Gas Turbine Burner Vortex Generators for Fuel Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing burner components for gas turbines fail to achieve homogeneous fuel mixing in combustion air with minimal flow resistance, leading to incomplete pollutant-free combustion.
Innovation Solution
The burner component features vortex generators with a concave curved slope surface and convex side surfaces, arranged around the circumference of a rotation-shaped wall section, which introduce fuel into the combustion air flow channel, enhancing mixing efficiency while maintaining low resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If vortex generators with standard triangular shape are used to swirl combustion air with fuel, then mixing is achieved, but flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex generator features a curved leading edge surface instead of a sharp edge, and a curved trailing edge surface. This curvature design smooths the flow transition, reduces flow separation, and decreases turbulence intensity while maintaining adequate mixing, thereby reducing flow resistance and energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the geometric parameters of the vortex generator by introducing curved surfaces with specific radii (R1 for leading edge, R2 for trailing edge) and optimized angles (alpha for leading edge, beta for trailing edge). These parameter changes optimize the balance between mixing effectiveness and flow resistance reduction.
2Quantity of substance
If disruptive elements are placed along the flow path to cause turbulence, then mixing is improved, but flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex generator is integrated directly into the flow channel wall structure, merging the mixing function with the structural boundary. This eliminates the need for separate disruptive elements placed in the flow path, simplifying the overall device complexity while maintaining mixing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow channel wall serves multiple functions: it provides structural containment and simultaneously incorporates the vortex generator to perform the mixing function. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed in the system.
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 achieves improved fuel distribution and reduced pollutant emissions by optimizing turbulence with concave and convex surface features, resulting in more efficient and cleaner combustion.
Implementation Method 1
The vortex generators are each arranged on the wall section and extend into the flow channel. Accordingly, the vortex generators act as an obstacle in the flow channel, causing turbulence in the combustion air.
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a burner component (01) of a burner. The burner has a flow channel, in which combustion air flows in a flow direction (05) from upstream to downstream. The burner component (01) comprises: - a wall portion (03), which adjoins the flow channel; - a plurality of injection nozzles (21, 22), which are arranged in the wall portion (03); and - a plurality of vortex generators (11), which are arranged on the wall portion (03). In order to improve the distribution of the fuel in the combustion air, the vortex generators (11) have a concavely curved sloped surface (12) rising in the flow direction (05).