Atomizer for a combustor and associated method for atomizing fuel

An atomizer for use with a combustor in a gas turbine, wherein the atomizer is comprised of:

• a) a body,
• b) a fuel passageway within the body extending along a passageway centerline, wherein the fuel passageway has an entry end and a discharge end;
• c) a plurality of channels extending within the body about the passageway centerline and spaced around the discharge end of the fuel passageway, wherein at the discharge end of the passageway the channels are oriented along a circumferential angle about the passageway centerline to deliver air at the discharge end of the passageway with a whirling motion and wherein the channels are simultaneously oriented along an axial angle about the passageway centerline thereby converging toward the passageway centerline to deliver air at the discharge end toward the passageway centerline;
• d) wherein the fuel passageway has an enlarged conical portion at the entry end of the fuel passageway;
• e) wherein the circumferential angle is 33°;
• and
• f) wherein the channels diverge toward the passageway centerline at an axial angle of 30°.

An annular combustor comprising:

• a) a combustion chamber;
• b) at least one atomizer for receiving and mixing fuel and air for introduction to the combustion chamber;
• c) wherein the atomizer is comprised of
• 1) a body,
• 2) a fuel passageway within the body extending along a passageway centerline, wherein the fuel passageway has an entry end and a discharge end;
• and
• 3) a plurality of channels extending within the body about the passageway centerline and spaced around the discharge end of the fuel passageway, wherein at the discharge end of the passageway the channels are oriented along a circumferential angle about the passageway centerline to deliver air at the discharge end of the passageway with a whirling motion and wherein the channels are simultaneously oriented along an axial angle about the passageway centerline thereby converging toward the passageway centerline to deliver air at the discharge end toward the passageway centerline.