Combustor

Abstract

A combustor includes a combustion chamber and a liner surrounding the combustion chamber. A ridge on top of the liner extends continuously around the liner. In alternate embodiments, a ridge extends continuously around the liner, and a groove extends continuously around the liner adjacent to the ridge, wherein both of the ridge and the groove are either substantially flat or curved.

1 . A combustor comprising:
 a. a combustion chamber;   b. a liner surrounding the combustion chamber; and   c. a ridge on top of the liner and extending continuously around the liner.   
     
     
         2 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , wherein the ridge forms a continuous spiral around the liner. 
     
     
         3 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , wherein the ridge comprises a base proximate to the liner and further comprising a radius along at least a portion of the base. 
     
     
         4 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , wherein the ridge comprises a distal end having a radius along at least a portion of the distal end. 
     
     
         5 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , wherein the ridge comprises a distal end terminating at a point along at least a portion of the distal end. 
     
     
         6 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of the ridges extending continuously around the liner. 
     
     
         7 . A combustor comprising:
 a. a combustion chamber;   b. a liner surrounding the combustion chamber;   c. a ridge extending continuously around the liner; and   d. a groove extending continuously around the liner adjacent to the ridge, wherein both of the ridge and the groove are either substantially flat or curved.   
     
     
         8 . The combustor as in  claim 7 , wherein the ridge forms a continuous spiral around the liner. 
     
     
         9 . The combustor as in  claim 7 , further comprising a radius between the ridge and the groove. 
     
     
         10 . The combustor as in  claim 7 , wherein the ridge is approximately the same width as the groove. 
     
     
         11 . The combustor as in  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of the ridges and a plurality of the grooves extending continuously around the liner. 
     
     
         12 . The combustor as in  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of ridges are substantially parallel to the plurality of grooves. 
     
     
         13 . The combustor as in  claim 11 , further comprising a radius between each ridge and each groove. 
     
     
         14 . The combustor as in  claim 11 , wherein each ridge is approximately the same width as each groove. 
     
     
         15 . A combustor comprising:
 a. a combustion chamber;   b. a liner surrounding the combustion chamber;   c. a radius extending continuously around the liner; and   d. a substantially flat segment extending continuously around the liner and adjacent to the radius;   e. wherein the radius and the substantially flat segment define an outer circumference of the liner;   f. wherein the substantially flat segment has a first end and a second end, and the outer circumference of the liner at the first end is greater than the outer circumference of the liner at the second end.   
     
     
         16 . The combustor as in  claim 15 , wherein the radius forms a continuous spiral around the liner. 
     
     
         17 . The combustor as in  claim 15 , wherein the first end is upstream of the second end. 
     
     
         18 . The combustor as in  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of radii continuously extending around the liner and a plurality of the substantially flat segments extending continuously around the liner wherein at least one substantially flat segment is between adjacent radii. 
     
     
         19 . The combustor as in  claim 18 , wherein the first end of each of the plurality of substantially flat segments is downstream of the second end of each of the substantially flat segments.