With Attendant Coaxial Air Swirler Patents (Class 60/748)
  • Publication number: 20100175382
    Abstract: The burner (1) of a gas turbine includes a swirl generator (2) and, downstream of it, a mixing tube (3). The swirl generator (2) is defined by at least two walls facing one another to define a conical swirl chamber (5) and is provided with nozzles (6) arranged to inject a fuel and apertures (7) arranged to feed an oxidiser into the swirl chamber (5). The burner (1) includes a lance (9) which extends along a longitudinal axis of the swirl generator (2) and is provided with side nozzles (11) for ejecting a fuel within the burner (1). The side nozzles (11) have their axes (12) inclined with respect to the axis of the lance (9) and can be positioned along the axis of the burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: Adnan Eroglu
  • Publication number: 20100170255
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle including a swirler assembly that includes a shroud, a hub, and a plurality of vanes extending between the shroud and the hub. Each vane includes a pressure sidewall and an opposite suction sidewall coupled to the pressure sidewall at a leading edge and at a trailing edge. At least one suction side fuel injection orifice is formed adjacent to the leading edge and extends from a first fuel supply passage to the suction sidewall. A fuel injection angle is oriented with respect to the suction sidewall. The suction side fuel injection orifice is configured to discharge fuel outward from the suction sidewall. At least one pressure side fuel injection orifice extends from a second fuel supply passage to the pressure sidewall and is substantially parallel to the trailing edge. The pressure side fuel injection orifice is configured to discharge fuel tangentially from the trailing edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: Baifang Zuo, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20100170250
    Abstract: The present application provides a manifold for use with a gas turbine. The manifold may include a fuel passage and a swozzle vane in communication with the fuel passage. The swozzle vane may include a fuel plenum in communication with one or more fuel holes and a vortex breaker positioned about the fuel holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ghanshyam Singh, Praveen Babulal Jain
  • Publication number: 20100162714
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine engine is provided having swirlers and a mounting device configured to mount the fuel nozzle to the inside of a combustor. In one embodiment the combustor has an interior surface formed to receive the mounting device of the fuel nozzle from within the combustor. The swirlers can be integrally formed in the fuel nozzle or can be separately attached, thus allowing the fuel nozzle to be mounted within the combustor having the relative placement of the swirlers already determined prior to installation. The fuel nozzle tip can be positioned a predetermined distance from the outlet of a swirler to reduce NOx emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Edward Claude Rice, Timothy Carl Roesler, Mindi Danette Wigal, Bruce Varney
  • Publication number: 20100162713
    Abstract: A combustor swirl cup includes coaxial inner and outer swirlers separated by a tubular centerbody. The centerbody includes a bypass inlet surrounding the inner swirler and diverges aft along a perforate inner nozzle to terminate at an annular flameholder. An impingement ring is spaced forward from the flameholder in flow communication with the bypass inlet for receiving cooling air therefrom to impingement cool the flameholder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Shui-Chi Li, Mark Anthony Mueller, Michael Louis Vermeersch, Timothy James Held
  • Publication number: 20100154426
    Abstract: A combustor liner (231) for a gas turbine engine combustor (200) comprises an inner wall (232), an outer wall (238), a flow channel (244) formed there between, and an end-capping ring (246). The end-capping ring (246) is sealingly attached to the downstream end of the inner wall (232). In operation air passes within the end-capping ring (246), into the flow channel (244), and through holes (250) disposed in the inner wall (232). In some embodiments, an end-capping ring variation, a flow-diverting ring (357) comprises a plurality of holes (360) that, during gas turbine engine operation, may additionally dispense a flow of cooling air. One or more surfaces may be coated with a thermal barrier coating (237) to provide additional protection from thermal damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: David M. Parker
  • Publication number: 20100132364
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for use with a combustion chamber defined within a gas turbine engine and a method for assembling the same are provided. The fuel nozzle includes a swirler assembly and a burner tube that is coupled to a support flange in a detachable manner such that an inner surface of the burner tube circumscribes an outer surface of the swirler assembly during fuel nozzle operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. Myers, Scott Simmons, Stephen R. Thomas, Donald Mark Bailey, David Martin Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100126175
