FUEL INJECTOR ARRANGEMENT
There is disclosed a fuel injector arrangement for a gas turbine engine, the fuel injector arrangement comprising: a fuel spray nozzle comprising an engaging feature; and a burner sleeve comprising a swirler; wherein the burner sleeve comprises a connecting feature. The engaging and connecting features are engageable so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler. A method of assembly of a fuel injector arrangement is also disclosed. The method comprises providing a fuel spray nozzle comprising an engaging feature; and providing a burner sleeve comprising a swirler; wherein the burner sleeve comprises a connecting feature. The method further comprises bringing the engaging and connecting features into engagement so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.
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This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from British Patent Application No. GB 1805955.0, filed on 11 Apr. 2018, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND Technical FieldThis disclosure relates to a fuel injector arrangement for a gas turbine engine comprising a fuel spray nozzle and a burner sleeve comprising a swirler.
Description of the Related ArtA typical gas turbine engine comprises a combustor arrangement in which combustion takes place. A fuel injector arrangement provides fuel and air into a combustion chamber in which the fuel and air is mixed and ignited. The resultant heated high-velocity air is exhaust through a nozzle, providing propulsion to the engine.
A conventional arrangement for providing fuel into a combustor liner includes the use of a fuel injector apparatus comprising a fuel spray nozzle (FSN) stem and a fuel spray nozzle (FSN) head. An outer swirler is provided on the fuel spray nozzle head for swirling the air from the compressor, mixing the fuel and air. During assembly of the combustor arrangement, the fuel spray nozzle and swirler are fitted to the combustor liner.
SUMMARYAccording to a first aspect, there is provided a fuel injector arrangement for a gas turbine engine, the fuel injector arrangement comprising: a fuel spray nozzle comprising an engaging feature; and a burner sleeve comprising a swirler; wherein the burner sleeve comprises a connecting feature; wherein the engaging and connecting features are engageable so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.
Inhibiting relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler using complementary features of the nozzle and burner sleeve may provide improved performance of the fuel spray nozzle and thereby greater efficiency. Removably coupling the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve may inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the burner sleeve. The swirler may be fixed in position relative to the burner sleeve such that removably coupling the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve may inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler. The swirler may be formed integrally as part of the burner sleeve.
The engaging feature may be contiguous with the fuel spray nozzle. The engaging feature may be integral to the fuel spray nozzle. The engaging feature may be a surface feature formed on the surface of the fuel spray nozzle. The connecting feature may be contiguous with the burner sleeve. The connecting feature may be integral to the burner sleeve. The connecting feature may be a surface feature formed on the surface of the burner sleeve. Inhibiting relative movement may comprise preventing relative movement in one or more degrees of freedom. The one or more degrees of freedom may comprise an axial direction, a rotational, or a radial direction.
The burner sleeve may have an internal bore for receiving the fuel spray nozzle. The internal bore may be substantially cylindrical or may be elliptical. The swirler may be arranged coaxially with the internal bore so as to surround the internal bore. The swirler may be arranged concentrically around the internal bore. The fuel spray nozzle may comprise a head portion. The head portion of the fuel spray nozzle may comprise a cylindrical outer surface, a part spherical outer surface or an elliptical outer surface. The internal bore of the burner sleeve may be configured to receive the head portion of the fuel spray nozzle.
The swirler may be an outer swirler. The swirler may be an axial swirler or a radial swirler. The swirler may comprise swirl vanes arranged to swirl air.
The burner sleeve may comprise a second connecting feature. The fuel spray nozzle may comprise a second engaging feature. The second engaging feature and the second connecting feature may be engageable so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve. The second engaging feature and the second connecting feature may be engageable so as to inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler. The second engaging feature and the second connecting feature may be engageable so as to inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the burner sleeve. The second connecting feature may be substantially similar to the connecting feature. The second engaging feature may be substantially similar to the engaging feature.
The second engaging feature may be arranged on the fuel spray nozzle substantially diametrically opposite the engaging feature. The second engaging feature may be arranged on the fuel spray nozzle at substantially 180 degrees to the engaging feature. The second connecting feature may be arranged on the burner sleeve substantially diametrically opposite the first connecting feature. The second connecting feature may be arranged on the burner sleeve at substantially 180 degrees to the first connecting feature.
