Method and apparatus for reducing noise generated by combustion
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsLeslie R. Southall, Augustine J. Scalzo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combustor in which fuel is introduced into a combustion zone at a first acute angle with respect to the radially outward direction so as to swirl the fuel about the combustor axis, thereby improving the stability of the combustion process. Combustion air is introduced into the combustion zone at a second acute angle with respect to the radially inward direction so as to swirl the air about the combustor axis in the same circumferential direction that the fuel is swirled, with the first and second acute angles being approximately equal. By swirling the combustion air in a manner that is compatible with the swirling of the fuel, noise associated with the combustion process is reduced.
Claims23
A combustor, comprising:
- a) a liner for enclosing a combustion zone in which fuel and air are burned, said liner defining an axis of said combustor;
- b) a fuel nozzle for introducing said fuel into said combustion zone, said fuel nozzle being disposed along said combustor axis and having means for directing fuel radially outward therefrom and for swirling said fuel circumferentially around said axis;
- and
- c) a plurality of air inlet passages disposed in said liner having means for introducing at least a first portion said air in which said fuel is burned tangentially into said combustion zone at a first acute angle relative to the radially inward direction so as to swirl said air circumferentially around said axis.
A gas turbine, comprising:
- a) a compressor for producing compressed air;
- b) a combustor for burning a fuel in said compressed air from said compressor so as to produce a hot gas, said combustor including:
- (i) a liner for enclosing a combustion zone in which said fuel and compressed air are burned, said liner defining an axis of said combustor;
- (ii) means for introducing substantially all of said fuel to be burned into said combustion zone by directing said fuel into said combustion zone in a direction inclined at a first acute angle to a first radial direction with respect to said combustor axis while swirling said fuel circumferentially around said axis;
- (iii) first means for introducing compressed air into said combustion zone by directing at least a first portion of said compressed air into said combustion zone in a direction inclined at a second acute angle to a second radial direction with respect to said axis so as to swirl said compressed air circumferentially around said axis, said first and second radial directions being opposing;
- and
- c) a turbine for expanding said hot gas from said combustor.
A method of reducing noise generated by combusting fuel in air, comprising the steps of:
- a) forming a combustion zone within a combustor having an axis thereof;
- b) introducing substantially all of said fuel into said combustion zone at a first acute angle to a first radial direction with respect to said combustor axis while swirling said fuel circumferentially therearound in a first circumferential direction;
- and
- c) introducing a major portion of said air into said combustion zone at a second acute angle to a second radial direction so as to swirl said air circumferentially therearound in said first circumferential direction, said first and second radial directions being opposed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.