# US 8,464,539 B2 · Nozzle with a plurality of stacked plates

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- Number: US 8,464,539 B2
- Document ID: US8464539B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/365,378
- Filed: 2009-02-04
- Published: 2010-08-05
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2009-02-04
- Assignees: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
- Applicants: Robert R. Pelletier; James R. Pavlik
- Inventors: Robert R. Pelletier; James R. Pavlik
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464539B2

## CPC

- B05B 7/10: producing a swirling discharge
- B05B 1/3436: {the interface being a plane perpendicular to the outlet axis}
- F02C 7/22: Fuel supply systems
- F02C 9/40: specially adapted to the use of a special fuel or a plurality of fuels
- F23D 11/103: {with means creating a swirl inside the mixing chamber}
- F23D 11/107: {at least one of both being subjected to a swirling motion}
- F23D 11/383: {with swirl means}
- F23D 17/002: {gaseous or liquid fuel}
- F23L 7/002: {Supplying water}
- F23R 3/28: characterised by the fuel supply (burners F23D)
- F05D 2260/85: Starting
- F23D 2900/00015: Pilot burners specially adapted for low load or transient conditions, e.g. for increasing stability
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00)
- F23D: BURNERS
- F23L: SUPPLYING AIR OR NON-COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS OR GASES TO COMBUSTION APPARATUS IN GENERAL ({air-supply arrangements for fluent fuels F23C;} firebridges with means for feeding air or steam F23M3/04; baffles or shields with air supply passages F23M9/04); VALVES OR DAMPERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CONTROLLING AIR SUPPLY OR DRAUGHT IN COMBUSTION APPARATUS {(dampers and throat restrictors for open fire-places F24; air inlet valves for open fire fronts F24)}; INDUCING DRAUGHT IN COMBUSTION APPARATUS; TOPS FOR CHIMNEYS OR VENTILATING SHAFTS; TERMINALS FOR FLUES
- F23R: GENERATING COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF HIGH PRESSURE OR HIGH VELOCITY, e.g. GAS-TURBINE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS (fluidised bed combustion apparatus specially adapted for operation at superatmospheric pressures F23C10/16)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS

## Abstract

A nozzle assembly (10) comprising a first inlet tube (14), a second inlet tube (15), and a nozzle (16). The nozzle (16) is formed from a stack of plates (20-38) which are joined together in face-to-face contact. The plates (20-38) collectively have openings which define a nozzle outlet, a first inlet, a second inlet, a first circuit from the first inlet to the nozzle outlet, a second circuit from the second inlet to the nozzle outlet, and a fluid-outlet chamber through which both the first circuit and the second circuit pass. The nozzle assembly (10) can be used as a fuel injector for a gas turbine engine, with jet fuel being supplied to the first circuit during start-up and low power conditions and jet fuel being supplied to both the first circuit and the second circuit during high power conditions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A nozzle having a first inlet, a second inlet, a nozzle outlet, a first fluid circuit from the first inlet to the nozzle outlet, and a second fluid circuit from the second inlet to the nozzle outlet, said nozzle comprising a stack of plates in face-to-face contact and joined together in a fluid tight manner, said stack of plates including:
a first-inlet plate having an opening defining the first inlet;
a second-inlet plate having an opening defining the second inlet;
a nozzle-outlet plate, positioned downstream of the first-inlet plate and the second-inlet plate, having an opening defining the nozzle outlet; and
a plurality of plates positioned downstream of the inlet-defining plates and upstream of the nozzle-outlet-defining plate, these plates having grooves and/or openings which define:
an outlet chamber positioned downstream of the inlets and upstream of the nozzle outlet;
outer swirl segments in the first circuit positioned downstream of the first inlet and upstream of the outlet chamber;
outer swirl segments in the second circuit positioned downstream of the second inlet and upstream of the outlet chamber;
one or more central swirl areas to which the outer swirl segments are connected in a pinwheel fashion; and
a central orifice from each central swirl area that exits to the outlet chamber, wherein each orifice is substantially smaller in diameter than the outlet chamber;
wherein the first circuit has a central swirl area to which the first-circuit outer swirl segments connect in a pinwheel fashion and the second circuit has a separate central swirl area to which the second-circuit swirl segments connect in a pinwheel fashion, and wherein the first circuit has a central orifice exiting to the outlet chamber and the second circuit has a separate orifice exiting to the outlet chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A nozzle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stack of plates comprises at least one plate positioned between the first-inlet plate and the second-inlet plate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A nozzle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stack of plates includes at least five plates and wherein in at least some of the plates are less than about 0.25 inch thick.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A nozzle as set forth in claim 1, a first fluid supplied to the first inlet, and a second fluid supplied to the second inlet, wherein both the first fluid and the second fluid are liquid, and wherein at least one of the first fluid or the second fluid is fuel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A nozzle as set forth in claim 1, having a plurality of third inlets and a plurality of third circuits extending from the third inlets to the nozzle outlet, and wherein the stack of plates includes openings forming a radial outer segment and connected spoke area for each third circuit, each spoke area radially exiting into the outlet chamber.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A nozzle as set forth in claim 5, a first liquid fluid supplied to the first inlet, a second liquid fluid supplied to the second inlet, and air supplied to the third inlets.

