Apparatus and method for a fuel nozzle

• US 8,919,673 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Subramanian, Karthik, Romig, Bryan Wesley
• Primary Examiner(s): Jonaitis, Justin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Chee-Chong
• Application Number:
  US12/759,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20110252803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 239/533.11, 239/398, 239/417, 239/403, 239/405, 239/406, 239/400, 239/404, 607/33, 607/37, 607/32, 607/38, 607/48, 607/40, 607/42
• US Class Current: 239/533.11
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 2900/00018 Manufacturing combustion chamber liners or subparts
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 2900/03044 Impingement cooled combustion chamber walls or subassemblies
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 3/28 characterised by the fuel supply burners F23D
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 3/283 Attaching or cooling of fuel injecting means including supports for fuel injectors, stems, or lances
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49323 Assembling fluid flow directing devices, e.g., stators, diaphragms, nozzles

Abstract

A fuel nozzle includes a fuel plenum, an outer body surrounding the fuel plenum, and bore holes that extend longitudinally through the outer body. The fuel nozzle also includes means for fixedly attaching the fuel plenum to the outer body and passages that provide fluid communication between the fuel plenum and the bore holes. A method for manufacturing a fuel nozzle includes drilling bore holes longitudinally through an outer body and drilling passages in the outer body to the bore holes. The method further includes inserting a fuel plenum into the outer body, wherein the passages provide a fluid communication between the bore holes and the fuel plenum, and attaching the fuel plenum to the outer body.

Claims

1. A fuel nozzle, comprising:

a. an outer body, the outer body defining a plurality of bore holes extending longitudinally through the outer body, each bore hole having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the outlet provides for fluid flow though a front wall of the outer body;

b. an annular plenum partially defined by the outer body and circumferentially surrounded by the plurality of bore holes, wherein the annular plenum is partially defined by an inner surface of the front wall;

c. a plurality of passages providing fluid communication between the annular plenum and at least some of the plurality of bore holes; and

d. a fuel cartridge extending longitudinally within and partially defining the annular plenum, the fuel cartridge having a downstream end that terminates within the annular plenum upstream from the inner surface of the front wall so as to form a gap between the inner surface of the front wall and the downstream end of the fuel cartridge, the fuel cartridge defining a fuel plenum within the annular plenum, the fuel cartridge further defining a plurality of apertures disposed upstream from the inner surface of the front wall, the plurality of apertures providing for fluid communication between the fuel plenum and the annular plenum, wherein the apertures are arranged so as to impinge a fuel from the fuel plenum onto the inner surface of the front wall, wherein the plurality of apertures are upstream from the plurality of passages.

2. The fuel nozzle as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of bore holes are arranged in substantially concentric circles around the annular plenum.

3. The fuel nozzle as in claim 1, wherein the front wall extends perpendicular to the fuel cartridge.

4. The fuel nozzle as in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of bore holes includes a beveled inlet.

5. The fuel nozzle as in claim 1, wherein the fuel cartridge is connected to the outer body via a continuous weld between the fuel cartridge and the outer body.

6. The fuel nozzle as in claim 1, wherein the fuel cartridge is connected to the outer body via a threaded engagement.

7. A fuel nozzle, comprising:

a. an outer body, the outer body defining a plurality of bore holes that extend longitudinally through the outer body, each bore hole having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the outlet provides for fluid flow though a front wall, the outer body further defining an annular plenum that extends longitudinally and coaxially within the outer body;

b. a fuel cartridge inserted into the annular plenum, the fuel cartridge partially defining the annular plenum, the fuel cartridge further defining a fuel plenum and a plurality of apertures, the plurality of apertures being disposed upstream from an inner surface of the front wall and providing for fluid communication between the fuel plenum and the annular plenum, wherein the apertures are arranged to impinge a fuel from the fuel plenum against the inner surface of the front wall;

c. a connection between the outer body and the fuel cartridge, wherein the outer body is fixed to and removable from the fuel cartridge; and

d. a plurality of passage defined by the outer body downstream from the plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of passages provides for fluid communication between the annular plenum and at least one of the plurality of bore holes.

8. The fuel nozzle as in claim 7, wherein the plurality of bore holes is arranged in substantially concentric circles around the fuel plenum.

9. The fuel nozzle as in claim 7, wherein the front wall at least partially defines the annular plenum.

10. The fuel nozzle as in claim 9, wherein the plurality of apertures is defined proximate to the front wall.

11. The fuel nozzle as in claim 7, wherein the fuel cartridge defines an inner diameter of the annular plenum.

12. The fuel nozzle as in claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of bore holes includes a beveled inlet.

13. The fuel nozzle as in claim 7, wherein the connection between the outer body and the fuel cartridge includes a continuous weld between the outer body and the fuel plenum.

14. The fuel nozzle as in claim 7, wherein the connection between the outer body′

and the fuel cartridge includes complementary threads on the outer body and fuel cartridge.