United Technologies Corporation

Paul L Russell

George D Lewis

Jeffrey Stettler

An improved combustor for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. Techniques for reducing the level of noxious pollutants emitted by the combustor are developed. In one embodiment, a combination of serpentine geometried, fuel-mixing tubes discharging to the radially outward area of the combustor and an axially oriented, fuel-mixing tube near the center of the combustor are adapted to generate a strong centrifugal force field within the combustor. The force field promotes rapid mixing and combustion within the chamber to reduce both the magnitude of the combustor temperature and the period of exposure of the medium gases to that temperature. In accordance with the method taught, the fuel air ratio in the serpentine mixing tubes is maintained within the range of 0.035 to 0.05 and the fuel air ratio in the axial mixing tube is maintained at a value less than 0.05.

Growing community of inventors

Lake Park, FL, United States of America

Paul L Russell