Power plants – Combustion products used as motive fluid
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-14
2003-09-30
Freay, Charles G. (Department: 3746)
Power plants
Combustion products used as motive fluid
C060S734000, C239S599000, C239S601000, C431S009000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06625971
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a fuel injector used in a burner section of a gas turbine engine. More particularly, this invention relates to a fuel nozzle that produces a skewed fuel spray pattern.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Each successive generation of gas turbine engine typically represents a marked improvement over the earlier generations. Various factors, such as environmental impact and perceived customer requirements, help spur the improvements in a new generation of engine. A burner section of the engine, where the combustion of the fuel occurs, is no exception to the need for improvement.
A designer must consider many factors when developing the next generation burner section of a gas turbine engine. Such factors include fuel/air ratio operating range, smoke-free temperature rise capability, lean blow out, NOx emissions, stability, complexity, weight and cost. Up to this point, a solution that benefited one factor may have been a significant detriment to another factor. For example, a designer might consider using a double annular combustor rather than a single annular combustor to increase the operating range of the fuel/air ratio and to improve lean blow out. However, such a solution impacts other factors—namely weight, complexity and cost.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved burner section of a gas turbine engine.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved fuel injector within the burner section.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved fuel nozzle within the fuel injector.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved primary fuel circuit within the fuel nozzle.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fuel nozzle that exhibits an improvement in one or more characteristics of the engine without significantly impacting any of the other characteristics of the engine.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fuel nozzle that improves lean stability.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fuel nozzle capable of increasing the temperature rise capability of the combustion chamber.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fuel nozzle that exhibits a lower fuel/air ratio at lean blowout, and provides a higher operating range.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in one aspect by a fuel nozzle, comprising: an inlet for receiving fuel; and an outlet for discharging fuel. The outlet intersects the longitudinal centerline of the nozzle and produces a skewed spray pattern.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in another aspect by a fuel injector, comprising: a fuel nozzle having an outlet for discharging fuel; and a swirler adjacent the fuel nozzle. The swirler discharges a fluid concentric with the outlet of the fuel nozzle. The fluid discharged from the swirler produces a crescent-shaped spray pattern in the fuel discharged from the fuel nozzle.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in another aspect by a burner section of a gas turbine engine, comprising: a combustion chamber; and a plurality of fuel injectors for providing fuel to said combustion chamber. At least one of the fuel injectors produces a skewed flame pattern in the combustion chamber that overlaps with a flame pattern from an adjacent fuel injector.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in another aspect by a method of improving stability of a flame in a burner section of a gas turbine engine. The method comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of fuel injectors; supplying fuel to the fuel injectors so that at least one of the fuel injectors produces a skewed flame pattern in the burner section, the skewed flame pattern creating a fuel non-uniformity in the burner section; and overlapping the skewed flame pattern with a flame pattern of an adjacent fuel injector.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2607193 (1952-08-01), Berggren et al.
patent: 4273291 (1981-06-01), Muller
patent: 4638636 (1987-01-01), Cohen
patent: 4646977 (1987-03-01), Iwamura et al.
patent: 4957242 (1990-09-01), Schadow et al.
patent: 4986478 (1991-01-01), Bertini
patent: 4991398 (1991-02-01), Clark et al.
patent: 5060867 (1991-10-01), Luxton et al.
patent: 5109823 (1992-05-01), Yokoyama et al.
patent: 5109824 (1992-05-01), Okamoto et al.
patent: 5267442 (1993-12-01), Clark
patent: 5465571 (1995-11-01), Clark
patent: 5490378 (1996-02-01), Berger et al.
patent: 5577481 (1996-11-01), Wahba
patent: 5622489 (1997-04-01), Monro
patent: 5966937 (1999-10-01), Graves
patent: 6220034 (2001-04-01), Mowill
patent: 0678667 (1995-10-01), None
patent: 0742366 (1996-11-01), None
patent: 0849530 (1998-06-01), None
patent: 1036933 (2000-09-01), None
patent: 2016592 (1979-09-01), None
patent: 0050766 (2000-08-01), None
Freay Charles G.
Hamilla Brian J.
Liu Han L
United Technologies Corporation
LandOfFree
Fuel nozzle producing skewed spray pattern does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Fuel nozzle producing skewed spray pattern, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fuel nozzle producing skewed spray pattern will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3040611