Rifled Venturi for Combustor Dynamics Mitigation

The patent applies segmentation by introducing multiple grooves into the venturi inner surface that divide the coherent liquid sheet into smaller segments. These grooves create multiple fuel streams instead of a single continuous sheet, enhancing mixing efficiency and reducing harmful spectral content through increased surface area and disrupted flow patterns.

The patent introduces grooves that add a third dimension to the fuel flow by creating depth variations in the venturi surface. This dimensional change transforms the two-dimensional liquid sheet into a three-dimensional structured flow with multiple channels, improving atomization and mixing while reducing coherent spectral content.

The patent applies local quality by modifying only specific portions of the venturi inner surface with grooves while leaving other areas relatively smooth. This localized modification creates the necessary flow disruption for improved atomization without completely altering the overall flow path, maintaining manufacturing feasibility while enhancing performance.

The grooves introduce curved surfaces and varying radii into the venturi flow path, replacing the simple cylindrical geometry. This curvature variation disrupts the coherent liquid sheet formation and improves atomization quality by creating more complex flow patterns that enhance fuel-air mixing.

The grooves are designed to be self-formed through the natural flow of fuel and air through the venturi. The geometry and positioning of the grooves allow the fluid dynamics themselves to create the desired flow patterns without requiring additional active control mechanisms or complex external systems.

The patent modifies geometric parameters of the venturi by introducing grooves with specific dimensions, depths, and spacing. These parameter changes are optimized to achieve the desired spectral content reduction and mixing improvement while maintaining manufacturing feasibility and avoiding excessive complexity.