With Fuel Injector Patents (Class 60/740)
  • Publication number: 20120304651
    Abstract: There is provided an integrated fuel nozzle and ignition assembly for a gas turbine engine comprising a body having a fuel nozzle portion and an igniter portion. The fuel nozzle portion defines a fuel passage extending therethrough between a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet for directing a fuel flow into a combustion chamber. The igniter portion projects laterally from the fuel nozzle portion on a side thereof and comprises an igniter receiving cavity positioned adjacently and laterally on a side of the fuel passage. The assembly further comprises an igniter secured in the igniter receiving cavity for igniting the fuel flow discharged by the fuel passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: BHAWAN B. PATEL, Enzo Macchia, Oleg Morenko, George Guglielmin
  • Publication number: 20120304652
    Abstract: An injector apparatus is provided and includes an annular inlet in which a first fluid traveling in a first direction is mixable with a second fluid to form a mixture, an annular outlet disposed downstream from the inlet from which the mixture is injectable into a main flow in a third direction and an annular intermediate section fluidly interposed between the inlet and the outlet and along which the mixture is re-directable from the inlet to the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bradley Donald Crawley, David William Cihlar, Patrick Benedict Melton, Frederick Millard Setzer, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120304647
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustor includes an inner liner; an outer liner circumscribing the inner liner; and a combustor dome having a first edge coupled to the inner liner and a second edge coupled to the outer liner. The combustor dome forms a combustion chamber with the inner liner and the outer liner. The combustion chamber receives air flow through the inner and outer liners, and the combustor dome is configured to bifurcate the air flow at the combustor dome into a first stream directed to the inner liner and a second stream directed to the outer liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Rodolphe Dudebout, Veeraraghava Raju Hasti, Terrel Kuhn, Sunil James, Mario Scaini
  • Publication number: 20120304653
    Abstract: A loading assembly for a turbine system is disclosed. The loading assembly includes a transition duct and a load member. The transition duct extends between a fuel nozzle and a turbine section, and has an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The load member extends from the transition duct and is configured to transfer a load between the transition duct and an adjacent transition duct along at least one of the longitudinal axis, the radial axis, or the tangential axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Scott Flanagan, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronnie Ray Pentecost
  • Publication number: 20120297783
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine combustor, which includes a combustion liner disposed about a combustion region, a flow sleeve disposed about the combustion liner, an air passage between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, and a structure extending between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve. The structure obstructs an airflow path through the air passage. The gas turbine combustor also includes an aerodynamic wake reducer configured to redirect an airflow around the structure to reduce a wake region downstream of the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Bradley Donald Crawley, David William Cihlar, Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Ronald James Chila
  • Publication number: 20120297785
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine combustor, which includes a combustion liner disposed about a combustion region, a flow sleeve disposed about the combustion liner, an air passage between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, and a structure between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve. The structure obstructs an airflow through the air passage. The gas turbine combustor also includes a wake reducer disposed adjacent the structure. The wake reducer directs a flow into a wake region downstream of the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Ronald James Chila, Abdul Rafey Khan, Carolyn Ashley Antoniono
  • Publication number: 20120297786
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine combustor, which includes a combustion liner disposed about a combustion region, a flow sleeve disposed about the combustion liner, an air passage between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, a fuel injector disposed downstream of the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, a liner mount extending between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, and a crossfire tube extending between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve. The fuel injector, the liner mount, and the crossfire tube are aligned with one another in a flow enhancing arrangement along a common axis in an axial direction relative to an axis of the gas turbine combustor. The flow enhancing arrangement reduces an air flow disturbance caused by the fuel injector, the liner mount, and the crossfire tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bradley Donald Crawley, David William Cihlar, Abdul Rafey Khan
  • Publication number: 20120297784
