Abstract: A pilot burner (150, 350) for a gas turbine engine delivers an inner non-swirling fuel-oxidant mixture surrounded by an outer swirling fuel-oxidant mixture, thereby providing enhanced mixing with no recirculation zone. At least one fluid-restricting inlet port (166, 366) provides an oxidant to an inner mixing passage (160, 360). The inner mixing passage (160, 360) includes a plurality of fuel outlets (168). An outer annular mixing passage (180) receives oxidant from an upstream port (181) surrounding the inner mixing passage and includes at least one swirler element (186, 386) and fuel outlets (188).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide resonators (260, 460) that have lateral walls (268, 270) disposed at non-square angles relative to the liner's longitudinal (and flow-based) axis (219) such that a film cooling of substantial portions of an intervening strip (244, 444) is provided from apertures (226A, 226B, 426) in a resonator box (262, 462) adjacent and upstream from the intervening strip (244, 444). This film cooling also cools weld seams (280) along the lateral walls (268, 270) of the resonator boxes (262, 462). In various embodiments the lateral wall angles are such that film cooling may be provided to include the most of the downstream portions of the intervening strips (244, 444). These downstream portions are closer to the combustion heat source and therefore expected to be in greater need of cooling.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided comprising an outer shell, a compressor assembly, at least one combustor assembly, a turbine assembly and duct structure. The outer shell includes a compressor section, a combustor section, an intermediate section and a turbine section. The intermediate section includes at least one first opening and at least one second opening. The compressor assembly is located in the compressor section to define with the compressor section a compressor apparatus to compress air. The at least one combustor assembly is coupled to the combustor section to define with the combustor section a combustor apparatus. The turbine assembly is located in the turbine section to define with the turbine section a turbine apparatus.

Abstract: A gas sleeve (120) for a combustor (408) of gas turbine engine (400) attaches to a support housing (100) of the combustor (408) to convey a fuel gas and to fit within a fuel rocket (110). The gas sleeve (120) comprises a plurality of apertures (128) formed to provide impingement cooling. The apertures (128) comprise a tilt angle directed toward a structure in need of impingement cooling, for instance a weld joint (114) that attaches the fuel rocket (110) to the support housing (100). The apertures (128) additionally may comprise a rotational angle effective to create a rotationally swirling flow of the portion of fuel gas that passes through the apertures (128). A method of operation using this structure also is provided.

Abstract: A curved diffuser (210) in a gas turbine engine (201) directs a primary portion of air flow from a compressor (202) through a curved discharge opening (213) into a plenum (220). The curved diffuser (210) also comprises ports (217) through which a secondary portion of air passes into confined space (225) that is defined in part by a pressure boundary element that may be comprised of at least one plate (222) or at least one conduit (306). The at least one plate (222) and the at least one conduit (306) respectively comprise apertures (246, 312) through which pass the secondary portion of air to provide impingement-type cooling to transitions (230, 320). In various embodiments the velocity of the air between adjacent transitions (230, 320) may flow at relatively uniform velocity along the longitudinal distance of the respective transitions (230, 320).

Abstract: A combustion apparatus and duct structure for a gas turbine engine are provided. The combustion apparatus comprises a combustion system to receive fuel and air, ignite at least a portion of the fuel and air and output a stream of first combustion products and any remaining fuel and air. The combustion apparatus further comprises structure positioned adjacent to the combustion system for receiving and accelerating the first combustion products and any remaining fuel and air from the combustion system. The duct structure receives the first combustion products and any remaining fuel and air from the combustion apparatus, allows any remaining fuel and air to combust to generate second combustion products, accelerates the first and second combustion products and outputs the first and second combustion products to a first row blade assembly.

