Gas turbine engine liquid fuel supply system and method

Abstract

A method of supplying liquid fuel in a gas turbine engine is provided and includes sealing a fuel manifold with a fluid in the fuel manifold. The method also includes initiating routing of a liquid fuel from a liquid fuel supply structure to the fuel manifold. The method further includes displacing the fluid disposed in the fuel manifold with the liquid fuel. The method yet further includes routing the liquid fuel and the fluid into a combustor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of supplying liquid fuel in a gas turbine engine comprising:
 sealing a fuel manifold with a fluid in the fuel manifold;   initiating routing of a liquid fuel from a liquid fuel supply structure to the fuel manifold;   displacing the fluid disposed in the fuel manifold with the liquid fuel; and   routing the liquid fuel and the fluid into a combustor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises demineralized water. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the initiating routing of the liquid fuel occurs during a transition from a gas fuel operation of the combustor to a liquid fuel operation of the combustor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the initiating routing of the liquid fuel occurs subsequent to a purging of the fuel manifold. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein all of the fluid in the fuel manifold is routed to the combustor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein initiating routing of the liquid fuel comprises opening a first valve located between the liquid fuel supply structure and the fuel manifold. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein routing the liquid fuel and the fluid into the combustor comprises opening a second valve located between the fuel manifold and the combustor. 
     
     
         9 . A method of supplying liquid fuel in a gas turbine engine comprising:
 sealing a fuel manifold with a water in the fuel manifold;   initiating routing of a liquid fuel from a liquid fuel supply structure to the fuel manifold;   displacing the water disposed in the fuel manifold with the liquid fuel, wherein displacing the water comprises routing the liquid fuel to the fuel manifold at varying flow rates; and   routing the liquid fuel and the water into a combustor.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein displacing the water with the liquid fuel comprises routing the liquid fuel to the fuel manifold at a first flow rate that is constant for a first period of time and a second flow rate that is constant for a second period of time. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein displacing the water with the liquid fuel comprises routing the liquid fuel to the fuel manifold at a constantly varying flow rate over a period of time. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the initiating routing of the liquid fuel occurs during a transition from a gas fuel operation of the combustor to a liquid fuel operation of the combustor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the initiating routing of the liquid fuel occurs subsequent to a purging of the fuel manifold. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein all of the water in the fuel manifold is routed to the combustor. 
     
     
         15 . A fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine comprising:
 a liquid fuel supply structure containing a liquid fuel;   a combustor;   a fuel manifold fluidly coupled to the liquid fuel supply structure to receive the liquid fuel and fluidly coupled to the combustor for selective distribution of the liquid fuel to the combustor; and   a fluid supply structure containing a fluid different from the liquid fuel, the fluid supply structure fluidly coupled to the fuel manifold for routing of the fluid to the fuel manifold, wherein the liquid fuel and the fluid are routed to the combustor upon initiation of routing the liquid fuel to the combustor.   
     
     
         16 . The fuel supply system of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid is water. 
     
     
         17 . The fuel supply system of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid is demineralized water. 
     
     
         18 . The fuel supply system of  claim 15 , wherein all of the fluid in the fuel manifold is routed to the combustor.