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fuel injection system, including: a fuel injection module including a primary fuel injector and one or more secondary fuel injectors disposed around the primary fuel injector; an air supply module for supplying air to the fuel injection module inwardly and outwardly; and a fuel supply module for supplying fuel to the fuel injection module, wherein the fuel injection module serves to generate multistage flames in a burner by forming a rich fuel flame region using the primary fuel injector and forming a lean fuel flame region behind the rich fuel flame region using the secondary fuel injectors through a burning process of gasifying secondary fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTIRAL TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Se Won KIM, Myung Chul Shin, Chang Yeop Lee
  • Publication number: 20100126176
    Abstract: A swirler arrangement for injecting a fluid into a tubular swirling chamber is provided. The swirler arrangement includes a first radial swirler device and a second radial swirler device. The swirler arrangement is fixed around an internal circulation zone of the tubular swirling chamber. The first radial swirler device includes first vanes, wherein the first vanes are formed to inject the fluid into the internal circulation zone with a first injecting angle. The second radial swirler device includes second vanes, wherein the second vanes are formed to inject the fluid into the internal circulation zone with a second injecting angle. The first injecting angle and the second injecting angle are defined by an angle between an injecting direction of the fluid and the tangential direction along the inner surface. A method of injecting a fluid into a tubular swirling chamber by the swirler arrangement is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventor: Ik Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7721437
    Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a combustor for a gas turbine engine, wherein the combustor includes a swirler assembly. The method comprises machining material to form a domeplate, positioning a sealplate including an overhanging portion against the domeplate, securing the sealplate in position relative to the domeplate with a welding process, and welding the swirler assembly to the domeplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen John Howell, John Carl Jacobson, Timothy P. McCaffrey, Barry Francis Barnes
  • Patent number: 7716931
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes providing a combustor having a combustor liner assembly defining a combustion chamber. An outer combustor liner includes a radially extending first end that defines a combustion chamber input opening. An axially extending second end of the outer combustor liner defines a combustion chamber output opening. The first end transitions into the second end to form an arcuate cross-sectional shape of the outer combustor liner. A dome assembly is coupled to the first end of the combustor liner that extends downstream from the dome assembly. A fuel nozzle is positioned within a cyclone formed on the dome assembly and configured in a radial configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alfred A. Mancini, David L. Burrus, Steven J. Lohmueller
  • Publication number: 20100115957
    Abstract: A turbine combustion chamber is provided with deflectors on the cold side generating vortices in a secondary gas flow into the chamber, thereby confining the flame front under variable operating conditions and cooling the chamber wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: MANDOLIN FINANCIAL PROPERTIES INC. IBC NO. 613345
    Inventor: Gustavo Francisco Labala
  • Patent number: 7712313
    Abstract: In the fuel nozzle, the fuel is circulated in a helical path around the interface of a stem of the fuel nozzle and a flange for increase the cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Kojovic, Lev Alexander Prociw
  • Publication number: 20100107643
    Abstract: Disclosed is a triple swirl gas turbine combustor using various fuels such as coal gas, DiMethyl Ether, and waste gas generated in an ironworks in a gas turbine. The triple swirl gas turbine combustor combusts three different fuels simultaneously or individually and various fuels such as LCV gas and HCV gas so that fuel flexibility can be improved. Swirl generated in a second swirler of the triple swirler is reversely jetted to increase a mixing degree of a fuel-air mixture and an intensity of a turbulent flow so that combustion efficiency can be increased, harmful exhaust gas can be reduced and vibration can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: KOREA ELECTRIC POWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Min Chul Lee, Dal Hong Ahn, Yong Jin Joo, Jae Hwa Chung, Si Moon Kim, Jin Pyo Hong, Won Shik Park
  • Publication number: 20100107644
    Abstract: A combustion pre-chamber including an upstream end and a downstream end is provided. The combustion pre-chamber includes a transition channel formed by a wall, the wall extending between the upstream end and the downstream end, and at least one flow trip arranged on the wall and tapering in height and width to the downstream end. Also provided are a burner assembly including a combustion pre-chamber, and a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Nigel Wilbraham
  • Patent number: 7707832
