Solar Turbines Inc.

Dennis D Idleman

Virendra M Sood

Kenneth O Smith

Douglas C Rawlins

Gas turbine engines have in the past attempted to control emissions by a variety of processes or in a variety of manners. For example, past systems have used water or steam injection, and gas turbine combustion systems have utilized a variety of approaches including premix systems and various fuel injector designs. The present system controls emissions by modulating air flowing through a fuel injector. The system utilizes a fuel injector having a passage defined therein in which a valve is positioned. The valve is movable between a maximum flow position and a minimum flow position. The valve is moved lineal by a lineal movement portion being activated by a cam portion, a ring gear and an actuating mechanism. Parameters of the gas turbine engine are monitored by a plurality of sensors, and interpreted by a computer which actuates the actuating mechanism and results in the fluid flow to a combustor section being controlled to meet preestablished emission parameters.

System for modulating air flow through a gas turbine fuel injector

A fuel injection nozzle includes a first cavity having a first preestablished cross-sectional area and a second preestablished cross-sectional area being larger than the first preestablished cross-sectional area. And, an actuating device being positioned at an inlet end of the first cavity and controllably varying the flow of a compressed fluid through the fuel injection nozzle. The fuel injection nozzle further including a second cavity having a flow of compressed fluid flowing therethrough.

Fuel injection nozzle

Past fuel injection nozzles have attempted to provide a structure to reduce tip temperatures. Such nozzles have failed to attain adequate reduction of tip temperatures without increasing the quantity of cooling air required. The present fuel injector structure has resulted in reduced tip temperatures without increasing the quantity of cooling air required. The structure includes a shell having an inner member positioned therein forming a first chamber therebetween, an end piece forming a second chamber between the inner member and the end piece. An inner body has a plurality of first angled passages formed therein and communicates between the second chamber and a passage. A flow of combustor air through the second chamber contacts an air side of the end piece resulting in a combustor side being cooled. The unique structure of the fuel injector nozzle provides improved tip cooling without increasing the quality of cooling air and improves the efficiency of the gas turbine engine.

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Lakeside, CA, United States of America

Dennis D Idleman