Axial Fluid Injector Combustor Cooling Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing combustor designs for gas turbines face challenges in achieving high thermodynamic efficiency while minimizing undesirable emissions, flame flashback, and excessive temperature exposure, which are often associated with increased complexity and costs due to complex structures for axial fluid injection.

Innovation Solution

A twin axial fluid injector that circumferentially surrounds the combustor, providing multiple axial flows through inner and outer annular passages to enhance cooling and reduce pressure losses, with a design that simplifies manufacturing and maintenance by using a single part axial fluid injector connected to adjacent components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If axial injection structures are used to cool combustor components, then cooling effectiveness and thermodynamic efficiency improve, but device complexity, manufacturing costs, and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustor component temperatureVSAvoidaxial injection structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the axial injection cooling function with the existing combustor component structure by integrating cooling passages directly into the combustor liner and nozzle assemblies. This merging eliminates separate axial injection devices while achieving the desired cooling effect, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing costs while maintaining cooling effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The combustor components are designed to serve multiple functions: the liner and nozzle structures simultaneously perform combustion containment and axial injection cooling. By making the cooling system multi-functional rather than a separate dedicated system, the patent reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the cooling capability needed to prevent excessive temperatures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Use of energy by moving object

If higher combustion gas temperatures are used to increase thermodynamic efficiency, then energy efficiency improves, but emissions increase and flame flashback risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermodynamic efficiencyVSAvoidemissions and flame flashback

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary cooling actions by directing axial injection of working fluid across the combustor components before excessive heat buildup occurs. This pre-cooling prevents localized hot spots that would lead to emissions and flame flashback, allowing the system to operate at higher combustion temperatures for improved thermodynamic efficiency without the harmful side effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The working fluid serves as an intermediary substance that transfers heat away from combustor components through axial injection. This mediator enables the system to maintain higher combustion gas temperatures for improved efficiency while the working fluid absorbs excess heat to prevent emissions and flame flashback conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 enhances cooling, reduces pressure and flow losses, and improves thermodynamic efficiency while minimizing emissions and excessive temperature exposure, thereby simplifying the design and reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

a portion of the working fluid may be directed across the outside of the combustor components exposed to the higher temperature combustion gases to provide impingement, convective, and/or conductive cooling to the combustor components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpingement cooling:

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

Axial injection of the working fluid across the outside of the combustor components reduces the pressure loss of the working fluid across the combustor, which in turn increases the combustion gas flow and overall efficiency of the gas turbine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS9182122B2Combustor and method for supplying flow to a combustor

Publication Date: 2015.11.10 GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECH LLC

AI summary

A device for supplying flow across a combustor includes an axial fluid injector configured to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the combustor. An inner annular passage extends through the axial fluid injector and provides fluid communication through the axial fluid injector and into a first annular passage that surrounds the combustor. An outer annular passage extends through the axial fluid injector radially outward from the inner annular passage and provides axial flow into the first annular passage. A method for supplying flow to a combustor includes flowing a first portion of a working fluid through a first axial flow path and flowing a second portion of the working fluid through a second axial flow path.