Granted Patent B2

US 12,631,139 · App. 18/899,997 · Granted May 19, 2026

Inventors: Stephen K. Kramer (Cromwell, CT); Lance L. Smith (West Hartford, CT); Gregory Boardman (Owens Cross Roads, AL); Zhongtao Dai (West Hartford, CT)

Assignee: RTX Corporation

F02C3/30F05D2220/32F05D2240/35F05D2270/08

Abstract

Claims (27)

1 . An assembly for a turbine engine, comprising:

a housing comprising an air plenum;

a combustor disposed within the air plenum, the combustor including a combustor wall and a combustion chamber, the combustor wall disposed between the combustion chamber and the air plenum, and the combustor wall comprising a quench aperture that extends through the combustor wall from the air plenum to the combustion chamber;

a steam injector comprising a steam outlet, the steam injector projecting partially into the quench aperture, the steam outlet arranged between an inner wall of the combustor wall and an outer wall of the combustor wall, wherein the steam injector is coaxial with the quench aperture; and

a steam system comprising the steam injector, the steam system configured to direct steam out of the steam injector into the combustion chamber with air flowing through the quench aperture from the air plenum into the combustion chamber.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a mixer configured to mix the steam with the air.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the steam injector is configured with a single steam outlet; and the steam system is configured to direct the steam out of the steam injector through the single steam outlet.

4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the quench aperture has a longitudinal centerline and an elongated cross-sectional geometry in a reference plane perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second steam injector projecting partially into or through the quench aperture.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein

the combustor wall further comprises a chute; and

the chute projects partially into the combustion chamber and extends circumferentially about a quench aperture outlet to the combustion chamber.

7 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the chute comprises a tubular body.

8 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the chute comprises an arcuate body.

9 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the steam outlet is disposed at a tip of the steam injector.

10 . An assembly for a turbine engine, comprising:

a housing comprising an air plenum;

a combustor disposed within the air plenum, the combustor including a combustor wall and a combustion chamber, the combustor wall disposed between the combustion chamber and the air plenum, the combustor wall comprising a quench aperture that extends longitudinally along a longitudinal centerline through the combustor wall from the air plenum to the combustion chamber, and the quench aperture having an elongated cross-sectional geometry in a reference plane perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline; and

a steam system comprising a steam injector aligned with the longitudinal centerline, the steam system configured to direct steam out of the steam injector into the combustion chamber with air flowing through the quench aperture from the air plenum into the combustion chamber, the steam injector projecting partially into the quench aperture such that a steam outlet of the steam injector is disposed at an intermediate location within the quench aperture between an inlet of the quench aperture and an outlet of the quench aperture.

11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the steam injector is symmetrically positioned with the quench aperture.

12 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the steam injector is coaxial with the longitudinal centerline.

13 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the steam outlet is disposed at a tip of the steam injector.

14 . An assembly for a turbine engine, comprising:

a housing comprising an air plenum;

a combustor disposed within the air plenum, the combustor including a combustor wall and a combustion chamber, the combustor wall disposed between the combustion chamber and the air plenum, and the combustor wall comprising a quench aperture that extends through the combustor wall from the air plenum to the combustion chamber;

a steam system comprising a steam injector, the steam system configured to direct steam out of the steam injector into the combustion chamber with air flowing through the quench aperture from the air plenum into the combustion chamber, wherein the steam injector is centered relative to the quench aperture, wherein the steam injector comprising a steam outlet, the steam injector projecting partially into the quench aperture, the steam outlet arranged between an inner wall of the combustor wall and an outer wall of the combustor wall; and

a mixer configured to mix the steam with the air, the mixer configured as part of or attached to the combustor wall.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (13)