Abstract: A combustor assembly having a fuel pre-mixer including a duct for mixing an airflow and a fuel therein. Also included is a center body coaxially aligned within the duct for receiving the fuel from a fuel source and configured to distribute the fuel to at least one axial location within the duct. Further included is a planar vane section in communication with the airflow and the fuel to provide a first injection of fuel and a flow conditioning effect on the airflow. Yet further included is a swirler vane section disposed downstream of the planar vane section, wherein the swirler vane section is configured to provide a second injection of fuel and a mixing of the fuel and the airflow.

Abstract: A blocker door actuation system for use in an aircraft thrust reverser is provided. The blocker door actuation system may comprise a rack, a gear, a gear housing, a screw shaft, and a link. The blocker door actuation system may be mounted to a translating sleeve in an aircraft nacelle. In response to the thrust reverser being activated and the translating sleeve moving aft, the blocker door actuation system may move the blocker door from a stowed position to a deployed position in a fan air duct.

Abstract: Thermal energy storage containing thermal energy extracted from a bottom cycle heat engine is leveraged to heat fuel gas supplied to a gas turbine engine operating in a top cycle heat engine. Further, an extracted portion of a working fluid generated in a steam generation source of the bottom cycle heat engine can be used along with the thermal energy storage to heat fuel gas.

Abstract: Additional thrust fuel efficiency is provided for a gas turbine system that includes a first member(s) (e.g., a support for a rotating main shaft) that is attached to a stationary casing. The rotating main shaft is attached to the first member through a bearing. A second member is associated with a rotating member, such as a motor or other rotating part of the main or other shaft. The first member has a flow path in it for the liquid (e.g. water and/or other volatile liquid) and has an opening (nozzle) for discharging the liquid. The second member has a liquid impinging member for generating a liquid spray, droplet, mist optimally, which vaporizes with hot combustion gases that flow exteriorly along the main shaft. In this form vaporization is quick and is less erosive. The volume of thrust gases is increased advantageously and likewise engine boost increases.

Abstract: A jet engine having an air intake and a compression section having first and second separate flow paths coupled to the air intake, the second flow path containing a fuel rich, fuel air mixture having an equivalence rate above the mixture flammability limit, the first flow path containing only air, a burner turbine section, the compression section being coupled directly to the burner turbine section, and means for injecting air from the first flow path into the fuel rich fuel air mixture of the said flow path in the burner turbine section to generate intraturbine diffusion layer burning of said fuel air mixture.

Abstract: A flame detector in photonic communication with a no-flame region of a combustor of a gas turbine may emit a signal when a photon is detected. A controller may be arranged to receive a signal from the flame detector and may determine whether a flame presence in the no-flame region is indicated responsive to the signal.

Abstract: Thermal energy storage is leveraged to store thermal energy extracted from a bottom cycle heat engine. The thermal energy stored in the thermal energy storage is used to supplement power generation by the bottom cycle heat engine. In one embodiment, a thermal storage unit storing a thermal storage working medium is configured to discharge thermal energy into the working fluid of the bottom cycle heat engine to supplement power generation. In one embodiment, the thermal storage unit includes a cold tank containing the thermal storage working medium in a cold state and a hot tank containing the working medium in a heated state. At least one heat exchanger in flow communication with the bottom cycle heat engine and the thermal storage unit facilitates a direct heat transfer of thermal energy between the thermal storage working medium and the working fluid used in the bottom cycle heat engine.

Abstract: A fuel system for an auxiliary power unit includes a mechanical fuel pump, an electric fuel pump, and a controller. The mechanical fuel pump provides fuel flow to the auxiliary power unit and has an output dependent upon an operational speed of the auxiliary power unit. The electric fuel pump provides fuel flow to the auxiliary power unit, and is located in flow series with the mechanical fuel pump. The controller causes the electric fuel pump to provide fuel flow during starting of the auxiliary power unit.

Abstract: A combustor assembly defining a main combustion zone where fuel and air are burned to create hot combustion products includes a liner, a transition duct, and a transition inlet cone. The liner defines an interior volume including a first portion of the main combustion zone, and has an inlet and an outlet spaced from the inlet in an axial direction. The transition duct includes an inlet section and an outlet section that discharges gases to a turbine section. The inlet section is adjacent to the outlet of the liner and defines a second portion of the main combustion zone. The transition inlet cone is affixed to the transition duct and includes a frusto-conical portion extending axially and radially inwardly into the main combustion zone. The transition inlet cone deflects combustion products that are flowing in a radially outer portion of the main combustion zone toward a combustor assembly central axis.

