Supplemental Thrust Injection Assembly for Stable Fuel-Gas Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing supplemental thrust systems for gas turbine engines require improvement in efficiency and effectiveness for generating additional forward engine thrust.

Innovation Solution

A turbine engine assembly incorporating a flowpath duct, a fuel injector assembly, and a secondary duct to mix and direct fuel-gas mixtures into the exhaust flowpath, with a secondary duct providing additional gas to enhance thrust generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If additional fuel is introduced into the combustion products for combustion, then additional forward engine thrust is generated, but combustion stability and mixing efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforward engine thrustVSAvoidcombustion stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a recirculation passage that redirects a portion of combustion products back to the fuel injector assembly before combustion occurs. This preliminary action pre-mixes the recirculated combustion products with incoming fuel, ensuring stable combustion conditions are established before the main combustion event, thereby maintaining combustion stability while enabling additional thrust generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs combustion products as an intermediary medium by recirculating them through the fuel injector assembly. These recirculated combustion products serve as a mixing medium that facilitates uniform distribution of additional fuel with the combustion stream, improving mixing efficiency and maintaining combustion stability while enabling supplemental thrust

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Force

If additional fuel is introduced into the combustion products, then additional forward engine thrust is generated, but fuel mixing efficiency with combustion products deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforward engine thrustVSAvoidfuel mixing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The recirculation passage performs preliminary mixing by directing combustion products through the fuel injector assembly before the main combustion chamber. This pre-mixing action ensures that additional fuel is thoroughly mixed with recirculated combustion products in a controlled environment, improving overall fuel mixing efficiency while generating additional thrust

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Combustion products recirculated through the fuel injector assembly serve as an intermediary mixing medium. This intermediary stream facilitates efficient mixing of additional fuel with the main combustion products by providing a controlled mixing zone, thereby improving fuel mixing efficiency while enabling supplemental thrust generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances the generation of additional forward engine thrust by optimizing the mixing and penetration of fuel-gas mixtures within the exhaust flowpath, improving thrust efficiency and stability.

Implementation Method 1

The fuel injector assembly is configured to mix fuel with first gas within the inner flow passage to provide a fuel-gas mixture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMixing:

Implementation Method 2

The fuel injector assembly is configured to direct a jet of the fuel-gas mixture into the flowpath

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJet flow: Jet

Implementation Method 3

The secondary duct is configured to direct second gas into the flowpath about the jet of the fuel-gas mixture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow:

Implementation Method 4

The supplemental thrust system introduces additional fuel into the combustion products flowing through the exhaust section for combustion and, thus, production of additional combustion products for generating additional forward engine thrust

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS20260049575A1Supplemental thrust system for a gas turbine engine

Publication Date: 2026.02.19 RTX CORP

AI summary

An assembly is provided for a turbine engine. This turbine engine assembly includes a flowpath duct, a fuel injector assembly and a secondary duct. The flowpath duct includes a flowpath. The fuel injector assembly includes an inner flow passage. The fuel injector assembly is configured to mix fuel with first gas within the inner flow passage to provide a fuel-gas mixture. The fuel injector assembly is configured to direct a jet of the fuel-gas mixture into the flowpath. The secondary duct is configured to direct second gas into the flowpath about the jet of the fuel-gas mixture.