Burner Head Fuel Duct Integration for Gas Turbine Combustion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing micro gas turbines with burner heads face challenges such as high manufacturing and assembly complexity, increased costs, leakage risks, and susceptibility to failure due to the complex arrangement of individual fuel nozzles and external fuel distribution systems.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a fuel supply duct within the burner head's main body, eliminating the need for external hoses and nozzle lances, with fuel nozzles formed on the fuel duct body and connected to the supply duct for centralized fuel injection, promoting clean mixture formation and improved turbulence through vortex street generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If individual nozzle lances with external fuel distribution systems are used, then fuel can be supplied to multiple oxidant ducts, but manufacturing complexity and assembly complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing complexityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the fuel distribution function into the burner head main body by integrating a fuel distribution channel that branches to supply multiple fuel nozzles. This eliminates the need for separate external fuel distribution systems and individual nozzle lances, thereby reducing both manufacturing and assembly complexity while maintaining the capability to supply fuel to multiple oxidant ducts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The burner head main body is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the structural housing and the fuel distribution system. The integrated fuel distribution channel within the main body allows a single component to handle fuel delivery to multiple nozzles, reducing the total number of parts and simplifying both manufacturing and assembly processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple individual seals are used for nozzle lances, then fuel can be sealed at each connection point, but leakage risk increases due to small sealing surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage riskVSAvoidnumber of seals

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces the number of seals by integrating the fuel distribution channel directly into the burner head main body. This eliminates the need for multiple separate seals at each nozzle lance connection point, thereby reducing leakage risk while maintaining effective sealing at the integrated channel connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If nozzle lances are mounted with external hoses and pipes, then fuel supply flexibility is achieved, but installation complexity and susceptibility to failure increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation complexityVSAvoidsusceptibility to failure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the fuel distribution channel and fuel nozzles into a single burner head assembly, eliminating the need for external hoses and pipe connections. This reduction in the number of connection points decreases installation complexity and reduces susceptibility to failure from external connections, while maintaining fuel supply functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of manufacture

If thin bores of several centimeters length are used for fuel conduction in nozzle lances, then fuel can be delivered to each oxidant duct, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidfuel conduit length

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the fuel distribution channel within the burner head main body, eliminating the need for long external fuel conduits in separate nozzle lances. This integration significantly reduces the total length of fuel-conducting passages and eliminates the need for expensive precision manufacturing of long thin-walled components, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining effective fuel delivery to all oxidant ducts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 simplifies construction, reduces costs, enhances reliability, and improves fuel oxidation mixing by intensifying turbulence, leading to more stable and efficient combustion processes.

Implementation Method 1

improves fuel oxidation mixing by intensifying turbulence

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVortex street: Kármán Vortex Street

Implementation Method 2

improves fuel oxidation mixing by intensifying turbulence

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentUS10712009B2Burner head of a burner and gas turbine having a burner of this type

Publication Date: 2020.07.14 DUERR SYST AG

AI summary

A burner head for a burner defines a burner longitudinal axis along which the burner extends. The burner head includes a base body and at least one oxidant duct defining a duct longitudinal axis. The oxidant duct is arranged in the base body at a radial spacing to the burner longitudinal axis. A fuel duct body is inserted into the oxidant duct and at least one fuel nozzle is configured on the fuel duct body so as to open into the oxidant duct.