Gas Turbine Burner Air Flow Diversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and unreliability of gas turbine engine burners due to multiple control valves and fuel ducts increase the cost and weight of the engine, making it difficult to control the combustion cycle effectively.
Innovation Solution
A burner design with a radially inner pilot fuel flow passage surrounded by a radially outer main fuel flow passage, where air flows are controlled through diverting passages connected to a reduced pressure source, allowing air flow diversion between inner and outer air passages without moving parts, thereby controlling the merging of pilot and main fuel flows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple control valves and fuel ducts are used to control pilot and main fuel flows, then the combustion cycle can be controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the control of pilot and main fuel flows into a single integrated burner head design. The pilot fuel passage and main fuel passage are merged into one component, and a single air flow control mechanism regulates both fuel streams through the diverting passage, eliminating the need for separate control valves and fuel ducts for each stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The burner head is designed as a universal component that performs multiple functions: it controls pilot fuel flow, main fuel flow, air mixing, and combustion in a single integrated structure. The diverting passage serves multiple purposes by directing air flow to control both fuel streams simultaneously, making the system more versatile without adding complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple control valves and fuel ducts are used, then combustion control is possible, but reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the control mechanisms into a single integrated system, the patent reduces the number of potential failure points. The unified burner head design ensures that pilot and main fuel flows are controlled by the same air flow regulation mechanism, eliminating reliability issues associated with multiple independent control valves and fuel ducts.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple control valves and fuel ducts are used, then fuel flow control is achieved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple fuel flow control functions into a single lightweight burner head assembly. By eliminating redundant control valves and separate fuel ducts, the overall weight of the combustion system is reduced while maintaining full fuel flow regulation capability through the integrated pilot and main fuel passages.
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
This design reduces complexity and improves reliability by controlling the merging of fuel flows without valves, ensuring efficient combustion and protection of combustion chamber walls, while allowing for flexible operation modes.
Implementation Method 1
at least one control duct connectable to a reduced pressure source for selectively reducing the air pressure in the vicinity of the at least one diverting passage such that air flow is selectively diverted from the inner air flow passage to the outer flow passage via the at least one diverting passage
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a burner for a gas turbine engine, the burner comprising a radially inner pilot fuel flow passage surrounded by a radially outer main fuel flow passage. The main fuel flow passage is interposed between concentrically arranged radially inner and radially outer air flow passages. The inner and outer air flow passages are in fluid communication with one another via at least one diverting passage at an upstream end of the burner. The burner further comprises at least one control duct connectable to a reduced pressure/vacuum source for selectively reducing the air pressure in the vicinity of the diverting passage such that air flow is selectively diverted from the inner air flow passage to the outer flow passage via the diverting passage.