Abstract: A gas turbine engine augmentor has a centerbody within a gas flowpath from upstream to downstream. The augmentor has upstream and downstream shell sections, a downstream rim of the upstream shell section meeting an upstream rim of the downstream shell section shell section. A plurality of vanes are positioned in the gas flowpath outboard of the centerbody. An augmentor spray bar fuel conduit extends through the centerbody and a first of the vanes to deliver fuel to the centerbody. A seal is mounted to the spray bar and positioned in a recess extending from at least one of the downstream rim of the upstream shell section and upstream rim of the downstream shell section shell section. The seal has a first portion and a second portion engaging the first portion in a backlocked interfitting.

Abstract: The turbojet of the invention includes a combustion chamber, a channel for heating the gas stream, where the heating channel includes at least one device for injection of fuel into the gas stream, which includes an open chamber, with a U-shaped section, having at least one wall within which extend fuel-injection means, which inject the fuel in at least one direction. It is characterised by the fact that a cooling jacket is provided in the chamber, alongside the wall forming the base of its U-section, and the fuel injection device includes protection means interposed between the fuel-injection means and the wall, in a fuel-injection direction. Thus, as a result of the invention, the fuel injection device, which is bathed in a very hot environment, is protected against thermal shocks due to the projection of colder fuel onto its walls, and its life expectancy is therefore increased.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine augmentor radial fuel spray bar has a counterswirling spray bar heat shield. Two embodiments of the heat shield include one with a cambered airfoil cross-section and another with a twisted airfoil cross-section and may have varying or constant degree of camber or twist, respectively, along a radial length of the spray bar heat shield. The spray bar may have one or more spray bar fuel tubes within the heat shield, openings in the heat shield, and fuel holes in the tubes operable for injecting fuel through the openings. A gas turbine engine augmentor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart radial flameholders may incorporate a plurality of the augmentor radial fuel spray bars with one or more of the augmentor radial fuel spray bars circumferentially disposed between one or more circumferentially adjacent pairs of the radial flameholders.

Abstract: The after-burner device receives a “hot” central primary flow from the turbine of the turbojet and a “cold” peripheral secondary flow, and it has an after-burner ignition zone situated in the secondary flow that reaches the after-burner device. A fraction of the primary flow is brought into the after-burner ignition zone in order to raise the temperature in said zone to a value that is higher than that of the secondary flow so as to encourage after-burner ignition.

Abstract: A fuel shield is configured for use in the afterburner of a turbofan aircraft engine. The shield includes wings obliquely joined together at a nose to conform with the leading edge region of a flameholder vane. A hood is joined to the wings and extends obliquely therefrom to conform with a supporting outer shell of the flameholder.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine augmentor has a centerbody within a gas flowpath from upstream to downstream. The augmentor has upstream and downstream shell sections, a downstream rim of the upstream shell section meeting an upstream rim of the downstream shell section shell section. A plurality of vanes are positioned in the gas flowpath outboard of the centerbody. An augmentor spray bar fuel conduit extends through the centerbody and a first of the vanes to deliver fuel to the centerbody. A seal is mounted to the spray bar and positioned in a recess extending from at least one of the downstream rim of the upstream shell section and upstream rim of the downstream shell section shell section. The seal has a first portion and a second portion engaging the first portion in a backlocked interfitting.

Abstract: A double flow turbo-jet engine includes a re-heating channel of the primary flow and an ejection nozzle, the secondary flow emerging at least partially in the primary flow upstream of the re-heating channel, the re-heating channel including a burner ring, including a flame holder gutter in the form of a ring portion whereof the upstream section is situated in the secondary flow, receiving a fuel manifold and a protective tubular screen of the manifold. The gutter includes an upstream recess linked with the secondary flow, and the screen includes, on its upstream section, at least one ventilation orifice of the space situated between the screen and the manifold.

Abstract: Preheating of fuel and injection into a plasma torch plume fro adjacent the plasma torch plume provides for only ignition with reduced delay but improved fuel-air mixing and fuel atomization as well as combustion reaction enhancement. Heat exchange also reduced erosion of the anode of the plasma torch. Fuel mixing atomization, fuel mixture distribution enhancement and combustion reaction enhancement are improved by unsteady plasma torch energization, integral formation of the heat exchanger, fuel injection nozzle and plasma torch anode in a more compact, low-profile arrangement which is not intrusive on a highspeed air flow with which the invention is particularly effective and further enhanced by use of nitrogen as a feedstock material and inclusion of high pressure gases in the fuel to cause effervescence during injection.

Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine with a flameholder. The method comprises coupling at least one turning vane between a radially outer casing and a radially inner casing to form a flameholder, forming at least two slots that extend substantially radially through the outer and inner casings, coupling at least one fuel injector to the flameholder, and coupling the flameholder within the augmenter.

Abstract: A fuel shield is configured for use in the afterburner of a turbofan aircraft engine. The shield includes wings obliquely joined together at a nose, with each of the wings including an offset mounting tab at a proximal end thereof. The wings and tabs are configured to complement a flameholder vane around its leading edge, with the tabs contacting the vane sidewalls to offset the wings outwardly therefrom and form a thermally insulating gap therebetween.

Abstract: A device for feeding air and fuel to a burner ring in an after-burner chamber, including a plurality of flame-holder arms extending radially about the axis of the chamber from an outer casing, and a burner ring made up of ring sectors mounted substantially end to end on the flame-holder arms, the ring sectors containing fuel feed rail and air manifold boxes.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine augmentor has a centerbody within a gas flowpath from upstream to downstream. A plurality of vanes are positioned in the gas flowpath outboard of the centerbody. An augmenter fuel conduit extends through a first of the vanes to deliver fuel to the centerbody. An electrographitic carbon bushing guides and supports the augmentor fuel conduit.

Abstract: An afterburner fuel-feed arrangement including an elongate fuel spraybar for distributing fuel to the afterburner section of a turbo-combustion engine. The spraybar includes a fuel-receiving spray head in fluid communication with a plurality of elongate fuel pipes, which are surrounded by an elongate, aerodynamic-shaped shroud. The surrounded fuel pipes project into an interior through-core of the engine. The shroud has an interior lateral sidewall that includes a pipe-receiving portion configured to abuttingly engage a corresponding shroud-engaging portion of an exterior surface of one of the fuel pipes. The pipe-receiving portion is configured to substantially radially fix a fuel pipe received therein relative to the shroud, thus supporting and bracing the pipe and raising the eigenfrequencies of the assembly into ranges higher than those of the incorporating engine.

Abstract: A system and method for cooling at least a portion of an engine are provided. The engine is cooled using a fuel, such as a high heat sink fuel, that is subsequently used for combustion in the engine. The fuel can be used to cool one or more of the gases and/or components in the engine, thereby cooling the engine including an exhaust nozzle. For example, the fuel can be circulated through one or more heat exchanging devices that are disposed inside or outside a passage of the engine, and the fuel can absorb thermal energy from the engine or air that flows in the engine passage. In any case, the cooling of the engine can result in a reduction to the infrared signature of the engine.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine augmentor nozzle has an inlet for connection to an augmentor fuel conduit and an outlet for expelling a spray of fuel. A passageway between the inlet and outlet is at least partially bounded by outlet end surface portions diverging from each other. The nozzle may be used as a replacement for a non-divergent nozzle and may reorient a fuel jet centerline toward radial.

Abstract: A turbojet engine includes a core engine, afterburner, and converging-diverging exhaust nozzle disposed in serial flow communication. A bypass duct surrounds the core engine and afterburner and terminates in flow communication with the exhaust nozzle. The compressor includes first stage fan blades having integral flades at the tips thereof disposed inside the bypass duct. The bypass duct includes a row of variable inlet guide vanes disposed forward of the flades for controlling airflow thereto.

Abstract: A turbofan gas turbine engine augmenter includes a fuel/air swirler disposed between an axially extending bypass flowpath and an axially extending exhaust flowpath. A swirler inlet is axially open to and positioned substantially normal to the bypass flowpath and a swirler outlet is open to and positioned substantially parallel to the exhaust flowpath. A swirl chamber within the fuel/air swirler is between the swirler inlet and the swirler outlet. A swirl axis of the fuel/air swirler extends through the swirler outlet substantially normal to the exhaust flowpath. An air swirler may be centered about the swirl axis within the fuel/air swirler. The air swirler may be a louvered or have a plurality of swirling vanes. The swirler inlet may be radially offset with respect to the swirl axis. An air scoop may lead from the swirler inlet to a rounded swirler housing within which the air swirler is disposed.

