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 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: 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: A heat shield and support strut for a turbine engine afterburner. The heat shield can be replaced without moving or disconnecting the fuel tube. The heat shield includes a housing that may be telescoped over the fuel injection tube and is attachable to the strut without moving the housing transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fuel injection tube. The support strut includes a body having an outer end for attachment to an outer wall of the afterburner section, an inner end, and a passage extending through the body from its outer end to its inner end for receiving the fuel injection tube. The inner end has a cavity for receiving the head of the heat shield. The cavity is shaped for a close fit on the head in the cavity. The body has a flat mounting surface in the cavity for engagement by the flat mounting surface of the head.

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.