Premix Tube Within Combustion Zone Patents (Class 60/738)
  • Patent number: 11933223
    Abstract: An attritable engine includes an engine case, which includes an outer wall and a fuel rail integral with the outer wall. The fuel rail includes a fuel line integral with the outer wall, a fuel ring configured to receive fuel from the fuel line, and an injector throat configured to receive aerated fuel from the fuel ring. The engine case includes counter distortion webbing defining the injector throat and is integral with the fuel rail and the outer wall. The engine case includes a combustion chamber configured to receive fuel from the injector throat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lawrence Binek, Matthew B. Kennedy, Jesse R. Boyer
  • Patent number: 11867401
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pre-vaporizing pipe (5) for a combustion chamber of a turbomachine, comprising a generally elongate main body (50), comprising a first end portion (51) delimiting an inlet duct (52) in which a fuel injector is to be mounted, the body (50) having an external surface (500) having a first length (L1) that extends from the portion (51) to at least one first fuel outlet end piece (53), and a second length (L2) that extends the first length (L1) from the end piece (53) and that extends from the end piece (53) to a second fuel outlet end piece (54). According to the invention, inside the body (50) there is a first channel (55) connecting the duct (52) to the end piece (53) and a second channel (56) which is distinct from the first channel (55) and which connects the duct (52) to the end piece (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES
    Inventors: Nicolas Roland Guy Savary, Claude Marie Michel Berat, Olivier Lamaison, Yvan Ludovic Lameignere, Hubert Pascal Verdier, Chritophe Nicolas Henri Viguier
  • Patent number: 11841140
    Abstract: A pre-vaporisation tube for a turbine engine combustion chamber includes a main body ROOM defining a first inner duct configured to have an injector mounted therein. The tube includes a first end attached to a wall of the chamber, and at least two end pieces are arranged at a second end of the body and define second inner ducts. The end pieces include first portions and second portions, respectively. The second portions each include two coaxial cylindrical walls which are inner and outer coaxial cylindrical walls, respectively, and which define an annular cavity therebetween. The inner wall defines an inner passage and has first openings for fluid communication between the passage and the annular cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES
    Inventors: Thomas Jean Olivier Lederlin, Christophe Laurent, Guillaume Gerard Joel Mauries
  • Patent number: 11739935
    Abstract: A dome-deflector structure for a combustor of a gas turbine includes a dome portion and a deflector portion, the dome portion and the deflector portion being connected together to form a dome-deflector cavity therebetween. The dome portion includes a plurality of dome-side cooling airflow passages therethrough arranged in a plurality of groups of dome-side cooling airflow passages, each group of dome-side cooling airflow passages being arranged to provide a flow of air therethrough in a respective group swirl direction, and adjacent groups of the dome-side cooling airflow passages providing the flow of air in a different group swirl direction with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Adam Kahn, Nayan Patel, Dhanashegaran Shanmugam, Anil Raju
  • Patent number: 11703225
    Abstract: A combustor liner for a combustor of a gas turbine includes an outer liner extending circumferentially about a combustor centerline, and an inner liner extending circumferentially about the combustor centerline, where the outer liner and the inner liner define a combustion chamber therebetween. At least one of the outer liner and the inner liner includes a dilution flow assembly comprising, (a) an annular slot dilution opening, and (b) a dilution fence extending between an upstream side of the annular slot dilution opening to a downstream side of the annular slot dilution opening, and extending into the combustion chamber, the dilution fence including a plurality of dilution openings therethrough for providing a flow of an oxidizer through the dilution fence into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Saket Singh, Pradeep Naik, Rimple Rangrej, Shai Birmaher, Ranganatha Narasimha Chiranthan, Ajoy Patra, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Nath
  • Patent number: 11549437
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes an outer liner having a first end interconnected to an opposite second end by an outer liner wall composed of a plurality of outer segments. The inner liner has a first inner end interconnected to an opposite second inner end by an inner liner wall composed of a plurality of inner segments. The outer liner wall and the inner liner wall define a combustion chamber, and each of the outer wall segments extend at an angle of at least 40 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis. The outer wall segments includes a first segment, a second segment that extends at a second angle relative to the first segment, which is less than a third angle defined between the second segment and a third segment and is substantially the same as a fourth angle defined between the third segment and a fourth segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Rodolphe Dudebout, Hamdullah Ozogul, Atul Verma, Amy Kujala, Michael Wedig, Ryan Meyer, Bradley Culbertson
  • Patent number: 11486090
