Gas Turbine Combustor Chute Retention Washer Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combustor chutes in gas turbine engines often become damaged over time, necessitating repair or replacement, which can be costly and disrupt engine operations.
Innovation Solution
A combustor design featuring a chute with a flared head and locating shoulder that extends through a chute-receiving aperture in the combustion liner, coupled with a retention washer, which blocks the chute's movement into or out of the chamber, ensuring secure installation and air flow pathways through cooling channels and holes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If chutes are installed to convey air into the combustion chamber, then airflow efficiency is improved, but the chutes become damaged over time requiring costly repair or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The chute assembly is divided into separate components: the chute body, the retention washer, and the combustion liner with aperture. This segmentation allows the chute to be easily removed and replaced without replacing the entire combustion liner, improving maintenance efficiency while maintaining airflow performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention washer is pre-installed on the combustion liner with cooling holes positioned to align with the chute. This preliminary preparation ensures proper positioning and secure attachment of the chute before operation, preventing damage from misalignment or improper installation.
2Reliability
If chutes are secured in the combustion liner, then installation security is improved, but the chutes may become stuck and difficult to remove for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The retention washer features a threaded engagement mechanism that allows dynamic adjustment. The chute can be securely fastened during operation but can also be easily unscrewed and removed for maintenance, providing both installation security and ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention washer acts as an intermediary component between the chute and the combustion liner. It provides the securing function while being designed to facilitate easy removal, mediating between the need for secure installation and ease of maintenance.
3Temperature
If cooling holes are provided around the chute aperture, then liner cooling is improved, but the overall device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention washer is designed with dual functionality: it secures the chute in place and simultaneously provides cooling channels that align with the combustion liner cooling holes. This multi-functionality improves liner cooling without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function is merged with the retention washer component rather than being a separate system. The cooling channels in the retention washer combine with the liner cooling holes to provide effective cooling, reducing overall system complexity.
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 enhances the durability and maintenance efficiency of combustor chutes by preventing movement and ensuring secure installation, reducing the need for frequent replacements and improving airflow for efficient engine operation.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling channels may extend through the retention washer to provide a flow path for air to flow from the outer liner surface through the cooling channels
Implementation Method 2
The cooling channels may extend through the retention washer to provide a flow path for air to flow from the outer liner surface through the cooling channels and into the cooling holes
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor for use in a gas turbine engine includes a chute and a combustion liner defining a combustion chamber and a chute-receiving aperture that extends through the combustion liner. The chute extends through the chute-receiving aperture of the combustion liner and defines a passageway sized to convey air from an environment outside the combustion chamber through the combustion liner into the combustion chamber.