    Abstract: A device for injecting a mixture of air and fuel into a combustion chamber of a turbomachine is disclosed. The injection device has symmetry of revolution about an axis and includes radial swirl inducers of outside diameter D2, a bowl spaced axially from the radial swirl inducers, and a support ring for supporting the injection device, which is arranged around the bowl. The bowl has a cylindrical wall extended by a flared wall, the flared wall being provided with air intake holes. The support ring includes a first cylindrical portion of outside diameter D3, connected to a second cylindrical portion of outside diameter D4 spaced axially from the first cylindrical portion, the first cylindrical portion being connected to the cylindrical wall of the bowl by a plurality of support tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Patrice Andre Commaret, Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis, Denis Gabriel Trahot
  • Patent number: 7703288
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a turbine engine is disclosed. The fuel nozzle has a common axis, a body portion disposed about the common axis, a barrel portion located radially outward from the body portion. The fuel nozzle also has at least one swirler vane disposed between the body portion and the barrel portion and a liquid fuel jet disposed within the at least one swirler vane. The at least one swirler vane is configured to radially redirect an axial flow of air. The liquid fuel jet is configured to inject liquid fuel in a radial direction relative to the common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas John Chipman Rogers
  • Patent number: 7703287
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine is disclosed which includes an inlet fitting for receiving fuel, a nozzle for issuing fuel into the gas turbine engine, an injector body extending between the inlet fitting and the nozzle and having and interior bore extending therethrough, and an elongated fuel tube disposed within the interior bore of the injector body for delivering fuel from the inlet fitting to the nozzle. The fuel tube has an inlet end portion dynamically associated with the inlet fitting and an outlet end portion rigidly connected to the nozzle. An adapter is operatively associated with either the inlet end section of the fuel tube or a reception bore formed with the inlet fitting of the injector for accommodating a seal member in a manner that permits thermal growth of the injector body relative to the fuel tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Delavan Inc
    Inventors: Daniel Haggerty, Troy Hall
  • Publication number: 20100095675
    Abstract: The present application provides a burner for use with a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The burner may include a center hub, a shroud, a pair of fuel vanes extending from the center hub to the shroud, and a vanelet extending from the center hub and/or the shroud and positioned between the pair of fuel vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin Lacy, Balachandar Varatharajan, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Ertan Yilmaz, Baifang Zuo
  • Patent number: 7694521
    Abstract: Pilot fuel injected from fuel injection ports 21 of a pilot nozzle 2 bumps against an inner wall surface of a tapered portion of an inner circumference of a cone 41 of a pilot cone 4. At this time, the position where a pilot fuel from the fuel injection ports 21 hits is located in a range from a middle of the tapered portion of the inner circumference of a cone 41 to a downstream-side tip thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Ohta, Shigemi Mandai, Kuniaki Aoyama, Katsunori Tanaka, Shinji Akamatsu, Hisanari Nakajima, Teruya Tachibana, Koichi Nishida, Wataru Akizuki, Yoshikuni Kasai, Jyunji Hashimura
  • Publication number: 20100083663
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes includes a fuel nozzle for a turbine engine that includes a tapered central body located at an interior base of the fuel nozzle, an air swirler, and a fuel port in the tapered central body, separate from the air swirler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Luiz C.V. Fernandes, Elias Marquez, Roy Marshall Washam
  • Publication number: 20100083664
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes providing a combustor having a combustor liner assembly defining a combustion chamber. An outer combustor liner includes a radially extending first end that defines a combustion chamber input opening. An axially extending second end of the outer combustor liner defines a combustion chamber output opening. The first end transitions into the second end to form an arcuate cross-sectional shape of the outer combustor liner. A dome assembly is coupled to the first end of the combustor liner that extends downstream from the dome assembly. A fuel nozzle is positioned within a cyclone formed on the dome assembly and configured in a radial configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Alfred A. Mancini, David L. Burrus, Steven J. Lohmueller
  • Publication number: 20100071378
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor for producing hot gas by burning a fuel in compressed air comprising a combustor central axis and multiple main swirlers with respective swirler axes disposed about and parallel to the combustor central axis, each main swirler delivering an air fuel mixture flowing through it and about its swirler axis, wherein each swirler imparts rotation to the air fuel mixture flowing through it in a direction opposite that of adjacent swirlers. This combustor configuration reduces shear where the outer edges of adjacent flows meet, allowing for greater tuning of the combustion chamber and reduced NOx and CO emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: SIEMENS POWER GENERATION, INC.
