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AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsKevin Lee Kunkle, Steven William Backman, David William Smith
Estimating the term…
A method of operating a fuel system is provided. The method includes removing fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system using a gravity drain process. The method also includes channeling nitrogen into at least a portion of the fuel system to facilitate removing air and residual fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby mitigating a formation of carbonaceous precipitate particulates. The method further includes removing air and nitrogen from at least a portion of the fuel system during a fuel refilling process using a venting process, such that at least a portion of the fuel system is substantially refilled with fuel and substantially evacuated of air and nitrogen. The method also includes removing air from at least a portion of the refilled fuel system using a venting process.
A nitrogen purge sub-system for a liquid fuel system for a dual fuel combustion turbine, the fuel system having at least one cavity, said nitrogen purge sub-system comprising a purge-air subsystem, a source of nitrogen coupled to a pipe in flow communication with the cavity, said nitrogen purge sub-system further comprising at least one three-way valve that controls flow of nitrogen from said source to the cavity via said pipe, said at least one three-way valve having an open condition, wherein nitrogen flows from said source through said pipe and into the cavity to facilitate removal of liquid fuel and air from the cavity such that a formation of a carbonaceous precipitate particulate is mitigated, said nitrogen purge subsystem further comprising a drain valve coupled in flow communication with said at least one three-way valve;
A liquid fuel system in a turbine combustor comprising a purge-air subsystem, a nitrogen purge sub-system comprising at least one valve, at least one pipe, at least one cavity, and at least one pump, said nitrogen purge sub-system further comprising a source of nitrogen coupled to said pipe in flow communication with said cavity, said nitrogen purge sub-system further comprising at least one three-way valve that controls a flow of nitrogen from said source to said cavity via said pipe, said at least one three-way valve having an open condition, wherein nitrogen flows from said source through said pipe and into said cavity to facilitate removal of liquid fuel and air from said cavity such that a formation of a carbonaceous precipitate particulate is mitigated, said nitrogen purge subsystem further comprising a drain valve coupled in flow communication with said at least one three-way valve;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.