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US 7,484,369 B2Granted
Apparatus for observing combustion conditions in a gas turbine engine
AssigneeRosemount Aerospace Inc.
InventorDouglas C. Myhre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel injector for a gas turbine combustor is disclosed which includes a feed arm having a flange for mounting the injector within the combustor and a fuel nozzle depending from the feed arm for injecting fuel into the combustor for combustion. An optical sensor array is operatively associated with the fuel nozzle for observing combustor flame characteristics. The optical sensor array includes a plurality of sapphire rods positioned to be close enough to the combustor flame to oxidize soot deposits thereon.
Claims16
A fuel injector for a gas turbine combustor, comprising:
- a) a fuel nozzle for injecting fuel into a gas turbine combustor;
- and
- b) optical sensing means operatively associated with the fuel nozzle for observing characteristics of a combustor flame, the optical sensing means including an optical rod formed from a material capable of withstanding temperatures associated with flame exposure, the optical rod extending from a surface of the fuel nozzle and having an optical surface positioned in such a manner so as to gain flame exposure sufficient to oxidize soot deposits thereon.
A fuel injector for a gas turbine combustor, comprising:
- a) a fuel nozzle for injecting fuel into a gas turbine combustor;
- and
- b) optical sensing means operatively associated with the fuel nozzle for observing characteristics of a combustor flame, the optical sensing means including an optical rod formed from a material capable of withstanding temperatures associated with flame exposure, the optical rod having an optical surface positioned in such a manner so as to gain flame exposure sufficient to oxidize soot deposits thereon, wherein the optical rod is located at least partially within a viewing port formed in the fuel nozzle and extends from a surface of the fuel nozzle to a location that enables the optical surface to be in close proximity to the combustor flame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.