Fuel splashplate for microturbine combustor

Abstract

A splashplate dish or disc shaped having a contoured face is inserted in and recessed from the top of the air tube feeding the combustor of a microturbine with a mixture of air and fuel. The splashplate permits the use of a single orifice fuel nozzle or injector to replace a multi orifice injector. The splashplate includes contoured segments circumferentially disposed around the face of the splashplate for splitting the fuel into discrete streams for mixing with the air admitted into the air tube. In one embodiment the splashplate includes radial slots circumferentially spaced around the face of the splashplate for directing the fuel directly into the air tube through the slots. In another embodiment a dimple or depression is located centrally of the splashplate where the fuel impinges before being dispersed in the plurality of streams. Attachment means are provided for centering and recessing the splashplate in the air tube.

It is claimed:  
     
         1 . For the combustor of a microturbine engine including a plurality of air tubes feeding air into the combustion zone of the combustor, at least one splashplate mounted in one of said air tubes, said splashplate being circular in shape, at least one fuel nozzle for feeding fuel into said one air tube, said splashplate having a peripheral edge that is smaller in diameter than the diameter of said one air tube, said fuel nozzle directing the flow of fuel discharging therefrom to impinge on said splashplate, said splashplate having a forward facing face defining a particular configuration whereby the fuel impinging on said splashplate is broken up into discrete streams of fuel by said particular configuration on the face of said splashplate and fed into said one air tube to mix with the air in said one air tube prior to being admitted into the combustion zone.  
     
     
         2 . For the combustor of a microturbine engine as claimed in  claim 1  including a plurality of tabs having one end attached to said splashplate and another end attached to said one air tube supporting said splashplate in said one air tube and recessed from the end of said one air tube.  
     
     
         3 . For the combustor of a microturbine engine as claimed in  claim 1  including a bracket interconnecting said splashplate and said fuel nozzle for supporting said splashplate in said one air tube and said splashplate being recessed in said one air tube whereby said splashplate is centered relative to the fuel discharging from said fuel nozzle.  
     
     
         4 . For the combustor of a microturbine engine as claimed in  claim 1  including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial slots formed in said one splashplate.  
     
     
         5 . A plurality of circular shaped splashplates for the combustor of a microturbine engine in combination with a plurality of air tubes circumferentially mounted about the combustor for feeding air into the combustion zone of the combustor, each of said splashplates mounted in each of said air tubes, a plurality of fuel nozzles complementing the number of air tubes for feeding fuel into said plurality of air tubes, each of said splashplates having a peripheral edge that is smaller in diameter than the diameter of said air tube, each of said splashplates having a forward facing face defining a particular configuration whereby the fuel discharging from each of said fuel nozzles impinges on each of said splashplates and is broken up into discrete streams of fuel by said particular configuration on the face of each of said splashplates and fed into each of said air tubes to mix with the air therein prior to being admitted into the combustion zone.  
     
     
         6 . A plurality of splashplates for the combustor of a microturbine engine as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said forward facing face includes a plurality of circumferential segments extending from the center of the splashplate toward the peripheral edge of the splashplate.  
     
     
         7 . A plurality of splashplates for the combustor of a microturbine engine as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said segments are concave relative to the forward facing face.  
     
     
         8 . A plurality of splashplates for the combustor of a microturbine engine as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said segments are convex relative to the forward facing face.  
     
     
         9 . A plurality of splashplates for the combustor of a microturbine engine as claimed in  claim 7  including a recess centered in said forward facing face.  
     
     
         10 . A plurality of splashplates for the combustor of a microturbine engine as claimed in  claim 8  including a recess centered in said forward facing face.  
     
     
         11 . A plurality of splashplates for the combustor of a microturbine engine as claimed in  claim 10  including a radial slot formed in each of said segments for flowing fuel through said radial slot into said air tube to mix with the air therein.  
     
     
         12 . A plurality of splashplates for the combustor of a microturbine engine as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said fuel nozzle consists essentially of a single fuel discharging orifice.  
     
     
         13 . A plurality of splashplates for the combustor of a microturbine engine as claimed in  claim 5  including spaced tabs mounted on each of said splashplates and attached to each of said complementary air tubes for supporting each of the splashplates in each of said air tubes whereby said splashplates are recessed in said air tubes to prevent the fuel impinging on said splashplates from spilling out of the complementary air tube.  
     
     
         14 . A plurality of splashplates for the combustor of a microturbine engine as claimed in  claim 5  including a bracket interconnecting each of said splashplates with each of said fuel nozzles for supporting the complementary splashplate in said complementary air tube and each splashplate being recessed from the top of the complementary air tube to prevent the fuel impinging on said splashplates from spilling out of the complementary air tube.  
     
     
         15 . In combination, a plurality of fuel nozzles, a complementary number of air tubes in fluid communication therewith and a complementary number of circular shaped splashplates for the combustor of a microturbine engine, each of said plurality of fuel nozzles consisting essentially of a single fuel discharging orifice, each of said air tubes circumferentially mounted about the combustor for feeding air into the combustion zone of the combustor, each of said splashplates mounted in each of said air tubes, each fuel nozzle of said plurality of fuel nozzles feeding fuel into a complementary air tube, each of said splashplates having a peripheral edge that is smaller in diameter than the diameter of said complementary air tube, each of said splashplates being circular in shape and having a forward facing face defining a particular configuration whereby the fuel discharging from each of said fuel nozzles impinges on each of said splashplates and is broken up into discrete streams of fuel by said particular configuration on the face of each of said splashplates and fed into each of said air tubes to mix with the air therein prior to being admitted into the combustion zone.  
     
     
         16 . The combination as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said forward facing face includes a plurality of circumferential segments extending from the center of the splashplate toward the peripheral edge of the splashplate.  
     
     
         17 . The combination as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said segments are concave relative to the forward facing face.  
     
     
         18 . The combination as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said segments are convex relative to the forward facing face.  
     
     
         19 . The combination as claimed in  claim 17  including a recess centered in said forward facing face.  
     
     
         20 . The combination as claimed in  claim 18  including a recess centered in said forward facing face.  
     
     
         21 . The combination as claimed in  claim 16  including a radial slot formed in each of said segments for flowing fuel through said radial slot into said air tube to mix with the air therein.  
     
     
         22 . The combination as claimed in  claim 15  including spaced tabs mounted on each of said splashplates and attached to each of said complementary air tubes for supporting each of the splashplates in each of said air tubes whereby said splashplates are recessed in said air tubes to prevent the fuel impinging on said splashplates from spilling out of the complementary air tube.  
     
     
         23 . The combination as claimed in  claim 15  including a bracket interconnecting each of said splashplates to each of said fuel nozzles for supporting the complementary splashplate in said complementary air tube and each of said splashplate being recessed from the top of the complementary air tube to prevent the fuel impinging on said splashplate from spilling out of the complementary air tube.  
     
     
         24 . The combination as claimed in  claim 15  including a rearwardly facing face portion on said splashplate, said rearwardly facing face portion being configured to prevent the fuel/air mixture from recirculating adjacent to the splashplate.  
     
     
         25 . The combination as claimed in  claim 24  wherein said configuration of said rearwardly facing face portion is dome shaped.  
     
     
         26 . The combination as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the configuration of the rearwardly facing face portion of said splashplate is conically shaped.