    Inventor: William R. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20100064691
    Abstract: A pre-mixer assembly associated with a fuel supply system for mixing of air and fuel upstream from a main combustion zone in a gas turbine engine. The pre-mixer assembly includes a swirler assembly disposed about a fuel injector of the fuel supply system and a pre-mixer transition member. The swirler assembly includes a forward end defining an air inlet and an opposed aft end. The pre-mixer transition member has a forward end affixed to the aft end of the swirler assembly and an opposed aft end defining an outlet of the pre-mixer assembly. The aft end of the pre-mixer transition member is spaced from a base plate such that a gap is formed between the aft end of the pre-mixer transition member and the base plate for permitting a flow of purge air therethrough to increase a velocity of the air/fuel mixture exiting the pre-mixer assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Walter R. Laster, Domenico Gambacorta
  • Patent number: 7677471
    Abstract: A modular fuel nozzle configuration is defined which permits lower-cost manufacturing operations such as injection moulding to be employed. Also described is a method of making such a component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Lev Alexander Prociw, Joseph Horace Brand
  • Patent number: 7677025
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor having a self-purging pilot fuel injection system and method of operation thereof is disclosed. The pilot fuel injection system comprises a radial inflow swirler, a generally axially extending centerbody, and at least one fuel injection source. In operation a fluid containing at least air passes along the centerbody outer surface clearing any remaining fuel from proximate the fuel injection source so as to prevent flame attachment proximate the fuel injection source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Power Systems Mfg., LLC
    Inventors: Peter Stuttaford, Stephen Jennings
  • Publication number: 20100058767
    Abstract: A combustor includes a primary combustion chamber and a secondary combustion chamber, one or more primary nozzles disposed in the primary combustion chamber and providing fuel to the primary combustion chamber, a centerbody assembly, a venturi disposed downstream of the centerbody assembly, and a secondary fuel nozzle housed within the centerbody assembly and extending towards the venturi and providing fuel to the secondary combustion chamber. The secondary fuel nozzle includes a fuel passage and an air passage, and a swirler positioned around the fuel passage and having one or more vanes projecting radially within the air passage, each vane having a trailing edge arranged at a swirl angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the secondary fuel nozzle, the swirl angle is greater than 45°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Derrick Walter Simons, Alberto Jose Negroni, Larry Lou Thomas, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue
  • Patent number: 7673455
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor includes a liquid fuel nozzle for jetting out liquid fuel; a pre-mixture chamber wall provided with the liquid fuel nozzle at a center thereof, having a hollow conical shape gradually spreading in the direction in which the fuel is jetted out, and defining a pre-mixture chamber therein; a plurality of air inlet holes bored through the pre-mixture chamber wall and introducing the combustion air to the pre-mixture chamber such that angles at which the combustion air is introduced to the pre-mixture chamber through the air inlet holes are deflected at least toward the circumferential direction of the pre-mixture chamber wall; and a plurality of gaseous fuel nozzles disposed around the pre-mixture chamber wall in an opposing relation respectively to the plurality of air inlet holes and jetting out gaseous fuel substantially coaxially with axes of the air inlet holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shouhei Yoshida, Yoshitaka Hirata, Kazuyuki Itou, Tomoya Murota, Hiroshi Inoue, Tomohiro Asai
  • Patent number: 7673454
    Abstract: In a combustor, divisional fluid passages of a first group, and divisional fluid passages of a second group are present on an inner peripheral side, and divisional fluid passages are also present on an outer peripheral side, and swirl air flows are gushed from the divisional fluid passages. When the total amount of fuel supplied to the combustor is small as in a speed increasing state or in a low load state, fuel is injected only into the divisional fluid passages of the first group. Since a fuel injection region is limited to a position on the inner peripheral side, particularly, a specific position, the concentration of a fuel gas comprising a mixture of fuel and air is lean, but is higher than a flammability limit concentration, even when the total amount of fuel is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keijiro Saito, Satoshi Tanimura, Atsushi Yuasa, Toshihiko Saito
  • Publication number: 20100050647
