Combustor Liner Wavy Dilution Slots for Uniform Quenching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gas turbine engines experience high NOx formation due to high temperature regions behind dilution jets and inadequate lateral spreading of dilution air, leading to localized high temperatures.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a combustor liner with curved or wavy dilution openings and deflector walls that introduce dilution air at different axial locations around the circumference, enhancing mixing and quenching of combustion gases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If circular dilution holes are used to provide dilution air flow, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but high temperature regions form behind the dilution jet and high temperatures exist in-between dilution jets, leading to high NOx formation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidNOx formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional circular dilution holes with curved or wavy dilution openings. The curved geometry causes the dilution air jet to spread laterally as it enters the combustion chamber, rather than maintaining a straight cylindrical flow pattern. This lateral spreading effect eliminates the high temperature wake region behind circular holes and reduces temperature peaks between adjacent jets, thereby significantly reducing NOx formation while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard forming processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Device complexity

If circular dilution holes are used, then the design is simple, but the dilution air jet does not spread laterally, creating localized high temperatures that contribute to high NOx formation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidtemperature distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The curved or wavy geometry of the dilution openings fundamentally changes the flow pattern of dilution air. As the air passes through the curved openings, it naturally spreads laterally due to the curvature-induced flow separation and mixing effects. This creates a more uniform temperature distribution in the combustion chamber by eliminating localized high temperature zones, while the openings themselves remain relatively simple curved geometries that do not significantly increase device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the dilution openings by introducing curvature and wave patterns. These parameter changes alter the flow characteristics of the dilution air, transforming it from a concentrated cylindrical jet into a laterally spreading flow pattern. This parameter modification achieves improved temperature distribution and reduced NOx formation without requiring complex active control systems or additional components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Reduces NOx emissions by improving the quenching efficiency of combustion gases, minimizing high-temperature regions, and promoting uniform air distribution within the combustion chamber.

Implementation Method 1

The curved or wavy dilution openings introduce dilution air into the combustion chamber at different axial locations about the circumference, enhancing mixing and quenching of combustion gases

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

curved or wavy dilution openings and deflector walls that introduce dilution air at different axial locations around the circumference

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow redirection:

Data Source

PatentUS12535213B2Wavy annular dilution slots for lower emissions

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

A combustor liner for a combustor of a gas turbine includes an outer liner having a plurality of outer liner segments, and an inner liner having a plurality of inner liner segments. Each segment of the inner liner and the outer liner includes at least one slotted dilution opening therethrough extending in a circumferential direction, and each slotted dilution opening includes a deflector wall extending radially from the respective liner into a dilution zone of a combustion chamber between the outer liner and the inner liner. The at least one slotted dilution opening may be a curved slot (either concave or convex) dilution opening, and the curved slot dilution openings for each segment of the outer liner and the inner liner may be connected so as to provide a wavy slotted dilution opening extending annularly through the outer liner and the inner liner.