Abstract:
A rocket engine with a manifold is in communication with a combustion chamber. A sense line extends through the propellant manifold and into the combustion chamber. The sense line includes a venturi arranged downstream from the combustion chamber, and at least one aperture fluidly connecting the propellant manifold to a sense-line passageway downstream from the venturi. A method of sensing conditions in a combustion chamber includes exposing an end of a sense line to the combustion chamber, creating a low static pressure in the sense line at a location upstream from the end, introducing a fluid at the location to purge the sense line, and sensing the conditions downstream from the location.
Abstract:
The radial jets of a fuel nozzle for the combustor of a gas turbine engine are non-axisymmetrically disposed around the tip of the fuel nozzle to distribute the fuel into the swirler unevenly around the circumference to reduce pattern factor.
Abstract:
A rocket engine with a manifold is in communication with a combustion chamber. A sense line extends through the propellant manifold and into the combustion chamber. The sense line includes a venturi arranged downstream from the combustion chamber, and at least one aperture fluidly connecting the propellant manifold to a sense-line passageway downstream from the venturi. A method of sensing conditions in a combustion chamber includes exposing an end of a sense line to the combustion chamber, creating a low static pressure in the sense line at a location upstream from the end, introducing a fluid at the location to purge the sense line, and sensing the conditions downstream from the location.
Abstract:
A combustion chamber for use in an engine, such as a rocket engine, has an inner wall with a corrugated configuration. The inner wall is formed with a plurality of tubes for carrying a coolant. As a result of the tubular construction, the inner wall has a plurality of spaced apart crowns and a plurality of valleys intermediate with the spaced apart crowns. To enhance the rate of heat flux or transfer in the valleys, a device is installed in each valley to cause local intensification of the turbulence in the hot gas flow in an effective way. The device may take the shape of a chevron or a bump.
Abstract:
In a gas turbine, a linear stem extends through a diffuser and a combustor cowl into a sleeve that is attached to the swirler in such a way that the sleeve can move relative to the swirler but is supported on the swirler. The stem slides into the sleeve and contains a fuel nozzle that supplies fuel through a sleeve outlet to a swirler inlet.
Abstract:
An annular combustor has a plurality of fuel injectors 14, each supporting a heat shield 30. Each shield has an overlap portion 42 deflecting cooling air passing between the shields, thereby avoiding a curtain of air between the flames of adjacent fuel injectors.
Abstract:
A rocket engine fluid-flow system includes a pump fluidly interconnecting a fluid source to a combustion chamber. A nozzle is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and includes coolant tubes fluidly arranged between the pump and the combustion chamber. An orifice has a throat and is fluidly arranged between the pump and the coolant tubes. The orifice has entrance and exit ramps arranged on either side of the throat. The exit ramp has an exit ramp surface with a divergent angle that is less than a right angle. The entrance ramp provides a smooth approach to the orifice throat. In one example, the exit ramp includes an exit ramp surface having a divergent angle of 20-60°. The exit ramp radius is less than twice the throat radius in one example.
Abstract:
A system for cooling a combustion chamber of an engine, such as a rocket engine, is provided. The system has a plurality of coolant tubes or passages surrounding the combustion chamber, a torroidal coolant-collection manifold for receiving coolant from the coolant tubes or passages and for discharging the coolant through a discharge port, and a plurality of turning vanes within the torroidal manifold for reducing pressure loss and improving pressure uniformity associated with the torroidal coolant-collection manifold.
Abstract:
The orifice of the primary circuit on a dual circuit fuel nozzle for a combustor of a gas turbine engine is eccentrically located at the nozzle tip to inject fuel directly toward the prefilming surface of the air swirler and located in proximity to the igniter to enhance ignition. In another embodiment the fuel nozzles circumferentially spaced around the dome of the combustor include the eccentric orifice of the primary circuit to enhance lean blowout characteristics.
Abstract:
The diffuser for delivering compressor discharge air to the combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a prediffuser mounted ahead of a dump diffuser which includes step changes in the flow path at its inlet and adjacent the cowl of the combustor in the passageway of the dump diffuser for providing at least two sudden expansions of the diffuser flow.