Combustion Chamber Seal with Tangential Coolant Apertures
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing combustion chamber fuel injector seals in gas turbine engines inadequately mix coolant with the fuel and air mixture, leading to increased smoke production and adverse effects on combustion emissions.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates seals with coolant apertures that extend through a first portion with axial, radial, and tangential components, directing coolant to a third portion with a frustoconical or bell mouth shape, which increases in diameter downstream, enhancing mixing by introducing a tangential velocity component that matches the swirling fuel and air mixture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant is supplied through coolant apertures in the seal, then cooling of the combustion chamber is improved, but mixing with fuel and air mixture is inadequate leading to increased smoke production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow parameters of coolant by introducing axial, radial, and tangential velocity components through specifically oriented coolant apertures. The tangential component creates a swirling motion that matches the fuel-air mixture flow pattern, transforming the coolant flow characteristics to improve mixing while maintaining cooling effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The frustoconical or bell mouth shaped third portion of the seal creates periodic flow patterns and turbulence that enhance mixing between coolant and fuel-air mixture. The geometry induces rotational and turbulent flow that periodically disrupts the flow streams, promoting better integration of coolant into the combustion mixture.
2Temperature
If coolant flow rate is increased to improve cooling, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but combustion quality deteriorates with increased smoke and adverse emission effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the coolant flow from a simple axial flow into a multi-component flow with axial, radial, and tangential velocity components. This parameter change allows the coolant to better integrate with the fuel-air mixture, enabling effective cooling without compromising combustion quality even at higher coolant flow rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant flow pattern is designed to copy or match the swirling pattern of the fuel-air mixture through the tangential velocity component. By replicating the rotational characteristics of the main flow, the coolant integrates more effectively without disrupting the combustion process, allowing higher coolant rates without smoke increase.
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 improves the mixing of coolant with the fuel and air mixture, reducing emissions and smoke production in the combustion chamber by aligning the coolant flow with the swirling pattern of the fuel and air mixture.
Implementation Method 1
The coolant apertures extending there-through with axial, radial and tangential components... the outlet of each coolant aperture being axially spaced in a downstream direction from its inlet, the outlet of each coolant aperture being circumferentially spaced from its inlet and the outlet of each coolant aperture being radially spaced from its inlet
Implementation Method 2
the coolant apertures extending there-through with axial, radial and tangential components... introducing a tangential velocity component that matches the swirling fuel and air mixture
Data Source
AI summary
A combustion chamber comprises an upstream end wall, at least one fuel injector and at least one seal. Each fuel injector is arranged in a corresponding aperture in the wall. Each seal is arranged in a one of the apertures in the wall and around one of the fuel injectors. Each seal has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The second portion abuts the corresponding fuel injector. The third portion is arranged at the downstream end of the seal and increases in diameter in a downstream direction. The first portion is arranged upstream of the second portion and has a plurality of coolant apertures extending there-through. The coolant apertures extend through the first portion with axial, radial and tangential components. The seals produce better mixing between the coolant and the fuel and air mixture from the fuel injectors to reduce emissions produced in the combustion chamber.