Gas turbine fuel mixer comprising a plurality of mini tubes for generating a fuel-air mixture

A mixer for blending fuel and air in a combustor of a gas turbine engine, the mixer having a forward end and an aft end and comprising:

• a central body having a central passageway and a central longitudinal axis;
• a plurality of tubes positioned radially around the central longitudinal axis and circumferentially around a periphery of the mixer, each of the tubes comprising:
• a first opening angled radially outward with respect to the central longitudinal axis and extending longitudinally in a direction from the forward end to the aft end and configured to introduce a first air flow;
• a second opening in an opposed relationship with the first opening, the second opening angled radially inward with respect to the central longitudinal axis and longitudinally in the direction from the forward end to the aft end and configured to introduce a second air flow;
• a tangential opening at an aft location to the first opening and second opening, the tangential opening angled with respect to the central longitudinal axis and configured to introduce a tangential air flow;
• and
• a cylindrical interior mixing passage configured to receive the first air flow, the second air flow, the tangential air flow, and a fuel flow,
• wherein the first air flow and the second air flow are configured to spread the fuel flow laterally and the tangential air flow is configured to spread the fuel flow tangentially, and
• wherein a fuel-air mixture is present at an exit of each of the plurality of tubes.