Gas Turbine Burner Vortex Generator Layout for Better Fuel-Air Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing burners struggle to achieve homogeneous mixing of fuel with combustion air while minimizing flow resistance, leading to inefficient and pollutant-emitting combustion processes.
Innovation Solution
A burner component with strategically positioned vortex generators and fuel nozzles within a flow channel, featuring a triangular design and specific spacing and sizing, enhances mixing efficiency with minimal resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If disturbance elements or blade-like structures are arranged in the flow path to deflect flow and cause swirling, then mixing of combustion air with fuel is improved, but flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The burner component is divided into multiple functional zones: a first region with vortex generators for initial flow manipulation, a second region with fuel nozzles for injection, and a third region for further mixing. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function efficiently, achieving homogeneous mixing while minimizing overall flow resistance by avoiding excessive turbulence in the entire flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
Vortex generators are positioned upstream of the fuel nozzles to pre-condition the combustion air flow before fuel injection. This preliminary action creates controlled vortices that enhance fuel-air mixing at the point of injection and in the downstream region, reducing the need for additional turbulence-generating elements downstream and thereby minimizing overall flow resistance.
2Quantity of substance
If vortex generators are arranged on the component wall protruding into the flow channel near the leading edge, then mixing of fuel within combustion air is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex generators, fuel nozzles, and burner component wall are designed as an integrated assembly. The vortex generators are mounted directly on the component wall within the flow channel, combining the flow-conditioning function with the structural element. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining effective mixing enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The component wall serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, defines the flow channel geometry, and serves as the mounting surface for vortex generators. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving enhanced mixing through the vortex generators.
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 arrangement improves fuel-air mixing with reduced flow resistance, promoting cleaner and more efficient combustion.
Implementation Method 1
a number of vortex generators are arranged on the component wall protruding into the flow channel
Implementation Method 2
it is known to arrange disturbance contours on the surface along the flow path, which cause turbulence of the combustion air
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is about a burner component (11) for use in a flow channel (02) of a burner (01) of a gas turbine. A component wall (14) extends from a leading edge (12) to a trailing edge (13) and in a transverse direction cross the flow direction from a first wall end (15) to an opposite second wall end (16), wherein vortex generators (17, 18) are arranged on the component wall (14) near the leading edge (12) including a first main vortex generator (17a) at the side facing the first wall end (15) and a second main vortex generator (17b) next to first main vortex generator (17a) and an additional vortex generator (18). Fuel nozzles (19) are arranged downstream to each respective main vortex generator (17). To improve the mixing the additional vortex generator (18) is located between the first main vortex generator (17a) and the first wall end (15) and has a height above the component wall (14) less than the height of the first main vortex generator (17a) and is without a respective fuel nozzle.