Abstract: A transition (200) for a gas turbine engine (100) comprises a transition wall (201) comprising cooling channels (213L, 213R, 223L, 223R) that are adapted to pass a cooling fluid, such as compressed air from a compressor (102) during operation of the gas turbine engine (100) so as to cool combusted hot gases passing through the transition (200). For each cooling channel (213L, 213R, 223L, 223R), respective entry ports (212L, 212L, 222L, 222R) and exit ports (214L, 214R, 224L, 224R) are arranged so as to obtain a performance improvement based upon pressure differentials between the respective entry and exit ports. In various embodiments, a scoop (220) is associated with an entry port (222L, 222R) so as to establish a more elevated pressure differential in the respective cooling channel (223L, 223R). An entry port (330a-h) may be positioned offset relative to a lower-positioned exit port (340a-h) so as to so minimize or eliminate intake of heated airflow from a respective nearby exit port (340a-h).

Abstract: A method and system for controlling combustion in a gas turbine engine (10) includes reducing an overall fuel flow provided to a stage (22) of burners (e.g. 34, 35) of the gas turbine engine until reaching a predetermined dynamic operating condition of the first burner of the stage. The method also includes maintaining, while continuing to reduce the overall fuel flow (e.g. 30), a first portion (e.g. 36), of the overall fuel flow delivered to the first burner at a maintenance level so that the predetermined dynamic operating condition of the first burner is maintained.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus and duct structure for a gas turbine engine are provided. The combustion apparatus comprises a combustion system to receive fuel and air, ignite at least a portion of the fuel and air and output a stream of first combustion products and any remaining fuel and air. The combustion apparatus further comprises structure positioned adjacent to the combustion system for receiving and accelerating the first combustion products and any remaining fuel and air from the combustion system. The duct structure receives the first combustion products and any remaining fuel and air from the combustion apparatus, allows any remaining fuel and air to combust to generate second combustion products, accelerates the first and second combustion products and outputs the first and second combustion products to a first row blade assembly.

Abstract: A burner (27) of a gas turbine engine (10) includes a cylindrical basket (60) comprising an air flow reversal region (86). The flow reversal region ends at an air inlet plane (84) of the basket. The burner also includes a flow conditioner (90) disposed in the flow reversal region transecting an air flow (80) flowing non-uniformly through the flow reversal region, the flow conditioner being effective to mitigate variation of the air flow entering the basket across the inlet plane.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine fuel nozzle assemblage (10) comprises a nozzle outer body (25) comprising a premixing section (23) and an interiorly disposed first fuel passageway (22) to supply fuel to the premixing section (23), and more interiorly a central channel (33) comprising an inlet (30) from an air supply, an aperture (19) at an upstream end to receive a lance (18), and a downstream-disposed annular bearing surface (21) adapted to slidingly engage the lance, the fuel nozzle assemblage adapted so that the lance may be alternatably selected as any interchangeable one of a gas lance, an oil lance, and a non-fueling dummy lance. Between the lance and the central channel (33) is formed a cooling fluid passageway (24) that is in fluid communication with the inlet (30) and one or more cooling fluid passageway exits (60). The interchangeability of the lances (18) is effective to provide a desired flexible functionality to said fuel nozzle assemblage.

Abstract: A pilot burner (150, 350) for a gas turbine engine delivers an inner non-swirling fuel-oxidant mixture surrounded by an outer swirling fuel-oxidant mixture, thereby providing enhanced mixing with no recirculation zone. At least one fluid-restricting inlet port (166, 366) provides an oxidant to an inner mixing passage (160, 360). The inner mixing passage (160, 360) includes a plurality of fuel outlets (168). An outer annular mixing passage (180) receives oxidant from an upstream port (181) surrounding the inner mixing passage and includes at least one swirler element (186, 386) and fuel outlets (188).

Abstract: A method and system for controlling combustion in a gas turbine combustor (18) includes adjusting an amount of a premix fuel portion (30) of a pilot fuel (28) provided to a premix burner stage (48) of a pilot (46) of the gas turbine combustor. The amount of the premix fuel portion is adjusted from a preset premix fuel portion amount to an adjusted premix fuel portion amount to achieve a desired first operating condition of the combustor. An amount of a diffusion fuel portion (34) of the pilot fuel provided to a diffusion burner stage (50) of the pilot is then adjusted from a preset diffusion fuel portion amount to an adjusted diffusion fuel portion amount to achieve a desired second operating condition of the combustor.