The engaging feature and the second engaging feature may define an axis about which the fuel spray nozzle can be rotated. The fuel spray nozzle may be rotatable about the axis during installation of the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve.
One of the connecting feature and the engaging feature may comprise a track. The track may also be referred to as a slot, groove or recess. The track may be machined into the fuel spray nozzle or the burner sleeve. The other of the connecting feature and the engaging feature may comprise a protrusion. The other of the connecting feature and the engaging feature may comprise a rail or a runner. The connecting feature may comprise a track, and the engaging feature may comprise a protrusion, rail or runner. The engaging feature may comprise a track, slot, groove or recess, and the connecting feature may comprise a protrusion, rail or runner. The protrusion, rail or runner may be configured to be received by the track. The protrusion, rail or runner may be retained by the track.
In at least a portion of the track, the fuel spray nozzle may be rotatable about the axis defined by the engaging feature and the second engaging feature.
The track may define a path along which the protrusion can be moved. The protrusion be slidable within the track. Moving the protrusion along the track may cause the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler to slide relative to one another. Moving the protrusion along the track may cause the fuel spray nozzle and the burner sleeve to slide relative to one another.
The track may comprise a receiving portion and a locking portion.
The locking portion of the track may define a locking region in which the protrusion is locked in position to inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler in at least one degree of freedom. The locking portion of the track may define a locking region in which the protrusion is locked in position to inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the burner sleeve in at least one degree of freedom. Inhibiting relative movement may comprise preventing relative movement in one or more degrees of freedom. The one or more degrees of freedom may comprise an axial direction, a rotational direction, or a radial direction. The fuel spray nozzle may be rotatable about the axis defined by the engaging feature and the second engaging feature when the protrusion is in the receiving portion, and may be substantially prevented from rotation when in the locking portion.
The receiving portion may have a narrowing width for guiding the protrusion to the locking portion. The narrowing width may define a funnel-like guide for guiding the protrusion to the locking portion.
The receiving portion may define a movement path for the protrusion in a first direction. The locking portion may define a movement path for the protrusion in a second direction. The second direction may be different to the first direction. The track may define a curved path.
The connecting feature may comprise the track and the engaging feature may comprise the protrusion. The track may be machined into the burner sleeve.
The fuel injector arrangement may further comprise a combustor liner. The burner sleeve may be disposed on the combustor liner.
The combustor liner may comprise a combustor head. The burner sleeve may be connected to the combustor head. The burner sleeve may be manufactured integrally with the combustor head. The burner sleeve may be manufactured separately and then attached to the combustor head. The burner sleeve may act as a sleeve for the fuel spray nozzle allowing installation of the fuel spray nozzle onto the combustor head. Connecting the swirler to the burner sleeve, and therefore to the combustor head may mean that a smaller, lighter fuel spray nozzle and fuel spray nozzle stem can be provided, thereby reducing the weight of the engine. Connecting the swirler to the burner sleeve may mean that the hole into which the fuel spray nozzle fits can be smaller, which may result in a smaller stress concentration in the combustor head and thereby a longer life expectancy of the combustor head. Connecting the swirler to the burner sleeve may mean that a hole in a combustor outer casing through which the fuel spray nozzle is inserted to the combustor head can be smaller, which may result in a smaller stress concentration in the combustor outer casing and thereby a longer life expectancy of the combustor outer casing.
The combustor head and the burner sleeve may be connected so as to allow relative axial and radial movement between the combustor head and the burner sleeve. The connection may allow differential thermal expansion between the combustor head and the burner sleeve.
The combustor head and the burner sleeve may be connected so as to inhibit relative rotational movement between the burner sleeve and the combustor head. The combustor head and the burner sleeve may be connected so as to inhibit relative rotational movement between the swirler and the combustor head.
The fuel spray nozzle may comprise a fuel spray nozzle stem and a fuel spray nozzle head, the fuel spray nozzle head comprising the engaging feature.
According to a second aspect, there is provided a gas turbine engine comprising a fuel injector arrangement according to the first aspect described above.
According to a third aspect there is provided a method of assembling a fuel injector arrangement for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising: providing a burner sleeve comprising a swirler, wherein the burner sleeve comprises a connecting feature, providing a fuel spray nozzle comprising an engaging feature; wherein the method comprises bringing the engaging and connecting features into engagement so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler. Inhibiting relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler may provide guaranteed performance of the fuel spray nozzle and thereby greater efficiency.
