Abstract: A start system for an expendable gas turbine engine is provided. The start system may include: a tank configured to store a pressurized gas comprising oxygen; a non-pyrotechnic igniter in communication with a combustion chamber of the expendable gas turbine engine; a starter tube configured to feed the pressurized gas from the tank into the combustion chamber; and a valve configured to regulate a flow of the pressurized gas from the tank into the starter tube; wherein, the start system is configured to startup the expendable gas turbine engine by the flow of the pressurized gas from the tank, through the valve and the starter tube, into the combustion chamber and, from the combustion chamber, into a plurality of turbine blades of the expendable gas turbine engine, and by ignition, by the non-pyrotechnic igniter, of fuel injected into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided in which a combustion liner is configured to be included in an aft end of a combustor for a gas turbine engine. An aft seal may be movably engaged with the combustion liner in a seal engagement region. The combustion liner may comprise an inlet formed in an outer surface of the combustion liner to receive a cooling fluid, and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet via a passageway formed within the combustion liner, the outlet disposed in an inner surface of the combustion liner in the seal engagement region.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine and a combustor are described herein. The combustor includes a fuel vaporizer coupled to a combustor wall, which extends into a combustion chamber. A fuel injector having a nozzle extends within a portion of the fuel vaporizer. A dome swirler is coupled to an upstream dome portion of the combustor wall. The swirler surrounds a heat shield, which may have a concaved body. The outlet end of the fuel vaporizer is disposed over the heat shield, which may be over the central zone of the heat shield, to face the heat shield. The fuel vaporizer may be coupled to the combustor wall and disposed outside the swirler. Fuel and air mixture exits the vaporizer and impinges against the heat shield and is then combined with the swirler air to become part of the primary zone recirculation.

Abstract: An afterburner for use with a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of vanes distributed downstream of a turbine of the gas turbine engine. The vanes can include one or more exit apertures through which hot combustion flow from a pilot can be injected. The exit apertures can be protrusions or slots in some forms. In some embodiments, cooling passages are arranged around the exit apertures. An upstream vane portion can be positioned to inject fuel to be combusted via interaction with hot flow that is discharged through the exit apertures.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided in which a combustion liner is configured to be included in an aft end of a combustor for a gas turbine engine. An aft seal may be movably engaged with the combustion liner in a seal engagement region. The combustion liner may comprise an inlet formed in an outer surface of the combustion liner to receive a cooling fluid, and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet via a passageway formed within the combustion liner, the outlet disposed in an inner surface of the combustion liner in the seal engagement region.

Abstract: An afterburner is disclosed for use with a gas turbine engine and, in one form, is structured to receive a bypass air. The afterburner can be situated in a bypass duct and can be a toroidal combustor or a can combustor. In one embodiment, the afterburner includes a combustor arranged to receive bypass air and a plurality of vanes distributed downstream of a turbine of the gas turbine engine. The vanes can include one or more exit apertures through which hot combustion flow from the afterburner combustor can be injected. The exit apertures can be protrusions or slots in some forms. In one embodiment, a cooling passage is arranged around the exit apertures. An upstream vane portion can be positioned to inject fuel to be combusted via interaction with hot flow that is discharged through the exit apertures.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine and a combustor are described herein. The combustor includes a fuel vaporizer coupled to a combustor wall, which extends into a combustion chamber. A fuel injector having a nozzle extends within a portion of the fuel vaporizer. A dome swirler is coupled to an upstream dome portion of the combustor wall. The swirler surrounds a heat shield, which may have a concaved body. The outlet end of the fuel vaporizer is disposed over the heat shield, which may be over the central zone of the heat shield, to face the heat shield. The fuel vaporizer may be coupled to the combustor wall and disposed outside the swirler. Fuel and air mixture exits the vaporizer and impinges against the heat shield and is then combined with the swirler air to become part of the primary zone recirculation.

Abstract: An afterburner for use with a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of vanes distributed downstream of a turbine of the gas turbine engine. The vanes can include one or more exit apertures through which hot combustion flow from a pilot can be injected. The exit apertures can be protrusions or slots in some forms. In some embodiments, cooling passages are arranged around the exit apertures. An upstream vane portion can be positioned to inject fuel to be combusted via interaction with hot flow that is discharged through the exit apertures.

