ABSTRACT
The primary purpose of this introductory chapter is to discuss the main requirements of gas turbine combustors and to describe, in general terms, the various types and congurations of combustors employed in aircraft and industrial engines. The principal geometric and aerodynamic features that are common to most types of gas turbine combustors are briey reviewed, with special attention being given to fuel preparation and liner-wall cooling to reect the important role these topics continue to play in combustor development. Reference is made to most of the key issues involved in combustor design and development, but the descriptive material is necessarily brief because these and other important aspects of combustor performance are described more fully in subsequent chapters.
