Electrostatic flow guide dirt collector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12435669-B1
Application number	US-202418800860-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 12, 2024
Priority date	Aug 12, 2024
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

A gas turbine engine combustor section extends axially from a pre-diffuser at a forward end to an aft end relative to an engine axis. The gas turbine engine combustor section includes a combustor liner defining a combustion chamber and a combustor dome situated at a forward end of the combustor liner and affixed thereto. The gas turbine engine combustor section further includes an electrostatic particulate matter collector. The electrostatic particulate matter collector includes a first charged flow guide having an axially forward-most extent aligned with the pre-diffuser and widens radially with respect to the engine axis from the forward-most extent to the combustor dome. The electrostatic particulate matter collector further includes a fuel nozzle extending through the first charged flow guide into the combustor dome. The electrostatic particulate matter collector also includes a power supply electrically coupled to positively charge the first charged flow guide.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gas turbine engine combustor section extending axially from a pre-diffuser at a forward end to an aft end relative to an engine axis, the gas turbine engine combustor section comprising:
a combustor liner defining a combustion chamber;
a combustor dome situated at a forward end of the combustor liner and affixed thereto;
an electrostatic particulate matter collector comprising a first charged flow guide having an axially forward-most extent aligned with the pre-diffuser, and widening radially with respect to the engine axis from the axially forward-most extent to the combustor dome;
a fuel nozzle extending through the first charged flow guide into the combustor dome; and
a power supply electrically coupled to positively charge the first charged flow guide.

2. The gas turbine engine combustor section according to claim 1 , wherein the electrostatic particulate matter collector further comprises a second charged flow guide extending axially forward of the first charged flow guide and radially wider than the first charged flow guide.

3. The gas turbine engine combustor section according to claim 2 , wherein the second charged flow guide has an axially forward edge aligned with but not abutting the pre-diffuser, such that an electrically isolating air gap is formed therebetween.

4. The gas turbine engine combustor section according to claim 2 , wherein the electrostatic particulate matter collector further comprises a third charged flow guide situated between and spaced apart from the first and second charged flow guides.

5. The gas turbine engine combustor section according to claim 2 , wherein the electrostatic particulate matter collector further comprises a plurality of flow guide supports configured to structurally support the second charged flow guide relative to the first charged flow guide, and to electrically couple the second charged flow guide to the first charged flow guide.

6. The gas turbine engine combustor section according to claim 5 , wherein each flow guide support of the plurality of flow guide supports comprises:
a rod anchored to each of the first and second charged flow guides; and
a spacer surrounding the rod and supporting the second charged flow guide relative to the first charged flow guide;
wherein at least one of the rod and the spacer is electrically conductive.

7. The gas turbine engine combustor section according to claim 1 , wherein the combustor liner and/or combustor dome supports the electrostatic particulate matter collector via a portion of the first charged flow guide concentric with and anchored to at least one of the combustor liner and the combustor dome.

8. The gas turbine engine combustor section according to claim 7 , wherein the first charged flow guide is anchored via a mounting system comprising:
a plurality of fasteners distributed about first charged flow guide and securing the first charged flow guide to at least one of the combustor dome and the combustor liner, each fastener electrically isolated from the first charged flow guide by an insulating washer.

9. The gas turbine engine combustor section according to claim 8 , wherein the mounting system further comprises:
an insulating layer disposed between the first charged flow guide and the combustor dome or the first charged flow guide and the combustor liner.

10. The gas turbine engine combustor section according to claim 1 , wherein the first charged flow guide and the combustor liner are annular.

11. An electrostatic particulate matter collector for retaining particulate matter along a flow path between a pre-diffuser and a combustor liner of a combustor section of a gas turbine engine, the electrostatic particulate matter collector comprising:
a first charged flow guide widening radially from an upstream extent to a downstream extent, relative to the flow path;
a power supply electrically coupled to the first charged flow guide such that the first charged flow guide is able to be positively charged by the power supply;
a hole in the first charged flow guide configured to allow a fuel nozzle to pass through; and
a mounting system configured to electrically isolate the first charged flow guide from, but structurally secure the first charged flow guide to, the combustor liner.

12. The electrostatic particulate matter collector according to claim 11 , further comprising a second charged flow guide extending further upstream, relative to the flow path, from the first charged flow guide and radially wider than the first charged flow guide.

13. The electrostatic particulate matter collector according to claim 12 , wherein the electrostatic particulate matter collector further comprises a third charged flow guide situated between and spaced apart from the first and second charged flow guides.

14. The electrostatic particulate matter collector according to claim 12 , wherein the electrostatic particulate matter collector further comprises a plurality of flow guide supports configured to structurally support the second charged flow guide relative to the first charged flow guide, and to electrically couple the second charged flow guide to the first charged flow guide.

15. The electrostatic particulate matter collector according to claim 12 , wherein each flow guide support of the plurality of flow guide support comprises:
a rod anchored to each of the first and second charged flow guides; and
a spacer surrounding the rod and supporting the second charged flow guide relative to the first charged flow guide;
wherein at least one of the rod and the spacer is electrically conductive.

16. The electrostatic particulate matter collector according to claim 11 , wherein the first charged flow guide is configured to extend to at least partially overlap the combustor liner.

17. The electrostatic particulate matter collector according to claim 11 , wherein the mounting system comprises a plurality of fasteners distributed about the first charged flow guide and securing the first charged flow guide to at least one of a combustor dome and the combustor liner, each fastener electrically isolated from the first charged flow guide by an insulating washer.

18. The electrostatic particulate matter collector according to claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of fasteners are configured to be at least partially surrounded by an electrically insulating sleeve.

19. The electrostatic particulate matter collector according to claim 17 , wherein the mounting system comprises an insulating layer disposed between the first charged flow guide and the combustor dome or the combustor liner.

20. The electrostatic particulate matter collector according to claim 11 , wherein a controller is connected to the power supply for controlling an on or off state on the power supply as a function of operating conditions of the gas turbine engine.

Assignees

• Rtx Corp

Inventors

• Liljenberg Scott
• Davis Dustin

Classifications

• B03C3/86

  Electrode-carrying means (B03C3/40 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B03C3/366

  located in the filter, e.g. special shape of the electrodes · CPC title

• B03C3/017

  Combinations of electrostatic separation with other processes, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F23R3/42

  characterised by the arrangement or form of the flame tubes or combustion chambers · CPC title

• F02C7/052 Primary

  with dust-separation devices · CPC title