Patent ID: 8196408

Claim:
A turbomachine comprising: a compressor; a turbine operatively connected to the compressor; a combustion assembly fluidly connected between the compressor and the turbine, the combustion assembly including: a combustor end cover including a plurality of fuel circuits; a fuel distributing flange mounted to an outer surface of the combustor endcover and fluidly connected to at least one of the plurality of fuel circuits; a nozzle assembly fluidly linked to the at least one of the plurality of fuel circuits; another fuel distributing flange fluidly connected to at least one other of the plurality of fuel circuits; another nozzle assembly fluidly connected to the at least one other of the plurality of fuel circuits; and a fuel distribution system configured and disposed to deliver fuel to the fuel distributing flange, the fuel distribution system being selectively activated to stage fuel delivery to the at least one of the plurality of fuel circuits at a pressure sufficient to achieve atomization without requiring a supplemental atomization air flow at the nozzle assembly prior to delivering fuel to others of the plurality of fuel circuits at a pressure sufficient to achieve atomization without requiring a supplemental atomization air flow at the nozzle.