METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING WITH THE COMBUSTION OF FUEL

摘要

An apparatus and method for assisting with the combustion of fuel are described. The apparatus includes a swirler assembly and a fuel nozzle. Fuel is directed into a fuel nozzle mixing chamber and combines with air therein to form a fuel-air mixture. At least one plasma generator, at least partially within the fuel nozzle, generates an at least one of an at least partially ionized air-fuel mixture and an at least partially dissociated air-fuel mixture (“at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture”) via a plasma generator discharge. A combustion chamber inlet admits the at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture from the plasma generator into a combustion chamber internal volume. Combustion air flows through the swirler body and into the combustion chamber internal volume. Combustion of the at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture with the combustion air occurs at least partially within the combustion chamber internal volume to responsively produce products.

主权项

1. An apparatus for assisting with the combustion of fuel, the apparatus comprising:
a swirler assembly having at least one swirler assembly inlet and at least one swirler assembly outlet longitudinally separated from the at least one swirler assembly inlet by a swirler body defining a swirler assembly inner wall; a fuel nozzle, having a fuel nozzle mixing chamber, a fuel nozzle air inlet, and a fuel nozzle air outlet, the fuel nozzle mixing chamber being in fluid communication with both a fuel nozzle fuel reservoir and the fuel nozzle air inlet, the fuel nozzle air inlet allowing air to flow into the fuel nozzle, wherein fuel from the fuel nozzle fuel reservoir is directed into the fuel nozzle mixing chamber and, inside the fuel nozzle mixing chamber, the fuel combines with air therein to form a fuel-air mixture; at least one plasma generator located at least partially within the fuel nozzle, the plasma generator at least partially ionizing and/or dissociating the fuel-air mixture to generate an at least one of an at least partially ionized air-fuel mixture and an at least partially dissociated air-fuel mixture (“at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture”) via a plasma generator discharge; a combustion chamber having a combustion chamber inlet in fluid communication with the swirler assembly outlet, the combustion chamber having a combustion chamber outlet, the combustion chamber inlet and outlet being longitudinally separated by a combustion chamber internal volume including an R/R zone, a main flame, and a pilot flame, the combustion chamber inlet admitting the at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture from the plasma generator into the combustion chamber internal volume; wherein combustion air enters the swirler assembly inlet, flows through the swirler body, and exits the swirler body through the swirler assembly outlet, the combustion air flowing from the swirler assembly outlet into the combustion chamber internal volume through the combustion chamber inlet; and wherein combustion of the at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture with the combustion air occurs at least partially within the combustion chamber internal volume to responsively produce products, the products exiting the combustion chamber internal volume through the combustion chamber outlet.