Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a combustor module including an annular combustor having a liner assembly that defines an annular combustion chamber having a length, L. The liner assembly includes a radially inner liner, a radially outer liner that circumscribes the inner liner, and a bulkhead, having a height, H1, which extends between the respective forward ends of the inner liner and the outer liner. The combustor has an exit height, H3, at the respective aft ends of the inner liner and the outer liner interior. The annular combustor has a ratio H1/H3 having a value less than or equal to 1.7. The annular combustor may also have a ration L/H3 having a value less than or equal to 6.0.

Abstract: A combustor liner assembly includes an outer shell made of a ceramic composite and an inner heat shell that is supported within the outer shell. The inner heat shield defines a surface that is exposed to combustion gases. The inner heat shield is made of material that is compatible with the ceramic matrix composite and that provides favorable thermal gradient capability for a combustion chamber.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor has inboard and outboard walls. A forward bulkhead extends between the walls and cooperates therewith to define a combustor interior volume. Bluff body fuel injectors are along the bulkhead.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a combustor having a fuel nozzle assembly for delivering fuel to a combustion chamber. A sensor is at least partially housed within the fuel nozzle assembly for sensing a parameter associated with the delivery of fuel to the combustion chamber. In one example, the sensor is an optical sensor coupled to an optical decoder for ascertaining the parameter. A trim valve is in communication with the fuel nozzle assembly. A controller is in communication with the sensor and is programmed to actuate the trim valve to adjust the amount of fuel delivered through the fuel nozzle assembly in response to the parameter. In one example, an end of the optical sensor is arranged near a fuel exit of the fuel nozzle assembly. The controller actuates the trim valve for the fuel nozzle assembly to achieve a desired air/fuel ratio and/or balance the fuel delivery of the fuel nozzle assembly relative to another fuel nozzle assembly within the gas turbine engine's combustor system.

Abstract: A pulsed combustion device includes a support structure and a combustor carousel supported by the support structure and rotating relative thereto about an axis. The carousel has a number of combustion conduits in a circumferential array. Each conduit cyclically receives a charge and discharges combustion products of the charge.

Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite part having elongated cooling channels within the wall thereof is manufactured by inserting decomposable inserts within a woven ceramic fiber preform. The inserts are tows of continuous carbon fibers surrounded by a carbonaceous filler, and are inserted where the channels are desired. The preform, with the inserts in place, is disposed within a mold. A ceramic matrix material is added and the fiber preform is consolidated with the ceramic matrix material. The consolidated part is then heated to thermally decompose the inserts to create the elongated channels within the part. The inserts may be flexible and woven into the preform using an automated weaving loom, or they may have limited flexibility and be inserted by machine or by hand.

Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite part having elongated cooling channels within the wall thereof is manufactured by inserting decomposable inserts within a woven ceramic fiber preform. The inserts are tows of continuous carbon fibers surrounded by a carbonaceous filler, and are inserted where the channels are desired. The preform, with the inserts in place, is disposed within a mold. A ceramic matrix material is added and the fiber preform is consolidated with the ceramic matrix material. The consolidated part is then heated to thermally decompose the inserts to create the elongated channels within the part. The inserts may be flexible and woven into the preform using an automated weaving loom, or they may have limited flexibility and be inserted by machine or by hand.

Abstract: A centerbody for a tangential entry fuel nozzle includes a base having at least one air supply port extending therethrough, a radially outer surface including a frustum portion and a cylindrical portion, an internal passageway which communicates with an internal chamber through a swirler, and a fuel lance extending through the base, the internal chamber, and the swirler, and terminating within the second cylindrical passage.

Abstract: A tangential air entry fuel nozzle has a longitudinal axis and two cylindrical-arc scrolls with the centerline of each offset from that of the other. Overlapping ends of these scrolls form an air inlet slot therebetween for the introduction of an air/fuel mixture into the fuel nozzle. A combustor-end endplate has a central opening to permit air and fuel to exit into a combustor, while at the opposite end another endplate blocks the nozzle flow area. The scrolls are secured between these endplates. A centerbody is located between the scrolls coaxial with the axis. The centerbody has a base which includes at least one air supply port extending therethrough, and an internal passageway. The centerbody includes a frustum portion and aerodynamic ramps that prevent flow reversal and flame stabilization between the endplates.

Abstract: A method of reducing the tendency of the combustion flame to stabilize within the mixing zone of a tangential entry nozzle is disclosed which comprises mixing fuel and air in a mixing zone within a fuel nozzle assembly, thereby producing a first fuel/air mixture which is isolated from the combustion products by maintaining sufficiently high axial velocities throughout the mixing zone and using a combination of a second internal passageway within a centerbody (either fueled or unfueled) and the surfaces of the combustor inlet port.

Abstract: A centerbody for a tangential entry nozzle having a longitudinal axis and a radially outer surface including a frustum portion defining the outer surface of a frustum that is coaxial with the longitudinal axis and flares toward the frustum base thereof, and a curved portion which is integral with the frustum portion and preferably defines a portion of the surface generated by rotating a circle which is tangent to the frustum portion and has a center which lies radially outward thereof about the longitudinal axis. The centerbody has a base which includes at least one air supply port extending therethrough, and an internal passageway. The frustum portion tapers towards a discharge orifice of the internal passageway, and terminates at the plane in which the discharge orifice is located. A fuel-lance that is coaxial with the axis and extends through the base and terminates within the internal passageway provides fuel to the air flow in the centerbody.

Abstract: A method for burning fuel in the combustor of a gas turbine engine with a premixing type of combustion which comprises providing a scroll swirler having first and second endplates, the first endplate is spaced relation to the second endplate defining a substantially cylindrical mixing zone therebetween, the second endplate having a combustor inlet port extending therethrough, providing a centerbody located within the mixing zone and having a radially outer surface that tapers toward the combustor inlet and extends substantially the entire length of the mixing zone, introducing a first portion of combustion air tangentially into the mixing zone substantially continuously along the length thereof, introducing a first portion of fuel into the combustion air as the combustion air is introduced into the mixing zone, mixing the combustion air and fuel by swirling the combustion air and fuel about the centerbody while flowing the combustion air and fuel towards the combustor inlet, flowing the first portion of combu

Abstract: A tangential air entry fuel nozzle has a combustor inlet port to permit air and fuel to exit into a combustor. The port includes a convergent surface, a divergent surface, and a cylindrical surface extending therebetween. The convergent surface extends a first distance along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, the cylindrical surface extends a second distance along the axis, and the second distance is at least 5% of the first distance.