Vortex combustor for low NOx emissions when burning lean premixed high hydrogen content fuel

A gas turbine engine, said gas turbine engine comprising:

• a compressor;
• a gas turbine;
• a trapped vortex combustor, said trapped vortex combustor comprising a pressurizable plenum, said pressurizable plenum comprising a base and containment walls, said containment walls;
• an oxidant inlet for receiving a gaseous oxidant;
• a fuel inlet for receiving a gaseous fuel, said gaseous fuel comprising hydrogen;
• a first bluff body, said first bluff body extending from the base and having a rear wall;
• a second bluff body, said second bluff body located downstream from said first bluff body, said second bluff body extending from the base and having a front wall;
• a mixing zone downstream of said gaseous fuel inlet, said mixing zone upstream of said rear wall of said first bluff body, said mixing zone having a length to allow mixing of said gaseous fuel and said gaseous oxidant to form a lean premixed gaseous fuel and oxidant mixture comprising an excess of oxidant;
• wherein the pressurizable plenum, first bluff body, and second bluff body are sized and shaped to receive the lean premixed gaseous fuel and oxidant mixture at a velocity greater than the combustion flame speed resulting from combustion in the lean premixed gaseous fuel and oxidant mixture composition;
• and
• wherein said rear wall of said first bluff body and said front wall of said second bluff body are spaced apart sufficiently to form a cavity there between to operably contain during combustion one or more stabilized vortices of burning gases, and wherein said combustor further comprises at least one structure extending outward from at or near the rear wall of the first bluff body, and wherein heat and combustion products produced in the one or more stabilized vortices of burning gases are carried away from said rear wall of said first bluff body, behind said at least one structure extending outward, to ignite lean premixed fuel and oxidant mixture entering the trapped vortex combustor.