Abstract: A fuel-air mixer for a gas turbine engine combustor having a primary swirler and a venturi that effectively reduces carboning via purge air. Purge air flows axially through the fuel-air mixer forming a boundary layer of air on the inner surface of the venturi. The boundary layer of air minimizes the amount of fuel contacting the inner surface of the venturi resulting in reduced carbon resin or coke formation.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine that includes a 2/3 stage intercooled booster compressor is described. In one embodiment, the engine includes a low pressure turbine and a booster compressor rotatable on a low pressure shaft. The engine further includes a high pressure compressor, a high pressure combustor, and a high pressure turbine rotatable on a high pressure (HP) shaft and forming the core engine. A low pressure combustor is located at the outlet of the high pressure turbine and a power turbine. The booster compressor includes first and second stage compressors, and air flow from the first stage compressor is supplied to a first intercooler, and air flow from the second stage compressor is supplied to a second intercooler. Airflow from the first intercooler is supplied to the inlet of the second stage compressor, and airflow from the second intercooler is split between being provided to the inlet of the high pressure compressor and a recuperator.

Abstract: A system and method for providing clean cooling air to a hot portion of a gas turbine engine is disclosed, where the engine includes a compressor. The system includes a turbocompressor (66) having a compressor section and a turbine section, wherein the compressor and turbine sections each have an inlet and an outlet. The system further includes a heat exchanger (64) having a first inlet and a first outlet for a first fluid flow providing cooling to the heat exchanger, the first inlet being in fluid communication with a low temperature fluid. The heat exchanger (64) also has a second inlet and a second outlet for a second air flow receiving cooling from the heat exchanger, the second inlet being in fluid communication with high temperature air from the engine compressor and the second outlet being in fluid communication with the inlet of the compressor section of the turbocompressor.

Abstract: A combustor, for a gas turbine engine, employing regenerative combustor cooling. The combustion gas flow direction extends generally longitudinally aft of the combustor fuel nozzle. A coolant flowpath between the combustor casing and the combustor liner has: 1) a longitudinally aft inlet in fluid communication with a source of compressor-derived cooling air, of lower temperature and higher pressure than diffused air from the combustor diffuser; and 2) a longitudinally forward outlet in fluid communication with the combustor fuel nozzle for "spent" cooling air to be used for combustion.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine having improved output horsepower and a method of achieving it. The engine has, in order, a low pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, a combustor, a high pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine. The high pressure turbine is drivingly connected to both compressors with a speed reducing gear box therebetween. An intercooler between the compressors reduces the horsepower requirement of the high pressure compressor. Flow from the combustor is sufficiently heated to enable the high pressure turbine to drive both compressors with the output horsepower of the low pressure turbine devoted to the engine load.

Abstract: In its broadest aspects, the present invention is directed to a method for improving the abrasion resistance of the annular interior surface of an annulus. Such method comprises the steps of (a) placing said annulus heated to an elevated CVD diamond-forming temperature in a vacuum chamber held under reduced pressure; (b) providing a hydrocarbon/hydrogen gaseous mixture within said chamber; (c) at least partially decomposing said gaseous mixture in said chamber; and (d) directing said at least partially decomposed gaseous mixture into said heated annular interior for diamond deposition/growth to occur on said annular interior surface. As noted above, spray nozzles, valves, injectors, wire drawing dies, and like annular products are ideally suited for use in accordance with the precepts of the present invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to fuel staged premixed dry low NO.sub.x gas turbine combustors of the type that are constructed with multiple concentric cylinders to which fuel manifolds are mounted. The cylinders are spaced in a staggered arrangement. Such structures of this type achieve stable combustion over a wide range of fuel-to-air ratios and low flame temperature in the combustor resulting in low emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x).

Abstract: An air staged premixed dry low NO.sub.x combustor of the type that is constructed of a premixing chamber and a centerbody porous plug premixed flame stabilizer. Such structures of this type maintain very low flame temperatures and, ultimately, low NO.sub.x emissions.

Abstract: This invention relates to air staged premixed dry low NO.sub.x combustors of the type that are constructed of a premixing chamber, a centerbody plug premixed flame stabilizer and a venturi modulated flow split. Such structures of this type maintain very low flame temperatures and, ultimately, low NO.sub.x emissions while still providing adequate cooling for the combustor.

