Gas pilot with radially displaced, high momentum fuel outlet, and method thereof

A method for establishing a pilot flame comprising the steps of:

• i. providing a pilot having a center axis;
• ii. directing an outer primary pilot gas stream radially outward from the pilot center axis;
• iii. igniting the pilot flame;
• and
• iv. maintaining relatively high outer primary pilot gas stream axial momentum, whereby a stable pilot flame is established, wherein the step of providing a pilot having a center axis further comprises the steps of:
• a. providing a main fuel tube for conducting a primary pilot gas stream from an inlet to an outlet thereof, the main fuel tube outlet being sealed by a barrier;
• b. providing a plurality of fuel manifold tubes each having an inlet and an outlet, each of the fuel manifold tubes inlets being operatively connected to the main fuel tube upstream from the main fuel tube outlet, each of the fuel manifold tubes outlets being displaced radially outward from the main fuel tube;
• c. providing a swirler comprising a swirler tube having an inner surface, an inlet, and an outlet, the swirler being at least partially disposed downstream from the main fuel tube outlet;
• and
• d. providing an ignitor coupled to the main fuel tube and disposed at least partially downstream from the main fuel tube outlet and at least partially within the swirler tube;
• and
• wherein the steps of directing an outer primary pilot gas stream further comprises the steps of:
• i. enabling the primary pilot gas stream to flow through the main fuel tube;
• ii. directing the outer primary pilot gas stream from the main fuel tube through at least one of the fuel manifold tubes inlets, through at least one of the fuel manifold tubes, and through at least one of the fuel manifold tubes outlets, whereby the outer primary pilot gas stream is displaced radially outward and approximately concentric from the pilot center axis;
• and
• iii. enabling the outer primary pilot gas stream to flow from the fuel manifold tubes outlets, through the swirler tube inlet, through the swirler tube, and through the swirler tube outlet, whereby the outer primary pilot gas stream exits the pilot.

A gas pilot comprising:

• a main fuel tube for conducting an inner primary pilot gas stream from an inlet to an outlet thereof, the main fuel tube outlet being sealed by a barrier;
• a fuel radial displacement means having an inlet and an outlet, the fuel radial displacement means inlet being operatively connected to the main fuel tube upstream from the main fuel tube outlet, the fuel radial displacement means outlet being displaced radially outward from the main fuel tube, the fuel radial displacement means directing an outer primary pilot gas stream radially outward from the main fuel tube and downstream;
• a swirler comprising a swirler tube having an inner surface, an inlet, and an outlet, the swirler being at least partially disposed downstream from the main fuel tube outlet;
• and
• an ignitor coupled to the main fuel tube and disposed at least partially downstream from the main fuel tube outlet and at least partially within the swirler tube;
• wherein the outer primary pilot gas stream has relatively high axial momentum for establishing a stable pilot flame;
• wherein the fuel radial displacement means comprises a plurality of fuel manifold tubes, each having an inlet and an outlet, the fuel manifold inlets being operatively connected to the main fuel tube upstream from the main fuel tube outlet and being spaced at approximately equal angular displacements around the main fuel tube, each of the fuel manifold tubes outlets being displaced radially outward from the main fuel tube;
• wherein the plurality of fuel manifold tubes comprises six fuel manifold tubes each having an outer diameter of approximately 0.25 inch, each of the fuel manifold tubes outlets being disposed adjacent to both the swirler tube inner surface and the swirler tube inlet;
• and, wherein the main fuel tube outlet barrier comprises four circular openings each having a diameter of 0.125 inch.

A gas pilot comprising:

• a means for providing a primary pilot gas stream, said means for providing a primary pilot gas stream further comprising a means for providing an inner primary pilot gas stream and a means for providing an outer primary pilot gas stream being disposed radially outwardly from said primary pilot gas stream;
• a means for providing a secondary pilot gas stream disposed between said inner and said outer primary pilot gas streams;
• a means for mixing said primary and secondary pilot gas streams, said means for mixing further comprising a swirler tube having an inner surface;
• wherein said means for providing said outer primary pilot gas stream further comprises means for directing said outer primary pilot gas stream proximate said swirler inner surface;
• wherein said outer primary pilot gas stream has a momentum greater than the momentum of said secondary pilot gas stream.

