Michael Lee Foust

US Patent:

6381964, May 7, 2002

Filed:

Sep 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/675664

Inventors:

Allen Michael Danis - Mason OH
Michael Jerome Foust - West Chester OH
Mark David Durbin - Springboro OH
Hukam Chand Mongia - West Chester OH

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F02G 300

US Classification:

60746, 60748

Abstract:

A mixer assembly for use in a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine. The assembly includes a pilot mixer and a main mixer. The pilot mixer includes an annular pilot housing having a hollow interior, a pilot fuel nozzle mounted in the housing adapted for dispensing droplets of fuel to the hollow interior of the pilot housing, and a plurality of concentrically mounted axial swirlers positioned upstream from the pilot fuel nozzle. Each of the swirlers has a plurality of vanes for swirling air traveling through the respective swirler to mix air and the droplets of fuel dispensed by the pilot fuel nozzle. The main mixer includes a main housing surrounding the pilot housing defining an annular cavity, a plurality of fuel injection ports for introducing fuel into the cavity, and a swirler positioned upstream from the plurality of fuel injection ports having a plurality of vanes for swirling air traveling through the swirler to mix air and the droplets of fuel dispensed by the fuel injection ports.

US Patent:

6405523, Jun 18, 2002

Filed:

Sep 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/675667

Inventors:

Michael Jerome Foust - West Chester OH
Hukam Chand Mongia - West Chester OH

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F02C 726

US Classification:

60 3906, 60748

Abstract:

A combustor for a gas turbine engine operates with low nitrous oxide emissions during engine operations. The combustor includes a center mixer assembly and a second mixer assembly radially outward from the center mixer assembly. The center mixer assembly includes a pilot fuel injector, a swirler, and an air splitter, and the second mixer assembly includes a plurality of mixers that include a swirler, an atomizer, and a venturi. A combustor fuel delivery system includes a pilot fuel circuit to supply fuel to the center mixer assembly and a main fuel circuit to supply fuel to the second mixer assembly.

US Patent:

6418726, Jul 16, 2002

Filed:

May 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/871262

Inventors:

Michael Jerome Foust - West Chester OH
Hukam Chand Mongia - West Chester OH

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F23R 360

US Classification:

60776, 60748

Abstract:

A combustor for a gas turbine engine operates with high combustion efficiency and low carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and smoke emissions during low, intermediate, and high engine power operations is described. The combustor includes a mixer assembly including a pilot mixer, a main mixer, and a mid-power and cruise mixer. The pilot mixer includes a pilot fuel injector, at least one swirler, and an air splitter. The main mixer extends circumferentially around the pilot mixer. The mid-power and cruise mixer extends between the main and pilot mixers and includes a plurality of fuel injection ports which inject fuel radially inwardly to facilitate radial and circumferential fuel-air mixing to provide a substantially uniform fuel and air distribution for combustion.

US Patent:

6484489, Nov 26, 2002

Filed:

May 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/871343

Inventors:

Michael Jerome Foust - West Chester OH
Hukam Chand Mongia - West Chester OH

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F02C 726

US Classification:

60 3906, 60732, 60776, 60747

Abstract:

A combustor for a gas turbine engine operates with high combustion efficiency and low carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and smoke emissions during low, intermediate, and high engine power operations is described. The combustor includes a mixer assembly including a pilot mixer and a main mixer. The pilot mixer includes a pilot fuel injector, at least one swirler, and an air splitter. The main mixer extends circumferentially around the pilot mixer and includes a plurality of fuel injection ports and a conical air swirler upstream from the fuel injection ports. During idle engine power operation, the pilot mixer is aerodynamically isolated from the main mixer, and only air is supplied to the main mixer. During increased power operations, fuel is also supplied to the main mixer, and the main mixer conical swirler facilitates radial and circumferential fuel-air mixing to provide a substantially uniform fuel and air distribution for combustion.