초록 ▼

A performance-enhancing fuel nozzle is disclosed. The nozzle suitable for use in combustors which combine high-swirl-number combustion in a pilot zone with low-swirl-number combustion in a main combustion zone. The nozzle includes a fuel delivery member adapted for fluid communication with a fuel so

A performance-enhancing fuel nozzle is disclosed. The nozzle suitable for use in combustors which combine high-swirl-number combustion in a pilot zone with low-swirl-number combustion in a main combustion zone. The nozzle includes a fuel delivery member adapted for fluid communication with a fuel source and a flow conditioning member having a fuel exit port. The fuel exit port is in fluid communication with the fuel supply and is adapted to ensure that the recirculation region adjacent the nozzle tip remains flame free. In one aspect of the invention, the fuel concentration profile of the nozzle is characterized by a radially-outward region that is flammable and a radially-inward region that is substantially non-flammable. In another aspect of the invention, the fuel exit port being is disposed a radially-outward portion of the flow conditioning member. In another aspect of the invention, the flow conditioning member is characterized by a swirl number lower than about 0.5. In another aspect of the invention, the exit are high-momentum jets, having a design ratio pressure of greater than about 1.1. In another aspect of the invention, the nozzle is part of a combustor which has a high-swirl-number combustion in a pilot zone and low-swirl-number combustion in a main combustion zone.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A nozzle for a combustor comprising:a fuel delivery member adapted for fluid communication with a source of fuel, said fuel delivery member including a solid and closed downstream end;a swirl-inducing flow conditioning member disposed adjacent said fuel delivery member, said flow conditioning mem

1. A nozzle for a combustor comprising:a fuel delivery member adapted for fluid communication with a source of fuel, said fuel delivery member including a solid and closed downstream end;a swirl-inducing flow conditioning member disposed adjacent said fuel delivery member, said flow conditioning member including a fuel exit port in fluid communication with said fuel delivery member;wherein said flow conditioning member is adapted to dispense fuel in a manner which produces a radially-biased fuel concentration profile within the nozzle characterized by a radially-outward region that is flammable and a radially-inward region that is substantially non-flammable,whereby said fuel concentration profile is effective to ensure that a region adjacent said fuel delivery member downstream end is substantially flame-free. 2. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said flow conditioning member extends radially from said fuel delivery member. 3. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said nozzle forms a recirculation zone adjacent said fuel delivery member downstream end, and wherein said fuel concentration profile is adapted to ensure said recirculation zone is substantially non-flammable. 4. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the conditioning element includes a radially-inward first portion and a radially-outward second portion, said fuel exit port being disposed only within said second portion. 5. The nozzle of claim 4, wherein said flow conditioning member includes a plurality of fuel exit ports disposed within said conditioning element second portion. 6. The nozzle of claim 4, wherein said radially-outward second portion is spaced apart from a longitudinal axis of said fuel delivery member by a distance of about 30% to 40% of a radial height of said flow conditioning member. 7. The nozzle of claim 4, wherein said flow conditioning member is adapted to induce a downstream fluid flow characterized by a swirl number, wherein said swirl number is lower than about 0.6. 8. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said fuel exit ports are characterized by a design pressure ratio effective to introduce fuel in a manner characterized by momentum effective to ensure said fuel concentration profile remains substantially consistent as pre-selected operational conditions vary. 9. The nozzle of claim 8, wherein said design pressure ratio is higher than about 1.1. 10. The nozzle of claim 9, wherein said design pressure ratio is within a range of about 1.1 to about 1.4. 11. The nozzle of claim 8, wherein the conditioning element includes a radially-inward first portion and a radially-outward second portion, said fuel exit port being disposed only within said second portion. 12. The nozzle of claim 8, wherein the conditioning element includes a radially-inward first portion and a radially-outward second portion, said radially-outward second portion being spaced apart from a longitudinal axis of said fuel delivery member by a distance of about 30% to 40% of a radial height of said flow conditioning member. 13. The nozzle of claim 8, wherein said flow conditioning member adapted to induce a downstream fluid flow characterized by a swirl number, wherein said swirl number is lower than about 0.6. 14. A combustor comprising:a source of fuel;a liner member defining an interior region, said interior being characterized by a pilot flame zone and a main combustion zone;a pilot nozzle disposed adjacent a first end of said liner member, said pilot nozzle being in fluid communication with said source of fuel and adapted to provide a pilot flame to said pilot flame zone;a main nozzle disposed adjacent said first end of said liner member, said main nozzle including a fuel delivery member in fluid communication with a source of fuel; said fuel delivery member including a solid and closed downstream end;a swirl-inducing flow conditioning member disposed adjacent said fuel delivery member, said flow conditioning member including a fuel exit port in fluid communication with said fuel delivery memb er, wherein said flow conditioning member and said flow conditioning member produce a mixture having a fuel concentration profile within the main nozzle characterized by a radially-outward region that is flammable and a radially-inward region that is substantially non-flammable,whereby said mixture combusts in said main combustion zone and whereby said fuel concentration profile is effective to ensure that a region adjacent said fuel delivery member downstream end is substantially flame-free. 15. The combustor of claim 14, wherein said flow conditioning member is adapted to induce a downstream fluid flow characterized by a swirl number, wherein said swirl number is lower than about 0.6. 16. The combustor of claim 14, wherein said fuel exit port is characterized with respect to said fuel delivery member by a design pressure ratio effective to introduce fuel in a manner characterized by momentum effective to ensure said fuel concentration profile remains substantially consistent as pre-selected operational conditions vary. 17. The nozzle of claim 16, wherein said design pressure ratio is higher than about 1.1.