Abstract: A combustor inlet mixing system (10) formed from a plurality of circumferentially spaced swirler vanes (38) extending radially outward from a nozzle hub. Each of the swirler vanes (38) may have a length (62) that extends downstream along at least a portion of the combustor inlet mixing system (10), and may further have a thickness (66) that extends along a circumference of the nozzle hub. At least one of the swirler vanes (38) may further have at least one slot (42) cut entirely through the thickness (66) of a portion of the swirler vane (38). The slot (42) may separate the swirler vane (38) from the nozzle hub along a portion of the length (62) of the swirler vane (38).

Abstract: A fuel burner system (10) for a turbine engine (12) configured to operate with syngas fuel, whereby the fuel burner system (10) is configured to reduce nozzle and combustor basket temperatures is disclosed. The fuel burner system (10) may include a plurality of first and second fuel injection ports (16) positioned within a combustor (18), whereby the first fuel injection ports (14) are larger than the second fuel injection ports (16). One or more air injection ports (20) may be aligned with the first fuel injection ports (14). During operation, fuel injected into the combustor (18) from the first fuel injection ports (14) mixes better with the incoming air, causing reduced NOx emissions and lower flame temperatures. Also, the regions between adjacent air injection ports (20), which typically run the hottest, are cooler than conventional combustion system due, in part, to the smaller, second fuel injection ports (16) aligned with regions (22) between adjacent air injection ports (20).

Abstract: A can annular combustion arrangement (12) for a gas turbine engine (10), including: a combustor can (14) having an inlet (46) at a head end (62); an annular chamber (30) surrounding the combustor can (14) for delivering a flow of compressed air from a plenum (18) to the inlet (46); a fuel injector (49) configured to inject a flow of fuel into the flow of compressed air; and a flow tripping device (60) surrounding the combustor can (14) and disposed in the annular chamber (30) downstream of the fuel injector (49).

Abstract: A fuel gas cooling system for a combustion basket spring clip seal support is disclosed. The fuel gas cooling system may be formed from one or more fuel gas supply channels terminating proximate to a spring clip at the intersection between a combustor basket and a transition section such that fuel gas may be supplied to the hot gas path proximate to the intersection between the combustor basket and the transition section. The fuel gas supply channel may create an intermediate fuel gas burn at this intersection, which may reduce the firing temperature at the fuel nozzles and reduce NOx emissions.

Abstract: A fuel system for a turbine engine for improving efficiency in a fuel system where a major stage and secondary stage can be combined and held to a relatively constant fuel ratio while maintaining acceptable engine dynamics and NOx emissions is disclosed. The fuel system may be formed from a first premix injector assembly stage positioned upstream from a combustor basket, whereby the first premix injector assembly stage is a secondary injector system. The fuel system may be formed from a first primary injector assembly stage, which is a main injector system, positioned downstream from the first premix injector assembly stage. The first premix injector assembly stage and the first primary injector assembly stage may be coupled together such that the fuel system is capable of emitting fuel into a combustor of the turbine engine via the first premix injector assembly stage and the first primary injector assembly stage simultaneously.

Abstract: A method of influencing combustion dynamics, including measuring a combustion dynamics parameter, and controlling a diluent flow (26) delivered to a fuel flow (32) upstream of a pilot burner fuel outlet (40) in response to the measured combustion dynamics parameter.

Abstract: A can annular combustion arrangement (12) for a gas turbine engine (10), including: a combustor can (14) having an inlet (46) at a head end (62); an annular chamber (30) surrounding the combustor can (14) for delivering a flow of compressed air from a plenum (18) to the inlet (46); a fuel injector (49) configured to inject a flow of fuel into the flow of compressed air; and a flow tripping device (60) surrounding the combustor can (14) and disposed in the annular chamber (30) downstream of the fuel injector (49).

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 fuel gas cooling system for a combustion basket spring clip seal support is disclosed. The fuel gas cooling system may be formed from one or more fuel gas supply channels terminating proximate to a spring clip at the intersection between a combustor basket and a transition section such that fuel gas may be supplied to the hot gas path proximate to the intersection between the combustor basket and the transition section. The fuel gas supply channel may create an intermediate fuel gas burn at this intersection, which may reduce the firing temperature at the fuel nozzles and reduce NOx emissions.

