Fuel nozzle with fluid lock and purge apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fuel nozzle apparatus having a centerline axis, and comprising:
- a main fuel injector including an enclosed interior volume in fluid communication with a plurality of fuel ports configured to discharge fuel therefrom;
a main fuel conduit disposed upstream of the main fuel injector and configured to supply liquid fuel to the interior volume;
a fluid lock disposed within the main fuel conduit, the fluid lock comprising a plurality of parallel capillary channels, the fluid lock comprising an upstream end, a downstream end, and an axial length defined between the upstream end and the downstream end; and
wherein the fluid lock is positioned such that the fluid lock is spaced from the main fuel injector by a portion of the main fuel conduit, the main fuel conduit having a cross-sectional flow area greater than a cross-sectional flow area of each capillary channel of the plurality of parallel capillary channels; and
each capillary channel is configured such that a capillary meniscus will remain intact across each capillary channel during selected operating conditions.
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Abstract
A fuel nozzle apparatus has a centerline axis, and includes: a main fuel injector including an enclosed interior volume in fluid communication with a plurality of fuel ports configured to discharge fuel therefrom; a main fuel conduit disposed upstream of the main fuel injector and configured to supply liquid fuel to the interior volume; and a fluid lock disposed between the main fuel conduit and the main fuel injector, the fluid lock including a plurality of parallel capillary channels.
191 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A fuel nozzle apparatus having a centerline axis, and comprising:
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a main fuel injector including an enclosed interior volume in fluid communication with a plurality of fuel ports configured to discharge fuel therefrom; a main fuel conduit disposed upstream of the main fuel injector and configured to supply liquid fuel to the interior volume; a fluid lock disposed within the main fuel conduit, the fluid lock comprising a plurality of parallel capillary channels, the fluid lock comprising an upstream end, a downstream end, and an axial length defined between the upstream end and the downstream end; and wherein the fluid lock is positioned such that the fluid lock is spaced from the main fuel injector by a portion of the main fuel conduit, the main fuel conduit having a cross-sectional flow area greater than a cross-sectional flow area of each capillary channel of the plurality of parallel capillary channels; and each capillary channel is configured such that a capillary meniscus will remain intact across each capillary channel during selected operating conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18)
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11. A fuel nozzle apparatus, comprising:
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a centrally-located pilot fuel injector; a pilot fuel conduit coupled to the pilot fuel injector; an annular main fuel injector surrounding the pilot fuel injector, comprising an enclosed interior volume in fluid communication with a plurality of main fuel ports configured to discharge fuel therefrom; an annular outer body surrounding the main fuel injector, a venturi, and the pilot fuel injector the annular outer body having a generally cylindrical exterior surface, including an array of spray wells formed therein, each spray well being aligned with one of the main fuel ports, wherein some of the spray wells incorporate a scarf comprising a ramped portion of the exterior surface which is oriented at an acute angle to the centerline axis; a main fuel conduit disposed upstream of the main fuel injector and configured to supply liquid fuel to the interior volume; and a blocking device disposed within the main fuel conduit, the blocking device comprising an upstream end, a downstream end, and an axial length defined between the upstream end and the downstream end; wherein the blocking device is spaced away from the main fuel injector by a portion of the main fuel conduit and comprises a fluid lock having a plurality of parallel capillary channels and wherein each capillary channel is configured such that a capillary meniscus will remain intact across each capillary channel during selected operating conditions; and wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the main fuel conduit is greater than a cross-sectional flow area of each capillary channel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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19. A fuel nozzle apparatus having a centerline axis, and comprising:
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a main fuel injector including an enclosed interior volume in fluid communication with a plurality of fuel ports configured to discharge fuel therefrom; a main fuel conduit disposed upstream of the main fuel injector and configured to supply liquid fuel to the interior volume of the main fuel injector; a main fuel valve, the main fuel valve in fluid communication with and upstream of the main fuel conduit; a pilot fuel injector including an enclosed interior volume in fluid communication with an exit structure configured to discharge fuel therefrom; a pilot fuel conduit disposed upstream of the pilot fuel injector and configured to supply liquid fuel to the interior volume of the pilot fuel injector; a pilot fuel valve, the pilot fuel valve in fluid communication with and upstream of the pilot fuel conduit; a fuel system, the fuel system upstream of and in fluid communication with both the main fuel valve and the pilot fuel valve; a fluid lock disposed within the main fuel conduit and spaced away from the main fuel injector by a portion of the main fuel conduit, the fluid lock comprising a plurality of parallel capillary channels, the fluid lock comprising an upstream end, a downstream end, and an axial length defined between the upstream end and the downstream end, wherein the plurality of parallel capillary channels extends along the axial length; wherein each capillary channel is configured such that a capillary meniscus will remain intact across each capillary channel during selected operating conditions; and wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the main fuel conduit is greater than a cross-sectional flow area of each capillary channel.
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Specification