Fuel nozzle and method for swirl control

Abstract

According to one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for injecting fuel is provided, where the apparatus includes a cone structure that includes a passage to form a swirl of an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber. The apparatus also includes at least one adjustable vane positioned in the passage configured to control the swirl of the air-fuel mixture and control a flame stability.

1 . A fuel nozzle comprising:
 a cone structure that includes a passage to form a swirl of an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber; and   at least one adjustable vane positioned in the passage configured to control the swirl of the air-fuel mixture and control a flame stability.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one adjustable vane is configured control an axial flow component of the swirl. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one adjustable vane comprises a plurality of axially staged adjustable vanes. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the cone structure comprises an inner cone and an outer cone. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one adjustable vane is configured to control a mean radius of the swirl. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the cone structure comprises an inner cone, an outer cone and a center cone. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one adjustable vane comprises a plurality of radial adjustable vanes. 
     
     
         8 . A method for injecting fuel, comprising:
 mixing air and fuel in a passage within a cone structure to form an air-fuel mixture;   directing the air-fuel mixture from the passage into a combustion chamber;   forming a swirl with the air-fuel mixture; and   adjusting a position of at least one adjustable vane to control a property of the swirl of the air-fuel mixture.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein adjusting a position of at least one adjustable vane comprises reducing flame holding in a fuel nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein adjusting a position of at least one adjustable vane comprises pivoting the at least one adjustable vane along a radial axis. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein adjusting a position of at least one adjustable vane comprises pivoting the at least one adjustable vane along a tangential axis. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein adjusting a position of at least one adjustable vane controlling a mean radius of the swirl. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein adjusting a position of at least one adjustable vane comprises controlling an axial flow component of the swirl. 
     
     
         14 . A combustor, comprising:
 a combustion chamber;   an air supply in fluid communication with at least one fuel nozzle positioned in the combustion chamber; and   a fuel supply in fluid communication with the at least one fuel nozzle, wherein the at least one fuel nozzle comprises:
 a cone structure that includes a passage to form an air-fuel swirl in the combustion chamber; and 
 at least one adjustable vane positioned in the passage configured to control a property of the air-fuel swirl and control a flame stability. 
   
     
     
         15 . The combustor of  claim 14 , wherein the property of the air-fuel swirl comprises an axial flow component of the air-fuel swirl. 
     
     
         16 . The combustor of  claim 15 , wherein a position of the at least one adjustable vane is configured to reduce flame holding. 
     
     
         17 . The combustor of  claim 14 , wherein the property of the air-fuel swirl comprises a mean radius of the swirl. 
     
     
         18 . The combustor of  claim 14 , wherein the cone structure comprises an inner cone and an outer cone. 
     
     
         19 . The combustor of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one adjustable vane comprises a plurality of axially staged adjustable vanes. 
     
     
         20 . The combustor of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one adjustable vane comprises a plurality of radial adjustable vanes.