Tangentially mounted torch ignitors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11415059-B2
Application number	US-202017133216-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2020
Priority date	Dec 23, 2020
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

A torch ignitor system for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a torch ignitor, the torch ignitor including a combustion chamber oriented about a torch axis, the combustion chamber having axially upstream and downstream ends defining a flow direction through the combustion chamber, along the axis. The torch ignitor includes a cap defining the axially upstream end of the combustion chamber and oriented about the axis, wherein the cap is configured to receive a fuel injector and at least one glow plug. The torch ignitor includes an elbow connected to the downstream end of the combustion chamber for diverting combustion products along an ignition jet flame axis that is off of the torch axis for injection of combustion products into a gas turbine engine combustor. The torch ignitor further includes a tip at a downstream end of the elbow for issuing the injection of combustion products.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A torch ignitor system for a combustor of a gas turbine engine comprising:
a torch ignitor comprising:
a combustion chamber oriented about a torch axis, the combustion chamber having axially upstream and downstream ends defining a flow direction through the combustion chamber, along the axis;
a cap defining the axially upstream end of the combustion chamber and oriented about the axis, wherein the cap is configured to receive a fuel injector and at least one glow plug;
an elbow connected to the downstream end of the combustion chamber for diverting combustion products along an ignition jet flame axis into a gas turbine engine combustor;
a tip at a downstream end of the elbow for issuing the injection of combustion products; and

a main combustor for generation of combustion products for gas turbine power, wherein the main combustor is defined about an engine axis, wherein the torch axis is oriented circumferentially relative to the engine axis.

2. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ignition jet flame axis is off of the torch axis for tangential injection of combustion products relative to the engine axis.

3. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ignition jet flame axis is off of the torch axis for radial injection of combustion products relative to the engine axis.

4. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ignition jet flame axis is off of the torch axis for axial injection of combustion products relative to the engine axis.

5. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cap is mounted to a high pressure engine case and the tip is mounted to the main combustor within the high pressure engine case for fluid communication of fuel and air from sources outside the high pressure engine case into the main combustor.

6. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a fuel injector seat defined in the cap configured to receive a fuel injector and provide passage for injecting fuel and air from an external source through the injector into the combustion chamber, wherein the fuel injector extends into the cap along a radial direction relative to the torch axis; and
at least one glow plug seat defined in the cap configured to receive a respective glow plug of the at least one glow plug through the cap and into the combustion chamber for initiating ignition in fuel and air in the combustion chamber, wherein the glow plug extends into the cap along a radial direction relative to the torch axis.

7. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the tip is oriented to outlet from the combustion chamber in a radial direction relative to the torch axis.

8. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a high pressure engine case, wherein the cap is mounted to an opening through the high pressure engine case;
wherein the torch axis and engine axis are non-intersecting, and wherein the tip is mounted to the main combustor to discharge combustion products into the main combustor.

9. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of main fuel injectors mounted to the main combustor, wherein the torch combustion chamber is outside of the main combustor, and wherein none of the main fuel injectors includes a combustion chamber outside of the main combustor.

10. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the main combustor is annular and includes an inner wall and an outer wall spaced radially apart from one another, and wherein a combustor dome wall joins the inner and outer walls, wherein the main fuel injectors are mounted to the combustor dome wall.

11. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the combustion chamber is positioned forward of the combustor dome wall.

12. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the elbow turns from the torch axis to an aft facing direction.

13. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the tip is mounted to the combustor dome wall.

14. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the combustion chamber is positioned aft of the combustor dome wall.

15. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the tip is mounted to the outer wall.

16. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the elbow includes a first turn from the torch axis to a forward extending direction, and a second turn from the forward extending direction to a radially inward facing direction.

17. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the combustion chamber is positioned radially outward of a portion of the outer wall.

18. The torch ignitor system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the combustion chamber is inside the high pressure engine case but outside the main combustor.

Assignees

• Delavan Inc
• Collins Engine Nozzles Inc

Inventors

• Ryon Jason
• Prociw Lev A
• Williams Brandon Phillip

Classifications

• F02C7/264 Primary

  Ignition · CPC title

• F05D2260/30

  Retaining components in desired mutual position · CPC title

• F23R3/50

  Combustion chambers comprising an annular flame tube within an annular casing (toroidal combustion chambers F23R3/52) · CPC title

• F05D2240/35

  Combustors or associated equipment · CPC title

• F23R3/343 Primary

  Pilot flames, i.e. fuel nozzles or injectors using only a very small proportion of the total fuel to insure continuous combustion (ignition in gas-turbine plants F02C7/264; pilot flame igniters F23Q9/00) · CPC title