Abstract: A method of influencing combustion dynamics, including measuring a combustion dynamics parameter, and controlling a diluent flow (26) delivered to a fuel flow (32) upstream of a pilot burner fuel outlet (40) in response to the measured combustion dynamics parameter.

Abstract: A combustor assembly is provided comprising a combustor casing; a liner coupled to the combustor casing; a burner assembly coupled to the combustor casing; and at least one resonator assembly. The resonator assembly comprises a resonator outer plate having at least one opening, a resonator side wall coupled to the resonator outer plate, and a resonator inner plate defined by a portion of the liner. The resonator inner plate is coupled to the resonator side wall and has at least one slot formed therein having an aspect ratio of at least 4:1.

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 gas turbine combustion system has a combustion system wall delimiting a flow path for hot and pressurized combustion gas and at least one resonator with a resonator volume. The resonator volume is delimited by resonator walls, where one of the resonator walls is located adjacent to or is formed by the combustion system wall. The resonator has at least one cooling fluid supply opening which is open towards a cooling fluid source. It further has a neck opening which is open towards the flow path and which is implemented in the form of a neck slot.

Abstract: One or more Helmholtz-type resonators (270) is/are provided at the junction (260) of a combustor (220) and a combustion chamber (240) of a gas turbine engine (100). In one embodiment, adjacent Helmholtz-type resonators (290, 291, 292), which may be separated by respective baffles (285), have different volumes that help provide for damping different undesired combustion-generated acoustic pressure waves. In some embodiments, a structural member (435) may be provided between adjacent Helmholtz-type resonators (425, 426, 427, 428) at the junction. At least one of the plurality of Helmholtz-type resonators comprises one or more inlet openings (480), and one or more exit openings (482). Embodiments (370, 425-429) are described in which Helmholtz-type resonators provided at the junction are enlarged in size using various approaches.

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 combustor assembly is provided comprising a combustor casing; a liner coupled to the combustor casing; a burner assembly coupled to the combustor casing; and at least one resonator assembly. The resonator assembly comprises a resonator outer plate having at least one opening, a resonator side wall coupled to the resonator outer plate, and a resonator inner plate defined by a portion of the liner. The resonator inner plate is coupled to the resonator side wall and has at least one slot formed therein having an aspect ratio of at least 4:1.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to an acoustic resonator with improved impingement cooling effectiveness. The resonator includes a plate with an inside face and an outside face. A plurality of passages extend through the plate. The resonator includes a side wall that extends from and about the plate. A plurality of cooling tubes are attached to the resonator plate such that an inner passage of each cooling tube is in fluid communication with a respective passage in the resonator plate. The resonator can be secured to a surface of a turbine engine combustor component to define a closed cavity. The ends of the cooling tubes are spaced from the surface. Thus, a coolant can enter the passages in the plate and can be directed to the surface so as to impingement cool the surface. The cooling tubes can minimize coolant loss by dispersion in the cavity.

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: One or more Helmholtz-type resonators (270) is/are provided at the junction (260) of a combustor (220) and a combustion chamber (240) of a gas turbine engine (100). In one embodiment, adjacent Helmholtz-type resonators (290, 291, 292), which may be separated by respective baffles (285), have different volumes that help provide for damping different undesired combustion-generated acoustic pressure waves. In some embodiments, a structural member (435) may be provided between adjacent Helmholtz-type resonators (425, 426, 427, 428) at the junction. At least one of the plurality of Helmholtz-type resonators comprises one or more inlet openings (480), and one or more exit openings (482). Embodiments (370, 425-429) are described in which Helmholtz-type resonators provided at the junction are enlarged in size using various approaches.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine (120) includes a cylindrical basket (146) having an axis (14) and a single main burner assembly (12) disposed within the basket. A burner insert (34) is disposed in an annular space between the burner assembly and the basket. The insert includes a face perpendicular to the axis of the basket. A plurality of passageways (114) are formed in the basket, positioned proximate to and downstream of the burner insert for allowing passage of a portion of an oxidizer flow (42) into a combustion chamber (30). A fluid flow path (38), defined between a combustion chamber liner portion (32) of the basket and a casing (40) spaced radially outward from the combustion liner portion, discharges a fluid into a flow reversal region (118) proximate an inlet (20) of the burner assembly. A fuel outlet (44) is disposed in the flow reversal region.