General Electric Company

Eric John Stevens

Beverly Stephenson Duncan

Michael Anthony Benjamin

Clayton Stuart Cooper

Joseph Zelina

Allen Michael Danis

Mark David Durbin

Gregory Allen Boardman

Arthur Wesley Johnson

Steven Joseph Lohmueller

Randall Charles Boehm

Perumallu Vukanti

Nicholas Ryan Overman

David Louis Burrus

Scott Matthew Bush

Jayanth Sekar

Ravi Chandra

Juntao Zhang

Jeffrey Lyal Powell

Kent Hamilton Lyle

Various embodiments include a trapped vortex combustor and a method for operating trapped vortex combustor. In one embodiment, the trapped vortex combustor comprises a trapped vortex combustion zone and at least one secondary combustion zone disposed downstream of the trapped vortex combustion zone. The trapped vortex combustion zone is operable to receive and combust a first fuel and a first air and produce a first combustion product flowing toroidally therein. The at least one secondary combustion zone is operable to receive and combust the first combustion product and at least one second injection consisting of fuel and/or air and produce at least one second combustion product therein. The combustor may reduce the residence time of the highest temperature combustion products and achieve the lower NOx emission.

Trapped vortex combustor and method for operating the same

A trapped vortex combustor for use in a gas turbine engine includes an outer vortex chamber wall and a dome attached to, or formed integrally with, the outer vortex chamber wall. The dome, the outer vortex chamber wall, or both define at least in part an outer trapped vortex chamber and a channel. The channel extends along the circumferential direction at a forward end of the outer vortex chamber wall, the channel configured to receive an airflow through or around the outer vortex chamber wall, the dome, or both and provide such airflow as a continuous annular airflow to the inner surface of the outer vortex chamber wall. The dome further defines a fuel nozzle opening, with all openings in the dome outward of the fuel nozzle opening along the radial direction, excepting any effusion cooling holes having a diameter less than about 0.035 inches, being in airflow communication with the channel.

Trapped vortex combustor for a gas turbine engine with a driver airflow channel

Fuel nozzle assemblies are provided. For example, a fuel nozzle assembly for a combustor system comprises a fuel nozzle having a pilot swirler and an outlet defined in an outlet end, as well as a main mixer attached to the outlet end and extending about the outlet. A total combustor airflow through the combustor system comprises a pilot swirler airflow that is greater than about 14% and a main mixer airflow that is less than about 50% of the total combustor airflow. In further embodiments, the fuel nozzle also comprises main and pilot fuel injectors that each are configured to receive a portion of a fuel flow to the fuel nozzle. The fuel nozzle provides less than about 80% of the fuel flow to the main fuel injector at a high power operating condition of a gas turbine engine in which the fuel nozzle assembly is installed.

Fuel nozzle assembly for high fuel/air ratio and reduced combustion dynamics

Combustor systems are provided. For example, a combustor system comprises a combustor having forward and aft ends and including annular inner and outer liners that each extend generally along an axial direction and define a combustion chamber therebetween. The combustor system also comprises a fuel nozzle having an outlet defined in an outlet end of the fuel nozzle and including a pilot swirler. The outlet is positioned at the forward end of the combustor to direct a fuel-air mixture into the combustion chamber. The combustor system further comprises a main mixer attached to the outlet end of the fuel nozzle and extending about the outlet. A total combustor airflow through the combustor comprises a pilot swirler airflow that is greater than about 14% of the total combustor airflow and a main mixer airflow that is less than about 50% of the total combustor airflow.

Combustor system for high fuel/air ratio and reduced combustion dynamics

A combustor assembly comprising a deflector wall in which a plurality of openings is defined through the deflector wall and around the fuel nozzle opening. The plurality of openings defines a first set of openings at a first radius, a second set of openings at or greater than a second radius greater than the first radius, and a third set of openings at one or more of a third radius between the first radius and the second radius. The first set of openings defines one or more of a first angle relative to the radial direction between approximately 60 degrees and approximately 100 degrees. The second set of openings defines one or more of a second angle between approximately zero and approximately 30 degrees. The third set of openings defines one or more of a third angle between the first angle and the second angle.

Combustor and method of operation for improved emissions and durability

The present disclosure is directed to a method of operating a combustion system to attenuate combustion dynamics. The method includes flowing, via a compressor section, an overall supply of air to the combustion system; flowing, via a fuel supply system, an overall flow of fuel to the combustion system; flowing, to a first fuel nozzle of the combustion system, a first supply of fuel defining a richer burning fuel-air mixture at the first fuel nozzle; flowing, to a second fuel nozzle of the combustion system, a second supply of fuel defining a leaner burning fuel-air mixture at the second fuel nozzle; and igniting the richer burning fuel-air mixture and the leaner burning fuel-air mixture to produce an overall fuel-air ratio at a combustion chamber of the combustion system.

Combustion system and method for attenuation of combustion dynamics in a gas turbine engine

The present disclosure is directed to a combustor system including a fuel nozzle comprising a main fuel injector defining an angled main injection port. Each angled main injection port defines an inlet end and an outlet end. The outlet end is oriented downstream relative to the inlet end at an angle relative to a centerline axis of the fuel nozzle. The angled main injection port permits egress of fuel from a main fuel circuit to the combustion chamber. The fuel nozzle further defines a radial main injection port. The outlet end is oriented along an axial direction approximately equal relative to the inlet end and radially outward thereof relative to the centerline axis. The radial main injection port is extended perpendicular relative to the centerline axis.

Fuel nozzle with angled main injection ports and radial main injection ports

A trapped vortex combustor for use in a gas turbine engine defines a radial direction, an axial direction, and a circumferential direction. The trapped vortex combustor includes an outer vortex chamber wall defining a forward end, and a dome attached to, or formed integrally with, the outer vortex chamber wall at the forward end of the outer vortex chamber wall. The dome and outer vortex chamber wall define at least in part a combustion chamber having an outer trapped vortex chamber. The dome includes an air chute defining an airflow direction. The radial direction and axial direction of the trapped vortex combustor define a reference plane extending through the air chute, the airflow direction of the air chute defining an angle greater than zero with the reference plane.

Tangential bulk swirl air in a trapped vortex combustor for a gas turbine engine

The present disclosure is directed to a combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine. The combustor assembly includes a deflector wall, an annular axial wall, and an annular shroud. The deflector wall is extended at least partially along a radial direction and a circumferential direction relative to an axial centerline and adjacent to a combustion chamber. A fuel nozzle opening is defined through the deflector wall, and a nozzle centerline is extended through the fuel nozzle opening along a lengthwise direction. The annular axial wall is coupled to the deflector wall and extended through the fuel nozzle opening. The axial wall is defined around the nozzle centerline. The annular shroud is defined around the nozzle centerline and extended co-directional to the axial wall. The axial wall and the annular shroud are each coupled to a radial wall defined upstream of the deflector wall. The annular shroud, the axial wall, and the radial wall together define a cooling plenum therebetween. The axial wall defines a discrete inlet opening therethrough providing fluid communication from a diffuser cavity to the cooling plenum. The cooling plenum defines an exit opening providing fluid communication from the cooling plenum to the combustion chamber.

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Mason, OH, United States of America

Eric John Stevens