Abstract: A system includes a turbine engine with a fueling system including a valve fluidly coupled to a fuel supply on an upstream side and fluidly coupled to fueling passages on a downstream side. The valve maintains the fuel supply at a pressure greater than an ambient pressure. The system includes nozzle exits corresponding to the fueling passages, and the fueling passages flow fuel from the valve to each of the nozzle exits monotonically downward. The valve is a check valve or a controlled valve. The valve maintains the fuel supply at a pressure such that fuel in the fuel supply is a continuous fluid phase. The fuel leaves the nozzle exits to the combustion chamber of the turbine engine.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including a main fuel supply fluidly coupled to a main fuel valve and an arcuate fuel passage receiving main fuel through the main fuel valve. The arcuate fuel passage includes a passage diameter and a radius of curvature which provides sufficient rotational acceleration to the main fuel such that a liquid portion of the main fuel is deposited on an outer wall of the arcuate fuel passage. The apparatus includes a fuel injector nozzle that receives the main fuel from the arcuate fuel passage, and injects the main fuel into a combustion chamber for a turbine engine. The apparatus further includes a pilot fuel supply fluidly coupled to a pilot fuel passage and a fuel selector structured to selectively provide the main fuel or the pilot fuel to the fuel injector nozzle.

Abstract: An afterburner is disclosed for use with a gas turbine engine and, in one form, is structured to receive a bypass air. The afterburner can be situated in a bypass duct and can be a toroidal combustor or a can combustor. In one embodiment, the afterburner includes a combustor arranged to receive bypass air and a plurality of vanes distributed downstream of a turbine of the gas turbine engine. The vanes can include one or more exit apertures through which hot combustion flow from the afterburner combustor can be injected. The exit apertures can be protrusions or slots in some forms. In one embodiment, a cooling passage is arranged around the exit apertures. An upstream vane portion can be positioned to inject fuel to be combusted via interaction with hot flow that is discharged through the exit apertures.

Abstract: A system includes a turbine engine with a fueling system including a valve fluidly coupled to a fuel supply on an upstream side and fluidly coupled to fueling passages on a downstream side. The valve maintains the fuel supply at a pressure greater than an ambient pressure. The system includes nozzle exits corresponding to the fueling passages, and the fueling passages flow fuel from the valve to each of the nozzle exits monotonically downward. The valve is a check valve or a controlled valve. The valve maintains the fuel supply at a pressure such that fuel in the fuel supply is a continuous fluid phase. The fuel leaves the nozzle exits to the combustion chamber of the turbine engine.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including a main fuel supply fluidly coupled to a main fuel valve and an arcuate fuel passage receiving main fuel through the main fuel valve. The arcuate fuel passage includes a passage diameter and a radius of curvature which provides sufficient rotational acceleration to the main fuel such that a liquid portion of the main fuel is deposited on an outer wall of the arcuate fuel passage. The apparatus includes a fuel injector nozzle that receives the main fuel from the arcuate fuel passage, and injects the main fuel into a combustion chamber for a turbine engine. The apparatus further includes a pilot fuel supply fluidly coupled to a pilot fuel passage and a fuel selector structured to selectively provide the main fuel or the pilot fuel to the fuel injector nozzle.

Abstract: A combustor module includes a pre-vaporizing chamber defined by an inner wall, and an outer wall, and a heat shield. The heat shield separates the pre-mixing zone from the reaction zone of the combustor. At least one fueling nozzle is disposed in the pre-vaporizing chamber for injecting fuel into the pre-vaporizing chamber. Fuel from the fueling nozzle is sprayed onto the surface of the heat shield, thereby simultaneously vaporizing the fuel and cooling the heat shield. The heat shield also includes a pilot fueling spray opening to allow fuel to pass directly into the reaction zone of the combustor to provide a piloting flame stability region therein.

Abstract: A combustor module includes a pre-vaporizing chamber defined by an inner wall, and an outer wall, and a heat shield. The heat shield separates the pre-mixing zone from the reaction zone of the combustor. At least one fueling nozzle is disposed in the pre-vaporizing chamber for injecting fuel into the pre-vaporizing chamber. Fuel from the fueling nozzle is sprayed onto the surface of the heat shield, thereby simultaneously vaporizing the fuel and cooling the heat shield. The heat shield also includes a pilot fueling spray opening to allow fuel to pass directly into the reaction zone of the combustor to provide a piloting flame stability region therein.