    Abstract: A method for burning primary fuel (F1), wherein the primary fuel (F1) comprises at least a first compound containing nitrogen and a second compound comprising sulfur. The method comprises producing primary combustion gas (G1) having a temperature of at least 450° C. and comprising oxygen; feeding the primary fuel (F1) and the primary combustion gas (G1) to a primary process zone (Z1) of a furnace (200); feeding tertiary combustion gas (G3) to a secondary process zone (Z2) of the furnace (200); letting the primary fuel (F1), the primary combustion gas (G1), and/or their reaction products to move from the primary process zone (Z1) via the secondary process zone (Z2) to a tertiary process zone (Z3) of the furnace (200); and feeding quaternary combustion gas (G4) comprising oxygen to the tertiary process zone (Z3) of the furnace (200). An embodiment comprises collecting the primary fuel (F1) from a pulp process. A corresponding system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: VALMET TECHNOLOGIES OY
    Inventor: Matti Kytö
  • Patent number: 11204165
    Abstract: There is provided a burner for a gas turbine engine, the burner comprising a radially inner pilot fuel flow passage surrounded by a radially outer main fuel flow passage. The main fuel flow passage is interposed between concentrically arranged radially inner and radially outer air flow passages. The inner and outer air flow passages are in fluid communication with one another via at least one diverting passage at an upstream end of the burner. The burner further comprises at least one control duct connectable to a reduced pressure/vacuum source for selectively reducing the air pressure in the vicinity of the diverting passage such that air flow is selectively diverted from the inner air flow passage to the outer flow passage via the diverting passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventor: Mark Je Bellis
  • Patent number: 11105241
    Abstract: A vehicle exhaust system includes an injector assembly having a cone positioned adjacent to an injector mount and which extends from an upstream inlet end to a downstream outlet end. Engine exhaust gas and injected spray enter the inlet end of the cone to mix with each other prior to exiting the cone via the outlet end. The cone has a narrowing body portion located downstream of the inlet end to accelerate flow during mixing. A vehicle exhaust component assembly comprising a mixer with the injector assembly and a method for injecting a fluid into an exhaust component using the injector assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, USA, LLC
    Inventors: Alfred N. Tucker, Tomasz Kozakeiwicz, Syed Saleem Quadri, Jeffery Prairie
  • Patent number: 11015809
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine engine that includes: an elongated centerbody; an elongated peripheral wall formed about the centerbody so to define a primary flow annulus therebetween; a primary fuel supply and a primary air supply in fluid communication with an upstream end of the primary flow annulus; and a pilot nozzle. The pilot nozzle may be formed in the centerbody and include: axially elongated mixing tubes defined within a centerbody wall; a fuel port positioned on the mixing tubes for connecting each to a secondary fuel supply; and a secondary air supply configured so to fluidly communicate with an inlet of each of the mixing tubes. A plurality of the mixing tubes may be formed as canted mixing tubes that are configured for inducing a swirling flow about the central axis in a collective discharge therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jason Thurman Stewart
  • Patent number: 10775043
    Abstract: A combustor and a method involving burner mains structurally configured to damp vibrational modes that can develop under high-frequency combustion dynamics are provided. The combustor may include a carrier (12), and a plurality of mains (16) disposed in the carrier. Some of the mains (labeled with the letter X) include a body having a different structural feature relative to the respective bodies of the remaining mains. The mains with the different structural feature may be selectively grouped in the carrier to form at least one set of such mains effective to damp predefined vibrational modes in the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Juan Enrique Portillo Bilbao, Rajesh Rajaram, Christian Beck, Olga Deiss
  • Patent number: 10767865
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy C Roesler
  • Patent number: 10634353
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a fuel nozzle for a gas turbine engine, the fuel nozzle defining a radial direction, a longitudinal direction, a circumferential direction, an upstream end, and a downstream end. The fuel nozzle includes an aft body coupled to at least one fuel injector. The aft body defines a forward wall and an aft wall each extended in the radial direction, and a plurality of sidewalls extended in the longitudinal direction. The plurality of sidewalls couples the forward wall and the aft wall. The forward wall defines at least one channel inlet orifice. At least one sidewall defines at least one channel outlet orifice. At least one micro channel cooling circuit is defined between the one or more channel inlet orifices and the one or more channel outlet orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Thomas Bennett, Jared Peter Buhler, Craig Alan Gonyou
  • Patent number: 10571128
