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US 11,635,027 B2Granted
Fuel systems for torch ignition devices
AssigneeCollins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
InventorsJason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Brandon P. Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torch igniter system for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a housing defining a combustion chamber, an ignition source disposed at least partially in the combustion chamber, a fuel injector, a first fluid path connecting a first fuel source to the fuel injector, a second fluid path connecting an air source to the fuel injector, and a third fluid path connecting a second fuel source to the combustion chamber. The fuel injector is configured to inject fuel, air, or a mixture of fuel and air into the combustion chamber and to impinge on the ignition source.
Claims10
A torch igniter system for a combustor of a gas turbine engine, the torch igniter system comprising:
- a housing defining a combustion chamber;
- an ignition source disposed at least partially in the combustion chamber;
- a fuel injector configured to inject at least one of fuel and air into the combustion chamber and to impinge on the ignition source;
- a first fluid path connecting a first fuel source to the fuel injector;
- a second fluid path connecting an air source to the fuel injector;
- a third fluid path connecting a second fuel source to the combustion chamber;
- an inner wall of the fuel injector, the inner wall defining an internal volume of the fuel injector;
- a flow divider disposed within the internal volume of the fuel injector and configured to separate fluid flow through the first fluid path from fluid flow through the second fluid path and the third fluid path;
- a mixing annulus for atomizing a first fuel from the first fuel source, the mixing annulus defined by the inner wall of the fuel injector and disposed adjacent to the flow divider;
- a tip aperture disposed between the combustion chamber and the mixing annulus, wherein the first fluid path, second fluid path, and third fluid path flow sequentially through the mixing annulus and the tip aperture to the combustion chamber;
- a channel that extends through an inner portion of the flow divider and connects the second fluid path and third fluid path to the tip aperture, such that air from the air source flowing along the second fluid path atomizes the first fuel flowing along the first fluid path in the mixing annulus;
- and
- an annular volume formed between an outer surface of the flow divider and the inner wall, the annular volume connecting only the first fluid path to the tip aperture such that the second and third fluid paths do not include the annular volume;
- wherein a portion of the second fluid path is coextensive with a portion of the third fluid path upstream of the flow divider.
11 more elements
A method of switching fuels delivered to a torch igniter system for a combustor of a gas turbine engine,
- the torch igniter system comprising:
- a housing defining a combustion chamber;
- an ignition source disposed at least partially in the combustion chamber;
- a fuel injector configured to inject at least one of fuel and air into the combustion chamber and to impinge on the ignition source;
- a first fluid path connecting a first fuel source to the fuel injector;
- a second fluid path connecting an air source to the fuel injector;
- a third fluid path connecting a second fuel source to the combustion chamber;
- an inner wall of the fuel injector, the inner wall defining an internal volume of the fuel injector;
- a flow divider disposed within the internal volume of the fuel injector and configured to separate fluid flow through the first fluid path from fluid flow through the second fluid path and the third fluid path;
- a mixing annulus for atomizing a first fuel from the first fuel source, the mixing annulus defined by the inner wall of the fuel injector and disposed adjacent to the flow divider;
- a tip aperture disposed between the combustion chamber and the mixing annulus, wherein the first fluid path, second fluid path, and third fluid path flow sequentially through the mixing annulus and the tip aperture to the combustion chamber;
- a channel that extends through an inner portion of the flow divider and connects the second fluid path and third fluid path to the tip aperture, such that air from the air source flowing along the second fluid path atomizes the first fuel flowing along the first fluid path in the mixing annulus;
- and
- an annular volume formed between an outer surface of the flow divider and the inner wall, the annular volume connecting only the first fluid path to the tip aperture such that the second and third fluid paths do not include the annular volume;
- wherein a portion of the second fluid path is coextensive with a portion of the third fluid path upstream of the flow divider;
- the method comprising:
- delivering a second fuel from the second fuel source to the combustion chamber along the third fluid path,
- creating a flame within the combustion chamber by impinging the second fuel on the ignition source;
- detecting an interruption in the delivery of the second fuel;
- delivering the first fuel from the first fuel source to the combustion chamber along the first fluid path after detecting the interruption;
- delivering the air from the air source along the second fluid path while delivering the first fuel along the first fluid path;
- atomizing the first fuel with the air in the mixing annulus;
- and
- igniting the first fuel with the flame in the combustion chamber.
21 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.