General Electric Company

Thomas C Campbell

Thomas L DuBell

James Thompson

Michael William Horner

Edward E Ekstedt

Phillip D Napoli

Gilbert Henry Badeer

A fuel delivery system for a turbine engine having a primary fuel flow circuit and a secondary fuel flow circuit. The primary fuel flow circuit has a unstaged-first manifold and a staged-second manifold. A control valve and flow meter regulate the amount of fuel flow to the unstaged and staged manifolds with a first mode of operation providing fuel to the unstaged manifold only, and a second mode of operation providing fuel to both the staged and unstaged manifolds. When high power is required of the engine, a secondary fuel circuit is provided with a secondary manifold which is connected to a distribution valve which opens when fuel flow is at a predetermined level. The invention allows fuel to be efficiently atomized at various levels of powered operation by having a control center which controls the opening and closing of the distribution valve and control valve based upon fuel flow rates fuel/air ratios and air start core speed.

Staged fuel delivery system with secondary distribution valve

A combustor dome assembly having a venturi and an auxiliary wall concentric with the venturi to provide an annular passage for channeling or directing a high velocity air jet from a swirler to a combustion chamber associated with a downstream end of the venturi, thereby facilitating the atomization of a film of water flowing along an inner surface of the venturi and out of the downstream end. In an alternative embodiment, a deflector is used (instead of the auxiliary wall) to direct the air flow towards the downstream end. The downstream end of the venturi may have a curved edge to permit the film of water flowing along an inner surface of the venturi to turn substantially perpendicular to the air flowing past the downstream end of the venturi which further enhances atomization of water. The venturi may also comprise a flange which is positioned in operative relationship with the downstream end for increasing the turbulence at the downstream end. In another embodiment, a plurality of holes are provided in the venturi for permitting natural gas to pass through the venturi and into the annular passage where it can be premixed with swirling air before being introduced to the combustion chamber.

Apparatus and method for atomizing water in a combustor dome assembly

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a venturi having a heat shield along its inner diameter and a thermal barrier coating along its outer diameter is provided, whereby the temperature gradient of the venturi is lowered and metal distress and erosion caused by water injected therethrough is reduced. In an alternate embodiment, a floating insert is placed within an area along the venturi's inner diameter, where it is held in position by a heat shield.

Thermally protected venturi for combustor dome

A simplified method is provided for turbulently mixing separate flows of fuel and water prior to delivery to the combustor of a gas turbine engine to reduce the temperature to which pressurized air is heated by the combustion of fuel, thereby reducing nitrous oxide emissions in the products of combustion. The method employs no complex homogenization equipment and no emulsifying agents are intentionally added to either the fuel or the water.

Method for reducing nitrous oxide emissions from a gas turbine engine

Improved cooling means are provided for cooling a dome assembly associated with a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The improvement is comprised of a dome plate having a generally V-shaped cross section and includes a plurality of passages and channels in the dome plate to provide for the passage of cooling air to effect cooling of both the dome plate and the combustor liner.

Combustor dome assembly having improved cooling means

A combustion chamber is provided with a fuel source and an igniter for initiating combustion. The igniter projects into the combustion chamber and into proximity with the fuel source. A heated tip portion of the igniter initiates burning and is cooled by means of cooling air passing through a plurality of air passages defined by a plurality of channels near the external surface of the igniter housing and further defined by a surrounding ferrule. Certain of the channels extend axially of the housing while at least one channel extends circumferentially thereabout and intersects the former channels. An opening in the ferrule provides communication between preselected of the channels and the interior of the combustion chamber. Cooling air passes through the channels in the axial direction (relative to the igniter) and is collected by the circumferential channel whereupon it is exhausted through the ferrule opening generally normally to the igniter housing and toward the downstream direction therefrom within the chamber.

Cooled igniter

An apparatus for passing a portion of a cooling fluid, flowing in a plenum in a predetermined direction, in a protective film upon a liner defining a hot gas passage. The apparatus is comprised of a first liner portion or segment partially defining the plenum and a second liner portion or segment partially defining the hot gas passage and cooperating with the first liner segment to form a pocket. A first lip is located at the downstream end of the second liner segment and is radially adjacent a second lip located at the upstream end of the first liner segment. The first lip is spaced from the first liner segment to form an exit from the pocket for directing cooling air along the first liner segment in the predetermined direction. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of apertures in the first liner to pass cooling fluid in a plurality of streams into the pocket and along the second lip in a direction substantially opposite from said predetermined direction. The second lip may be constructed of a length sufficient to permit the plurality of streams to at least partially coalesce while passing along the second lip in the opposite direction. The fluid may be directed upon the second lip to accomplish partial diffusion of the streams. The apparatus may also comprise secondary means for additionally diffusing the cooling fluid flow within the pocket and for turning the flow of the substantially coalesced cooling fluid to the predetermined direction prior to the passing of the cooling fluid from said exit.

Growing community of inventors

Glendale, OH, United States of America

Thomas C Campbell