    Abstract: A swirler is provided for a fuel injector of a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The swirler is for directing an airflow into the combustor so as to atomise fuel exiting the fuel injector. The swirler has one or more passages for channelling the airflow. Each of the passages is configured to rotate the airflow channelled by that passage about a swirl axis of the swirler, such that on exiting the passage the airflow has an exit swirl angle and a direction of rotation relative to the swirl axis. The swirler is configured such that the exit swirl angle and/or the direction of rotation may be selectively varied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Martin S. Goodwin
  • Publication number: 20100050648
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to accelerate further mixing of a fuel and air independently of a flow rate of the fuel. A gas turbine combustor comprises: a fuel nozzle for blowing out a gas fuel; an air nozzle plate with an air nozzle for jetting out the fuel and air into a combustion chamber after the blowout of the fuel from the fuel nozzle; and an obstacle formed inside the air nozzle; wherein the obstacle causes a collision of the fuel jet blown out from the fuel nozzle, and hence causes turbulence in an airflow streaming into the air nozzle. According to the invention, mixing between the fuel and the air can be further accelerated independently of the flow rate of the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Keisuke MIURA, Satoshi Dodo, Kazuhito KOYAMA, Tomomi KOGANEZAWA, Hiromi KOIZUMI
  • Publication number: 20100050646
    Abstract: Systems and methods involving improved fuel atomization in air-blast fuel nozzles of gas turbine engines are provided. In this regard, a representative method includes: providing fuel to a chamber defined by an inner surface; and continuously atomizing a portion of the fuel via interaction of the fuel with the inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Jeffery A. Lovett, Frederick C. Padget, John Mordosky, Shawn M. McMahon
  • Patent number: 7669421
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor having an inner tube and a transition pipe connected together is provided. The combustor includes an internal swirler and an external swirler. The internal swirler is composed of a cylindrical inward swirler ring disposed concentrically with respect to a central axis of the inner tube, and a plurality of inward swirler vanes provided on an outer peripheral surface of the inward swirler ring. The external swirler is composed of a cylindrical outward swirler ring disposed on an outer peripheral side of the inward swirler vanes and concentrically with respect to the inward swirler ring, and a plurality of outward swirler vanes provided on an outer peripheral surface of the outward swirler ring. The internal swirler and the external swirler are disposed within the inner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keijiro Saitoh, Masataka Ohta, Satoshi Tanimura, Shigemi Mandai
  • Patent number: 7661269
    Abstract: A turbine burner (1) comprising a secondary feed unit for the supply of a backup mixture and a primary feed unit intended for the supply of a primary mixture comprising lean gas, comprising a primary mixture channel (24). The primary mixture channel (24) has an annular wall (28) having a truncated cone-shaped end portion (30) capable of conveying the primary mixture directly to the combustion zone (6) facing the axial swirler (18), achieving efficient combustion even for primary mixtures comprising gases with a low calorific value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ansaldo Energia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Federico Bonzani, Giacomo Pollarolo
  • Patent number: 7658075
    Abstract: With a lean premix burner (1), a plurality of preferably V-shaped, closely spaced fuel channels (12) is formed into the circumferential fuel-supplied film application surface (8) of the atomizer lip (9) in the direction of flow, in order to achieve a better heat transfer to the fuel due to the uniform fuel distribution and a transverse flux in the plurality of small fuel flows caused by the Marangoni effect, to completely converse the fuel by early vaporization and improved spraying, to reduce nitrogen oxide emission and to suppress combustion-driven pressure oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Ralf Sebastian von der Bank
  • Patent number: 7658074
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine engine includes an engine mount end and a discharge end that discharges an air/fuel mixture into a combustion chamber. The fuel nozzle includes a centerbody and a heat shield. The heat shield is fixed to the centerbody at a mid-mount position that is centrally located between first and second ends of the heat shield to allow the heat shield to remain thermally isolated from radially adjacent components to reduce the adverse effects of thermal stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
  • Publication number: 20100024427
    Abstract: A precision counter-swirl combustor that includes an annular combustor having a forward end, an aft end opposite the forward end, and an interior. The aft end being proximal to a gas turbine. The combustor further includes a fuel inlet and swirler operatively connected to the forward end and at least one air inlet. The air inlet is equipped with a chute that extends into the interior of said combustor. The combustor is secured to a fixed structure proximate the forward end of the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: CHARLES B. GRAVES, William G. Cummings