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine combustor, which includes a combustion liner disposed about a combustion region, a flow sleeve disposed about the combustion liner, an air passage between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, and an airflow guide vane disposed in the air passage. The airflow guide vane includes an upstream vane portion and a downstream vane portion. The upstream vane portion is oriented at an angle from an axial axis of the gas turbine combustor. The downstream vane portion is aligned with the axial axis. The airflow guide vane is configured to remove a circumferential swirl of an airflow upstream of the airflow guide vane to straighten the airflow downstream of the airflow guide vane along the axial axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, David William Cihlar, Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Abdul Rafey Khan
  • Publication number: 20120297782
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine combustor, which includes a combustion liner disposed about a combustion region, a flow sleeve disposed about the combustion liner, an air passage between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, and an aerodynamic mounting assembly disposed in the air passage. The aerodynamic mounting assembly is configured to retain the combustion liner within the flow sleeve. The aerodynamic mounting assembly includes a flow sleeve mount coupled to the flow sleeve and a liner stop coupled to the combustion liner. The flow sleeve mount includes a first portion of an aerodynamic shape and the liner stop includes a second portion of the aerodynamic shape, which is configured to direct an airflow into a wake region downstream of the aerodynamic mounting assembly. The flow sleeve mount and the liner stop couple with one another to define the aerodynamic shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David William Cihlar, Patrick Benedict Melton, Robert Joseph Rohrssen
  • Patent number: 8316645
    Abstract: Disclosed is a triple swirl gas turbine combustor using various fuels such as coal gas, DiMethyl Ether, and waste gas generated in an ironworks in a gas turbine. The triple swirl gas turbine combustor combusts three different fuels simultaneously or individually and various fuels such as LCV gas and HCV gas so that fuel flexibility can be improved. Swirl generated in a second swirler of the triple swirler is reversely jetted to increase a mixing degree of a fuel-air mixture and an intensity of a turbulent flow so that combustion efficiency can be increased, harmful exhaust gas can be reduced and vibration can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Electric Power Corporation
    Inventors: Min Chul Lee, Dal Hong Ahn, Yong Jin Joo, Jae Hwa Chung, Si Moon Kim, Jin Pyo Hong, Won Shik Park
  • Patent number: 8316644
    Abstract: The invention relates to a burner, in particular a gas turbine burner, comprises: at least one swirler, the swirler having at least one air inlet opening, at least one air outlet opening positioned downstream to the air inlet opening and at least one swirler air passage extending from the at least one air inlet opening to the at least one air outlet opening which is delimited by swirler air passage walls, the air passage walls comprising downstream wall sections adjoining the at least one air outlet opening; and a fuel injection system which comprises fuel injection openings arranged in at least one swirler air passage wall so as to inject fuel into the swirler air passage; in which at least the downstream section of one air passage wall is corrugated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Nigel Wilbraham
  • Publication number: 20120291448
    Abstract: The present application provides a flexible combustor fuel nozzle. The flexible combustor fuel nozzle may include a main passage in communication with a source of natural gas and a source of low BTU fuel, a secondary passage surrounding the main passage and in communication with the source of low BTU fuel and a source of purge air, and a tertiary passage surrounding the secondary passage and in communication with the source of low BTU fuel, the source of purge air, and a source of diluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy, Joel Hall, Jesse Barton, Vijaykant Sadasivuni
  • Patent number: 8312727
    Abstract: Fuel injector assemblies with frictionally damped fuel supply members, including fuel feed strips. More particularly, the invention provides friction dampers and/or assemblies that frictionally damp movement of fuel supply members in at least one direction as a function of frequency. Accordingly, low frequency vibration can be undamped, while vibration above a prescribed frequency can be damped. Some of the embodiments provide a friction damper that is easily serviceable, and can be installed after final assembly of a fuel injector. Aspects of the invention are applicable to other components of fuel injectors and gas turbine engines in addition to fuel supply members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Fady Bishara, Jeffrey Lehtinen
  • Publication number: 20120279223
    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: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Carl Robert Barker, Thomas Edward Johnson, Jonathan Dwight Berry
  • Patent number: 8302404