Removably coupling the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve may inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the burner sleeve. The swirler may be fixed in position relative to the burner sleeve such that removably coupling the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve may inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler. The swirler may be formed integrally as part of the burner sleeve.
The engaging feature may be contiguous with the fuel spray nozzle. The engaging feature may be integral to the fuel spray nozzle. The engaging feature may be a surface feature formed on the surface of the fuel spray nozzle. The connecting feature may be contiguous with the burner sleeve. The connecting feature may be integral to the burner sleeve. The connecting feature may be a surface feature formed on the surface of the burner sleeve. Inhibiting relative movement may comprise preventing relative movement in one or more degrees of freedom. The one or more degrees of freedom may comprise an axial direction, a rotational direction, or a radial direction.
The burner sleeve may have an internal bore for receiving the fuel spray nozzle. The internal bore may be cylindrical or may be elliptical. The swirler may be arranged coaxially with the internal bore so as to surround the internal bore. The swirler may be arranged concentrically around the internal bore. The fuel spray nozzle may comprise a head portion. The head portion of the fuel spray nozzle may comprise a cylindrical outer surface, a part spherical outer surface or an elliptical outer surface. The fuel spray nozzle may be received within the internal bore. The method may comprise inserting the fuel spray nozzle into the internal bore. The internal bore of the burner sleeve may receive the head portion of the fuel spray nozzle.
The swirler may be an outer swirler. The swirler may be an axial swirler or a radial swirler. The swirler may comprise swirl vanes arranged to swirl air.
The burner sleeve may comprise a second connecting feature. The fuel spray nozzle may comprise a second engaging feature. The method may comprise bringing the second engaging feature and the second connecting feature into engagement so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve. The second engaging feature and the second connecting feature may be brought into engagement so as to inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler. The second engaging feature and the second connecting feature may be engageable so as to inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the burner sleeve. The second connecting feature may be substantially similar to the connecting feature. The second engaging feature may be substantially similar to the engaging feature.
The second engaging feature may be arranged on the fuel spray nozzle substantially diametrically opposite the engaging feature. The second engaging feature may be arranged on the fuel spray nozzle at substantially 180 degrees to the engaging feature. The second connecting feature may be arranged on the burner sleeve substantially diametrically opposite the first connecting feature. The second connecting feature may be arranged on the burner sleeve at substantially 180 degrees to the first connecting feature.
The engaging feature and the second engaging feature may define an axis about which the fuel spray nozzle can be rotated. The fuel spray nozzle may be rotatable about the axis during installation of the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve.
One of the connecting feature and the engaging feature may comprise a track. The track may also be referred to as a slot, groove or recess. The track may be machined into the fuel spray nozzle or the burner sleeve. The other of the connecting feature and the engaging feature may comprise a protrusion. The other of the connecting feature and the engaging feature may comprise a rail or a runner. The connecting feature may comprise a track, slot, groove or recess, and the engaging feature may comprise a protrusion, rail or runner. The engaging feature may comprise a track, and the connecting feature may comprise a protrusion, rail or runner. The protrusion, rail or runner may be configured to be received by the track. The protrusion, rail or runner may be retained by the track.
In at least a portion of the track, the fuel spray nozzle may be rotatable about the axis defined by the engaging feature and the second engaging feature.
The track may define a path along which the protrusion can be moved. The protrusion may slide within the track. Moving the protrusion along the track may cause the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler to slide relative to one another. Moving the protrusion along the track may cause the fuel spray nozzle and the burner sleeve to slide relative to one another.
The track may comprise a receiving portion and a locking portion.
The locking portion of the track may define a locking region in which the protrusion is locked in position to inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler in at least one degree of freedom. The locking portion of the track may define a locking region in which the protrusion is locked in position to inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the burner sleeve in at least one degree of freedom. Inhibiting relative movement may comprise preventing relative movement in one or more degrees of freedom. The one or more degrees of freedom may comprise an axial direction, a rotational direction or a radial direction. The fuel spray nozzle may be rotatable about the axis defined by the engaging feature and the second engaging feature when the protrusion is in the receiving portion, and may be prevented from rotation when in the locking portion.
