Abstract:
An injection assembly for a gas turbine combustor having a liner defining a combustion zone and a secondary combustion zone and a forward casing circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the liner is provided. The injection assembly includes a thimble assembly and an injector unit. The thimble assembly, which is mounted to the liner, includes a thimble that extends through a thimble aperture in the liner. The injector unit, which is mounted to and extends through the forward casing, includes an injector blade that extends into the thimble. The injection assembly introduces a flow of fuel into a flow of air flowing through the thimble, such that fuel and air are injected into the secondary combustion zone in a direction transverse to a flow of combustion products from the primary combustion zone.
Abstract:
A system for pre-heating a working fluid within a combustor includes a compressor for providing the working fluid to the combustor. An outer casing is disposed downstream from the compressor. The outer casing at least partially defines a high pressure plenum that at least partially surrounds the combustor. A combustion chamber is defined within the combustor downstream from the high pressure plenum. A catalytic combustor is disposed within the high pressure plenum upstream from the combustion chamber so as to provide thermal energy to the working fluid upstream from the combustion chamber.
Abstract:
A combustor for a gas turbine includes a fuel nozzle having a central swirler that circumferentially surrounds a downstream end of the fuel nozzle. A primary combustion zone is defined within the central swirler. The combustor further includes an outer swirler that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the central swirler and a venturi that is disposed downstream from the primary combustion zone. The venturi includes an inner surface. The central swirler imparts angular swirl to a compressed working fluid so as to rapidly mix and react the fuel rich primary zone products with the working fluid. The outer swirler imparts angular swirl to a compressed working fluid so as to provide a cooling boundary layer along the inner surface of the venturi.
Abstract:
A system and method for reducing combustion dynamics includes first and second combustors, and each combustor includes a fuel nozzle and a combustion chamber downstream from the fuel nozzle. Each fuel nozzle includes an axially extending center body, a shroud that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the axially extending center body, a plurality of vanes that extend radially between the center body and the shroud, a first fuel port through at least one of the plurality of vanes at a first axial distance from the combustion chamber, the plurality of vanes being located at a second axial distance from the combustion chamber. A second fuel port is provided through the center body at a third axial distance from the combustion chamber. The system further includes structure for producing a combustion instability frequency in the first combustor that is different from the combustion instability frequency in the second combustor.
Abstract:
An injection assembly for a gas turbine combustor having a liner defining a combustion zone and a secondary combustion zone and a forward casing circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the liner is provided. The injection assembly includes a thimble assembly and an injector unit. The thimble assembly, which is mounted to the liner, includes a thimble that extends through a thimble aperture in the liner. The injector unit, which is mounted to and extends through the forward casing, includes an injector blade that extends into the thimble. The injection assembly introduces a flow of fuel into a flow of air flowing through the thimble, such that fuel and air are injected into the secondary combustion zone in a direction transverse to a flow of combustion products from the primary combustion zone.
Abstract:
A combustor for a gas turbine includes a fuel nozzle having a central swirler that circumferentially surrounds a downstream end of the fuel nozzle. A primary combustion zone is defined within the central swirler. The combustor further includes an outer swirler that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the central swirler and a venturi that is disposed downstream from the primary combustion zone. The venturi includes an inner surface. The central swirler imparts angular swirl to a compressed working fluid so as to rapidly mix and react the fuel rich primary zone products with the working fluid. The outer swirler imparts angular swirl to a compressed working fluid so as to provide a cooling boundary layer along the inner surface of the venturi.
Abstract:
An on-line wash system for a compressor including: a nozzle including a flow passage for wash liquid, wherein the flow passage is configured to be coupled to a source of a wash liquid and includes a discharge outlet arranged to project the wash liquid into a stream of working fluid for the turbomachine; an electrode proximate to the flow passage of the nozzle, wherein the electrode is configured to form an electrical field sufficient to charge the wash liquid flowing through the passage and the charge applied to the wash liquid is of a first polarity, and a surface of the compressor charged with the first polarity, wherein the surface is exposed to the stream of working fluid and downstream of the nozzle.
Abstract:
A system for operating a combustor includes a sensor that measures an operating parameter associated with the combustor and generates a signal reflective of the operating parameter. The operating parameter is reflective of an ash deposition rate or an accumulated ash buildup. A controller receives the signal, compares the signal to a predetermined limit, and generates a control signal. A method for operating a combustor includes operating the combustor at a first power level that produces a first temperature that is less than or equal to a first predetermined temperature and creating a layer of ash. The method further includes measuring an operating parameter reflective of an ash deposition rate or an accumulated ash buildup, comparing the operating parameter to a limit, and operating the combustor at a second power level that produces a second temperature that is greater than or equal to the first predetermined temperature.
Abstract:
A fuel nozzle for a gas turbomachine includes an outer nozzle body including an inner surface defining a mixing zone, and an inner nozzle body arranged within the outer nozzle body. The inner nozzle body includes a fluid passage. At least one flow affector extends from the inner nozzle body to the outer nozzle body. The at least one flow affector includes an inner surface that defines an interior chamber having an inlet fluidly connected to the fluid passage and at least two openings fluidically linking the interior chamber and the mixing zone. One or more flow tuning elements are arranged at the interior chamber upstream of the at least two openings. The one or more flow affectors are configured and disposed to condition a fluid passing into the interior chamber to affect a substantially iso-kinetic distribution of the fluid within the interior chamber.
Abstract:
A thimble assembly, which directs fluid flow through a combustor liner, includes a thimble boss and a thimble. The thimble boss is mounted an outer surface of the liner and surrounds a liner opening, thus defining a thimble boss passage. The thimble is disposed through the passage and the liner opening. The thimble wall extends from an inlet portion to an outlet of the thimble. The inlet portion has a greater diameter than the outlet and defines an inlet plane and a parallel intermediate plane. A terminal plane, parallel to the intermediate plane, includes an array of points most distant from a corresponding array of points defining the intermediate plane. The thimble wall has a non-uniform length, such that the outlet of the thimble is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the terminal plane. The thimble wall may have an arcuate shape defined as one-fourth of an ellipse.