General Electric Company

Mark Patrick Kelsey

Willard J Dodds

Paul V Heberling

Steven Clayton Vise

Timothy James Held

Shai Birmaher

Herbert Kopecek

Gary L Leonard

Gabor Ast

Mark Anthony Mueller

Richard Wade Stickles

Douglas Marti Fortuna

James Anthony Groeschen

Chukwueloka Obiora Umeh

Neil S Rasmussen

Sara Rocci Denis

A laser ignition system for an internal combustion engine, and more specifically a gas turbine engine, is provided. The system including a laser light source configured to generate a laser beam, an ignition port configured to provide optimized optical access of the laser beam to a combustion chamber and an optical beam guidance component disposed between the laser light source and the ignition port. The optical beam guidance component is configured to include optimized optic components to transmit the laser beam to irradiate on a fuel mixture supplied into the combustion chamber to generate a combustor flame in a flame region. A method for igniting a fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine is also presented.

Advanced optics and optical access for laser ignition for gas turbines including aircraft engines

A method for operating a combustion system is provided. The method includes coupling the main swirler to the pilot swirler such that the main swirler substantially circumscribes the pilot swirler, supplying fuel to a first fuel circuit defined in the main swirler, and inducing swirling to the supplied fuel via a first set of swirler vanes positioned within the main swirler. The method also includes supplying fuel to a second fuel circuit defined in the main swirler, inducing swirling to the supplied fuel via a second set of swirler vanes positioned within the main swirler, each of the second set of swirler vanes comprising at least one second fuel passage defined therein, and coupling a shroud in flow communication to at least one of the first set of swirler vanes and the second set of swirler vanes, the shroud comprising at least one third fuel passage defined therein.

Methods and apparatus to facilitate decreasing combustor acoustics

A nozzle for a gas turbine engine that includes an air circuit, a water circuit, and a swirler that facilitate reducing erosion within the nozzle is described. The air circuit is formed by a first conduit that extends along the nozzle. The water circuit is formed by a second conduit that also extends along the nozzle and is radially inward from the first conduit. Each circuit is in flow communication with a discharge opening. An air swirler adjacent the discharge opening discharges air into water spray exiting the water circuit to facilitate evaporating the water to lower engine operating temperatures.

Methods and apparatus for injecting water into gas turbine engines

A cyclonic precombustion mixing chamber or prechamber has an axially extending annular cyclonic chamber to vaporize liquid fuel therein and a centerbody centrally disposed within. A fuel injection means introduces liquid fuel radially outward into the cyclonic chamber. The centerbody extends axially through an annular exit of the prechamber to define a throat and throat exit therebetween which is optimally designed for preventing backflash and autoignition. In one embodiment the diameter of the throat is sized to substantially match the diameter of the potential core.

Cyclonic prechamber with a centerbody for a gas turbine engine combustor

The present invention provides a cyclonic precombustion mixing chamber or prechamber having an axially extending annular cyclonic chamber to vaporize liquid fuel therein and a centerbody centrally disposed within. A fuel injection means introduces liquid fuel radially outward into the cyclonic chamber. The centerbody extends axially through an annular exit of the prechamber to define a throat and throat exit therebetween which is optimally designed for preventing backflash and autoignition. In one embodiment the diameter of the throat is sized to substantially match the diameter of the potential core. The diameter of the potential core and the centerbody at the throat exit, D.sub.c, may given by the solution to the following equation;

Cyclonic prechamber with a centerbody

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Mark Patrick Kelsey