Abstract: A turbojet engine includes a core engine, an afterburner, and a converging-diverging exhaust nozzle in serial flow communication. A controller is operatively joined to the core engine and afterburner and configured for scheduling fuel thereto for operating the afterburner dry during subsonic flight operation of the engine, wet during transonic flight, and dry during supersonic flight.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a two-stage hypersonic vehicle, comprising a first-stage vehicle and a second stage vehicle. The first-stage vehicle includes a combined-cycle engine and a swirl generator for propelling the first-stage vehicle and the second-stage vehicle to a threshold velocity, which in one embodiment is about Mach 6. In one embodiment, the first-stage combined-cycle engine integrates a swirl generator into a gas turbine engine, providing a highly compact afterburner and a ramjet engine within the gas turbine engine. One benefit of the integrated swirl generator is the ability to significantly reduce overall first-stage gas turbine and afterburner-ramjet size and weight, while retaining high performance. The second-stage vehicle is detachably secured to the first-stage vehicle and includes a hypersonic engine.

Abstract: A device for fastening a fluid duct such as a fuel duct in an orifice of a turbojet casing, the device comprising a ring screwed into the orifice of the casing and having an annular rim coming to bear against a washer at the end of the duct, and a nut screwed onto the end of the duct so as to clamp the annular rim of the ring against the washer of the duct in order to fasten the duct to the casing.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine afterburner igniter is provided with primary fuel duct means for injecting a jet of fuel into a gas stream directed into a combustion chamber. A spring is positioned within the bore of said fuel duct. The spring being moveable relative to said duct such that during operation said spring moves downstream though the bore due to the passage of fuel therein and returns to it's original position thereafter. During operation the spring abrades the internal surface of the bore thus removing carbon deposits.

Abstract: The present invention is a retractable afterburner shroud for use upon a jet engine. The retractable shroud conforms to an outer surface of a jet engine. The afterburner shroud is affixed by a plurality of moveable support arms. The afterburner shroud is retractable. During operation of the afterburner shroud, the afterburner shroud is extended rearward toward the exhaust of the jet engine. A storage tank provides liquid oxygen through the support arms to a mixing ring located within the afterburner shroud. The mixing ring mixes the liquid oxygen and fuel to form a combustible mixture. The combustible mixture is injected into the exhaust wherein the mixture is ignited. The ignited mixture provides additional thrust for the jet engine.

Abstract: An engine for creating a propulsive force includes turbomachinery for generating a flow of hot exhaust gases and an initial thrust force, an augmentor positioned aft of the turbomachinery, and a system for injecting an oxidizer, which preferably undergoes thermal decomposition, into the hot exhaust gases so as to significantly increase the thrust force generated by the engine. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oxidizer comprises liquid high test peroxide.

Abstract: Device for mounting a dividing wall (112) for separating the main air stream and the bypass air in a bypass turbojet engine afterburner, comprising means of attaching the upstream end of this wall to a guide vane casing and means (150) for supporting the downstream end of this wall, these means being provided on flame holder arms (130) of the afterburner radially on the inside of the dividing wall.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: an aerodynamic surface adapted for producing an adverse pressure gradient in a fluid flow; and a first pulse detonation actuator disposed adjacent the aerodynamic surface and adapted for impulsively detonating a fuel/air mixture to produce a pressure rise and velocity increase of combustion products therein, the aerodynamic surface having a plurality of separation control holes adapted for communicating combustion product flows from the first pulse detonation actuator to the aerodynamic surface for modulating separation of the fluid flow from the aerodynamic surface.

Abstract: An afterburner apparatus that utilizes a novel swirl generator for rapidly and efficiently atomizing, vaporizing, as necessary, and mixing a fuel and an oxidant. The swirl generator converts an oxidant flow into a turbulent, three-dimensional flowfield into which the fuel is introduced. The swirl generator effects a toroidal outer recirculation zone and a central recirculation zone, which is positioned within the outer recirculation zone. These recirculation zones are configured in a backward-flowing manner that carries heat and combustion byproducts upstream where they are employed to continuously ignite a combustible fuel/oxidizer mixture in adjacent shear layers. The recirculation zones accelerate flame propagation to allow afterburning to be completed in a relatively short length.

Abstract: A turbine engine augmentor has a centerbody within a gas flowpath. A flameholder is positioned in the flowpath outboard of the centerbody. A burner within the centerbody has an outlet for expelling combustion products of a first pilot fuel. A pilot fuel conduit has an outlet positioned to introduce a supplemental pilot fuel to the expelled combustion products.

