Fuel supply system for a gas turbine combustor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016245182-A1
Application number	US-201514629717-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 24, 2015
Priority date	Feb 24, 2015
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel supply system for a gas turbine combustor includes a fuel distribution manifold. A first fuel circuit extends from the fuel distribution manifold in a first circumferential direction around an outer surface of the outer casing and provides for fluid communication from the fuel distribution manifold, through the outer casing and to at least one fuel injector disposed within the outer casing. A second fuel circuit extends from the fuel distribution manifold in a second circumferential direction around the outer surface of the outer casing. The second fuel circuit provides for fluid communication from the fuel distribution manifold, through the outer casing and to at least one fuel injector within the outer casing. In particular configurations, the fuel supply system includes a shield that surrounds at least a portion of the outer casing and at least partially encases the first fuel circuit and the second fuel circuit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fuel supply system for a gas turbine combustor, the system comprising:
a fuel distribution manifold coupled to an outer casing of the combustor; a first fuel circuit that extends from the fuel distribution manifold in a first circumferential direction around an outer surface of the outer casing, wherein the first fuel circuit provides for fluid communication from the fuel distribution manifold, through the outer casing and to at least one fuel injector of a plurality of fuel injectors that are disposed within the outer casing; and a second fuel circuit that extends from the fuel distribution manifold in a second circumferential direction around the outer surface of the outer casing, wherein the second fuel circuit provides for fluid communication from the fuel distribution manifold, through the outer casing and to at least one fuel injector of the plurality of fuel injectors.

2 . The system as in claim 1 , further comprising a shield that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the outer casing, wherein the shield at least partially encases the first fuel circuit and the second fuel circuit.

3 . The system as in claim 2 , wherein the shield at least partially defines a plenum between the outer casing and the shield, wherein the first and second fuel circuits extend within the plenum.

4 . The system as in claim 1 , wherein the first fuel circuit includes a primary fuel line that is in fluid communication with the fuel distribution manifold and a plurality of secondary fuel lines, wherein each secondary fuel line is in fluid communication with the primary fuel line and at least one fuel injector of the plurality of fuel injectors.

5 . The system as in claim 4 , further comprising fittings fluidly connected to the secondary fuel lines, wherein the fittings provide for fluid communication through the outer casing.

6 . The system as in claim 1 , wherein the second fuel circuit includes a primary fuel line that is in fluid communication with the fuel distribution manifold and a plurality of secondary fuel lines, wherein each secondary fuel line is in fluid communication with the primary fuel line and at least one fuel injector of the plurality of fuel injectors.

7 . The system as in claim 6 , further comprising fittings fluidly connected to the secondary fuel lines, wherein the fittings provide for fluid communication through the outer casing.

8 . The system as in claim 1 , wherein the outer casing includes a forward casing that surrounds at least a portion of the combustor.

9 . A combustor for a gas turbine, the combustor comprising:
an outer casing and an end cover coupled to the outer casing; a primary fuel nozzle that extends axially downstream from the end cover within the outer casing; a primary combustion zone defined downstream from the primary fuel nozzle; a plurality of fuel injectors disposed within the outer casing downstream from the primary combustion zone; a fuel distribution manifold coupled to the outer casing of the combustor a first fuel circuit that extends from the fuel distribution manifold in a first circumferential direction around an outer surface of the outer casing, wherein the first fuel circuit provides for fluid communication from the fuel distribution manifold, through the outer casing and to one fuel injector of the plurality of fuel injectors; and a second fuel circuit that extends from the fuel distribution manifold in a second circumferential direction around the outer surface of the outer casing, wherein the second fuel circuit provides for fluid communication from the fuel distribution manifold, through the outer casing and to one fuel injector of the plurality of fuel injectors.

10 . The combustor as in claim 9 , further comprising a shield that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the outer casing, wherein the shield at least partially encases the first fuel circuit and the second fuel circuit.

11 . The combustor as in claim 10 , wherein the shield at least partially defines a plenum between the outer casing and the shield, wherein the first and second fuel circuits extend within the plenum.

12 . The combustor as in claim 9 , wherein the first fuel circuit includes a primary fuel line that is in fluid communication with the fuel distribution manifold and a plurality of secondary fuel lines, wherein each secondary fuel line is in fluid communication with the primary fuel line and at least one fuel injector of the plurality of fuel injectors.

13 . The combustor as in claim 12 , further comprising fittings fluidly connected to the secondary fuel lines, wherein the fittings provide for fluid communication through the outer casing.

14 . The combustor as in claim 9 , wherein the second fuel circuit includes a primary fuel line that is in fluid communication with the fuel distribution manifold and a plurality of secondary fuel lines, wherein each secondary fuel line is in fluid communication with the primary fuel line and at least one fuel injector of the plurality of fuel injectors.

15 . The combustor as in claim 14 , further comprising fittings fluidly connected to the secondary fuel lines, wherein the fittings provide for fluid communication through the outer casing.

16 . The combustor as in claim 9 , wherein the outer casing includes a forward casing that surrounds at least a portion of the combustor.

17 . A gas turbine, comprising:
a compressor; a combustor disposed downstream from the compressor, the combustor having an outer casing and an end cover coupled to the outer casing, and a fuel nozzle that extends axially downstream from the end cover within the outer casing; a fuel supply in fluid communication with the combustor; and a turbine disposed downstream from the combustor; wherein the combustor further comprises:
a plurality of fuel injectors disposed within the outer casing downstream from the fuel nozzle;
a fuel distribution manifold coupled to the outer casing of the combustor, wherein the fuel distribution manifold is in fluid communication with the fuel supply;
a first fuel circuit that extends from the fuel distribution manifold in a first circumferential direction around an outer surface of the outer casing, wherein the first fuel circuit provides for fluid communication from the fuel distribution manifold, through the outer casing and to one fuel injector of the plurality of fuel injectors; and
a second fuel circuit that extends from the fuel distribution manifold in a second circumferential direction around the outer surface of the outer casing, wherein the second fuel circuit provides for fluid communication from the fuel distribution manifold, through the outer casing and to one fuel injector of the plurality of fuel injectors.

18 . The gas turbine as in claim 17 , further comprising a shield that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the outer casing, wherein the shield at least partially encases the first fuel circuit and the second fuel circuit.

19 . The gas turbine as in claim 18 , wherein the shield at least partially defines a plenum between the outer casing and the shield, wherein the first and second fuel circuits extend within the plenum.

20 . The gas turbine as in claim 18 , wherein the first fuel circuit includes a primary fuel line that is in fluid communication with the fuel distribution manifold and a plurality of secondary fuel lines, wherein each secondary fuel line is in fluid communication with the primary fuel line and at least one fuel inj

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Elwasila Nazar Ahmed
• Rohrssen Robert Joseph
• Pentecost Ronnie Ray
• Stoia Lucas John

Classifications

• F23R3/28 Primary

  characterised by the fuel supply (burners F23D) · CPC title

• F02C7/228

  Dividing fuel between various burners · CPC title

• F02C7/22

  Fuel supply systems · CPC title

• F23R3/42

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

• F02C7/222 Primary

  Fuel flow conduits, e.g. manifolds · CPC title