Combustion Chamber Particle Separator for Effusion Cooling Blockage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combustion chamber designs with effusion cooling apertures are prone to blockage by particles like sand, dust, and volcanic ash due to their small diameter, which affects cooling performance and is exacerbated by manufacturing methods such as additive manufacturing that can produce irregular aperture shapes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a particle separator with a specific geometry upstream of the effusion cooling aperture, which increases in height from the distal end to the proximal end, designed to deflect particles away from the aperture inlet while allowing coolant to flow in, thereby reducing blockage and enhancing cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If effusion cooling aperture diameter is reduced to improve cooling performance, then cooling efficiency increases, but blockage by particles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is segmented into two distinct functional zones: an upstream particle separator region and a downstream cooling aperture region. This segmentation allows particles to be separated from the coolant stream before entering the cooling aperture, enabling small aperture diameters for efficient cooling while preventing particle blockage through the upstream separator structure
Solution Approach 2:
A particle separator structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the coolant source and the effusion cooling aperture. This separator acts as a mediator that removes harmful particles from the coolant flow while allowing the coolant itself to pass through to the aperture, thus protecting the aperture from blockage without compromising cooling performance
2Ease of manufacture
If additive manufacturing is used to manufacture effusion cooling apertures, then manufacturing flexibility increases, but aperture shape irregularity increases leading to blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The particle separator structure is manufactured in advance as part of the wall structure, creating a pre-formed particle removal zone upstream of the effusion cooling apertures. This preliminary structure compensates for any irregularities in the aperture shapes by providing a pre-cleaning function that prevents particles from reaching the apertures regardless of their exact geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the cooling system by introducing a particle separator that modifies the flow characteristics upstream. This allows the use of additively manufactured apertures with varying shapes while maintaining functionality, as the particle separator ensures that even irregularly shaped apertures remain free of blockages
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 particle separator effectively prevents blockage by centrifuging larger particles away from the aperture inlet, ensuring consistent coolant flow and improved cooling performance while maintaining the structural integrity of the combustion chamber tiles and segments.
Implementation Method 1
The particle separator effectively prevents blockage by centrifuging larger particles away from the aperture inlet
Implementation Method 2
The annular inner wall has a plurality of effusion cooling apertures to supply coolant from the chamber, or chambers, over an inner surface of the annular inner wall to provide a film of coolant on the inner surface
Data Source
AI summary
A combustion chamber (15) comprising a wall at least partially defining a combustion zone and having a first surface (41) facing away from the combustion zone and a second surface (43) facing the combustion zone, the wall having at least one effusion cooling aperture (69, 73) extending there-through from the first surface to the second surface, the effusion cooling aperture having an inlet in the first surface and an outlet in the second surface, the first surface having a particle separator (84) at least partially located upstream of the inlet of the effusion cooling aperture, the particle separator projecting away from the first surface and away from the combustion zone.