Valve for a fuel injector

A method for operating a fuel injector for injecting fuel in a burner of a gas turbine, wherein the fuel injector comprises

• a body comprising an inner hole and a valve element which is slideably arranged inside the inner hole,
• wherein the body comprises a fuel inlet which is formed into the body for injecting fuel into the inner hole,
• wherein the fuel inlet is coupleable to a fuel supply line,
• wherein the body comprises a first outlet channel connected to the inner hole,
• wherein the first outlet channel is further coupleable to the burner,
• wherein the valve element comprises a first passage,
• the method comprising:
• sliding the valve element in a first position inside the inner hole such that the first passage connects the fuel inlet with the first outlet channel, and
• sliding the valve element in a second position of the valve element inside the inner hole such that the valve element seals the fuel inlet from the first outlet channel,
• wherein the body comprises a second outlet channel connected to the inner hole,
• wherein the second outlet channel is further coupleable to the burner or a further burner,
• wherein the valve element is slideable inside the inner hole along a sliding direction,
• wherein the first outlet channel is spaced apart from the second outlet channel along the sliding direction,
• wherein the valve element comprises a second passage which is spaced apart from the first passage along the sliding direction,
• wherein the second passage is formed such that
• in the second position of the valve element inside the inner hole, the valve element seals the fuel inlet from the first outlet channel and from the second outlet channel, and
• in a third position of the valve element inside the inner hole the second passage connects the fuel inlet with the second outlet channel, wherein a fluid flow between the fuel inlet and the first outlet channel is prevented, and
• wherein the valve element comprises an inlet groove which is formed such that the fuel inlet is connected to the first passage and to the second passage.

A fuel injector for injecting fuel in a burner of a gas turbine, the fuel injector comprising:

• a body comprising an inner hole,
• a valve element which is slideably arranged inside the inner hole,
• wherein the body comprises a fuel inlet which is formed into the body for injecting fuel into the inner hole,
• wherein the fuel inlet is coupleable to a fuel supply line,
• wherein the body comprises a first outlet channel connected to the inner hole,
• wherein the first outlet channel is further coupleable to the burner,
• wherein the valve element comprises a first passage which is formed such that
• in a first position of the valve element inside the inner hole, the first passage forms a fluid path that provides fluid communication between the fuel inlet and the first outlet channel, and
• in a second position of the valve element inside the inner hole, the valve element blocks the fluid communication between the fuel inlet and the first outlet channel,
• wherein the body comprises a second outlet channel connected to the inner hole,
• wherein the second outlet channel is further coupleable to the burner or a further burner,
• wherein the valve element is slideable inside the inner hole along a sliding direction,
• wherein the first outlet channel is spaced apart from the second outlet channel along the sliding direction,
• wherein the valve element comprises a second passage which is spaced apart from the first passage along the sliding direction,
• wherein the second passage is formed such that
• in the second position of the valve element inside the inner hole, the valve element blocks fluid communication between the fuel inlet and the second outlet channel, and
• in a third position of the valve element inside the inner hole the second passage forms a fluid path that provides fluid communication between the fuel inlet and the second outlet channel, wherein the valve element blocks the fluid communication between the fuel inlet and the first outlet channel, and
• wherein the valve element comprises an inlet groove which is formed such that the fuel inlet is connected to the first passage and to the second passage.