Abstract: In order to reduce emissions of NO.sub.x, CO and unburned hydrocarbons, the flame temperature must be kept between 2500.degree.-2800.degree. F. Premixing combustor tubes are used to premix the fuel and air before the mixture is burned in the combustion chamber. The tubes are flashback resistant due to the flow of the fuel and air mixture through them. If it is desired to reduce the load operation of the combustor to substantially below 100% of its maximum load operation, as is the case during off-peak hours, the fuel and air flow rate can be regulated to reduce the load operation while still keeping the low emissions and the low flame temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus for transmitting pressure from hydraulic fluid to a slurry material includes a housing having a piston chamber defined therein surrounded by a piston chamber wall. The housing also contains an inlet port and an outlet port, through which ports slurry material enters and leaves the piston chamber. A piston is slidably disposed in the chamber so that sliding movement of the piston produces pressurization of the slurry material and movement thereof through the outlet port. A hydraulic fluid channel is disposed in the housing so that pressurized hydraulic fluid therein produces a force on the piston which causes sliding movement thereof, so as to produce a pressure in the slurry material which is proportional to the pressure in the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: Wear is minimized in a reciprocating internal combustion engine operated by fuel with abrasive particles, such as coal based fuel. A flexible diaphragm is used to equalize pressure in a ring pack area having lubricating film with the combustion chamber pressure. This equalization of pressure minimizes the pressure differential which might occur across an oil scraper ring separating the combustion chamber from the ring pack area. This minimizing of the pressure differential prevents or minimizes the passage of abrasive particles behind the oil scraper ring. A second ring, further from the combustion chamber end of the piston than is the oil scraper ring, serves as a high pressure sealing ring and separates the ring pack area from an oil blowby chamber. The second ring provides a predetermined amount of blowby from the ring pack area into the blowby chamber, which is also bounded by a third ring.

Abstract: A fuel injection system particularly adapted for injecting coal slurry fuels at high pressures includes an accumulator-type fuel injector which utilizes high-pressure pilot fuel as a purging fluid to prevent hard particles in the fuel from impeding the opening and closing movement of a needle valve, and as a hydraulic medium to hold the needle valve in its closed position. A fluid passage in the injector delivers an appropriately small amount of the ignition-aiding pilot fuel to an appropriate region of a chamber in the injector's nozzle so that at the beginning of each injection interval the first stratum of fuel to be discharged consists essentially of pilot fuel and thereafter mostly slurry fuel is injected.

Abstract: Apparatus for transmitting pressure from a hydraulic fluid to a slurry material includes a housing having a piston chamber defined therein surrounded by a piston chamber wall. The housing also contains an inlet port and an outlet port, through which ports slurry material enters and leaves the piston chamber. A piston is slidably disposed in the chamber so that sliding movement of the piston produces pressurization of the slurry material and movement thereof through the outlet port. A hydraulic fluid channel is disposed in the housing so that pressurized hydraulic fluid therein produces a force on the piston which causes sliding movement thereof, so as to produce a pressure in the slurry material which is proportional to the pressure in the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: A self purging dual fuel injector has a valve which is pressed down, as opposed to lifting, to provide a pilot charge to the combustion chamber. As the valve further extends from the injector the pilot fuel flow is cut off and coal water slurry flows through the valve to the combustion chamber. During shut off of the slurry the retracting valve allows a shot of pilot fuel to purge the valve passageways.

Abstract: An improved diesel engine is provided wherein clean air is blown past compression ring seals to prevent particulate matter in combustion gases from entering between a cylinder wall or liner and a piston sidewall. The diesel engine includes at least one cylinder, a piston reciprocatingly mounted in the cylinder, a combustion air port, an exhaust gas port, a fuel injector proximate the cylinder head, and at least two compression ring seals. A clean air port communicates with the cylinder wall for conducting pressurized clean air into the cylinder. A chamber is disposed in the piston and includes a port substantially centered on the piston crown, and a blow-by port on the piston sidwall bounded by the two compression ring seals. The clean air port is spaced from the combustion air port such that when the piston is proximate the bottom-dead-center position of its stroke and combustion air is conducted into the cylinder, the compression ring seals bounding the blow-by port also bound the clean air port.

Abstract: An improvement for a diesel engine uses a vapor to purge a gap between a piston and cylinder wall. The diesel engine includes at least one cylinder, a piston reciprocatingly mounted in the cylinder, and means for establishing a compression seal between the piston sidewall surface and cylinder wall surface. A chamber is disposed in the piston crown. Means are provided for conducting a liquid into the chamber and containing the liquid under pressure in the chamber. Further provided are means situated in the piston sidewall surface for conducting a vapor between the chamber and the gap between the piston and cylinder wall. In operation, a liquid such as water is conducted into the chamber disposed in the piston crown. The heat generated in the cylinder during the normal operation of the engine is absorbed through the piston crown by the liquid in the chamber.

Abstract: A diaphragm pump includes a flexible diaphragm mounted in a pump housing and sealingly separating internal pumping and driving chambers. An inlet aperture is situated to conduct pressurized material into the pumping chamber in a direction tangential to a surface of an end-portion of the pumping chamber, this end-portion having a circular cross-sectional shape and adjoining the diaphragm. The driving chamber comprises a plurality of interconnected grooves disposed in a pump housing surface normally contacting the diaphragm when the diaphragm is in an unflexed position. A plurality of fluid apertures are disposed to conduct a hydraulic pumping fluid into the driving chamber at a plurality of discrete locations.