Airblast nozzle with upstream fuel distribution and near-exit swirl

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10295186-B2
Application number	US-201414228574-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2014
Priority date	Mar 28, 2014
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

A nozzle is provided including a nozzle body having an upstream end and a downstream end aligned about a central axis. A discharge portion is positioned adjacent the downstream end. A bore extends inwardly from the downstream end over the length of the discharge portion. An opening is formed in the nozzle body adjacent the discharge portion. The opening is fluidly connected to the bore to provide an interior air flow passage. A main fuel channel extends from the upstream end to the discharge portion. At least one fuel flow branch extends through the discharge portion between the bore and an outer surface of the nozzle body. The fuel flow branch is fluidly coupled to the main fuel conduit to provide a fuel flow passage. The outer air cap is positioned about the outer surface of the discharge portion of the nozzle body to form an exterior air flow passage.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A nozzle comprising:
a nozzle body having an upstream end and a downstream end aligned along a central axis includes:
a discharge portion being positioned adjacent the downstream end, an inwardly extending bore is formed at the downstream end and extends along the central axis over the length of the discharge portion;
at least one airflow opening formed in the nozzle body adjacent the discharge portion, the at least one opening being fluidly connected to an interior of the bore to provide an interior air flow passage;
a main fuel conduit extending along the central axis from the upstream end to the discharge portion; and
two or more fuel flow branches extending through the discharge portion generally between the bore and an outer surface of the nozzle body, the fuel flow branches being fluidly coupled to the main fuel conduit to provide a fuel flow passage through the nozzle body, the fuel flow branches defining the at least one airflow opening between circumferentially adjacent fuel flow branches, and axially between the two or more fuel branches and the discharge portion, wherein the discharge portion is fluidly coupled to the interior air flow passage; and
an outer air cap positioned about the outer surface of the discharge portion of the nozzle body such that an outer air flow passage is formed between an interior of the outer air cap and the nozzle body;
wherein the fuel flow passage, the interior air flow passage, and the outer air flow passage are configured to intersect near the downstream end of the nozzle body;
wherein the nozzle body further includes an interior air swirler disposed at the central axis and arranged within the bore, the interior air swirler including a plurality of interior air swirler vanes intersecting at the central axis.

2. The nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzle body is formed through an additive manufacturing process.

3. The nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the interior air swirler is integrally formed with the discharge portion of the nozzle body.

4. The nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzle body further comprises an outer air swirler surrounding an outer circumference of the discharge portion.

5. The nozzle according to claim 4 , wherein the outer air swirler includes a plurality of circumferentially disposed vanes.

6. The nozzle according to claim 4 , wherein the outer air swirler is integrally formed with the discharge portion of the nozzle body.

7. The nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzle body includes a plurality of airflow openings positioned adjacent the discharge portion and fluidly coupled to the interior of the bore.

8. The nozzle according to claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of airflow openings is substantially equal in size and is equidistantly spaced about the central axis.

9. The nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein each of the two or more fuel flow branches is substantially identical in size and shape and is equidistantly spaced about the central axis within the discharge portion.

10. The nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to a feed arm of a fuel injector, the feed arm having a fuel conduit and the upstream end of the nozzle body being coupled to an end of the feed arm such that the fuel conduit of the feed arm and the main fuel conduit of the nozzle body are fluidly coupled.

11. The nozzle according to claim 10 , wherein the fuel injector is mounted within a gas turbine engine.

12. The nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein at least one heat shield is integrally formed with the nozzle body.

13. The nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein fuel within the two or more fuel flow branches is provided directly to a plurality of corresponding fuel exit slots.

Assignees

• Delavan Inc
• Delavan Inc Of Des Moines Ia

Inventors

• Zink Gregory

Classifications

• F23D2900/11101

  Pulverising gas flow impinging on fuel from pre-filming surface, e.g. lip atomizers · CPC title

• F23D11/383

  with swirl means · CPC title

• F23D2900/00018

  Means for protecting parts of the burner, e.g. ceramic lining outside of the flame tube · CPC title

• F23R3/14 Primary

  by using swirl vanes · CPC title

• F23R2900/00018

  Manufacturing combustion chamber liners or subparts · CPC title