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US 7,882,704 B2Granted
Flame stability enhancement
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorAlexander G. Chen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel delivery system includes a fuel stabilization unit that removes dissolved oxygen from liquid fuel to increase the temperature at which the liquid fuel can be elevated without substantial formation of insoluble products. At least a portion of the fuel with reduced amounts of dissolved oxygen is vaporized prior to entering a combustion device to improve mixing and combustor performance.
Claims14
A fuel delivery system comprising:
- a fuel stabilization unit for removing dissolved oxygen from a liquid fuel stream;
- a heat exchanger disposed downstream of the fuel stabilization device for transferring heat into the liquid fuel stream;
- and
- a vaporization device spaced apart from the fuel stabilization unit that receives liquid fuel stream exiting the heat exchanger, the vaporization device for transforming at least a portion of the liquid fuel stream into a fuel vapor prior to combustion, wherein the vaporization device receives air for mixing the fuel vapor according to a desired air/fuel ratio prior to entering a combustion module.
1 more element
A gas turbine engine assembly comprising:
- a combustor for igniting an air-fuel mixture;
- a fuel stabilization unit for removing dissolved oxygen from a liquid fuel stream;
- a heat exchanger receiving the liquid fuel stream exiting the fuel stabilization unit;
- and
- a vaporization device spaced apart from the fuel stabilization unit for transforming at least a portion of the liquid fuel stream into fuel vapor, wherein the fuel vapor is communicated to the combustor, wherein the vaporization device receives liquid fuel exiting the heat exchanger and mixes air with the fuel vapor to provide a desired air/fuel ration prior to entering the combustor.
2 more elements
A method of conditioning fuel prior to combustion comprising the steps of:
- a. removing dissolved oxygen from a liquid fuel stream with a fuel stabilization unit;
- b. rejecting heat into the liquid fuel stream having a reduced amount of dissolved oxygen within a heat exchanger
- c. vaporizing a portion of the liquid fuel stream exiting the heat exchanger prior to entering a combustion module within a vaporizing device spaced apart from the fuel stabilization unit;
- and
- d. mixing a portion of the vaporized fuel with air to provide a desired air-fuel mixture prior to entering the combustor module.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.