Combustor and method for conditioning flow through a combustor

Abstract

A combustor includes an end cover and a casing adjacent to the end cover, wherein the end cover and casing at least partially define a volume inside the combustor. The combustor further includes an end cap that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor, at least one nozzle arranged in the end cap to provide fluid communication through the end cap, and means for conditioning flow through the volume. A method for conditioning flow through a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through a volume at least partially defined by an end cover, a casing, and an end cap that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor and flowing the working fluid across an annular insert adjacent to the end cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combustor comprising:
 a. an end cover;   b. a casing adjacent to the end cover, wherein the end cover and casing at least partially define a volume inside the combustor;   c. an end cap that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor;   d. at least one nozzle arranged in the end cap to provide fluid communication through the end cap; and   e. means for conditioning flow through the volume.   
     
     
         2 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , wherein the means for conditioning flow comprises an annular insert adjacent to the end cover. 
     
     
         3 . The combustor as in  claim 2 , wherein the annular insert has a concave surface. 
     
     
         4 . The combustor as in  claim 2 , wherein the means for conditioning flow further comprises an arcuate insert adjacent to the annular insert, wherein the arcuate insert has a concave surface. 
     
     
         5 . The combustor as in  claim 2 , wherein the means for conditioning flow further comprises an arcuate insert adjacent to the end cap. 
     
     
         6 . The combustor as in  claim 5 , wherein the arcuate insert has a convex surface. 
     
     
         7 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , wherein the means for conditioning flow comprises a plurality of arcuate inserts adjacent to the end cover. 
     
     
         8 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , wherein the means for conditioning flow comprises an arcuate insert adjacent to the end cap, wherein the arcuate insert has a convex surface. 
     
     
         9 . A combustor comprising:
 a. an end cover;   b. a casing adjacent to the end cover, wherein the end cover and casing at least partially define a volume inside the combustor;   c. an end cap that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor;   d. at least one nozzle arranged in the end cap to provide fluid communication through the end cap; and   e. at least one of an annular insert adjacent to the end cover, a first arcuate insert adjacent to the end cover, or a second arcuate insert adjacent to the end cap, wherein the second arcuate insert has a convex surface.   
     
     
         10 . The combustor as in  claim 9 , wherein the annular insert has a concave surface. 
     
     
         11 . The combustor as in  claim 9 , wherein the first arcuate insert has a concave surface. 
     
     
         12 . The combustor as in  claim 9 , wherein the second arcuate insert has a convex surface. 
     
     
         13 . The combustor as in  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of first arcuate inserts adjacent to the end cover. 
     
     
         14 . The combustor as in  claim 9 , further comprising any combination of at least two of the annular insert adjacent to the end cover, the first arcuate insert adjacent to the end cover, or the second arcuate insert adjacent to the end cap. 
     
     
         15 . The combustor as in  claim 9 , further comprising the annular insert adjacent to the end cover, the first arcuate insert adjacent to the end cover, and the second arcuate insert adjacent to the end cap. 
     
     
         16 . A method for conditioning flow through a combustor, comprising:
 a. flowing a working fluid through a volume at least partially defined by an end cover, a casing, and an end cap that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor;   b. flowing the working fluid across an annular insert adjacent to the end cover.   
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 16 , further comprising flowing the working fluid across a first arcuate insert adjacent to the annular insert. 
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 16 , further comprising flowing the working fluid across a first arcuate insert adjacent to the annular insert, wherein the first arcuate insert has a concave surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 16 , further comprising flowing the working fluid across a second arcuate insert adjacent to the end cap. 
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 16 , further comprising flowing the working fluid across a second arcuate insert adjacent to the end cap, wherein the second arcuate insert has a convex surface.