Fuel injector

• US 20050034444A1
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Sanders, Noel A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,200,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/39.230
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 2900/11402 Airflow diaphragms at burner nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 1/022 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 3/26 Controlling the air flow
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 3/286 having fuel-air premixing devices F23R3/30 takes precedence

Abstract

A variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector (50) for injecting a fuel/air mix in a downstream direction, comprising: an air inlet (60); a fuel inlet (58) positioned downstream of the air inlet (60); a duct (56) extending at least downstream of the fuel inlet (58) to define a fuel and air pre-mixing zone (62), that narrows to form an opening (64); and means for varying the flow of fuel/air mix from the pre-mixing zone (62) through the opening (64).

Claims

1. A variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector for injecting a fuel/air mix in a downstream direction, comprising:

an air inlet;

a fuel inlet positioned downstream of the air inlet;

a duct extending at least downstream of the fuel inlet to define a fuel and air pre-mixing zone, that narrows to form an opening; and

means for varying the flow of fuel/air mix from the pre-mixing zone through the opening.

2. variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for varying the flow of fuel/air mix from the pre-mixing zone through the opening, varies the effective area through which the fuel/air mixture can flow.

3. variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for steadily decreasing, along a portion of the length of the duct downstream of the fuel inlet, the area through which the fuel/air mix flows.

4. variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for varying the flow of fuel/air mix from the pre-mixing zone through the opening, comprises a centre body movable within duct walls to vary the flow of fuel/air mix from the pre-mixing zone through the opening.

5. variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the duct walls have a substantially frusto-conical shape with the centre body arranged to move along the axis of the frusto-cone.

6. variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the centre body has a leading portion of substantially cylindrically shape.

7. variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the centre body has a leading portion of substantially conical or frusto-conical shape.

8. variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector as claimed in claim 4, wherein movement of the centre body constricts the air inlet.

9. A variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector as claimed in claim 4, further comprising means for cooling the centre body.

10. A gas turbine engine comprising a variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising additional means for varying the flow of air into a dilution zone of the combustor.

11. variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector as claimed in claim 8 wherein the centre body has a cylindrical portion which constructs the air inlet.

12. variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector as claimed in claim 11 wherein the air inlet comprises a swirler.

13. A variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector as claimed in claim 11 wherein the centre body tapers from the cylindrical portion to a smaller radius leading portion.

14. A variable geometry pre-mixing duel injector as claimed in claim 8 wherein the area of the duct decreases from the air inlet to the opening.

15. A variable geometry pre-mixing fuel injector for injecting a fuel air mix in a downstream direction comprises a duct having an air inlet at a first end and an outlet for a fuel/air mix at a second end, a fuel inlet positioned downstream of the air inlet, the duct having a fuel and air pre-mixing zone downstream of the fuel inlet, the duct being defined between a duct wall and a centre body, the duct wall is frusto-conical and has an axis and the centre body is moveable along the axis of the duct wall to simultaneously vary the area of the opening and the area of the air inlet.

16. A method of operating a combustor comprising a pre-mixing fuel injector and a combustor liner, comprising the steps of simultaneously:

varying the geometry of the combustor liner; and

varying the geometry of the pre-mixing zone, downstream of the fuel inlet of the pre-mixing fuel injecto