Abstract: An augmentor system minimizes acoustic pressure fluctuations on the heat release process within the augmentor by staggering the vanes therein. The alternating axial vane stagger pattern arranges the downstream set of vanes as baffles which prevent the propagation of tangential acoustic waves between the vanes to protect the upstream set of vanes from the effects of transverse acoustic velocity fluctuations which minimizes screech without substantially affecting augmentor performance.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an augmentor includes fabricating an outer casing having at least one channel defined therein, fabricating a centerbody having at least one channel defined therein, fabricating a plurality of turbine frame vanes, wherein each turbine frame vane includes a first sidewall having a first channel defined therein, a second sidewall having a second channel defined therein, and at least one cross-fire tube extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and coupling the plurality of turbine frame vanes to the augmentor outer casing and to the centerbody such that the first sidewall first channel formed on a first turbine frame vane, the second sidewall second channel formed on a second turbine frame vane, the augmentor channel, and the centerbody channel define a substantially contiguous trapped vortex chamber.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine augmentor nozzle has an inlet for connection to an augmentor fuel conduit and an outlet for expelling a spray of fuel. A passageway between the inlet and outlet is at least partially bounded by outlet end surface portions diverging from each other. The nozzle may be used as a replacement for a non-divergent nozzle and may reorient a fuel jet centerline toward radial.

Abstract: A turbine engine has a centerbody within a gas flowpath and a downstream tailcone and a pilot at an upstream end of the tailcone. A flameholder is positioned in the flowpath outboard of the centerbody. The pilot has a first surface diverging in a downstream direction.

Abstract: An afterburner apparatus that utilizes a novel swirl generator for rapidly and efficiently atomizing, vaporizing, as necessary, and mixing a fuel into an oxidant. The swirl generator converts an oxidant flow into a turbulent, three-dimensional flowfield into which the fuel is introduced. The swirl generator effects a toroidal outer recirculation zone and a central recirculation zone, which is positioned within the outer recirculation zone. These recirculation zones are configured in a backward-flowing manner that carries heat and combustion byproducts upstream where they are employed to continuously ignite a combustible fuel/oxidizer mixture in adjacent shear layers. The recirculation zones accelerate flame propagation to allow afterburning to be completed in a relatively short length.

Abstract: A method enables thrust to be generated from a gas turbine engine using a pulse detonation system is provided. The engine includes an inlet portion and an exhaust portion, and the pulse detonation system includes a multi-staged pulse detonation augmentor including predetonator. The method comprises supplying a less than stoichiometric fuel/air mixture to the pulse detonation system during a first operating stage, detonating the fuel/air mixture with the predetonator to increase the temperature and pressure within the engine and to generate engine thrust, and supplying additional fuel and air to the pulse detonation system during a second operating stage.

Abstract: A method facilitates generating thrust from a gas turbine engine using a pulse detonation system. The method includes introducing fuel and air to the engine, mixing fuel and air in a pulse detonation system deflagration chamber positioned radially outward from an engine exhaust centerbody, and detonating the fuel and air mixture within the pulse detonation system to facilitate increasing the temperature and pressure within the engine and to generate engine thrust.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine augmentor nozzle has an inlet for connection to an augmentor fuel conduit and an outlet for expelling a spray of fuel. A passageway between the inlet and outlet is at least partially bounded by outlet end surface portions diverging from each other. The nozzle may be used as a replacement for a non-divergent nozzle and may reorient a fuel jet centerline toward radial.

Abstract: A turbine engine augmentor has a centerbody within a gas flowpath. A flameholder is positioned in the flowpath outboard of the centerbody. A burner within the centerbody has an outlet for expelling combustion products of a first pilot fuel. A pilot fuel conduit has an outlet positioned to introduce a supplemental pilot fuel to the expelled combustion products.

Abstract: A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine includes at least one vane that includes a first body, a second body, and a passageway. The first body includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall that are connected at a leading edge and a trailing edge. The passageway extends between the second body and the first body leading edge.

Abstract: An afterburner apparatus that utilizes a novel swirl generator for rapidly and efficiently atomizing, vaporizing, as necessary, and mixing a fuel into an oxidant. The swirl generator converts an oxidant flow into a turbulent, three-dimensional flowfield into which the fuel is introduced. The swirl generator effects a toroidal outer recirculation zone and a central recirculation zone, which is positioned within the outer recirculation zone. These recirculation zones are configured in a backward-flowing manner that carries heat and combustion byproducts upstream where they are employed to continuously ignite a combustible fuel/oxidizer mixture in adjacent shear layers. The recirculation zones accelerate flame propagation to allow afterburning to be completed in a relatively short length.

