US 12,305,860 B2
Bundled tube fuel nozzle assembly for gas turbine combustor
Michael John Hughes, State College, PA (US); Jonathan Dwight Berry, Simpsonville, SC (US); Johnie Franklin McConnaughhay, Greenville, SC (US); Heath Michael Ostebee, Easley, SC (US); and Ronald James Chila, Ballston Spa, NY (US)
Assigned to GE Vernova Infrastructure Technology LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed by GE Infrastructure Technology LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed on Dec. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/401,576.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/437,638, filed on Jan. 6, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0230097 A1, Jul. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. F23R 3/28 (2006.01); F02C 7/22 (2006.01)
CPC F23R 3/286 (2013.01) [F02C 7/222 (2013.01); F23R 3/283 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bundled tube fuel nozzle assembly for a gas turbine combustor, the bundled tube fuel nozzle assembly comprising:
a forward plate facing a head end air plenum, an aft plate facing a combustion chamber, a first plurality of premixing tubes extending from the forward plate to the aft plate, a second plurality of premixing tubes extending from the forward plate to the aft plate and disposed in a center region of the bundled tube fuel nozzle assembly, a partition extending circumferentially around the second plurality of premixing tubes and defining a center fuel plenum, an interior side wall extending circumferentially around the first plurality of premixing tubes and extending axially from the forward plate to the aft plate, and an exterior side wall extending circumferentially around the interior side wall and extending axially from the forward plate to the aft plate;
wherein the forward plate, the aft plate, the interior side wall, and the exterior side wall define an exterior fuel plenum;
wherein the forward plate, the aft plate, and the interior side wall define an interior fuel plenum in fluid communication with the exterior fuel plenum; the first plurality of premixing tubes comprises a radially outer group of premixing tubes; and each premixing tube of the first plurality of premixing tubes includes at least one fuel injection hole therethrough in fluid communication with the interior fuel plenum;
wherein the forward plate, the aft plate, and the partition define the center fuel plenum, the partition separating the center fuel plenum from the interior fuel plenum; the second plurality of premixing tubes comprises a radially inner group of premixing tubes; and each premixing tube of the second plurality of premixing tubes includes at least one fuel injection hole therethrough in fluid communication with the center fuel plenum; and
wherein the head end air plenum is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, via inlet ends of the first plurality of premixing tubes.