Multi-Jet Fuel Nozzle Layout for Mixing Without Flashback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel injector nozzles for engines lack efficient fuel distribution and mixing within the combustion chamber, leading to potential issues such as flashback and flame holding.

Innovation Solution

A fuel nozzle design with multiple fuel passages that are circumferentially arranged and have angled trajectories to ensure deeper or shallower fuel penetration into the combustion chamber, promoting efficient fuel mixing and collision at a targeted location to reduce flashback and flame holding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If fuel passages are arranged with angled trajectories to penetrate deeper into the combustion chamber, then fuel mixing efficiency is improved, but flashback and flame holding risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel mixing efficiencyVSAvoidflashback and flame holding
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel injection system is segmented into multiple fuel passages (first fuel passage, second fuel passage, etc.) arranged circumferentially around the axis. Each passage has a different trajectory angle, creating multiple discrete fuel streams that collectively achieve both deep penetration and effective mixing without causing flashback

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the fuel nozzle are assigned different trajectory characteristics. The first fuel passage has a first trajectory angle while the second fuel passage has a second trajectory angle, creating localized variations in fuel flow direction that optimize both penetration depth and mixing efficiency at different spatial locations within the combustion chamber

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If fuel injection pressure is increased to improve atomization, then fuel distribution is improved, but fuel penetration depth increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel distribution uniformityVSAvoidfuel penetration depth
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The trajectory angles of the fuel passages are changed as a key parameter to control fuel penetration depth. By optimizing the angle at which fuel is injected relative to the combustion chamber axis, the system achieves high atomization quality through increased pressure while limiting excessive penetration depth through geometric constraint of the passage trajectories

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4696930A1Engine fuel nozzle with multiple fuel jets
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP
  • EP4696930A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4696930A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4696930A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus is provided for an engine. This apparatus includes a fuel nozzle (70) extending axially along an axis (72) to a distal end (76) of the fuel nozzle (70). The fuel nozzle (70) includes a plurality of fuel passages (82) arranged circumferentially around the axis (72). The fuel passages (82) includes a first fuel passage (82) and a second fuel passage (82). The first fuel passage (82) includes a first passage outlet (96) axially aligned with an outlet location (118) along the axis (72). The first fuel passage (82) extends longitudinally within the fuel nozzle (70) to the first passage outlet (96). A trajectory (108) of the first fuel passage (82) at the first passage outlet (96) points to a target location (110) along the axis (72) that is axially spaced from the outlet location (118). The second fuel passage (82) includes a second passage outlet (96). The second fuel passage (82) extends longitudinally within the fuel nozzle (70) to the second passage outlet (96). A trajectory (108) of the second fuel passage (82) at the second passage outlet (96) points to the target location.