Patent attributes
A bundled tube fuel nozzle includes a forward plate, an intermediate plate, an aft plate and an outer sleeve. The forward plate, the intermediate plate and the outer sleeve define a fuel plenum therebetween. An aft plate axially is spaced from the intermediate plate and the intermediate plate, the aft plate and the outer sleeve define a cooling air plenum. A plurality of tubes extends through the forward plate, the fuel plenum, the intermediate plate, the cooling air plenum and the aft plate. Each tube of the plurality of tubes extends through a respective tube opening defined by the aft plate. A radial gap is defined between an outer surface of each tube and an inner surface of the respective tube opening. The plurality of tubes comprises at least one tube that is radially loaded against the inner surface of the respective tube opening.