Fuel injector for use in a gas turbine engine

• US 8,281,594 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2009
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Wiebe, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wongwian, Phutthiwat
• Application Number:
  US12/555,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20110056206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 607/33, 607/34, 607/39, 607/40, 60746-748, 607/52, 431 8- 10, 431174-176, 431181-185, 431/187, 431/278, 431280-281, 431284-285, 431350-353
• US Class Current: 60/733
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 11/36 Details , e.g. burner cooling means, noise reduction means
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 3/283 Attaching or cooling of fuel injecting means including supports for fuel injectors, stems, or lances

Abstract

A fuel injector in a combustor apparatus of a gas turbine engine. An outer wall of the injector defines an interior volume in which an intermediate wall is disposed. A first gap is formed between the outer wall and the intermediate wall. The intermediate wall defines an internal volume in which an inner wall is disposed. A second gap is formed between the intermediate wall and the inner wall. The second gap receives cooling fluid that cools the injector. The cooling fluid provides convective cooling to the intermediate wall as it flows within the second gap. The cooling fluid also flows through apertures in the intermediate wall into the first gap where it provides impingement cooling to the outer wall and provides convective cooling to the outer wall. The inner wall defines a passageway that delivers fuel into a liner downstream from a main combustion zone.

Claims

1. A fuel injector for use in a combustor apparatus of a gas turbine engine, the fuel injector extending radially inward through an opening formed in a liner and into an inner volume of the liner downstream from a main combustion zone, the fuel injector comprising:

an outer wall defining an interior volume therein and including at least one opening formed therein, at least a portion of said outer wall located in the inner volume of the liner;

an intermediate wall disposed in said outer wall interior volume and spaced from said outer wall such that a first gap is formed between said outer wall and said intermediate wall, said intermediate wall defining an internal volume and including at least one aperture formed therein;

an inner wall disposed in said intermediate wall internal volume and spaced from said intermediate wall such that a second gap is formed between said intermediate wall and said inner wall, said second gap receiving cooling fluid that cools the fuel injector, said inner wall defining a passageway therein that receives fuel and delivers said fuel to the inner volume of the liner downstream from the main combustion zone defined by the liner; and

wherein said cooling fluid in said second gap;

provides convective cooling to said intermediate wall as said cooling fluid flows within said second gap;

flows through said at least one aperture in said intermediate wall into said first gap where said cooling fluid provides impingement cooling to said outer wall and provides convective cooling to said outer wall as it said cooling fluid flows within said first gap; and

passes into the inner volume of the liner via said at least one opening in said outer wall.

2. The fuel injector of claim 1, wherein:

said outer wall, said intermediate wall, and said inner wall are each concentric with one another; and

said first and second gaps comprise cylindrical-shaped gaps extending in a radial direction.

3. The fuel injector of claim 1, wherein a distal end of said inner wall defines a fuel injection port in fluid communication with said passageway, said fuel injection port delivers said fuel to the inner volume of the liner.

4. The fuel injector of claim 1, wherein said outer wall comprises a plurality of film cooling holes formed therein, said film cooling holes permitting cooling fluid flowing in said first gap to flow therethrough to provide film cooling to an outer surface of said outer wall.

5. The fuel injector of claim 4, wherein at least one of said film cooling holes is angled in a radial direction so as to release cooling fluid in a direction that includes a component in the radial direction.

6. The fuel injector of claim 4, wherein said film cooling holes are formed in said outer wall at locations radially inwardly from a radial location where the fuel injector extends through the opening in the liner.

7. The fuel injector of claim 1, wherein at least one of:

an inner surface of said outer wall and an outer surface of said intermediate wall includes a plurality of turbulating structures that turbulate said cooling fluid flowing in said first gap.

8. The fuel injector of claim 1, further comprising a valve that controls a flow of said cooling fluid into said second gap.

9. A fuel injection system for use in a combustor apparatus of a gas turbine engine, the fuel injection system for delivering fuel into an inner volume of a liner at a location downstream from a main combustion zone defined in the inner volume of the liner, the fuel injection system comprising:

a fuel manifold that receives fuel to be distributed into the inner volume of the liner;

a plurality of fuel injectors in fluid communication with said fuel manifold, said fuel injectors extending radially inward from said fuel manifold through corresponding openings formed in the liner, wherein said fuel injectors distribute said fuel from said fuel manifold into the inner volume of the liner downstream from the main combustion zone, each said fuel injector comprising;

an outer wall defining an interior volume therein and including at least one opening formed therein, at least a portion of said outer wall located in the inner volume of the liner;

an intermediate wall disposed in said outer wall interior volume and spaced from said outer wall such that a first gap is formed between said outer wall and said intermediate wall, said intermediate wall defining an internal volume and including at least one aperture formed therein;

an inner wall disposed in said intermediate wall internal volume and spaced from said intermediate wall such that a second gap is formed between said intermediate wall and said inner wall, said second gap receiving cooling fluid that cools said fuel injector, said inner wall defining a passageway therein that receives said fuel from said fuel manifold and delivers said fuel to the inner volume of the liner downstream from the main combustion zone; and

wherein said cooling fluid in said second gap;

provides convective cooling to said intermediate wall as said cooling fluid flows within said second gap;

flows through said at least one aperture in said intermediate wall into said first gap where said cooling fluid provides convective cooling to said outer wall as said cooling fluid flows within said first gap; and

passes into the inner volume of the liner via said at least one opening in said outer wall.

