초록 ▼

A combustor for mixing a flow of compressed air from a compressor and a flow of fuel from a fuel source. The combustor may include a first swirler for mixing the flow of compressed air and the flow of fuel into a first fuel-air flow, a second flow source for providing a second flow downstream of the

A combustor for mixing a flow of compressed air from a compressor and a flow of fuel from a fuel source. The combustor may include a first swirler for mixing the flow of compressed air and the flow of fuel into a first fuel-air flow, a second flow source for providing a second flow downstream of the first swirler, and a second swirler for mixing the first fuel-air flow and the second flow.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A combustor system, comprising: a flow of compressed air produced by a compressor; a flow of fuel produced by a fuel source; a first swirler in communication with both the flow of compressed air and the flow of fuel for mixing the flow of compressed air and the flow of fuel i

What is claimed is: 1. A combustor system, comprising: a flow of compressed air produced by a compressor; a flow of fuel produced by a fuel source; a first swirler in communication with both the flow of compressed air and the flow of fuel for mixing the flow of compressed air and the flow of fuel into a first non-combustible, non-flammable fuel-air flow; a second flow produced by a second flow source downstream of the first swirler; and a second swirler in direct communication with both the first non-combustible, non-flammable fuel-air flow and the second flow for mixing the first non-combustible, non-flammable fuel-air flow and the second flow. 2. The combustor system of claim 1, wherein the second flow comprises a second flow of fuel. 3. The combustor system of claim 2, wherein the second flow source comprises a fuel injector. 4. The combustor system of claim 1, wherein the second flow comprises a second flow of compressed air. 5. The combustor system of claim 4, wherein the second flow source comprises a source of compressed air. 6. The combustor system of claim 1, wherein the first non-combustible fuel-air flow comprises an equivalence ratio of about zero (0) to about one-half (0.5). 7. The combustor system of claim 1, wherein the first non-combustible fuel-air flow comprises an equivalence ratio of about one (1) to about 1.3. 8. The combustor system of claim 1, wherein a second fuel-air flow exits the second swirler and wherein the second fuel-air flow comprises an equivalence ratio of about one-half (0.5) to about one (1). 9. The combustor system of claim 8, wherein the second fuel-air flow comprises a combustible mixture. 10. A method of mixing a flow of compressed air from a compressor and a flow of fuel from a fuel source, comprising: mixing both the flow of compressed air and the flow of fuel into a first non-combustible, non-flammable fuel-air flow in a first swirler, wherein the first swirler is in communication with both the flow of compressed air and the flow of fuel; adding a second flow downstream of the first swirler; and mixing directly the first non-combustible, non-flammable fuel-air flow and the second flow in a second swirler, and wherein the second swirler is in direct communication with both the first non-combustible, non-flammable fuel-air flow and the second flow. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second flow comprises a second flow of fuel. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second flow comprises a second flow of compressed air. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first non-combustible fuel-air flow comprises an equivalence ratio of about zero (0) to about one-half (0.5). 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first non-combustible fuel-air flow comprises an equivalence ratio of about one (1.0) to about 1.3. 15. The method of claim 10, wherein a second fuel-air flow exits the second swirler and wherein the second fuel-air flow comprises an equivalence ratio of about one-half (0.5) to about one (1). 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second fuel-air flow comprises a combustible mixture. 17. The combustor system of claim 1, wherein the second swirler mixes the first non-combustible fuel-air flow and the second flow to create a second non-combustible fuel-air flow. 18. The combustor system of claim 17, wherein the second non-combustible fuel-air flow comprises a homogeneous fuel-air flow.