IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,522,555
Granted Patent B2
US 8,522,555 · App. 12/469,507 · Granted Sep 3, 2013

Multi-premixer fuel nozzle support system

Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry (Simpsonville, SC); Kevin Weston McMahan (Greer, SC); Carl Robert Barker (Simpsonville, SC)
Assignee: General Electric Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,522,555
App. No.
12/469,507
Granted
Sep 3, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system comprising a fuel nozzle. The fuel nozzle includes a mounting base and an inlet flow conditioner extending directly from the mounting base in a downstream direction. Moreover, the inlet flow conditioner structurally supports the fuel nozzle without a central support member extending directly from the mounting base inside the inlet flow conditioner.

Claims (28)

1. A system, comprising:

a turbine engine, comprising:

a combustor having a head end region; and

a plurality of multi-nozzle assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of multi-nozzle assemblies comprises a plurality of swirl vane assemblies, each multi-nozzle assembly having a mounting base coupled to the head end region, wherein each multi-nozzle assembly comprises an inlet flow conditioner extending to the mounting base, the inlet flow conditioner comprises a load-bearing annular wall defining therethrough a plurality of air inlets, and the inlet flow conditioner structurally supports each multi-nozzle assembly at the mounting base, wherein each multi-nozzle assembly consists of a tri-nozzle that includes three fuel nozzles arranged in a generally triangular pattern.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the three fuel nozzles share the mounting base and the inlet flow conditioner.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein each swirl vane assembly of each multi-nozzle assembly comprises its own inlet flow conditioner.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each multi-nozzle assembly comprises a lateral support extending crosswise relative to a longitudinal axis of each multi-nozzle assembly, the lateral support being inside the inlet flow conditioner.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the lateral support comprises a clover-leaf shaped plate.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of air inlets comprise a first air inlet disposed upstream of the lateral support.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of air inlets comprise a second air inlet disposed downstream of the lateral support.

8. The system of claim 1 , comprising a non-load bearing fuel passage extending in the downstream direction from the mounting base.

9. A system, comprising:

a plurality of multi-nozzle assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of multi-nozzle assemblies comprises:

a plurality of swirl vane assemblies;

a mounting base;

an inlet flow conditioner extending directly from the mounting base in a downstream direction, the inlet flow conditioner comprising a load-bearing annular wall defining therethrough a plurality of air inlets; and

a lateral support disposed inside the inlet flow conditioner, wherein the lateral support extends crosswise relative to a longitudinal axis of each multi-nozzle assembly, wherein each multi-nozzle assembly consists of a tri-nozzle that includes three fuel nozzles arranged in a generally triangular pattern.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the three fuel nozzles share the mounting base and the inlet flow conditioner.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the mounting base is configured to mount to a head end region of a turbine combustor.

12. The system of claim 9 , comprising a non-load bearing fuel passage extending in the downstream direction from the mounting base.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein each multi-nozzle assembly comprises a flexible fuel line extending from the mounting base to a swirl vane downstream from the mounting base, the swirl vane being part of the swirl vane assembly.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the mounting base comprises an air inlet, and the lateral support comprises an air opening configured to condition an air flow.

15. A system, comprising:

a plurality of multi-nozzle assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of multi-nozzle assemblies comprises:

a plurality of swirl vane assemblies;

a mounting base; and

an inlet flow conditioner extending directly from the mounting base in a downstream direction, wherein the inlet flow conditioner comprises a load-beating annular wall defining therethrough a plurality of air inlets, such that the inlet flow conditioner structurally supports each multi-nozzle assembly, wherein each multi-nozzle assembly consists of a tri-nozzle that includes three fuel nozzles arranged in a generally triangular pattern, the three fuel nozzles sharing the mounting base and the inlet flow conditioner.

16. The system of claim 15 , comprising a lateral support extending crosswise relative to a longitudinal axis of each multi-nozzle assembly, the lateral support being inside the inlet flow conditioner.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2009
From: BERRY, JONATHAN DWIGHT; MCMAHAN, KEVIN WESTON; BARKER, CARL ROBERT
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 022715/0202 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100293955A1 · Nov 25, 2010