An atomizer includes an endcap having a nozzle; an annular sidewall extending outward from a surface of the endcap and situated radially outward from the nozzle; and a plurality of vanes extending radially inward from the sidewall and axially outward from the endcap, the vanes being set at a non-zero angle of incidence to the sidewall. The annular sidewall and endcap define an fluid chamber between an inlet and the nozzle, and flow from the inlet to the nozzle is at least partially directed through passageways between the vanes, and the flow is imparted with swirling motion from the vanes.

A fuel supply system for an aircraft engine, comprises a gaseous fuel source and a fuel nozzle. The fuel nozzle includes a housing having a housing interior chamber and a fuel swirler disposed inside the housing interior chamber. The fuel swirler is fluidly connected to the gaseous fuel source for directing gaseous fuel to a combustor of the aircraft engine. The fuel swirler defines a gaseous fuel path extending from a fuel inlet to a fuel outlet. The gaseous fuel path includes a plurality of discrete apertures distributed around a circumference of the fuel swirler, each of the plurality of discrete apertures having a cross-sectional area selected to prevent a flame from propagating in an upstream direction through the gaseous fuel path towards the gaseous fuel source.

An atomizer includes an atomizer body with a plurality of air passages defined therethrough from an upstream end of the atomizer body to a downstream end thereof. The air passages together define an air circuit through the atomizer body. A fuel circuit is defined in the atomizer body extending from a fuel inlet to a respective fuel outlet opening into each air passage. The air passages can be arranged circumferentially about a central axis defined by the atomizer body. The fuel circuit can include a manifold extending circumferentially about the atomizer body in fluid communication with a fuel opening in each respective air passage.

A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine of an aircraft having a fuel nozzle including a fuel swirler and/or an outer air swirler. The fuel swirler may include a manifold for receiving fuel from a fuel conduit, and a plurality of fuel passages to direct fuel from the manifold to discharge orifices that direct fuel with swirling flow. The fuel swirler may be configured to provide uniform spray while minimizing recirculation zones; reduce residence time as fuel enters the manifold; minimize flow disruptions, boundary layer growth, and/or pressure drop as fuel flows through the fuel passages; reduces coking internally of the nozzle; reduces thermal stresses; and is simple and low-cost to manufacture. The outer air swirler may include first and second outer air swirler portions with respective vanes and air passages that provide swirling air flow. The outer air swirler may be configured to improve atomization and spray uniformity with a wide spray angle; and minimize flow disruptions for enhancing flow performance.

A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine of an aircraft having a fuel nozzle including a fuel swirler and/or an outer air swirler. The fuel swirler may include a manifold for receiving fuel from a fuel conduit, and a plurality of fuel passages to direct fuel from the manifold to discharge orifices that direct fuel with swirling flow. The fuel swirler may be configured to provide uniform spray while minimizing recirculation zones; reduce residence time as fuel enters the manifold; minimize flow disruptions, boundary layer growth, and/or pressure drop as fuel flows through the fuel passages; reduces coking internally of the nozzle; reduces thermal stresses; and is simple and low-cost to manufacture. The outer air swirler may include first and second outer air swirler portions with respective vanes and air passages that provide swirling air flow. The outer air swirler may be configured to improve atomization and spray uniformity with a wide spray angle; and minimize flow disruptions for enhancing flow performance.

A liquid fuel injector includes a cylindrical center body including a center axis, an annular shroud concentrically disposed outside the center body, an annular fuel injection body disposed between and concentrically with the center body and the shroud, and including a fuel passage formed therein, a plurality of inner swirl vanes that are arranged in an equal cycle in an inner air passage between the center body and the fuel injection body, and are provided with an inner swirl vane action surface on an upstream side, a plurality of outer swirl vanes that are arranged in an equal cycle in an outer air passage between the fuel injection body and the shroud, and an outer swirl vane action surface on the upstream side.

A gas turbine engine fuel nozzle comprises a spray tip defining a fuel exit passage therethrough that extends along a central axis. The fuel exit passage has an exit orifice aligned with the central axis. The exit orifice is circumscribed by an inner annular surface. The inner annular surface has a spherically-convex profile in cross-section, the profile being constant around the circumference of the inner annular surface.

A nozzle includes an outer gas flow path, an inner gas flow path radially inward from the outer gas flow path, a liquid flow path defined radially between the inner gas flow path and the outer air flow path, and a core conduit defined radially inward from the inner gas flow path. An injector assembly includes an outer housing, a nozzle within the outer housing, and an outer housing gas flow path defined radially outward from the nozzle between an inner surface of the outer housing and an outer surface of the nozzle. The nozzle includes an outer gas flow path, an inner gas flow path radially inward from the outer gas flow path, a liquid flow path defined radially between the inner gas flow path and the outer gas flow path and a core conduit defined radially inward from the inner gas flow path.

Implementations of a combustor assembly yield low emissions, require low power, are suitable for alternate liquid fuels, including highly viscous fuels, and are scalable for various heat release rates. The combustor assembly includes a fuel injector and a swirler. The fuel injector may include a choke portion and a spacer. The choke portion is disposed just upstream of an outlet of a liquid fuel conduit and prevents atomizing gas from interrupting continuous flow of the liquid fuel through the liquid fuel conduit. The spacer is disposed downstream of the outlet to precisely control the gap and thus, bifurcation of atomizing gas flow, between the outlet of liquid fuel conduit and an inlet of an orifice plate. The swirler is disposed radially outwardly and adjacent the fuel injector and includes a plurality of angled vanes.

A fuel nozzle for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a body defining an axial direction and a radial direction, a primary air passageway centrally defined axially in the body, and a plurality of concentrically-arranged nozzle tip projections disposed at a downstream portion of the body. Each of the plurality of nozzle tip projections has a radially inwardly facing fuel filming surface communicating with respective fuel passages. The fuel filming surfaces are disposed radially outwardly of an outlet of the primary air passageway. A method for delivering fuel from a fuel nozzle of a combustor of a gas turbine engine is also presented.