Perforated plate fuel distributor with simiplified swirler

Abstract

A fuel nozzle for a turbine engine using hydrogen fuel is provided. The fuel nozzle includes a tubular element, a perforated fuel distributor disposed along the tubular element and comprising a plate body defining holes and a swirler element abuttable with an end wall of a combustor of the turbine engine. The swirler element includes an inner swirler body formed to define a swirl area receptive of hydrogen fuel from the tubular element via the holes and an outer swirler body disposed about the inner swirler body and formed to define openings through which fluid flows radially into the swirl area to mix with the hydrogen fuel prior to flowing into the combustor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fuel nozzle for a turbine engine using hydrogen fuel, the fuel nozzle comprising:
 a tubular element;   a perforated fuel distributor disposed along the tubular element and comprising a plate body defining holes; and   a swirler element abuttable with an end wall of a combustor of the turbine engine and comprising:
 an inner swirler body formed to define a swirl area receptive of hydrogen fuel from the tubular element via the holes; and 
 an outer swirler body disposed about the inner swirler body and formed to define openings through which fluid flows radially into the swirl area to mix with the hydrogen fuel prior to flowing into the combustor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
 a valve at an upstream end of the tubular element to selectively block hydrogen fuel flow through the tubular element; and   an orifice at an upstream end of the tubular element to control hydrogen fuel flow through the tubular element.   
     
     
         3 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the perforated fuel distributor and the swirler element comprises at least one of metallic materials and ceramic materials. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 3 , further comprising a thermal coating on at least the holes. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the holes are counter-angled relative to the openings of the outer swirler body. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the holes are non-uniformly distributed across a plane of the plate body. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the holes are tapered. 
     
     
         8 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the openings of the outer swirler body are at least one of vane openings and holes. 
     
     
         9 . A fuel nozzle for a turbine engine using hydrogen fuel, the fuel nozzle comprising:
 a tubular element;   a radial fuel distributor disposed along the tubular element and comprising a plate body defining one or more circumferential apertures; and   a swirler element abuttable with an end wall of a combustor of the turbine engine and comprising:
 an inner swirler body formed to define a swirl area receptive of hydrogen fuel from the tubular element via the one or more circumferential apertures; and 
   an outer swirler body disposed about the inner swirler body and formed to define openings through which fluid flows radially into the swirl area to mix with the hydrogen fuel prior to flowing into the combustor.   
     
     
         10 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 9 , further comprising at least one of:
 a valve at an upstream end of the tubular element to selectively block hydrogen fuel flow through the tubular element; and   an orifice at an upstream end of the tubular element to control hydrogen fuel flow through the tubular element.   
     
     
         11 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the radial fuel distributor and the swirler element comprises at least one of metallic materials and ceramic materials. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 11 , further comprising a thermal coating on at least the one or more circumferential apertures. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 9 , wherein the one or more circumferential apertures are pointed radially outwardly. 
     
     
         14 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 9 , wherein the one or more circumferential apertures are pointed radially inwardly. 
     
     
         15 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 9 , wherein the openings of the outer swirler body are at least one of vane openings and holes. 
     
     
         16 . A fuel nozzle for a turbine engine using hydrogen fuel, the fuel nozzle comprising:
 a tubular element;   a foamed fuel distributor disposed along the tubular element; and   a swirler element abuttable with an end wall of a combustor of the turbine engine and comprising:
 an inner swirler body formed to define a swirl area receptive of hydrogen fuel from the tubular element through the foamed fuel distributor; and 
 an outer swirler body disposed about the inner swirler body and formed to define openings through which fluid flows radially into the swirl area to mix with the hydrogen fuel prior to flowing into the combustor. 
   
     
     
         17 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 16 , further comprising at least one of:
 a valve at an upstream end of the tubular element to selectively block hydrogen fuel flow through the tubular element; and   an orifice at an upstream end of the tubular element to control hydrogen fuel flow through the tubular element.   
     
     
         18 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 16 , wherein the foamed fuel distributor comprises at least one or more of metallic foam, a ceramic foam and a polymeric foam. 
     
     
         19 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 18 , further comprising a thermal coating on at least the foamed fuel distributor. 
     
     
         20 . The fuel nozzle according to  claim 16 , wherein the openings of the outer swirler body are at least one of vane openings and holes.