    Abstract: Disclosed is a swirler for use in a burner of a gas turbine engine, the swirler comprising a plurality of vanes arranged in a circle, flow slots being defined between adjacent vanes in the circle, each flow slot having an inlet end and an outlet end, in use of the swirler a flow of fuel and air travelling along each flow slot from its inlet end to its outlet end such that the swirler provides a swirling mix of the fuel and air, at least one vane having an edge adjacent an inlet end of a flow slot configured to generate within the flow slot one or more flow vortices that extend along the slot thereby to enhance mixing of the fuel and air travelling along the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulf Nilsson, Nigel Wilbraham
  • Publication number: 20120272662
    Abstract: A head part (100) of an annular combustion chamber for a gas turbine, the head part comprising: an end wall (110) with a first opening (112) for accommodating a burner; a heat shield (120) covering a back side of the end wall which faces towards the combustion chamber, the heat shield comprising a second opening (124) for accommodating the burner; and a burner collar (130) adapted to fit within the second opening and receive the burner; wherein the head part of the annular combustion chamber is configured such that in an installed configuration the burner collar is fastened to the heat shield with one or more first fasteners (142) to form a sub assembly (140) and the heat shield of the sub assembly is fastened to the end wall with one or more second fasteners (144).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Richard G. MILBURN
  • Publication number: 20120272652
    Abstract: A head part of an annular gas turbine combustion chamber including: an end wall with a passage opening for accommodating a burner, the end wall including a set back portion adjacent the passage opening; a heat shield covering a back side of the end wall which faces towards the combustion chamber, the heat shield including a protruding portion shaped to cooperate with the set back portion of the end wall; and a burner collar adapted to fit within the passage opening and receive a burner, the burner collar including a protruding portion radially protruding from an outer surface of the burner collar; wherein the head part of the annular gas turbine combustion chamber is configured such that in an installed configuration the protruding portion of the burner collar is held between the protruding portion of the heat shield and the set back portion of the end wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Andrew NICHOLLS, Michael L. CARLISLE, Ian M. GARRY, Michael N. WYBROW
  • Publication number: 20120272661
    Abstract: A head part of an annular combustion chamber for a gas turbine, the head part comprising: an end wall with a passage opening for accommodating a burner, the end wall comprising a back side which faces towards the combustion chamber; a burner collar adapted to fit within the passage opening and receive the burner, the burner collar comprising a protruding portion radially protruding from an outer surface of the burner collar; and a ring member for receiving the protruding portion of the burner collar; wherein the head part of the annular combustion chamber is configured such that in an installed configuration a radially outer portion of the ring member engages with the end wall and a radially inner portion of the ring member receives the protruding portion of the burner collar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Richard G. MILBURN
  • Patent number: 8297060
    Abstract: A method of stabilizing combustion in a gas turbine engine includes the steps of observing a combustor flame from a location upstream from said flame to detect spectral characteristics indicative of a condition affecting combustion stability, and tuning the engine to stabilize combustion based upon an indicated condition affecting combustion stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas C. Myhre
  • Publication number: 20120271527
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a plurality of fuel injectors grouped operatively by stages in a multistage combustor. A fuel system for the gas turbine engine includes at least one fuel metering module per stage of the multistage combustor. Each fuel metering module includes a pump, a flow meter, a pressure sensor, a controller, and a motor, which work together to control fuel output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thaddeus J. Zebrowski, Richard E. Versailles
  • Patent number: 8291706
    Abstract: A bearing plate assembly for a turbine engine fuel injector includes a bearing plate 30, with an opening 80 bordered by a race 82. A swivel ball 90 nests inside the race and is rotatable relative thereto. A lock, which may be a tip bushing 108 resists disengagement of the swivel ball from the race. A fuel injector nozzle 38 extends through an opening 98 in the swivel ball. During engine operation, the ball can swivel inside the race to accommodate rotational movement of the nozzle about lateral and radial axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Keith M. Tanner, Philip J. Kirsopp
  • Patent number: 8291688
    Abstract: A nozzle is provided and includes an outer annulus defined by an exterior wall and an interior wall and including air inlets through which air flows to a fuel mixing zone and a combustion zone, an inner annulus disposed within the interior wall and including a fuel volume into which fuel is fed to a distal end thereof, which is adjacent to and isolated from the combustion zone and an airflow line, disposed between the fuel volume and the interior wall, through which air flows to the combustion zone with the airflow line and the combustion zone isolated from the fuel volume, and a fuse configured to melt during a flameholding incident and to form a breach through which fuel flows from the fuel volume, bypassing the fuel mixing zone, to a fuel burning zone downstream from the fuel mixing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Stanley Kevin Widener, John Wilbur
