Annular Combustion Chamber Cooling via Flange Spacer Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing annular combustion chambers in turbomachines face challenges in efficiently cooling the outer and inner walls downstream of the chamber bottom, particularly due to obstruction by fixing flanges which can hinder air flow and reduce cooling effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating cooling channels between the fixing flanges of the chamber bottom and walls, which allow air to flow and create a protective air film, enhancing cooling and reducing the impact of high temperatures from combustion gases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If fixing flanges are used to connect chamber bottom and walls, then structural assembly is enabled, but air flow is obstructed and cooling effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing flange is segmented into multiple parts: a first fixing flange on the chamber bottom, a second fixing flange on the wall, and a spacer connecting them. This segmentation allows air to flow through the spacer region, maintaining cooling effectiveness while achieving structural assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
A spacer is introduced as an intermediary element between the first and second fixing flanges. This spacer acts as a mediator that enables both structural connection and air flow passage, resolving the contradiction between assembly strength and cooling effectiveness.
2Temperature
If traditional multiperforations are used for cooling, then cooling capability is provided, but they are obstructed by fixing flanges
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling approach transitions from two-dimensional multiperforations on the wall surface to three-dimensional cooling channels formed between the fixing flanges and spacer. This dimensional change allows air flow to bypass the fixing flange obstruction and effectively cool the wall portions.
Solution Approach 2:
Cooling channels are pre-formed between the fixing flanges and spacer during assembly, allowing air to be directed to cooling-critical areas before the hot gas environment is established. This preliminary channel creation ensures cooling effectiveness is not compromised by the presence of fixing flanges.
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 cooling channels improve the thermal management of the combustion chamber walls by creating a protective air film, effectively mitigating the adverse effects of high temperatures and ensuring efficient cooling, even in configurations where traditional multiperforations are obstructed.
Implementation Method 1
These channels opening out inside the combustion chamber make it possible to deliver air upstream of the inner faces of the portions of inner and outer walls located just downstream of the bottom of the chamber, so as to cool them
Implementation Method 2
by playing on the number of channels, and on the distribution thereof, it is possible to create a protective air film on these inner faces, this film forming a barrier against the hot gases of the combustion chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An annular combustion chamber of a turbomachine, comprising an inner wall (126), an outer wall (128), and a chamber bottom (130) disposed between said walls in the upstream region of said chamber, the chamber bottom having an outer fixing flange (134), and the outer wall having an upstream fixing flange (138), the chamber bottom and the outer wall being fixed together by their fixing flanges, cooling channels (150) being formed between these fixing flanges, these channels opening into the interior of the combustion chamber. Advantageously, a spacer (160) is disposed between said fixing flanges and said channels are formed in the thickness or on the sides of this spacer.