1. A gas turbine engine comprising:
a fuel circuit, including multiple fuel circuit branches;
a combustor having a first interior in which a first fuel supplied thereto by any one of the multiple fuel circuit branches is combustible;
a turbine, including rotating turbine blades, into which products of at least the combustion of the first fuel are receivable to power the rotation of the turbine blades;
a transition zone, including a second interior in which a second fuel supplied thereto by any one of the multiple fuel circuit branches, the second fuel including gas receivable by the fuel circuit from an external source, and the products of the combustion of the first fuel are combustible, the transition zone being disposed to fluidly couple the combustor and the turbine to one another; and
a plurality of fuel injectors, which are structurally supported by the transition zone and coupled to any one of the fuel circuit branches, and which are configured to supply the second fuel to the second interior in any one of a single axial stage, multiple axial stages, a single axial circumferential stage and multiple axial circumferential stages.
2. The gas turbine engine according to claim 1, further comprising a catalytic partial oxidation reactor, disposed along any one of the multiple fuel circuit branches by which the second fuel is supplied to the second interior, to at least partially oxidize the second fuel.
3. A gas turbine engine including a fuel circuit, including multiple fuel circuit branches, a combustor having a first interior in which a first fuel supplied thereto by any one of the multiple fuel circuit branches is combustible and a turbine, including rotating turbine blades, into which products of at least the combustion of the first fuel are receivable to power the rotation of the turbine blades, the gas turbine engine comprising:
a transition zone, including a second interior in which a second fuel supplied thereto by any one of the multiple fuel circuit branches, the second fuel including gas receivable by the fuel circuit from an external source, and the products of the combustion of the first fuel are combustible, the transition zone being disposed to fluidly couple the combustor and the turbine to one another; and
a plurality of fuel injectors, which are structurally supported by the transition zone and coupled to any one of the fuel circuit branches, and which are configured to supply the second fuel to the second interior in any one of a single axial stage, multiple axial stages, a single axial circumferential stage and multiple axial circumferential stages.
4. The gas turbine engine according to claim 3, further comprising a catalytic partial oxidation reactor, disposed along any one of the multiple fuel circuit branches by which the second fuel is supplied to the second interior, to at least partially oxidize the second fuel.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of mailing parcels and envelopes using an automated shipping machine, comprising the steps of:
receiving payment information from a customer;
receiving package type information including the dimensions of a parcel or envelope to be mailed;
weighing said parcel or envelope to be mailed;
receiving shipping information from said customer including at least a destination of said parcel or envelope to be mailed;
computing from said package type information, shipping information, and weight information, a delivery date and cost for delivery of said parcel or envelope to said destination via at least two delivery service options available to said customer;
receiving an indication of the delivery service option desired by the customer;
printing a tracking bar code label identifying at least said destination;
printing a shipping receipt for an amount including at least the cost of delivering said parcel or envelope to said destination via the delivery service chosen by said customer;
validating receipt of said parcel or envelope as the parcel or envelope for which said tracking bar code label was printed; and
storing a validated parcel or envelope in a secure storage area until said parcel or envelope is subsequently picked up for delivery.
2. An automated shipping machine for use in mailing parcels and envelopes, comprising:
means for receiving payment information from a customer;
a scale for weighing a parcel or envelope to be mailed;
a processor which receives package type information including the dimensions of said parcel or envelope to be mailed, shipping information from said customer including at least a destination of said parcel or envelope to be mailed, computes from said package type information, shipping information, and weight information from said scale, a delivery date and cost for delivery of said parcel or envelope to said destination via at least two delivery service options available to said customer, and receives an indication of the delivery service option desired by the customer;
a printer responsive to said processor so as to print a tracking bar code label identifying at least said destination and to print a shipping receipt for an amount including at least the cost of delivering said parcel or envelope to said destination via the delivery service chosen by said customer; and
means for validating receipt of said parcel or envelope as the parcel or envelope for which said shipping label was printed by said printer, whereby a validated parcel or envelope is stored in a secure storage area until said parcel or envelope is subsequently picked up for delivery.