  • Publication number: 20120260663
    Abstract: A fuel supply arrangement for supplying fuel to a turbine engine, the arrangement having a fuel injector in fluidical connection with a first manifold via a first conduit and a second fuel manifold via a second conduit, wherein the first conduit is in fluidical connection with a valve having two outlets, the first outlet fluidically connecting the valve with at least one pilot vent in the injector, and the second outlet fluidically connecting the valve with at least one main vent in the injector via a second valve, the second conduit in fluidical connection with at least one further main vent in the injector via a third valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Anthony PIDCOCK
  • Publication number: 20120260664
    Abstract: An arrangement for a combustion chamber the arrangement comprising a combustion chamber, an injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber and an igniter for supplying a spark for igniting fuel so injected, wherein the injector has a passage through which air is supplied to the combustion chamber in use, the igniter being positioned upstream of the combustion chamber such that a spark generated by the igniter is conveyed along the passage by the injector air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Stephen C. HARDING
  • Publication number: 20120260622
    Abstract: A burner, such as for a secondary combustion chamber of a gas turbine with sequential combustion having first and second combustion chambers, includes an injection device for introducing at least one gaseous fuel into the burner. The injection device has at least one body which is arranged in the burner with at least one nozzle for introducing the gaseous fuel into the burner. The body is configured as a streamlined body which has a streamlined cross-sectional profile and which extends with a longitudinal direction perpendicularly or at an inclination to a main flow direction prevailing in the burner. The at least one nozzle has its outlet orifice at or in a trailing edge of the streamlined body. The body has two lateral surfaces substantially parallel to the main flow direction. At least one vortex generator is located on at least one lateral surface upstream of the at least one nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Madhavan POYYAPAKKAM, Anton Winkler, Khawar Syed, Adnan Eroglu, Andrea Ciani
  • Patent number: 8286433
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The fuel injector includes an injector housing having a longitudinal axis. The injector housing includes one or more fuel galleries annularly disposed about the longitudinal axis, and a compressed air inlet. The fuel injector also includes a premix barrel having a proximal end and a distal end circumferentially disposed about the longitudinal axis. The premix barrel is fluidly coupled to the fuel galleries and the compressed air inlet at the proximal end and is configured to couple to a combustor of the gas turbine engine at the distal end. The fuel injector also includes a substantially cylindrical pilot assembly disposed radially inwards of the premix barrel having a first end and a second end. The second end is coupled to the injector housing and the first end is located proximate the distal end of the premix barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: James Scott Piper, Hongyu Wang
  • Patent number: 8281594
    Abstract: A fuel injector in a combustor apparatus of a gas turbine engine. An outer wall of the injector defines an interior volume in which an intermediate wall is disposed. A first gap is formed between the outer wall and the intermediate wall. The intermediate wall defines an internal volume in which an inner wall is disposed. A second gap is formed between the intermediate wall and the inner wall. The second gap receives cooling fluid that cools the injector. The cooling fluid provides convective cooling to the intermediate wall as it flows within the second gap. The cooling fluid also flows through apertures in the intermediate wall into the first gap where it provides impingement cooling to the outer wall and provides convective cooling to the outer wall. The inner wall defines a passageway that delivers fuel into a liner downstream from a main combustion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Wiebe
  • Patent number: 8281595
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly for a combustor of a gas turbine including: a nozzle body having a front and an inner tube defining a fuel passage extending through the nozzle body, wherein the front proximate to a combustion section of the combustor; an outer casing around the inner tube, wherein an air passage is defined between the outer casing and the inner tube; a gas conduit arranged in the air passage and having an outlet proximate to the front of the nozzle body, wherein fuel starts flowing through the expandable conduit only after a flashback condition occurs in the combustor, and a premix fuel passage and port discharging fuel to a premix section of the combustor, wherein the gas conduit has an inlet open to the premix fuel passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Stanley Kevin Widener, John Wilber
  • Patent number: 8276388
