# US 8,769,956 B2 · Multi-premixer fuel nozzle support system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,769,956 B2 - Document ID: US8769956B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/015,322 - Filed: 2013-08-30 - Published: 2014-01-02 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-05-20 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry; Kevin Weston McMahan; Carl Robert Barker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8769956B2 ## CPC - F23R 3/10: for primary air (F23R3/06, F23R3/045 take precedence) - F23R 3/286: {having fuel-air premixing devices (F23R3/30 takes precedence)} - 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) ## Abstract A system comprising a fuel nozzle. The fuel nozzle includes a mounting base and an inlet flow conditioner extending directly from the mounting base in a downstream direction. Moreover, the inlet flow conditioner structurally supports the fuel nozzle without a central support member extending directly from the mounting base inside the inlet flow conditioner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a turbine engine, comprising: a combustor having a head end region; and a multi-nozzle assembly comprising: a mounting base coupled to the head end region; a plurality of fuel nozzles; and an inlet flow conditioner extending along each of the plurality of fuel nozzles to the mounting base, wherein the inlet flow conditioner is directly coupled to each of the plurality of fuel nozzles, wherein the inlet flow conditioner structurally supports the plurality of fuel nozzles, wherein the inlet flow conditioner comprises a lateral support comprising a plurality of perforations per nozzle, wherein the lateral support is disposed upstream of the plurality of fuel nozzles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the inlet flow conditioner comprises a plurality of segments, wherein each segment is coupled to an individual one fuel nozzle of the plurality of fuel nozzles. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the inlet flow conditioner comprises a load-bearing annular wall traversing an outer perimeter of the plurality of fuel nozzles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each fuel nozzle of the plurality of fuel nozzles comprises a swirl vane assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the inlet flow conditioner comprises a plurality of air inlets. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the lateral support extends crosswise relative to a longitudinal axis of the multi-nozzle assembly, the lateral support being inside the inlet flow conditioner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the lateral support comprises a clover-leaf shaped plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of air inlets comprise a first air inlet disposed upstream of the lateral support. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of air inlets comprise a second air inlet disposed downstream of the lateral support. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a non-load bearing fuel passage extending in a downstream direction from the mounting base. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising: a second multi-nozzle assembly comprising: the mounting base coupled to the head end region; a second plurality of fuel nozzles; and a second inlet flow conditioner extending along each of the second plurality of fuel nozzles to the mounting base, wherein the second inlet flow conditioner is directly coupled to each of the second plurality of fuel nozzles, wherein the second inlet flow conditioner structurally supports the plurality of fuel nozzles. ### Claim 12 A system, comprising: a multi-nozzle assembly comprising: a mounting base; a plurality of fuel nozzles; and an inlet flow conditioner extending directly from the mounting base along each of the plurality of fuel nozzles, wherein the inlet flow conditioner is directly coupled to each of the plurality of fuel nozzles, wherein the inlet flow conditioner structurally supports the plurality of fuel nozzles, wherein the inlet flow conditioner comprises a lateral support comprising a plurality of perforations per nozzle, wherein the lateral support is disposed upstream of the plurality of fuel nozzles. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the inlet flow conditioner comprises a load-bearing outer wall surrounding the plurality of fuel nozzles. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, comprising a non-load bearing fuel passage extending in a downstream direction from the mounting base. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of fuel nozzles is coupled to at least one flexible fuel passage extending from the mounting base. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the lateral support is disposed inside the inlet flow conditioner, wherein the lateral support extends crosswise relative to a longitudinal axis of the multi-nozzle assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the mounting base comprises an air inlet, and the lateral support comprises an air opening configured to condition an air flow. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the multi-nozzle assembly comprises a tri-nozzle that includes three fuel nozzles arranged in a generally triangular pattern. ### Claim 19 A system, comprising: a plurality of multi-nozzle assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of multi-nozzle assemblies comprise: a mounting base; a plurality of fuel nozzles; and an inlet flow conditioner extending directly from the mounting base along each of the plurality of fuel nozzles, wherein the inlet flow conditioner is directly coupled to each of the plurality of fuel nozzles, wherein the inlet flow conditioner structurally supports the plurality of fuel nozzles, wherein the inlet flow conditioner comprises a lateral support comprising a plurality of perforations per nozzle, wherein the lateral support is disposed upstream of the plurality of fuel nozzles. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of multi-nozzle assemblies comprises a tri-nozzle that includes three fuel nozzles arranged in a generally triangular pattern.