    Abstract: Gas turbine combustion systems and fuel cartridge assemblies are provided. An exemplary combustion system may comprise a combustor including one or more components, such as a cylindrical combustion liner, a flow sleeve, a main mixer, a radial inflow swirler, a combustor dome, and a fuel cartridge assembly. An exemplary fuel cartridge assembly may comprise first and second fuel manifolds which are connected to respective fuel circuits which supply fuel, such as liquid fuel, through a plurality of fuel passages within the fuel cartridge assembly or to other locations within an associated combustor. The fuel cartridge assembly may further include a plurality of fuel injector tips located at a tip plate of the fuel cartridge assembly through which fuel may be supplied to an associated combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen W. Jorgensen, Joshua R. McNally, Douglas Pennell, Donald Gauthier, Pawel Matys, Marc Paskin, Thomas R. Ruck, Peter John Stuttaford, Bernard Tam-Yen Sam
  • Patent number: 10563588
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine fuel system including a combustor with at least one fuel injector, a fuel manifold that supplies fuel to each injector, a drain tank in fluid communication with the fuel manifold, and a vacuum generator that selectively provides below atmospheric pressure to the drain tank and includes first and second chambers separated by a flexible diaphragm. The fuel system also includes a first check valve that allows one-way flow from the fuel manifold into the fuel injector, and a second check valve that allows one-way flow from the fuel injector to the fuel manifold. The vacuum generator reduces a pressure within the second chamber causing the diaphragm to increase a volume of the first chamber and reduce a volume of the second chamber, such that expanding the first chamber causes below atmospheric pressure in the drain tank and fuel manifold, and the second check valve opens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Ian J Toon
  • Patent number: 10378775
    Abstract: A heat shield for a gas turbine engine having a combustor includes an annular configuration extending substantially 360 degrees about the combustor for protecting a dome portion thereof, which is formed by radially extending flanges of inner and outer liners of the combustor. The heat shield fixedly secures the radially extending flanges of the inner and outer liners together in a sealing relationship such as to structurally form the dome portion of the combustor. The heat shield is disposed internally within the combustor and substantially entirely overlying the dome portion. The heat shield includes at least two separate heat shield segments cooperating to provide the annular heat shield, each heat shield segment being sheet metal and including at least two circumferentially spaced apart openings therein for receiving fuel nozzles therethrough. Each of the heat shield segments has a circumferential span not exceeding 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Bhawan B. Patel, Oleg Morenko
  • Patent number: 10371384
    Abstract: An assembly includes an injection system and an injector for an aircraft turbomachine combustion chamber. The system includes an aerodynamic bowl including a first end widening toward the downstream end and centered on a central axis of the injection system, this also including a central body along which a film of fuel is intended to flow in the downstream direction. The central body includes a second end widening toward the downstream end, the first and second widening ends between them delimiting an air through duct and the system includes motion inducing a device allowing a relative movement between the first widening end which is stationary and the second widening end, along the central axis of the injection system, by moving the central body relative to the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Yoann Mery, Olivier Baptiste Bidart, Julien Leparoux
  • Patent number: 10317085
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor dome having a hot side and a cold side and at least in part defining a combustion chamber. The combustor assembly additionally includes a fuel-air injector hardware assembly having a first member and a second member. The first member is positioned at least partially adjacent to the cold side of the combustor dome and the second member is positioned at least partially adjacent to the hot side of the combustor dome. The first and second members together define an attachment interface joining the first member to the second member and mounting the fuel-air injector hardware assembly to the combustor dome. The attachment interface may be shielded from the combustion chamber to protect the attachment interface from an undesirable amount of thermal expansion and to maintain the materials within desired material operating temperature limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Andrew Hannwacker, Stephen John Howell, John Carl Jacobson
  • Patent number: 10302304
    Abstract: A fuel injector (23) comprises a cylindrical passage (32) which opens in a combustion chamber (26), a fuel introduction passage (34) which guides fuel to a region of the cylindrical passage (32) which is closer to the combustion chamber (26), and an air introduction passage (35) which guides compressed air to the cylindrical passage (32) at a location that is upstream of a location at which the fuel is introduced to the cylindrical passage (32), wherein the fuel introduction passage (34) guides the fuel in a tangential direction of the cylindrical passage (32) in a transverse sectional view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Horikawa, Kunio Okada, Seiji Yamashita, Masahide Kazari, Takeo Oda
  • Patent number: 10295186