    Abstract: An annular expansion ring centered on a main axis and suitable for being mounted on a fuel injector coaxial with the ring is disclosed. The ring presents holes that are distributed around the main axis and open out into its upstream face to enable air to pass towards the zone that is downstream from the ring. The ring includes a conical annular groove that converges downstream, that is open downstream, and that has the holes opening out into the upstream portion thereof. The axis of each of the holes makes an angle relative to the main axis that is strictly greater than the angle between the generator line of the cone defining the annular groove and the main axis, such that the air exiting from the holes impacts against the inner wall of the annular groove, i.e. its wall that is closer to the main axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Alain Cayre, Christophe Pieussergues, Jackie Raymond Julien Prouteau, Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis
  • Patent number: 8272218
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for delivery of fuel to a gas turbine engine. The fuel nozzle includes an outer nozzle wall and a center body located centrally within the nozzle wall. A gap is defined between an inner wall surface of the nozzle wall and an outer body surface of the center body for providing fuel flow in a longitudinal direction from an inlet end to an outlet end of the fuel nozzle. A turbulating feature is defined on at least one of the central body and the inner wall for causing at least a portion of the fuel flow in the gap to flow transverse to the longitudinal direction. The gap is effective to provide a substantially uniform temperature distribution along the nozzle wall in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Fox, Reinhard Schilp
  • Publication number: 20120234011
    Abstract: A combustor includes an end cover having a nozzle. The nozzle has a front end face and a central axis. The nozzle includes a plurality of fuel passages and a plurality of oxidizer passages. The fuel passages are configured for fuel exiting the fuel passage. The fuel passages are positioned to direct fuel in a first direction, where the first direction is angled inwardly towards the center axis. The oxidizer passages are configured for having oxidizer exit the oxidizer passages. The oxidizer passages are positioned to direct oxidizer in a second direction, where the second direction is angled outwardly away from the center axis. The plurality of fuel passages and the plurality of oxidizer passages are positioned in relation to one another such that fuel is in a cross-flow arrangement with oxidizer to create a burning zone in the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Predrag Popovic, Abinash Baruah, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, William Thomas Ross
  • Patent number: 8266912
    Abstract: A system, one embodiment, includes an annular seal configured to seal a turbine fuel nozzle to a turbine combustor, wherein the annular seal includes a first annular seal portion having an inner annular surface, a first base portion, and a first peripheral portion opposite from the first base portion. The embodiment also includes the first annular seal portion configured to couple to a second annular seal portion having an outer annular surface, a second base portion, and a second peripheral portion opposite from the second base portion. Further, the embodiment includes the first and second peripheral portions sealable by a weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, James T. Brown
  • Patent number: 8266911
    Abstract: A premixing device is provided. The premixing device includes an air inlet configured to introduce compressed air into a mixing chamber of the premixing device and a fuel plenum configured to provide a fuel to the mixing chamber via a circumferential slot and over a pre-determined profile adjacent the fuel plenum, wherein the pre-determined profile facilitates attachment of the fuel to the profile to form a fuel boundary layer and to entrain incoming air through the fuel boundary layer to facilitate mixing of fuel and air in the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Andrei Tristan Evulet
  • Publication number: 20120227408
    Abstract: An injector with swirling flow mitigation includes an injector body defining a longitudinal axis. A fluid circuit is defined in the injector body and includes a plurality of flow channels defined in a cylindrical region around the longitudinal axis and being in fluid communication with an outlet orifice for passage of fluids out from the flow channels into a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis. A flow splitter is defined in each of the flow channels proximate the outlet orifice. Each flow splitter is configured and adapted to mitigate formation of swirling flow on fluids passing through the outlet orifice from the flow channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Philip E.O. Buelow, Neal A. Thomson
  • Patent number: 8261556
    Abstract: A device for guiding an element in an orifice in a wall of a turbomachine combustion chamber is disclosed. The device includes a coaxial ring and bushing mounted one inside the other. The bushing includes two coaxial annular parts that are fastened to each other by welding and that define a groove for guiding a rim of the ring. Welding zones between the parts of the bushing are situated away from the path of the rim of the ring when moved along a privileged transverse direction of ring movement relative to the bushing when the combustion chamber is in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Patrick Audin, Florian Andre Francois Bessagnet, Pierre Pascal Sablayrolles, Guillaume Sevi
