Burner Fuel Plenum Design for Micro Gas Turbines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional burners for micro gas turbines have high production and assembly costs due to complex sealing requirements and numerous hose and pipe connections, which also pose safety and environmental hazards.
Innovation Solution
A burner design with fuel nozzles connected to an annular channel in the base, reducing the number of sealing surfaces and eliminating the need for complex fuel distribution systems, featuring a pilot combustion chamber for ignition and flame stabilization, and a spring-elastic air guiding device for thermal compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional burners use through-holes in the base for fuel nozzles with hose-like or tubular fuel lines, then fuel can be supplied to multiple nozzles, but the number of sealing surfaces and gaskets increases, resulting in high production and assembly costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fuel distribution function into a single integrated fuel plenum chamber formed in the base, eliminating the need for multiple separate fuel lines and connection devices. All fuel nozzles are supplied from this common plenum, reducing the number of sealing surfaces and gaskets required while maintaining the capability to supply fuel to multiple nozzles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex fuel distribution system (hose-like or tubular fuel lines with multiple connection devices) and replaces it with a simplified plenum chamber design. The plenum chamber directly integrates with the base and supplies fuel to all nozzles without requiring intermediate distribution components, thereby reducing sealing requirements.
2Reliability
If careful sealing of fuel nozzles to the burner flange base is implemented, then leak-free operation is ensured, but production and assembly costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel plenum chamber is formed directly in the base as an integrated component, creating a self-contained fuel distribution system. This design eliminates the need for separate sealing components between fuel lines and the base, as the plenum chamber walls themselves form the sealing boundaries. The design maintains leak-free operation through its inherent structural integration rather than relying on additional sealing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the fuel plenum chamber with the base structure, eliminating the interface between separate components that would require sealing. By making the plenum chamber an integral part of the base, the design reduces the number of joints and sealing surfaces, thereby lowering production and assembly costs while maintaining reliability.
3Quantity of substance
If complex fuel distribution systems with hose and pipe connections are used, then fuel can be distributed to different nozzles, but installation costs increase and safety and environmental problems arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the external hose and pipe connections from the fuel distribution system, replacing them with an integrated plenum chamber design where fuel is distributed through internal passages within the base. This eliminates the external connections that pose safety and environmental hazards, while maintaining the capability to distribute fuel to multiple nozzles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fuel distribution function into the base structure itself, creating a unified system where fuel enters the plenum chamber and is distributed to all nozzles through integrated passages. This eliminates the need for separate hose and pipe connections, reducing installation costs and eliminating the safety and environmental hazards associated with external fuel lines.
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 lowers manufacturing costs, reduces NOx emissions by promoting homogeneous temperature fields, and minimizes environmental impact through simplified installation and reduced connections.
Implementation Method 1
The flow path for air is guided here at least in sections for cooling the burner head body by means of air flowing along the burner head on an outer surface of the burner head
Implementation Method 2
The pilot combustion chamber can then be supplied with fuel via a pilot fuel nozzle associated with the pilot combustion chamber. By supplying fuel through the pilot fuel nozzle it is possible to ignite the burner with an igniter. The flame formed in the pilot combustion chamber also serves to stabilize combustion in the burner.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a burner (10) for producing hot gas and has a flame tube (12) that can be connected to a turbine. The burner (10) includes an air guiding device (14) surrounding the flame tube (12) and having a flow path (21) for air. The burner (10) has a burner head (16) mounted on a base (34) and having a plurality of nozzle channels (20) communicating with the flow path (25) for air in the air guiding device (14) in order to supply fuel mixed with air to the combustion chamber (12). A fuel nozzle (17) mounted on the base (34) protrudes into each of the nozzle channels (20). To be supplied with fuel, the fuel nozzles (17) are connected to an annular channel (52) which is formed in the base (34) and can be connected to a fuel supply line. According to the invention, to be supplied with fuel, the fuel nozzles (17) are connected to an annular channel (52) which is formed in the base (34) and can be connected to a fuel supply line.