Gas Turbine Combustor Near-Wall Cooling Channel Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
In gas turbine combustors, ensuring consistent cooling mass flow through near-wall channels on large surfaces is challenging due to varying pressure distributions, affecting cooling efficiency and emissions.
Innovation Solution
The near-wall cooling channels are arranged with constant inter-channel distances, and each row has separate feeding and discharge channels with common separation walls, allowing for optimized coolant mass flow control through varying channel cross sections and diameters, and distribution density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If near-wall cooling channels are used to improve cooling efficiency, then cooling performance is improved, but consistent cooling mass flow distribution becomes difficult to maintain due to varying pressure distributions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the cross-sectional dimensions of individual near-wall cooling channels according to the local pressure distribution. Channels in regions with higher pressure have larger cross-sections, while channels in lower pressure regions have smaller cross-sections. This local adaptation ensures that each channel receives a consistent cooling mass flow despite the varying pressure environment, resolving the contradiction between improved cooling performance and maintained flow consistency.
2Temperature
If cooling air flow is increased to improve cooling efficiency, then cooling performance is improved, but gas turbine performance and emissions are negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the cooling channels, specifically the cross-sectional dimensions, to optimize cooling efficiency. By carefully designing the channel dimensions to match the local pressure distribution, the system achieves effective cooling with reduced cooling air consumption. This parameter optimization allows the combustor to maintain adequate cooling performance while using less cooling air, thereby preserving gas turbine performance and reducing emissions.
3Reliability
If near-wall cooling channels are arranged with varying distances to adapt to pressure distribution, then cooling mass flow consistency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality through a systematic variation of channel cross-sectional dimensions based on local pressure conditions. Rather than using complex varying channel distances, the invention achieves consistent cooling mass flow distribution by locally adapting the channel cross-sections. This approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving the desired flow distribution, as the cross-sectional variations can be incorporated into standard manufacturing processes without requiring complex tooling or assembly procedures.
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 approach enhances local cooling performance, reduces cooling air consumption, lowers flame temperature, and decreases emissions, thereby improving gas turbine efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Currently convective cooling is used in several combustor parts, e.g. in both the EV and SEV liners. As shown in Fig. 1 (a), the cooling air flow 23 of such a combustor part 20 is routed in a cooling channel 22 along the wall 21 to be cooled
Implementation Method 2
In these channels a higher heat-pick-up can be reached with less cooling mass flow, thus increasing the cooling efficiency
Data Source
Figure 1a~2b
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
A gas turbine part (10b), especially combustor part of a gas turbine, comprises a wall (11), which is subjected to high temperature gas on a hot side and comprises a near wall cooling arrangement, with the wall (11) containing a plurality of near wall cooling channels (15) extending essentially parallel to each other in a first direction within the wall in close vicinity to the hot side and being arranged in at least one row extending in a second direction essentially perpendicular to said first direction, whereby said near wall cooling channels (15) are each provided at one end with an inlet (16) for the supply of cooling air, and on the other end with an outlet (17) for the discharge of cooling air, whereby said inlets (16) open into a common feeding channel (12) for cooling air supply, and said outlets (17) open into a common discharge channel (14) for cooling air discharge, said feeding channel (12) and said discharge channel (14) extending in said second direction, said feeding channel (12) being open at a first end to receive supplied cooling air and guide it the row of cooling channel inlets (16), and said discharge channel (14) being open at a second end to discharge cooling air from the row of cooling air outlets (17). The cooling efficiency is improved by providing means within said near wall cooling arrangement to equalize the cooling air mass flow through the near wall cooling channels (15) having a common feeding channel (12) and/or discharge channel (14).