The receiving portion may have a narrowing width for guiding the protrusion to the locking portion. The narrowing width may define a funnel-like guide for guiding the protrusion to the locking portion.
The receiving portion may define a movement path for the protrusion in a first direction. The locking portion may define a movement path for the protrusion in a second direction. The second direction may be different to the first direction. The track may define a curved path.
The connecting feature may comprise the track and the engaging feature may comprise the protrusion. The track may be machined into the burner sleeve.
The fuel injector arrangement may further comprise a combustor liner. The burner sleeve may be disposed on the combustor liner.
The combustor liner may comprise a combustor head. The burner sleeve may be connected to the combustor head. The burner sleeve may be manufactured integrally with the combustor head. The burner sleeve may be manufactured separately and then attached to the combustor head. The burner sleeve may act as a sleeve for the fuel spray nozzle allowing installation of the fuel spray nozzle onto the combustor head. Connecting the swirler to the burner sleeve, and therefore to the combustor head may mean that a smaller, lighter fuel spray nozzle and fuel spray nozzle stem can be provided, thereby reducing the weight of the engine. Connecting the swirler to the burner sleeve may mean that the hole into which the fuel spray nozzle fits can be smaller, which may result in a smaller stress concentration in the combustor head and thereby a longer life expectancy of the combustor head. Connecting the swirler to the burner sleeve may mean that a hole in a combustor outer casing through which the fuel spray nozzle is inserted to the combustor head can be smaller, which may result in a smaller stress concentration in the combustor outer casing and thereby a longer life expectancy of the combustor outer casing.
The combustor head and the burner sleeve may be connected so as to allow relative axial and radial movement between the combustor head and the burner sleeve. The connection may allow differential thermal expansion between the combustor head and the burner sleeve.
The combustor head and the burner sleeve may be connected so as to inhibit relative rotational movement between the burner sleeve and the combustor head.
The combustor head and the burner sleeve may be connected so as to inhibit relative rotational movement between the swirler and the combustor head.
Combustion equipment for a gas turbine engine, the combustion equipment may comprise: a combustion chamber defined by a combustor liner having a combustor head, the combustor head having an aperture; a fuel spray nozzle comprising a fuel spray nozzle stem and a fuel spray nozzle head, the fuel spray nozzle head comprising an engaging feature; and a burner sleeve comprising a swirler; the burner sleeve being arranged in the aperture in the combustor head, wherein the burner sleeve comprises a connecting feature; wherein the engaging and connecting features are engageable so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.
The combustion equipment may comprise a plurality of fuel spray nozzles, each fuel spray nozzle comprising a fuel spray nozzle stem and a fuel spray nozzle head, each fuel spray nozzle head comprising an engaging feature; the combustor head having a plurality of apertures, a plurality of burner sleeves, each burner sleeve comprising a swirler; each burner sleeve being arranged in an aperture in the combustor head, wherein each burner sleeve comprises a connecting feature; wherein the engaging and connecting features are engageable so as to removably couple each fuel spray nozzle to a respective burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.
The invention may comprise any combination of the features and/or limitations referred to with respect to any of the first, second and third aspects described above, except combinations of such features as are mutually exclusive.
25
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
With reference to
The gas turbine engine 10 works in the conventional manner so that air entering the intake 12 is accelerated by the fan 13 to produce two air flows: a first air flow into the intermediate pressure compressor 14 and a second air flow which passes through a bypass duct 22 to provide propulsive thrust. The intermediate pressure compressor 14 compresses the air flow directed into it before delivering that air to the high pressure compressor 15 where further compression takes place. The compressed air exhausted from the high-pressure compressor 15 is directed into the combustion equipment 16 where it is mixed with fuel and the mixture combusted. The resultant hot combustion products then expand through, and thereby drive the high, intermediate and low-pressure turbines 17, 18, 19 before being exhausted through the nozzle 20 to provide additional propulsive thrust. The high 17, intermediate 18 and low 19 pressure turbines drive respectively the high pressure compressor 15, intermediate pressure compressor 14 and fan 13, each by suitable interconnecting shafts.
