Abstract: A fuel injection system is provided for gas turbines or the like which includes a pair of high pressure pumps which provide fuel and a carrier fluid such as air at pressures above the critical pressure of the fuel. A supercritical mixing chamber mixes the fuel and carrier fluid and the mixture is sprayed into a combustion chamber for burning therein. The use of fuel and a carrier fluid at supercritical pressures promotes rapid mixing of the fuel in the combustion chamber so as to reduce the formation of pollutants and promote cleaner burning.

Abstract: A fuel combustor comprises a chamber with air and fuel inlets and a combination gas outlet. The fuel is supplied to a vaporization zone and fuel and air are mixed in a pair of mixing chambers each exemplified by a swirl can and the resultant mixture is directed into a combustion zone within the combustor. Combustion products are exhausted, for example, into a turbine inlet.Heat pipe means, in this case comprising a pair of heat pipes for each swirl can, are arranged each pipe with one end portion substantially in the combustion zone and the other end portion in the vaporization zone of its appropriate mixing chamber. By use of the heat pipe means some of the heat of combustion is carried back upstream into the swirl cans, to vaporize the fuel as it enters the vaporization zone in the swirl can, thereby improving vaporization and fuel mixing. Fewer pollutants are formed and complete combustion is assisted because of the improved fuel vaporization and better mixing.