Combustor Air Guide Unit for Pressure Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing process of combustor liners in small turbojet engines is complex and prone to thermal damage, and slinger combustors experience higher pressure loss and flow structure disadvantages due to large swirl angles of introduced air.
Innovation Solution
A combustor design featuring a hollow air guide unit with distinct portions, including an elliptical first portion and a circular second portion, arranged to minimize pressure loss and enhance combustion efficiency by optimizing air penetration and flow direction within the combustor liner, manufactured using 3D printing for reduced complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If combustor liner is manufactured by perforating and welding tube-shaped parts, then the liner can be assembled from multiple sections, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and thermal damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple tube-shaped liner parts into a single integrated combustor liner structure, eliminating the need for welding and perforation operations. This single-piece construction reduces manufacturing complexity and eliminates thermal damage risks associated with welding in high-temperature environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical manufacturing methods (welding, perforation) with additive manufacturing technology. This substitution enables complex internal geometries to be created without post-manufacturing operations, eliminating the need for welding and reducing thermal damage risks.
2Device complexity
If deswirler is omitted in slinger combustor, then the structure is simplified, but the swirl angle of introduced air becomes large causing pressure loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform swirl angle distribution across the combustor cross-section. The air guide unit introduces air at different swirl angles at different radial positions, with lower swirl angles near the center and higher swirl angles at the periphery, optimizing both combustion performance and pressure loss characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the swirl angle parameter across different spatial locations within the combustor. By varying the swirl angle from the center to the periphery through the air guide unit design, the system achieves optimal balance between combustion efficiency and pressure loss without requiring a deswirler.
3Device complexity
If air is introduced through vertical air hole, then the structure is simple, but the rotation component of air cannot be optimized for turbine blade alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic characteristics to the air flow by creating rotating air streams with optimized swirl angles. The air guide unit imparts rotational motion to the introduced air, dynamically aligning the flow direction with turbine blade rotation to minimize pressure loss and improve energy utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from simple vertical air introduction to a three-dimensional flow control system. The air guide unit creates complex three-dimensional flow patterns with controlled swirl components, adding rotational dimension to the air flow to optimize alignment with turbine blades while maintaining structural simplicity.
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 design simplifies the manufacturing of combustor liners, reduces pressure loss, and improves combustion efficiency by enhancing air penetration and flow alignment, thereby increasing the durability and performance of the combustor.
Implementation Method 1
minimize the pressure loss occurring between the rotation component of air introduced from a compressor and the rotation component in the direction of a turbine vane
Implementation Method 2
the air introduced into the liner may be again expanded by reacting with fuel that is sprayed while rotating
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor includes: a combustor case; a combustor liner which is arranged in the combustor case and into which fuel is injected; and an air guide unit that is hollow and is formed to protrude from an inner surface of the combustor liner to inject air into an inside of the combustor liner, wherein the air guide unit includes: a first portion forming one end of the air guide unit and coupled to the inner surface of the combustor liner; and a second portion forming another end of the air guide unit and disposed in the combustor liner, and a size of the first portion is different from a size of the second portion.