Fuel-air premixing system for a catalytic combustor
AssigneeCatalytica Energy Systems, Inc.
InventorsRobert Anthony Corr, II, Tim Caron, John Barnes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a unique fuel and air premixing system for a gas turbine catalytic combustion system. The mixer utilizes a multi-channel counter-rotating swirler with aerodynamically shaped fuel pegs located upstream of the swirler. The premixing system provides the downstream catalyst with a fuel-air mixture sufficiently uniform for proper catalyst operation and wide operating limits. Features have been incorporated in the system to make it resistant to flameholding.
Claims36
A premixing system for premixing fuel and air prior to combustion in a gas turbine engine that includes a catalyst, comprising:
- a mixer housing having a mixer inlet region for receiving air and a diffuser region for diffusing the air;
- a fuel inlet system interconnected with the mixer inlet region and located downstream of the mixer inlet region;
- a swirler interconnected with the fuel inlet system and located downstream of the fuel inlet system and upstream of the diffuser region;
- wherein a flow path is defined by the flow of at least said air entering the mixer inlet region that passes through the fuel inlet system, the swirler, and the diffuser region;
- and
- wherein the mixer inlet region includes a contraction region that accelerates the flow of air upstream of the swirler and a catalyst.
A premixing system for premixing fuel and air prior to combustion in a gas turbine engine that includes a catalyst, comprising:
- a mixer housing having a mixer inlet region for receiving air and a diffuser region for diffusing the air;
- a fuel inlet system interconnected with the mixer inlet region and located downstream of the mixer inlet region;
- a swirler interconnected with the fuel inlet system and located downstream of the fuel inlet system and upstream of the diffuser region;
- wherein a flow path is defined by the flow of at least said air entering the mixer inlet region that passes through the fuel inlet system, the swirler, and the diffuser region;
- wherein the mixer inlet region includes a contraction region that accelerates the flow of air upstream of the swirler;
- and
- wherein the premixing system has a radial configuration.
A premixing system for premixing fuel and air prior to combustion in a gas turbine engine that includes a catalyst, comprising:
- a mixer housing having a mixer inlet region for receiving air and a diffuser region for diffusing the air and fuel;
- a fuel inlet system interconnected with the mixer inlet region and located downstream of the mixer inlet region;
- a swirler interconnected with the fuel inlet system and located downstream of the fuel inlet system and upstream of the diffuser region;
- wherein a flow path is defined by the flow of at least the air entering the mixer inlet region that passes through the fuel inlet system, the swirler, and the diffuser region;
- and
- wherein the diffuser region decelerates the flow of air and fuel subsequent to a catalyst.
A method for premixing fuel and air prior to combustion in a catalytic combustor, comprising the acts of:
- accelerating a flow of air;
- adding fuel to the accelerated flow of air;
- and
- creating a swirling motion to the accelerated flow of air to promote mixing of the accelerated flow of air and the fuel prior to reaching a catalyst.
A method for premixing fuel and air prior to combustion in a catalytic combustor, comprising the acts of:
- providing a flow of air;
- adding fuel to the flow of air;
- creating a swirling motion to the flow of air to promote mixing of the accelerated flow of air and the fuel;
- and
- decelerating the flow of air and fuel prior to reaching a catalyst.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.