Patent ID: 6453660
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: F23C,F23R

Abstract:
In combination, a mixer assembly for use in a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine, said mixer assembly comprising:a mixer housing having a hollow interior, an inlet for permitting air to flow into the hollow interior and an outlet for permitting air to flow from the hollow interior to the combustion chamber, said housing delivering a mixture of fuel and air through the outlet to the combustion chamber for burning therein thereby to heat air passing through the combustion chamber; and a fuel nozzle assembly mounted in the housing having a fuel passage adapted for connection to a fuel supply for supplying the passage with fuel, said passage extending to an outlet port for delivering fuel from the passage to the hollow interior of the mixer housing to mix said fuel with air passing through the mixer housing, wherein the nozzle assembly includes a plasma generator for generating at least one of a dissociated fuel and an ionized fuel from the fuel delivered through the nozzle outlet port to the hollow interior of the housing; and a combustor control operable for controlling a rate at which said at least one dissociated fuel and ionized fuel is generated by the plasma generator.