초록 ▼

A swirler for a gas turbine engine combustor is disclosed for simultaneously controlling combustor flow rate, swirl angle, residence time and fuel-air ratio to provide three regimes of operation. A first regime is provided in which fuel-air ratio is less than stoichiometric, NOx is produced at one l

A swirler for a gas turbine engine combustor is disclosed for simultaneously controlling combustor flow rate, swirl angle, residence time and fuel-air ratio to provide three regimes of operation. A first regime is provided in which fuel-air ratio is less than stoichiometric, NOx is produced at one level, and combustor flow rate is high. In a second regime, fuel-air ratio is nearly stoichiometric, NOx production is less than that of the first regime, and combustor flow rate is low. In a third regime, used for example at lightoff, fuel-air ratio is greater than stoichiometric and the combustor flow rate is less than in either of the other regimes.

대표청구항 ▼

In a register plate throttle which surrounds a fuel injection nozzle, the improvement comprising: (a) means for providing a first, relatively low, swirl angle at a relatively high airflow regime; (b) means for providing a second, relatively high swirl angle at a relatively low airflow regime; and (c

In a register plate throttle which surrounds a fuel injection nozzle, the improvement comprising: (a) means for providing a first, relatively low, swirl angle at a relatively high airflow regime; (b) means for providing a second, relatively high swirl angle at a relatively low airflow regime; and (c) means for terminating airflow in a third airflow regime. A method of operating a gas turbine engine comprising the following steps: (a) using a register plate swirler which surrounds at least one fuel nozzle in at least one combustor, providing a relatively high airflow therethrough at a relatively low swirl angle for (i) providing a fuel-air mixture for combustion in the combustor having a fuel-air ratio which is less than stoichiometric and (ii) providing a relatively reduced residence time of the fuel-air mixture in the combustor; (b) using the register plate swirler, providing a relatively low airflow therethrough at a relatively high swirl angle for (i) providing a fuel air mixture for combustion in the combustor having a fuel-air ratio which is greater than stoichiometric for less-than-peak NOx production, (ii) providing a relatively increased residence time of the fuel-air mixture in the combustor; and (c) using the register plate swirler, terminating airflow therethrough for providing a rich mixture to the combustor.