System and method for operating a combustor

Abstract

A system for operating a combustor includes a nozzle and a fuel passage and air passage through the nozzle. A fuel supply is in fluid communication with the fuel inlet, and an air supply is in fluid communication with the air inlet and the fuel inlet. A method for operating a combustor includes flowing a fuel through a fuel inlet in a nozzle and flowing air through an air inlet in the nozzle. The method further includes sensing an operating parameter of the combustor, generating a signal reflective of the operating parameter, and controlling a flow of at least one of air or diluent to the fuel inlet based on the signal reflective of the operating parameter.

1 . A system for operating a combustor comprising:
 a. a nozzle;   b. a fuel passage through said nozzle, wherein said fuel passage has a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet;   c. an air passage through said nozzle, wherein said air passage has an air inlet and an air outlet;   d. a fuel supply in fluid communication with said fuel inlet; and   e. an air supply in fluid communication with said air inlet and said fuel inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein said fuel supply is in fluid communication with said air inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a diluent passage through said nozzle, wherein said diluent passage has a diluent inlet and a diluent outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The system as in  claim 3 , further comprising a diluent supply in fluid communication with said diluent inlet and at least one of said air inlet or said fuel inlet. 
     
     
         5 . The system as in  claim 3 , wherein said air supply is in fluid communication with said diluent inlet. 
     
     
         6 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein said fuel passage comprises a gaseous fuel passage through said nozzle having a gaseous fuel inlet and a gaseous fuel outlet and a liquid fuel passage through said nozzle having a liquid fuel inlet and a liquid fuel outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The system as in  claim 6 , wherein said air supply is in fluid communication with said gaseous fuel inlet and said liquid fuel inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that generates a parameter signal reflective of an operating parameter of the combustor. 
     
     
         9 . The system as in  claim 8 , wherein said parameter signal is reflective of at least one of temperature, pressure, fuel quality, or emissions. 
     
     
         10 . The system as in  claim 8 , further comprising a controller connected to said sensor, wherein said controller receives said parameter signal from said sensor and generates a control signal to at least one of said fuel supply or said diluent supply based on said parameter signal. 
     
     
         11 . A system for operating a combustor comprising:
 a. a nozzle;   b. a fuel passage through said nozzle, wherein said fuel passage has a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet;   c. a diluent passage through said nozzle, wherein said diluent passage has a diluent inlet and a diluent outlet;   d. an air passage through said nozzle, wherein said air passage has an air inlet and an air outlet;   e. a fuel supply in fluid communication with said fuel inlet;   f. an air supply in fluid communication with said air inlet and said fuel inlet;   g. a sensor that provides a parameter signal reflective of an operating parameter of the combustor; and   h. a controller connected to said sensor, wherein said controller receives said parameter signal from said sensor and generates a control signal to at least one of said fuel supply or said air supply based on said parameter signal.   
     
     
         12 . The system as in  claim 11 , wherein said fuel supply is in fluid communication with said diluent inlet. 
     
     
         13 . The system as in  claim 11 , further comprising a diluent supply in fluid communication with said diluent inlet and at least one of said air inlet or said fuel inlet. 
     
     
         14 . The system as in  claim 13 , wherein said controller generates said control signal to said diluent supply based on said parameter signal. 
     
     
         15 . The system as in  claim 11 , wherein said air supply is in fluid communication with said diluent inlet. 
     
     
         16 . The system as in  claim 11 , wherein said fuel passage comprises a gaseous fuel passage through said nozzle having a gaseous fuel inlet and a gaseous fuel outlet and a liquid fuel passage through said nozzle having a liquid fuel inlet and a liquid fuel outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The system as in  claim 16 , wherein said air supply is in fluid communication with said gaseous fuel inlet and said liquid fuel inlet. 
     
     
         18 . A method for operating a combustor comprising:
 a. flowing a fuel through a fuel inlet in a nozzle;   b. flowing air through an air inlet in said nozzle;   c. sensing an operating parameter of the combustor;   d. generating a signal reflective of said operating parameter; and   e. controlling a flow of at least one of air or diluent to said fuel inlet based on said signal reflective of said operating parameter.   
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 18 , further comprising generating the signal reflective of at least one of temperature, pressure, fuel quality, or emissions. 
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 18 , further comprising controlling a flow of at least one of the fuel or diluent to said air inlet.