between an open position and a closed position depending on the temperature of the gases. The system provides an economical, reliable and effective method for reducing and controlling the amount of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emitted from the gas turbine engine.

5896741, Apr 27, 1999

Oct 22, 1996

8/735282

Colin J. Etheridge - Chula Vista CA

Solar Turbines Inc. - San Diego CA

F02C 918

60 3923

The control systems for reducing NOx in the combustion systems of past gas turbine engines has incorporated a variety of expensive and complicated techniques to reduce the NOx level. For example, such systems use schemes for introducing more air into the primary combustion zone, recirculating cooled exhaust products into the combustion zone and injecting water spray into the combustion zone. The present system reduces the formation of NOx within the combustion zone by controlling the air/fuel ratio and more explicitly by controlling the air portion of the air/fuel ratio. The present system includes a device for directing a portion of the flow of compressed air exiting a compressor section into an injection nozzle and into a combustor, a device for reducing the flow of compressed air into the combustor. The system monitors an engine parameter, such as a power turbine inlet gas temperature, sends a signal to a computer which interpreters the signal and directs a second signal to a power cylinder which causes a throttling mechanism to move between an open position and a closed position depending on the temperature of the gases. The system provides an economical, reliable and effective method for reducing and controlling the amount of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emitted from the gas turbine engine.

5457953, Oct 17, 1995

Dec 26, 1991

8/094205

Colin J. Etheridge - Chula Vista CA

Solar Turbines Incorporated - San Diego CA

F02C 918

60 3923

The control systems for reducing NOx in the combustion systems of past gas turbine engines has incorporated a variety of expensive and complicated techniques to reduce the NOx level. For example, such systems use schemes for introducing more air into the primary combustion zone, recirculating cooled exhaust products into the combustion zone and injecting water spray into the combustion zone. The present system (12) reduces the formation of NOx within the combustion zone by controlling the air/fuel ratio and more explicitly by controlling the air portion of the air/fuel ratio. The present system (12) includes a device (260) for directing a portion of the flow of compressed air exiting a compressor section (22) into an injection nozzle (60,180,330) and into a combustor (40), and further includes a device (298) for reducing the flow of compressed air into the combustor (40). The system (12) monitors an engine (10) parameter, such as a power turbine (30) inlet gas temperature, sends a signal to a computer (314) which interpreters the signal and directs a second signal to a power cylinder (320) which causes a throttling mechanism (288) to move between an open position (296) and a closed position (294) depending on the temperature of the gases. The system (12) provides an economical, reliable and effective method for reducing and controlling the amount of nitrogen oxide (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbon (UHC) emitted from the gas turbine engine (10).

5365738, Nov 22, 1994

Dec 26, 1991

7/829030

Colin J. Etheridge - Chula Vista CA

Solar Turbines Incorporated - San Diego CA

F02C 100, F02G 300

60742

Fuel injection nozzles used for reducing NOx in gas turbine engines has incorporated a variety of expensive and complicated techniques. For example, systems use schemes for introducing more air into the primary combustion zone, recirculating cooled exhaust products into the combustion zone and injecting water spray into the combustion zone. The present fuel injector (60,166) reduces the formation of carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides within the combustion zone by controlling the premix air/fuel ratio and more explicitly by controlling the air portion of the air/fuel ratio over the entire operating range of the engine (10). The present fuel injector (60,166) includes a main body assembly (133), a wrapper member (84) being generally coaxially positioned about the main body assembly (133) forming a device (101) for bleeding a portion of the combustion air therefrom, a housing (150) being generally coaxially positioned about the main body assembly (133) and a portion of the wrapper assembly (84) forming an inlet passage (155) between the housing (150) and the wrapper member (84) and an air/fuel premix passage (156) between the housing (150) and the main body assembly (133). The fuel injector (60,166) reduces the flow of compressed air into the combustor (42) by providing the device (101) for bleeding a portion of the flow of compressed air exiting a compressor section (22) within the fuel injector (60,166) and into a combustor (42).

5937634, Aug 17, 1999

May 30, 1997

8/865649

Colin J. Etheridge - Chula Vista CA
Kenneth O. Smith - San Diego CA

Solar Turbines Inc - San Diego CA

F02C 916

60 3927

Present gas turbine engines fail to effectively and efficiently control the emission emitted therefrom. Many existing systems estimate the amount of constituents emitted within the exhaust gas verses measuring the actual quantity of constituent emitted within the exhaust gas. The present exhaust gas monitoring system has the ability to measure the actual quantity of an emission constituent, such as carbon monoxide (CO), sends a signal to a control box, interprets the signal, sends a second signal to an actuation device controlling a fluid flow to the combustion section resulting in the controlling of emissions emitted from the gas turbine engine within the exhaust gas.

2014000, Jan 2, 2014

Jun 29, 2012

13/538099

Ram Srinivasan - San Diego CA, US
Colin John Etheridge - Chula Vista CA, US

F02C 3/20

60776

A method of co-firing fuel within a gas turbine engine. The method may include injecting a first fuel into a combustion system of a gas turbine engine. The first fuel may include a high energy liquid fuel. The method may also include injecting a second fuel into the combustion system. The second fuel may include a gaseous low Wobbe fuel. Only the first fuel may be injected during a first mode of operation. The first fuel and the second fuel may be injected simultaneously and discretely during a second mode of operation.