Free-vortex combustor

A continuous combustor, comprising:

• a fuel injector;
• a first air inlet ring surrounding a downstream end of the fuel injector;
• a prechamber wall abutting the first air inlet ring;
• a second air inlet ring abutting a downstream end of the prechamber wall;
• and
• a main chamber wall abutting the second air inlet ring, wherein:
• the first and second air inlet rings each define an annulus by an inner wall and an outer wall;
• the first and second air inlet rings have a plurality of flow deflectors disposed between the respective inner and outer walls of the first and second air inlet rings;
• the flow deflectors impart a swirling flow to air passing therethrough;
• air passing through the first air inlet ring is provided into the prechamber;
• and
• the prechamber wall comprises a cylindrical portion and a conical frustum portion downstream of the cylindrical portion;
• a downstream end of the conical frustum portion of the prechamber wall has a greater diameter than an upstream end of the conical frustum of the prechamber;
• the downstream end of the prechamber abuts with the inner wall of the second air inlet ring;
• the main chamber wall comprises three portions:
• an upstream portion that comprises a first cylindrical wall, a downstream portion that comprises a second cylindrical wall of a diameter less than the first cylindrical wall, and a central portion coupled between the first and second cylindrical walls, the central portion being a conical frustum wall, and
• the first cylindrical wall of the main chamber wall abuts the outer wall of the second air inlet ring.