Patent ID: 6923642

Claim:
A combustor comprising: a combustor liner enclosing a cool portion and a hot portion of the combustor; a pre-mix, pre-evaporation chamber positioned within the combustor liner providing a cool portion having an inlet opening from the cool portion of the combustor, a hot portion having an outlet opening into the hot portion of the combustor, and a flange extending from an outer surface of the pre-mix, pre-evaporation chamber toward the combustor liner and separating the hot portion of the combustor from the cool portion of the combustor; a fuel injector positioned adjacent the inlet opening for injecting liquid fuel into the pre-mix, pre-evaporation chamber through the inlet opening; and an igniter positioned in the hot portion of the combustion chamber adjacent the outlet opening; wherein the liquid fuel injected into the pre-mix, pre-evaporation chamber from the injector mixes with air entering the pre-mix, pre-evaporation chamber through the inlet opening and evaporates substantially completely to form a combustion mixture of air and fuel vapor before exiting the pre-mix, pre-evaporation chamber through the outlet opening; and further wherein the combustion mixture is ignited and is substantially consumed in a non-sooting flame within a combustion zone adjacent the outlet opening to produce a hot exhaust stream.