    Abstract: A nozzle is provided including a nozzle body having an upstream end and a downstream end aligned about a central axis. A discharge portion is positioned adjacent the downstream end. A bore extends inwardly from the downstream end over the length of the discharge portion. An opening is formed in the nozzle body adjacent the discharge portion. The opening is fluidly connected to the bore to provide an interior air flow passage. A main fuel channel extends from the upstream end to the discharge portion. At least one fuel flow branch extends through the discharge portion between the bore and an outer surface of the nozzle body. The fuel flow branch is fluidly coupled to the main fuel conduit to provide a fuel flow passage. The outer air cap is positioned about the outer surface of the discharge portion of the nozzle body to form an exterior air flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: DELAVAN INC. OF DES MOINES IA
    Inventor: Gregory Zink
  • Patent number: 10208673
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing apparatus that may be additive manufactured as one unitary piece and may be a fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes a radial displacement bellows having an outer surface that faces and may be exposed to a surrounding environment and an interior surface that faces and may define at least in-part a flowpath extending along a centerline. The radial displacement bellows is constructed and arranged to move between an expanded state when a pressure differential between the environment and the flowpath is low to a restricted state when the pressure differential is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joe Ott, Stanley J. Funk, Roger O. Coffey, Shawn Stempinski, John J. Rup, Jr., Lyutsia Dautova, Dennis M. Moura
  • Patent number: 10151243
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, a turbine, and a combustor. The combustor includes a fuel injector and a vaporizer within the combustor positioned to receive liquid fuel from the fuel injector to vaporize the liquid fuel therein. The gas turbine engine includes an enclosed passage external to the combustor having a wall, a diffuser positioned to direct the air into the passage, causing the air to cool by transferring heat through the wall from the air within the passage to the vaporized fuel within the vaporizer, and a cooled cooling air passageway positioned to receive the air from the passage and direct the air after being cooled to at least one of the turbine and the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Duane A. Smith, William G. Cummings, III
  • Patent number: 10139111
    Abstract: A secondary fuel stage (14) of a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The combustor has a main combustion zone (43) upstream of the secondary fuel stage to ignite working gas The secondary fuel stage includes a nozzle (18) with dual outlets (20, 22) oriented with a circumferential component to inject an air-fuel mixture (24) into the combustor. The nozzle is effective to entrain the air-fuel mixture with the working gas (44) such that a peak temperature (46) of the working gas at a location downstream of the secondary fuel stage is less than a peak temperature (50) of working gas if the air-fuel mixture were injected into the combustor with a single outlet nozzle (118).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Walter R. Laster, Scott M. Martin, Juan Enrique Portillo Bilbao, Jacob Hardes, Timothy A. Fox
  • Patent number: 10030869
    Abstract: A premix fuel nozzle assembly includes a center body including a sleeve having an inner surface and a pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly that extends axially through the center body within the sleeve and defines a pilot air passage within the center body. The pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly includes a premix tip having a plurality of premix tubes that define premix passages in fluid communication with the pilot air passage. At least one of the premix tubes includes a fuel port. The premix fuel nozzle assembly further includes a pilot fuel flow path that is defined radially between the pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly and the inner surface of the sleeve and a fuel plenum that is at least partially defined between the sleeve inner surface and an outer surface of the premix tip. The fuel ports provide for fluid communication between the fuel plenum and the premix passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Christopher Gibson, Dereck Joseph Ouellet
  • Patent number: 9964307
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes an interface shield between a first heat shield and a second heat shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9927125
    Abstract: A start-up injector for a turbine engine combustion chamber, said injector including a fuel injection circuit; and a fuel ignition circuit including a fuel injector supplied by the fuel injection circuit and a spark plug for igniting the injected fuel. The start-up injector also includes a partitioned enclosure including a first compartment in which the fuel is ignited by the spark plug and a second compartment separated from the first compartment by a thermally conductive partition; and a main combustion start-up circuit which includes at least one fuel injector supplied by the fuel injection circuit and opens into the second compartment of the enclosure such as to inject the fuel against the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: TURBOMECA
    Inventor: Bernard Carrere
  • Patent number: 9903588
