# US 2021/0278085 A1 · Fuel Injector Flow Device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0278085 A1 - Document ID: US20210278085A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/808,443 - Filed: 2020-03-04 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-04 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Gurunath Gandikota; Steven Clayton Vise; Perumallu Vukanti; Mayank Krisna Amble; Clayton Stuart Cooper; Nicholas Ryan Overman; Karthikeyan Sampath; Allen Michael Danis; Craig Douglas Young - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210278085A1 ## CPC - F23R 3/14: by using swirl vanes - F23R 3/286: {having fuel-air premixing devices (F23R3/30 takes precedence)} - F02C 7/22: Fuel supply systems - F23R 3/002: {Wall structures (F23R3/02 and F23R3/007 take precedence)} - F23R 3/283: {Attaching or cooling of fuel injecting means including supports for fuel injectors, stems, or lances} - 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) - 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) ## Abstract A flow device for a combustor assembly defining a longitudinal axis around which the flow device is positioned is provided. The flow device includes a body extended around the longitudinal axis. The body includes a first wall and a second wall separated longitudinally from one another along the longitudinal axis. A fuel injector passage is defined through the body coaxial to the longitudinal axis. A plurality of vane walls is extended radially between the first wall and the second wall relative to the longitudinal axis. A radial flow passage is extended between the plurality of vane walls and the fuel injector passage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flow device for a combustor assembly, the flow device comprising: a body extended around a longitudinal axis, wherein the body comprises a first wall and a second wall separated longitudinally from one another along the longitudinal axis, and wherein a fuel injector passage is defined through the body coaxial to the longitudinal axis, and further wherein a plurality of vane walls is extended radially between the first wall and the second wall relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein a radial flow passage is extended between the plurality of vane walls and the fuel injector passage, and wherein an opening is defined at least partially through one or more vane walls in fluid communication with the radial flow passage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flow device of claim 1, wherein the opening is extended radially from the fuel injector passage at least partially along a distance of the radial flow passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The flow device of claim 2, wherein the opening is extended longitudinally through the first wall. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flow device of claim 1, wherein the opening is a circular or polygonal cross section through the first wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flow device of claim 1, wherein the radial flow passage is extended along a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis from the fuel injector passage to a surrounding area radially outward of the body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The flow device of claim 5, wherein the body further comprises a third wall separated longitudinally from the second wall along the first injector centerline axis, wherein a mixer assembly is positioned between the second wall and the third wall, the mixer assembly comprising a plurality of radially oriented vanes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The flow device of claim 6, wherein the mixer assembly defines a mixer flow passage extended radially, longitudinally, or both relative to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The flow device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vane walls is in circumferential arrangement relative to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The flow device of claim 1, wherein the opening is defined through the first wall in fluid communication with the radial flow passage, and wherein the opening is extended radially from the fuel injector passage at least partially along a distance of the radial flow passage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The flow device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vane walls is extended at least partially tangentially relative to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 11 A combustor assembly for a combustion section, the combustor assembly defining a longitudinal axis along which a fuel injector is positioned, the combustor assembly comprising: a flow device extended around the longitudinal axis, wherein the flow device comprises a first wall and a second wall separated longitudinally from one another along the longitudinal axis, and wherein a fuel injector passage is defined through the flow device coaxial to the longitudinal axis, and further wherein a plurality of vane walls is extended radially between the first wall and the second wall relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein a radial flow passage is extended between the plurality of vane walls and the fuel injector passage, and further wherein an opening is defined at least partially through one or more vane walls in fluid communication with the radial flow passage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The combustor assembly of claim 11, wherein the opening is defined through the first wall in direct fluid communication with the radial flow passage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The combustor assembly of claim 11, wherein the opening is extended radially from the fuel injector passage at least partially along a distance of the radial flow passage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The combustor assembly of claim 11, wherein the opening is extended longitudinally through the first wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The combustor assembly of claim 11, wherein the radial flow passage is extended along a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis from the fuel injector passage to a surrounding area radially outward of the flow device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The combustor assembly of claim 15, wherein the flow device further comprises a third wall separated longitudinally from the second wall along the first injector centerline axis, wherein a plurality of radially oriented vanes defining a fuel/air mixer assembly is positioned between the second wall and the third wall. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The combustor assembly of claim 16, wherein a mixer flow passage is extended radially and longitudinally relative to the longitudinal axis between the second wall, the third wall, and the plurality of radially oriented vanes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The combustor assembly of claim 16, wherein the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall are each in serial arrangement along the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The combustor assembly of claim 11, further comprising: a fuel injector positioned in the fuel injector passage, wherein the plurality of vane walls is configured to provide a flow of fluid through the radial flow passage from a surrounding area radially outward of the flow device to the fuel injector passage. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) A heat engine comprising the combustor assembly of claim 11.