Abstract: A mixer assembly for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine, including a pilot mixer, a main mixer, and a fuel manifold positioned between the pilot mixer and the main mixer. The pilot mixer further includes an annular pilot housing having a hollow interior and a pilot fuel nozzle mounted in the pilot housing and adapted for dispensing droplets of fuel to the hollow interior of the pilot housing. The main mixer further includes a main housing surrounding the pilot housing and defining an annular cavity, a plurality of fuel injection ports for introducing fuel into the cavity, and a swirler arrangement including at least three swirlers positioned upstream from the plurality of fuel injection ports, wherein each swirler of the swirler arrangement has a plurality of vanes for swirling air traveling through the respective swirler to mix air and the droplets of fuel dispensed by the fuel injection ports.

Abstract: A swirler arrangement for a mixing assembly of a gas turbine engine combustor, where the swirler arrangement has a centerline axis therethrough, including: a swirler housing including an outer radial wall and an upstream wall; a first plurality of vanes incorporated into the outer radial wall, wherein the first plurality of vanes are oriented at a first angle with respect to an axis through the outer radial wall; and, a second plurality of vanes incorporated into the outer radial wall, wherein the second plurality of vanes are oriented at a second angle with respect to the through the outer radial wall. A first type of passage is defined between adjacent first and second vanes having a first configuration and a second type of passage is defined between adjacent first and second vanes having a second configuration so that air flowing through the swirler arrangement is swirled in a desirable manner.

Abstract: A bio-electronic system for detecting a broad range of chemicals is achieved by the incorporation of ligand-binding affinities of lipocalins with a mass-sensing electronic device. A biotransducer system combines the unique ligand-binding affinities of lipocalins with the high sensitivity of piezoelectric-based devices. As “artificial-nose”, this system is more reliable, cost-effective, and flexible for a number of applications in sensory evaluation, including air quality monitoring, quality control of cosmetic and fermentation products, medical diagnosis via breath analysis et al. These proteinaceous elements are likely to be extended to several potential applications, e.g., for the purification and delivery of specific ligands.