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a turbine combustor having a combustor liner disposed about a combustion chamber, a head end upstream of the combustion chamber relative to a downstream direction of a flow of combustion gases through the combustion chamber, a flow sleeve disposed at an offset about the combustor liner to define a passage, and a barrier within the passage. The head end is configured to direct an oxidant flow and a first fuel flow toward the combustion chamber. The passage is configured to direct a gas flow toward the head end and to direct a portion of the oxidant flow toward a turbine end of the turbine combustor. The gas flow includes a substantially inert gas. The barrier is configured to block the portion of the oxidant flow toward the turbine end and to block the gas flow toward the head end within the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Karl Dean Minto
  • Patent number: 9631560
    Abstract: A method of noise control from a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes selectively forming a plurality of local circumferential zones with different fuel-air ratios within the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Hoke, William Proscia
  • Patent number: 9400110
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustor includes an annular inner liner; an annular outer liner circumscribing the annular inner liner; and a combustor dome having a first edge coupled to the annular inner liner and a second edge coupled to the annular outer liner, the combustor dome forming a combustion chamber with the annular inner liner and the annular outer liner. The combustion chamber accommodates fluid flow through the annular inner and annular outer liners. The combustion chamber converges in the direction of the air flow to reduce a diameter of the combustion chamber. The combustor dome is configured to bifurcate the air flow at the combustor dome into a first stream directed to the annular inner liner and a second stream directed to the annular outer liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Rodolphe Dudebout, Terrel Kuhn, Vinayender Kuchana, Veeraraghava Raju Hasti, Raymond Gage, Sunil James
  • Patent number: 9291103
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine generally includes a main body having an upstream end axially separated from a downstream end. The main body at least partially defines a fuel supply passage that extends through the upstream end and at least partially through the main body. A fuel distribution manifold is disposed at the downstream end of the main body. The fuel distribution manifold includes a plurality of axially extending passages that extend through the fuel distribution manifold. A plurality of fuel injection ports defines a flow path between the fuel supply passage and each of the plurality of axially extending passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Keith Cletus Belsom, Kevin Weston McMahan, Larry Lou Thomas
  • Patent number: 9121613
    Abstract: The present application provides a combustor for combusting a number of flows of air and a number of flows of fuel. The combustor may include a central swirler for producing a high swirl quench air flow, a number of trapped vortex cavities surrounding the central swirler for producing a flow of combustion gases, a brief severe quench zone downstream of the trapped vortex cavities to quench the flow of combustion gases between an outer quench air flow and the high swirl quench air flow, and an expansion zone downstream of the brief severe quench zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Francis Carnell, Jr., Gregory Allen Boardman
  • Publication number: 20150135718
    Abstract: A combustor includes a tube bundle that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor. The tube bundle includes an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface, and a plurality of tubes extend from the upstream surface through the downstream surface to provide fluid communication through the tube bundle. A barrier extends radially inside the tube bundle between the upstream and downstream surfaces, and a baffle extends axially inside the tube bundle between the upstream surface and the barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael John Hughes, Johnie Franklin McConnaughhay
  • Patent number: 9032736
    Abstract: A method for operating a burner comprising a burner axis and at least one jet nozzle is provided. The nozzle or nozzles include a central axis, a jet nozzle outlet, a wall that runs in a radial direction starting from the central axis and that faces the burner axis and a volumetric fluid flow that includes a fuel and flows through the jet nozzle or nozzles to the jet nozzle outlet. An air film is formed at the jet nozzle outlet between the volumetric fluid flow including the fuel and the wall that faces the burner axis by means of air that is injected into the jet nozzle or nozzles along the wall that faces the burner axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Matthias Hase
  • Patent number: 9004912
    Abstract: A combustor includes an end cap having an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface. A cap shield circumferentially surrounds the upstream and downstream surfaces, tubes extend from the upstream surface through the downstream, and a plenum is inside the end cap. A first baffle extends radially across the plenum toward the cap shield, and a plate extends radially inside the plenum between the first baffle and the upstream surface. A method for supplying fuel to a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through tubes, flowing a fuel into a plenum between upstream and downstream surfaces, radially distributing the fuel along a first baffle, and axially flowing the fuel across a plate that extends radially inside the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lucas John Stoia, Patrick Benedict Melton, James Harold Westmoreland, III