With reference to
Referring to
Referring to
The outer surface of the outer ring 47 of the burner sleeve 30 is substantially cylindrical. The inner surface 39 of the inner ring 45 of the burner sleeve 30 is partially cylindrical and defines a bore 31 having two opposing arcuate surfaces 39a separated by two substantially planar surfaces 39b disposed at opposing lateral sides of the burner sleeve 30. A track 34 is formed in each of the opposing surfaces 39b of the internal surface 39 of the burner sleeve 30. The tracks 34 are machined onto the inner surface of the outer burner sleeve 30. The tracks 34 are sized to receive the corresponding protrusions 40 formed on the outer surface of the FSN head 27.
The burner sleeve 30 comprises an outer swirler 37. The outer swirler 37 is arranged concentrically around the bore 31 of the burner sleeve 30. The outer swirler 37 is provided in order to swirl the air provided from the compressor as it enters the combustion chamber 24. The outer swirler 37 comprises swirl vanes 49 which swirl the air flow as it enters the combustion chamber 24, thereby allowing fuel breakdown and mixing.
The tracks 34 each define a receiving portion 42 and a locking portion 44. In this embodiment, the receiving portion 42 comprises a recess which has a wide opening at the outer axial surface of the burner sleeve 30 and which narrows in the axial direction, forming a funnel shape. The receiving portion 42 ends approximately halfway along the axial length of the burner sleeve 30. The locking portion 44 comprises a recess at the narrow end of the receiving portion, which extends in a direction different to the direction of extension of the receiving portion 42. The locking portion 44 is sized to retain the protrusion 40 and inhibit axial and rotational movement of the protrusion 40, and therefore the FSN head 27 relative to the burner sleeve 30 in rotational and axial directions. Therefore, the engagement of the protrusions 40 with the tracks 34 (and in particular the locking portion 44) simultaneously removably couples the FSN head 27 to the burner sleeve 30 and inhibits relative movement between the FSN head 27 and the burner sleeve 30, thereby inhibiting relative movement between the FSN head 27 and the outer swirler 37
Referring to
In this example the flange 41 of each burner sleeve 30 is trapped between a respective one of a plurality of retainers 38 and the combustor head 36 and each sleeve 30 is arranged so as to float and allow relative motion between the associated burner sleeve 30 and the combustor head 36. In this example each retainer 38 is installed on the combustor head 36 by means of a plurality of studs 50 and nuts 51.
The apertures 25 in the combustor outer casing 48 through which the fuel spray nozzles 26 are inserted are smaller in in diameter which results in a reduction in stress concentrations in the combustor outer casing 48.
In other embodiments, the locking portion 44 may extend a longer distance in a direction different to the direction of extension of the receiving portion 42 (as shown in
As the outer swirler 37 is provided on the burner sleeve 30, the FSN stem 28 does not need to carry the additional weight of the outer swirler 37 and may therefore be smaller and lighter.
It will be appreciated that alternatively, the tracks 34 may be machined onto the outer surface of the FSN head 27, and the protrusions 40 may be formed on the inner surface of the burner sleeve 30 (as shown in
In order to assemble the fuel injector arrangement 23, the FSN head 27 of the fuel spray nozzle 26 is inserted into the internal space of the burner sleeve 30, by rotating the FSN head 27 in the axis A in a first direction (
The fuel injector arrangement can be easily disassembled, for maintenance and inspection purposes, by performing the assembly steps in reverse.
It will be appreciated that although the embodiment described here comprises two tracks 34, and two protrusions 40, embodiments can be envisaged having a single track 34 and protrusion 40, or more than two tracks 34 and protrusions 40.
The fuel spray nozzle may be a rich burn FSN or a lean burn FSN. A rich burn FSN comprises two coaxial air swirlers. A rich burn FSN comprises a main fuel passage arranged between the two coaxial air swirlers. In operation the two coaxial air swirlers are arranged to atomise the fuel supplied from the main fuel passage. A lean burn FSN comprises three coaxial air swirlers or four coaxial air swirlers. A lean burn FSN comprises a pilot fuel passage and a main fuel passage. The pilot fuel passage is arranged between two of the coaxial air swirlers and the main fuel passage is arranged between two of the coaxial air swirlers. In operation two of the coaxial air swirlers are arranged to atomise the fuel supplied from the pilot fuel passage and two of the coaxial air swirlers are arranged to atomise the fuel supplied from the main fuel passage.