10. The fuel injection system of claim 9, wherein:

said outer wall, said intermediate wall, and said inner wall are each concentric with one another; and

said first and second gaps comprise cylindrical-shaped gaps extending in a radial direction.

11. The fuel injection system of claim 9, wherein a distal end of said inner wall of each of said fuel injectors defines a fuel injection port in fluid communication with said passageway of the respective fuel injector, said fuel injection port delivers said fuel to the inner volume of the liner.

12. The fuel injection system of claim 9, wherein said outer wall of each of said fuel injectors comprises a plurality of film cooling holes formed therein at locations radially inwardly from radial locations where the respective fuel injector extends through the corresponding opening in the liner, said film cooling holes permitting cooling fluid flowing in said first gap of the respective fuel injector to flow therethrough to provide film cooling to an outer surface of said outer wall of the respective fuel injector.

13. The fuel injection system of claim 9, further comprising at least one valve that controls a flow of said cooling fluid into said second gaps of said fuel injectors.

14. The fuel injection system of claim 9, wherein said cooling fluid in said second gap of each of said fuel injectors flows through said at least one aperture in said intermediate wall into said first gap where said cooling fluid further provides impingement cooling to said outer wall.

15. A combustor apparatus for use in a gas turbine engine comprising:

a liner comprising an inner volume, wherein a portion of said inner volume defines a main combustion zone;

a flow sleeve for receiving compressed air, said flow sleeve positioned radially outward from said liner;

a first fuel injection system associated with said flow sleeve;

a first fuel supply structure in fluid communication with a source of fuel for delivering fuel from said source of fuel to said first fuel injection system;

a second fuel injection system associated with Said liner downstream from said main combustion zone;

a second fuel supply structure in fluid communication with said source of fuel for delivering fuel from said source of fuel to said second fuel injection system;

said second fuel injection system providing fuel into said inner volume of said liner at a location downstream from said main combustion zone, said second fuel injection system comprising;

a fuel manifold that receives fuel from said second fuel supply structure;

a plurality of fuel injectors in fluid communication with said fuel manifold, said fuel injectors extending through corresponding openings in said liner into said inner volume of said liner, wherein said fuel injectors distribute said fuel from said fuel manifold into said inner volume of said liner downstream from said main combustion zone, each said fuel injector comprising;

an outer wall defining an interior volume therein and including at least one opening formed therein, at least a portion of said outer wall located in said inner volume of said liner;

an intermediate wall disposed in said outer wall interior volume and spaced from said outer wall such that a first gap is formed between said outer wall and said intermediate wall, said intermediate wall defining an internal volume and including at least one aperture formed therein;

an inner wall disposed in said intermediate wall internal volume and spaced from said intermediate wall such that a second gap is formed between said intermediate wall and said inner wall, said second gap receiving cooling fluid that cools said fuel injector, said inner wall defining a passageway therein that receives said fuel from said fuel manifold and delivers said fuel to said inner volume of said liner downstream from said main combustion zone; and

wherein said cooling fluid in said second gap;

provides convective cooling to said intermediate wall as said cooling fluid flows within said second gap;

flows through said at least one aperture in said intermediate wall into said first gap where said cooling fluid provides convective cooling to said outer wall as said cooling fluid flows within said first gap; and

passes into the inner volume of the liner via said at least one opening in said outer wall.

16. The combustor apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of seal members, one for each fuel injector, each said seal member being associated with a respective one of said openings in said liner through which said fuel injectors extend, said seal members limiting leakage through said openings in said liner.

17. The combustor apparatus of claim 15, wherein a distal end of said inner wall of each of said fuel injectors defines a fuel injection port in fluid communication with said passageway of the respective fuel injector, said fuel injection port delivers said fuel to said inner volume of said liner.

18. The combustor apparatus of claim 15, wherein said outer wall of each of said fuel injectors comprises a plurality of film cooling holes formed therein at locations radially inwardly from radial locations where the respective fuel injector extends through said corresponding opening in said liner, said film cooling holes permitting cooling fluid flowing in said first gap of the respective fuel injector to flow therethrough to provide film cooling to an outer surface of said outer wall of the respective fuel injector.

19. The combustor apparatus of claim 15, further comprising at least one valve that controls a flow of said cooling fluid into said second gaps of said fuel injectors.

20. The combustor apparatus of claim 15, wherein said cooling fluid in said second gap of each of said fuel injectors flows through said at least one aperture in said intermediate wall into said first gap where said cooling fluid further provides impingement cooling to said outer wall.