Volume enhanced turbine engine combustion zone

Abstract

In order to establish a larger dome height to thereby increase combustion volume within the same turbine engine envelope, the inner wall region of an annular combustor is formed to define a thrust nozzle which in turn provides an enhanced combustion zone. The turbine engine will include a rotary compressor and a turbine wheel coupled to the rotary compressor for driven movement thereof along with an annular nozzle proximate the turbine wheel for directing gases of combustion thereat. The annular combustor will be disposed about the turbine wheel and defined by a radially extending wall region connecting the inner wall region to an outer wall region such that the annular combustor has a combustion zone upstream of the annular nozzle and a dilution air zone intermediate the annular nozzle and the combustion zone. The turbine engine will operate such that the annular combustor combusts fuel from a fuel source and air from the rotary compressor to generate the gases of combustion which are directed at the turbine wheel by the annular nozzle for driven movement of the turbine wheel and the rotary compressor. By reason of the thrust nozzle being axially adjacent the turbine wheel and radially inwardly of the annular combustor, the turbine engine has a generally annular expanded combustion zone relative to the dilution zone within the same turbine engine envelope.