  • Patent number: 8261554
    Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, includes a fuel nozzle tip retainer that includes a structural member having a geometry that blocks a tip insert from moving axially downstream of a fuel nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Mark Bailey, Scott R. Simmons
  • Patent number: 8256226
    Abstract: A burner for use in a gas turbine engine includes a burner tube having an inlet end and an outlet end; a plurality of air passages extending axially in the burner tube configured to convey air flows from the inlet end to the outlet end; a plurality of fuel passages extending axially along the burner tube and spaced around the plurality of air passage configured to convey fuel from the inlet end to the outlet end; and a radial air swirler provided at the outlet end configured to direct the air flows radially toward the outlet end and impart swirl to the air flows. The radial air swirler includes a plurality of vanes to direct and swirl the air flows and an end plate. The end plate includes a plurality of fuel injection holes to inject the fuel radially into the swirling air flows. A method of mixing air and fuel in a burner of a gas turbine is also provided. The burner includes a burner tube including an inlet end, an outlet end, a plurality of axial air passages, and a plurality of axial fuel passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Patent number: 8256222
    Abstract: A fuel supply system includes a fuel metering pump and a servo-flow pump that are used to supply fuel to one or more fuel manifolds and one or more fluid-operated actuators, respectively. The fuel metering pump and the servo-flow pump are driven by the same electric motor(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy D. Mahoney, Larry A. Portolese
  • Publication number: 20120210717
    Abstract: A combustor is disclosed having a combustion liner defining a combustion chamber. The combustor may also include a liner cap disposed upstream of the combustion chamber. The liner cap may include a first plate and a second plate. Additionally, the combustor may include a fluid conduit extending between the first and second plates. The fluid conduit may be configured to receive fluid flowing adjacent to the first plate and inject the fluid into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Abinash Baruah, Predrag Popovic
  • Publication number: 20120204571
    Abstract: A combustor is disclosed that includes a baffle plate and a fuel nozzle extending through the baffle plate. The combustor may also include a shroud extending from the baffle plate and surrounding at least a portion of the fuel nozzle. A passage may be defined between the shroud and an outer surface of the fuel nozzle for receiving a first fluid. Additionally, the passage may be sealed from a second fluid flowing adjacent to the shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Jonathan Dwight Berry, Predrag Popovic
  • Patent number: 8240151
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine comprises a housing stem and a nozzle, the nozzle including an internal wall in heat transfer relation with fuel flowing through the nozzle, and an external wall in heat transfer relation with ambient air. The internal and external walls have downstream tip ends that are relatively moveable at an interface due to relative thermal growth during operation of the engine. An internal insulating gap is disposed between the internal and external walls to provide a heat shield for the internal wall, and a bellows internal to the injector has an upstream end sealingly attached to an upstream portion of one of the internal and external walls, and a downstream end sealingly attached to a downstream portion of the other wall to fluidly separate the insulating gap from any fuel entering into the nozzle through the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Pelletier, Ravi Gudiapti, Kenneth W. Cornett
  • Patent number: 8240150
    Abstract: A nozzle for a gas turbine combustor includes a first radially outer tube defining a first passage having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet adapted to supply air to a reaction zone of the combustor. A center body is located within the first radially outer tube, the center body including a second radially intermediate tube for supplying fuel to the reaction zone and a third radially inner tube for supplying air to the reaction zone. The second intermediate tube has a first outlet end closed by a first end wall that is formed with a plurality of substantially parallel, axially-oriented air outlet passages for the additional air in the third radially inner tube, each air outlet passage having a respective plurality of associated fuel outlet passages in the first end wall for the fuel in the second radially intermediate tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Balachandar Varatharajan, Willy S. Ziminsky, John Lipinski, Gilbert O. Kraemer, Ertan Yilmaz, Benjamin Lacy
  • Publication number: 20120198851
    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: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, JR., Joseph Vincent Citeno, Thomas Edward Johnson, Willy Steve Ziminsky
  • Publication number: 20120198852
