# US 2016/0252018 A1 · Enhanced mixing tube elements

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- Number: US 2016/0252018 A1
- Document ID: US20160252018A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/151,978
- Filed: 2016-05-11
- Published: 2016-09-01
- Earliest claimed: 2013-07-29
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Applicants: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Yon Han Chong; Dereck Joseph Ouellet
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160252018A1

## CPC

- F02C 7/222: {Fuel flow conduits, e.g. manifolds}
- F23R 3/14: by using swirl vanes
- F23R 3/286: {having fuel-air premixing devices (F23R3/30 takes precedence)}
- F05D 2220/32: in gas turbines
- F23D 2900/14701: Swirling means inside the mixing tube or chamber to improve premixing
- F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00)
- F23R: GENERATING COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF HIGH PRESSURE OR HIGH VELOCITY, e.g. GAS-TURBINE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS (fluidised bed combustion apparatus specially adapted for operation at superatmospheric pressures F23C10/16)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F23D: BURNERS

## Abstract

The present application provides a fuel nozzle for use with a flow of air and a flow of fuel in a gas turbine engine. The fuel nozzle may include a plenum, a mixing tube element positioned within the plenum, and an enhanced mixing feature positioned within the mixing tube element so as to promote mixing of the flow of air and the flow of fuel. The enhanced mixing feature may include a swirler.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel nozzle for use with a flow of air and a flow of fuel in a gas turbine engine, comprising:
a plenum;
a mixing tube element positioned within the plenum; and
an enhanced mixing feature positioned within the mixing tube element so as to promote mixing of the flow of air and the flow of fuel;
the enhanced mixing feature comprising a swirler.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fuel nozzle of claim 1, wherein the mixing tube element comprises a conduit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fuel nozzle of claim 2, wherein the conduit comprises an air inlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel-air outlet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The fuel nozzle of claim 3, wherein the air inlet is positioned on the conduit in a first direction and the fuel inlet is positioned on the conduit at a perpendicular second direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fuel nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mixing tube elements positioned in an annular array.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fuel nozzle of claim 1, wherein the swirler comprises a plurality of vanes extending from a central hub to an outer shell.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The fuel nozzle of claim 6, wherein the vanes are angled.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The fuel nozzle of claim 3, wherein the swirler is pressed fit into the conduit downstream of the air inlet and the fuel inlet.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The fuel nozzle of claim 1, wherein the swirler provides swirl to the flow of air and the flow of fuel to promote good mixing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The fuel nozzle of claim 1, wherein the enhanced mixing feature comprises a plurality of swirlers.