Douglas L Straub, 58805 Cottonwood St, Morgantown, WV 26505

6429020, Aug 6, 2002

Jun 2, 2000

09/585540

Jimmy Dean Thornton - Morgantown WV
George Alan Richards - Morgantown WV
Douglas L. Straub - Morgantown WV
Eric Arnold Liese - Morgantown WV
George Edward Fasching - Morgantown WV

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy - Washington DC

G01N 2171

436153, 48192, 250374, 250379, 324464, 324468, 422 54, 422 89, 431 7, 431 78, 431 79, 431 90, 431202, 436154

A sensor for detecting the flame occurring during a flashback condition in the fuel nozzle of a lean premix combustion system is presented. The sensor comprises an electrically isolated flashback detection electrode and a guard electrode, both of which generate electrical fields extending to the walls of the combustion chamber and to the walls of the fuel nozzle. The sensor is positioned on the fuel nozzle center body at a location proximate the entrance to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine combustion system. The sensor provides 360Â detection of a flashback inside the fuel nozzle, by detecting the current conducted by the flame within a time frame that will prevent damage to the gas turbine combustion system caused by the flashback condition.

6887069, May 3, 2005

Sep 18, 2001

09/955582

Jimmy D. Thornton - Morgantown WV, US
George A. Richards - Morgantown WV, US
Keith A. Dodrill - Fairmont WV, US
Douglas Straub - Morgantown WV, US

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy - Washington DC

F23N005/12
G01N030/68

431 12, 431 25, 431 78, 431354, 340579, 436154, 324468

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for the monitoring of the combustion process within a combustion system. The apparatus comprises; a combustion system, a means for supplying fuel and an oxidizer, a device for igniting the fuel and oxidizer in order to initiate combustion, and a sensor for determining the current conducted by the combustion process. The combustion system comprises a fuel nozzle and an outer shell attached to the combustion nozzle. The outer shell defines a combustion chamber. Preferably the nozzle is a lean premix fuel nozzle (LPN). Fuel and an oxidizer are provided to the fuel nozzle at separate rates. The fuel and oxidizer are ignited. A sensor positioned within the combustion system comprising at least two electrodes in spaced-apart relationship from one another. At least a portion of the combustion process or flame is between the first and second electrodes. A voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes and the magnitude of resulting current between the first and second electrodes is determined.

7096722, Aug 29, 2006

Dec 26, 2002

10/329664

Kelly J. Benson - Fort Collins CO, US
Jimmy D. Thornton - Morgantown WV, US
George A. Richards - Morgantown WV, US
Douglas L. Straub - Morgantown WV, US

Woodward Governor Company - Fort Collins CO

G01M 19/00

731181

An apparatus and method to sense the onset of combustion stability is presented. An electrode is positioned in a turbine combustion chamber such that the electrode is exposed to gases in the combustion chamber. A control module applies a voltage potential to the electrode and detects a combustion ionization signal and determines if there is an oscillation in the combustion ionization signal indicative of the occurrence of combustion stability or the onset of combustion instability. A second electrode held in a coplanar but spaced apart manner by an insulating member from the electrode provides a combustion ionization signal to the control module when the first electrode fails. The control module broadcasts a notice if the parameters indicate the combustion process is at the onset of combustion instability or broadcasts an alarm signal if the parameters indicate the combustion process is unstable.

7197880, Apr 3, 2007

Jun 10, 2004

10/865037

Jimmy Thornton - Morgantown WV, US
Douglas L. Straub - Morgantown WV, US
Benjamin T. Chorpening - Morgantown WV, US
David Huckaby - Morgantown WV, US

United States Department of Energy - Washington DC

F02C 7/05
F02C 7/25
F02C 7/047
F02C 9/46

60779, 60 3927, 60 39091

Apparatus and method for detecting incipient lean blowoff conditions in a lean premixed combustion nozzle of a gas turbine. A sensor near the flame detects the concentration of hydrocarbon ions and/or electrons produced by combustion and the concentration monitored as a function of time are used to indicate incipient lean blowoff conditions.

6056796, May 2, 2000

Feb 9, 1998

9/020814

Ta-Kuan Chiang - Morgantown WV
Douglas L. Straub - Morgantown WV
Richard A. Dennis - Morgantown WV

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

B01D 4624

55302

The present invention involves a porous rigid filter including a plurality of concentric filtration elements having internal flow passages and forming external flow passages there between. The present invention also involves a pressure vessel containing the filter for the removal of particulates from high pressure particulate containing gases, and further involves a method for using the filter to remove such particulates. The present filter has the advantage of requiring fewer filter elements due to the high surface area-to-volume ratio provided by the filter, requires a reduced pressure vessel size, and exhibits enhanced mechanical design properties, improved cleaning properties, configuration options, modularity and ease of fabrication.