  • Patent number: 8955327
    Abstract: A combustor includes a combustor wall defining a combustion zone and a fuel nozzle. The fuel nozzle includes a forward face, an aft face downstream from the forward face and adjacent to the combustion zone, a plurality of mixing tubes extending between the forward face and the aft face, an outer sleeve positioned radially outward of the plurality of mixing tubes, a heat shield positioned radially inward of the outer sleeve, and a baffle plate between the forward face and the aft face. At least one of the plurality of mixing tubes includes a sidewall that includes an injection opening defined therethrough. The baffle plate is oriented to channel fuel between the plurality of mixing tubes and between the baffle plate and the aft face prior to the fuel being channeled through the injection opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carl Robert Barker, Thomas Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 8955325
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for increasing the burn efficiency of fuel in a jet engine by charging the intake air molecules and inversely charging the fuel molecules, while reducing the fuel droplet size using a fuel-atomizing transducer in the air/fuel path. Generally speaking, an apparatus (and method) for increasing fuel burning efficiency in a jet engine is described, comprising: an intake air high voltage charger; a fuel injector downstream of the intake air charger; a fuel atomizer formed from an acutely angled transducer in a flow path of the fuel, wherein the atomized fuel is charged to an opposite voltage to that of the intake air; and an ignitor for igniting the atomized charged fuel and charged intake air for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Stuart H. Rubin
  • Publication number: 20140366542
    Abstract: Fuel/air premixing chambers are applied to a gas turbine combustor RQL or LPP type integrated to the combustor with extension into the combustion zone. An integral heat exchange structure cools the premix chamber outer wall, preheating the compressor air supply as it passes into an inner central longitudinal premix tube preheating also the fuel and F/A mixture for improved mixedness, low emissions combustion and low differential combustor pressure. The F/A premix flow thru the central longitudinal tubes yields an exiting spouting velocity into the primary combustion zone for swirl/circumferential flow combustion yielding flame stability. Circumferentially close spaced premixing chambers about the combustor outer wall, are tangentially positioned for internal combustion hot gas flow, preheating the adjacent premix chamber and generates internal sweeping hot gas flow preventing combustion chamber carbon issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Teets
  • Patent number: 8893500
    Abstract: A dual fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes a central cavity extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end, and a first fuel discharge outlet configured to direct a first fuel into the central cavity at the first end. The fuel injector may also include a first air discharge opening circumferentially disposed about the first fuel discharge outlet and configured to direct a first quantity of air into the central cavity, and a second air discharge opening circumferentially disposed about the central cavity and configured to discharge a second quantity of air into the central cavity downstream of the first air discharge outlet. The fuel injector may further include a second fuel discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the central cavity and configured to discharge a second fuel therethrough. The second fuel may be different from the first fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventor: Gareth W. Oskam
  • Publication number: 20140338340
    Abstract: A system includes a multi-tube fuel nozzle. The multi-tube fuel nozzle includes multiple tubes. Each tube includes a first end, a second end, and an annular wall disposed about a central passage. The first end is configured to be disposed about a fuel injector. Each tube also includes an air flow conditioner having multiple air ports disposed adjacent the first end. The multiple air ports extend through the wall into the central passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: General Electric Company
  • Patent number: 8887507
    Abstract: A combustor includes a central fuel nozzle assembly and a plurality of outer fuel nozzle assemblies, each of the plurality of outer fuel nozzle assemblies having a center body and an outer shroud, the plurality of outer fuel nozzle assemblies being configured to abut one another in a surrounding relationship to the central cylinder such that no gaps are present between any two abutting ones of the plurality of outer fuel nozzle assemblies. One or more of the plurality of fuel nozzle assemblies may traverse axially back and forth according to embodiments of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Joseph Vincent Citeno, Thomas Edward Johnson, Willy Steve Ziminsky
  • Publication number: 20140190169
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application can provide systems and methods for a coaxial fuel supply for a micromixer. According to one embodiment, the micromixer may include an elongated base nozzle structure, a number of mixing tubes in communication with the elongated base nozzle structure, and an air inlet configured to supply the plurality of mixing tubes with air. The elongated base nozzle structure may be configured to supply a fuel to the mixing tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, James Harold Westmoreland
