Porus material torch igniter
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorsLev Alexander Prociw, Rolando Buenafe Acolacol
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Abstract
The igniter for the combustor in a gas turbine engine includes a tubular member extending beyond the igniter tip, wherein the tubular member is a porous ceramic or high temperature nickel alloy. Fuel is fed to the bore of the tubular member by capillary action through the porous material of the tubular member and air passes through the porous tubular member to the bore.
Claims13
In an igniter for a combustor in a gas turbine engine, a fuel and air distribution means comprising a tubular member having an axial bore with a first end near the igniter such that the igniter tip is at the first end of the bore and the second end of the tubular member and bore communicates with the combustor, the tubular member is a porous material chosen from a material having a high thermal tolerance, a cavity defined behind the igniter tip relative to the axial bore and means are provided for supplying air to the cavity, a casing defining a plenum surrounding a portion of the tubular member and an air inlet for communicating high pressure air within the plenum, a fuel inlet to feed fuel to the tubular porous member such that the liquid fuel is retained and distributed by capillary action towards the axial bore of the tubular member where the liquid fuel will vaporize to form an atomized mixture and the high pressure air will serve to cool and dry the tubular porous member of fuel.
A method for distributing atomized fuel to an igniter in a combustion chamber comprising the steps of placing a tubular member having an axial bore with a first end near the igniter such that an igniter tip is aligned with the bore at the first end and the second end communicates with the combustor, choosing the tubular member from a porous material having high thermal resistance, feeding liquid fuel to the tubular porous member, supplying high pressure air to the tubular porous member to create a pressure differential at the tubular porous member such that the liquid fuel is distributed by capillary action toward the axial bore to carry the liquid fuel and vaporize the fuel and form an atomized mixture with the air supplying air in a cavity behind behind the igniter tip relative to the tubular member to prevent the igniter tip from being submerged in fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.