Advantages of the present invention are that one of the air swirlers is provided on the burner sleeve connected to the combustor head reducing the size of the fuel spray nozzle head and hence the size of the aperture in the combustor outer casing. The fuel spray nozzle has a simpler construction, has less weight and is manufactured at reduced cost. The combustor outer casing has a reduction in stress concentrations. The fuel spray nozzle head and the burner sleeve/outer swirler are maintained in a fixed position, or in fixed alignment, relative to each other to provide good mixing of the fuel and air and a reduction in emissions and also to reduce wear between the fuel spray nozzle head and the burner sleeve.
It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments above-described and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concepts described herein. Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features may be employed separately or in combination with any other features and the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features described herein.
Claims
1. A fuel injector arrangement for a gas turbine engine, the fuel injector arrangement comprising:
- a fuel spray nozzle comprising an engaging feature; and
- a burner sleeve comprising a swirler; wherein the burner sleeve comprises a connecting feature;
- wherein the engaging and connecting features are engageable so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.
2. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the burner sleeve comprises a second connecting feature, and the fuel spray nozzle comprises a second engaging feature configured to engage with the second connecting feature so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle and the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.
3. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the burner sleeve comprises an internal bore for receiving the fuel spray nozzle, the second engaging feature is arranged on the fuel spray nozzle substantially diametrically opposite the engaging feature, and the second connecting feature is arranged on the burner sleeve substantially diametrically opposite the connecting feature.
4. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the engaging feature and the second engaging feature define an axis about which the fuel spray nozzle can be rotated.
5. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the track comprises a receiving portion and a locking portion, wherein the locking portion of the track defines a locking region in which the protrusion is locked in position to inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler in at least one degree of freedom.
6. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the receiving portion has a narrowing width for guiding the protrusion to the locking portion.
7. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the receiving portion defines a movement path for the fuel spray nozzle in a first direction, and the locking portion defines a movement path for the fuel spray nozzle in a second direction different to the first direction.
8. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the burner sleeve comprises an internal bore for receiving the fuel spray nozzle.
9. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 1, wherein one of the connecting feature and the engaging feature comprises a track, and the other of the connecting feature and the engaging feature comprises a protrusion configured to be received and retained by the track.
10. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 9, wherein, the engaging feature and the second engaging feature define an axis about which the fuel spray nozzle can be rotated, the fuel spray nozzle is rotatable about the axis when the protrusion is located in at least a portion of the track.
11. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the connecting feature comprises the track and wherein the engaging feature comprises the protrusion.
12. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a combustor liner, and wherein the burner sleeve is disposed on the combustor liner.
13. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the combustor liner comprises a combustor head, and the burner sleeve is connected to the combustor head.
14. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the combustor head and the burner sleeve are connected so as to allow relative axial and radial movement between the combustor head and the burner sleeve.
15. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 13, wherein relative rotational movement between the burner sleeve and the combustor head is inhibited.
16. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the fuel spray nozzle comprises a fuel spray nozzle stem and a fuel spray nozzle head, the fuel spray nozzle head comprising the engaging feature.
17. A gas turbine engine comprising a fuel injector arrangement according to claim 1.
18. A method of assembling a fuel injector arrangement for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
- providing a fuel spray nozzle comprising an engaging feature; and
- providing a burner sleeve comprising a swirler; wherein the burner sleeve comprises a connecting feature;
- wherein the method comprises bringing the engaging and connecting features into engagement so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.
19. A method of assembling a fuel injector arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the burner sleeve comprises an internal bore, and wherein the fuel spray nozzle is received within the internal bore.
20. A method of assembling a fuel injector arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the burner sleeve comprises a second connecting feature, and the fuel spray nozzle comprises a second engaging feature, and wherein the second engaging and second connecting features are brought into engagement so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.
21. Combustion equipment for a gas turbine engine, the combustion equipment comprising:
- a combustion chamber defined by a combustor liner having a combustor head, the combustor head having an aperture;
- a fuel spray nozzle comprising a fuel spray nozzle stem and a fuel spray nozzle head, the fuel spray nozzle head comprising an engaging feature; and
- a burner sleeve comprising a swirler; the burner sleeve being arranged in the aperture in the combustor head, wherein the burner sleeve comprises a connecting feature;
- wherein the engaging and connecting features are engageable so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 26, 2019
Publication Date: Oct 17, 2019
Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc (London)
Inventor: Luca TENTORIO (Derby)
Application Number: 16/364,258