Importance

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Abstract

In order to facilitate operation in a wide variety of operating conditions, and to enhance altitude starting capability while eliminating start injectors, a radial turbine engine (10) includes dual fuel injection zones (24 and 26). The radial turbine engine (10) also includes a turbine wheel (12) coupled to a rotary compressor (14) for axially driven movement, an annular nozzle (16) for directing gases of combustion radially at the turbine wheel (12), and an annular combustor (15). The annular combustor (15) defines an annular combustion space disposed about the turbine wheel (12) and in fluid communication with both the compressor (14) and the nozzle (16), and it receives fuel from a source and air from the compressor (14) which are combusted in the combustion space to generate the gases of combustion. The radial turbine engine (10) is such that the annular combustor (15) is defined by an annular outer wall (18), an annular inner wall (20), and a radial wall (22) extending between the inner and outer walls (20 and 18) axially opposite the nozzle (16). In order to achieve the objectives of the invention, the first fuel injection zone (24) is adjacent the radial wall (22) and the second fuel injection zone (26) is intermediate the first fuel injection zone (24) and the nozzle (16), and each of the fuel injection zones (24 and 26) includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced fuel injectors (28 and 30) for injecting fuel tangentially thereinto.

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First Claim