A gas pilot comprising:

• a main fuel tube for conducting an inner primary pilot gas stream from an inlet to an outlet thereof, the main fuel tube outlet being sealed by a barrier;
• a fuel radial displacement means having an inlet and an outlet, the fuel radial displacement means inlet being operatively connected to the main fuel tube upstream from the main fuel tube outlet, the fuel radial displacement means outlet being displaced radially outward from the main fuel tube, the fuel radial displacement means directing an outer primary pilot gas stream radially outward from the main fuel tube and downstream;
• a swirler comprising a swirler tube having an inner surface an inlet, and an outlet, the swirler being at least partially disposed downstream from the main fuel tube outlet;
• and
• an ignitor coupled to the main fuel tube and disposed at least partially downstream from the main fuel tube outlet and at least partially within the swirler tube;
• wherein the outer primary pilot gas stream has relatively high axial momentum for establishing a stable pilot flame;
• wherein the fuel radial displacement means comprises a plurality of fuel manifold tubes, each having an inlet and an outlet, the fuel manifold inlets being operatively connected to the main fuel tube upstream from the main fuel tube outlet and being spaced at approximately equal angular displacements around the main fuel tube, each of the fuel manifold tubes outlets being displaced radially outward from the main fuel tube,
• wherein the fuel manifold tubes outlets are disposed adjacent to the swirler tube inner surface.

A gas pilot comprising:

• a main fuel tube for conducting an inner primary pilot gas stream from an inlet to an outlet thereof, the main fuel tube outlet being sealed by a barrier;
• a fuel radial displacement means having an inlet and an outlet, the fuel radial displacement means inlet being operatively connected to the main fuel tube upstream from the main fuel tube outlet, the fuel radial displacement means outlet being displaced radially outward from the main fuel tube, the fuel radial displacement means directing an outer primary pilot gas stream radially outward from the main fuel tube and downstream;
• a swirler comprising a swirler tube having an inner surface, an inlet, and an outlet, the swirler being at least partially disposed downstream from the main fuel tube outlet;
• and
• an ignitor coupled to the main fuel tube and disposed at least partially downstream from the main fuel tube outlet and at least partially within the swirler tube;
• wherein the outer primary pilot gas stream has relatively high axial momentum for establishing a stable pilot flame;
• where the fuel radial displacement means comprises a plurality of fuel manifold tubes, each having an inlet and an outlet, the fuel manifold inlets being operatively connected to the main fuel tube upstream from the main fuel tube outlet and being spaced at approximately equal angular displacements around the main fuel tube, each of the fuel manifold tubes outlets being displaced radially outward from the main fuel tube,
• wherein at least one of the fuel manifold tubes outlets is at least partially disposed within the swirler tube.

A gas pilot comprising:

• a main fuel tube for conducting an inner primary pilot gas stream from an inlet to an outlet thereof, the main fuel tube outlet being sealed by a barrier;
• a fuel radial displacement means having an inlet and an outlet, the fuel radial displacement means inlet being operatively connected to the main fuel tube upstream from the main fuel tube outlet, the fuel radial displacement means outlet being displaced radially outward from the main fuel tube, the fuel radial displacement means directing an outer primary pilot gas stream radially outward from the main fuel tube and downstream;
• a swirler comprising a swirler tube having an inner surface, an inlet, and an outlet, the swirler being at least partially disposed downstream from the main fuel tube outlet;
• and
• an ignitor coupled to the main fuel tube and disposed at least partially downstream from the main fuel tube outlet and at least partially within the swirler tube;
• wherein the outer primary pilot gas stream has relatively high axial momentum for establishing a stable pilot flame;
• wherein the fuel radial displacement means comprises a plurality of fuel manifold tubes, each having an inlet and an outlet, the fuel manifold inlets being operatively connected to the main fuel tube upstream from the main fuel tube outlet and being spaced at approximately equal angular displacements around the main fuel tube, each of the fuel manifold tubes outlets being displaced radially outward from the main fuel tube,
• wherein at least one of the fuel manifold tubes outlets is at least partially disposed downstream from the main fuel tube outlet.