System and method for tube level air flow conditioning
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsRonald James Chila, Patrick Benedict Melton, Gregory Allen Boardman, James Harold Westmoreland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes a multi-tube fuel nozzle. The multi-tube fuel nozzle includes multiple mixing tubes. Each mixing tube includes an annular wall disposed about a central passage and an air inlet region configured to be disposed about a fuel injector extending into the central passage. The central passage extends from an upstream end to a downstream end of the annular wall relative to a direction of flow through the central passage. The air inlet region includes an air entry surface of the annular wall that gradually decreases in diameter in the direction of flow.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a multi-tube fuel nozzle, comprising:
- a plurality of mixing tubes, wherein each mixing tube comprises:
- an annular wall disposed about a central passage, wherein the central passage extends from an upstream end to a downstream end of the annular wall relative to a direction of flow through the central passage;
- and
- an air inlet region configured to be disposed about a fuel injector extending into the central passage, wherein the air inlet region comprises an air entry surface of the annular wall that gradually decreases in diameter in the direction of flow.
A system, comprising:
- an end cover assembly and a multi-tube fuel nozzle, comprising:
- a retainer plate;
- and
- a plurality of tubes disposed between the end cover assembly and the retainer plate, wherein each tube comprises:
- an annular wall disposed about a central passage, wherein the central passage extends from an upstream end of the annular wall adjacent the end cover assembly to a downstream end of the annular wall adjacent the retainer plate;
- and
- an air inlet region configured to be disposed about a fuel injector extending into the central passage, wherein the air inlet region comprises an air entry surface, comprising a bell-shaped portion of the annular wall.
The system of 11, wherein the air entry surface of each of the tubes comprises an inner surface that gradually decreases in diameter in the direction of flow.
A system, comprising:
- an end cover assembly and a multi-tube fuel nozzle, comprising:
- a retainer plate;
- and
- a tube disposed between the end cover assembly and the retainer plate, wherein the tube comprises:
- an annular wall disposed about a central passage, wherein the central passage extends from an upstream end of the annular wall adjacent the end cover assembly to a downstream end of the annular wall adjacent the retainer plate;
- and
- an air inlet region configured to be disposed about a fuel injector extending into the central passage, wherein the air inlet region comprises an air entry surface, comprising a bell-shaped portion of the annular wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.