Abstract: An axially staged combustion system is provided for a gas turbine engine comprising a main body structure having a plurality of first and second injectors. First structure provides fuel to at least one of the first injectors. The fuel provided to the one first injector is adapted to mix with air and ignite to produce a flame such that the flame associated with the one first injector defines a flame front having an average length when measured from a reference surface of the main body structure. Each of the second injectors comprising a section extending from the reference surface of the main body structure through the flame front and having a length greater than the average length of the flame front. Second structure provides fuel to at least one of the second injectors. The fuel passes through the one second injector and exits the one second injector at a location axially spaced from the flame front.

Abstract: An axially staged combustion system is provided for a gas turbine engine comprising a main body structure having a plurality of first and second injectors. First structure provides fuel to at least one of the first injectors. The fuel provided to the one first injector is adapted to mix with air and ignite to produce a flame such that the flame associated with the one first injector defines a flame front having an average length when measured from a reference surface of the main body structure. Each of the second injectors comprising a section extending from the reference surface of the main body structure through the flame front and having a length greater than the average length of the flame front. Second structure provides fuel to at least one of the second injectors. The fuel passes through the one second injector and exits the one second injector at a location axially spaced from the flame front.

Abstract: A method and system (14) for monitoring a health of a combustion dynamics sensing system (10) includes monitoring respective dynamic conditions of at least two combustor cans (16) of a can annular combustor (12) of a gas turbine engine with respective dynamic condition sensors (20) associated with each of the cans. The method also includes establishing a baseline relationship between the respective dynamic conditions and then identifying a variance from the baseline relationship indicative of a degraded signal quality provided by a dynamic condition sensor associated with at least one of the cans.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a combustor flow sleeve for a turbine engine. The flow sleeve can be configured to optimize cooling and airflow distribution. The flow sleeve can include first and second sets of openings. A first set of openings can be provided for impingement cooling the areas of the liner that are subjected to high thermal loads. The second set of openings can be provided to more evenly distribute the airflow into the combustor head-end. By focusing the cooling on the areas of need and by making the airflow more uniform, embodiments of the invention can reduce the system pressure drop and enhance the performance and power of the engine.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide resonators (260, 460) that have lateral walls (268, 270) disposed at non-square angles relative to the liner's longitudinal (and flow-based) axis (219) such that a film cooling of substantial portions of an intervening strip (244, 444) is provided from apertures (226A, 226B, 426) in a resonator box (262, 462) adjacent and upstream from the intervening strip (244, 444). This film cooling also cools weld seams (280) along the lateral walls (268, 270) of the resonator boxes (262, 462). In various embodiments the lateral wall angles are such that film cooling may be provided to include the most of the downstream portions of the intervening strips (244, 444). These downstream portions are closer to the combustion heat source and therefore expected to be in greater need of cooling.

Abstract: A method for monitoring combustion dynamics of a can annular combustor (12) of a gas turbine engine includes monitoring respective dynamic operating conditions of cans (16) of the can annular combustor with respective dynamic operating condition sensors (20) associated with each of the cans. The method also includes grouping the cans into two or more groups according to their respective dynamic operating conditions and identifying a sensor providing an anomalous dynamic operating condition reading for at least one of the cans. The method further includes determining a need to service the identified sensor according to the associated can's group membership.

Abstract: A gas sleeve (120) for a combustor (408) of gas turbine engine (400) attaches to a support housing (100) of the combustor (408) to convey a fuel gas and to fit within a fuel rocket (110). The gas sleeve (120) comprises a plurality of apertures (128) formed to provide impingement cooling. The apertures (128) comprise a tilt angle directed toward a structure in need of impingement cooling, for instance a weld joint (114) that attaches the fuel rocket (110) to the support housing (100). The apertures (128) additionally may comprise a rotational angle effective to create a rotationally swirling flow of the portion of fuel gas that passes through the apertures (128). A method of operation using this structure also is provided.