  • Patent number: 7654000
    Abstract: A modular fuel nozzle configuration is defined which permits lower-cost manufacturing operations such as injection moulding to be employed. Also described is a method of making such a component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Lev Alexander Prociw, Joseph Horace Brand
  • Patent number: 7654090
    Abstract: The invention relates to a burner having an annular premixing channel in which fuel can be discharged in a radially distributed manner. The radial distribution of the fuel can be regulated during operation of the burner in that fuel can be supplied, independently of one another, into a first and a second part of admission devices having admission holes varying radially in opposite direction by means of fuel supply lines. The invention also relates to a method for operating a gas turbine in which radial distribution of the fuel is regulated in a premixing channel of a burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Malte Blomeyer
  • Patent number: 7654091
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine includes channeling fluid from a cooling fluid source to a combustor that includes at least one deflector and flare cone. The deflector and flare cone are coupled together and are configured to define a cooling fluid channel therebetween. The flare cone has a plurality of cooling injectors extending therethrough. The plurality of injectors are spaced circumferentially about a centerline axis of the flare cone and are coupled in flow communication with the fluid source. The plurality of injectors has a plurality of first injectors and a plurality of second injectors. The method also includes directing a portion of the fluid through the plurality of first injectors. The method further includes directing a portion of the fluid through the plurality of second injectors, wherein the first plurality of injectors facilitates cooling a portion of the deflector more than the second plurality of injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marwan Al-Roub, Steven Vise
  • Publication number: 20100011772
    Abstract: A fuel injection system is provided for a gas turbine, comprising a mains airblast fuel injector having an annular shape, and inner and outer mains swirlers for swirling air past the mains airblast fuel injector. The inner and outer mains swirlers are concentric with the mains airblast fuel injector and are located radially inwardly and radially outwardly of the mains airblast fuel injector, respectively. The mains airblast fuel injector and the inner and outer mains swirlers are so arranged as to produce a fuel spray stream which expands from the mains airblast fuel injector and has a double flame front. The double flame front comprises flame fronts on both the radially inner and radially outer surfaces of the fuel spray stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: SARA GASHI, NICKOLAOS PILATIS
  • Publication number: 20100011771
    Abstract: The low emission combustor includes a combustor housing defining a combustion chamber having a plurality of combustion zones. A liner sleeve is disposed in the combustion housing with a gap formed between the liner sleeve and the combustor housing. A secondary nozzle is disposed along a centerline of the combustion chamber and configured to inject a first fluid comprising air, at least one diluent, fuel, or combinations thereof to a downstream side of a first combustion zone among the plurality of combustion zones. A plurality of primary fuel nozzles is disposed proximate to an upstream side of the combustion chamber and located around the secondary nozzle and configured to inject a second fluid comprising air and fuel to an upstream side of the first combustion zone. The combustor also includes a plurality of tertiary coanda nozzles. Each tertiary coanda nozzle is coupled to a respective dilution hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrei Tristan Evulet, Balachandar Varatharajan, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Ahmed Mostafa Elkady, Benjamin Paul Lacy
  • Publication number: 20090320484
    Abstract: A method for assembling a premixing injector is provided. The method includes providing a centerbody including a center axis and a radially outer surface, and providing an inlet flow conditioner. The inlet flow conditioner includes a radially outer wall, a radially inner wall, and an end wall coupled substantially perpendicularly between the outer wall and the inner wall. Each of the outer wall and the end wall include a plurality of openings defined therein. The outer wall, the inner wall, and the end wall define a first passage therebetween. The method also includes coupling the inlet flow conditioner to the centerbody such that the inlet flow conditioner substantially circumscribes the centerbody, such that the inner wall is substantially parallel to the centerbody outer surface, and such that a second passage is defined between the centerbody outer surface and the inner wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Balachandar Varatharajan, Ertan Yilmaz, Baifang Zuo
  • Publication number: 20090320485
