PYROLYTIC CLEANING OF COMBUSTORS
A method of operating a torch ignitor for continuous ignition includes issuing a flame from a combustion chamber of a torch ignitor into a combustor of a gas turbine engine while the gas turbine engine is not issuing fuel through fuel injectors into the combustor. The method includes heating interior surfaces of the combustor with the flame, wherein heat from the flame reacts with carbon deposits on the interior surfaces to remove the carbon deposits.
1 . A method of operating a torch ignitor for continuous ignition comprising:
issuing a flame from a combustion chamber of a torch ignitor into a combustor of a gas turbine engine while the gas turbine engine is not issuing fuel through fuel injectors into the combustor; and
heating interior surfaces of the combustor with the flame, wherein heat from the flame reacts with carbon deposits on the interior surfaces to remove the carbon deposits.
2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the torch ignitor is aboard an aircraft and wherein issuing flame and heating the interior surfaces are performed as a cleaning cycle between flights of the aircraft.
3 . The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the cleaning cycle includes issuing air from a compressed air source outside the combustor into the combustor for use in pyrolyzing the carbon deposits.
4 . The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the compressed air source includes a compressor of the gas turbine engine.
5 . The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the compressed air source includes a shop air source external to the gas turbine engine.
6 . The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the compressed air source includes a fan.
7 . The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein air is channeled from the compressed air source into the combustion chamber of the torch ignitor.
8 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein issuing the flame from the combustion chamber of the torch ignitor is performed while maintaining the combustor and the fuel injectors assembled within the gas turbine engine.
9 . The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein maintaining the combustor and the fuel injectors assembled within the gas turbine engine includes maintaining the gas turbine engine assembled on an airframe.
10 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein issuing the flame and heating interior surfaces is performed for a period of time sufficient to remove carbon build up on the interior surfaces built up since a previous cycle of issuing the flame and heating interior surfaces.
11 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interior surfaces include at least one surface inside the fuel injectors.
12 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interior surfaces include at least one surface on an exterior of the fuel injectors.
13 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interior surfaces include at least one inside surface of an upstream combustor dome wall of the combustor.
14 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interior surfaces include at least one surface of a radially outward facing wall of the combustor downstream of a combustor dome wall.
15 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interior surfaces include at least one surface of a radially inward facing wall of the combustor downstream of a combustor dome wall.