US 10,865,992 B2Granted

Fuel injectors and methods of use in gas turbine combustor

AssigneeGeneral Electric Company

InventorsRichard Martin DiCintio, Seth Reynolds Hoffman, Ronnie Ray Pentecost, Jayaprakash Natarajan, Wei Zhao

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Abstract

A fuel injector is provided for the radial introduction of a fuel/air mixture to a combustor. The fuel injector includes a frame having interior sides defining an opening for passage of a first fluid; at least one fuel injection body; and a conduit fitting. The at least one fuel injection body is coupled to the frame and positioned within the opening, thereby defining flow paths for the first fluid. The at least one fuel injection body defines a fuel plenum, and a set of fuel injection holes are defined through an outer surface of the at least one fuel injection body. The conduit fitting is coupled to the frame and conveys fuel from a fuel supply line to the fuel plenum. Fuel and the first fluid mix in the flow paths and are delivered through the outlet to the combustor.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A fuel injector comprising:

a mounting flange positioned on an outer combustion liner radially outward of an inner combustion liner;
a frame extending radially outward from the mounting flange and comprising oppositely disposed side walls joined to oppositely disposed end walls, the side walls and the end walls having interior sides defining an opening, for passage of a first fluid,
wherein the interior sides of the frame define a rectangular shape with the side walls that are longer than the end walls;
a first fuel injection body coupled to the end walls of the frame, the first fuel injection body being positioned radially outward of the mounting flange and within the opening such that flow paths for the first fluid are defined between the interior sides of the frame and the first fuel injection body, wherein the first fuel injection body defines therein a first fuel plenum and a first plurality of fuel injection holes in communication with the first fuel plenum along at least one outer surface of the first fuel injection body;
and
a conduit fitting coupled to the frame and fluidly connected to the first fuel plenum,
wherein the conduit fitting extends from outside the frame and connects to the first fuel plenum through only one of the end walls.

4 more elements

A combustor for a gas turbine, the combustor comprising:

a liner defining a combustion chamber, the liner defining a head end, an aft end, and at least one opening therethrough between the head end and the aft end, the liner comprises an outer liner and an inner liner;
and
an axial fuel staging (AFS) system comprising:
a fuel injector, the fuel injector being mounted to provide fluid communication through a respective one of the at least one opening in the liner, the fluid communication being directed in a radial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the liner;
and
a fuel supply line coupled to the fuel injector;
wherein the fuel injector further comprises:
a mounting flange positioned on the outer liner;
a frame extending radially outward from the mounting flange and comprising oppositely disposed side walls joined to oppositely disposed end walls, the side walls and the end walls having interior sides defining an opening for passage of a first fluid,
wherein the interior sides of the frame define a rectangular shape with the side walls that are longer than the end walls;
a first fuel injection body coupled to the end walls of the frame, the first fuel injection body being positioned radially outward of the mounting flange and within the opening such that flow paths for the first fluid are defined between the interior sides of the frame and the first fuel injection body;
wherein the first fuel injection body defines therein a first fuel plenum and a first plurality of fuel injection holes in communication with the first fuel plenum along at least one outer surface of the first fuel injection body;
a conduit fitting integral with the frame and defining a fluid connection between the fuel supply line and the first fuel plenum;
and
an outlet member, the outlet member being in fluid communication with the fluid flow paths,
wherein the conduit fitting extends from outside the frame and connects to the first fuel plenum through only one of the end walls.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.