Abstract: A valve assembly for supplying cooling air to a nozzle of a gas turbine engine. The nozzle can move between a first configuration and a second configuration. The valve assembly includes a first member having openings that receive cooling air. The valve assembly also includes a second member having openings. The second member resides adjacent the first member to receive the cooling air from the first member. Finally, the valve assembly includes actuator for moving the first member from a first position, which allows a first flow rate of cooling air to pass through the openings, to a second position, which allows a second flow rate of cooling air to pass through the openings. The second flow rate is less than the first flow rate.

Abstract: An aerospike nozzle includes a nozzle body and a spike, the nozzle body and the spike defining a generally annular gas flow channel therebetween; the spike comprising an upper, generally conical section having a decreasing diameter in a downstream direction; a middle, generally cylindrical section having a generally constant diameter; and a lower, generally conical section having a decreasing diameter in a downstream direction; a shroud disposed radially outward of the spike and longitudinally downstream of the nozzle body, the shroud comprising a first generally cylindrical section and, downstream of the first section, a second generally concave section; a plurality of struts connected between the spike and the shroud; an ambient air inlet defined between the nozzle body and the shroud; a mixing and combustion chamber defined between the spike and the first section of the shroud; and an expansion chamber defined between the spike and the second section of the shroud.

Abstract: Augmentation of the thrust achieved by a supersonic nozzle of continuous curvature is achieved by causing secondary combustion to occur in an annular region of the interior of the divergent section of the nozzle. The secondary combustion forms a secondary combustion gas that complements the primary combustion gas passing through the nozzle and maintains a wall pressure that is equal to or greater than ambient pressure at low altitudes, eliminating the negative component of the thrust in an overexpanded nozzle at takeoff.

Abstract: A fuel spraybar assembly for spraying fuel within a gas turbine engine. The spraybar assembly includes radial and lateral members that distribute fuel within the flowpath. In one embodiment two lateral members are located at the radially inward end of a radial member and generally form a “T” shape. Circumferentially spaced adjacent spraybars subdivide the flowpath into a plurality of circumferential combustion zone segments. In one embodiment the junction of the radial and lateral members provides a flameholding feature that stabilizes the combustion flame. In another embodiment, fuel is introduced non-uniformly within the afterburner resulting in thermal vectoring of the engine thrust.

Abstract: A recuperated microturbine system including a low temperature duct burner in the exhaust gas which accommodates significant variations in the exhaust gas flow from the recuperator, which burns the added hydrocarbon fuel, for example natural gas, reasonably efficiently, without generating a significant amount of additional NOx. A wire mesh burner is used to burn the added fuel in part of the exhaust gas from the recuperator. The duct burner is operated either in a more or less radiant combustion mode, or in a blue flame mode. The remainder of the recuperator exhaust gas, which bypasses the afterburner, is heated mainly by radiant heat transfer from the wire mesh burner. The use of the wire mesh burner minimises additional NOx formation. In the duct burner the dynamic pressure of the exhaust gas is used to overcome the inherent static pressure loss of the wire mesh burner.

Abstract: Augmentation of the thrust achieved by a supersonic nozzle of continuous curvature is achieved by causing secondary combustion to occur in an annular region of the interior of the divergent section of the nozzle. The secondary combustion forms a secondary combustion gas that complements the primary combustion gas passing through the nozzle and maintains a wall pressure that is equal to or greater than ambient pressure at low altitudes, eliminating the negative component of the thrust in an overexpanded nozzle at takeoff.

Abstract: A heat shield for protecting a fuel injection tube of a turbine engine afterburner. The heat shield includes a base adapted for attachment to a duct member, the base having a first mounting surface, a first fastener hole, and a recess in the base. A housing encloses the fuel injection tube. The housing has an internal channel for receiving the fuel injection tube, a second mounting surface, a second fastener hole, and a tab protruding from the housing. The tab is sized and shaped for being received in the recess of the base. The housing may be secured to the base at a mounting position wherein the tab is received in the recess, the mounting surfaces are engaged, and the second fastener hole is positioned in registration with the first fastener hole whereby a fastener may be inserted to secure the housing to the base.