    Abstract: A fuel injector device for an annular combustion chamber including a pilot circuit feeding an injector and a multipoint circuit feeding injection orifices formed in a front face of an annular chamber, an annular ring being mounted in the annular chamber to define therein a fuel feed circuit for the injection orifices and a cooling circuit operating by passing the fuel feeding the injector and extending over the front face of the chamber in immediate vicinity of the injection orifices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Didier Hippolyte Hernandez, Thomas Olivier Marie Noel
  • Publication number: 20120198853
    Abstract: A fuel injector device for an annular combustion chamber of a turbine engine, including a pilot circuit feeding an injector and a multipoint circuit feeding injection orifices formed in a front face of an annular ring mounted in an annular chamber, together with a thermal insulation mechanism insulating the front face and including an annular cavity formed around the injection orifices between the front face of the annular ring and a front wall of the annular chamber and configured to be filled in operation with air or with coked fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Didier Hippolyte Hernandez, Emilie Lachaud, Thomas Olivier, Marie Noel
  • Patent number: 8234873
    Abstract: Integrally formed, multi zone fuel manifolds for gas turbine engines and methods of construction are provided. The fuel manifold includes a plurality of annular channel members positioned adjacent each other, aligned and coupled together at the inner and outer peripheral sides thereof, with each pair of channel members defining a separate fluid conduit or passage within the manifold assembly. The fuel manifold can be constructed of any number of stacked and secured channel members to provide a compact multi zone fuel manifold having the desired number of fluid conduits or passages with a minimum number of sealed joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth N. Houtman, Fei Philip Lee
  • Patent number: 8234871
    Abstract: A nozzle has combustion air passages extending from a first, upstream end to a second, downstream end. A fuel distribution manifold is associated with the first, upstream end of the nozzle. Combustion air passages correspond to, and align with the air passages in the nozzle. Fuel distribution grooves are formed in one end of the fuel distribution manifold disk and extend from a central opening to the air passages. A fuel circuit cover closes the fuel distribution grooves to define fuel passages that extend from the central opening to the combustion air passages. A fuel supply conduit communicates with the central opening and the fuel passages for delivery of fuel to the combustion air in the air passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Thomas Edward Johnson, Jason Thurman Stewart
  • Publication number: 20120192566
    Abstract: A method for assembling a fuel injection assembly for use in a turbine engine is provided. The method includes providing a cap assembly that has at least one first opening extending at least partially through it and a plurality of second openings extending at least partially through it. Moreover, a plurality of tube assemblies are coupled within the cap assembly. Each tube assembly includes a plurality of tubes. Further, at least one injection system is coupled to the cap assembly to enable a fluid from a fluid source to be discharged through at least one of the plurality of second openings. The fluid flows between at least two adjacent tube assemblies to facilitate at least one of reducing a temperature within the cap assembly and reducing dynamic pressure oscillations within a combustor during operation of the turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Jong Ho Uhm, David Leach, Thomas Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 8230687
    Abstract: A fuel injector tube includes a one piece, unitary, polygonal tube having an inlet end and an outlet end. The fuel injector tube further includes a fuel passage extending from the inlet end to the outlet end along a longitudinal axis of the polygonal tube, a plurality of air passages extending from the inlet end to the outlet end and surrounding the fuel passage, and a plurality of fuel holes. Each fuel hole connects an air passage with the fuel passage. The inlet end of the polygonal tube is formed into a fuel tube. A fuel injector includes a plurality of fuel injector tubes and a plate. The plurality of fuel tubes are connected to the plate adjacent the inlet ends of the plurality of fuel injector tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Willy Steve Ziminsky
  • Publication number: 20120186221
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine in which the power output is controlled by modulating at least one of the compression ratio, expansion ratio, ratio of expansion rate to compression rate, air to fuel ratio, and steam to air ratio. Continuous isobaric catalytic combustion followed by isothermal expansion and the use of separate compressor and expander devices are used. Control dynamically maximizes fuel efficiency for the given power demand conditions. Power output is controlled by modulating flame temperature and/or pressure instead of by throttling. Lean combustion, high compression ratio, exhaust heat recuperation, and high power density and fuel economy are provided. External cooling is minimized or eliminated. Insulation of the engine effectively reduces energy losses to friction. Interchangeable use of gasoline, hydrogen and ammonia at high fuel efficiency is made possible for transitional periods of fuel availabilities. An injector suitable for isothermal expansion is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Jonathan Jay Feinstein