Combustor Dilution Hole Assembly With Swirling Vanes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing dilution holes in gas turbine combustors lack effective isolation of the cooling cavity from the dilution hole, which can impact the efficiency of dilution air flow and temperature control in the combustion chamber.
Innovation Solution
The outer wall is designed to isolate the cooling cavity from the dilution hole, with a sealing contact that forms a unitary part with the heat shield liner, and includes sloped faces and vanes to promote impingement and mixing of dilution air streams, enhancing turbulence and penetration into the combustion chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the cooling cavity is not isolated from the dilution hole, then the structure is simpler, but the temperature control efficiency and mixing performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The outer wall is segmented into distinct functional zones: a cooling cavity region and a dilution hole region, separated by an isolation structure. This segmentation allows independent optimization of cooling and dilution functions, preventing thermal interference while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary isolation wall is introduced between the cooling cavity and dilution hole to prevent direct thermal communication. This intermediary structure acts as a thermal barrier that maintains temperature control efficiency without requiring complete structural redesign.
2Productivity
If the outer wall does not include impingement surfaces and vanes, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the mixing efficiency and turbulence generation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Complex geometric features such as impingement surfaces and vanes are localized only at the dilution hole outlet where they are most needed for mixing enhancement. The rest of the outer wall maintains a simpler geometry, balancing manufacturing ease with mixing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Two-dimensional flat wall surfaces are transformed into three-dimensional features with impingement surfaces and vanes that create rotational flow components. This dimensional enhancement generates turbulence and improves mixing without requiring大幅增加 in manufacturing 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 configuration improves the mixing and cooling efficiency of dilution air, effectively controlling the temperature profile of combustion gases and enhancing the protection of turbine components from overheating.
Implementation Method 1
The outer wall may isolate the cooling cavity from the hole
Implementation Method 2
includes sloped faces and vanes to promote impingement and mixing of dilution air streams, enhancing turbulence
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A dilution hole assembly that may be of a combustor (56) has a first wall (118) that defines a hole (120) that may communicate through a liner (80) and outer shell (76) of the combustor (56) for flowing dilution air from an air plenum (110) located outward of the shell (76) and into a combustion chamber (66) defined by and located inward of the liner (80). The assembly has an outer wall (118) that may be engaged to the shell (76) and liner (80), and which defines the hole (120). An inner wall (122) of the assembly may be in the hole (120) such that an annular portion (124) of the hole (120) is defined between the inner and outer walls (118, 122). A plurality of vanes (156) may be in the annular portion (124) and spaced from one-another for swirling air that flows through the annular portion (124). The walls (122) may be generally conical in shape and/or radially sloped such that air flowing through the annular portion and air flowing at least through the inner portion impinge upon one-another adding to the air turbulence created by the swirling action of the vanes and thus enhancing efficient combustion and temperature profiling within the combustion chamber (66).