IP Library Granted Patent US 10,408,455
Granted Patent B2
US 10,408,455 · App. 15/181,539 · Granted Sep 10, 2019

Fuel nozzle assembly with fuel inlet slots

Inventors: Michael John Hughes (Pittsburgh, PA); James Scott Flanagan (Simpsonville, SC); Jonathan Dwight Berry (Simpsonville, SC)
Assignee: General Electric Company
F23R3/28F02C3/04F02C7/222F23R3/286
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,408,455
App. No.
15/181,539
Granted
Sep 10, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a bundled tube type fuel nozzle assembly. The fuel nozzle assembly includes a fuel plenum body including a forward plate, an aft plate, an outer band that extends between the forward plate and the aft plate and a fuel plenum defined within the fuel plenum body. A plurality of tubes extends through the fuel plenum. Each tube of the plurality of tubes includes an inlet defined along an outer surface of the forward plate and an outlet defined downstream from the inlet. The forward plate defines a plurality of fuel inlet slots that is in fluid communication with the fuel plenum. Each fuel inlet slot extends radially outwardly with respect to an axial centerline of the fuel plenum body along the outer surface of the forward plate.

Claims (32)

1. A fuel nozzle assembly, comprising:

a fuel plenum body including a forward plate, an aft plate, an outer band that extends between the forward plate and the aft plate and a fuel plenum defined within the fuel plenum body; and

a plurality of tubes extending through the fuel plenum, wherein each tube of the plurality of tubes includes an inlet defined along an outer surface of the forward plate and an outlet defined downstream from the inlet;

wherein the forward plate defines a first fuel inlet slot and a second fuel inlet slot in fluid communication with the fuel plenum, wherein the first fuel inlet slot extends radially outwardly with respect to an axial centerline of the fuel plenum body along the outer surface of the forward plate and wherein the first fuel inlet slot and the second fuel inlet slot crisscross across the forward plate.

2. The fuel nozzle assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the first fuel inlet slot extends between respective inlets of at least two adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes.

3. The fuel nozzle assembly as in claim 2 , wherein respective outlets of the at least two adjacent tubes are radially offset from the respective inlets of the at least two adjacent tubes with respect to the axial centerline of each respective tube of the two adjacent tubes.

4. The fuel nozzle assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising a fluid conduit having a downstream end portion defining a radially extending fuel distribution channel, wherein the fuel distribution channel is fluidly coupled to the first fuel inlet slot.

5. The fuel nozzle assembly as in claim 4 , wherein the fluid conduit includes a circular upstream end portion.

6. The fuel nozzle assembly as in claim 1 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes includes a fuel port, wherein the fuel port is in fluid communication with the fuel plenum.

7. A combustor, comprising:

an outer casing;

a fuel nozzle assembly disposed within the outer casing and coupled to a fuel supply via one or more fluid conduits, wherein the fuel nozzle assembly comprises:

a fuel plenum body including a forward plate, an aft plate, an outer band that extends between the forward plate and the aft plate and a fuel plenum defined within the fuel plenum body; and

a plurality of tubes, each tube extending through the fuel plenum, wherein each tube includes an inlet defined along an outer surface of the forward plate and an outlet defined downstream from the inlet;

wherein the forward plate defines a plurality of fuel inlet slots in fluid communication with the fuel plenum, wherein each fuel inlet slot extends radially outwardly with respect to an axial centerline of the fuel plenum body along the outer surface of the forward plate, and wherein the plurality of fuel inlet slots is formed in a crisscross pattern across the forward plate.

8. The combustor as in claim 7 , wherein at least one slot of the plurality of slots extends between respective inlets of at least two adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes.

9. The combustor as in claim 8 , wherein respective outlets of the at least two adjacent tubes are radially offset from the respective inlets of the at least two adjacent tubes with respect to the axial centerline of the fuel plenum body.

10. The combustor as in claim 7 , wherein the fluid conduit includes a downstream end portion defining a plurality of radially extending fuel distribution channels, wherein each fuel distribution channel is fluidly coupled to a respective fuel inlet slot of the plurality of fuel inlet slots.

11. The combustor as in claim 10 , wherein the fluid conduit includes a circular upstream end portion.

12. The combustor as in claim 7 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes includes a fuel port, wherein the fuel port is in fluid communication with the fuel plenum.

13. A gas turbine comprising;

a compressor;

a combustor disposed downstream from the compressor, the combustor having an outer casing; and

a turbine disposed downstream from the combustor, wherein the combustor further comprises;

a fuel nozzle assembly disposed within the outer casing and coupled to an end cover via one or more fluid conduits, wherein the fuel nozzle assembly comprises:

a fuel plenum body including a forward plate, an aft plate, an outer band that extends between the forward plate and the aft plate and a fuel plenum defined within the fuel plenum body; and

a plurality of tubes, each tube extending through the fuel plenum, wherein each tube includes an inlet defined along an outer surface of the forward plate and an outlet defined downstream from the inlet;

wherein the forward plate defines a plurality of fuel inlet slots in fluid communication with the fuel plenum, wherein each fuel inlet slot extends radially outwardly with respect to an axial centerline of the fuel plenum body along the outer surface of the forward plate, and wherein the plurality of fuel inlet slots is formed in a crisscross pattern across the forward plate.

14. The gas turbine as in claim 13 , wherein at least one slot of the plurality of slots extends between respective inlets of at least two adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes.

15. The gas turbine as in claim 14 , wherein respective outlets of the at least two adjacent tubes are radially offset from the respective inlets of the at least two adjacent tubes with respect to the axial centerline of the fuel plenum body.

16. The gas turbine as in claim 13 , wherein the fluid conduit includes a downstream end portion defining a plurality of radially extending fuel distribution channels, wherein each fuel distribution channel is fluidly coupled to a respective fuel inlet slot of the plurality of fuel inlet slots, and wherein the fluid conduit includes a circular upstream end portion.

17. The gas turbine as in claim 13 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes includes a fuel port, wherein the fuel port is in fluid communication with the fuel plenum.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 065727/0001 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Sep 27, 2018
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC GLOBAL RESEARCH CTR
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 047158/0492 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jun 8, 2018
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 047141/0906 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2016
From: HUGHES, MICHAEL JOHN; FLANAGAN, JAMES SCOTT; BERRY, JONATHAN DWIGHT
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 038906/0171 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170356655A1 · Dec 14, 2017