Abstract: An anisotropic vibration isolation mounting assembly includes at least two three-parameter vibration isolators each having a first end configured for attachment to a rotating member assembly or a rotating member assembly housing and each having a second, opposing end configured for attachment to the rotating member assembly housing where the first end is configured for attachment to the rotating member assembly or to a system interface member where the first member is configured for attachment to the rotating member assembly housing. The at least two three-parameter vibration isolators are tuned anisotropically to minimize the transmission of vibrations during operation of the rotating machine.

Abstract: Systems and methods for influencing thrust of a gas turbine engine are disclosed. A system includes a plurality of pipes positioned at an exhaust nozzle of the gas turbine engine. Each one of the plurality of pipes includes: an inlet inside the exhaust nozzle; an outlet inside the exhaust nozzle; and an intermediate portion outside the exhaust nozzle.

Abstract: A system for supporting bundled tube segments within a combustor includes an annular sleeve that extends circumferentially and axially within the combustor, a support lug that extends radially inward from the annular sleeve and an annular support frame that is disposed within the annular sleeve. The annular support frame includes an inner ring portion, an outer ring portion and a plurality of spokes that extend radially between the inner and outer ring portions. The inner ring portion, the outer ring portion and the plurality of spokes define an annular array of openings for receiving a respective bundled tube segment. The inner ring portion is connected to each bundled tube segment and the outer ring portion is coupled to the support lug.

Abstract: A turbine exhaust case for a gas turbine engine has an outer shroud and an inner shroud concentrically defining therebetween an annular gaspath for channelling hot gases. A plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart turbine exhaust struts extends radially across the hot gaspath. The inner shroud may be provided in the form of an acoustic panel. The acoustic panel has a radially outwardly facing surface defining the radially inner flow boundary surface of the gaspath. The acoustic panel is mechanically fastened to the radially inner end of the struts.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan configured to produce propulsive thrust from a fan discharge air stream. A bypass duct is located between a cowl and an engine core, the bypass duct is fluidly coupled to the fan. An impeller pump has an intake manifold fluidly coupled to the bypass duct. The impeller pump has an outlet coupled to an outlet duct fluidly coupled to an environmental control system, wherein the impeller pump is configured to raise pressure of the fan discharge air stream and pump the fan discharge air into the environmental control system for cooling. An integrated drive pump is connected to the impeller pump for driving the impeller pump at a constant speed. The integrated drive pump is positioned on the engine core.

Abstract: A manifold assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a mounting plate configured for attachment to a housing structure and a flow plate that is attached to the mounting plate. One or more flow passages are defined between the mounting plate and flow plate.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a spool, a towershaft connected to the spool and an impeller pump. An integrated drive pump is connected to the towershaft and to the impeller pump for driving the impeller pump at a constant speed. The integrated drive pump is positioned on an engine core. The gas turbine engine includes a fan and a bypass duct located between a cowl and the engine core. The gas turbine engine includes an intake manifold for the impeller pump, and the intake manifold receives air from the bypass duct.

Abstract: The present application provides a combustor for combusting a number of flows of air and a number of flows of fuel. The combustor may include a central swirler for producing a high swirl quench air flow, a number of trapped vortex cavities surrounding the central swirler for producing a flow of combustion gases, a brief severe quench zone downstream of the trapped vortex cavities to quench the flow of combustion gases between an outer quench air flow and the high swirl quench air flow, and an expansion zone downstream of the brief severe quench zone.

Abstract: A combustor assembly is disclosed. The combustor assembly may include an annular trapped vortex cavity located adjacent to a downstream end of a bundle of air/fuel premixing injection tubes. The annular trapped vortex cavity may include an opening at a radially inner portion of the annular trapped vortex cavity adjacent to the head end of the bundle of premixing tubes. The annular trapped vortex cavity may also include one or more air injection holes and one or more fuel sources disposed about the annular trapped vortex cavity such that the one or more air injection holes and the one or more fuel sources are configured to drive a vortex within the annular trapped vortex cavity.

Abstract: A combustor includes an end cap. The end cap includes a first surface and a second surface downstream from the first surface, a shroud that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the first and second surfaces, a plate that extends radially within the shroud, a plurality of tubes that extend through the plate and the first and second surfaces, and a first purge port that extends through one or more of the plurality of tubes, wherein the purge port is axially aligned with the plate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling gas turbine operation in response to lean blowout of a combustion can. The gas turbine comprises a pair of combustion cans. The method includes sensing that a first combustion can is extinguished during a full load operation of the gas turbine, adjusting a fuel ratio between the fuel nozzles in each can, delivering a richer fuel mixture to the fuel nozzles nearest to the cross-fire tubes, generating a cross-fire from the second combustion can to the first combustion can, detecting a recovery of the turbine load, and adjusting the fuel ratio to the normal balanced fuel distribution between the fuel nozzles in each can.