  • Patent number: 8752386
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use in a gas turbine engine combustor assembly. The fuel injector includes a main body and a fuel supply structure. The main body has an inlet end and an outlet end and defines a longitudinal axis extending between the outlet and inlet ends. The main body comprises a plurality of air/fuel passages extending therethrough, each air/fuel passage including an inlet that receives air from a source of air and an outlet. The fuel supply structure communicates with and supplies fuel to the air/fuel passages for providing an air/fuel mixture within each air/fuel passage. The air/fuel mixtures exit the main body through respective air/fuel passage outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignees: Siemens Energy, Inc., Mikro Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Fox, Reinhard Schilp, Domenico Gambacorta
  • Publication number: 20140144144
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor includes: multiple gaseous fuel nozzles to inject gaseous fuel; a manifold to distribute gaseous fuel to the multiple gaseous fuel nozzles; a burner flange to secure a burner to an end cover; and a burner body to connect the manifold and the burner flange. Gaseous fuel passages are provided in the end cover, the burner flange, and the burner body. The gaseous fuel passage communicates with the manifold. A second manifold is provided in the burner flange. The gaseous fuel passage is provided in the burner body to make the second manifold communicate with the first mentioned manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka HIRATA, Akinori HAYASHI, Hirokazu TAKAHASHI, Toshifumi SASAO, Shohei YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20140144152
    Abstract: A premixer includes an air tube formed in a burner tube defining a longitudinal axis, and a coaxially disposed fuel tube with a turbulence enhancing chevron outlet. The fuel tube may include an exterior tube and an interior tube with the interior tube, the exterior tube or both having chevron outlets. The chevron outlets may be tapered and notched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, Thomas Edward Johnson, Baifang Zuo, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Patent number: 8733106
    Abstract: An integrated plate is provided for use with a combustor including a casing, a fuel plenum extending circumferentially about the casing, and a fuel nozzle extending axially through the casing. The integrated plate includes a plurality of fuel injection pegs that extend radially between the fuel plenum and the fuel nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carl Robert Barker, Thomas Edward Johnson, Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Publication number: 20140102112
    Abstract: A nozzle formed of one piece for a jet engine includes a mixing tube, a fuel conduit integrally formed with the mixing tube, and an opening through the fuel conduit and directed radially into the mixing tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gordon F. Jewess, Patrick M. Lydon, Robert O. Barkley, Eric J. Alexander, Davis Bunone
  • Patent number: 8683804
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a fuel nozzle that includes a fuel injector that includes a fuel port and a premixer tube. The premixer tube includes a wall disposed about a central passage, multiple air ports extending through the wall into the central passage, and a catalytic region. The catalytic region includes a catalyst, disposed inside the wall along the central passage, configured to increase a reaction of fuel and air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, David Martin Johnson, Ronald James Chila, Nishant Govindbhai Parsania, Hasan Karim, Joseph Citeno
  • Patent number: 8661822
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a variable geometry resonator configured to couple to a fluid path upstream from a combustor of a turbine engine. The variable geometry resonator is configured to dampen pressure oscillations in the fluid path and the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ilya Slobodyanskiy, John Lipinski, Shiva Srinivasan, Dmitry Tretyakov
  • Patent number: 8640463
    Abstract: A swirler for fuel injection in a gas turbine engine includes a frustoconical swirler body. A first and a second air flow path direct air in generally opposed circumferential directions into the swirler. These air paths intermix and create turbulence. As this turbulence encounters fuel droplets, the fuel is atomized, and uniformly distributed within the air flow. A shear layer is created adjacent an inner surface of the swirler body. In a separate feature, a third air flow path is directed into the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Albert K. Cheung
  • Publication number: 20140013763
    Abstract: A fuel-air premixer for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a central passage disposed along an axis and operable to communicate a first airflow and an outer annular passage about the axis operable to communicate a second airflow. The fuel-air premixer further includes an inner annular passage about the axis and between the central passage and the outer annular passage for communicating fuel flow. The inner annular passage including an inner exit angled for directing fuel flow toward the axis into a mixer passage downstream of the outer and inner exits for mixing the fuel flow with the first and second airflows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Cohen, Zhongtao Dai, Kevin E. Green