Annular Ring-Manifold Quaternary Fuel Distributor for Gas Turbines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quaternary fuel peg designs in gas turbine combustors are prone to flame-holding and unsatisfactory fuel-air mixing, limiting the accommodation of high quaternary fuel mass fractions and leading to combustion instabilities and hardware damage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of concentric annular ring-shaped manifolds within the combustor, upstream of fuel nozzles, for uniform quaternary fuel injection, which reduces flame-holding occurrences and improves fuel-air mixing by accommodating up to 30% of total combustor fuel mass, and includes tapered sides to minimize trailing edge flow separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing quaternary fuel peg design is used, then fuel injection function is provided, but flame-holding occurs leading to hardware damage and combustion instabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel injection system is segmented into multiple annular manifolds with multiple injection holes distributed around the annular passage. This segmentation allows fuel to be injected at multiple locations and angles, preventing localized flame-holding and distributing the fuel-air mixing process throughout the passage, thereby eliminating combustion instabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point or linear fuel injection approach to a three-dimensional annular manifold system with injection holes distributed in multiple dimensions around the annular passage. This multi-dimensional injection geometry ensures comprehensive fuel distribution and prevents flame attachment to solid surfaces.
2Quantity of substance
If existing quaternary fuel peg design is used, then fuel injection is achieved, but unsatisfactory fuel-air mixing limits accommodation of high quaternary fuel mass fraction
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the annular manifold are equipped with injection holes oriented at different angles and positioned at different locations, creating locally optimized fuel injection patterns. This local quality variation ensures thorough fuel-air mixing throughout the entire annular passage, enabling high quaternary fuel mass fraction accommodation with stable homogeneous composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the injection parameters including injection angle, injection location, and fuel flow distribution across multiple manifolds. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves superior fuel-air mixing quality that accommodates high quaternary fuel mass fractions while maintaining composition stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If annular ring-manifold quaternary fuel distributor is implemented, then uniform fuel injection and improved mixing are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The annular manifold structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it distributes fuel uniformly through its perimeter injection holes, provides structural support within the combustor, defines the annular passage geometry, and facilitates coolant flow. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing complexity while achieving uniform fuel distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the fuel distribution function with the structural housing of the combustor by integrating the annular manifolds into the existing combustor architecture. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate fuel distribution components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining uniform fuel injection performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces flame-holding and combustion instabilities, enhances fuel-air mixing, and decreases NOx emissions by ensuring uniform fuel distribution and injection, thereby improving the operational reliability and efficiency of gas turbine combustors.
Implementation Method 1
the body defining injection holes through which the quaternary fuel is injected into a section of the passage
Implementation Method 2
improves fuel/air mixing and improve flame holding margin
Implementation Method 3
includes tapered sides to minimize trailing edge flow separation
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor section is provided and includes one or more annular quaternary fuel manifolds mounted within an annular passage defined between a casing and a cap assembly of a combustor through which air and/or a fuel/air mixture flows upstream from a fuel nozzle support, the manifold including a body to accommodate quaternary fuel therein, the body defining injection holes through which the quaternary fuel is injected into a section of the passage at a location upstream from the fuel nozzle support.