There are three main types of combustors, and all three designs are found in modern gas turbines:
- The burner at the left is an annular combustor with the liner sitting inside the outer casing which has been peeled open in the drawing. Many modern burners have an annular design.
- The burner in the middle is an older can or tubular design. The photo at the top left shows some actual burner cans. Each can has both a liner and a casing, and the cans are arranged around the central shaft.
- A compromise design is shown at the right. This is a can-annular design, in which the casing is annular and the liner is can-shaped. The advantage to the can-annular design is that the individual cans are more easily designed, tested, and serviced.