    Abstract: Disclosed is a swirler for use in a burner of a gas turbine engine, the swirler comprising a pluralkity of vanes arranged in a circle, flow slots being defined between adjacent vanes in a circle, each flow slot having an inlet end and an outlet end, in use of the swirler a flow of air and fuel traveling along each flow slot fom its inlet end to its outlet end such that the swirler provides a swirling mix of the air and fuel, at least one vane being configured to generate a flow vortex that extends from an edge of the vane adjacent an outlet end of a flow slot to within the swirling mix thereby to improve the mix of air and fuel in the swirling mix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Nigel Wilbraham
  • Publication number: 20090320490
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor is provided, which comprises: a combustion chamber having an axial direction and a radial direction; air passages for feeding an air stream into the combustion chamber which are oriented such that the flowing direction for each air stream flowing into the combustion chamber includes an angle with the combustion chamber's radial direction so as to introduce a swirl in the in-flowing air and an angle of at least 60° with the combustion chamber's axial direction; and fuel injection openings which are located in the air passages. Each air passage defines a turning flow path with a turning between 70° and 150° in a radial direction of the combustion chamber and a turning between 0° and 235° in an axial direction of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Ulf Nilsson, Peter Senior
  • Publication number: 20090308273
    Abstract: An active vortex control system (AVOCS) includes a set of primary injectors that inject gas into a cavity to generate a vortex in front of and possibly around components inside the cavity. The vortex interferes with an external flow field in an opening to the cavity to protect the components from the external environment. Sets of secondary injectors may inject gas at a reduced mass flow into the cavity to compensate for energy losses to maintain the coherence of the vortex. The AVOCS is well suited for use in windowless endo- and exo-atmospheric interceptors to protect the electro-optical imagers and optical components from Earth atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Jose E. Chirivella, Anton VanderWyst
  • Patent number: 7631500
    Abstract: A method for operating a combustion system is provided. The method includes coupling the main swirler to the pilot swirler such that the main swirler substantially circumscribes the pilot swirler, supplying fuel to a first fuel circuit defined in the main swirler, and inducing swirling to the supplied fuel via a first set of swirler vanes positioned within the main swirler. The method also includes supplying fuel to a second fuel circuit defined in the main swirler, inducing swirling to the supplied fuel via a second set of swirler vanes positioned within the main swirler, each of the second set of swirler vanes comprising at least one second fuel passage defined therein, and coupling a shroud in flow communication to at least one of the first set of swirler vanes and the second set of swirler vanes, the shroud comprising at least one third fuel passage defined therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Mueller, Timothy James Held, Mark Patrick Kelsey
  • Publication number: 20090301092
    Abstract: A burner for a gas-turbine engine including a swirler and a combustion chamber is provided. The swirler includes a plurality of vanes arranged in a circle, each adjacent pair of vanes defining a flow slot for the flow of air and fuel into the swirler, the air and fuel is mixed and supplied in swirling form to the combustion chamber. The swirler can also include a partitioning device which divides the flow of air along each flow slot into two air flows. One side of the partitioning device has a fuel-supply port for supplying fuel to one of the two air flows. The relevant air flow causes fuel supplied to the fuel-supply port to form a film of fuel over the relevant side of the partitioning device. The film leaves the relevant side of the partitioning device in a region of high shear between adjacent flows in the burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Nigel Wilbraham
  • Patent number: 7628019
    Abstract: A bearing plate assembly for a turbine engine fuel injector includes a bearing plate 30, with an opening 80 bordered by a race 82. A swivel ball 90 nests inside the race and is rotatable relative thereto. A lock, which may be a tip bushing 108 resists disengagement of the swivel ball from the race. A fuel injector nozzle 38 extends through an opening 98 in the swivel ball. During engine operation, the ball can swivel inside the race to accommodate rotational movement of the nozzle about lateral and radial axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Keith M. Tanner, Philip J. Kirsopp
  • Patent number: 7624576
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle having a fuel conveying member surrounded by a sheath. An air passage is defined between the fuel conveying member and the sheath for directing air to an air swirler provided at one end of the fuel conveying member. At one flow director is provided in the air passage for promoting air and fuel uniformity and distribution at a spray tip of the fuel nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Hisham Alkabie, Klan McCaldon, Victor Gandza, John Hu