### Claim 7

A nozzle having a first inlet, a second inlet, a nozzle outlet, a first fluid circuit from the first inlet to the nozzle outlet, and a second fluid circuit from the second inlet to the nozzle outlet, said nozzle comprising a stack of plates in face-to-face contact and joined together in a fluid tight manner, said stack of plates including:
a first-inlet plate having an opening defining the first inlet;
a second-inlet plate having an opening defining the second inlet;
a nozzle-outlet plate, positioned downstream of the first-inlet plate and the second-inlet plate, having an opening defining the nozzle outlet; and
a plurality of plates positioned downstream of the inlet-defining plates and upstream of the nozzle-outlet-defining plate, these plates having grooves and/or openings which define:
an outlet chamber positioned downstream of the inlets and upstream of the nozzle outlet;
outer swirl segments in the first circuit positioned downstream of the first inlet and upstream of the outlet chamber;
outer swirl segments in the second circuit positioned downstream of the second inlet and upstream of the outlet chamber;
one or more central swirl areas to which the outer swirl segments are connected in a pinwheel fashion; and
a central orifice from each central swirl area that exits to the outlet chamber, wherein each orifice is substantially smaller in diameter than the outlet chamber; wherein the first circuit and the second circuit have a common swirl area to which the first-circuit outer segments and the second-circuit outer segments both connect in a pinwheel fashion, and wherein the first circuit and the second circuit share a central orifice exiting to the outlet chamber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A nozzle as set forth in claim 7, wherein the stack of plates comprises at least one plate positioned between the first-inlet plate and the second-inlet plate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

A nozzle as set forth in claim 7, wherein the stack of plates includes at least five plates and wherein in at least some of the plates are less than about 0.25 inch thick.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

A nozzle as set forth in claim 7, a first fluid supplied to the first inlet, and a second fluid supplied to the second inlet, wherein both the first fluid and the second fluid are liquid, and wherein at least one of the first fluid or the second fluid is fuel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

A nozzle as set forth in claim 7, having a plurality of third inlets and a plurality of third circuits extending from the third inlets to the nozzle outlet, and wherein the stack of plates includes openings forming a radial outer segment and connected spoke area for each third circuit, each spoke area radially exiting into the outlet chamber.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A nozzle as set forth in claim 11, a first liquid fluid supplied to the first inlet, a second liquid fluid supplied to the second inlet, and air supplied to the third inlets.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

In combination, a gas turbine engine and a plurality of the nozzles set forth in claim 1, wherein the gas turbine engine comprises a combustion chamber and wherein the nozzles are mounted to inject fuel into the combustion chamber.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

In combination, a gas turbine engine and a plurality of the nozzles set forth in claim 7, wherein the gas turbine engine comprises a combustion chamber and wherein the nozzles are mounted to inject fuel into the combustion chamber.