Fuel Nozzle Assembly with Inlet Flow Conditioner

Abstract

A combustor includes an inlet flow conditioner having a sleeve and a conditioner plate. The conditioner plate defines a plurality of apertures. The sleeve extends axially from the conditioner plate to a forward plate of a nozzle segment. The sleeve, the conditioner plate and the forward plate define an inlet flow plenum. The inlet flow plenum is in fluid communication with an inlet of a tube that defines a premix passage of the nozzle segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combustor, comprising:
 an inlet flow conditioner including a sleeve and a conditioner plate defining a plurality of apertures, wherein the sleeve extends axially from the conditioner plate to a forward plate of a nozzle segment, wherein the sleeve, the conditioner plate and the forward plate define an inlet flow plenum, and wherein the inlet flow plenum is in fluid communication with an inlet of a tube that defines a premix passage of the nozzle segment.   
     
     
         2 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , further comprising a head end volume at least partially defined between an endcover and the conditioner plate, wherein the inlet flow plenum is in fluid communication with the head end volume via the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         3 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , wherein at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures is non-round. 
     
     
         4 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , where a first aperture of the plurality of apertures has a diameter that is less than a diameter of a second aperture of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         5 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , wherein the conditioner plate is wedge shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve defines a plurality of holes radially oriented and circumferentially spaced around the sleeve, wherein the plurality of holes provide for fluid communication into the inlet flow plenum. 
     
     
         7 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid conduit that extends axially through the conditioner plate, wherein the fluid conduit provides fuel to the premix passage. 
     
     
         8 . The combustor as in  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle segment further comprises an aft plate axially spaced from the forward plate, an outer band that extends between the forward plate and the aft plate, and a fuel plenum defined between the forward plate and the aft plate, wherein the tube extends through the forward plate, the fuel plenum and the aft plate. 
     
     
         9 . The combustor as in  claim 7 , wherein the tube is in fluid communication with the fuel plenum. 
     
     
         10 . A combustor, comprising:
 an inlet flow conditioner including a sleeve and a conditioner plate defining a plurality of apertures, wherein the sleeve extends axially from the conditioner plate to a forward plate of a fuel nozzle forming an inlet flow plenum therein, and wherein the inlet flow plenum is in fluid communication with a plurality of premix passages defined by a plurality of tubes of the fuel nozzle.   
     
     
         11 . The combustor as in  claim 10 , further comprising a head end volume at least partially defined between an endcover and the conditioner plate, wherein the inlet flow plenum is in fluid communication with the head end volume via the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         12 . The combustor as in  claim 10 , wherein at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures is non-round. 
     
     
         13 . The combustor as in  claim 10 , where a first aperture of the plurality of apertures has a diameter that is less than a diameter of a second aperture of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         14 . The combustor as in  claim 10 , wherein the conditioner plate is circular shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The combustor as in  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve defines a plurality of holes radially oriented and circumferentially spaced around the sleeve, wherein the plurality of holes provide for fluid communication into the inlet flow plenum. 
     
     
         16 . The combustor as in  claim 10 , further comprising a fluid conduit that extends axially through the conditioner plate, wherein the fluid conduit provides fuel to the fuel nozzle and each premix passage of the plurality of premix passages. 
     
     
         17 . The combustor as in  claim 10 , wherein the fuel nozzle further comprises an aft plate axially spaced from the forward plate, an outer band that extends between the forward plate and the aft plate, and a fuel plenum defined between the forward plate and the aft plate, wherein the tube extends through the forward plate, the fuel plenum and the aft plate. 
     
     
         18 . The combustor as in  claim 17 , wherein each tube is in fluid communication with the fuel plenum. 
     
     
         19 . The combustor as in  claim 10 , further comparing a plurality of nozzle segments annularly arranged around the fuel nozzle, wherein each nozzle segment includes a sleeve and a conditioner plate defining a plurality of apertures, wherein the sleeve extends axially from the conditioner plate to a forward plate, wherein the sleeve, the conditioner plate and the forward plate define an inlet flow plenum, and wherein the inlet flow plenum is in fluid communication with a plurality of premix passages defined by a plurality of tubes of the nozzle segment.