Abstract: A low emissions combustion system for a gas turbine engine, including a generally annular combustor with a plurality of tangential fuel injectors (14) to introduce a fuel/air mixture. The annular combustor includes a skirt shaped flow control baffle (48) from the inner liner and air dilution holes (50-54) in the inner liner underneath the flow control baffle and also in the cylindrical outer liner. The fuel injectors (14) extend through the recuperator housing and into the combustor through an angled tube and then through a tangential guide in the cylindrical outer liner of the combustor housing. The fuel injectors generally comprise an elongated injector tube with the outer end including a coupler having at least one fuel inlet tube. Compressed combustion air is provided to the interior of the elongated injector tube from either holes or slits therein which receive compressed air from the angled tube around the fuel injector which is open to the space between the recuperator housing and the combustor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a catalytic combustion system having a gas turbine engine recuperator and an annular catalytic combustor. The annular catalytic combustor includes a pre-burner/pre-mixer which functions as a pre-burner during startup and as a pre-mixer for the fuel and air during catalytic operation. This pre-burner/pre-mixer includes a plurality of primary tangential air-fuel venturis each having a fuel injector, and a plurality of secondary tangential air dilution holes. The pre-burner/pre-mixer is joined to the annular in-line catalytic canister by a transition section which includes a plurality of tertiary air dilution holes which introduce air radially into the transition section from the inner liner thereof. The in-line annular catalyst canister includes a large plurality of microlith catalyst elements positioned between support tings and held at the open end thereof by a plurality of support spokes.

Abstract: A detachable connection for use in applications where detachment or shear of the connection is desirable or foreseen as a necessity. An improvement in a connection between two structural elements having identical, but oppositely oriented complemental connecting portions which mate, forming an enclosed space through which is inserted a deformable coupling member with cross section different from the cross section of the enclosed space. The improved connection will disconnect when subjected to predetermined forces, leaving the oppositely oriented structural elements undamaged.